Lin Zhining felt extremely aggrieved, but the people who did wrong were his mother's confidants, and even his mother was involved. Even if Lin Zhining wanted to exonerate his mother, he didn't know to what extent he would have to do so. Therefore, he personally led a group to interrogate the old nanny before he finally understood what had happened.

The person who bribed the old nanny was the son of the head of the Gao Qinglin family clan. His purpose was to cause trouble for Xu Yao, and then have Lin's mother arrange for someone to enter Lin Zhining's courtyard. As for Xu Yao, after all this, she would probably be unable to have any more children. She only gave birth to one daughter. Lin Zhining's vast estate needed an heir. The son of the Lin clan head wanted to use a substitute child. When the person he arranged gave birth, he would take his own child and replace her. Wouldn't all of Lin Zhining's estate be his in the future?

Lin Zhining never expected that someone would scheme to such an extent. The Lin family knew that as long as Xu Yao was around, it was impossible for her to switch children with the servants around her. They were watching her too closely. But what if it was someone else?

Lin Zhining angrily smashed several tea sets in his study, then took the statements from several people that the old nanny had found and went to his mother's courtyard.

When Lin's mother saw Lin Zhining, she felt very aggrieved and said, "Ning'er, I'm only doing this for your own good. Look at all the men in this county, whether they're rich or poor, good or bad, they all have three wives and four concubines and a bunch of children. Why is it that you have to stay with your wife all by yourself? Ning'er, all I want is to have a grandson. I have no other thoughts."

Lin Zhining waved his hand, dismissing the servants attending to his mother. He looked at his mother coldly and said, "Mother, do you know how much trouble you've gotten yourself into this time? Not to mention that Yao'er comes from a noble family in the capital, if anything happens to her, our family won't be able to escape. And that old nanny by your side, the medicine she gave Yao'er harmed my son, my child, your own grandson! How could you be so heartless?"

Lin's mother tugged at Lin Zhining's sleeve, saying nonchalantly, "Ning'er, so what if she comes from a noble family? I've been her mother-in-law for so long, and look at her, she doesn't act like a daughter-in-law at all! Other people's daughters-in-law serve their husbands day and night, but what about her? I have to inform her in advance just to see her. Ning'er, people in our county laugh at us, saying I can't control my daughter-in-law, and that you can't manage your wife and are afraid of her. Ning'er, our family is wealthy, and you're a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), you can go straight to an official position. What's wrong with Xu Yao marrying you?"

Lin Zhining then realized that without his knowledge, his mother had become so unfamiliar. In fact, those people had grasped his mother's sore spot and knew how to make her infinitely amplify her dissatisfaction with her daughter-in-law. It was this infinitely amplified dissatisfaction that made her completely disregard Xu Yao's safety, listen to the slander of the nanny by her side, and give others the opportunity to harm her wife and children.

Lin Zhining sighed deeply, placed the few sheets of paper in his hand on the kang table, and said softly, "Mother, after you finish reading these, just stay here in the courtyard and wait for the New Year. We can discuss anything after the New Year."