117. To die and be reborn

The little dumpling exclaimed, "Sister Fufu moved!"

"What?" Both the concubine and the Duke of Anguo were shocked.

Immediately afterward, as if in response to the little dumpling's words, Lin Fuman, who was in their arms, suddenly coughed violently, spitting out a mouthful of water.

Everyone was stunned. The doctor examined her again in disbelief, and this time his expression completely changed: "Lord Duke! Miss is indeed still breathing! Although it's weak, she is definitely alive!"

"Fu Fu! Fu Fu!" Duke Anguo released the little dumpling, hugged his daughter tightly, and cried and laughed at the same time, "Father knew you wouldn't abandon Father!"

Duke Anguo picked up his daughter: "Quick! Back to the room! Doctor, you must save her!"

A group of people hurriedly escorted Lin Fuman away.

Jin Qizhi breathed a sigh of relief and looked down at the little dumpling: "Little sister, are you hurt? Don't be afraid, your brother is here."

The little dumpling sniffed: "Big brother, will Sister Lin be alright?"

Just then, a commotion arose in the distance.

Several old women escorted Lin Lingrong over.

Lin Lingrong's face was streaked with tears, but she stubbornly pursed her lips and remained silent.

"Big sister?" The little dumpling was surprised and couldn't help but call out, "What's wrong? Where are you going?"

Lin Lingrong turned her face away and was pushed and shoved by the old women towards the main courtyard.

Jin Qizhi sighed and picked up his younger sister: "Let's go find Mother first. This matter is probably not that simple..."

He carried the little dumpling out, and Jiang Xiyue rushed over anxiously after only a few steps: "I just received the news! What happened? Yue'er, are you alright?"

Jiang Xiyue carefully examined the little dumpling and found that it was indeed not injured, but just a little frightened.

She hugged you tightly and comforted you, feeling both heartache and self-reproach: "It's all my fault, I shouldn't have brought you to this wretched Duke Anguo's mansion..."

After recovering from the shock, the little dumpling had so much to say: "Mommy, Mommy, so many things have happened..."

She recounted the whole story, albeit haltingly.

Jiang Xiyue's expression was complicated.

A mix of emotions welled up, but the most impactful was shock: "Lin Fuman is alive again?"

The power struggles within the inner quarters were far less awe-inspiring than the story of someone who died and was brought back to life.

Jin Qizhi nodded: "Yes, but the situation is still very dangerous. What's more troublesome is... Miss Lin has been taken away."

Jiang Xiyue's expression hardened: "Indeed. The only suspects in this matter are Lin Lingrong and my Yue'er. However, my Yue'er is young and has neither the ability nor the reason to harm Lin Fuman... I have long heard that the Duke of Anguo is biased, but without evidence, and with Lin Fuman still alive, is he still unwilling to let Lin Lingrong go under these circumstances?"

Listening to her mother and brother's conversation, the little girl felt down and worried: "Mother, Yue'er wants to go see Sister Lin."

Before she could finish speaking, one of her maids ran in with some news: "Madam, something terrible has happened! Miss Lin has been arrested, and the Duke says she will be punished according to family law!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiyue's expression immediately darkened: "Discipline? Lin Lingrong is just a seven-year-old child! He has no evidence, and the Second Miss has come back to life. He still wants to discipline a seven-year-old child?!"

Jin Qizhi frowned as well: "Mother, Duke Anguo's actions are far too harsh. This matter clearly has nothing to do with Miss Lin..."

Jiang Xiyue's expression changed repeatedly.

She really didn't want to get involved in the messy affairs of the Duke of Anguo's mansion anymore. She just wanted to take her child and leave far away, never to see them again.

But if they leave like this, Lin Lingrong and her son will likely face dire consequences.

not to mention--

"Mother, please save Sister Lin, it wasn't her fault," the little dumpling said, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Fine... let's go take a look." Jiang Xiyue made up her mind, picked up the little dumpling, and walked quickly towards the main courtyard.

The main courtyard had long been cleared of guests, and layers of servants surrounded it.

The servants initially wanted to stop them, but upon seeing the little dumpling, they hesitated and then let them pass.

As soon as I stepped into the main courtyard, I heard Lin Lingrong's suppressed sobs coming from the direction of the side rooms.

Jiang Xiyue paused, her eyes filled with pity.

"Stop!" she shouted, raising her voice as she quickly approached with her children.

At this moment, Lin Lingrong was being pressed down on a bench and was about to be punished. Her face was pale, and two servants were about to take out a board.

The principal wife was pinned to the side by several maids, crying and begging Duke Anguo to spare Lin Lingrong. She struggled desperately but could not break free and could only watch helplessly as her daughter was about to be punished.

Duke Anguo stood to the side with a gloomy expression, coldly watching Lin Lingrong being tortured: "Aren't you going to confess? Did you do it?!"

"Stop! Stop it now!" The little dumpling was frantic, waving its hands and shouting desperately.

Seeing the three approaching, Duke Anguo waved for his servants to stop, then turned around and forced a relatively calm expression: "Princess, Lady Hou, what brings you here?"

Jiang Xiyue immediately said, "Your Excellency, Miss Lin is still young. Isn't this punishment a bit too harsh?"

Duke Anguo's face was displeased, but he still suppressed his emotions and explained: "A servant saw that before the incident, she went towards the pond. Obviously, this wretched girl pushed her sister into the river... She is really, really worse than a beast. Even beating her to death would not be too much!"

He got angrier and angrier as he talked.

Although they are both his biological daughters, the difference in their status in his heart is enormous.

"That was just suspicion! How could you torture a seven-year-old child?!" Jiang Xiyue couldn't understand at all and said angrily, "You're simply unfit to be a father!"

At this moment, she began to feel fortunate that she had come; otherwise, Lin Lingrong would probably have been crippled or killed.

The legal wife will likely be forced to watch all of this unfold!

As a mother, Jiang Xiyue felt suffocated just thinking about this scene.

Duke Anguo, however, did not understand her anger and even darkened his face: "Lady of the Marquis of Beiding, I'm giving you some face because of the county princess. Don't push your luck and be ungrateful! Besides, this wretched girl is my child. Whether I beat her or kill her is up to me!"

Because of the almost outdated concept of filial piety inherited from past dynasties, people generally believe that children are the private property of their parents, and that parents have the right to dispose of their children or even beat or kill them.

His Majesty has attempted to change this mindset since ascending the throne, but the idea of ​​passing it down through generations is deeply ingrained and cannot be easily altered.

Jiang Xiyue was furious and immediately attacked Duke Anguo: "No wonder some people say that children don't get along, it's mostly because the parents are immoral. With a father like you, the backyard is indeed a mess! I think you're the one who deserves to be beaten the most for Miss Lin falling into the water!"

Duke Anguo flew into a rage: "Lady of the Marquis of Beiding, I think you've lost your mind! What business is it of yours how I discipline my child?! This wretched girl, I must teach her a lesson!"

As he spoke, he turned around to signal his servants to take action!

"Stop it!" Jiang Xiyue put down the little dumpling and was about to step forward to stop them, but was stopped by several nannies.

Her eyes widened in fury as she watched the servants raise the board again and swing it at Lin Lingrong, who was now lying motionless on the bench.

"Wait a minute! Don't hit!" Just then, the little dumpling, who had been put down, took advantage of her small size and managed to grab the hem of Duke Anguo's clothes through the crowd.

Duke Anguo looked down at the teary-eyed little girl, his expression softening slightly: "Princess."

He gave a signal, and the servants stopped hitting the board.

But Jiang Xiyue was terrified: "Yue'er, come back quickly!"