"Don't worry, they're not the only ones who should be on stage in this play."

At that moment, she walked to the window, pushed it open halfway, and looked at the dark night.

"Let's have a proper celebration together for the birthday banquet in three days."

[Here it comes! The villainous female supporting character is about to unleash her ultimate move!]

[Wait for their counterattack! The Lin mother and daughter should prepare for their comeback!]

This plot is so exciting! I hope our villainous female supporting character gets through this safely!

That night, Lin quietly bypassed the front yard and arrived at the woodshed again. Before even entering, she could see the silhouette of a person in the distance; the woodshed was rarely visited.

The person huddled at the base of the wall hurriedly stood up upon hearing footsteps. Upon recognizing the person as Lin, they quickly bowed.

As for the Lin family, they had previously been in contact with this guy. This person was a good-for-nothing scoundrel named Wang Er, whom they had asked Sun Sanlang to find for them a few days ago.

Wang Er was an ugly fellow, with a weasel-like face and rat-like eyes. In the darkness, Wang Er blinked like a rat and bowed to Madam Lin. "Madam Lin? I guarantee I will handle the matter arranged by Brother Sun properly, but we're doing this business with our lives hanging by a thread, so payment is required first!"

Lin had anticipated this outcome.

She looked at Wang Er, who was winking and trying to get closer to her, with disgust, and coughed. Wang Er didn't dare to make a move and hesitated, taking half a step back.

Lin coughed once, then slowly flicked out a silver note from her sleeve and said in a low voice, "This is a fifty-tael silver note. Take it first. After the matter is done, I will give you another fifty taels as a reward."

Wang Er's eyes immediately blazed with greed. He quickly took the silver note, examined it carefully to confirm that Lin hadn't lied to him, and then grinned.

With that smile, he revealed a mouthful of yellowed teeth, and he was about to get closer in a cloying manner.

But Ms. Lin was already extremely disgusted and covered her mouth.

Wang Er chuckled and bowed, "Madam, you can rest assured! I will certainly 'serve' that princess well and give you and Miss a good chance to vent your anger. However... it's dark in the woodshed, how will I know when to make my move?"

"I will make all the arrangements for the birthday banquet. Just wait for my chance," Lin instructed in a low voice. Wang Er nodded menacingly, his eyes like those of a venomous snake.

Madam Lin coughed and said with a warning tone, "I will have someone lure her to the vicinity that day. When you hear any noise, come out immediately. Remember! Don't make a sound. After it's done, someone will come to catch you red-handed. At that time, all those princesses and noblewomen will be yours."

Upon hearing this, Wang Er was overjoyed.

He almost wanted to kowtow to Madam Lin, saying, "Madam, thank you so much for giving me such a good deal."

"We'll benefit each other. Alright, there are only two days left. Don't let me down." Before leaving, Madam Lin gave her repeated instructions. After that, Wang Er really did hide in the woodshed.

He waited for his opportunity and made all the necessary preparations.

Lin probably never imagined that after she left, a figure would emerge from the lakeside not far away. The figure was not exactly virtuous like her. The figure approached Wang Er, and the two whispered something to each other.

That's how they went their separate ways.

The next day, Lin was still worried that something might go wrong, so she came to see Wang Er again.

That day, when Wang Er saw Lin Shi arrive, he approached her with a fawning grin and pleaded pitifully, "Madam! How about giving me some more money for wine? I've been imprisoned in your dark woodshed for two days, I need something to eat."

Lin glared at him fiercely, never expecting that the guy Sun Sanlang introduced would be so fond of ripping people off.

But since she had already agreed to let Wang Er help her, she could only give him money. She was worried that Wang Er wouldn't do his best, so Lin angrily took out a few copper coins and threw them hard on the ground.

"This is the last time I'm giving you money! How can you be so greedy? You'd better stay here quietly today. If you dare to ruin my plans, you'll regret it!"

Wang Er bowed, hurriedly picked up the copper coins, and then quickly hid in the woodshed. Lin listened to the rustling sounds coming from inside until everything fell silent, then left triumphantly.

...

Three days later, a grand banquet was held at the Minister's residence.

Zheng Yutang, dressed in a brand-new pomegranate red dress, greeted guests with a smile on her face. Meanwhile, Zheng Heyi had just arrived at the Minister's residence from the Princess's residence. She carried a portion of pastries into Minister Zheng's room.

Despite the aid of miraculous medicine, Minister Zheng's condition was still not good. At this moment, he was leaning against the bed in pain.

Seeing He Yi tiptoe in, his cloudy eyes seemed to light up instantly. Minister Zheng hurriedly prepared to get up, his voice hoarse.

"Sui'er is here? You're a princess now, and you're busy with your own affairs. Why worry about your father so much? I'm fine, and I'm not going to die anytime soon," Minister Zheng said, trying to make light of the situation.

In truth, Zheng Heyi was not feeling well, but she could not reveal her sorrow to her father, otherwise, it would be a long time before Minister Zheng recovered.

He Yi carefully opened the food box she had brought, and then had Qingju deliver a brocade box. She opened the brocade box and took out the contents to show Minister Zheng.

Inside the brocade box was a whole, intact Changbai Mountain ginseng root, along with a set of exquisitely crafted nine-linked rings made of sandalwood.

He Yi smiled and said, "Father, this ginseng is the most nourishing thing. Don't be idle with this nine-linked rings when you have nothing to do. The doctor said that moving your fingers more will help your recovery."

He Yi paused for a moment, then took out a small bag of dried mimosa flowers. "These were specially picked by my daughter for you. Drinking them in water might calm your nerves."

Minister Zheng looked at He Yi, and then recalled the look of disgust in Zheng Yutang's eyes and expression when she visited him the day before. Comparing the two, he felt extremely sad.

Since he fell ill, Zheng Yutang has rarely come here. Even when she does come, she only glances at him and then turns away. Thinking of this, Minister Zheng felt a pang of sadness and tightly grasped He Yi's hand.

“Sui’er, now that you are a princess, you must always be careful of the people around you and not be plotted against. Alas, there is so much treachery in the capital. Today they are all over you and calling you brother, but tomorrow they will kill you. Backstabbing happens all the time. I am really worried about you.”

He Yi smiled slightly, looked at her father, and gently tucked the quilt around Minister Zheng.

"Father, don't worry. You just need to focus on getting better. As for your daughter, I'm not alone. I also have my brother to help me."

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a jade hairpin that Zheng Yutang had given her on the desk. It was of an ordinary style and clearly a perfunctory gift. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly.