Chapter 37 I am your support
She knew her sister's temperament; she would never have written these things in a letter unless she was truly distressed. Thinking of how her sister had disregarded social status to marry Lin Wenxuan, valuing his honest and kind nature, and now that things were just starting to look up, her mother-in-law was acting this way, she couldn't help but feel wronged and sorry for her sister.
Seeing that her daughter's expression was off, Madam Zhou asked with concern, "Yu'er, what's wrong? Is something wrong with Rou'er?"
Su Jingyu handed the letter to her mother and said sullenly, "My sister is suffering from her mother-in-law's temper over there."
After reading the letter, Zhou sighed, "This old lady Lin... seemed quite decent back then, but how come she's like this now... Alas, your sister is gentle by nature, she must have suffered a lot of injustice."
At this moment, a greeting came from outside the hall; it was Crown Prince Xiao Jingzhan returning from court.
As Xiao Jingzhan stepped into the hall, he immediately saw his beloved wife with a furrowed brow, leaning listlessly against the soft pillows. She barely even glanced at him as he entered, her usual cheerfulness gone. His heart tightened, and he quickly walked to the bedside and sat down, naturally pulling her into his arms. His fingertips gently stroked her slightly furrowed brow: "What's wrong? Who made my darling unhappy?" His voice was filled with undisguised concern.
Zhou quickly stood up, bowed, and briefly explained the matter.
Xiao Jingzhan's eyes darkened slightly after hearing this. He didn't care about the Lin family, but causing his Yu'er worry was a sin.
He looked down at the girl in his arms, his tone carrying an undeniable force: "A mere county magistrate's family dares to make your sister suffer? Don't worry, I will issue an edict immediately, reprimanding Lin Wenxuan for his lax management of his household and instructing his mother to behave herself. If she dares to cause trouble again, he will be dismissed from his post."
For him, resolving such a trivial matter was a simple matter of a word. His woman, in the final stages of her pregnancy, absolutely could not be troubled by such trifles.
Su Jingyu tugged at his sleeve and shook her head. She looked up, her eyes filled with dependence and a hint of cunning: "Your Highness, why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut? This is such a small matter, why does Your Highness need to take action personally? You dote on me so much, I'll just use your influence to write a letter back to support my sister. If the Lin family still doesn't know what's good for them, then it won't be too late to ask Your Highness to teach them a lesson."
Her voice was soft and sweet, with a hint of coquetry, which not only showed that she could handle the situation, but also subtly flattered the crown prince, implying that all her confidence came from him.
Xiao Jingzhan was most pleased with her appearance. The displeasure he felt because of the outsider instantly disappeared, replaced by a sense of satisfaction from being completely relied upon by her.
He pinched the tip of her nose, his eyes full of doting: "You're so clever. Okay, as you wish. If you don't handle it well, you can't keep it from me and worry about it secretly anymore, okay?"
"I understand, thank you, Your Highness!" Su Jingyu smiled and kissed him on the cheek.
Xiao Jingzhan was in a great mood and said to Madam Zhou, "It's good that my mother-in-law is here. Keep Yu'er company and help her think about her reply. I'm going to my study. Please call me anytime if you need anything."
After the Crown Prince left, Su Jingyu had Yun Shu prepare pen, ink, paper, and inkstone. She pondered for a moment, then began to write. The letter was short, but every word was precious:
To my dear sister:
It is as if I have seen you in person upon receiving this letter. I am well, and Your Highness and Mother are by my side, so please do not worry. I have heard of the troubles at home, and I am deeply concerned. My sister is gentle and virtuous. When she married me, it was because of her character. Now that her husband has a bright future, she should cherish their marriage even more, stay true to herself, and not let gossip disturb her and chill their bond.
My sister is in the palace, favored by His Highness, and everything goes smoothly for her. His Highness often says, "Harmony in the family brings prosperity, and a virtuous wife brings fewer troubles to her husband." I hope my sister will take good care of herself and prioritize her well-being. If you encounter difficulties, please do not suffer in silence. Although I am not talented, I do not wish to see my sister suffer even the slightest grievance. His Highness... also dislikes hearing of unhappiness within the family.
Words may be few, but my meaning is profound. I hope you take good care of yourself, sister.
Mei Jingyu's handwritten letter
The letter contained not a single threatening word, yet it exuded confidence. Phrases like "His Highness's favor," "His Highness often says," and "His Highness also dislikes" all implied that Su Jingyu was backed by the Crown Prince! If the Lin family knew what was good for them, they should understand the gravity of the situation.
After finishing writing, Su Jingyu handed the letter to her trusted guard and instructed, "Go to Jiangnan personally and deliver this letter to my sister. In front of the Lin family matriarch and Magistrate Lin, convey my message: 'Consort Su only wishes for the eldest daughter's happiness and well-being. Upon hearing of the Lin family's intention to take a concubine, she is deeply distressed and has lost her appetite. His Highness the Crown Prince is very displeased upon learning of this.' Say no more; just observe their reactions."
"Understood!" The guard acknowledged the order and left.
Several days later, at the Lin residence in Jiangnan.
The guards arrived at full speed and handed the letter to Su Jingrou in person, conveying Su Jingyu's words verbatim.
Lin Wenxuan and his grandmother were both present at the time. Su Jingrou opened the letter and read it. Seeing her sister's caring and protective words, her eyes reddened, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart.
Upon hearing the guard's words, especially the last sentence, "His Highness the Crown Prince was very displeased upon learning of this," Lin Wenxuan's face turned deathly pale, and he broke out in a cold sweat! He suddenly realized that his wife was the elder sister of the current Crown Prince's favorite concubine! He had actually allowed his mother to pressure his wife; if he truly angered the Crown Prince, not only would his future be in jeopardy, but his life would also be in danger!
Grandma Lin was so frightened that her legs went weak and she almost collapsed to the ground! She was just a country woman; she never imagined her daughter-in-law's sister wielded such power in the palace! His Highness the Crown Prince! He was a celestial being she'd only ever heard of in plays! And yet she was demanding permission from the Crown Prince's favorite concubine's sister to take a concubine? This…this was practically courting death!
"My lord, please forgive me! I... I had no such intention! It was my mother who was confused and talking nonsense! I will definitely keep my family in check and never let my wife suffer the slightest grievance!" Lin Wenxuan hurriedly bowed and kowtowed, his voice trembling.
The guard remained expressionless, merely cupping his hands in a respectful gesture: "The message has been delivered. This humble servant takes his leave." With that, he turned and departed, leaving the Lin family mother and son ashen-faced.
From then on, Old Madam Lin dared not utter a single word about taking a concubine, and she treated Su Jingrou with even greater caution, even bordering on ingratiating. Lin Wenxuan also restrained his thoughts and became even more respectful to his wife. A domestic turmoil was instantly quelled by Su Jingyu's seemingly gentle yet incredibly weighty letter.
When the news reached the Eastern Palace, Su Jingyu simply smiled faintly. Leaning against Xiao Jingzhan's chest, she played with the jade pendant at his waist and said softly, "Your Highness, you see, it's quite useful for me to borrow the tiger's power."
Xiao Jingzhan chuckled and kissed the top of her head: "My power is your power. You did a good job, my dear." His woman should be like this, cleverly utilizing all resources to live freely and happily. And he was happy to be her strongest support.
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