Chapter 529 Retort
Logically speaking, Madam Bai, the wife of a fifth-rank official, would not dare to directly embarrass Madam Qin. However, not long ago, her husband formed a clique and sided with the political enemy of Lord Lin, the Prefect of the Capital. Bai Youran's visit to the capital and the things she said to Madam Bai provided just the right opportunity.
With a powerful backer protecting her, Madam Bai immediately revealed Lin Yuesha's identity in front of everyone, and then watched the spectacle with a smile in her eyes.
"What's going on here? Is it related to Lord Lin?"
The old princess glanced at Madam Bai, then at Lin Yuesha, guessing that Madam Bai wouldn't dare to joke around so casually.
She had heard some rumors recently that Lord Lin had been married before high school, but the woman had a tragic fate. She died shortly after a difficult childbirth, leaving behind a daughter in the north. Her family had always refused to let him take her away.
“Lin girl, the capital is better than the north. Besides, your mother is gone. You can stay in the capital from now on, and your father will take you back to the Lin family to take good care of you.”
The old princess, unaware of the truth, took Lin Shusheng's words at face value and offered her advice.
This girl is a woman of principle; she probably harbors resentment and bitterness over her father's neglect, so she wants to earn money through her own abilities.
Her courage is commendable, but since she is Lord Lin's daughter, she is a young lady of noble birth. It would be better for her to live a comfortable life in the inner quarters and wait until she is of marriageable age before having Madam Qin arrange a good marriage for her.
Lin Yuesha lowered her head and gave a mocking smile. Lin, that scumbag, really has some skills. In order to cover up the fact that he climbed up the social ladder and abandoned her after seducing her, he directly fabricated the story of Chen, who had been a widow for more than ten years, and disappeared. He's quite good at creating public opinion.
If Lin Yuesha were a thoughtless and impulsive person, she would immediately defend Qin Shi and reveal the truth.
She remained silent for a moment, and seeing that Madam Bai, who knew the inside story, did not explain, she immediately understood.
It was another huge pitfall, dug without her realizing it, waiting for her to fall in, but she just wouldn't take the bait.
The old princess was deceived by Lin Shusheng. If she were to rush out to explain, she would surely be branded as unruly.
The old princess was not only an elder but also a member of the royal family. If she realized she had said something wrong, would she apologize to her? She would only be embarrassed. And the person who embarrassed the old princess would be resented.
Even if the old princess is broad-minded and doesn't hold a grudge, these ladies from high-ranking families are all shrewd and capable; who would dare to ask her to book a banquet?
A moment of patience brings peace, and besides, this colossal lie will be exposed sooner or later.
Faced with Lin Yuesha's silence, Bai Youran in the back row revealed a meaningful smile. This was the Lin Yuesha she knew, resolutely refusing to take the bait.
"Little sister, Lin Yuesha's mother is not dead, why doesn't she explain?"
Li Ruoxue was itching to make a move, wishing she could shout out and expose him herself – this was a perfect opportunity.
"If we tell her, Lin Yuesha will definitely leave a very bad impression on the old princess."
To say that a living person is dead is no different from a curse.
"Sister-in-law, can't you just behave yourself and stop causing trouble? When we came to the capital, it was my mother and I who made a promise that if you don't behave and cause trouble, you'll only bring trouble to my brother."
Bai Youran was able to come to the capital because she made a deal with Li Ruoxue in private.
Li Ruoxue intervened to stop the marriage exchange between the Li and Bai families. In return, Bai Youran found a way to get her elder brother, Bai Dingfeng, to bring the person to the capital.
In the capital, the Li family had no connections whatsoever. Bai Youran didn't care about Li Ruoxue at all, or her elder brother's reputation. Otherwise, she would have already plotted to frame this fool.
"But...did I say something wrong?"
Li Ruoxue felt wronged. She had supported the marriage exchange in the first place, watching Bai Youran, who didn't get along with her, marry her useless older brother. That was like jumping into a fire pit. However, Bai Dingfeng was going to the capital to take the imperial examination. The journey would be long and arduous, and the newlyweds would be separated. Who knew if there were any seductive and shameless women waiting for him in the capital?
After much consideration, Li Ruoxue agreed to Bai Youran's request and was given three conditions: she would follow Bai Youran's arrangements in the capital.
"This is a good opportunity to expose Lin Yuesha. There isn't a single person in the know here. Did you see anyone jump out?"
A fool is a fool. He doesn't think things through. It's not wrong to suppress Lin Yuesha, but if he offends the old princess because of it, then he will lose more than he gains.
That's why Lin Yuesha didn't utter a single word in her own defense; that's the way a wise person would act. And if the old princess were to learn the truth later, she would likely show her even more affection.
"Mother, just because Lin's father is Lord Lin, are you going to withhold the reward money?"
Prince Luo had already investigated Lin Yuesha and stepped in to smooth things over. If he truly valued his daughter, Lord Lin wouldn't have abandoned her in the north to fend for herself for over a decade.
Besides, with a stepmother comes a stepfather, so what's wrong with a little girl just wanting to earn money through her own abilities?
"Reward them! Reward them!"
The old princess smiled and agreed, but a mystery arose in her mind. She knew her son; he was outwardly warm but inwardly cold, and he had shown excessive concern for this little girl.
"Thank you for the generous gift, Your Highness."
A maid brought over a tray, and Lin Yuesha accepted the reward without any qualms. After all, she had invested a lot in the flower viewing banquet at the Prince's mansion, and this was just enough to cover the costs.
Qin's face was ashen; she had already caught the schadenfreude of the crowd, their eyes filled with mockery and gloating, eager for her to be humiliated.
The daughter of the Prefect of the Capital, a perfectly respectable woman, has come to work as a servant and cook. Isn't this just slapping her in the face? Qin Shi doesn't even need to think about it; she will immediately become the topic of conversation and a laughing stock for everyone. People will say she's jealous, intolerant, and even that her husband doesn't have any concubines.
Those so-called legal wives and mistresses of the house appear dignified and virtuous on the surface, but behind the scenes they fight with their concubines like shrewish women, completely lacking in image. How dare they laugh at them!
"Lin Yatou grew up in the north, where it is bitterly cold. The fact that she still has such good cooking skills shows that she is living a good life."
Zhou glanced at Qin. Lin Yuesha's identity had been exposed, putting the two sisters-in-law in a very passive position. Although she was embarrassed, she had to stand up and speak for Qin.
“Miss Lin’s pastry-making skills are even better than our household cooks. She is still young, and even if she is very talented, she must have started learning at a young age and must have suffered a lot. How can you tell that she is living a good life?”
Madam Xu was surprised by Lin Yuesha's identity and learned that there was something hidden inside, but she wisely did not mention it. Instead, she refuted Madam Zhou's attitude of trying to settle things peacefully.
As soon as she spoke, Madam Zhou was rendered speechless. With both old and new grudges combined, she hated Madam Xu to the core.
"Madam Xu, you're meddling in other people's business all the time. Have you already made proper arrangements for Young Master Xu?"
The conversation between the two was full of tension. Zhou had a quick idea to change the subject and immediately brought up Xu Da, directly hitting Xu's sore spot.
A person who can't even decide their own son's marriage has no right to worry about others; they should take care of their own son first.
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