Chapter 557 Taking the Challenge
The grandmother and grandson's back-and-forth banter infuriated Qin Shi, but being a deep and thoughtful person, she didn't show any sign of distress.
How many years can Old Madam Lin live? Once she kicks the bucket, the inner quarters of the Lin family will still be her domain, and she will be the true power holder. Madam Lin is just a poor woman with little personal savings.
"Sister, you've finally arrived! Grandmother has been waiting for so long."
Lin Yue'e stepped forward seemingly innocently, but her words were laced with provocation. As a junior, it was improper for her to make her elders wait.
"Grandmother, your granddaughter apologizes to you."
Lin Yuesha was immediately terrified and knelt down to kowtow to the old lady Lin. Then she said aggrievedly, "Granddaughter also wants to see the old lady as soon as possible. I have been learning the rules at home these past few days. I am very afraid that my rules will not be good enough and will bring shame to the Lin family."
"Get up, get up, Grandma isn't blaming you."
Grandma Lin glared at Lin Yue'e and stretched out her hand, saying, "Yue Sha, come sit here with your grandmother. This seat is yours."
The old lady lowered her hand and gave the first position to Lin Yuesha, proving that the old lady recognized her as the eldest daughter of the Lin family.
No matter how shrewd Lin Yue'e was, she was still just a little girl of ten years old. After receiving a warning look from her mother, Qin Shi, she immediately stopped talking, knowing that saying more would only lead to more mistakes.
When Lin Yuesha arrived at the mansion, everyone in the family except Lin Shusheng was gathered there. Beside Lin Yue'e was Qin Shi's youngest son, Lin Haoran, who was only five years old.
"Haoran, this is your eldest sister."
As a male member of the Lin family, Lin Haoran's status was naturally extraordinary. For example, while Old Madam Lin looked down on Qin Shi, she was very fond of the Lin family's lineage, smiling from ear to ear.
"I don't have an older sister. My older sister is Lin Yue'e. I don't want this country bumpkin to be my older sister!"
Lin Haoran immediately replied loudly, and then burst into tears.
"Haoran, who told you to be so unruly? Is this how your mother teaches you?"
Madam Qin had a sullen face, but there was a hint of smugness in her eyes. Her son had said what she wanted to say, and it felt so good.
"Qin, how old is Haoran? You don't have time to shout like that. You'll scare my precious grandson again."
Old Madam Lin looked displeased. Compared to a mere maid like Lin Yuesha, the continuation of the Lin family line was of course more important. Old Madam Lin waved her hand, inviting Lin Haoran to sit down.
No, I refuse.
Lin Haoran turned his head. That day, he was under the eaves when he heard his mother and the maids talking quietly. His mother said that this person was not his grandmother, but an old woman who was not dead and a country bumpkin!
"Is my dear grandson Haoran angry?"
Grandma Lin held up some pastries, trying to tease Lin Haoran, but Lin Haoran dodged them and said with a look of disdain, "You think these lousy pastries are something special? How uncultured must you be!"
After Lin Haoran finished speaking, Old Lady Lin was very embarrassed. She had come to the capital from the south and was most afraid of being told that she was unsophisticated.
What do children know? It must be Qin Shi talking behind their backs, which Lin Haoran overheard, making Old Madam Lin even more dislike Qin Shi.
"Grandma, is your headache acting up again?"
The speaker was the maid behind Old Madam Lin, dressed in a pink dress. She was eighteen years old and in the prime of her life, with a pure and innocent appearance, looking like a harmless little white flower.
Lin Yuesha had done her homework before coming to the Lin residence. She immediately recognized that this was no ordinary maid; she was the daughter of Lin Shusheng's childhood sweetheart, who had come from the south with Old Madam Lin, and was always ready to become a concubine and climb into the bed of the emperor.
"Xiaohe, quickly help me lie down."
Old Mrs. Lin immediately understood and started pretending to be sick again. Anyway, as long as Qin Shi made her unhappy, she would use this trick to torment Qin Shi every time.
Wealthy families are very particular about etiquette. She is Qin's mother-in-law and an elder, so it is only right that Qin should take care of her when she is ill.
"Mother, that maid is too clumsy, let your daughter-in-law do it."
Qin Shi had been tormented quite a bit recently and was filled with resentment. Old Madam Lin was very cunning. She kept Qin Shi there under the pretense of attending to her sick husband, and then sent her maid Xiao He to the study to serve tea and water to her master. If it weren't for the fact that there were many of her spies in the mansion, this wretched girl might have actually succeeded.
At this moment, Old Mrs. Lin used this trick again, and Qin Shi did not dodge but accepted it.
The government has been very busy lately, and Lin Shusheng has already sent a message through someone tonight that he will not be returning home. Qin Shi will let Old Madam Lin know that she is not someone to be trifled with.
“Mother, you’re having trouble adjusting to the climate and water in the capital, which is probably why you have a headache. But I’m not a doctor, so I can’t make any diagnosis.”
Granny Lin suggested to Madam Qin that since Old Madam Lin was using the tactic of feigning illness, they could turn the tables and have a doctor prescribe the most bitter medicine for Old Madam Lin, so that the old hag would pretend to be sick and be punished a few times before she dared not do it again.
"Your daughter-in-law has hired a doctor for you; he's staying in the front yard."
Qin had already prepared for this, implying that if anyone dared to scheme against her again, she would call the doctor every time, and eventually, even healthy people would fall ill.
"You summoned the doctor to your residence; are you cursing me to die?"
When the old lady Lin was exposed, she immediately threw a tantrum, crying, making a scene, and threatening to hang herself, blaming Qin.
"Mother, your daughter-in-law meant well. She was very worried because she saw you had such a bad headache that you wanted to bang your head against the wall."
Qin had experienced firsthand how exaggerated Old Madam Lin's acting was, and when she brought up finding a doctor, Old Madam Lin immediately fell silent.
Lin Yuesha observed coldly, making an assessment of the two in her mind. In terms of skill level, Old Madam Lin was far from being a match for Qin Shi, while the maid named Xiao He was clever but not very useful.
Having managed the inner quarters for over a decade, Qin's subordinates were unlikely to immediately pledge allegiance to Old Madam Lin; they were weighing the pros and cons, all for the sake of their own interests.
If Lin Yuesha hadn't heard Lin Shusheng's words, she would have thought that the Qin family had always been in charge because of their support, but she didn't know that her husband was plotting how to send her to her death.
Despite all her faults, Qin Shi had borne children for the Lin family and had treated Lin Shusheng well over the years. It's a pity that his affections were misplaced, and he met a heartless ingrate.
"Grandmother, every medicine has some toxicity. Food therapy is worse than medicine. The best approach is to use the principle of 'like cures like'."
Lin Yuesha took the initiative to increase the leverage for Old Madam Lin. In any case, the Qin family was definitely an enemy, but Old Madam Lin could still take advantage of the situation.
"Yes, my Yue Sha is still the most filial, much better than some people who wish for my death."
With someone helping her, Old Mrs. Lin was overjoyed and found Lin Yuesha even more pleasing to the eye.
“Your father is a filial son. If you follow his example, when he comes to pay his respects, your grandmother will surely have a word with him.”
Grandma Lin held Lin Yuesha's hand and said emotionally, "Good child, you have suffered so much in the North with your mother for so many years."
When Chen was mentioned, Old Mrs. Lin was very emotional. She should be grateful to Chen for saving her son, but why did she remarry more than ten years after becoming a widow? It was too unchaste!
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