After having dinner in the Imperial Concubine's Palace, the two returned home together.
Dan Ruo was so sleepy that she couldn't open her eyes in the carriage. Lin Hancheng let her lean on his shoulder to rest. He thought that his Royal Highness the Princess was indeed tired last night.
When they reached the door, Dan Ruo was still asleep, so Lin Hancheng had someone carry her back to the bedroom.
He gathered all the elders of the Lin family in the ancestral hall, the same group that had discussed marrying the princess last time.
He recounted the details of today's meeting with the emperor, "I have already informed His Majesty that the Lin family will provide the court with 500,000 taels of military pay every year for ten years."
Everyone pointed the finger at the fourth room.
"Lin Yong from the Fourth House openly provoked the princess for a woman and angered His Majesty. The Fourth House should pay all the money."
"Lin Yong is so foolish when it comes to women that he is unworthy of the responsibilities of the Young Master. He has caused such great losses to the Lin family. All four branches should be expelled from the family."
"Our family is in misfortune. If we keep the fourth branch, I'm afraid it will bring endless troubles in the future. It would be better to expel the entire branch from the family tree today."
"Yes, exterminate the clan."
Hearing how much resentment everyone had towards the Fourth House, Fourth Uncle Lin looked at the head of the family, Lin Hancheng: "Hancheng, I am your father's biological brother."
Lin Hancheng said coldly: "In front of family rules and regulations, no matter how close or distant we are, we will be treated equally."
Fourth Uncle Lin made up his mind, "Things have come to this today, and I don't think I should continue to hide it for my deceased eldest brother. Back then, my eldest brother was very affectionate outside, and my eldest sister-in-law never let outside women and illegitimate children into the house.
My eldest brother met a girl he loved on the Qinhuai River. She died in childbirth, so he brought the child to me.
It just so happened that my daughter-in-law's child died after two days of labor. I couldn't bear to see the Lin family bloodline flow out, so I raised Lin Yong as my own grandson with my daughter-in-law.
When he was alive, Big Brother loved to hold Yong Ge'er in his arms. I think everyone still remembers that."
Seeing that everyone was deep in thought, obviously reminiscing.
Fourth Uncle Lin took the opportunity to say, "Lin Yong is Big Brother's bloodline, the eldest wife's illegitimate son, and even more so, your biological brother, Hancheng. Now that Lin Yong has made such a mistake, it's clear that he's 100% like Big Brother. The eldest wife should bear the responsibility for Lin Yong's mistakes."
Everyone else looked at Lin Hancheng. They didn't expect that Lin Hancheng's father had set such a trap for him.
Lin Hancheng remained calm and said, "Father has been dead for many years. It's still up to Fourth Uncle to decide what to do. Now, no matter whose child Lin Yong is, in the eyes of the emperor, he is the fourth branch of the Lin family."
The fourth wife raised him, and dereliction of duty was inevitable, so all the property under the name of the fourth wife was used by the public and handed over to the court.
The fourth branch doesn't need to be expelled from the family, but Lin Yong has brought disaster to the family and has a bad character, so he must be expelled."
Everyone nodded. With the fourth family's property confiscated, their own contributions to the emperor would be reduced. After all, a large family shares life and death. When profits are made, they share the money. When problems arise, they share the responsibility, even if they don't want to. As long as the Lin family's reputation is there, they will not be unable to make money.
A few decades ago, the Lin family encountered difficulties, and the youngest son escaped and started his own business. However, the business was bleak because people were unwilling to buy from him after learning of his unfilial behavior. Competitors, knowing that he had no backing, suppressed him in various ways.
Therefore, the power of clan groups is not only important for scholars and officials, but also for merchants.
Seeing Lin Hancheng being so ruthless, Fourth Uncle Lin lost control and said to Lin Hancheng:
"Lin Hancheng, you have no offspring in this life. Lin Yong is the bloodline left by your father. Lin Yong will inherit the Lin family. Only our legitimate bloodline will not be lost."
This is also the reason why Lin Yong was able to become the young master of the family at the last family meeting. He is the legitimate son of the fourth branch of the family and has a good talent in business.
Lin Hancheng was not threatened at all: "The Lin family has been passed down for a hundred years. How can we let it be destroyed by Lin Yong? If there is no eldest son, then we can appoint a capable one."
"Lin Yong just made a mistake with women. He will get better in the future." Uncle Lin struggled.
Lin Hancheng stared at Fourth Uncle Lin with an unquestionable tone: "The Lin family's mistress is Princess Rong'an. Whoever can gain the princess's approval will be eligible to inherit the Lin Mansion."
This means that Lin Yong has offended the princess to death and has no qualifications to inherit the Lin Mansion. Everyone also realized for the first time how much Lin Hancheng admires Princess Rong'an.
"If Fourth Uncle is willing to leave the Lin family for Lin Yong, that's fine."
Hearing Lin Hancheng say this, Fourth Uncle Lin shook his head like a rattle: "Fourth Uncle will not leave the Lin family, not leave."
After everyone agreed, the unconscious Lin Yong and the crying Su Rouer were driven out of the Lin Mansion.
The fourth wife of the Lin family took inventory of her private treasury and, except for the dowries of her female relatives, turned everything over to the public. From then on, she kept her tail between her legs and obeyed the two ladies.
After Lin Hancheng finished his business, he was about to go and see if Dan Ruo was awake because it was time for dinner, but Qin dragged him into the house in a mysterious manner.
Although Qin saw her son and the princess in perfect harmony today, she still remembered that a month ago, her son had stiffened his neck and said to her, "My son has made up his mind. I will only marry Jiaojiao in this life. Please stop thinking about the princess and treat Jiaojiao well."
At that time, she was wondering how a playboy like Lin could give birth to such an infatuated child. Now, seeing how devoted her son was to the princess, she was afraid that her son was still thinking about Jiaojiao.
Especially after learning about Lin Yong's situation, he was even more certain about the Lin family men's tendency to be attracted to women. He looked at his son with suspicion. Can a bad bamboo produce good bamboo shoots?
"Are you still looking for Jiaojiao?"
Jiaojiao is already in front of him, no need to look for her, Lin Hancheng shook his head.
Qin was even more certain that her son took after his father, Lin, and fell in love with every woman he met. She earnestly advised him, "Don't think about running away, Jiaojiao. Cherish the one in front of you. The princess is of noble birth, but she is kind to her mother. It's obvious that she wants to live a good life with you. If Jiaojiao breaks the princess' heart, it will be difficult to mend it. You must treat the princess well."
Lin Hancheng knew that his mother had misunderstood, but Jiaojiao was the princess, and the fewer people who knew about it, the better, otherwise it would affect the princess's reputation.
"I promise to treat the princess well and have no second thoughts."
Only after Lin Hancheng made repeated assurances was Qin released.
Looking at the candlelight in his room, Lin Hancheng quickened his pace again. Seeing Danruo was eating, he told Li Luo and Li Ran to leave.
He took care of Danruo while she was eating. After she had almost finished, he held her in his arms and said aggrievedly:
"Mother just kept nagging me, telling me to stop thinking about Jiaojiao and to be devoted to the princess. She kept nagging me for a long time before letting me go. Jiaojiao, I feel so wronged. You have to make it up to me."
Dan Ruo was about to ask how to make up for it, but her lips had been invaded and she couldn't ask any words.
Finally spent a night to make up for it.
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