Tong Di bowed his head and clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying, "Madam, you flatter me."
Lin stepped up the stairs, forcing him to step back. "I need to speak with my daughter now. Should we go with Guard Tong to the East Palace to consult His Highness the Crown Prince?"
Lin Qingwan's matter was not publicized, and few people knew that she had been bled out by Prince Jing and was recuperating in the Crown Prince's courtyard.
The court only mentioned the Ministry of Works' encroachment on farmland, which resulted in a death. Only a few officials involved in the investigation knew that Prince Jing had injured Lin Qingwan, thus proving that Jiang Mingting's matter had nothing to do with the Prime Minister's residence.
Lin's immediate mention of the Crown Prince was both a threat and a warning to Tong Di.
Tong Di was just a guard; he couldn't shoulder that responsibility.
After hesitating for a moment, Tong Di turned to look at Lin Qingwan, her eyes filled with guilt and helplessness.
Lin Qingwan felt even more guilty than him. She didn't know what she was insisting on. She knew she couldn't delay or change anything, yet she still made Guard Tong feel uneasy.
Although she tried her best to hide her thoughts, Tong Di knew how much she hated the people of the Prime Minister's mansion. He didn't know where he got the courage, but he said firmly, "I have no right to stop the Prime Minister's wife, but if Miss Qingwan is unwilling, I will definitely protect you."
He felt a fire burning from his heart to his eyes. He hoped Lin Qingwan would say no, so that at least he could protect her one more time in this courtyard.
As for the consequences... he can bear them.
Lin Qingwan's heart trembled. Just like the day he pulled her tightly from the pool of blood, he said he would protect her and never let go, no matter what.
Madam Lin was also surprised, and her brows furrowed immediately. Tong Di was nothing special, but he had the Crown Prince behind him.
Lin Qingwan, who always maintained a calm and indifferent expression regardless of her inner feelings, was overcome with a complex mix of shock, gratitude, and sadness today. She eventually regained her composure and said, "Muxue should have packed the dumplings. Please take some to Mr. Ruan."
Tong Di was somewhat disappointed, but not entirely surprised; she didn't want to burden others.
Because they have nothing to rely on, they dare not covet.
Tong Di's throat tightened, but she respected her congressman and said, "I'll stay outside and wait until you're finished before I leave."
Upon hearing this, Madam Lin calmly replied, "Does Guard Tong think we are thieves or robbers? I have a strange feeling that we are not meeting my own daughter, but some noble lady from the Eastern Palace."
This sentence both mocks Lin Qingwan and offends the Crown Prince.
But Lin's anger was not without reason.
She is Lin Qingwan's mother. Even if the Crown Prince himself were here, he couldn't interfere in the affairs between the mother and daughter, let alone Tong Di, who was just a guard!
If we're really going to be serious, Tong Di's two obstructions are enough to warrant a charge!
Lin Qingwan smiled and said, "Even if I have to leave, I will wait for you to come back and let me know."
After Tong Di came out, she brushed past Jiang Zhenlin and was mocked, "Even if she was tricked by Prince Jing, it's not your place to take advantage of her vulnerability."
Tong Di clenched her fist, "She's not just trying to force Prince Jing to his death."
Jiang Zhenlin choked, "You don't need to worry about the people of the Prime Minister's residence! And don't even think about using the debt of saving her life to coerce her!"
Tong Di coldly replied, "Not everyone is as calculating as you are."
Jiang Zhenlin suddenly became furious, "What did you say!"
Tong Di didn't bother him anymore and strode away, her back view exuding a cold killing intent.
"Ah Lin." Jiang Yanwan seemed to have calmed down a bit and stepped forward to say with concern, "I think he's very skilled in martial arts. Don't mess with him in the future."
Jiang Zhenlin did indeed feel numbness in half of his arm, and he truly felt the gap between himself and Tong Di. Frustrated, he pushed Jiang Yanwan away and said, "I'm fine."
Jiang Yanwan's expression froze. Ah Lin was the closest to her and listened to her the most. He had just pushed her?
His words to Tong Di spread uncontrollably in her heart like flames.
Her own family, her own elder sister, and they've said more than once that no one else is worthy of even thinking of Lin Qingwan...
Does this mean that although Jiang Zhenlin and Lin Qingwan have become like enemies, he still considers her family? Otherwise, he wouldn't have risked going to the flower nursery to ask for her back!
It's like an obedient dog that used to only have eyes for her and protect her at all times, but now it has transferred that exclusive affection to someone else.
Jiang Yanwan had failed to persuade them to allow Ruan Tinghuai to take Lin Qingwan away yesterday, and she could tell that they cared about Lin Qingwan's bloodline, which already made her very uneasy. Now, being pushed by Jiang Zhenlin, she was extremely flustered.
Whether it was her parents or Ah Lin, their concern for Lin Qingwan became increasingly obvious, exceeding her original expectations.
She clutched her handkerchief tightly, her eyes filled with icy coldness.
Seeing the standoff between Madam Lin and Lin Qingwan, she lifted her skirt and went in, speaking softly, "Qingwan, the family has been worried about you."
"Your mother prepared a New Year's gift for you, so please don't be angry with her, okay?"
“If we talk things out, there’s no problem that can’t be solved within a family.”
Lin Qingwan glanced at her sideways, "What are you doing coming in here when we're family talking?"
Jiang Yanwan's eyes reddened, "I..."
Madam Lin raised an eyebrow. "If you have grievances, it's because I've been harsh and unreasonable towards you. What has Yan Wan done to wrong you?"
Lin Qingwan's sleeves were half-rolled up, and the newly changed gauze was once again covered in blood, but Lin Shi ignored it.
Her emotions were turbulent, but she insisted on pretending to be indifferent. "My mother is willing to turn a deaf ear to me, so why should I force others to act as if nothing happened?"
Seeing that she had made her point out, Lin was also angry. "Even if Yanwan did something inappropriate in the past, it was because of you!"
"If you behave yourself and don't seduce Prince Jing and cause her to lose face, why would she bother with anything!"
Lin Qingwan was not surprised, since she knew as soon as she returned to the Prime Minister's residence that all the blame was on her.
“Your mother loves her dearly, and you two are a perfect example of motherly love and filial piety. Why bother coming to me? It would be best if I didn’t go back.”
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