"Father, please calm down!" Jiang Yanwan rushed in and stood in front of Jiang Zhenlin, pleading, "Although A-Lin was impulsive, he was only thinking of Qingwan and the Prime Minister's Mansion."
After saying that, she tenderly used a handkerchief to press down on Jiang Zhenlin's swollen lips, saying, "Ah Lin, talk to your father properly."
"Oh dear, why didn't you try to hide? Your mouth is bleeding."
Upon hearing that her son was bleeding, Madam Lin was restless. However, she couldn't go out, and she knew that Ah Lin deserved to be beaten. Helplessly, she said, "Yan Wan, take Ah Lin downstairs to apply some medicine before going to the ancestral hall."
“If you anger your father again, I can’t protect him.”
"Yes." Jiang Yanwan bowed. "Mother, rest assured, I will take good care of Alin."
It took her a lot of effort to pull Jiang Zhenlin away. Jiang Zhenlin dared not challenge his father's authority any longer, and he was also worried about his mother's illness. However, Lin Qingwan's calm figure made him feel uncomfortable all over.
Even after he had left, he couldn't help but turn back and say, "She's the one who should be punished and grounded!"
"The vendors all saw her being taken to the inn. The Prime Minister's reputation will be ruined by him sooner or later!"
Jiang Zhenlin's screams plunged the entire Prime Minister's residence into silence. Lin Qingwan felt as if her heart was being branded by a red-hot iron block time and time again. She didn't know if others saw it or not, but Jiang Zhenlin was always the one who condemned her.
Even the Crown Prince was considerate of her reputation, having his guards help him jump out the window before opening the door. Her own brother, however, was eager for everyone to know that she and the Crown Prince had been in the same room.
Lin rubbed her temples, feeling utterly exhausted. After a moment's hesitation, she said, "If you hadn't run off on your own, none of this would have happened today."
"Qingwan, are you tired?"
Madam Lin sighed through the gauze curtain.
This reaction did not disappoint Lin Qingwan once again. She shrugged indifferently, "I came to Lan Garden to confront Granny Lai without even having a proper breakfast this morning. I finally managed to prove my innocence by peeling back the layers of the case, but I was tormented by the poison of the bitter herbs and almost died on the street."
Upon hearing the phrase "died violently in the street," Lin's eyes trembled.
"Fortunately, he was rescued by the Crown Prince and returned alive."
"After changing her clothes, she came over to apply medicine to her mother. She didn't dare to blink for the past two hours, for fear that her fever would rise again."
Her voice was calm, her words detached, "I'm not saying this to make any sense, I just want to tell my mother that I am indeed very tired."
"My mother has just woken up, and I don't know if the rash will recur, so I can't leave Lanyuan for the time being."
"I know you don't like me, but I have my own body to take care of, so please bear with me for two days."
"Once you're better, I'll go back to Ningsi Garden and won't bother you anymore."
After she finished speaking, she went to the soft couch by the window, leaned half her body against the window, hugged her knees with her arms, gently closed her eyes, and looked tired on her pale face.
Lin's heart was also made of flesh and blood. She thought about how she had been cold to her and how she had wronged her because of Granny Lai's matter, yet Granny Lai was still willing to disregard her own safety and take care of her.
Just now... she felt sorry for Ah Lin and said something inappropriate.
Lin wanted to say something, but upon hearing Lin Qingwan's even breathing, she swallowed her words back.
Jiang Su said from outside, "Madam, please take care of your health first, and don't let Qingwan's good intentions go to waste."
Since her husband had said that, Madam Lin could only swallow her frustration.
For three consecutive days, Lin Qingwan took care of Lin's daily life and meals, including changing her dressings three times a day. On the second night, Lin scratched several rashes in her sleep, and Lin Qingwan didn't sleep for the rest of the night, staying up until dawn with bloodshot eyes.
When Lin saw her in the morning, she asked Rong Ma to bring in a hot towel to help her apply it, and also gave her her own ginseng soup.
Lin Qingwan was not worthy of such a generous gift and could only politely decline.
Madam Lin was not pleased and instructed Rong Ma, "Don't send ginseng soup anymore."
Seeing that she had the energy to get angry, her body was no longer in any trouble.
Lin Qingwan did not develop any rashes, and on the fourth day she left the Orchid Garden, where she bumped into Jiang Yanwan by the small bridge.
Jiang Yanwan prepared many of the snacks that Lin liked. "Qingwan, you've worked hard. I also had someone send some things to Ningsi Courtyard. I wonder if they suit your taste."
Lin Qingwan replied calmly, "Thank you."
Jiang Yanwan had been restless for the past three days. Every moment she spent with Lin Qingwan and Madam Lin seemed to be stripping away Madam Lin's favoritism towards Jiang Yanwan. She was afraid that she couldn't overcome the bond of blood ties, after all, her father was clearly protecting Lin Qingwan, and even A-Lin had suffered a loss.
Even though her mother liked her, she cared more about her father.
Fortunately, she went to the ancestral hall every day to keep Jiang Zhenlin company and learned something unexpectedly.
Therefore, he could still smile at Lin Qingwan's cold face, "If you feel unwell, sister, please call the royal physician to take a look."
Lin Qingwan didn't want to play along and walked away.
Jiang Yanwan could tolerate this blatant disregard. "Also, sister, don't leave the manor before the New Year, so you don't get upset by gossip."
This was because they were afraid she wouldn't know what was being said outside.
On the way back to Ningsi Garden, she encountered several maids. They looked at Lin Qingwan with strange eyes, but because Jiang Su protected her and she took good care of Lin Shi, the servants were even more respectful than before.
As soon as she returned, Muxue couldn't wait to report to her, "Miss, the Prime Minister had the steward send you two sets of jewelry and a lot of tonics."
Qiu Hong followed behind, still composed, "I've prepared some soup, please have a bowl to warm yourself up."
Lin Qingwan felt relieved to see them and said, "Okay."
Mu Xue helped her bathe and change, and took out a warm red cloak. "Miss, this is what we ordered from the tailor shop last time. It was just delivered yesterday. You will look very beautiful in it."
The cloak's color wasn't as vibrant as the crabapple red; it was more of an orange-red. The collar was adorned with fluffy white rabbit fur, and two green plum blossoms were embroidered on the tail, making it quite unique.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com