Chapter 238 - True or False

Lin Zhongyu never had imagined that the Lin family was not as traditional as he expected. It was easier to be adopted than he imagined.

Being taken as an adopted son was easy, but as for the naturalization, a series of procedures had to be done back at their hometown. Luckily, all the officers there, had a good relationship with the Lin family.

That would make it easier. Lin Mengya could finally feel at ease. Her happiness over-flowed as she stayed with the three men.

Actually, the Lin family was far from being the quiet one that she knew.

But Lin Muzhi and Lin Nansheng kept quiet about it, as if both had come to an agreement. She knew that her father and her brother were trying to make her feel at ease.

As a member of the Lin family, however, how could she ever get away from those things?

“Come on, take a taste. It was your favorite when you were a child. You lost your mother very early and did not see much of me, due to my work. I’m sorry about that.”

Lin Muzhi actually felt guilty about his daughter.

His wife’s death, and the pressure from the Shangguan family, made him, who was a resolute and steadfast man, very depressed.

Therefore, he couldn’t help letting out his complaints and anger, when he lead his force to battle. His enemies were stricken with terror in the battlefield. Hence, Lin Mengya was left behind and that was how the family was separated.

Prince Yu was a good man, but there was no much true love in the royal family. And the Empress made the Lin family her target. All of this caused Lin Mengya not to lead a quiet, happy life.

“Thanks, father. I really miss our food back home. Please, father, brother.”

Lin Mengya understood the mixed feelings in his mind. But she was still thinking about Shangguan Qing and Lin Mengwu.

Lin Muzhi had fought as the General in the frontier for many years, during which time, Marquis Zhennan was totally under Shangguan Qing’s control. So she had cultivated a lot of cronies and developed her own power here.

If not, the bullying and abuse she suffered for so long, would not have been kept from Lin Muzhi, for so long.

She received some information from her brother, that both of them had quieted down unexpectedly. Even though they did not confess about what they had done, they became rather repentant.

Being so abnormal was not normal. She believed that Shangguan Qing was coming up with some big plans, in secret.

If she did something crazy and heartless, the Lin family would get into big trouble.

“Father, I know you are angry with stepmother. But she is still one of our family members. You have not cooled down yet, so it seems reasonable to punish her. But, father, the Shangguan family is making an attempt to come up with something, and it seems that they are on the way to becoming the first family of Jin State. If news of stepmother’s punishment is spread, it will be bad for you.”

Lin Mengya was not afraid of the Shangguan family, but she knew clearly about the order of priority.

The Lin family had remained neutral for many years. That was why they could stay on in Capital City.

Then she married Long Tianyu. That shifted their neutral attitude.

Shangguan Qing did not get any love from Lin Muzhi, and failed to give birth to a son. Of course, the Shangguan family would not let go of any chance to be used to put pressure on, and control the Lin family.

Looking at his daughter’s attitude which was so different from Lin Nansheng’s resentful attitude, Lin Muzhi was appreciative of his daughter.

“You impress me. You’re generous. But they still should get some punishment. Well, then, ground them for a month, how about it?”

She pondered for a while, and eventually nodded.

She was not a kind woman like the Madonna. What she was doing and planning, was all for her family’s good.

And as for Shangguan Qing and Lin Mengwu, she believed, nobody would care whether they died or not, after the Shangguan family had been removed.

In the West Warm Room, every member of the Lin family was all smiles, while in the backyard, Shangguan Qing and Lin Mengwu were suffering from bitterness.

“Mother, do you know whether grandfather received your message?”

Lin Mengwu was looking forward to her grandfather’s reply, every day. She had had enough of this run down room.

“Father really overdid it this time, and took away all of my beautiful clothes and ornaments. When my grandmother arrives, I will tell her about this.”

“Not yet. Your wet nurse told me that it’s well guarded recently, so it was difficult to send a message out. But your grandmother regularly receives a letter from me every month. If she does not get one for a long time, she would find out what’s happening to us.”

All of Shangguan Qing’s vitality seemed to have been spent overnight.

Her face was pale. Her hair was still worn in a bun, but it seemed to overwhelm her.

She was not the honorable, commanding Mrs. Lin anymore. Their future had already been decided when the Duke came back.

“It’s taking a long time. Mother, can you think of any other ideas?”

Lin Mengwu pouted and pleaded, as she fawned on her mother.

It would be the Winter Solstice Festival in a few days. There would be a great banquet after the blessing ceremony in the Palace, in accordance with the usual practice.

She was still unmarried. Where would she be able to find a Mr. Right, if she failed to grasp this opportunity to show herself off?

“I know what you’re thinking of. You’ll show up at Winter Solstice Festival, I promise.”

Looking at her daughter, her eyes revealed a flicker of determination.

“That woman has been dead for so long but she still retains the most important position in his heart. What if I die? Will he miss me as much as he misses that dead woman?”

Suddenly, the door opened. Both of them lost their nerves and looked at the door, and saw a tall, slim figure.

She had an unmatched elegance, was as beautiful as a lotus, with a spurious smile, on her face.

Those quivering red agate tassels made her appear as fair-skinned as a piece of jade, and gave her an air of quiet elegance.

She wore a white fox-fur cloak, and looked noble and graceful. Her beauty was the one quality which Shangguan Qing and Lin Mengwu hated most.

“What are you doing here? Don’t you think we have suffered enough, because of you?”

They were all Miss Lins, but Lin Mengwu really wanted Lin Mengya to die. Her eyes were filled with pure hatred for Lin Mengya.

“You suffer for your own actions. It’s none of my business. Lin Mengwu, if you had not poisoned me first, why would I seek revenge and make you suffer?”

Lin Mengwu’s expression changed, not because she realized her mistake, but because she was afraid of being overheard by her father. If he heard that, they would be even more severely punished, than merely being grounded.

“Lin Mengya, what brings you here?”

Shangguan Qing’s facial expression changed.

Till now, she did not know how she could have been defeated by Lin Mengya. She should have wielded her strength over her, and killed her as easily as killing an ant.

But unexpectedly, she was beaten again and again. “She must be proud of herself.”

“I came here to give you a warning. Don’t ever try to do something that will be harmful to the Lin family. Otherwise, even father would not be able to keep you safe. Don’t forget that, from the day His Majesty issued an edict proclaiming me as Princess Yu, then, nobody can change it. When you hurt me, it would mean that you are hurting Princess Yu. Even the one in the Palace will not be able to help you out.”

Shangguan Qing did not realize until now, why she did not reveal everything to Lin Muzhi.

Shangguan Qing was silently overwhelmed. She just realized what the Empress had told her repeatedly, and that was not to confront Lin Mengya, if she was not sure of victory.

Lin Mengya had transformed into a brutal serpent.

“I know you’re attempting to ask for help. But you should know that I have your supporters under control. When you entered the gate of this house, you’re not Miss Shangguan, but Mrs. Lin. So, should something bad happen to the Lin family, you may not be able to escape unscathed. Think about your dead fiancé. He was in good health, but how did he die so suddenly?”

Looking into her clear eyes, Shangguan Qing felt as if she could see through her.

“Well, I won’t waste time on you. Stay here and keep quiet with your daughter, otherwise, I’d let you experience the feeling that being dead is better than being alive.”

Then, Lin Mengya turned back and left.

Shangguan Qing’s face had a totally downcast look, while Lin Mengwu was gritting her teeth and was so furious, that she wanted to kill Lin Mengya.

“Mother, did she catch my wet nurse?”

Both of them were shocked at this idea. Shangguan Qing had sent the letter to her parents’ home through her wet nurse. If Lin Muzhi found it, they would both be in big trouble.

“Oh! I must get that letter back right now!”

She gave a bracelet made of white jade to the doorkeeper as a bribe. Then, Lin Mengwu’s wet nurse showed up in front of them.

“Weren’t you...caught by Lin Mengya?”

Unbelievably, her wet nurse was looking very well. Looking at her, Shangguan Qing snapped, and was aware that she had fallen into Lin Mengya’s trap.

“Your Highness, what happened?”

She knew nothing about it. She was preparing food for them, and then rushed over, after receiving Shangguan Qing’s message.

“You’re alright? Nanny, did Lin Mengya make things hard for you?”

Lin Mengwu asked this, because she did not realize what had actually happened.

Her wet nurse shook her head. She had been busy in the kitchen in the afternoon. How could she meet Miss Lin?

“Ah! We were trapped! Go back to your room and destroy the letter I gave you. No matter what, you can’t let Lin Mengya find that letter, hurry!”

Shangguan Qing was rattled for the first time. She wished that the wet nurse could act faster than Lin Mengya, and find that letter ahead of her.

“Okay, I’ll go back now. Your Highness, My Lady, take care of yourselves.”

The wet nurse immediately rushed back to her own room, and got the letter in the brickwork joint before someone else saw her.