Zhao Yinyin's family had been merchants for generations. Her parents died in the war in Anbei, leaving Zhao with only her, their sole heir, and a vast fortune. Whoever married her would be marrying a mountain of gold and silver.
Lin Shibai initially disdained daughters of merchants. However, he had encountered some trouble in Anbei that required a substantial sum of money to resolve. Although Zhao Yinyin was somewhat uncouth and unsophisticated, she was considered a beauty in Anbei.
He sent a letter stating his intention to marry. Lin Ze only agreed to take Zhao Yinyin as a concubine and would not facilitate the traditional betrothal ceremonies. Lin Shibai had no choice but to coax Zhao Yinyin into marriage first, securing Zhao's family fortune.
"Lin Shibai, what does your second sister mean by that?" Zhao Yinyin demanded, her voice raised.
Lin Shibai shot a glare at Lin Yanxi, then busied himself placating Zhao Yinyin. "Oh, why are you listening to her? What does she know? You're already carrying my Lin family's child. When Father returns tonight, he will officially add you to the family registry, and then who will dare to slight you?"
"What about the marriage contract? When will you get that?"
Lin Yanxi, seeing Lin Shibai struggling to handle the situation, covered her mouth and chuckled. She then gestured for Lizi to leave with her.
"Wait." Lin Shibai stopped her.
"I can allow you to manage household affairs for a few more days. However, I will soon be taking a post in the capital and will no longer return to Anbei. I used to live in the back courtyard with my young mother. I cannot reside there now. Your courtyard, Lin Yanxi, is the largest in the manor and has the most servants.
"Now that Yinyin is pregnant, you should give up your courtyard and move to a side residence. You're alone anyway; it's enough for you to live anywhere."
Lin Yanxi stared at him quietly until he finished speaking. Then, she parted her lips and offered a kind, obedient smile.
Seeing her smile, Lin Shibai and Zhao Yinyin exchanged a knowing glance. Their foolish sister was being sensible.
However, in the next instant, Lin Yanxi's smile vanished, and she coldly uttered two words: "I will not."
"What? Lin Yanxi, do you know that I am carrying the Lin family's child? How dare you make me live in the back courtyard? If anything happens, can you bear the responsibility?"
Zhao Yinyin dramatically puffed out her still-flat stomach, which had not yet visibly shown her pregnancy.
Xu Shi also quickly stepped forward, patting Zhao Yinyin's belly. "We've always tolerated how your first branch bullies us. Now that Yinyin is pregnant, you're still so arrogant?"
Jiang Wan, sensing the rising tension, coughed lightly. She recalled that many things had happened in the second branch recently, most of which were related to Lin Yanxi. She did not want Lin Yanxi to make too many enemies within the manor.
If she were to lose her protection in the future, Lin Yanxi would not suffer too much.
Everyone fell silent and looked at her.
She slowly composed herself and said, "It doesn't matter whether one lives in the back or front courtyard. Why must we cause discord in the household? Zhaozhao, perhaps you could..."
Before Jiang Wan could finish, Lin Yanxi interrupted her. "I will not."
In her past life, her constant yielding had only led to the second branch becoming more aggressive. Now, with Zhao Yinyin added, if she yielded her courtyard today, tomorrow it would be the authority of household management. Her father had said he would send Xu Shi back, but there was no action.
If Xu Shi seized this opportunity to make a comeback, her mother and third sister would have no peace in the manor.
Jiang Wan's smile froze on her face. She shot Lin Yanxi a resentful glare, but did not vent her anger in front of everyone.
Lin Yuan, who had been silent, spoke softly from the back of the crowd. "Sister, you may not be aware, but our eldest sister-in-law lost her parents at a young age and is to be pitied. Unlike you, who was born the legitimate daughter of the Grand Tutor, you have always been privileged.
"Since you have married into the Grand Tutor's manor, we should not treat her lightly."
Lin Yanxi was filled with questions. Was this moral blackmail?
She retorted, "What? Did you cause her family's misfortune? We are discussing the house, why are you bringing up her background?"
Lin Yuan's face turned unsightly from being retorted at. She lowered her gaze and stopped speaking, resuming her appearance of pitiable grace.
"Zhaozhao, do not be rude." Jiang Wan gave Lin Yanxi a stern look.
Lin Yanxi offered a slight smile and said slowly, "Brother just said the back courtyard is not suitable for living, which is inherently incorrect. The second branch has lived in the back courtyard for many years, with more than ten empty rooms. Although it is the back courtyard, it is by no means inferior to the front. How can it no longer be habitable just because two more people have joined?"
"Moreover, you should not be discussing this with me. You should consult Father. If Father agrees to let you have a larger compound, I will have no objections.
"If Father does not agree, the matter is simple. You can rent a place or buy a house.
"Brother has served outside for many years, and Eldest Sister-in-law comes from a merchant family. Do you two not have any savings?"
Lin Shibai's face turned green and white at this question. Zhao Yinyin, however, said proudly, "Our Zhao family has plenty of money."
Lin Yanxi's smile deepened. She directly took over the conversation. "Then that's perfect. Since you have money, why bother troubling your sisters in the household? When Brother purchases a new residence, I will certainly present him with a generous gift."
Lin Shibai's expression became much more interesting, looking as if he had unexpressed grievances.
Where did he have any money left? He had spent it all in Anbei, partly to cover his debts and partly to grease the wheels for his transfer back to the capital.
The remaining scattered silver had also been lost entirely in the gambling dens.
Seeing Lin Shibai's pale face and tightly pressed lips, she knew she had guessed correctly. Lin Shibai had already squandered Zhao Yinyin's family fortune.
Her tone softened as she brought the conversation back. "If Brother and Sister-in-law do not wish to leave the manor permanently and wish to spend more time with Father, that is also a good thing. Since Sister-in-law is pregnant, she must naturally be treated with utmost care and attention. She should undoubtedly receive the best in terms of food, clothing, and daily necessities within the household."
Zhao Yinyin felt somewhat better hearing this, at least outwardly, there was no neglect towards the child she was carrying.
Lin Yanxi then walked slowly to Xu Shi's side, her beautiful eyes curving slightly at the corners. "However, what is the basis for what Aunt Xu said? My third sister has been away from home for a long time and has not returned. My mother is in poor health and does not manage household affairs.
"As for me, I only regained my senses five days ago. In this entire capital, or even in Nanmin, how many concubines have managed the household for over ten years? I would like to ask how our first branch has bullied you, and how we have been arrogant in the manor?"
Her last sentence was spoken with powerful conviction, each word hitting its mark, leaving no room for others to retreat.
Xu Shi was rendered speechless. This brat had been so terrifying since she regained her senses; she didn't even dare to meet her gaze.
"Lin Yanxi! You dare to humiliate my young mother in front of me like this, and you still ask how we have been arrogant? What more do you want to achieve to be considered arrogant?"
Lin Shibai, unable to bear seeing Xu Shi humiliated, stood between them and pointed at Lin Yanxi accusingly.
Jiang Wan sharply reprimanded, "That's enough, Shibai. I have been patient with you, considering your long absence. Which of Zhaozhao's words have insulted your young mother? If Xu Shi cannot answer the questions she asks, does that make her arrogant and bullying?"
In Lin Shibai's memory, he had never seen Jiang Wan so angry. She had always been sickly and easily deceived.
Today, he saw the suppressed anger in her eyes. The Jiang clan of Talisman Masters held a significant position in Nanmin, and indeed, in the entire Yueyou, making them formidable opponents.
He calmed himself and stopped arguing with Lin Yanxi, pulling Xu Shi along. "Young Mother, let's return to our room first."
Xu Shi was not oblivious to the situation and dared not openly oppose Jiang Wan. When Lin Ze returned, with Shibai and the child in Yinyin's womb, Lin Ze would surely favor them.
As she was about to leave, Lin Yanxi's sweet and soft voice rang out, "Wait."
Lin Yanxi walked around Xu Shi with a charming smile, her gaze sharp. "Auntie, since you cannot answer any of my questions, it means you have slandered the legitimate wife and offended the matriarch.
"Do you not even owe an apology?"
Xu Shi trembled with rage, cornered by Lin Yanxi's words.
"You!"
Slandering the legitimate wife and offending the matriarch were serious offenses for a concubine, punishable by expulsion from the manor.
Xu Shi had been in the manor for many years and would not be expelled outright. However, having recently angered Lin Ze, adding this charge might lead to her being sent to a manor to live out the rest of her life, even if not outright banished.
If she left, it would be fine, but if she left, Lin Shibai could still maintain a position in the manor with his status as the eldest son. What about Lin Yuan?
Xu Shi cast a pleading glance at Lin Shibai, but he did not look at her, nor did he speak up for his mother.
Xu Shi's usually straight back stooped slightly. Like a deflated ball, she lowered her eyes and mumbled, "Eldest Madam, my words were too careless. I beg for your forgiveness, Sister."
Jiang Wan, supported by Yu Gu, waved her handkerchief, signaling her to withdraw. "Enough, enough. Household peace is the most important thing. You may leave now. Shibai, whatever requirements you have, we will all await the Master's decision when he returns."
Xu Shi's eyes glinted venomously at Lin Yanxi. She vowed to find an opportunity to deal with this little vixen.
After the second branch group walked away, Lizi looked at the grim expression on Jiang Wan's face behind her and tugged at Lin Yanxi's sleeve.
She quietly asked, "Miss, why did you have to corner Aunt Xu like that and displease Madam?"
Lin Yanxi watched Xu Shi's retreating figure and replied, "Aunt Xu is like a grasshopper pushed to a dead end, still trying to struggle even when facing certain doom. If we let her off too easily, she'll think we're easy to bully and will become even more unruly in the future."
Jiang Wan rubbed her forehead and said, "Hurry back to your room and reflect properly."
Lin Yanxi pouted and, with Lizi, dashed back to her room.
"Madam, is your head hurting again?" Yu Gu asked, while massaging her temples.
Jiang Wan sighed again. "Zhaozhao, this child, speaks logically, has a quick mind, and is exceptionally intelligent. If not for this prophecy of a Talisman Master, no matter what kind of person she wanted to be or what path she wanted to take, she would surely succeed."
Yu Gu smiled. "Madam, you are just outwardly stern but inwardly kind. You clearly praise Second Miss in your heart, yet you always tell her to be more lenient. If this continues for too long, Second Miss might develop resentment towards you."
Jiang Wan closed her eyes, her heart filled with worry. It was precisely because of Lin Yanxi's temperament that she had to face this tribulation. She shouldn't have regained her senses.
The evening breeze brought a hint of coolness to the late June weather.
Lin Yanxi leaned by the window, gazing at the stars in the sky.
While gazing at the stars in the night sky, she felt very small.
She tried to straighten her arm upwards and reached out into the air. Indeed, there were many stars, brilliant and dazzling, yet not a single one could be touched.
Like... Shen Muzhou.
His pair of cool, indifferent, and exceptionally beautiful peach blossom eyes, his clean-cut facial features, and when he lowered his gaze, one could see his long, dense eyelashes. His lips were pressed into a thin line, and his entire face exuded an air of aloof nobility.
Wait... something felt strange. Why was she suddenly thinking of Shen Muzhou?
She shook her head, trying to drive his image from her mind. The window behind her suddenly opened, followed by the sound of someone climbing into the room.
Without a doubt, it must be Shen Muzhou sneaking into the manor again.
"Why are you again... Who are you?"
The person who had arrived was not Shen Muzhou!