The girl, having just lost her mother, felt her aunt deliberately brought up her mother.
The next moment, Lin Yan's tears dripped again. This body's tear ducts were truly sensitive; a slight emotional fluctuation would bring tears.
What kind of constitution had the author given the original host? While shedding tears had some minor benefits, it shouldn't be like this!
The original host didn't have to repay any debts of tears, so why set her up to be so weepy?
This was probably the original host's persona: a pitiable, delicate flower. A persona that could evoke pity from men and annoyance from women. Such a character, if the author had written her to death, the readers would surely applaud.
"Why are you crying? It's true, your mother had a difficult life and left you too soon," Madam Hou's face showed sorrow, but there wasn't a trace of sympathy in her eyes.
Every word from this aunt was like a knife stabbing into Lin Yan's heart. She revealed her dislike and malice without any pretense.
"However, your mother was wise to entrust you to your uncle. We will certainly take good care of you."
"Thank you for your trouble, Uncle and Aunt!" Lin Yan bit her lip tightly, trying hard not to say anything unpleasant.
Then, she made a gesture to Granny Fang, indicating for her to hand over the box she had been holding.
Granny Fang also subtly shook her head at Madam Hou. How could she bully an orphan whose parents had both passed away without fear of gossip?
This County Princess was quite generous and magnanimous in her youth. How had she become so petty in middle age?
However, she didn't show it on her face, merely handing over the box that Lin Yan had entrusted to her care on the way.
"Aunt, this is a small token of my appreciation. I am already immensely grateful for your shelter, so how could I trouble the household to fund me?
Although my parents have passed on, the wealth they left behind is enough to support an orphan like me. After paying my respects to Uncle, I will immediately return to the estate to observe mourning for my parents."
As she spoke, her tears flowed again. Lin Yan quickly wiped them away, seemingly afraid of annoying Madam Hou.
"Initially, I was in mourning and it was inconvenient for me to visit. However, since Uncle and Aunt are my closest relatives, and Aunt sent people to wait for me at the pier, I couldn't refuse your kind invitation, so I came here despite the impropriety to trouble you.
Aunt, please rest assured, after seeing Uncle, I will go to the estate and close my doors to visitors, focusing on mourning my parents."
She placed the box on the low table beside Madam Hou, wearing an expression of having been wronged but not speaking out. This made Madam Hou appear even more like she was bullying someone.
Of course, Madam Hou was indeed bullying Lin Yan, but she hadn't expected Lin Yan to dare to retort, nor had she expected Lin Yan to say such things.
If Lin Yan's words were to spread, how would the face of the Marquis of Huaiyin's household be maintained?
The child of the deceased aunt seeking refuge, not only being housed on an estate but also taking money from an orphan, and moreover, this orphan was betrothed to their own heir.
Madam Hou's gaze at Lin Yan was as if it were laced with poison. She had truly underestimated this Miss Lin.
"My dear cousin, what are you saying? Madam is heartbroken for you. Before you even arrived, Madam had your courtyard prepared, waiting for you to move in. Are you trying to hurt Madam's feelings by saying this!"
A senior maidservant beside Madam Hou looked at Lin Yan disapprovingly, as if she had said something treasonous.
"Madam has been waiting for my dear cousin to arrive since early this morning. She's asked about you so many times this morning."
"It was I who misunderstood Aunt! Please forgive Lin Yan for her impertinence." Lin Yan quickly apologized, but made no mention of taking the box back.
"Enough. You must be tired from your journey, and I am also weary. Let Shaoyao take you to rest!" Madam Hou waved her hand, indicating she had no desire to speak with Lin Yan any further.
Lin Yan didn't linger to seek further embarrassment and left with the principal maid who had spoken up.
As Lin Yan reached the doorway, she heard the sound of porcelain shattering behind her. A faint, imperceptible curve appeared on Lin Yan's lips.
In the hall, shards of porcelain lay scattered on the floor.
"She's such a sharp-tongued girl... That little bitch! How dare she, how dare she speak to me like that!" Madam Hou breathed heavily.
"Madam, don't bother with that ill-mannered girl. It's not worth it if you get angry and harm yourself." The maidservant beside her quickly went to pat her back and soothe her.
"She's truly just like her mother! Both are such vixenish creatures, always putting on a sickly, pitiable act, but in reality, full of malice!"
After Madam Hou said this, the maidservant quickly looked around. Seeing that everyone present was a trusted confidante, she let out a sigh of relief.
She quickly had everyone else withdraw and began to advise Madam Hou.
She knew Madam Hou had always looked down on that late aunt. But that was the Marquis's own sister, and they had grown up together. If Madam's words reached the Marquis's ears...
"Why would the Marquis betroth Heng'er to someone like this! She's not worthy of my son at all!"
"Madam, although this is our private courtyard, we must be careful with our words. That cousin is, after all, the Marquis's own niece, and the Marquis greatly valued his sister. If the Marquis were to know what you've said, he would be displeased!"
"I don't care if he's displeased! He didn't ask if I was pleased when he arranged this marriage for my son!" Though she said so, she said no more.
She had old grievances with this aunt of the Marquis's household. In their youth, this aunt had been renowned for her talent and was unlike the daughters of all the noble families.
And while she held the title of County Princess, she had always been unconventional, so her mother constantly told her to learn from Mother Lin.
She had always disliked Mother Lin's delicate demeanor. After she married into the Marquis's household, her husband treated his sister better than her, which further angered her.
Although Mother Lin married soon after, and to someone less prominent, she felt she had gotten her revenge.
She had almost forgotten their animosity, but who could blame Mother Lin for reappearing? If it were just about taking care of her daughter, it would have been fine; the Marquis's household wasn't lacking in resources to feed her.
But she intended to marry her sickly daughter to her most favored son, how could she accept that!
She didn't want to spend the rest of her days looking at such an annoying face. Her interaction today had shown her that this Lin Yan was no pushover, which made it even more impossible for her to marry her son.
She knew very well that her sister-in-law had so charmed her husband that there was only one woman in the inner court, and even though she had only one daughter, he had never considered taking a concubine.
She absolutely would not let a vixen born from a fox spirit become her daughter-in-law!