Chapter 105 Despair

  Two chapters and one chapter

  Lin Ruoyan's fists were clenched tightly.

  Lin Zhaoyan tugged at her sleeve, "Don't be angry, go take a look at Mother!"

  Lin's mother also advised beside her, "Fifth girl, you can't be muddle-headed."

  Lin Ruoyan bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded.

  However, she pulled Lin Zhaoyan and said: "Remember, you are not allowed to go find your father, not allowed to show weakness, not allowed to beg, he either takes the initiative to see his mother, or else, we will cut off our relationship with him!"

  Lin's mother looked on from the side and let out a helpless sigh.

  The temperament of the fifth daughter is too strong, and her eyes can't tolerate any deceit. It's fine to be spoiled at home, but what will happen after she gets married?

  Lin Zhaoyan and Lin Ruoyan walked to the bedside, separated by layers of cyan silk curtains, they could feel the intense sorrow and despair on Liu's body.

  Lin Zhaoyan's heart ached and she softly asked, "Mother, are you okay?"

  Liu heard this voice, her hand immediately clenched into a fist, and the vermilion-painted fingernails dug deep into the flesh.

  She should be resentful, resenting her mother for occupying her husband's heart, but facing such a "daughter" who is considerate of her in her heart, she can't say harsh words.

  In the past thirteen years, because I never wholeheartedly accepted her, as for feelings, there were very few.

  In recent months, a series of sudden changes that began with the death of Liu Gongzhu have made it difficult for them to "mother and daughter" to stand on the same front line.

  Emotions have slowly come out like this.

  From former rejection to today's intolerance.

  She sometimes thought that she might as well go with the flow and let Zhao Er love her more and more, treating her as the closest and most important person. This way, even if the truth were to be revealed one day, Zhao Er would only recognize her.

  Is this the best revenge against that woman?

  But Liu Yuxin has always been upright and honest. After all, she couldn't bring herself to do something so shameful!

  "It's nothing, just let Ruo'er stay and keep me company, you go back first!"

  Liu's extremely cold words really stunned Lin Zhaoyan, and for a moment he was frozen in place, at a loss for what to do.

  Lin Ruo Yu was also stunned for a moment, "Mother, this has nothing to do with sister..."

  Liu turned sideways, her voice still clear and cold, "I'm tired, either all of you go back!"

  Lin Ruo Yan looked at Lin Zhao Yan. "Sister, Mother is..."

  "Go back!" Lin Zhaoyan smiled and said to her "Mother must be tired, let's not disturb her."

  She seems to have been unaffected.

  Lin Ruoyan let out a sigh of relief, but she didn't notice that Lin Zhaoyan's fingers had turned white.

  It turns out that everything was in vain.

  A strong wind suddenly rose, and outside it started raining heavily.

  Crack of thunder, several flashes of white light flashed across the sky, shining brightly on the Hou Mansion grounds.

  Lin Zhaoyan stood under the eaves of a corridor in the drizzle. The flickering white light flashed across her face, and she stretched out her hand to catch the rainwater dripping from the eaves.

  Her white clothes fluttering, the little girl's face was wooden, but her eyes hid a cold intent. As if she wanted to follow this thunderclap and turn everything upside down.

  Rong's mother had prepared an umbrella and, despite her own exhaustion, personally escorted Lin Zhaoyan back home.

  All along the way, she didn't say a word. It wasn't until they were approaching the courtyard that she softly spoke up: "Miss, don't resent Madam, no matter how she treats you."

  What for? Lin Zhao's heart was resentful, what for?

  She really thought she was a joke, didn't Liu just say he wanted to abandon her the other day? As a result, Liu got sick and she came up with a thick face. Now that she's been beaten out without mercy, is she going to come up again?

  Everything will be fine if it just goes back to how it was a few months ago!

  She doesn't need motherly love and she shouldn't be controlled by others!

  "Because, madam, it's for your own good." Lin Mama refused to say more, threw down this sentence and turned away.

  Lin Zhaoyan clutched the six-folded bone umbrella tightly, standing in the rain to watch Lin Mama's figure gradually disappear into the misty fog, a bitter smile emerging on her lips.

  She returned home, Man Shuang and Man Hua were holding umbrellas in their hands, just about to go pick her up.

  Seeing her appear, he was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said: "Miss is back! This day doesn't know how to get it done, saying it's going to rain and it rains, I even prepared an umbrella to send to you! How is that? Is the lady okay?"

  Perhaps it was the infectious smiles of the two maids, or perhaps it was the words Lin Mama spoke before she left that took effect, but Lin Zhaoyan had calmed down and smiled at them: "It's nothing serious."

  "That's great!" Man Shuang handed the umbrella to Man Hua to put away, and said: "A autumn rain, a cold spell, although the young lady held an umbrella, she couldn't help but get some rain on her. I'll go make a bowl of ginger soup."

  Lin Zhao had no objection.

  Man Shuang went to the small kitchen to cook ginger soup, while Man Hua took a dry cloth to wipe her sweat.

  Suddenly, there was a ticklish sensation under his feet. Lin Zhaoyan lowered his head and saw Xue Tuan's wet body in front of him.

  "Ah!" She quickly squatted down and picked it up, "Where did this little guy go? Got all wet. Manhua, you first wipe it clean for now, don't let it get sick."

  Xue Tuan felt Lin Zhao Yan's tension, and let out two weak whimpers. Her big round eyes stared straight at her, as if saying "Master, please forgive me..."

  Manhua smiled, "This little guy is very spiritual, maybe he just found out it's raining and wants to go find the girl for you." As she spoke, she was about to take Snowball from him to wipe him dry.

  Xue Tuan cried loudly and kept crawling into Lin Zhao Yan's arms, refusing to let Man Hua hold her.

  "Snowball! Don't get the girl's clothes wet!" Manhua was anxious, grabbing Snowball's fur on its back and trying to pick it up.

  The snowball was called even more fiercely, and the four small paws in the air made people laugh.

  "Alright, I'll wipe it for you!" Lin Zhaoyan couldn't help but laugh and took Snowball from Manhua's arms, taking the handkerchief and carefully wiping it on the round table beside him.

  Xue Tuan didn't make a fuss this time and enjoyed wagging his tail.

  "What does it mean? It's just a colored dog!"

  Lin Zhaoyan laughed even harder, her fingers gently stroking the soft and comfortable fur of the snowball, her heart slowly softening.

  Every time she sees a snowball, she thinks of Liu Wenxuan, thinking of that person who doesn't care about gains and losses, only with a single heart treating her well.

  This reality has even disappointed her about Lin Chen.

  Only in the snowy village, on Man Shuang and Man Hua's bodies, can a thread of warmth be found.

  "Good." Lin Zhaoyan continued to help Xue Tuan wipe his body, his eyes gleaming with a faint light. "We'll go visit Second Aunt in a few days and bring Xue Tuan along. Maybe she'll get better."

  Autumn rain pattered, golden wind was fine, after five days of continuous heavy rain gradually stopped.

  The cobblestone road paved with pebbles is as smooth as a polished mirror.

  The pomegranate tree branches are lush and dense, with bright red flowers that are stunning to the eye, but at this moment they are also bent under the weight of their own beauty.

  The maid wearing a sky-blue autumn shirt with rain-washed sleeves lifted her skirt and stepped over the stone with a gentle, rippling pace.

  In an instant, it vanished into a courtyard.

  In the courtyard, a woman in a grey-blue long gown was instructing several young maidservants who had not yet worn their hair up.

  "Madam is worried and ill, it's just the time when she's irritable. If not for selling off those little maids earlier, you wouldn't have even entered the mansion. So remember to be careful and cautious, pay attention to Madam's expression and act accordingly. If you offend Madam, I won't be able to save you either."

  Several little maidservants assented with a murmur of "yes".

  That woman was about to say a few more words, when she suddenly saw the green-shirted girl rushing into the courtyard, her face sinking. Seriously said: "Qiuju, what are you doing so recklessly? There are only a few of us old people left in this mansion, do you want to be driven out by the lady too?"

  The maid named Qiujie didn't have time to be afraid and hastily said: "Aunt Kang, it's our cousin!"

  "Which table miss?"

  "The Fourth Miss of Jian'an Marquis Manor!"

  "What did you say?"

  "The Fourth Young Lady of Jian'an Marquis Manor is here! She's waiting outside the manor gate, saying she wants to pay her respects to the mistress!" Qiuju repeated loudly again.

  Kang's mother stared with wide eyes in shock.

  Fourth Aunt's daughter? How did she come to visit Madam?

  They still remember the day of Young Master's funeral, when Madame fiercely pulled Fourth Sister-in-law's hair, saying she was the one who killed Young Master and wanted to die with her.

  That scene scared everyone to death.

  If it weren't for Madame's excessive grief causing her to faint, Fourth Sister would have been caught by Madame in who-knows-what state.

  They all thought that Fourth Mistress would definitely break off completely with the Liu family.

  After that, Fourth Sister-in-law indeed never came to visit Madame again, so why did she come today?

  Is she out of her mind or doesn't want to live anymore?

  "Mother, what should we do? Should we let her in or not? If something happens, we won't be able to bear the consequences!" Qiuju was somewhat at a loss.

  Kang's mother didn't know what to do either. She waved her hand and let the little maids retreat, hesitated for a moment and said: "Did Fourth Sister come alone?"

  Qiu Ju nodded, "En, I brought two maidservants. Oh, right! And also the snow dog that young master used to raise, Si Tiao's daughter brought it too!"

  "Snow Dog?" Mom Kang frowned, "But isn't it called Snow Ball?"

  "Right, right, let's call her Xue Tuan, she was taken care of by Hong Shuang sister before."

  Kang's mother nodded thoughtfully, "It seems that Fourth Sister is quite clever."

  Qiu Ju didn't understand her meaning, and only asked: "Should we let Eldest Cousin come in? She's still waiting outside the hall, I don't dare to take liberties or report back to the mistress."

  "Since she has brought the snowball, she must want to see her husband."

  "Is Miss Bai going to return the snowball to the lady?"

  "This may not be the case, but she brought Snowball back, which can comfort her husband's heart to some extent. After all, it was raised by the young master himself, and seeing it should remind him of the young master!"

  Chrysanthemum nodded as if she understood but didn't really understand.

  "All right!" Mother Kang thought for a moment, "You take Tabi to the inner courtyard first, I'll go and report to the mistress now."

  At that time, Lin Zhao was sitting quietly in the hall on a Huang Huali wooden chair, waiting with a soft bundle in her arms, which was Xue Tuan.

  Xue Tuan's spirit was very poor, weak and feeble, his small head resting on Lin Zhao Yan's leg, making whimpering cries.

  Lin Zhaoyan stroked its back gently, her eyes dazedly falling on the "奠" character pasted on the four-grid window frame, and her heart felt like it was blocked by something.

  "Miss, will Second Aunt meet with you?" Man Shuang felt the atmosphere around her was depressing and couldn't help but speak up to relieve it.

  "It's settled." Lin Zhaoyan nodded and said firmly: "She will definitely see me."

  Lu was furious with her and had been looking for a chance to take revenge. Now that she had delivered herself into his hands, he would not let go of this great opportunity.

  "What if Second Aunt is unfavorable to you?" Manhua asked anxiously.

  Lin Zhaoyan curled up the corners of his lips and smiled, "That's why I came!"

  She thought about it, she couldn't avoid it anymore. Lu Xi hated her, this was a time bomb, now she was heartbroken and wouldn't take action against her, but who knows what would happen in the future.

  She must first extinguish the hatred of Lu's family!

  It's now the most vulnerable and comforting time for Lu, and the timing is just right.

  After a moment, Lu's personal maid, Qiujie, came in and said respectfully: "Fourth Miss, I'll take you to the inner courtyard for a seat."

  "Alright." Lin Zhaoyan nodded in agreement, hugging Xuetuan as he stood up, then turned around to instruct the two maids. "Later on, no matter what Second Aunt does to me, you two must not intervene, just stand aside and watch quietly."

  Before extinguishing the fire of Lu's family, it must be allowed to burn for a while, otherwise it will be easy to reignite.

  Qiu Ju led them through the halls and courtyards until they arrived at Lu's residence.

  She settled them in the flower hall and politely brought tea water. "Cousin, just wait here for a while."

  Lin Zhao had no objection.

  After waiting for about a quarter of an hour, Lu's personal maid walked out, with a smile on her face, and said respectfully: "Miss, the mistress wants to see you. Please follow me!"

  Lin Zhaoyan walked towards her step by step with a snowball in his arms.

  Kang's mother's gaze fell from Lin Zhaoyan's face to the snowball in her arms, and her mind was already racing. As Lin Zhaoyan approached, she smiled and said, "Is this the snow dog that Young Master used to raise?"

  "En." Lin Zhaoyan nodded and pushed the snowball in front of her. "It's grown up."

  Xue Tuan listlessly jumped up and down a couple of times before burrowing into Lin Zhao Yan's arms.

  Lin Zhaoyan smiled awkwardly. "It's not in a particularly good mood today."

  "It must be thinking of the young master." Kang's mother sighed, thinking of her own short-lived young master, and her heart felt like it was being slowly torn apart by a dull knife.

  Watching the young master grow up from a small and soft baby to a handsome youth, I have been looking forward to his success and prosperity, marrying a wife and having children, surrounded by happiness.

  But he withered at the most beautiful moment.

  Lin Zhaoyan tugged at the corner of his lips, pointing to the white silk on the window frame: "It's been a long time, these haven't been taken down yet, and it's only natural that there will be an oppressive atmosphere in the mansion."

  "Alas, I know all too well," said Mother Kang with a sigh and a shake of her head. "But the mistress is unwilling to withdraw. She's afraid that if we do, everyone will forget about Young Master, and she's afraid that if he dies, no one will remember him."

  Lin Zhaoyan's nose was sour, "How could it be? If you truly miss someone, even if you are separated by mountains and seas, you will still remember. On the contrary, if you don't have a true heart, even if you are reminded every moment, you will forget."

  Lu's love for Liu Wenxuan was genuine, but she seemed to have forgotten that his death was a direct result of her own actions. Her maternal instincts at this moment were truly ironic and laughable.

  Kang's mother smiled and didn't say much.

  She then shifted her gaze to Xue Tuan, "Madam is always afraid that she will forget about Young Master, so every day she would flip through the books Young Master has read and practice writing the characters he wrote. But those are all inanimate objects, now that Eldest Cousin has brought this little guy back, Madam will surely be delighted."

  This is hinting that she shouldn't worry, Snowy will not do anything to her at Lu's place.

  Lin Zhaoyan nodded slightly and said, "Thanks, Mom."

  Kang's mother led her all the way to the Liu family's residence.

  Before entering the house, a faint scent of medicine wafted out.

  The July breeze carries a hint of coolness, mixed with the fragrance of medicine blowing on people's faces and entering their nostrils, bringing a sense of comfort.

  Lin Zhaoyan stood outside the door curtain embroidered with bamboo leaves, taking a deep breath.

  She was about to lift the curtain and enter the house, when the embroidered bamboo leaves on the door screen swayed slightly, and then she saw Lu Shi walking out wearing a plain white undergarment with her long hair loose.

  Her face was pale, her expression was dispirited, only a pair of eyes showed the chill of ice and snow, and the hatred that could destroy heaven and earth.

  Lin Zhaoyan had yet to utter a word when Lu raised her hand and slapped her face with great force.

  "Lin Zhaoyan! You actually have the nerve to show up!"

  All that could be heard was the crisp and loud slapping sound, accompanied by Lu's sharp angry roar within this small room.

  In an instant, the scene fell silent once again.

  The maids were all frightened out of their wits, each one as silent as a cicada in winter, covering their mouths and not even daring to let out a cry of surprise.

  Kang's mother did not expect Lu to take such action either.

  She had just promised not to be impulsive when she talked to her!

  Madam Lu raised her hand again to hit Lin Zhaoyan, but Mrs. Kang hurried forward and pulled Madam Lu back. "Ma'am! Calm down!" she exclaimed.

  Lin Zhaoyan only felt a burning pain on her face, but no matter how painful it was, she could still grit her teeth and endure it.

  If Lu didn't slap her, it would be hard for her to dispel the anger in her heart.

  Then she stopped Man Shuang and Man Hua who were about to intervene on her behalf, and said to Lu Shi: "Second Aunt, if a few more slaps can vent your anger, I have no objection."

  Lu's eyes turned red, struggling in Mrs. Kang's arms, "Do you think I dare not? You cheap woman, wild seed! It was you who killed Wenxuan, I want you to be buried with him!"

  Lin Zhaoyan furrowed her brow at her words.

  Anyone who is angry to the extreme is irrational. Speaking also without choosing words, "xiaojianren" can be understood, but what does "yezhong" mean?

  Lin Zhaoyan hadn't even had time to think carefully when Lu Shi suddenly broke free from Kang's mother's grasp and pounced on her.

  "Girl!" Man Shuang and Man Hua didn't even have time to remind her, Lin Zhaoyan was slapped again by Lu Shi.

  Lin Zhaoyan was taken aback.

  Lu Shi did not expect that Lin Zhaoyan would really not dodge, or perhaps it was because this slap had consumed her last bit of strength, and for a moment she stood frozen in place.

  In an instant, she smiled slightly, pulling up the corners of her lips. However, her body swayed and almost fell over.

  Lin Zhaoyan reached out and supported her from behind.

  Lu furiously shook off her hand, "No need for you to pretend here!"

  With this swing, Lin Zhao's hands were holding a snowball and instantly swung out.

  The snowball was thrown to the ground in pain. It fell to the ground and cried out, its cry piercing and heartbreaking.

  Lin Zhaoyan hastily went to pick it up and gently patted its back to comfort it.

  Lu was taken aback and subconsciously asked: "Is this the Samoyed that Wen Xuan raised?"

  Lin Zhaoyan nodded and walked towards her with Xuetuan in his arms, "It's grown up. I brought it to see you."

  Lu Shi looked over and saw that the little guy had indeed grown a lot, at this moment he was staring with his shiny black eyes, looking wronged and innocent as he nestled in Lin Zhao Yan's arms.

  It seems that Lin Zhaoyan has been trusted extremely.

  Lu's gaze turned cold, and she shifted her line of sight to Lin Zhao Yan's face. She saw that the left side of his face had an obvious slap mark, and compared to the right side, it was swollen by a lot.

  She felt uncomfortable for a moment.

  If Wen Xuan were still alive, she would see her bullying Lin Zhao Yan like this and must also be as distressed as Xue Tuan, and would comfort her.

  Wen Xuan originally gave Xue Tuan to Lin Zhao Yan, did he also have this intention?

  When she saw things and thought of people, she also saw her as a mother and couldn't get angry at all.

  He really went to great lengths for Lin Zhaoyan!

  Since ancient times, it has been difficult to pass through the barrier of love, and Wenxuan died under the weight of a single word "love"!

  Can't blame her, really can't blame her...

  Lu thought so, and became dizzy again, no longer with his previous high spirits.

  Kang's mother saw this, gently supported Lu Shi, and looked at Lin Zhao Yan being beaten but enduring the pain and humiliation. She really couldn't bear to see it, so she said: "Madam, it's been so long since then, no matter what you should have come to your senses by now. Young Master's death, was it really related to Fourth Sister?"

  The young master is dead, who wouldn't be heartbroken?

  She is heartbroken too!

  She had also hated the fourth aunt who refused to marry the young master, but after going through the most painful period and calming down to think carefully, she felt that this had nothing to do with the fourth aunt.

  Why is the Fourth Sister so innocent?

  No one expected the young master to have an accident, and neither did the fourth daughter. She had already been kind enough to visit the young master that day, so how could she be expected to be even more tolerant and marry into a family that had schemed against her own?

  Even if she agreed, would the Jian'an Marquis Manor agree?

  When the time comes, she is disliked by her natal family and cannot get any benefits from her husband's family.

  Who is responsible for the four tables of young ladies?

  She thought, if the fourth young lady had known earlier that the young master would get into trouble, with her temperament, she should have agreed!

  But who could have anticipated?

  The young master's death, in short, was due to his own excessive fragility, so fragile that he could not withstand even a slight breeze.

  But can't all this be said to be the result of Madame's overprotection and doting?

  Is all this really related to Fourth Sister?

  Kang's mother was a maid who followed Madame Lu from her parents' home to her husband's, from Yanling to the capital city. She watched her grow up, get married and give birth, and saw her transform from a naive and lively young girl into a woman skilled at scheming and only understanding benefits.

  When did she not remind? However, Lu was possessed by a ghost and confused in her mind. Until the young master died, it has been so long, but she still shifted the blame to others, never finding the reason on herself.

  Can't take it anymore!

  The tragedy of Master Biao can't be repeated, she must take this opportunity to make Lushi clear-headed today no matter what!

  Sorry about that, it's been a bit busy towards the end of the year, no time to update during the day, thanks for your understanding~(....)