Chapter 106: Return to Goodness

  Lu's body suddenly shook violently, and she subconsciously covered her ears, refusing to acknowledge her own mistake.

  "Yes! It's her! It was her! She was the one who killed Wenxuan, she was the one who killed Wenxuan!"

  "If she were really the fourth young lady, she should be hiding with a guilty conscience and not daring to see you. Why did she bring the snowy dog raised by the young master to visit you today? Is it to send her to your door to beat her up? Is there such a foolish person in the world? I'll ask you again, if the fourth young lady really agreed to your words back then and promised to marry the young master, and the young master is still alive, how would you treat her? Would you regard her as a lifesaver? Would you treat her like your own daughter from now on?"

  Lu's body shook again, and she couldn't respond.

  Fortunately, Mrs. Kang didn't expect her to answer and continued on her own: "It won't happen because you also didn't anticipate that the young master would have an accident. When Fourth Aunt's daughter gets married, you'll think it's Fourth Aunt's daughter who has a deep mind and seduced the young master's heart. You wouldn't give Fourth Aunt's daughter a good face then. How could Fourth Aunt's daughter agree to let herself jump into the fire pit for something she couldn't have predicted?"

  Lu's body shook violently.

  The thing she least wanted to acknowledge was the thing she least wanted to admit, so she had to find a scapegoat to alleviate her guilt.

  Nowadays, this scapegoat has been acquitted of her crime, so shouldn't she be the only one to bear it?

  Only she can bear it...

  The light was heavy, and the bright light passed through the diamond-shaped window lattice and poured in. At first, it was projected onto the red lacquer pillar, and then slowly crawled up to Lu's face.

  Lu's face turned white with fright.

  Lin Zhaoyan saw through her thoughts at a glance and hastily said, "Zhaoye came to see the second aunt today because Seventh Sister was selected by the Empress Dowager to enter the palace, and Wan Niang was also brought back from the villa by Grandmother. She is very capable and has helped Mother with many things, which has reduced Zhaoye's workload."

  Wan Niang...

  Yes! Auntie Wan!

  Lu's face seemed to regain its vitality, it was Wan Niang who killed Wen Xuan! It was Wan Niang who killed him!

  If it wasn't for her viciousness, if she hadn't been so ruthless as to want to kill Ruo Si'er, how would Wen Xuan have gotten into trouble according to her plan?!

  All of this is because of that poisonous woman, Wan Niang!

  "Hahaha!" Lu suddenly burst out laughing and then stepped forward to grab Lin Zhaoyan's shoulder, "Zhaoyan! Auntie thanks you! It was you who helped Auntie find the murderer who killed Wenxuan! Auntie thanks you!" After that, she laughed again.

  The maids all looked at each other in dismay, and were even more frightened in their hearts.

  Is this crazy?

  Lin Zhaoyan looked at her like this and knew that his goal had been achieved.

  Lu Shi can't accept the fact that she killed her own son, so she's looking for a scapegoat. She's stuck in this mindset and won't rest until she kills the "murderer" who "killed her son".

  Lu had previously chosen her, and all she needed to do was eliminate her prejudice against her and help her transfer that hatred onto Wan Niang.

  Dogs biting dogs is always what people like to see.

  Lu's mood suddenly improved, and her attitude towards Lin Zhaoyan also made a 180-degree turn, instantly changing from gritting her teeth to being affectionate and intimate, even inviting her to stay for dinner.

  Lin Zhaoyan's goal had been achieved, and she really didn't want to stay and face the Lu family, lest she do something that would provoke them.

  She bid farewell and returned home.

  Kang's mother saw her out the door personally.

  Lin Zhaoyan stood under the porch and sincerely thanked him: "Thanks to you earlier, otherwise my second aunt wouldn't have forgiven me so quickly."

  Rather than saying forgiveness, it's more like transferring the scapegoat.

  "Old slave is not helping you, but rather Madam and also Master who is in heaven."

  Lin Zhaoyan understood her meaning.

  A family turning against each other is hardly a glorious thing; even if you win, haven't you still lost your closest kin?

  A family can only achieve its greatest significance when they unite and face outward together.

  Lin Zhaoyan sat in the carriage returning to the mansion.

  Kang's mother also closed the gate and returned to the mansion.

  None of them saw a short distance away, under a locust tree, there was a hidden black-framed carriage, inside which a pair of eagle-like cold eyes stared at them unblinkingly, not missing any detail.

  In a moment, an scout stood outside the carriage and reported, "Young master, we have already grasped the purpose of Lin Si's visit to the Liu residence this time."

  "Hmm." A voice as cold as ice, devoid of any emotion. "Analyze thoroughly and make use of it."

  Lin Si, I won't kill you with my own hands.

  There is a means in this world called "killing with a borrowed knife".

  Lin Zhaoyan returned to the Hou Mansion, and as soon as she stepped into the courtyard, Man Shuang shouted loudly, "Quickly! Get the gold wound medicine out! Bai Nian, you go boil an egg again! Hurry up!"

  Manhua was sewing shoe soles in the courtyard when she was startled by her and quickly got up and said, "What happened?"

  Before Man Shuang could answer, he suddenly saw the palm print on Lin Zhaoyan's face and exclaimed: "What's going on here?"

  "What else could it be? I was beaten by that shrew, Auntie's wife!" Man Shuang said fiercely, her eyes red with anger.

  If it weren't for her considering the young lady's care, she would have rushed forward and fought with her aunt to the death.

  Too much of a shrew! Not like a proper mistress of the house at all!

  It's also too common for people to understand! What does Young Master Biao's death have to do with the girl?!

  Manhua also burst into tears, staring at Lin Zhaoyan, "Miss, why do you have to suffer that injustice? Can you reason with Second Aunt or move her with kindness?"

  "But can take advantage of her inner guilt and that little thought to divert her hatred." Lin Zhao replied lightly, seemingly not caring about the swelling on his face.

  Man Hua's heart ached again, densely and numbly. What had the girl done wrong? Why did she have to suffer such unfair treatment!

  Even if she was an outsider, she would still resent this old heaven!

  Lin Zhaoyan didn't want to act out a "master and servant embracing with tears" scene in front of them, so she deliberately pretended to be in pain, gritting her teeth and saying, "You're all crying, but the one who got hit is me, and I'm not even crying. Hurry up and see if the eggs are cooked yet. You're already not pretty, what if you get a scar on your face? You'll never be able to get married."

  Man Shuang and Man Hua both burst into tears of laughter, "Miss is talking nonsense, you won't have trouble getting married at all! You will definitely marry the best person!"

  The three of them entered the house, and Bai Nian also brought over some boiled eggs. Man Shuang helped her apply a hot compress for a long time, until it no longer looked so swollen, before carefully applying some traumatic injury medicine to her wounds.

  "This year is really unlucky. In my opinion, we shouldn't go to the Buddha's temple to burn incense, but instead go to Yanluo Wang's place to beat up some little ghosts!"

  "Bodhisattva universally saves all beings, Yanluo collects human lives, and even slaves feel that they should beat to death those little ghosts that haunt the young lady!"

  Listening to the two maids singing in harmony, Lin Zhaoyan couldn't help but smile. "You're right, I also think that Yanluo Wang is more reliable. Tonight, let's go and make a few small paper men to ward off evil spirits."

  "Alright, alright, I'll go prepare right away. But this matter is a bit sensitive, we need to be discreet about it, if it's discovered, it will cause a huge stir." Man Shuang took it seriously and responded solemnly, with an air that seemed to want to immediately go and whip those who had wronged Lin Zhao Yan to death with the sole of her shoe.

  Manhua disagreed: "Ah? I think it's better not to do it at the mansion, let's wait a few days and find an opportunity to go out and fight."

  "What you said makes some sense. By the way, whose birth characters should we write for our little people? It's a must to write for Auntie and Wan Niang, but should we also write for Madame Hou? After all, she is the mistress, if something happens to her, the Hou Mansion will be in chaos."

  "In my opinion, it's still necessary to write. Many things were caused by Madame Hou bullying the young lady, so I'll write about her. Who let her bully the young lady!"

  Lin Zhaoyan was so fed up with them that she said, "Can't you two tell I was being sarcastic just now?"

  "I didn't hear it."

  "What does irony mean?"

  "It's using positive words to express sarcastic meaning, you've been following the girl for so long and still don't know that she often comes up with strange remarks?"

  "Oh, I just asked like that."

  Lin Zhao said: "......"

  At this time, a maid lifted the curtain and entered the house, "Miss, Master has finally gone to Madam's place!"

  "What?" The message was like a thunderclap on a clear day, and the three people in the room were all stunned.

  Lin Zhaoyan was the first to calm down, "When did you go?"

  "It was just now that Purple Cang sister, who is beside the fifth young lady, came to report. Bai Nian's expression looked somewhat anxious, "Purple Cang sister said, in order to prevent Master and Madam from quarreling again, please go over there to mediate."

  What can she reconcile? These two people, one who doesn't even treat her as a daughter, and the other who is only being nice to her because he wants to atone for his own wrongdoing.

  Where did Lin Zhaoyan get the capital to help them reconcile?

  Lin Zhaoyan's face turned cold, and he was about to refuse, but suddenly remembered the wound on his face. He narrowed his eyes, nodded, and said loudly: "Alright, I'll go!"

  She gave Liu one last chance, and only this once. If she still didn't take it seriously, she wouldn't let herself be foolish again.

  Man Shuang and Man Hua exchanged a knowing look. After serving Lin Zhao Yan for so many years, they were completely clear about what he was thinking.

  No matter how calm and clever a girl is, she's still just a thirteen-year-old kid. How can family ties not be important to her?

  Lin Zhaoyan adjusted his mentality and headed towards Luyu Hall.

  She had just walked to the gate of the courtyard when Zijuan came up to meet her. Lin Zhaoyan asked, "How is it? Didn't you have a fight?"

  "None, madam is delighted to see master's happiness, but Fifth Young Miss's face doesn't look too good."

  Lin Ruoyan is a stubborn child, everything shows on her face, I guess she also wants to say a few sarcastic and mocking words, at that time Lin Chen will be even less willing to come.

  If it were in the past, Lin Zhao would definitely think of ways to persuade him, but now she doesn't want to bother herself anymore. She even maliciously thought that since I'm not doing well, none of you should think about doing well either.

  Lin Zhaoyan stepped into the house just in time to hear Lin Ruoyan's sarcastic voice, "Luckily, Brother Xing is older now. If he were a few years younger, I'm afraid he wouldn't even know what his father looks like."

  "Second sister, I'm absolutely sure!" Lin Xin retorted in a disgruntled tone.

  Lin Ruoyan was choked and had no sound.

  "Mrs. Liu's discontented voice rose, 'Ruò ér, how can you be so rude to your father?'"

  "What I said is true, that's because Brother Heng has a good memory. Give me, if I were a few years younger, would I remember a father who never comes home and can't be seen all day?"

  "Good boy!"

  "If you say so, it's my fault. I haven't been thinking about you all, just thinking about writing and literature every day. You have the right to blame me, Ruo Er. It won't happen again." Lin Chen's calm apology was still a bit hoarse.

  Lin Zhaoyan stood outside the blue silk curtain embroidered with gold and jade, her heart aching densely.

  She has always been out of favor, and in the past she could adjust her mentality to pretend that she didn't care.

  Later on, Liu's maternal love and Lin Ruo Yan's sisterly affection made her feel incredibly warm, she thought they could all continue like this forever.

  Who knows, she was always the one isolated from others.

  Until this moment, listening to this family's warm conversation, she felt how ridiculous and pathetic she was.

  If you don't love her, why not just let it go on like this? Why give her hope and then crush it with all your might?

  She's just an ordinary person!

  Lin Zhaoyan suddenly felt that using her injury to test Liu's true feelings for her was so childish!

  She wiped away the tears that had yet to fall from her eyes, hastily turned around and ran.

  She didn't want to become the kind of person she used to despise, even if they didn't love her, and she didn't want to play tricks on her family either!

  She doesn't want to become unscrupulous!

  Zi Juan quickly grabbed her, "Fourth Miss, where are you going?!"

  Lin Zhaoyan couldn't say a word and struggled desperately.

  Zi Juan pulled her back tightly, "Fourth Young Lady, what are you doing?"

  "Miss, what are you running for?"

  Their noise was too loud and startled several people inside. The door curtain was quickly lifted, and Lin Ruoyan's anxious face appeared at the entrance.

  "Lin Zhaoyan? You've come, why don't you come in?"

  When he saw the palm print on Lin Zhaoyan's face, he rushed forward in shock. "What happened to your face? Who hit you? Who bullied you?"

  Lin Zhaoyan waved her hand open, "I'm fine."

  "How can it be nothing? Swelling like this is called nothing?" Lin Ruoyan pulled her hand again, "I heard you went to the Liu's house today, was it Second Aunt who hit you? Is it her?! Good! It seems she still has a reason! I'll go find her and get justice back right now!"

  "Can't you just not be impulsive? The fight has already happened, it's her guilt and her conscience, I've already repaid the debt I owed her! Now if you rush over there, do you want her to continue hating me?" Lin Zhaoyan pushed her away fiercely for the first time ever with such an icy and severe attitude.

  Lin Ruoyan was stunned on the spot, looking at Lin Zhaoyan who couldn't react.

  Lin Zhaoyan took a deep breath and said, "I'm sorry, I'm not..."

  "I understand." Lin Ruoyan interrupted her apology, looking very calm. "You always tolerate me, this time I'll tolerate you instead." After saying that, she even flashed a smile at her, seemingly pleased with her own magnanimity.

  Lin Zhaoyan was stunned for a moment, her nose began to sour, "Fool."

  If she knew that her usually tolerant and magnanimous sister actually had a devil in her heart, and even had vicious thoughts hoping everyone would not be well-off, would she still be so tolerant?

  Fortunately, the devil did not conquer her reason.

  Lin Chen had already come out of the house and saw Lin Zhao Yan's red-rimmed eyes and the palm print on her face, thinking that Lin Ruo Yan had bullied her. He was so heartbroken that he didn't even bother to ask for the truth, and scolded Lin Ruo Yan loudly: "Even if you said something about Father, it's nothing, but Zhao'er is your own sister, she treats you so well, how could you hit her?!"

  Lin Ruoyan's face changed instantly.

  Lin Zhao stood in front of Lin Ruoyan, coldly saying: "Father, can't you not scold Ruoyan without distinguishing between right and wrong? Isn't she your daughter? Or is it that she hasn't suffered because of you, so you can ignore her grievances with impunity?"

  Lin Chen was suddenly stunned.

  "Lin Zhao Yan..." Lin Ruo Yu was startled by Lin Zhao Yan's attitude towards Lin Chen, and didn't even have time to get angry. She reached out and tugged at her sleeve, "Father is speaking up for you, what are you doing?"

  Lin Zhao Yan bit her lip and stared blankly at Lin Chen, "Father, you understand what I mean."

  "I understand." Lin Chen covered up the sorrow in his eyes and said as calmly as possible, "I've already apologized to your mother."

  He thought a lot, a lot, a lot in this more than a month, thinking about his own and Wanru's past bits and pieces, thinking about his despair when he learned of Zhaoer's madness, he paid too much, too much for Wanru, but could only bury it in his heart, this is a taboo, before he has absolute certainty, speaking out would only harm all his loved ones.

  He thought of Liu again, thinking of her enchanting and alluring appearance on the night she married him, thinking of her selfless devotion to him over the years. He owed Liu too much, so much that Liu had to vent all her resentment towards him on Zhao Er, causing Zhao Er to live in the shadow of her biological mother's dislike since childhood.

  He thought it was fortunate that Zhao understood things, otherwise in such a distorted environment, which child would not be spoiled?

  He had always been fortunate until a month ago, when Liu's words slipped out, he observed Zhaoer's reaction, and only then did he realize that in fact, there had always been shadows at the bottom of Zhaoer's heart, it was just that she hid them too well, so they all overlooked them.

  His later disappearance and evasion were not because he was weak and escaped, but because he thought about how to make his beloved daughter happy.

  After thinking for a long time, he finally understood that it was supposed to be him and Liu being a loving couple in front of her!

  If Wanru knew it was all for their daughter, she would forgive him too!

  In his lifetime, he will never let Zhao Er shed a single tear again.

  "Dad knows he's been in debt to your mother for so many years, Dad has come around and it won't happen again."

  Lin Zhaoyan still stared at Lin Chen with a blank expression, unable to describe the taste in her heart at this moment.

  Liu had also stepped out of the house and saw everything clearly.

  Maybe they were wrong after all.

  Lin Chen is too selfish.

  Her mistake is being too calculating.

  Even if she was really mean to Zhao Er, would Zhao Er not be heartbroken after knowing the truth? She has never experienced maternal love before, and when the time comes, she will probably collapse even more thoroughly, and there will be nothing that can make her strong again.

  She has made up her mind that no matter what the outcome is now, she will use all her strength to love Zhao Er well and treat her as her own biological daughter.

  "Mother was wrong too, Mother shouldn't have treated you like that on that day. Mother was just...too angry."

  Lin Ruoyan nodded repeatedly, "Yes! Just like me, when I get angry, I speak without thinking, saying whatever comes to mind, and the most hurtful words are the ones I say. I won't stop until you're fed up!"

  Lin Zhaoyan burst into tears and laughed, "I still don't know you."

  "So don't be angry anymore, just like you just pushed me, I didn't get angry with this temper." Lin Ruoyan stepped forward and held her hand, "Hey, it was I who wanted you to join forces with me to resist Father's, but now that Father has apologized, Mother has forgiven him too, so I forgive him too. Shouldn't you also forgive him?"

  "Fourth sister, you're so good, you definitely won't get angry!" Lin Xin rushed over and hugged Lin Zhao Yan's waist, "Fourth sister, right?"

  Lin Zhaoyan lowered her head to look at him, the child's face was tender and delicate, with long eyelashes blinking at her, and her heart softened instantly.

  "I'm not angry." She lifted her face and smiled.

  The warm sunlight in July shines through the yellowish curtains and onto her face as white as jade, with sparkling lights in her eyes.

  Soft light overflows with color, bright and radiant beauty is born.

  At the same time, in the Wan Yue Pavilion, Aunt Wan heard the news that Lin Xuan had gone to visit Liu Shi.

  Her personal maid said: "Although the news of Luyu Tang is hard to hear, I still heard that the old master seems to have made up with his wife and even stayed for dinner!"

  Yan Niang's palms clenched slightly, Lin Chen had been rarely coming to her place lately, she thought he was busy with some book or painting matters and didn't mind much. Today, hearing that he returned to the mansion, she happily dressed up and waited for him to come and be intimate, but unexpectedly, he actually went to Liu Shi's place!

  What's good about Liu's family is that they raised two useless daughters!

  No, Lin Zhao's words were that people should not be judged by their appearance, and unexpectedly she was favored by the Empress Dowager and made a county mistress, which made her son's selection into the palace not make much of a stir!

  I really didn't expect it! The usually taciturn and reserved Fourth Young Miss actually had such skills!

  "Auntie, I also heard that Fourth Miss went to the Liu residence today and when she came back, there were two more palm prints on her face."

  Yan Niang was taken aback, and her thoughts were brought back by these words. She let out a cold laugh, "Isn't this just asking to be beaten up!"

  "Yes! So they say the Fourth Miss is foolish! And her temperament is too soft. She's now a county mistress appointed by the empress dowager, and her aunt's husband dares to slap her - that's a case of a lower-ranking person offending a superior, which can be punishable by law!"

  "If she had a temper in the mansion, she wouldn't have ended up like this." Madame Wan snorted disdainfully and continued: "However, her going to find Lu made me think of something - I was worried about how to deal with Liu!"

  "What does the aunt want to do?"

  "The highest state of putting a person to death is to kill with a borrowed knife."

  Thanks for the reward from Tiankongyimulan and Xiaoxiao66~

  This is 6,000 characters in one chapter, so there won't be an update tonight. RS