Chapter 96: A Rift in the Mind

  2nd update! Looking for pink!

  Lin Zhaoyan didn't know how much grievance Liu had endured before choosing to erupt at this point, but she knew that Liu had clearly gone all out.

  The woman she kept talking about should be the one in Lin Chen's portrait.

  It turned out that this had always been her heart's wound.

  But why did she say my daughter can't compare with your Lin Zhaoyan?

  Why did you have to leave her so clearly?

  Isn't she her daughter?

  Has she already become disgusted with her to this extent in her heart?

  Why was she so good to her before?

  "Mother..." Lin Zhao's faint voice echoed outside the door.

  Ms. Liu was startled and turned around abruptly to look at her.

  Lin Zhaoyan gazed at Liu unblinkingly for a moment, with infinite sorrow and grievance flowing in her eyes. "You're returning to Yanling, aren't you planning on taking me with you?"

  Liu's body trembled, and the anger that had just surged up suddenly dissipated.

  And this makes her answer how?

  Lin Chen was also startled by Lin Zhao's sudden words and stared at her in a daze, unable to utter a word.

  Too careless!

  The couple quarreled, how could they avoid the crowd, how did Liu's anger get to his head and lose his rationality, he also lost his rationality? They actually started arguing in front of their two daughters!

  "Mother, mother didn't mean it that way, mother was just momentarily angry and spoke thoughtlessly." Liu tried to explain.

  Lin Zhaoyan smiled and said, "I see."

  She's not stupid, Liu's words were either a truthful outburst or a slip of the tongue, she knew clearly in her heart. She had always thought that even if Liu didn't like her, he would still treat her as his daughter, but now she realized that he had never accepted her from the start.

  Even if it's a separation, she would only take Heng and Lin Ruoyan with her.

  Is it sad? Is it angry? Is it desperate?

  None of them, she just... felt some pain in her heart.

  Liu was speechless.

  Lin Chen didn't know what to say either.

  Lin Ruoyan was still in a state of unease.

  The room suddenly fell into an eerie silence.

  Lin Zhaoyan slowly opened his mouth, "Mother, don't forget that Grandmother's surname is Lu and yours is Liu. No matter how well you do, it will never be the same surname."

  As a young daughter-in-law, it's enough to take care of your own house and teach your own children well. What's the point of fighting for control of the household? It's just adding trouble for yourself.

  Liu was stunned.

  Lin Zhaoyan pursed her lips, turned sideways, and bowed slightly, "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave first."

  "Zhao'er!" Liu shouted loudly at her.

  Lin Zhaoyan's footsteps paused, but he didn't turn his head back.

  "Zhaohua, Mother just spoke thoughtlessly, don't take it seriously. In Mother's heart, you are the best."

  "......I understand." Lin Zhaoyan didn't say anything else, quickly stepping out of the room, with no one seeing the crystal tears that flashed and fell at the corner of her eyes.

  She can't cry, she must be strong.

  Returning to the Qingfang Pavilion, Lin Zhaoyan locked himself in his room, and neither Man Shuang nor Man Hua knew how to persuade him.

  To be honest, as soon as Third Madam said those words, even the servants who heard them felt a chill in their hearts, let alone the young lady.

  No matter what mistakes Master has made outside, it has nothing to do with the young lady, why take it out on her?

  It's so unfair!

  Lin Chen quickly followed and said he wanted to have a good talk with Lin Zhao Yan.

  Lin Zhaoyan couldn't help but feel frustrated, yet he didn't get angry and only faintly said that his body wasn't feeling well and it wasn't convenient to see guests.

  Lin Chen couldn't help it, he knew that Lin Zhao Yan was really disappointed this time, not only with her mother but also with him, a father who only thought of "other women".

  He shook his head and sighed as he was about to leave, when Liu's personal maid hurried over.

  "It's useless, let her calm down first." He thought it was Liu's family who sent someone to comfort. Didn't think that as a mother, saying such words clearly meant abandoning one's own daughter, who would be okay? Is it just a few comforting words that don't hurt or itch?

  Who would have thought that Ziying suddenly said: "It's an imperial edict from the palace, ordering the entire mansion to go and pay their respects!"

  "What's the imperial edict? Lin Chen's body trembled slightly, "What is the purpose of bringing an imperial edict at this time?"

  His voice was somewhat sharp, and Ziying was taken aback, hastily lowering her eyes to say: "It's true, it's true that Fifth Young Miss has been chosen."

  It turned out to be the Empress Dowager's selection of attendants.

  Lin Chen let out a sigh of relief, "Alright, you can go back first. I'll be there with Fourth Miss later."

  The purple swallow respectfully bid farewell.

  Lin Chen stood outside the yard waiting, and soon saw Lin Zhao Yan walking out with clean clothes and an expression that didn't change much.

  She looked no different from usual, but there was an inexplicable strangeness about her.

  "Zhaor." Lin Chen thought for a moment, then decided to speak up. "When you were born, something happened at home and your father wronged your mother. So, your mother had some resentment towards your arrival, but she actually loves you."

  His words were carefully considered and not a lie, but to an uninformed listener, they conveyed a completely different meaning.

  Most men cheat when their wives are pregnant.

  It's likely that Lin Chen made a big fuss over that woman at the time, and Liu thought it was because of her arrival that things turned out this way, so she shifted her resentment to her.

  This was the first time Lin Zhaoyan heard Lin Chen mention why she wasn't favored by Madam Liu.

  There's an indescribable feeling in her heart, and although she also reluctantly accepted this answer, deep down, it made her feel a little better.

  "Everyone makes mistakes, what's important is how you make up for them afterwards." Lin Zhaoyan finally spoke up.

  She looked at Lin Chen seriously, "But Father, you didn't. You never tried to love Mother, never tried to get along with her, that's why things ended up like this. Mother really changed a lot for your sake."

  She had heard her uncle and aunt in Yanling mention that her mother had a violent temper at home, which was exactly the same as Lin Ruoyan's now, so it could be said that Lin Ruoyan completely inherited Liu's temperament.

  But since Liu married into the Hou Mansion, her personality had completely changed. She was no longer impulsive and explosive, but instead gentle and refined, cultivating herself to be a suitable wife for Lin Chen.

  What about Kalinda? He has been resisting this marriage all along.

  Lin Zhaoyan loved Lin Chen, but had to admit that he hadn't put in any effort in this marriage and had never truly stood by Liu's side, so it was no wonder Liu was furious just now.

  Lin Chen let out a bitter laugh and whispered: "Because I couldn't."

  He had promised Wanru that in this life, he would only love one person, and that was her.

  Others, he has let down.

  But how could he say this to Zhao Er?

  Lin Zhaoyan glanced at Lin Chen, seeing only guilt on his face but not a hint of intention to change, and knew that no matter how many years passed, Lin Chen would never fall in love with Liu.

  The unspoken taste in her heart, she didn't want to be a sacrifice of her parents' disputes at all, but she became such a sacrifice for thirteen years! Just because Lin Chen had an affair, she was abandoned by her own mother for thirteen whole years!

  It's not that I don't blame you...

  So she calmly opened her mouth before she even reacted, "Mother just said that, I'm not angry. I just feel disappointed in Father."

  Lin Chen's heart skipped a beat and began to ache dully.

  For so many years, Zhao Er has always been the one he trusts and loves the most, but now she says she's disappointed in him.

  It's because he loved her birth mother, but didn't love the mother who was cold and indifferent to her...

  Everyone outside has almost arrived, the incense table is already set up, and three sticks of incense have been inserted into the six-legged purple bronze tripod cauldron with cloud patterns. Only waiting for the official to arrive and read out the imperial edict.

  Everyone's expression is different, with tension, anticipation, unwillingness and indifference.

  Lin Xingyan was the most tense one, his palms clenched tightly, and his forehead was covered with cold sweat.

  Perhaps because of what had just happened, Liu looked worried and depressed.

  Lin Ruoyan was also anxious, constantly peeking into the inner courtyard.

  Liu Ayi leaned in close to Lu Shi's ear and whispered, "I heard that Third Master had a fight with Third Madam."

  Lu was shocked, she knew Liu too well. If you said she had a fight with anyone else, she would believe it, but it's impossible for her to have a fight with Lin Chen.

  She thinks Lin Chen is a Buddha!

  Thinking of this, Lu Shi curled her lips. What's so good about Lin Chen? He's just a remarried man whose wife died mysteriously after only half a year of marriage, and even his father-in-law was dismissed and investigated!

  Although this matter was covered up in a shameful way, Liu's family still welcomed her with the courtesy of a first wife. But the previous marriage is already set in stone, can hiding it make it seem like it never happened? As a wealthy and noble lady, Liu is surprisingly eager to become someone else's second wife, even when she suffers grievances without complaint, what an illness!

  If she humbled herself and married down, once in her husband's family, she would definitely hold her head high and maintain a dignified demeanor, especially when facing her mother-in-law and husband, for she was not without pride!

  It's like Liu's family, making it seem like a high marriage.

  Take another look at Lin Chen, since being demoted to a commoner fourteen years ago for some unknown reason that offended the Emperor, he has been idle and indulgent, spending his days writing and painting without any care for his family, yet still wanting to eat well, dress well, and buying so many unnecessary antiques and calligraphy paintings.

  Where did the silver come from? Was it really sold for those few broken paintings of his? Nonsense! Those were all public accounts, even earned by their own family!

  But what about him? He doesn't know how to be grateful and doesn't understand how to repay kindness. And yet, the young master and his aunt didn't say a word to each other!

  The eccentricity is also too severe!

  "The old lady has arrived." Liu Ayi gave Lu Shi a push.

  Lu Shi hastily came back to her senses and looked in the direction Liu Ayi had indicated, and indeed saw Lin Lao Tai Tai walking over with the support of a maid, having changed into mourning clothes.

  Her eyes were smiling, full of spiritual joy, and the intricate and exquisite ceremonial dress made her look even more elegant and noble.

  Lu knew what was on her mind.

  The imperial edict of the empress dowager has arrived, it can't be for no reason, one of the girls from the Jian'an Marquis's manor must have been chosen, and the old lady is naturally delighted.

  Lu Shi pouted, it wasn't her daughter, she would rather not be a girl from the Hou Mansion!

  Lin Chen is a devoted lover for Wan Fei, but for Liu Shi, he's really a scumbag...

  But who can also say he is right or wrong [everything has two sides]