Lin Residence.
Lin Chao tremblingly got out of the carriage.
"Son!"
"Father, Mother!"
"You've suffered." Lin Mother embraced Lin Chao, wiping away tears with heartache. "It's all Ning Que's fault for getting you into Dali Temple. That place is not fit for humans. Hurry back to the residence and bathe. Xianhong, check your brother for any issues. Prescribe more tonics for him to recover!"
"Mhm."
Lin Xianhong nodded slightly.
Actually, Lin Chao hadn't suffered much.
It was only a few days after all.
Everything followed the standard procedure.
But seeing her mother's concern, Lin Xianhong felt an inexplicable pang of sadness. After her abortion, her mother hadn't offered a single word of comfort. If it was due to favoring sons over daughters, she could accept it. But her mother was also extremely kind to Lin Qinghuan, only being lukewarm towards her. Was she not a daughter of the Lin Family?
"Bah, a whole family of bad seeds!"
"How did he get released?"
"Why isn't this hussy being drowned in a pig cage?"
"Do you really think we Jingyang people are easy to bully?"
"Brothers, throw things!"
More and more common people gathered in front of the residence.
All of them were filled with righteous indignation.
Someone started shouting, though it was unclear who.
Then came an overwhelming shower of rotten vegetable leaves and rotten eggs. Lin Jiang immediately became enraged and was about to curse when an unknown object splattered on his face. The overwhelming stench nearly made him vomit.
"Quick, quick, back to the residence!"
Watching them flee back into the residence in disarray did not extinguish the anger of the Jingyang people. All sorts of filth were hurled at the vermilion gate, making one nauseous.
Whose fault was it?
It was their own fault!
Ever since Jingyang was overseen by Qi King Tian Zhongxun, their nightmare began. They didn't want to cause trouble for Ning Que, so they endured it. After all, they had some family wealth and were a model village in a hero county; they didn't want to be looked down upon.
When the locust plague arrived, they tightened their belts, sold their pots and pans, but it couldn't counter their casual price increase. In just a few days, grain prices skyrocketed.
The county magistrate didn't care about them.
Qi King didn't care either.
The four major grain merchants simultaneously inflated prices.
All to squeeze every last penny from their pockets!
When they were in despair, Ning Que arrived!
He brought an endless supply of grain.
Ning Que, remembering old ties, paid them to turn over the land.
Men worked, women helped in the kitchen, and children removed locusts.
Not only was food provided daily, but wages were also paid.
The Minister of Works personally led people to the fields, teaching them hand-in-hand how to plant Shu Mai (Winter Wheat). There were also dedicated officials recording everything, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
They couldn't even imagine such days!
It was even better than before the disaster!
However, some people didn't like them.
They wanted to starve them and make them kneel as slaves.
They came to Chang'an to seek justice, but then they saw Lin Chao released. The anger accumulated over the years completely erupted...
"What are you doing?!"
Patrol inspectors in black robes with swords at their waists emerged. They belonged to the Patrol Inspectorate and were under the jurisdiction of the Prefect of the Capital. Their main responsibility was to maintain public order in Chang'an and apprehend bandits, similar to police officers.
"Reporting, my lord, we are from Jingyang."
"Today, we demand justice from the Lin Family!"
The patrol inspector looked back at the Lin Residence, seeing it plastered beyond recognition, and then lowered his voice, saying, "We've heard about your situation. You've been wronged, and it's right for you to vent your anger here, but please don't make things difficult for us. Know when to stop. If you really can't, then act after sunset."
"Alright, we understand."
They were also very cooperative.
After all, the person had already said so much.
Looking at the Lin Residence, they snorted heavily.
When the sun set, the number of patrol inspectors would decrease.
Then, if they acted, the Lin Residence would be helpless.
...
"Rebellion!"
"Rebellion!"
"Mere common people dare to cause trouble at the Lin Family!"
Lin Jiang stamped his foot in anger.
When had they ever suffered such humiliation?
"Father, you should gargle first..."
"Ugh..."
Lin Jiang couldn't hold it in anymore.
The foul odor lingered persistently.
"How's it outside?"
"They have all dispersed."
"That's good." Lin Chao's face was full of anger, and he said exasperatedly, "These people are truly hateful, coming all the way from Jingyang to cause trouble for our family. I dare say, this must all be Ning Que's doing!"
"Does that even need thinking?"
Lin Qinghuan rolled her eyes and said sarcastically, "Who doesn't know that he was formally crowned king today, becoming the only Prince of Great Feng? He hasn't even settled in yet, and he's already impatiently called people from his Jingyang fiefdom to cause trouble, clearly intending to slap our Lin Family's face."
"Mhm."
Lin Xianhong merely nodded in agreement.
Any good feelings she had for Ning Que were gone.
Ning Que said things like 'we part ways, each finding joy'; 'strangers on different paths, no need to meet again.' He seemed so carefree on the surface, but in reality, he was petty and fixated on their Lin Family.
Lin Xianhong just couldn't understand.
Now that Ning Que had divorced her and taken back the betrothal gifts and dowry, causing the Lin Family to be on the verge of bankruptcy, why was he still bothering their family?!
Couldn't he be more magnanimous?
Bah, what a hypocrite!
"Big Brother, don't be impulsive." Lin Qinghuan grabbed Lin Chao, who was about to go out, and quickly said, "You've just been released. What if you get arrested again?"
"Are we just going to let people bully us like this?"
"There's nothing we can do..."
Lin Qinghuan looked at them and said indignantly, "I understand now. Ning Que is acting out of love-turned-hate; he's deliberately retaliating against our Lin Family. He wants to prove that after Second Sister left him, we couldn't survive. "
"Sigh!" Lin Mother was truly scared now and quickly said, "Xianhong, for the sake of our Lin Family, go to Ning Que, admit your mistake, and humble yourself."
"Mother!"
"Why are you still talking nonsense?"
"Don't I have any self-respect?"
Lin Qinghuan nodded in agreement, "Mother, what are you afraid of? Look at this time, how much has Ning Que bullied us? If General Gu hadn't helped, I don't think Big Brother would have returned. Going to him now would be playing right into his hands, wouldn't it? Anyway, we have the Gu Family helping us, so we're not afraid of him at all!"
"Right!"
"You two..." Lin Mother hesitated, then continued to persuade, "Even with the Gu Family, are they willing to openly break ties with Ning Que for us? Don't forget, he has now formally inherited the title of King, he is the only Prince of Great Feng, second only to one person! If Xianhong hadn't been divorced, she would be the Princess Consort now!"
"Mother, stop talking!"
"I've never liked him!"
"Then I ask you, what about your sister's dowry?" Lin Mother sat down weakly, "Your Big Brother was stripped of his official position and fined three thousand taels. We weren't wealthy to begin with, and now it's even worse. We'll definitely need more silver for connections in the future. Don't tell me you can cure diseases; I'm asking where the money will come from? Don't forget, we still owe the Prince's residence forty-five thousand taels!"
"General Gu said he would pay thirty thousand taels."
"Where's the money?"
"He said he'd send it in three days."
"Alright, then I'll wait another three days."
Lin Mother was also tired of talking.
After all, she had also instigated Lin Xianhong to have an abortion back then.
Her idea was to have her cake and eat it too.
To use this matter to make the Gu Family owe them a favor!
As for Ning Que?
A few good words would suffice, wouldn't they?
She never expected Ning Que to lose his patience and directly divorce his wife!
Then turn around and inherit the title of King, becoming the Prince of Great Feng!
Could she not regret it?!
"Madam!"
"Yang Momo is here!"
"Yang Momo?" Lin Mother was startled, then quickly stood up and said, "Go, go, go, hurry and welcome her!"