It was midday.
Lin Residence.
Lin Mother knelt before the ancestral temple.
She devoutly kowtowed repeatedly.
Lin Qinghuan clasped her hands, praying silently.
Too many things had happened in the family these past few days.
Lin Chao and Lin Xianhong had both been arrested by Dali Temple.
And Lin Jiang was to participate in the court deliberation today.
Clearly, this was to reprimand him!
"Mother."
"Sigh…"
Lin Mother struggled to stand up.
"That damned Ning Que!"
"It's all his fault!"
"He made our Lin Family like this."
"Shut up!"
Lin Grandfather walked out, leaning on his cane.
He looked at the two of them, coughing incessantly.
Clutching his chest, it rose and fell violently.
"Grandfather…"
"Both of you, shut up!"
Lin Grandfather glared at them, scolding angrily, "Listen carefully, both of you. No matter what the outcome is today, you are not to seek trouble with Ning Que again. He has now inherited the title of Prince, and he is not someone we can afford to offend. From now on, you all must behave cautiously and never, ever offend him."
Years ago, he was quite a figure.
Relying on his own learning, he became a minister to the late Emperor. Later, he accompanied the late Emperor on a hunt, uncovered an enemy ambush, and successfully saved the late Emperor's life. It was a pity his talent was limited, and the highest he ever reached was a second-rank official.
After Emperor Feng ascended the throne, Lin Grandfather's body became increasingly unwell.
Coupled with his personal views conflicting with Emperor Feng's, he eventually resigned from his official post and retired.
Lin Grandfather had relied on God Preservation Pill to extend his life all these years.
Now that the medicine was cut off, his health was deteriorating.
He knew he wouldn't live much longer.
But what could he do?
No one could force Chang Divine Doctor to save someone he didn't want to save.
The world also knew his rules.
Chang Baicao had three 'no-saves'.
He wouldn't save the immoral!
He wouldn't save the unfilial!
He wouldn't save the disloyal!
Chang Baicao had already made it clear.
The Lin Family was a bunch of despicable things.
They were all ungrateful wretches!
Saving Lin Grandfather, he feared, would shorten his own life!
"They're back…"
"They're back!"
"The family head and the others are all back!"
"Hurry to the living room."
Lin Grandfather forced himself to rally his spirits.
They rushed to the living room.
"Father!"
"Second Sister, Elder Brother?"
"How is it now?"
"Are we all right?"
"I know, General Gu must have helped!"
"Helped my ass!"
Lin Jiang's face flushed red, and he roared in anger, "He didn't say a single word to help us. I told you before not to offend people to death. Now look? Our whole family is finished, we'll all be drinking the northwest wind from now on!"
"General Gu also couldn't help it…"
"He couldn't help it? Back then, when our family was implicated and about to be executed, it was Ning Que who risked using the death-exemption gold tablet to save us. What, the Gu Family can't even help say a word?"
"Father, are you trying to force me to die?!"
Lin Xianhong lifted her head.
Such a toxic family environment suffocated her.
She had tried her best to help.
But what else could she do?
Gu Yuan was her last resort.
She didn't want to constantly trouble the Gu Family.
She hadn't even married in, and people were already saying she was marrying above her station into the Gu Family.
She wouldn't be able to hold her head up in the Gu Family then!
"Father, don't say anymore…"
"Second Sister isn't easy either!"
Lin Chao's eyes were red, his voice choked.
"It's all my fault, I was impulsive."
"I implicated the Lin Family."
"What exactly happened?"
"All of you, explain clearly first!"
Lin Grandfather scolded with a cold face.
Lin Jiang sighed deeply.
He recounted helplessly.
Their entire family had now been stripped of their official positions.
The worst off was Lin Chao.
He was demoted to Sima by Emperor Feng.
And exiled to the even harsher Northern Borders!
"All… all gone?"
"Not only that." Lin Jiang looked miserable, then looked at Lin Qinghuan and said, "Before court, Lord Jiang found me and said that the marriage between our two families is hereby called off. Qinghuan can no longer marry into the Jiang Family Family…"
"How is that possible?!"
Lin Qinghuan instantly turned pale with fright.
As if struck by lightning, she stood there stunned.
"Jiang Family Mother had seen me before and liked me very much. Jiang Cen was also very good to me. As long as our family prepared the dowry, he would come to marry me. How… how… now that the engagement is broken, how will I ever face anyone again?"
"I'll go find the Jiang Family Family right now!"
"This is too much bullying!"
Lin Mother, furious, was about to leave the house.
Lin Grandfather slammed his cane down with immense force.
"Enough!"
"Enough!"
"Aren't you embarrassed enough already?"
"Cough, cough, cough…"
"Grandfather?"
"This matter ends here, no more trouble!" Lin Grandfather coughed violently, "The Jiang Family Family is one of the Eight Great Families of Chang'an, and Lord Jiang is the Minister of War. Although they don't care about social standing, they are not someone our family can marry above our station into. The engagement was probably made out of consideration for Ning Que."
"Impossible!"
"What does it have to do with him?"
"It's clearly because he likes me."
"You shut up!" Lin Grandfather picked up his cane, about to hit Lin Qinghuan, raging, "You scoundrel! It was you who fanned the flames in front of Xianhong, and now you've caused a huge mistake without even realizing it."
"Grandfather, what did I do wrong?"
"Wasn't what I said correct?"
Lin Qinghuan was still pouting angrily.
"You unfilial daughter!"
"Father, don't be angry." Lin Jiang quickly stepped forward to support him, saying bitterly, "Qinghuan, don't you know the relationship between the Jiang Family Family and Ning Royal Mansion? Lord Jiang was originally a concubine's son, and by following Prince Ning and achieving many military merits, he was recommended as Minister of War, only then successfully inheriting the Jiang Family Family."
"When Old Prince Ning was buried, Lord Jiang personally carried the coffin and escorted the hearse. He wept bitterly at the funeral, eventually fainting. Lord Jiang agreeing to this marriage must have been because of Ning Que… Now that your second sister has been divorced, will the Jiang Family Family still agree?"
Lin Jiang wore a bitter smile.
What had they been doing all this time…
Regardless of whether Ning Que had the ability, Ning Royal Mansion's connections were there. Over the years, countless people had received favors from Old Prince Ning. As long as Ning Que said the word, they would go through fire and water.
"I…"
Lin Qinghuan's face showed difficulty.
She naturally knew all these things.
But the Jiang Family Family had never told her.
They always said they liked her as a person.
They would even invite her to visit the Jiang Family Family from time to time.
Now they were telling her this was all arranged by Ning Que?
How could she accept it?
"You all!"
Lin Grandfather sighed deeply, "Do you still not understand? Ning Que has now inherited the title of Prince and exercises princely authority. Even if the noble families of Chang'an don't want to curry favor with him, they will certainly not offend him. Our Lin Family is just a small household. Who would dare to associate with us in Chang'an from now on?"
"Will he target our Lin Family?"
"If he doesn't say it, won't others do it?"
Lin Grandfather turned his head coldly.
He had been in officialdom for many years and knew too well.
Ning Que didn't need to say anything.
People would naturally deal with the Lin Family to curry favor with him.
He looked at Lin Xianhong, sighing deeply.
Only the one who tied the bell can untie it!
"Xianhong…"
"Go apologize to Ning Que."
"Whether he agrees or not, you must apologize!"
"If you don't apologize, our Lin Family will have no good days."
"I won't!"
Lin Xianhong, however, was incredibly firm.
She looked at the others.
At this moment, she only felt ridiculous.
"Sister, I beg you…" Lin Qinghuan cried as she looked at her, "I just want to marry Jiang Cen. If you don't help, how will I ever face anyone again!"
Lin Xianhong stared blankly.
Even Lin Qinghuan, who had supported her the most, was like this?
Why!
She just wanted to pursue happiness, what was wrong with that?
She would rather die, die outside!
And never apologize!