Chapter 240: Chapter 222, Retribution_1
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Yan Zhigao fled from the Songhe Courtyard, and the news quickly spread throughout the various courtyards of the Yan Family.
Second branch.
The Sun Family sneered, “This Lin Family, still thinks it’s like a few years ago when she was favored, wants whatever she wants? She gave birth to a mere illegitimate daughter, yet dreams of having her raised by the dowager? Such audacity.”
Yan Yile, who was fully immersed in deeply resenting writing large characters, immediately looked up and asked, “Mother, if Aunt Lin sends the fifth sister to grandmother, our eldest sister will lose favor, right? This is good news.”
“Good news?” the Sun Family tapped her youngest daughter’s head, “If that fifth girl is truly raised in the dowager’s courtyard, her status will be elevated. Who knows if she might overtake you in the future? A concubine-born daughter stepping over your heads—would you be happy about that?”
Yan Yile immediately shook her head.
The Sun Family continued, “Even if the fifth girl is taken to the dowager’s courtyard, your eldest sister will not lose favor. Haven’t you all realized yet? Your eldest sister is the apple of the dowager’s eye. Who do you think could replace her?”
“If the dowager were so easily swayed by affection, you’d be endearing, Yishuang would be acting cute. Would the dowager still be so indifferent towards you?”
Yan Yile pouted; indeed, the grandmother was very hard to please.
The Sun Family tapped her on the head, “Enough, hurry up and write. Once you’ve finished a hundred pieces, you can show them to your eldest sister.”
Yan Yile pouted, “Eldest sister certainly demands a lot, everyone has to listen to her.”
The Sun Family said impatiently, “If you were as strong as your eldest sister, others would listen to you too. Write well; Daohua always keeps her promises. Don’t regret it if she really leaves you behind when going out one day.”
Hearing this, Yan Yile sulkily resumed her writing.
Third branch.
The Wu Family was smilingly playing with a rattle drum, trying to amuse her little son crawling all over the bed.
The maid Chunju stood on the other side of the bed, careful to prevent the child from falling off, and looking at Yan Wencheng’s chubby cheeks, she said with a laugh, “The seventh master is getting better and better at crawling, and quite strong too.”
The Wu Family pinched her son’s plump cheeks, chuckling, “Haven’t you seen how his big sister has been feeding him? He’s almost turning into a little piggy.”
Chunju looked puzzled at the Wu Family, “Madam, the Shuangxin Courtyard is planning to send the fifth girl to the dowager, why aren’t you worried at all?”
The Wu Family smiled lightly, “What’s there to worry about? If the dowager doesn’t even want to keep Wencheng, her legitimate grandson, by her side, why would she raise a concubine’s daughter? That would only upset the elder sister-in-law.”
As she spoke, her expression paused for a moment.
“My brother-in-law truly… he even made a special trip to the dowager’s place for this. The elder sister-in-law must be heartbroken.”
Of the two sisters-in-law, she favored the elder one the most. The elder sister-in-law was honest and kind, willing to teach her things she didn’t understand, unlike the second sister-in-law, who always found ways to belittle her in conversation.
Chunju said, “Now that Aunt Lin’s plan has failed, the elder Madam must be relieved.”
The Wu Family shook her head but didn’t say anything.
Although the elder sister-in-law held the most prestigious position among the three daughters-in-law of the Yan Family, she also bore the most burdens. Not to mention anything else, just dealing with the elder brother’s two concubines was enough trouble for her.
As for herself, though she only took care of the family’s fields, she was quite content. If she were as capable as her brother-in-law and had a few concubines, she wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.
She really didn’t understand why her second sister-in-law was so envious of the elder one.
Shuangxin Courtyard.
Aunt Lin, having learned that the dowager refused to adopt her daughter, felt extremely resentful. Propping herself up, she looked at her maid Xiyun, “And the master? Why hasn’t he come to see me?”
Xiyun hesitated, not daring to look at the furious Aunt Lin.
Aunt Lin threw a pillow from the bed at her, “I’m asking you a question, are you deaf?”
Xiyun quickly replied, “After leaving from the dowager’s courtyard, the master went straight to the main courtyard.”
Aunt Lin was startled, then scoffed, “Is the master afraid to see me?”
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Xiyun saw that Madam Lin’s complexion was somewhat pale and said with concern, “Madam, it’s only been a few days since you gave birth, you should rest properly and take care not to hurt yourself.”
Madam Lin replied resentfully, “If my health is damaged, then so be it—there’s no one to care anyway.”
Xiyun quickly said, “Madam, if not for yourself, you should think of the fifth master and the third and fifth young mistresses.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Lin reluctantly lay back down, and just then, the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes started to cry.
Madam Lin glanced at the child irritably and snapped, “Take it out to the wet nurse at once.”
Xiyun didn’t dare to say more and hurriedly took the baby away.
In the western chamber.
All the commotion from Madam Lin’s room was fully heard by Madam Liao.
Madam Liao was copying Buddhist scriptures while wearing a cold smile.
Her maid Xuexue also heard it and said gleefully, “Madam Lin is getting what she deserves today, the way she framed you.”
Madam Liao gave a faint smile and said, “I was careless.” She put down her pen and rubbed her wrist, “Just wait and see, I’ll settle this score with her sooner or later.”
After speaking, she looked towards the direction of the main room.
Keep causing disturbances, and all the fondness the master has in his heart will be gone, then Madam Lin will be finished.
For the following days, Madam Lin constantly had people block Yan Zhigao’s path.
Yan Zhigao, aware of the so-called matters Madam Lin wanted to discuss, didn’t really want to see her and was also beginning to get annoyed with her constant pestering.
His mother was already displeased, and although his wife didn’t express it, he knew she must be uncomfortable, too; she was just considering his dignity and had not spoken openly about it.
He used to think Madam Lin was sensible and understanding, but now she seemed to be getting more and more unreasonable.
A feeling of dissatisfaction arose in Yan Zhigao’s heart, and he became even less willing to see Madam Lin.
Unable to see Yan Zhigao, Madam Lin didn’t restrain herself but instead sent people more frequently, and at one point even had someone block his path in the front courtyard.
This completely infuriated Yan Zhigao, who confined all of Madam Lin’s attendants and had food delivered to her from the kitchen.
After that, noises of things being smashed and the child’s crying often came from Madam Lin’s room.
A woman having just given birth causing such turmoil, it wasn’t long before Madam Lin started experiencing continuous bleeding.
…
“You said what? Madam Lin can’t have children anymore?” Daohua looked at Wang Manman in shock.
Wang Manman nodded, “The physician said so. He mentioned that Madam Lin had difficulty giving birth this time, and with all the commotion during her confinement, it’s left her with a condition.”
Daohua sighed, “Could it be that she has postpartum depression?”
“What kind of condition?” Wang Manman asked, puzzled.
Daohua waved her hand, “It’s an illness.”
Wang Manman nodded without asking further. She knew her young mistress read the Medical Book, “But I think it’s retribution for Madam Lin.”
“Hmm?” Daohua looked up at her.
Wang Manman lowered her voice, “Why did Madam Lin have such a difficult birth? Wasn’t it because she tried to frame Madam Liao and ended up inducing premature labor by falling to the ground? Now she can’t have children anymore—it’s her own doing.”
Daohua nodded, “That makes sense!”
Guyu chimed in, “Exactly, if Madam Lin had just rested properly, nothing would have happened. But she had to make a fuss. In the end, she’s only brought trouble upon herself.”