Now, let's talk about Wang Shi returning to her room, her mind still unsettled. She hastily ordered servants to pack Lin Jinting's luggage and sent him off to stay at Song Ke's house that very night.
Wang Shi's trusted confidante, Granny Qian, said in a low voice, "It's just as well now. Let the young master go and avoid the trouble. Once the main branch deals with that little hussy, he can return without delay."
"Also remind Suju to pack a couple more sets of clothes, and wrap up extra portions of the snacks Ting Ge'er usually likes," Wang Shi loudly instructed. Hearing the maids' responses from outside, she finally relaxed a little, leaning back on the Imperial Concubine Couch and rubbing her temples. "I understand what you're saying, Mother. But with this matter, I still feel uneasy."
Granny Qian said, "Young Master Ke is a good student and a fine boy. What is there for Taitai to worry about? To my eyes, he and our Ling Jie'er would make a good match. Just joking, but if they were to become in-laws, it would strengthen the family ties."
Wang Shi waved her hand dismissively. "Ke is indeed good, but his family has fallen on hard times. Though there's a saying, 'A starved camel is still bigger than a horse,' Ling Jie'er grew up in luxury, never lacking even eight maids to serve her. How could I bear to see my precious suffer hardships with the Song family?"
Granny Qian sighed. Her mistress's vision was always so short-sighted. If only she had a fraction of Qin Shi's intelligence, she wouldn't have suffered so many losses over the years, both openly and covertly. "Young Master Ke is ambitious. If he passes the Imperial Examination next year..."
"And what if he does? Without connections or money to grease the wheels, he might not even get an official post." Wang Shi shook her head. "Granny Qian, let's not talk about this anymore. Ke is a good boy, and I'll keep an eye out for other suitable young ladies for him. Our Ling Jie'er can't endure such hardships."
Granny Qian said, "Since Taitai has made up her mind, I won't say more. But Ling Jie'er is growing up and has her own thoughts. These days, she's been pestering her brother about Young Master Ke, running to the Lying Cloud Courtyard every day, hoping to bump into him. She even said she wants to learn needlework properly to make him a pair of shoes. The other day, I heard her complain that she couldn't wear bright clothes during the mourning period and wanted to order a set of silver jewelry with fashionable floral patterns."
"Oh, my little ancestor!" Wang Shi nearly jumped up. "Tell me, why is it that neither my daughter nor my son gives me a moment's peace?"
Granny Qian said, "Taitai, please calm down. It's just that Ling Jie'er has these thoughts, and you should be aware of them." She glanced at Wang Shi uneasily. Her mistress was always erratic—rushing when she shouldn't and dragging her feet when she should act swiftly. Over the years, she had relied entirely on her loyal servants for guidance. So when she told Wang Shi to "be aware," she wasn't sure if Wang Shi truly understood.
Wang Shi rubbed her head again and ordered Shanhu to fetch her a calming pill. Just as she was about to swallow the pill after breaking the wax seal, Lin Dongling lifted the curtain and dashed in, looking around frantically—from the main hall to the inner rooms, even peeking behind the side curtains.
Already irritated, Wang Shi put half the pill in her mouth and asked indistinctly, "What are you looking for?"Lin Dongling's temperament mirrored Wang Shi's—impetuous and unrestrained. "Where's Brother Yifei? The maids said he was here when I entered the courtyard. Where is he now?" Ever since she heard her cousins addressing Song Ke as "Brother Song," she felt displeased and pondered how to stand out with a more intimate term. Thus, she directly used Song Ke's courtesy name, calling him "Brother Yifei."
Upon hearing "Brother Yifei," Wang Shi nearly choked on her medicine pill and coughed violently. Granny Qian hurriedly patted her back to soothe her and said to Lin Dongling, "Young Master Song has already left."
Lin Dongling pouted. "Had I known, I wouldn’t have gone back to change clothes. I might have run into him."
Wang Shi was so furious she nearly fainted. "You’re a young lady from a respectable family! How can you shamelessly pine after a man like this? Is this how I raised you?"
Lin Dongling rolled her eyes and muttered, "Brother Yifei isn’t an outsider. What’s wrong with thinking of him?"
Wang Shi, agitated, stood up and jabbed Lin Dongling’s forehead several times, gritting her teeth. "You foolish girl! If word of this spreads, how will you face others? Even if Song Ke is your cousin, he’s still an unrelated man. As you grow older, I’ve already arranged for Ting Ge’er to move to the outer courtyard. From now on, you’re forbidden to meet Song Ke. If he visits our household, you’re not to approach him! Otherwise, I’ll tell your father!"
Lin Dongling was stunned. She paid no heed to Wang Shi’s prohibition against seeing Song Ke, only realizing that if Lin Jinting moved to the outer courtyard, it would be nearly impossible for her to meet Song Ke again. Anxiously, she asked, "But Brother was perfectly fine in Lying Cloud Courtyard. Why must he move?"
Granny Qian interjected, "The young master is growing up. It’s only proper for him to move farther from the inner gardens."
Lin Dongling, already fuming, suddenly widened her eyes and pointed at Granny Qian, scolding, "You shut your mouth! When I’m speaking to my mother, what right do you have to interrupt?"
Granny Qian was dumbfounded. Wang Shi’s anger flared, and she shoved Lin Dongling. "How dare you! Even your brother treats Granny Qian with respect. If you ever speak like that again, you’ll face the family discipline!" Noticing Lin Dongling’s attire—a brand-new Gold and Blue Thread Embroidered Chrysanthemum Plain Silk Skirt with a hint of rose-red undergarments peeking out, the embroidered collar stark against the white, making her look all the more alluring—along with her jeweled silver hairpins and heavy makeup, Wang Shi’s fury intensified. She pointed at Lin Dongling and snapped, "We’re still in mourning for your great-grandmother! Look at yourself—dressed in bright colors, painted face! Are you trying to become a temptress? People will scorn you if this gets out!"
Wang Shi had always been a doting mother, especially indulgent toward her youngest daughter. Coupled with her gentle nature, her reprimands often lacked real consequences. Lin Dongling, accustomed to defiance, felt no fear. Wang Shi’s words were like pearls cast before swine. Lin Dongling merely tugged at her sleeve anxiously. "Mother, how could you let Brother move away? If he leaves, how will Brother Yifei come to our house?"
Wang Shi harshly shook off Lin Dongling’s hand, but the girl stubbornly clung on, her cheeks flushing as she suppressed her embarrassment. "Mother, Brother Yifei... he’s truly exceptional—his talent, character, appearance, all outstanding. Aunt adores me, and Brother Yifei treats me well. I... I...""You—you—you, what are you stuttering about? Are you trying to kill me with anger?" Wang Shi pointed at Lin Dongling, so furious she could barely speak. "Let me tell you, Song Ke is just your cousin! You'd better rein in those disgraceful thoughts of yours!"
Lin Dongling flew into a rage, stamping her foot fiercely as she shouted, "I knew it! I knew it! All of you look down on him now that his family has fallen on hard times! You're all snobs who despise the poor and fawn over the rich!"
Granny Qian scolded loudly, "Hold your tongue! How dare you be so disrespectful to your elders, Ling Jie'er!"
Lin Dongling sneered, "What? Struck a nerve, have we? I never thought Mother would stoop to such vulgarity, obsessing over someone's wealth like this."
Wang Shi's face flushed red and then paled with anger. Never one for sharp words, she could only shed tears at this. Just as she raised her handkerchief to wipe them, a furious roar came from the doorway: "You wretched girl! What nonsense are you spouting?" A figure stormed in like a whirlwind and slapped Lin Dongling across the face, then pointed and bellowed, "If you dare embarrass us like this again, I'll break your legs!"
Wang Shi was stunned to see it was Second Master Lin, Lin Changmin. Lin Dongling froze too—she had always feared her father the most, and now her defiance evaporated instantly. Clutching her stinging cheek, she stood dumbfounded as tears streamed down her face.
Lin Changmin's dark face flushed with rage as he glared. "Marriage has always been arranged by parents since ancient times! You're a noble young lady, yet you shamelessly throw yourself at a man? If this gets out, we'll be the laughingstock of the town! I might as well beat you to death, you disgrace!" He raised his arm to strike again.
Lin Dongling instinctively dodged. Wang Shi panicked, grabbing Lin Changmin's arm and kneeling as she wept, "Master, spare your health! Ling Jie'er is delicate—please don't hit her again!"
Lin Changmin shoved Wang Shi away and pointed accusingly. "And you—you foolish, ignorant woman! Is this how you've raised my daughter? She's got less shame than a sing-song girl from the brothels!"
Wang Shi choked back a sob and burst into tears again. Lin Changmin had been drinking outside earlier. When he returned and heard the commotion from the room, he'd lingered at the door long enough to piece together most of the situation. He'd never liked Wang Shi, and this incident only deepened his disgust. He swung his arm and slapped her hard across the face, roaring, "This is what comes of your fine relatives! Oh yes, they come to the Lin family to freeload, and now they're trying to seduce my daughter! That damned little bastard—tomorrow he packs his bags and gets out!" His eyes bulged as he jabbed a finger at Wang Shi. "You're the Lin family's curse! Not a single peaceful day since I married you! If you stir up any more trouble, I'll divorce you and cast you out, you wretched woman!"Wang Shi, overwhelmed by both grievance and shame, buried her head in the bolster of the daybed and burst into loud sobs. Lin Dongling, however, was utterly stunned; not a trace of her earlier arrogance remained as she stood dumbly in the corner, covering her face. Lin Changmin, having caused quite a scene, was now mostly sober. He had only returned to fetch some silver to gamble with his companions outside. With a cold snort, he strode into the room, went straight to Wang Shi’s dressing table drawer, took five taels of silver, and before leaving, pointed at Lin Dongling and scolded, "Let me tell you, I’ve already arranged a match for you—a respectable and honorable one. If I ever find out you have other ideas, I’ll tear you apart myself!" With that, he flung the curtain aside and stormed out.
Wang Shi remained sprawled on the bed, weeping uncontrollably. Granny Qian tried to console her but, seeing no improvement, walked over to Lin Dongling and pulled her into a corner. She sighed deeply and tried to pull Lin Dongling’s hand away from her cheek. "Let me see, Ling Jie’er. How bad is it? If it’s swollen, we should apply some bruise ointment right away."
Lin Dongling, feeling utterly humiliated, only cried harder, stubbornly keeping her hand pressed to her cheek.
Granny Qian said, "Ling Jie’er, don’t blame this old woman for speaking out of turn. You know Taitai’s situation—why must you act so willfully and make her suffer even more? Hurry and apologize to her."
At that moment, Lin Dongling’s mind was consumed by Lin Changmin’s words—"I’ve already arranged a match for you." Shocked and terrified, the sting of his slap reignited her hatred. She had no mind to care whether Wang Shi cried herself to death. "You all want to drive me to my death!" she shrieked, stamped her foot, and ran out, still covering her face.
Granny Qian quickly ordered a maid to chase after her, then turned back to comfort Wang Shi. "Taitai, don’t take it to heart. The master only lost his temper because he’d had too much to drink today. Usually, he isn’t like this…" She trailed off, realizing even she didn’t believe her own words.
Wang Shi sobbed until she hiccuped, taking a long while to calm down. "Why must Ling Jie’er be so difficult?" she wept. "I always thought she was just a child, so I indulged her. Now I see she’s grown up, yet she breaks my heart like this…" She began crying again.
Granny Qian shook her head repeatedly, patting Wang Shi’s back to soothe her. "She’s still young, Taitai. With proper guidance, she’ll come to understand your good intentions."
Wang Shi shook her head, shedding a few more tears before finally saying, "The master hit Ling Jie’er earlier—she must be upset now. Granny, tell the kitchen to prepare some of her favorite snacks later. I remember she wanted to make some bright new clothes. There’s still a bolt of Snow Satin in my cabinet—have someone send it to her."
Granny Qian couldn’t help but sigh again. This was always how it went with Wang Shi—after scolding Lin Dongling, she would fret over whether the girl had been wronged and rush to placate her with gifts. Soon after, she would indulge her again, rendering the earlier discipline utterly futile.
Both households disciplined their daughters, but the approaches of the main and secondary branches were quite different, haha.
Thank you to Hua Xiyuexi for the five PK votes—so generous! ^_^ And thanks to everyone who gave recommendation votes! ~~mua~~Also, considering the generous word count these past two days, please give me some more votes and comments~ If you like it, do bookmark~~ There are plenty more surprises ahead~ Regular readers know that my novels are characterized by dramatic twists, fast pacing, and never dragging out the word count!
OpenNovel