Jiang Rong remained silent, not believing anyone's words. She only saw one thing from today's events: the three houses were clearly pushing Lin Liu more strongly, while Lin Qi was just an auxiliary; they had been guarding against her earlier, but after she thoroughly offended Lin Yu Zhen by winning at tea leaves, she became a tool for the three houses to work together to deal with Lin Wu.

  Is that so? Lin's daughter can't marry anyone except Lu Xie, and she won't be able to marry again. But then I heard Lin Qi sigh softly: "My mother went to Aunt's room, and there were many new things in Aunt's room that I had never seen before, two big boxes of brand-new silk fabrics with gold threads, so much that my hands couldn't hold them all. And the golden peony skirt Lu Yun wore today, it's said to be the most popular style in the capital, worth 20,000 taels. I want one too." Lin Liu glanced at her and scolded: "You're so superficial."

  Wen hastily wiped the cold sweat and ran over to discuss with Lin Jianrong: "Fourth sister, I'm afraid I have to trouble you to go and sit with Sixth Sister and Seventh Sister. Originally it should be done by the younger sisters coming over, but you also know that Sixth Sister was scalded..."

  Lin Jianrong looked at Wen with a smile that was not quite a smile. Wen smiled, but it was uglier than crying: "I'm also helpless." Lin Jianrong had already stood up and walked down: "Today, I've caused enough trouble for San Shu, I won't make things difficult for San Shu." Having been someone's daughter-in-law before, how could she not know that being a daughter-in-law is hard? What was the point of making things difficult for Wen?

  The twins saw her get on the bus and didn't make things difficult for her, but Lin Qi said: "Fourth sister, why did you let that dog in? You should just sit in the car all the time, if she has the ability to stand outside!" Lin Jianrong didn't respond. The relationship between these sisters is really strange, before it was the twins being cruel and not putting her in their eyes, always bullying Lin Wu until they were satisfied.

  Now, however, it was after the twins were severely punished that Lin Wu and Lu Yun's relationship became better, and several people underwent changes. Of course, the person who changed the most among them was Lin Liu, Lin Wu, or rather, gradually revealed her originally existing inferiority complex and petty personality.

  After a lot of trouble, the horse carriage finally moved quietly. More than half of the journey had passed, and Lin Liu lightly lifted the window curtain: "It's snowing again. Fourth sister, guess who came to deliver tea to you today?"

  Lin Jinyong said, "I don't know, Yang Mei also said she didn't see it. Probably someone was careless. After all, there are many people and the place is small, anything can happen." In fact, she thought carefully that Lin Liu, Lin Wu, and Lu Yun couldn't escape responsibility, everything was possible.

  Lin Liu's unusual magnanimity and composure undoubtedly allowed her to stand out, becoming the most gentle and virtuous of the four Lin sisters. If Old Lady Lin were to praise someone, it would be Lin Liu first. Lin Wu was extremely angry with herself today, having wanted to apologize to Lin Yuzhen and Lu Yun earlier. But look at what she ended up saying later - truly speaking without reserve. Therefore, it's also possible that Lin Wu was trying to vent her anger on behalf of Lu Yun and curry favor with him.

  As for Lu Yun... Lin Jinrong was a bit dazed. He had twice stolen the spotlight from Lu Yun, making the Lu family's warm hospitality seem like it was specially opened for him. It wasn't surprising that Lu Yun would hate him, and if the small secret he had accidentally discovered was true, Lu Yun had even more reason to do so. Moreover, Lu Yun was on his home turf, where he could do whatever he wanted with ease. However, speculation was just speculation - she couldn't conclude that it was definitely Lu Yun's doing based solely on this.

  There's another possibility, that this is an internal struggle among the Lin sisters. Lin Wu made a move in secret, but was discovered by Lin Liu. She deliberately knocked over the teacup and skillfully pretended to be only slightly scalded, then took advantage of Lin Qi's impulsive temper to shout out and become the ultimate winner. Now she's trying to stir up trouble between me and Lin Wu, profiting from our conflict like a fisherman taking advantage of a fight between a snipe and a clam.

  Lin Jing thought about it and shivered slightly. It turned out that a small matter, carefully analyzed, could also be broken down into so many possibilities and twists and turns. In the past, she only knew to stay away from disputes and being harmed, and when she was secretly angry and sad, she couldn't understand and didn't think about it anymore. Now it seems that generally speaking, staying away from disputes is right, but one shouldn't be a muddle-headed fool.

  Lin Liu slowly said: "I know who it is."

  Lin Jianrong quickly raised his eyes and looked at Lin Liu.

  Lin Liu Yi smiled: "It's true."

  "What? Is it really her? Watch me go tell grandma and beat this cheap servant half to death, then drag her out and sell her!"

  "Shut up!" Lin Liu glared at her twin sister and looked seriously at Lin Zirong: "Fourth sister, you're a straightforward person who can't see the twists and turns in this. In the past when we were ignorant, we often bullied you, Seventh Brother, and Fifth Sister. Perhaps you still feel indignant on behalf of Fifth Sister."

  She smiled slightly, lowering her voice: "I've been confined to my room for two months, and my parents have told me a lot. I regret treating you poorly. But Fifth Sister, she's brought it upon herself. She's not as good as you think, she's all pretence. You don't know, do you? On the surface, she's nice to you, but behind your back, she often speaks ill of you and our family in front of Grandmother. If you don't believe me, go ask the people in Grandmother's quarters." Lin Jingru looked down at the footprint on her own deerskin boots, expressionless: "Her change is quite big. She hates me even more than Lu Yun's cousin, I don't know what I did to offend her, saying such unpleasant things."

  "Look at the way she's forcing you... Tsk, it's really a shame for the Lin family's daughter, as if the Lin family's daughter is inferior to the Lu family. When dealing with such a petty person, you should be even more ruthless than her so that she'll be afraid of you." Lin Liu curled up the corner of his mouth in disdain: "Don't worry, I will tell Grandmother about what happened today. She hasn't been punished before, so she doesn't know about family unity, but from now on, she should understand."

  She didn't say a word. She didn't believe anyone's words. All she could see from today's events was that the third house was going to focus on promoting Lin Liu, who was obviously much smarter than Lin Qi. Lin Qi was just an auxiliary: they had been guarding against her before, but since she thoroughly offended Lin Yuzhen by winning the tea competition, she became a tool for the third house to win over and work together to deal with Lin Wu. As for whether Lin's daughters could marry well except for Lu Xiang? But then Lin Qi let out a soft sigh: "My mother went to my aunt's room, and I hadn't seen many of the furnishings in my aunt's room before - two large boxes of brand new, shiny silk fabrics that were too thick to be inserted into. And that golden peony skirt Lu Yun wore today, it's said to be the most popular style in the capital, worth 20,000 taels. I want one too." Lin Liu glanced at her and sneered: "You're so superficial."

  Lin Jinyong rubbed his forehead, and Lao Lao was good at managing the family business, accumulating a large fortune; Lu Jianxin had been an official outside for many years, making a lot of money; Lin Yuzhen's dowry was rich, and she managed Lu Xian very strictly, not allowing maids to approach easily; Lu Xian was the only child of the main house, beautiful and talented, with a seemingly limitless future; Lu Yun was about the same age, and once married out, there would be no more worries. Such a good marriage, Eldest Uncle, Eldest Aunt, Second Uncle, and Second Aunt should all go all out to arrange for their own daughter.

  But if they knew that one day the Lu family's wealth would be completely lost, and even the idea of marrying off their women with dowries was raised, would they still flock to them like birds?

  Lin Jiner leaned against the car wall, looking at the thick velvet curtain of the car window with her eyes closed and a slight smile on her lips.

  The horse carriage stopped, Lin Jinrong helped Lüzhi's hand down the car, just in time to see Lin Wu helping Xiner's hand, coldly smiling and threateningly looking at her, as if saying, you wait and see, there will be a good show for you. Lin Jinrong bid farewell to Wen Shi, Lin Liu, and Lin Qi with an expressionless face, and went straight to visit Tao Shi to prepare for the next battle.

  Lin Liu got off the carriage, frowned and looked at Lin Wu who was leaving, Cui's nanny came forward to steady her and whispered: "Miss, don't worry, this time we'll make sure she can't escape."

  The Tao family's house was quiet, and Lin Jinrong gently lifted the curtain to look inside. She saw Lin Jinyu embracing Lin Shen sitting on the couch reading a book, the warm air had reddened the siblings' cheeks, hearing the sound, they both looked up at her smiling, next to the brazier on the couch were two golden oranges emitting a faint orange fragrance that dispersed the strong medicinal smell in the room.

  Serene and beautiful. This is her home. Where her loved ones are.

  Lin Jinyong's tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and he gently untied his cloak, sat down beside the two of them, and asked in a low voice: "How is Mother?"

  Lin Jinyan pointed to the house and whispered with a smile: "After talking to Uncle for half a day, she felt much better, and after taking Mr. Shui's medicine, she fell asleep."

  "That's good." Lin Jianrong patted Lin Shen's head: "Why didn't you study with your grandfather today?"

  Lin Shen smiled complacently and said: "I've been very well-behaved recently, making great progress. My grandfather went out to admire the snow with an old friend, so he gave me half a day off."

  "Uncle and big brother must have gone to the Wu's, right?" After getting Lin Jianyin's affirmative answer, Lin Jianyin slightly lowered his head and said in a low voice: "I have something to tell sister, don't be anxious or shout loudly."

  Lin Jin's eyes widened as he sat up straight, staring at Lin Jianrong: "What's wrong? Are they bullying you again?"

  Lin Jinyong shook her head: "No, I unintentionally made a mistake and offended Auntie and Yun's sister. Fifth sister also hates me now." She then covered up the part where she had secretly manipulated things and only told Lin Jinyong about what happened on the surface.

  "Lin Wu is really too much, I never thought she would be this kind of person. It's true that you only see people's hearts at critical moments." Lin Jianyin's face turned pale and green as he listened, and he was stunned for a long time before speaking in a hoarse voice: "You didn't do it on purpose, so I won't blame you. But..." Lin Jianyin had ruined Lu Yun's warm gathering, and with Lin Wu's meddling, the old lady probably wouldn't let this matter go easily. "And Sixth Sister was scalded too..." Lin Jianyin pretended to be dejected and sighed lightly: "I've thought about it, the thing has already happened, and there's no way to take it back. Whatever grandmother wants to punish me with, I'll accept it. At worst, I'll just be confined again."

  Lin Jinyan carefully thought through the whole thing again, rubbed his forehead: "This way too, wait for you to yield a bit, don't be stubborn."

  Lin Shen listened to the national map, blinking his eyes and said: "What's wrong? Fourth sister, you won the tea division and blew the whistle, very impressive, should be praised."

  Lin Jianyun didn't know how to explain it to him, so he patted his head: "Little kids don't understand, so don't ask too much."

  Lin Shen made a face: "I'll ask Grandpa."

  But then Tao's wife coughed inside: "Nang Nang! What are you afraid of? If you don't have the skills, don't take on the task. They asked someone to compete in tea-making and didn't allow them to win? You won against Wu Xiang with your flute playing, that's a reputation you deserve! Her daughter is precious, but my daughter can't be humiliated as a companion! If anyone should be blamed, it's themselves for not being skilled enough. Can't expect a wise person to pretend to be foolish, right? I don't believe they have the nerve to come and ask you to admit your mistake."

  Mrs. Tao was reasonable every time, and this time she was also reasonable. People's hearts are the same, if Mrs. Tao specially held a warm stove meeting for Lin Jinkang, but was robbed of the limelight by her own family members, looking at her not being dependent. Lin Jingyin sighed: "Mother, didn't you fall asleep? How did you hear it again?"

  "I have something on my mind and can't sleep. All of you come in, while the three siblings are all here, I have something to say to you."

  Lin Jinyong and his two siblings did not dare to linger and hastily entered the house.

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