Lin Jianrong looked at Lin Wu and said slowly: "Indeed, I'm not capable, every time I make our family members lose face, making Uncle and Aunt worry. I'm really afraid to continue like this, I don't have the face to see them again." Her voice suddenly became sad and low: "Wu Mei, in the past you treated me so well, why do you hate me today? Even if it was my fault, I told you about it, I wasn't intentional. Today you scolded me in front of so many people, I felt really bad, didn't know where to put my hands and feet... even Gu Mu and Yun Tang Mei, Liu Mei and Qi Mei, none of them scolded me like you did. What misunderstanding do you have about me? Can't you just tell me directly? I'll change."

  Lin Wu had already regarded Lin Jianrong as a cunning and deceitful person, and said in an ill-tempered tone: "When did I ever scold you? I was just looking at you being dazed and unable to find your way, so I kindly reminded you!"

  Taoshi got up and leaned against Chunya's hand, brushed her hair back, and said in a low voice: "I've discussed it with your uncle, after two days when the snow stops and the weather clears up, I'll go to my dowry house to rest and recover. Your grandfather has already agreed."

  This was Tao Shunqin's intention, and after entering the house, all his tolerance was just to make Lin Lao Taiye agree to let Tao Shi leave home to recuperate. To outsiders, it seemed like Tao Shi was being exiled by moving to the dowry estate, but in fact, this was the best way for someone with her temperament to recover from illness. Out of sight, out of mind, and once she left, her heart would naturally heal faster. Moreover, there was a hot spring near the estate, which was very comfortable.

  Lin Jinrong's eyes lit up. As she had wished, things were developing in a good direction. In the past, when Taoshi fell ill, Tao Shunqin had also suggested to Old Master Lin that Taoshi be sent to this villa to recuperate, but was met with Old Master Lin's ruthless refusal. After lingering in Pingshou for a month or two, they could only return empty-handed. Afterwards, there was nothing else to do but send money and goods from time to time. But now, whether it was because Taoshi had the upper hand or for the sake of Lin Shen, Old Master Lin had finally agreed.

  And she also found such an opportunity for herself. Lin Shenzhi must stay by Old Master's side to study, and Lin Jianyin, the eldest daughter who is about to come of age and can intimidate Huang Niang, also needs to stay at home to keep an eye on Lin Shenzhi.

  She should follow the Tao family to fulfill her filial piety. To be frank, she still has several things hanging in her heart that have not been settled for a day and cannot be realized for a day. She can't even sleep soundly.

  In Anleju, Lin Wu sat in front of Old Lady Lin, his face filled with shame, saying: "Grandmother, today was all my fault. I couldn't persuade Fourth Sister, and she disappointed Aunt's good intentions. That's not the worst part, though - Aunt and Cousin are both magnanimous and won't hold it against her. But what really wasn't right was that because she won at blowing the埙 and beat Wu family's Second Young Master, she got so happy that she burned Sixth Sister and made Seventh Sister have a fit of anger in public, not even knowing how to apologize or feel sorry for others. It made people laugh at our Lin family's girls for being shameless and not knowing how to advance or retreat. Luckily, Yang Mei helped her save face, otherwise our reputation would really be...". Old Lady Lin's face was gloomy, her eyes cast down, staring at the ring on her finger, a jade pendant the size of a quail egg, as calm as still water, without saying a word.

  Lin Wu saw her hesitating and gradually becoming uneasy, and couldn't help but secretly raise his eyes to steal a glance at her expression.

  "Never mind, you don't have to say anything. Today's matter is unfair to Lu Yun after all, and we must give her an explanation."

  It's essential to take this opportunity to trample Lin Jinyong, that sinister little man, to death! Lin Wudai was overjoyed and just about to add a couple more sentences when he saw another senior maid, Bai Guo, enter from the old lady's quarters and say: "Old Lady, Fourth Miss has come to pay her respects."

  Lin Lao Tai raised her slightly puffy eyelids and said faintly: "Let her in."

  "Grandma, granddaughter is paying respects to you." Lin Jinrong entered the door and bowed her head with downcast eyes to pay respects to Old Lady Lin.

  Lin Lao Tai ignored her, letting her stand there. Lin Wu saw that Lin Dian Rong hadn't even changed his clothes, and the pair of deerskin boots on his feet were still dirty from being trampled by himself, couldn't help but slightly sneer: "Fourth sister, sixth sister and seventh sister are going to take medicine, how come you're only coming to pay respects to grandmother now? And you didn't even change your clothes? You dare wear such dirty boots in front of grandmother?"

  Lin Jinrong had already made up her mind and was not flustered. She found herself standing there boringly, so she decided to tease her: "Fifth sister, I did something wrong with a stupid expression, you scolded me and said you would tell grandma afterwards, my heart couldn't help but feel anxious. So I went to find my mother. But my mother scolded me, saying it wasn't intentional, your aunt and cousin didn't blame you, what are you afraid of? Go apologize to your grandmother yourself, that's why I came here."

  “……” Lin Wu heard this and knew it was a lie, so he laughed and said: "It's really strange, the usually taciturn Fourth Sister is not only showing off today, but also has a sharp tongue, just like two different people. Fourth Sister, don't be shy, you went to find your uncle at the Tao family, right? It's quite coincidental that every time you make a mistake, it's when someone from Qingzhou comes...” The provocative meaning is clear, and it's obvious that the three mothers and daughters are taking advantage of their relatives being present to boldly oppose Lin Wu's parents.

  Lin Jianrong looked at Lin Wu and said slowly, "Indeed, I'm not capable. Every time I make our family members lose face and worry my uncle and aunt. I'm really afraid to continue like this, I don't have the face to see them again." Her voice suddenly became sad and low: "Fifth sister, you've always been good to me in the past, why do you hate me so much today? Even if I did something wrong, I told you about it. Today, you scolded me in front of many people, I felt very uncomfortable, my hands and feet didn't know where to go... Not even our aunt and cousin Yun, or sixth and seventh sisters, have ever scolded me like that. What misunderstanding do you have with me? Can't you just tell me directly? I'll change if I'm wrong." Lin Wu had already categorized Lin Jianrong as a cunning and deceitful person, and said impatiently, "When did I scold you? I was just looking at you spacing out and couldn't find your way, so I kindly reminded you!"

  "Shut up!" Old Lady Lin slapped the couch suddenly and shouted, "Aren't you ashamed of losing face for me today? All of you kneel down!"

  Lin Wu was startled, raised her head and looked at Old Lady Lin with a disbelieving expression, saying pitifully: "Grandmother, I..." She hadn't done anything wrong, why did she have to kneel? "Kneel down!" Old Lady Lin shouted loudly, Lin Wu was startled again, and with a thud, she knelt in front of Old Lady Lin, not even noticing the pain in her knees. She bit her lip pitifully, held back tears, and glared fiercely at Lin Jinrong.

  Lin Jinrong slowly knelt down, her eyes fixed on the green bricks in front of her, but her heart was soaring into the sky.

  "Are you all not good things? I'm old and don't know anything? Today's matter, no one needs to say it, I know everything!" Then she pointed at Lin Wu and shouted: "Someone saw that the maid Xiner from your side bumped into Yang Mei, then Yang Mei bumped into your fourth sister, and hurt your sixth sister. Your seventh sister is young and hot-tempered, doesn't know what's heavy or light, you not only didn't stop her, but also added fuel to the fire, saying such unpleasant words in public, stirring up your sisters to quarrel. Do you know whose face you're losing? You're losing the face of the Lin family! Despicable thing!" After finishing speaking, she slapped Lin Wu's face.

  How could her grandmother scold her like this? She had grown up and never been scolded like this before, and even slapped in the face... it was a great humiliation. Lin Wu covered her face, tears streaming down uncontrollably, and cried out: "No! I didn't! And neither did Xiner! Who saw it? Let them come out and confront me! Grandmother, don't listen to rumors and be deceived, I know what's right and wrong, how could I do such a thing? It would harm my sisterly relationship with her, what good would it do for me?" Then she turned around and glared at Lin Jinyong, saying sternly: "Was it you? Are you trying to shift the blame onto me?"

  Lin Jin's long eyelashes trembled lazily, and he glanced at Lin Wu with an extremely light gaze. He lowered his eyes and didn't speak, serving him right! With a wicked heart and still being so arrogant, who else would be unlucky if not you?

  "Are you saying I wronged you?" Old Lady Lin looked at Lin Wu coldly: "You know your own affairs best, I'll spare you the details. All I want is for you to understand one thing - as long as your grandfather and I are still alive, it's not up to you to do as you please! Someone who doesn't have a sense of family or respect for their elders doesn't deserve to be a daughter of the Lin family! And even less deserving of enjoying the luxuries of the Lin family!"

  Lin Wushen knew the old lady's temperament and knew that since she had already condemned herself, there was no possibility of turning back. At this moment, she fell to the ground crying, wailing with a broken heart, and shouting grievances with all her might.

  Lin Jin looked at Lin Wu with a expressionless face. She had known since her previous life that in a situation where others had already judged you guilty, such meaningless cries of injustice were of no use at all, and would only make people look down on oneself even more. Even if she cried alone behind closed doors, it was still more dignified than this.

  Mrs. Zhou rushed over upon hearing the news and saw Lin Wu almost fainting from crying, her heart ached so much that her eyebrows were furrowed together, but she didn't dare to plead for mercy, only standing aside with a pitiful look at Old Lady Lin.

  Old Lady Lin's face turned even colder when she saw that the Zhou family had received the news so quickly. She didn't look at either Zhou Shi or Lin Wu, but instead fixed her gaze on Lin Jingrong. Lin Jingrong knew it was his turn now, and he hastily lowered his eyes, putting on a timid and fearful expression as he called out in a low voice: "Grandmother."

  Old Lin said in a cold voice: "Stretch out your left hand!"

  Lin Jinyong took a deep breath, stretched out his hand tremblingly, and Lin Lao Tai grasped it, suddenly pulling out an iron ruler, "slap!"

  Lin Jinyong winced and almost jumped up, biting her lip to hold back the pain, tears swirling in her eyes.

  "Does it hurt? What did I tell you when you left? Be humble and courteous, which one have you done? You come to someone's home as a guest, but can't even show the most basic respect for the host, and yet you still dare to call yourself a young lady from a family of scholars? What use is your talent then? Without virtue or good conduct, people will still look down on you! From now on, who would dare invite you to be their guest again?"

  Lin Wu saw Lin Jianrong being beaten too, and the discomfort in his heart was somewhat alleviated. He changed from loud crying to soft sobbing, and turned his face sideways to secretly watch the commotion.

  "Grandma, since you already know what happened, you should also know that I didn't do it on purpose. I wasn't going to participate in the first place, and I don't like going out much, so I don't have much experience. But then I heard from Fifth Sister that Yun was a talented girl from a famous family in Jiangnan, and I thought to myself, 'How can she be better than me?' I didn't want to lose too badly and make the Lin family's daughters look bad, so I let loose and did my best. Who knew it would end up like this? You can scold me for being stupid and clumsy, but you can't say that I intentionally tried to harm Auntie and Yun. I won't admit it."

  She had long calculated that if she were to be blamed for the tea incident, Old Lady Lin indeed had reason to punish her and should give the Lu family an explanation and apology. After winning the flute-blowing contest against Wu Xiang, no one could blame her; it wasn't as if she was the only one sneaking around with Wu Xiang, nor did she have to compete with him to show off in front of everyone. There were witnesses, Lin Liu had been scalded, and Yang Mei had testified. Lin Liu also said he wouldn't pursue the matter, and Old Lady Lin's words seemed to imply that she was convinced it was Lin Wu who was behind it all. Who could do anything about her now?

  "So you're saying that your aunt is incompetent and your cousin deserved to be humiliated? Who taught you such a twisted way of thinking? Today, I'll teach you what's right and wrong in dealing with people!" Old Lady Lin was so angry that she couldn't help but laugh, and the ruler in her hand was raised high again.

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