A Grievous Injustice

Lin Huabin felt anxious when he saw Lingxiang.

He took a step forward, but dared not venture out rashly.

Lingxiang is a woman, so it should be the Madam of the Lin Residence who handles this, but Zheng Shi... she can't show her face, wouldn't that give people a reason to speculate maliciously!

The Eldest Madam of the Eldest Branch came out and said, "Take the person away first. Wait until the Old Madam has finished paying her respects..."

Before she could finish speaking, Lingxiang kowtowed on the ground, drawing blood.

That's really bad luck!

"Old Madam, Old Madam, Old Madam, I used to be the Second Madam's dowry maid..."

Something terrible is about to happen!

Left with no other choice, the Eldest Madam, accompanied by her trusted confidante, went over and said, "My Old Madam is offering incense at an auspicious time. Whatever it is, you can wait until Old Madam has finished."

Lingxiang refused.

Both Zheng Shi and Mrs. Lin Huabin were so frightened that their hands and feet froze.

Seeing that Lingxiang was about to kowtow again, she bit anyone who tried to pull her away.

Dragging this out like this is not in the Lin Residence's style. The people in the West Lin Residence are still watching! The Prefect's Madam has also arrived and is standing with the Mistress of West Lin Residence.

Old Madam Lin walked over calmly, and said to Lingxiang with a gentle smile, "Do you want to clear your name, or do you want to ruin this Matron's birthday celebration?"

Lingxiang was taken aback; of course, she wanted to prove her innocence.

Old Madam Lin continued, "If you ruin this Matron's birthday celebration, no one will believe you want to clear your name."

Lingxiang remained silent for a long time before she understood what the Old Madam meant.

That's how it is... that's how it is...

If she ruins the Old Madam's birthday celebration, who will believe she came to clear her name?

If she can't clear her Old Madam birthday celebration is ruined, what use is she?

Will the Eldest Miss release her? Will she give her money again?

Seeing that Lingxiang was already backing down, Old Madam Lin said to Nanny Fan, "Take her to the Side Room first." Then, fearing misunderstanding, she added softly, "Treat her well, wash her face, and treat the wound on her forehead properly so it doesn't leave a scar."

The injuries from bumps and scrapes won't leave scars!

But the Old Madam's words were very comforting; she was indeed a kind-hearted person.

Lin Yunwan couldn't help but admire him.

Xiruo also said, "No wonder she's Old Madam who used to run a household."

"The auspicious time has arrived. Please, Old Madam, offer the First Incense."

Old Madam Lin went over to offer incense with a nonchalant air.

Her sons and daughters-in-law, along with the Madam of the West Lin Residence, and the Prefect's Madam, also offered incense. The young wives and girls only needed to bow to the Bodhisattva.

Lin Huabin and his wife, surnamed Zheng Shi, were both pale.

Both of them couldn't help but look at the Old Madam, but Old Madam Lin acted as if nothing had happened, not even glancing at them. She smiled as she watched the younger generation offer incense one after another.

After paying her respects to the Bodhisattva, Old Madam Lin said with a faint smile, "I'm tired, let's go back."

The Madam of the two households said, "Go and see what grievance that woman wants to make."

The matriarch of the West Lin Residence looked troubled. "Old Madam, this... this isn't appropriate..."

This is a family matter within the East Lin Residence, and the fact that it's being brought up at this time suggests it's no small matter!

Although they were from the same clan, the ancestor of the West Lin Residence had long since passed away, and the younger generation had no personal relationship with Old Madam Lin, so they could only Filial Piety her.

It's not advisable to get involved in the furniture business at the East Lin Residence.

Old Madam Lin generously replied, "What's wrong with that?" She even smiled and said, "This Matron is getting on in years, and sometimes I'm afraid I'll be blinded by my own limited perspective. You young people have a lot of experience, so go and help me take a look."

Unable to refuse any longer, the mistress of the West Lin Residence said, "Yes."

The other Madam had no choice but to go along as well.

Old Madam Lin walked over to her granddaughters, and stood specifically in front of Lin Yunwan, saying, "Good child, come here too."

As everyone just heard, Lingxiang was talking about the Second Branch of the East Lin Residence, and it's highly likely that it's related to Second Branch.

"Yes."

Lin Yunwan knelt down and followed.

Lin Yunjiao muttered to Nanny Fan, "The Old Madam is biased! Why does she only call my sister over and not me? Humph!"

She didn't complain to Zheng Shi because her parents had left together, and she couldn't keep up.

"Nanny Fan?"

She complained, but when she turned around, she saw that Nanny Fan. Nanny Fan's face was as white as paper.

"Nanny Fan, what's wrong?"

Nanny Fan snapped out of her daze, wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, and stammered, "It's nothing, I... I'm fine..."

Lin Yunjiao also felt uneasy and frowned, saying, "Let's go take a look!"

What on earth happened that made that woman dare to rush out at a time like this? She's asking for death!

Nanny Fan walked over, her feet dangling.

Lin Yunjiao sensed something was wrong with her and asked, "Nanny Fan, what's wrong? Have you seen a ghost?"

Nanny Fan stammered, unable to speak.

This is unbelievable! How could Lingxiang be here? Shouldn't she be thousands of miles away?

"Nanny Fan recognize that woman?"

Nanny Fan said, "... Second Miss, she was originally Madam's dowry maid."

"Oh? It's someone from my mother's side?"

Nanny Fan said uneasily, "They must be here because of the time when the Eldest Miss bumped into the Madam and got pregnant."

Lin Yunjiao was furious upon hearing this. "She dares to come! Lin Yun Wan is guilty, and this maidservant who serves her deserves to die too!"

"Why didn't my mother beat her to death back then!"

"My mother is so kind! It wouldn't be a pity to kill that kind of maid!"

Nanny Fan said, "Second Miss, killing someone requires a legitimate reason and solid evidence."

Lin Yunjiao sneered, "She almost killed me, isn't that enough?"

There was no point in reasoning with the Second Miss; Nanny Fan just wanted to hear for herself how the Old Madam interrogated her, and what Lingxiang would say...

It was she who dealt with Lingxiang back then. Although she wasn't involved in the incident where her Madam, she still knew some things about it.

"Give her a soft cushion."

Lingxiang knelt on the ground, and Old Madam Lin instructed someone to put something under her knees.

"Old Madam Xie..."

Lingxiang lowered her head.

Old Madam Lin, "Say what you want to say now!"

Lingxiang clenched her fists and said, "Old Madam, I... I want to expose Second Madam to murder Eldest Miss!"

Zheng Shi's expression changed, and she was starting to lose her composure.

She said, "Lingxiang, I treated you well when you served me. You just resent my punishment, but you served me poorly and almost caused my miscarriage. You deserve what you got."

Lingxiang looked up at the face she hadn't seen for over a decade, and cried while laughing, "Second Madam, do I truly deserve this punishment?"

She pulled a prescription from her bosom and said eloquently, "Old Madam is very perceptive. This is the medicine for spotting that Second Madam had me secretly get from Physician years ago, all to frame Eldest Miss for bumping her stomach!"

"The poor Eldest Miss was only four years old. The Second Madam forced me to kick her right in the chest, and her head was bleeding profusely..."

"Old Madam, please restore my innocence and the Eldest Miss's innocence!"

She had said these words countless times in her heart, and finally, in front of the culprit, she said them out loud. It felt so good!