The Outcome

Old Madam Lin is a woman of her word.

After her birthday, she sent people to find the former servants of the Second Branch who had been kicked out.

One of them was the wet nurse who took care of Miss Lin back then.

She's not as young as she used to be; she no longer works as wet nurse and now farms in the countryside.

When she arrived in front of Old Madam Lin, she was impeccably groomed, her black and white hair held up with a silver hairpin.

The wet nurse lowered her head and said to Old Madam Lin, "The Eldest Miss... she... she's sick, how could I let her get up at night alone! But I was so half asleep that day, I didn't even realize the Eldest Miss got up..."

"I've thought about it since then... how could I have slept so soundly... My Madam's servants gave me a bowl of soup during the day, and that's why I slept so deeply that day..."

"When I woke up, the Eldest Miss's head was bleeding uncontrollably..."

"My Madam punished me for this..."

The wet nurse twisted her fingers, still feeling panicked.

Although she had her suspicions, she had no evidence, and besides, she was just a servant in a noble household; what difference would it make if she spoke out?

Old Madam Lin asked calmly, "Are you telling the truth?"

"What if I find even one fake character..."

"No! No! Old Madam, there really isn't any!"

The wet nurse quickly waved her hand, knelt down, and kowtowed. "If I'm lying, may I be struck by lightning!"

She cried, "I nursed Eldest Miss for four years, Former Madam treated me so well... How could I possibly bear to part with Eldest Miss..." She clutched her heart, her sobs seemingly genuine.

She was terrified back then and couldn't express her grievances, but now she knows how to deal with it.

Old Madam Lin and Nanny Fan exchanged a glance, and ultimately believed the wet nurse's words.

Nanny Fan came out and said gently, "Come with me."

He took the wet nurse next door to wash up and gave her some money.

The next one to appear was a Daoist priestess who came to tell fortunes.

"Old Madam Lin..."

She's still a Daoist nun. Back then, she was young and fairly good-looking, and you couldn't tell she was wicked. But more than ten years have passed, and she has a shifty, rat-like appearance. When she raises her head, she's utterly repulsive.

Old Madam Lin said calmly, "Tell me, how did you calculate that Miss Lin Residence was destined to bring misfortune to her parents?"

"According to you, my daughter's birth chart is extremely unlucky, a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. I'm sure you haven't forgotten that either. Now, tell me about it."

The old woman sneered.

She glanced at Old Madam Lin, then at Lin Huabin, the Second Master Lin, who was sitting at the lower seat.

Nanny Fan had already told her that if she told the truth, the Lin Residence would forgive her past mistakes and even give her a sum of money; but if she lied... the Lin Residence wouldn't be so lenient!

"Reporting to Old Madam, Second Master Lin, your daughter is a woman of hardship, but she hasn't brought misfortune to her parents..."

Lin Huabin roared in anger, "You!"

"Then why did you say my daughter was a jinx to her parents back then!"

The old woman, feeling guilty, said, "Second Master, it's not my fault! It was... it was the Second Madam who gave me money to say this."

She looked at Old Madam Lin, hoping the Old Madam would save her.

Everyone had agreed on this before she entered the manor.

Old Madam Lin glanced at Lin Huabin and said, "Sit down."

Lin Huabin turned and sat down.

Old Madam Lin asked her mother-in-law, "How much silver did the Second Madam give you?"

The old woman gestured with her hand.

Two hundred taels?

Lin Huabin asked.

The old woman said, "... Where would you get so much? Twenty taels."

Lin Huabin's face was extremely gloomy.

Nanny Fan came in, and Old Madam Lin instructed her, "Take this out with you too."

Nanny Fan said, "Please come with me."

They left with the old woman.

Lin Huabin knew where the wet nurse had gone and angrily asked Old Madam Lin, "Mother, why are you still giving money to someone like that?!"

Old Madam Lin said calmly, "Send her to the government office today."

"He's harmed countless people; keeping him around is just asking for trouble. Let the government take him in and punish him properly."

Lin Huabin nodded. "That's exactly right."

Old Madam Lin sneered, her gaze sharp and cold. "Now you know how to punish evil and promote good? Where were you all this time?"

Lin Huabin moved the corners of his mouth, but didn't say anything.

He lowered his head even further, admitting defeat. "... My son was also deceived."

Old Madam Lin smiled but remained silent.

She also asked Lin Huabin, "The investigation into the wet nurse hasn't been completed yet. Should we continue? We should also find all the maids and Matron who served Yun Wan back then and compare their testimonies to see if the wet nurse is lying."

Lin Huabin said awkwardly, "No need."

What exactly happened? Couldn't he see it clearly?

The mother and son had nothing to say to each other.

But Lin Huabin was reluctant to leave. He stood up, bowed, and asked, "... What does Mother intend to do about this?"

After the interrogation had gone this far, Zheng Shi's crimes were truly indelible.

Although it wouldn't escalate to the authorities, the mother was the mother-in-law, and if she wanted to punish her daughter-in-law, no one could say anything.

Old Madam Lin: "Second son, are you implying that you don't want to punish Zheng Shi?"

Of course not!

Lin Huabin argued, "She didn't act as a proper stepmother, so it's right for you, as her mother-in-law, to punish her. But..."

He said, "She is the Madam of the household after all. How can she manage the household if she loses face? Yun Wan Yun Jiao are not young anymore, and she still has to find marriages for their two children. Her son is already embarrassed enough; if this gets out..."

He said with a bitter face, "My son has really become a laughing stock in Jiangqian."

"Please, Mother, have mercy."

Lin Huabin bowed deeply, unwilling to get up unless Old Madam Lin relented.

Old Madam Lin sighed deeply, stepped down from her seat, and said coldly, "I can't control you anymore. The Lin Residence has long since split up, and I've been living with your Elder Brother. If I interfere in your family's affairs again, you'll probably think this Matron is overstepping her bounds."

Lin Huabin didn't speak until the Old Madam had walked past him, then he said, "What are you saying, Mother? How could that be?"

"You'd better think carefully about how Lingxiang managed to get past so many people and get to me."

After saying that, Old Madam Lin left.

Lin Huabin left the Old Madam's place and returned to his own residence with a calm expression.

He went to see Zheng Shi.

Not long after... rumors circulated among the Lin family servants that the Second Madam had been slapped by the Second Master.

"Young lady, the wet nurse wishes to see you. Would you be willing to see her?"

Nanny Fan wet nurse.

Lin Yunwan hesitated for a moment, then said, "I'll see her."

Nanny Fan then took the wet nurse to see Lin Yunwan.

The wet nurse was very surprised when she saw Lin Yunwan. She cried and said, "The Eldest Miss is so beautiful... If Madam knew, she would be at ease."

The past is like smoke and clouds; she has been away from the Lin family for more than ten years, and it is no longer appropriate for her to stay.

She kowtowed to her former master and then left.

Lin Yunwan instructed Xiruo, "See her off."

Xiruo had prepared a bag of silver for the wet nurse beforehand, personally saw wet nurse off, and inquired about Miss Lin's birth mother and dowry.