How Could She Marry?

"Why isn't Madam in the Courtyard?"

When Lin Huabin returned, he was shocked to find the main room empty.

With such a big thing happening today, why is Zheng Shi running around everywhere instead of staying in the Courtyard after returning home?

The maidservant said, "Madam has gone to Concubine Wen's Courtyard."

Since it was in the Courtyard where Wenhai's mother lived, it wasn't convenient for his brother-in-law to go there.

Lin Huabin lifted the curtain and went inside, instructing the maid, "Go and urge Madam to return."

The maidservant curtsied. "Yes."

The Courtyard was very deserted. With Nanny Fan gone, the maids were afraid of being implicated, so those who could avoid showing their faces did so.

Zheng Shi was still arguing with Wen Mu.

This is her home; she can do whatever she wants here.

Zheng Shi grabbed Wen Mu by the neck, and the maids didn't dare to pull her away.

Her eyes widened in fury. "You! How dare you push my daughter into the water!"

Wen Mu struggled to say, "Cousin, I'm innocent! If you don't believe me, go ask Nanny Fan, it really wasn't me!"

"Yun Jiao slipped in by herself, and I... cough cough... tried to save her, but I fell down myself."

The person rolled their eyes.

If you keep pinching, someone could really die.

The maidservant pulled Zheng Shi away, saying, "Madam, please talk this out. The Concubine Madam can't breathe!"

Zheng Shi was also tired.

She doesn't usually do any heavy work, but now her hands were weak, and she sat on the bed, panting, looking at Wen Mu with resentment.

Wen Mu, her hair disheveled, also got out of bed, panting and crying, "Cousin, it's really not my fault... Wenhai is a kind-hearted boy. When he saw Yun Jiao fall into the water, he was afraid she would drown, so he jumped in to save her."

"Cousin, if you blame my Wenhai for saving Yun Jiao, we..."

"Let's go now."

"I won't bother my cousin and her husband anymore."

Wen Mu made a gesture to stand up and start packing her luggage.

Zheng Shi felt a headache coming on just looking at her, and said irritably, "Stop it!"

She said helplessly, "You dare to leave and try!"

Wen Mu turned around, looked at Zheng Shi pitifully, and sobbed, "Cousin, what do I have to do to make you satisfied?"

Zheng Shi was furious.

"You think I believe you! You schemed against my Jiao'er, and now you're trying to play the victim here!"

Zheng Shi was heartbroken.

"Everyone in the manor knows that Yun Jiao and Yun Wan were rescued from the water. If you take Wenhai away now..."

What will happen to her daughter's reputation?!

Wen Mu glanced at Zheng Shi and said softly, "The Second Miss comes from a noble family; it would be a disservice for her to marry my Wenhai."

What a load of rubbish.

Her son passed the imperial examination at the age of ten and became a scholar! He might become a high-ranking official in the future. It would be a disservice to her son to marry such a spoiled young lady!

Seeing that Zheng Shi's eyes were not right, Wen Mu changed her tune, saying, "... My Wenhai is certainly not good enough for the Second Miss. However, the Lin Residence family is large and wealthy, and it wouldn't be difficult to find a suitable match for the Second Miss. We can simply lower our standards a bit."

That's easier said than done! Are good matches really that easy to find?

Zheng Shi was so angry that her liver fire flared up.

The maid sent by Lin Huabin called out loudly from outside, "Madam, Master requests your return."

Zheng Shi had a terrible headache. She turned around and yelled outside, "Tell the master I understand and I'll go back right away!"

"Yes."

The maidservant left.

Zheng Shi was also tired. She sat down to rest for a while before getting up and glaring coldly at Wen Mu: "You stay right here! If you Wenhai dare to leave the Lin Residence even a step, I'll skin you both alive!"

Wen Mu immediately became very docile. "Cousin, don't worry, I won't leave unless you tell me to."

Although she seemed very obedient, Zheng Shi felt utterly disgusted.

She turned and left with her maid.

Wen Mu sneered, "You dare to put on airs in front of me? Just wait until you marry into our Wen family, and see how I deal with you and your daughter!"

She called the maid in, "Quickly tidy up this place! Are you all just freeloading at the Lin Residence?"

The maids ran in.

Wen Mu was very happy. Before long, these maids would be calling her "Old Madam"!

A woman's reputation is more important than her life!

Zheng Shi felt as if her heart was being torn apart when she recalled what Wen Mu had said.

"Yun Jiao forget about marrying into a respectable family again. Even if she marries into a poor but educated scholar 'Provincial Graduate family, they might still find fault with her for being unchaste and impure!"

"A good match... where is there a good match?!"

How could my Jiao'er bear this?

With that thought in mind, Zheng Shi was no longer in a hurry to go back to see Lin Huabin, and said to her maid, "Let's go and see the Second Miss first."

Although they sent Nanny Zhao and a maid to keep watch, they still don't know why their daughter is acting so desperately.

"Nanny Zhao, how is Jiao'er?"

Zheng Shi rushed over and first questioned Nanny Zhao. Her heart was pounding like it was on a fire.

Nanny Zhao said calmly, "Madam n't worry, Madam, the Second Miss is fine. She just choked on water and is feeling unwell."

He added, "The Physician has come to see me, and there's nothing wrong with me."

Zheng Shi couldn't quite describe how she felt.

How could this happen?

She knew her daughter's personality best, so why wasn't Yun Jiao making a fuss?

"My Jiao'er."

When Zheng Shi rushed in, she saw that Lin Yunjiao was eating and had already eaten half a bowl.

"Mother."

Lin Yunjiao put down her bowl.

Zheng Shi smiled and said, "Why aren't you eating? If you're hungry, you can eat some more."

Lin Yunjiao put down her chopsticks and got off the bed, saying, "I'm not eating. I have no appetite."

Zheng Shi at the rice in her bowl... she didn't seem to have no appetite.

She couldn't bring herself to say anything harsh, so she sat down, hugged her daughter, and cried.

"It's all Mother's fault."

"What's it to you?"

Lin Yunjiao thought her falling into the water was an accident.

How could Zheng Shi dare to tell the truth?

She wiped away her tears and said, "... Your mother didn't keep you by her side, and she didn't have anyone look after you."

Lin Yunjiao, however, said understandingly, "Mother, that was an accident. Nobody wanted it."

Zheng Shi found it strange, but couldn't quite put her finger on what was odd about it.

She hugged Lin Yunjiao tightly and gently comforted her, "Don't worry. Your father and I will never... marry you off to a poor scholar!"

Lin Yunjiao bit her lip.

"Mother, but... but Cousin Wenhai saved me. I've already... can I really marry someone else?"

Zheng Shi was furious. "Why not! You are the legitimate daughter of the Lin Residence!"

Lin Yunjiao suddenly asked, "What about my sister? The Prince saved her, will she marry Prince?"

This really struck a chord with Zheng Shi.

She sneered, "Dream on! What kind of status does Prince have? Does she even deserve to marry him? She'd be lucky to be Concubine."

Lin Yunjiao blinked. "But she's Concubine of the Prince, so her status isn't low. Even Prince Huan's Concubines are secondary consorts. If we see her in the future, will we have to pay our respects to her?"

She muttered, "I don't want to greet her!"

Zheng Shi said, "Don't worry! The Prince doesn't fancy her. Didn't your father say that the Prince is about to marry a wife? How could he take a concubine so soon?"

Lin Yunjiao then asked, "What about her?"

"What do you mean, 'what to do'? Haven't you heard of women who have lost their virginity? Send them to Buddhist Nunnery to spend the rest of their lives in solitude. Or strangle them."

Zheng Shi became more and more excited as she spoke.

It's not her fault; she originally wanted to find a good marriage for her stepdaughter, but the stepdaughter just wasn't lucky enough.

"I see..."

"Mother, it's not impossible for me to marry Cousin Wenhai."

Lin Yunjiao looked at Zheng Shi with an innocent expression.

Zheng Shi couldn't believe her ears and stared at her daughter, asking, "What did you just say?"

"Anyway, she's doomed." Lin Yunjiao smiled shyly, "I don't want to live the same life as her, marrying Cousin Wenhai— "

"Shut up!"

Zheng Shi slapped Lin Yunjiao the face.

Lin Yunjiao was stunned, looked at Zheng Shi with teary eyes, and burst into tears.