Fear

"You two are newlyweds, so don't bother this Matron."

"There are probably still many things at the Prince's residence that need your attention, Princess Consort. You should head back soon!"

Old Madam Lin did not intend to invite Lin Yunwan and Qi Lingheng to stay for dinner.

Lin Yunwan and Qi Lingheng didn't linger any longer. After saying goodbye to the Old Madam and Lin Huabin, they went to the Su Family.

Lin Huabin almost got into an argument with Old Madam Lin.

He held the bowl of medicine, his face looking rather pale.

Old Madam Lin sneered, "If you don't want to serve me, put down the bowl."

"What are you saying, Mother? It's only right that your son serve you."

Lin Huabin was still holding the medicine bowl, a fake smile on his face.

Old Madam Lin, reclining on the chaise longue, said, "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. You're just upset that I stopped you from speaking to the Prince."

Lin Huabin couldn't hold back any longer and said irritably, "You've seen it yourself, the Prince treats Yun Wan extremely well. I'm the Prince's mother-in-law..."

"You really think you're the Prince's father-in-law!"

Old Madam Lin's voice was rather loud, and Lin Huabin was suddenly stunned.

"Second brother, are you the Prince's father-in-law?"

Lin Huabin thought for a moment, how could he forget, that wasn't his daughter, Yun Wan was Zhao Jingyi's daughter.

His daughter died long ago.

What is he hoping for?

Lin Huabin closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and said, "Mother, although I am not the Princess Consort's father, I have helped Princess Consort. She should... she should repay this kindness!"

Old Madam Lin smiled, the kind of smile a wise person gives to a foolish person.

Lin Huabin's expression gradually calmed down.

He knew that in his mother's heart he was never as good as his Elder Brother and Third Younger Brother, and his mother had always looked down on him.

The Old Madam knew that her son was truly angry now.

It's alright, though.

Regardless of what her son thought, she just wanted him to be sensible and not try to bully others just because he was Prince's father-in-law.

"Second son, do you know why I placed you under house arrest at the Zheng Shi?"

Lin Huabin shook his head.

He was still completely baffled when this was mentioned. How could the legal wife be confined to her home when the child returns to her parents' home?

But the Old Madam was furious at that time, and even wanted him to send Zheng Shi to the estate, so he had no choice but to do as the Old Madam said for the time being.

Do you know why the Prince wanted to marry Yun Wan?

Lin Huabin was baffled. "Mother, isn't it common knowledge? Yun Wan fell into the water..."

"It was purely by chance that this marriage came about."

Old Madam Lin looked coldly at her son and said, "What if I told you that this wasn't a coincidence?"

Lin Huabin shook his head. "This happened in my Lin family; there's no way His Prince could have planned this beforehand."

"Besides, Zhao Jingyi... he never mentioned it to me."

Old Madam Lin fell silent.

Even though it was quiet around him, Lin Huabin felt a buzzing in his head.

He murmured, "Not a coincidence? Not... a coincidence..."

He suddenly realized many things were wrong. Zhao Jingyi was a strange father; although he treated Yun Wan very well, he didn't act like a real father.

The Prince is being too good to Yun Wan again!

He's the Principal Consort wife, and he always puts her first. Can an ordinary husband do that?

He himself is a man, and he was once a husband.

He certainly doted on Zheng Shi, but he wouldn't allow Zheng Shi to do whatever she wanted.

"Mother... you mean..."

Lin Huabin had an unbelievable thought: Could it be that it wasn't Zhao Jingyi sent the illegitimate daughter to the Lin family, but rather the Prince who sent the Princess Consort to the Lin family?

This should have been a good thing, a joyous occasion.

But Old Madam Lin said something.

"Zheng Shi wanted to marry Yun Wan to Wenhai, but fearing trouble for herself, she tried to do it in her Elder Brother's inner courtyard. Unexpectedly, her plan backfired, forcing Yun Jiao to marry Wenhai."

Lin Huabin's eyes widened.

"The Zheng Shi? It's the Zheng Shi again?"

"My Yun Jiao... my Jiao'er!"

He was furious. He had always looked down on Wenhai. Could it be that Zheng Shi had really forced their daughter to marry that poor scholar Wenhai?

Old Madam Lin continued, "That's why I didn't let Zheng Shi come out to see the Prince."

"Allowing her to marry as your legal mother is already saving face for you!"

"Do you think she should be grounded?"

Lin Huabin was speechless.

The Zheng Shi offended Prince Huan Prince Huan, but he hasn't punished them yet; they should really thank their lucky stars.

Old Madam Lin sneered again, "Do you think Zheng Shi has offended Prince Huan and his Prince Huan Consort so much? This is nothing."

Is there anything he doesn't know?

Lin Huabin was stunned.

"He caused Yun Wan to fall into the water... Through Hall just to force Yun Wan and Yun Jiao to switch marriages?"

He listened to the Old Madam's words and laughed, finding it absurd.

He knew Zheng Shi was arrogant, but he never imagined Zheng Shi would be so audacious!

Lin Huabin gritted his teeth. "Swapping a bride... that's a capital offense!"

The Prince's marriage was officially arranged; it was an imperial decree. How dare Zheng Shi do this?

His mind was in turmoil. He swallowed hard, his voice trembling slightly, "Mother, you wouldn't lie to your son, would you?"

Who exactly is the person sleeping next to him?

"Do you want to interrogate them yourself?"

Just like what happened at Ci'en Temple last time, given Old Madam Lin's style, she would only say such things when all the witnesses and evidence were available.

"No need, Mother."

Today was the day his daughter was returning home to visit her parents, but Lin Huabin felt no joy at all. He took a deep breath and said, "Mother, please rest well. Your son will take his leave now." He put down the medicine bowl and left.

He wanted to ask Zheng Shi why she did such a thing.

Old Madam Lin leaned weakly against the chaise longue, too exhausted to take her medicine.

Nanny Fan came in, touched the medicine bowl, and said, "Oh dear, the medicine's all cold. I'll have the maid heat it up."

Old Madam Lin waved her hand. "Never mind, we won't eat today."

She felt bad every time she finished talking to her second son.

Nanny Fan still had someone take the medicine out and heat it up; the medicine still needed to be taken, but not for now.

She had been listening outside for a while, so she asked, "Why don't you tell the Second Master everything? You're only talking about the Second Madam's faults, making it seem like it's all Second Madam fault. I'm afraid the Second Master still harbors some illusions."

You still don't know him.

Old Madam Lin smiled and said, "My son is the most thoughtful and prone to overthinking. The less I point out to him, the more he angers Prince Huan, and the more Prince Huan has already taken action against him. Letting him figure it out on his own makes him tremble with fear, and he no longer dares to act like a father-in-law."

"If I tell him the truth, he might just have the nerve to come to my door apologizing one day, ruining my plans again."

After listening, Nanny Fan pondered for a while before smiling.

The Second Master really is that kind of person!

No one knows a child better than their mother. I cannot see things as clearly as you do.

In the end, they persuaded Old Madam Lin to take her medicine.

Lin Huabin stormed back to his residence.

Lin Yunjiao was also looking for him. She pouted and asked, "Father, why are you confining Mother? What happened to her?"

Lin Huabin glanced at his daughter.

"Is this how you talk to your father?"

She's been spoiled rotten!

Lin Yunjiao had no idea what she had done wrong to be scolded, and she felt extremely wronged.

Lin Huabin was furious and spoke very rudely, "You're already married! You still don't act like a proper wife. Your mother-in-law will teach you manners later, and you'll suffer for it!"

That's the truth.

When a woman gets married, how can she not obey her husband and mother-in-law?

He spoiled Zheng Shi too much, which is why Zheng Shi dared to do those things. If it weren't for the Old Madam keeping her in check, each one of them would have been a huge disaster!

"Father, what's wrong...?"

Lin Yunjiao cried. She had only been married for a few days, and when she returned home, everything had changed drastically!

Lin Huabin had no time to worry about his daughter; he hurried off to see Zheng Shi.