Shattered

"Mother Consort, this is from His Highness the Crown Prince."

Qi Zaijun showed the Jade Thumb Ring to Lin Yunwan.

Lin Yunwan didn't recognize the thumb ring, but she felt it was warm to the touch and knew it was a good item.

She said, "Your Highness gave it to you, so please keep it safe and don't break it."

"Jun'er knows."

As the mother and son were talking, a clumsy maid in the distance dropped a cup, startling the guest.

Lin Yunwan also looked over, and saw the maid squatting down to pick up the Porcelain Shards, while someone was scolding her.

Such trivial matters often occur in the Inner Residence of every household, and no one takes them seriously.

Madam Chen said with a dark face, "Bao'er, I told you to be more careful!"

Ge Bao'er disguised herself as her maid and slipped in, just to catch a glimpse of Lin Yunwan.

She didn't even need to look closely; she knew it was Lin Yunwan!

She stammered, "Mother, I've confessed. Please take me out of here..."

Madam Chen left her eldest daughter-in-law there and left the Crown Prince's Residence's residence with Ge Bao'er.

"How is it? Is she the matriarch of the Lu family back then?"

Ge Bao'er said coldly, "It's her."

She didn't know how Lin Yunwan had come back to life, but she knew she would never mistake her for someone else.

Madam Chen was still somewhat doubtful. "Is it really her? Look at how badly she was burned back then..."

Ge Bao'er recalled the first time she saw Lin Yunwan, even though Lin Yunwan had now reunited with her parents, enjoyed the favor of her mother, the Ducal Madam, and become the head of the household in the Inner Residence of the Marquis's Residence's mansion.

She still couldn't hold her head up in front of Lin Yunwan!

Just one glance at that person made me feel inferior to her.

Ge Bao'er pursed her lips, clutching her handkerchief tightly, and said, "Mother, it's her."

"She's not dead at all! Her 'grave' has vanished!"

Madam Chen was confused. "Then why would the Lu family throw you away because you harmed the matriarch..."

Ge Bao'er recalled many details in her mind.

She felt incredibly stupid.

"Mother, Lin Yunwan conspired with her adopted son to frame my daughter. I've fallen for their trap!"

When Ge Bao'er shared her guess, Madam Chen was a little stunned. "If I'm not mistaken, the Eldest Young Master of the Lu family was only nine years old at that time?"

"Yes."

Madam Chen's voice was sharp. "This mother and son are truly cunning!"

She hugged Ge Bao'er and sighed, "Let's go home first! The results of the Provincial Examinations will be released soon. If Lu Zhengliu son passes the exam, you'll have a real headache."

"If Lu Zhengliu finds him a good in-law family, won't everything the Lu family will have fall into this child's lap? All the things you and I have done for the Lu family over the years will have been for his benefit."

Hearing this, Ge Bao'er felt a pang of heartache.

Madam Chen couldn't help but complain, "Why is Qing'er such a disappointing child?"

Ge Bao'er had unspeakable suffering.

Doesn't she want her son to be successful?

She smirked and said, "Provincial Graduate scholar isn't that easy. He's only a few years old; he won't pass. Next year, Qing'er will have passed the Tongsheng Examination and can then take the Provincial Examinations examination."

Knowing her own grandson, Madam Chen didn't respond.

The Crown Prince's Residence.

When the banquet ended, the Crown Prince Consort went to see Lin Yunwan off. She whispered, "Madam Chen the Duke Xingguo's Residence came by, and her maid broke a cup in our mansion."

Lin Yunwan was slightly surprised.

She thought for a moment and quickly guessed who the maidservant beside Madam Chen was.

"Why is the Crown Prince Consort suddenly telling me this? Our household has never had a close relationship with the Duke Xingguo's Residence."

It seemed that they were only surprised that the Crown Prince Consort suddenly brought up the matter of the Duke Xingguo's Residence, rather than surprised by the maid's identity.

The Crown Prince Consort smiled faintly and said nothing more.

Before parting with Lin Yunwan, she hugged Qi Zaijun said, "Young Heir Apparent, you often come to our mansion to play. Your aunt's mansion has many sweets."

Qi Zaijun said in a serious tone, "Your Crown Prince Consort, I no longer like desserts."

The Crown Prince Consort smiled slightly and patted the top of his head.

Qi Zaijun bowed to her in farewell.

Back at the Prince Huan's Residence, Lin Yunwan showed the Crown Prince's Crown Prince Jade Thumb Ring to Qi Lingheng.

Qi Lingheng was very surprised. "The Crown Prince gave this to Jun'er?"

Lin Yunwan nodded.

Qi Lingheng solemnly instructed Cuiqin, "Keep it safe and don't take it out casually."

What is the special significance of this thumb ring?

Qi Lingheng paused for a moment before revealing the origin of the thumb ring.

Lin Yunwan was silent for a moment, then frowned and said, "Why would Crown Prince Highness give such a valuable thing to Jun'er?"

Qi Lingheng said in a very calm tone, "Perhaps the Crown Prince and Crown Prince Consort really like children."

Besides that, Lin Yunwan felt there was no other reason.

She told Qi Lingheng about Ge Bao'er, Lin Yunwan wasn't worried at all. In fact, she guessed what Ge Bao'er would do next and even laughed, "She might even go to the Prince to expose me."

Qi Lingheng seemed lost in thought, remaining silent for a moment.

Having been married for seven years, Lin Yunwan thought for a moment and asked directly, "I noticed that Your Highness doesn't seem to be very familiar with the Crown Prince Prince?"

Based on Lin Yunwan's understanding of Qi Lingheng, he generally wouldn't deliberately show obvious coldness to anyone.

Although she had heard that he and the Crown Prince had had conflicts in the past, she had not heard anything specific about it even after being married for so long. It seemed like outsiders were just making things up.

Qi Lingheng held her hand and said, "Do you remember when you got engaged in the Capital?"

At that time Lin Family was in a very bad situation.

Lin Yunwan nodded. "You've left the capital to study abroad."

Qi Lingheng calmly said, "Because I got into a fight with the Crown Prince, my Imperial Father punished me by making me leave the capital."

"Fight?"

This doesn't seem like something Qi Lingheng would do.

Qi Lingheng explained simply, "His wet nurse had ulterior motives and was punished because of me. The Crown Prince persuaded my maternal relatives to beg my Imperial Father to show leniency, but my Empress was indignant. This caused my relationship with the Crown Prince to deteriorate further, and we ended up fighting. My Imperial Father then banished me from the Capital."

Lin Yunwan gleaned a great deal from those few words.

Seeing that he no longer wanted to bring up the past, she didn't insist on asking any more questions at this point.

The Provincial Examinations have been announced.

The area outside the Examination Hall was bustling that day, and the Prince Huan's Residence also secretly sent people over to copy the list.

Lin Yunwan looked at the list and smiled, "They all passed!"

"Them?"

Qi Lingheng frowned slightly.

Lin Yunwan showed the list to Qi Lingheng and said, "Besides Yun Yi, there's also that kid Chang Gong."

Qi Lingheng glanced at them; not only had these two made the list, but their rankings were also quite good.

Lin Yunwan said calmly, "Your Prince, look closely, there are also old acquaintances here."

Wenhai also won.

And then there's Xia Jin.

Lin Yunwan said, "I haven't heard anything about the Wen family going to the capital for the imperial examinations, and my younger sister hasn't come to see me at all."

Qi Lingheng said meaningfully, "If she doesn't look for you, someone else will soon be looking for her."

Who says otherwise?

Can Ge Bao'er still hold back?