A Grave Threat

"Put this medicine away for now."

Lin Yunwan handed the purse to Tao Ye and instructed, "Have a carriage prepared in the Front Courtyard; I need to go back to the Lin Family."

She wasn't sure if the medicine was poisonous; she'd have to wait for Physician to examine her.

However, if this poison were an ordinary poison, she wouldn't have died from it in her previous life; most Physician probably wouldn't have been able to detect it.

Even if the truth comes out, we can't make it public for now.

Tao Ye had just finished collecting the medicine when a maidservant came in and stood outside the Small Hall. She lifted the curtain and announced, "Young Madam, someone from the Second Gate says that Young Master Yi has arrived."

My little brother is here!

Lin Yunwan quickly got off the bed, glanced at Tao Ye, and gestured to her that she didn't need to put away the medicine in her purse.

Clutching her handkerchief, she said, "Go and bring Yun Yi here."

As soon as Tao Ye left, Lin Yunwan sat back down, feeling somewhat uneasy.

It's only the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, and my younger brother hasn't even started his holiday yet. Why is he at the Lu family?

Is something wrong in the Lin Family, or is there something wrong with Mother's eyes?

Ping Ye stepped back and said, "Young Madam, this servant will go and make the young master's favorite tea."

"Um."

Lin Yunwan rubbed her temples, feeling a bit confused. One thing after another had disrupted her thoughts.

Before long, they heard their younger brother call out urgently, "Elder Sister!"

As soon as the voice fell, Lin Yunyi lifted the curtain and came in, his shoulders covered in snow.

Yun Yi.

Lin Yunwan stood up, brushed the snow off him, and said, "Why didn't you use an umbrella?"

Of course I can't wait to see her!

Lin Yunwan pulled him inside and found that he was still wearing the gloves she had sent over last time. They were made of the same material as the ones she had given to Chang Gong, but his gloves had a pine and cypress pattern, while Chang Gong's were made of bamboo.

Lin Yunyi smiled, revealing his pearly white teeth. "Why would you need an umbrella for that little bit of snow?"

After sitting down, I took off my gloves.

He wasn't a delicate person; he didn't warm himself by the fire, and although his hands were red from the cold, he didn't care. He smiled and said to Lin Yunwan, "Mother's eyes are better; she can see things blurry now."

"Real?!"

Lin Yunwan was overjoyed; the leap from seeing light to being able to see things was enormous!

Lin Yunyi nodded and said, "I don't know if Physician Li changed the prescription. The medicine my mother is taking is different from before. I can't recognize the herbs, but the smell is different."

Lin Yunwan was happy and asked, "Is Mother... still crying?"

Lin Yunyi pursed his lips and remained silent.

If my mother hadn't cried about my sister, she would have recovered much faster.

"Young Master Yi, have some tea."

Ping Ye brewed tea and brought it to Lin Yunyi accepted it and thanked her.

He always respected the maidservant who served his elder sister. When he told Lin Yunwan about the purpose of his visit, he said, "Elder Sister... the clan sent me."

He lowered his head as he spoke, losing all interest in his tea.

Lin Yunwan remained silent, already guessing what some of the clansmen would say.

She said softly, "I understand, they've done their best."

The Lu family won't release her; they can't possibly jeopardize the marriage prospects of all the girls in their clan for the sake of one woman.

Lin Yunyi clenched his fists and cursed the Lu family under his breath.

This was the first time in his life that he had ever sworn!

Lin Yunwan heard it clearly, patted her younger brother's hand, and said, "You're still young, listen to your uncles and elders first."

Lin Yunyi's eyes reddened as he looked at Lin Yunwan, gripping her hand tightly, and said, "But they said to wait. How long will it take?"

They even asked him to come over and give them an explanation, but he doesn't even know what an explanation is!

He wouldn't have come all this way to see his sister if it weren't for the fact that he wanted to see her.

"Elder Sister, wait for me to grow up--"

Lin Yunyi spoke through gritted teeth.

Lin Yunwan smiled faintly and said, "Okay."

I know in my heart that I probably can't wait any longer.

"Yun Yi, I need your help with something. Don't tell Mother about it."

"What's up?"

Lin Yunyi was very curious.

Tao Ye's heart tightened. Was Young Madam going to give that medicine to Young Master Yi? Wasn't that a bit too risky? Young Master Yi was still too young; he might not be able to handle matters within the Inner Residence...

Lin Yunwan leaned close to Lin Yunyi's ear and whispered something to him.

Lin Yunyi's eyes widened even more, and he said, "... Okay."

He frowned, hesitated, and as he left, he said, "Elder Sister, I'll wait for you to come back and see Mother."

Lin Yunwan nodded.

Lin Yunyi prepared to go home, preoccupied with his own thoughts.

"I send you."

Lin Yunwan stood up, and had Tao Ye and Ping Ye follow her, taking an umbrella with them.

The snow had stopped falling outside. The siblings stepped out into the soft snow, and their mother, Nanny Yan, stopped them, saying very politely, "Young Madam, Young Master Yi. Since Young Master Yi is here, why don't you go and pay your respects to the Old Madam?"

Lin Yunyi's expression was extremely cold.

Greetings?

The two families have fallen out like this, and they still want him to pay his respects? He wants to see what that Matron from the Lu family is really up to.

Please lead the way.

Nanny Yan smiled and stepped aside, saying, "Young Master Yi, this way please."

Lin Yunwan followed.

When Old Madam Lu saw Lin Yunyi, she asked him some casual questions and said kindly, "We're all family, let bygones be bygones, don't dwell on the past."

Lin Yunyi disagreed with her attitude and bluntly said, "Who dares to consider themselves one of the Lu family!"

Old Madam Lu looked a little embarrassed, but still said magnanimously, "You're just a child. As an elder, I won't hold it against you."

That Old Madam is so hypocritical!

Lin Yunyi couldn't sit still any longer.

Goodbye.

So Old Madam Lu didn't keep him any longer.

When the siblings left, she said to Nanny Yan with complete peace of mind, "If the Members of the Lin clan really dared to disregard the dignity of both families and insist on a life-or-death struggle, they wouldn't have sent just a child."

Nanny Yan breathed a sigh of relief and said, "So that means the two families are fine from now on?"

Old Madam Lu's gaze was cold. "The Members of the Lin clan are just Yun Wan's family members. After all, she is just a married-out daughter. When she passes away one day, the Members of the Lin clan won't do anything to the Lu family. Her younger brother—is truly a major threat."

Nanny Yan still feels lingering fear when she recalls the day the two clans discussed Lin Yunyi spoke!

If Lin Yunwan dies at such a young age, would he let the Lu family off the hook?

"Old Madam, do you mean...?"

Old Madam Lu said slowly, "To cut the weeds, you must pull them out by the roots. The elder sister cannot be kept alive, and the younger brother cannot be kept alive either."

Nanny Yan said with a pounding heart, "Young Master Yi isn't a member of the Lu family. He's the most outstanding young master in the Lin clan. You can't possibly... poison him to death in the Lu family too!"

The death of a married woman is no big deal, but the loss of a young scholar in the Lin clan is no laughing matter!

Old Madam Lu lifted her eyelids and glanced at Nanny Yan, saying, "Are you getting senile?"

"If they're all poisoned, the Prefect of Shuntian isn't stupid!"

She said with a vicious look in her eyes, "There's more than one way to die in this world."

There are more than one way to die without being held accountable.