The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Chapter 790 The Escaped Heiress of the Lin Family
Using the excuse that it was late and snowing heavily, Gu Dashu temporarily housed Miss Lin in a room in the backyard of the shop.

The room was clean and warm.

Gu Dashu also had his servants bring him clean blankets.

Miss Lin thanked him verbally, but inwardly she was disdainful.

This room is not as good as the room of her maid.

The thought of marrying a minor official from the Hanlin Academy and being sent to the border, where she might not even have a house like this, made her so distressed that she wanted to kill her stepmother and her sister.

In the past, snowfall in Shengjing was merely a embellishment to add interest to the lives of a wealthy young lady like her.

I wish the snow would be as heavy as possible.

Anyway, there are hand warmers and warm sedan chairs when going out, and warm charcoal fires indoors. It's so pleasant to lean on the window, enjoy the snow, and compose poems.

But it was only after escaping through the heavy snow that she realized for the first time that the snow could be a disaster for her future life.

It's so cold, it's freezing!
This was the first time in her life that she had experienced the cold of snow in winter, and it felt as if her limbs and bones were shattering.

After that, every year when she went to the border, she would feel this cold.

Why?
She doesn't accept it.

Since her stepmother has arranged this marriage for her, she shouldn't blame her for being ruthless towards her own family.

Once she becomes the favored concubine of Prince Ning and gradually rises to become Empress, she will make her stepmother and sister pay for her current miserable state.

No, it would be too easy for them to die.

She wanted them to kneel at her feet in the heavy snow, wearing only thin clothes, to repent and beg for mercy.

"Did the Lin family really mistreat her as she claimed?"

Gu Dashu did not completely trust Miss Lin.

After settling Miss Lin in, Gu Dashu couldn't help but discuss it with his staff.

No matter how much Miss Lin begged, he would never send her to the Prince Ning's residence.

What kind of place is the Prince Ning's Mansion? It's not a place that ordinary people can just go to whenever they want.

Furthermore, the Lin family is not an ordinary family; they are a powerful and influential clan, a noble family. What if he sends the person away and the Lin family comes to him demanding the person back?
He wasn't foolish enough to impulsively do as Miss Lin asked just because she looked so pitiful.

Even if what happened to Miss Lin is true, he will definitely save her.

They will resolve this in a safe and secure way, preferably by extricating themselves and Tong Huaqiong and others from the situation, rather than recklessly rushing in to uphold justice.

The waiter said, "It's hard to say what happens in wealthy families. Which wealthy family in Shengjing doesn't have its own private affairs? If those mistresses didn't have some tricks up their sleeves, how could they control the concubines and illegitimate children in their households? Some mistresses are very jealous, beating their concubines and forcing their illegitimate daughters. Such things are reported every year."

The waiter was from Shengjing. His parents had worked as servants in wealthy households and had heard many rumors about the rivalry between wives and concubines in the inner quarters of these households.

"Miss Lin is indeed pitiful. If she hadn't been forced to such a state by her stepmother, would a young lady from a wealthy family have been able to escape from the mansion in the heavy snow?"

Because Miss Lin looked so pitiful, the waiter believed her tearful account of her ordeal.

Unless she's truly desperate, why would a pampered young lady run away?

Gu Dashu frowned and said, "Miss Lin's stepmother has been to our house. I met her once. She doesn't seem like the kind of person who mistreats a concubine's daughter."

The waiter said, "That's not necessarily true. You can know a person's face but not their heart. Some people are all talk and no action. They may be nice to their illegitimate children outside, but we don't know how they are treated at home. If the legal wife really cared for Miss Lin, how could she have arranged such a terrible marriage for her?"

Gu Dashu was puzzled.

So that's where the problem lies.

If it were the old Gu Dashu, he would have believed without a second thought that Miss Lin's ordeal was true.

Having experienced the frontier and seen the world in Shengjing, Gu Dashu is no longer the Gu Dashu of Qinghewan. He no longer gets bogged down in his own little corner of the world when it comes to problems.

He thought that if he were Madam Lin, even if he disliked his illegitimate daughter, he wouldn't make a fuss about her marriage. There was no need.

Unlike sons, daughters born out of wedlock are not entitled to a share of the family property.

Aristocratic families believe in the principle that everyone prospers or suffers together.

Wouldn't it be more beneficial for your family and your son to arrange a good marriage for your illegitimate daughter to form a political alliance?

If Madam Lin were truly jealous of Miss Lin's mother, she wouldn't have needed to keep Miss Lin by her side and elevate her status.

After thinking about it, Gu Dashu decided to go home the next day to discuss it with Tong Huaqiong.

"We must not let anyone know that Miss Lin is hiding in our shop. If word gets out, even I can't protect you."

"Also, whatever Miss Lin asks you to do, don't do it. Just listen to me."

The truth of the matter is still unclear, and Gu Dashu is afraid that his employee, who sympathizes with Miss Lin, might be taken advantage of.

The waiter said, "Don't worry, I'll only listen to you."

Although he sympathized with Miss Lin, he dared not help her pass on messages.

The main concern was that Gu Dashu might get angry and fire him.

Don't be fooled by Gu Dashu's usual smiling face towards his employees; he is ruthless and cruel, and even the King of Mobei was completely manipulated by him.

Besides, where else could he find such a well-paid job if he left the Gu family's shop?

A dreamless night.

When Gu Dashu woke up the next morning, he looked out the window and saw that the snow had stopped.

Gu Dashu ordered his waiter to buy hot mutton soup from a nearby mutton soup restaurant and serve it to Miss Lin.

Miss Lin frowned when she saw the hot mutton soup. How could she possibly eat something so greasy first thing in the morning?

“Brother Gu, the snow outside has stopped, and it’s not right for me to stay in your shop. If the Lin family finds out, it might affect you. The Lin family is a powerful family that even Prince Ning fears. Why don’t you send me to Prince Ning’s residence?”

Miss Lin regretted that she hadn't brought any silver or jewelry with her, otherwise she could have bribed Gu Dashu's servants.

She saw sympathy in the man's eyes, and she was confident she could use it.

Gu Dashu slurped down his mutton soup and ate some sesame flatbread, saying, "This matter isn't urgent. You should eat first. We can talk about it after you've eaten, or I can go and deliver a message to Prince Ning. You can wait patiently in the shop for now."

Miss Lin gritted her teeth.

I thought this country bumpkin from Ningcheng would be easy to fool, but I never expected Gu Dashu to be so slippery and cunning.

She was already in such a pitiful state, yet he showed no mercy or pity whatsoever.

Miss Lin was unwilling to accept this.

The longer she stays here, the greater the risk of being captured and taken back by the Lin family.

Now, only the Prince Ning's residence is the safest place for her.

"Brother Gu, I know this matter has put you in a difficult position. If it were me, I would also think it over carefully. After all, the Lin family is very powerful. If the Lin family finds out that you sent me to the Ning Prince's Mansion, they will hold you accountable. But don't worry, once I arrive at the Ning Prince's Mansion, I will ask the Princess and the Ning Prince to protect you." Miss Lin's eyes reddened, and she looked pitiful.

Gu Dashu looked at Miss Lin, wondering if she was simply naive or just plain stupid.

Prince Ning is a venomous snake. Would he offend the Lin family for the sake of a merchant like Gu Dashu?

Even if Gu Dashu didn't understand the intricacies of court politics, he still had some brains.

"You've been hungry for a day and a night, eat first," Gu Dashu advised calmly.

Miss Lin lowered her head, feeling nauseous as she held the bowl of mutton soup.