Carrying the little lucky star, leading the villain on the road to exile

"I didn't expect this manor to be so grand," Madam Jiang said dismissively. Even before going inside, she could guess that the manor had at least four or five courtyards.

The courtyard where Madam Lin and her children lived in the county town was not very big; Mr. Lin certainly knew how to enjoy life.

The gatekeeper, seeing the lady return, had already turned and went inside to report, not daring to stop them. The group entered without any hindrance.

Gu Xingyang curiously turned her little head. She had just taken a long nap in the car and was now full of energy.

This estate is quite well-built; it's even bigger than their house in Tiancun.

“It seems the estate is doing well,” Madam Qian and the others said, looking around as soon as they entered.

Mrs. Jiang said, "That makes sense. Why would anyone be willing to shamelessly keep an eye on us?"

Bai Suihe observed that there was a big problem here. When Madam Lin entered the mansion, the servants did not come to pay their respects, but instead avoided her. She wondered if the Lin family was in disarray or if they had recognized another woman as the mistress.
"The servants in this mansion are far too unruly," Bai Suihe said with a smile, her voice just loud enough for Madam Lin to hear. "Don't they need to come and greet the mistress when she returns home?"

“You know what, it really is,” the other ladies immediately realized the trickery and said in unison, “Why keep such wicked servants? They should all be sold off.”

Madam Lin's eyes flashed, and she finally understood why the atmosphere in the house had felt strange since she returned these past few days. It turned out that there had been signs all along, but she had just failed to notice them.

She only moved to the county town a few years ago to make it easier to take care of her children, but that doesn't mean these servants can trample on her head.

Don't forget, she was the matriarch of the Lin family before. Since her mother-in-law died, she has put the indentures of these servants in her own hands and has the power to decide their fate.

She was just too gentle with these people, making them forget who their real master was.

But it doesn't matter. After this incident, she didn't intend to keep these people. She could sell them and bring in a new batch of obedient ones, which wouldn't be a loss for her.

When Master Lin, Lin Dali, heard the servants come to report that his wife had returned to the mansion, he found it strange. "What nonsense are you talking about? Isn't your wife sick?"
"Why would I come back if I didn't take good care of myself in the county town?"

“It seems that the master also knows that I am ill,” Hu Wan’er stepped into the main hall. “Sure enough, he has a new concubine by his side. As for me, the wife who has borne your children, life and death are no longer important.”

"I already had someone send you some tonics, don't cause trouble here." Lin Dali frowned. "Since you're sick, you should stay in the city and rest properly. What are you doing back here?"

"Does the master know why I am sick?"

“It’s not like you suddenly fell ill at the banquet. I’m not trying to be mean, but you should take care of your health. It’s shameful to have something like this happen at someone else’s banquet.” Lin Dali’s eyes were full of disgust as he spoke.

“Son-in-law,” Mrs. Hu, supported by her two daughters-in-law, followed them in, “How did my daughter embarrass you like this?”

Lin Dali quickly stood up from his seat, glanced at Hu Wan'er with a displeased look, and then said with a smile, "Mother-in-law, what brings you here today?"

"My two sisters-in-law, how have you been lately?"

“We are not good. My daughter married into your Lin family. She manages the household business, is filial to the elders, takes care of the children, and serves her husband. I don’t know what she has done wrong. Even when she is sick, her son-in-law doesn’t even ask about it.”

"Mother-in-law, please sit down. There's been a lot going on at the estate lately, and I'm just waiting to finish this up before heading to town," Lin Dali said with a forced smile, making up an excuse.

"You seem to have a leisurely life here, but you don't know that life in the city isn't easy these days. Do you know why your wife got sick at the banquet?" Lin Dali thought to himself, "I'm not a doctor, how could I possibly know?"
But with a forced smile, he said, "Perhaps as I get older, some symptoms will appear, but don't worry, Mother-in-law, if you're sick, we'll get you treated."

Hu Wan'er said, "I am very grateful for your understanding, but it is a pity that someone has taken a fancy to our two estates and wants to buy them at a low price. I was so anxious at the time that this happened."

"You're so naive. If someone wants to buy, and we don't want to sell, that's fine, but why are you in such a hurry?"

"That's the Empress's maternal family, who would dare refuse?"

Lin Dali's eyes widened in fright, "You can't talk nonsense..."

“Madam Lin is not talking nonsense,” Madam Jiang said, leading a group of ladies who no longer wanted to stand at the door and stepped into the main hall. “Today, my sisters and I have come out with Madam Lin to relax. I hope Mr. Lin will welcome us.”

Lin Dali felt a little dizzy. What was going on?
It's one thing for my mother-in-law to come, but there are so many other ladies here too.

He also visited some families in the county town, and he recognized some of the ladies there.

That woman is really something. If you're coming back, just let me know in advance if you're bringing guests, so I can make arrangements.

And looking at her sickly appearance, is she capable of taking charge?

"Housekeeper, go and ask Mingli to come and help. Tell her we have guests and she should come and entertain them."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Madam Hu, prompted by her eldest daughter-in-law, asked coldly, "Son-in-law, who is this Mingli?"

If it were anyone else asking, Lin Dali wouldn't hesitate at all, but this was his mother-in-law, so he looked a little embarrassed. "Isn't Madam in the county town? It wouldn't be right for me to be alone with her..."

"Oh, so you've taken a concubine," Madam Hu asked casually, seemingly unconcerned. "Wan'er is really something. How could she not inform her family of such a joyous occasion?"
When was she brought into the family? Was a contract drawn up in front of Wan'er?

"Well, we're just a small family, so we don't have all those formalities. We'll just have a meal together as a family later..."

“How can that be? There can be no order without rules,” Madam Qian interjected before Madam Hu could speak. “Since it’s about taking a concubine, it must be done according to the law. Does Master Lin intend to favor his concubine over his wife?”

"That's right. If everyone did things like Master Lin, it wouldn't be in accordance with the rules. If someone had that kind of ambition, wouldn't they be seeking even more?"

The late emperor had previously decreed that failing to distinguish between wives and concubines was the beginning of family chaos.

"A man who takes a concubine as his wife shall be punished with ninety strokes of the cane and must reform himself. Does Master Lin intend to risk his life?"

Lin Dali's face turned pale. He finally realized that these ladies weren't guests at all; they were all helpers that Hu Wan'er had brought.

He wanted to settle scores with Hu Wan'er, but he also had to save face, so he could only laugh awkwardly and say, "How could that be? My wife only has Wan'er, I wouldn't dare to have such thoughts."

"Oh, it was a misunderstanding," a shrewd-looking lady said, sizing up Mr. Lin. "Then why not take a concubine today? Let us have a celebratory drink." (End of Chapter)