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

The Chinese people's love for watching plays is something that has existed since ancient times. Some even like to stir up trouble. Sure enough, they have already started calling people to dress up this new concubine, because her red outfit is quite an eyesore.

“You two maids don’t know how to be polite,” Madam Jiang said, looking at the two maids who had tried to stop them earlier. “Judging from their timid and hesitant manner, they probably won’t do a good job. Fortunately, we have plenty of maids and servants here, so let’s make proper preparations for this new concubine.”

The other ladies echoed this sentiment, sending their "capable" assistants to help out.

Bai Suihe glanced at Zisu beside her and simply handed Gu Xingyang, whom she was holding, to her, so that her skillful hands wouldn't create a beauty for Master Lin.

"Master?" Surrounded by so many maids and servants, Ma Mingli was at a loss, no matter how many ideas she had before. These people all looked fierce and menacing, and she didn't know if they would resort to underhanded tactics.

"Since it's the ladies' kindness, then you should go and make the preparations. I'll go and inform your family."

Lin Dali no longer dared to look at Ma Mingli's pleading eyes. He had figured out what had happened today; their previous actions had angered the madam. If they didn't go along with her today, he might suffer as well.

Hu Wan'er then instructed her maid to take stock of her dowry. "I've been away for a while, and I never imagined that even a lowly concubine could use my dowry at will. I don't know if anything else is missing. While my sisters-in-law are all here, you should take the dowry list and check it off one by one."

Upon hearing this, Lin Dali's face turned extremely ugly; it was as if he had been humiliated.

"Madam, please don't be unreasonable. Your dowry is all neatly displayed in your courtyard. No one will touch it."

The ladies looked at Lin Dali with curiosity. How thick-skinned did he have to be to say such a thing? Did he think they were blind, or did they have the memory of a fish?

“Okay,” Sister-in-law Hu immediately walked into the courtyard. “While we are all here today, we can’t let my brother-in-law suffer an injustice in the future.”

If everything is intact, it means my brother-in-law is a good manager; but if someone has been dishonest and suffered some loss, we can quickly find the culprit, expose the scoundrel, and restore justice to the Lin family.

Lin Dali was now praying that Ma Mingli wouldn't go too far, otherwise he would really lose face this time.

He wanted to find an excuse to leave, but with several ladies surrounding him, he couldn't make a move and could only stand awkwardly in the courtyard.

"What's going on? What happened to the fabrics your elder brother sent earlier? Didn't you tell me you were going to prepare a betrothal gift for my nephew?"

Why is a set of jewelry missing? You brought it with you when you came home last time.

"Little sister, why is there one less quilt cover?"

"My poor daughter, you weren't even home, how did you manage to leave this side room in such a mess..."

Lin Dali stood in the courtyard, feeling that every moment was torture, and he wished he could just close his eyes and escape.

"Good heavens, the Lin family is really something, a thief broke into their house and even dared to touch the matriarch's dowry..."

"Isn't it obvious? Judging from that woman's arrogant behavior just now, she must have someone backing her up."

"To be honest, Madam Lin is being far too kind to these lowly concubines. I'll teach her a few tricks to discipline them properly, otherwise, if they get too big for their britches, who knows how they'll wreak havoc on the main branch of the family."

Bai Suihe keenly noticed that Lin Dali's legs were trembling, but he tried his best to hide it. At this moment, someone else said, "Ladies, there is actually another possibility. Some people are too ambitious and look down on the position of a concubine."

You know, the law stipulates that a concubine cannot be a wife. Could this widow Ma be so audacious as to want to replace Madam Lin?

As she spoke, several ladies immediately exclaimed in surprise, "No way, this is too outrageous, she really dares to think of such things."

"There's nothing to be afraid of. As long as a man is willing to fawn over her, that's her source of confidence."

Although one cannot demote one's wife to a concubine, one can gain official rank, wealth, and even the death of one's wife...

These words were like a drop of water splashed into a hot oil pan; everyone was abuzz, saying that it was indeed possible.

Lin Dali squatted down and covered his face, he had never been so embarrassed.

Can he say he didn't have such thoughts?

Even if he liked Ma Mingli very much, he knew that Madam Lin could not be divorced, not to mention that she had given birth to so many children for him. For the sake of his children, the position of Madam Lin could only belong to her.

He only wanted to appease Widow Ma and get her to serve him more attentively, but he never expected it to escalate to this extent.

So many ladies were mocking and ridiculing her, yet Madam Hu remained unmoved. Could it be that she thought the same thing?
He opened his mouth to explain, but didn't know where to begin. When he looked up and saw his sons standing under the porch, he felt a pang of guilt and didn't dare to meet their eyes.

"Master, our house has been robbed! You must send someone to report it to the authorities immediately."

Hu Wan'er held the list anxiously, "This thief is so audacious! He messed up my dowry and took a lot of it..."

“We can’t report this to the authorities,” Lin Dali said urgently, no longer caring about hiding his embarrassment while squatting there. “Mingli must have misappropriated it out of curiosity. I will definitely make it up to her later.”

"What? Aren't you inviting a wolf into the house?" Old Madam Hu said loudly. "How dare you bring in a woman of unknown origin? This time she dared to steal the mistress's dowry, so are you planning to murder her for her money next?"
You must give us an explanation today, or I'll have to go out and ask some respected elders whether the Lin family's actions are appropriate."

"Are you trying to force me to die?" Lin Dali was devastated. Why did he have to make such a mess of things, leaving everyone in an awkward position?
"If that's what you're saying, then I'll have to find someone to have a proper talk with. Eldest son, go and invite all the clan elders over. I want to ask if the Lin family can use other people's dowries at will?"

Young Master Lin glanced at his father, who was glaring at him, sighed, and stood aside without saying a word.

Lin Dali breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time, he felt a little uneasy, fearing that his three sons were all resentful of him.

He just wanted someone considerate by his side, is that wrong?

“You’re not going? Then the steward will go.” Hu Wan’er could understand that her son was indeed caught in the middle, but the fact that her three sons were accompanying her today already showed their stance. Her sons would be taking the imperial examinations in the future, and as their mother, she also had to consider their reputation.

The butler trembled with fear. He didn't know what would happen to him after today, but he was certain he wouldn't keep his position and might even be sold off. (End of Chapter)