Old Madam Xie originally intended to plead with the old lady of the Duke of Zhengguo Mansion. She thought of using her connections with the Empress Dowager’s natal family to see if His Majesty might show some leniency and release her grandson and granddaughter.
However, to her dismay, Madam Lin and Xie Zian remained stubbornly unenlightened. Nanny An sighed silently and helped Old Madam Xie back to the small Buddhist hall.
Madam Lin hurriedly returned to her maternal home, rushing directly to Old Madam Lin’s room. Sobbing and whimpering until her eyes were red, she recounted everything that had happened that day.
"Mother, I absolutely cannot endure this humiliation! Yingying’s face is ruined, and she’s lost an eye! I don’t even know what will become of her for the rest of her life. Then there was that incident with Princess Chang, and I don’t even know how His Majesty got involved. On top of that, I was lectured by that old undying hag who always hides herself away in the small Buddhist hall! You must find a way to get Hui’er and Yingying out!"
Old Madam Lin frowned as she listened. Her daughter had married beneath her station, and they had initially been displeased with the marriage to the Xie Family. However, Old Madam Xie had tactfully secluded herself in the small Buddhist hall. The Xie Family allowed their daughter to manage the household independently, and her mother-in-law didn’t torment her or impose strict rules, so they had considered their daughter fortunate. But they hadn’t anticipated today’s incident. From her daughter’s account, it was clear that years of comfort had addled her wits.
"You are such a fool! Your mother-in-law may seem indifferent to worldly affairs, but the Xie Family was, after all, a great Noble Family in the previous dynasty. Though they have declined in recent years, do you think your mother-in-law lacks connections or means?
Yet you’ve gone and created a rift with her over a mere servant’s indenture agreement! You should have just given it to them. Why create such a fuss over a servant, leading to Hui’er and Yingying being thrown into the main prison?"
Hearing her mother’s words, Madam Lin paused in wiping her tears, her face contorting. "I won’t give it to them! Xie Wulang looked down on me so much back then, and that little strumpet from the Luo Family got what I never could. Why should I grant them their wish?
To save face, I allowed their marriage. But I swore then that even if that Luo woman got Xie Wulang, I would make her children and grandchildren nothing more than low-class, despicable maids and servants for generations to come, ensuring she could never hold her head high in this life or the next!"
"You’ve gone mad!" Seeing her daughter in such a state, Old Madam Lin was utterly astounded. "I never knew you harbored such intentions when you clung so tightly to that indenture agreement all those years!
Shuang’er, I don’t care what you did in the past, but right now, you must consider the bigger picture. Don’t forget, Yingying is currently in marriage discussions with the Lu Family, and they are assessing her.
Lu Yunsheng already has reservations about Yingying’s willfulness and capriciousness. If this matter of being sent to the Celestial Prison isn’t handled properly, the marriage alliance with the Lu Family will likely fall through!"
Madam Lin’s expression stiffened upon hearing this; she had actually forgotten about it.
The Lu Family had initially looked down on her daughter. If she hadn’t discreetly spread rumors about her daughter’s superficial birth chart, the Lu Family would never have even glanced at her Yingying!
"Mother! You’ve reminded me, this marriage with the Lu Family..."
"Shuang’er, don’t be foolish. In my opinion, we absolutely cannot ask the Lu Family to intervene now; otherwise, this marriage will truly be off.
We must get Hui’er and Yingying out as soon as possible, and this matter must be kept strictly secret from the Lu Family."
"Mother! You’re mistaken. At this point, the Lu Family is no longer good enough for my Yingying."
Madam Lin recalled how her secret manipulations had convinced the Lu Family that her Yingying was the Phoenix Destiny Person. If she were to tell others about this now, they would surely believe it too!