Chapter 153 FCADW? IRTBTMOTMM

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 Favoring Concubines and Destroying Wives? I Refuse to be the Mistress of this Marquis' Mansion

 Chapter 153: 

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Old Madam Lin was someone who followed through on her promises.

After her birthday celebration, she sent people to find the old acquaintances from the Second Household who had been driven out before.

One of them was the wet nurse who had taken care of Miss Lin back then.

She wasn't as young as before, and now she no longer worked as a wet nurse; instead, she was farming in the countryside.

When she appeared in front of Madam Lin, she was neatly dressed, with her black and white hair elegantly pinned up with a silver hairpin.

The wet nurse lowered her head and said to Old Madam Lin, "Miss... she... she... fell ill. How could I have let her get up alone at night? But that day, I was so drowsy that I didn't even realize Miss got up by herself..."

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"Later, I also wondered... how could I have slept so deeply... The Madam's attendant gave me a bowl of soup during the day, and that's why I slept so heavily that night..."

"When I woke up, the bleeding from Miss's head couldn't be stopped... The Madam scolded me for this..."

The nurse twisted her fingers, feeling anxious inside. Although she had suspicions, without evidence, and being just a servant in the noble family, what difference would it make if she spoke out?

The Old Madam asked calmly, "Are you telling the truth?"

"If I find out there's a lie..."

"I haven't! I haven't! Madam, I really haven't!" The nurse quickly waved her hand and knelt down, knocking her head on the ground. "If I tell a lie, may I be struck by lightning!"

She cried, "I nursed Miss for four years, and the former mistress treated me so well... How could I bear to harm Miss?" Holding her chest, her tears seemed genuine.

Back then, she was also frightened and couldn't express her grievances, but now she knows how to handle the situation.

Old Madam Lin and Fan Mama exchanged a glance and chose to believe the nanny's words.

Fan Mama came out and said very gently, "Come with me." She took the wet nurse to the adjacent room for grooming and also gave her some money. Then, the next person to appear was the fortune-telling Taoist woman.

"Old Madam Lin..."

She was still practicing as a Taoist woman. In her youth, she looked fairly decent, with no signs of deceit. But now, after more than a decade, her appearance had changed drastically, with a sneaky and detestable expression that made people feel uncomfortable when she lifted her head.

Old Madam Lin calmly asked, "Tell me, how did you calculate that Miss Lin's fate would harm her parents?"

"According to your interpretation, my grand-daughter's destiny is extremely dire, a once-in-a-lifetime calamity. I trust you haven't forgotten. Now, speak up and tell me something consistent with your previous claims," Old Madam Lin said sternly.

The Taoist woman smirked in response.

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She glanced at Old Madam Lin and then at Old Master Lin Huabin, who sat at the head of the table.

Old Madam Lin's maid had already informed her that if she told the truth, the Lin family would not hold it against her and would even compensate her with money. However, if she lied, the Lin family would not show mercy.

"Regarding Madam Lin and Old Master Lin Huabin, your daughter is indeed destined for a difficult life, but she does not bring harm upon her parents..."

Lin Huabin erupted, "You!"

"If I did say your daughter would bring harm upon her parents, it was because Madam Lin offered me silver to say so."

She glanced at Madam Lin, hoping for her to intervene.

"Before entering the mansion, we had all agreed," she said. 

Old Madam Lin glanced at Lin Huabin and said, "Sit down."

Lin Huabin sat down, brushing his sleeve.

Madam Lin asked the fortune teller, "How much silver did Second Madam give you?"

The fortune teller gestured with her hand. 

"Two hundred taels?" Lin Huabin inquired. 

The fortune teller replied, "...It's not that much, just twenty taels."

Lin Huabin's face darkened considerably.

Fan Mama came in, and Old Madam Lin instructed her, "Take her away too."

Fan Mama said, "Please follow me."

Accompanied by Fan Mama, the fortune teller left.

Lin Huabin, knowing where the nursemaid had been taken, asked Old Madam Lin angrily, "Mother, why would you still give her money after what she did?!"

Old Madam Lin said calmly, "Today, we'll send her to the authorities."

"Who knows how many people she has harmed. Keeping her around would only bring trouble. Let the local authorities deal with her properly."

Lin Huabin nodded in agreement, "Indeed, it's the right course of action."

Old Madam Lin chuckled sarcastically, her gaze sharp and cold. "Now you talk about punishing the wicked and promoting the virtuous. Where were you when it mattered?"

Lin Huabin twitched his mouth slightly but remained silent.

He lowered his head even more, conceding, "I was also deceived."

Old Madam Lin smiled but remained silent.

She also asked Lin Huabin, "Since the matter with the nursemaid hasn't been fully clarified, should we continue the investigation? Let's gather all the maids who served Yunwan before and compare their testimonies to see if the nursemaid lied."

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Lin Huabin, feeling embarrassed, said, "No need."

The truth of the matter was apparent, could he still not see it clearly?

Mother and son had nothing more to say.

But Lin Huabin was still reluctant to leave. He stood up and bowed, asking, "Mother, how do you intend to handle this matter?"

With the interrogation reaching this point, it was clear that Madam Zheng's accusations couldn't be washed away.

Even though it couldn't be taken to the authorities, as a mother-in-law, she wanted to punish her daughter-in-law, and no one could object. 

Old Madam Lin's smile was sardonic, "Second son, are you implying that you don't want to deal with Madam Zheng?"

"Of course not!" Lin Huabin explained, "She hasn't been a good stepmother, so it's right for you, as the mother-in-law, to punish her. But..."

He continued, "She's still the mistress of the house after all. If she loses her dignity, how will she manage the household? Yunwan and Yunjiao are not young anymore, and she still needs to arrange marriages for them. Your son is already embarrassed enough. If this matter gets out..."

He wore a pained expression and said, "Your son will truly become the laughingstock of Jiangqian. I am begging you, Mother, for mercy." Lin Huabin bowed deeply, unwilling to rise unless Old Madam Lin relented.

Old Madam Lin sighed deeply, stepping down from her seat. She spoke coldly, "I can no longer control you. Lin Mansion has long been divided, and I have been following your eldest brother. Interfering in the affairs of your household would likely be seen as an overreach from an old woman like me."

Lin Huabin remained silent until his mother had walked past him. Then, he said, "What is Mother talking about? How could she say such things?"

"Take care of yourself and think carefully about how Ling Xiang managed to evade so many people and come to me," said the Old Madam Lin before walking away.

When Lin Huabin left from his mother's side, he calmly returned to his own residence. He went to find Madam Zheng.

Not long after, there were rumors among the servants of the Lin household that the Second Madam had been slapped by Master Lin Huabin.

"Miss, the wet nurse wants to see you. Are you willing to meet her?" Fan Mama brought the wet nurse over and asked, "Miss, would you like to meet her?"

After hesitating for a moment, Lin Yunwan replied, "Yes, I'll meet her." So, Fan Mama led the wet nurse to see Lin Yunwan.

The wet nurse was greatly surprised when she saw Lin Yunwan. She cried and said, "Miss, you've grown up so beautifully... If the Madam knew, she would be relieved." 

With memories like fleeting clouds, she had left the Lin family more than a decade ago, and it was not appropriate for her to stay any longer. After kowtowing to her former mistress, she left.

Lin Yunwan instructed Xiruo, "Escort her out." 

Xiruo had prepared a packet of silver for the wet nurse in advance. She personally escorted the wet nurse out and also inquired about the birth mother and dowry of Miss Lin.

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