Chapter 186 FCADW? IRTBTMOTMM

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

 Chapter 186: 

Caught 

"What an outstanding girl. No wonder Madam Lin keeps her hidden, reluctant to let us see her!" 

As soon as the Madams from the family's social circle spoke, the women in the room burst into laughter. 

Lin Yunwan lowered her head, lips slightly pursed. 

Just as the atmosphere became jovial, a maid announced, "Old Madam, the Second Madam has arrived." 

The maid led Madam Zheng in to pay her respects to Old Madam Lin. Then she walked over to Yunwan, feigning concern as she took Yunwan's slightly reddened hand and said, "Yunwan, why haven't you applied the hand cream I gave you?" 

When did Madam Zheng give her hand cream? 

Lin Yunwan smiled faintly. She didn't want to cause trouble in front of Madam Lin, so she didn't expose Madam Zheng's lie. Instead, she replied smoothly, "Applying cream can damage the strings of the qin. It's better not to use it." 

Does Madam Zheng really care about her stepdaughter, not even knowing such a thing? 

The Madams and Old Madams in the room remained silent but smiled knowingly. 

Madam Zheng continued her well-meaning advice, "Even when you're not playing the qin, you should still apply it. A girl's hands are her second face and must be well maintained." 

Yunwan nodded in acknowledgment. She had fulfilled the customary exchange of pleasantries. 

Old Madam Lin's expression had been indifferent since Madam Zheng entered the room.

The Madams of the West Lin Mansion were adept at reading the room. One of them took the lead, saying, "Alright, we've been here long enough. I'm afraid our sister-in-law is getting bored waiting in the flower hall. Let's all go over!" 

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Even Fan Mama chimed in, "Old Madam Lin, it's time for your medicine." 

With that, the guests dispersed. 

Madam Zheng and the Madams from West Lin Mansion were the last to leave. As they were leaving Old Madam Lin's courtyard with Lin Yunwan, they ran into Lin Huabin coming to pay his respects. 

"Master, what brings you here?" 

"I heard from my eldest brother that Old Madam Lin woke up early today. I thought it was time for the sisters-in-law to leave, so I came to pay my respects," replied Lin Huabin. 

He arrived just in time. 

Madam Zheng said, "Then please go in quickly; Old Madam Lin needs to take her medicine." 

Lin Huabin nodded and quickly went in... only to come out in the blink of an eye. 

"So soon?" 

Madam Zheng narrowed her eyes; perhaps he was scolded.

Lin Huabin didn't seem to have been scolded at all; his expression was very gentle. "Old Madam Lin is taking her medicine, so I paid my respects and came out," he said.

"Let's hurry, so as not to disturb Old Madam Lin," he added.

Looking at Lin Yunwan still standing there, Lin Huabin remembered to ask, "Where's Jiao'er? Why didn't she come to pay respects to Madam Lin?"

Madam Zheng looked uncomfortable. She touched her hairdo and said, "... Jiao'er had a stomachache early this morning, so I told her to come later. I didn't want to upset Madam Lin, you see?"

Lin Huabin didn't see anything wrong with that and said kindly, "She can come later. Today is a big day for the main house, with so many relatives around."

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"Yes, I understand," Madam Zheng replied, her attitude very agreeable.

Lin Yunwan watched the couple exchange words with a hidden agenda and found it amusing.

Did the master really not see through Madam's intentions at all?

If Madam Zheng didn't have any ulterior motives, why would she prevent Lin Yunjiao from coming to pay her respects? She missed such a good opportunity to show filial piety.

"Yunwan, I'm going to the flower hall to see your eldest aunt and your third aunt. Could you go and escort your Aunt Wen back for me?" Madam Zheng suddenly said.

Lin Yunwan sneered inwardly, having waited so long for this moment.

Lin Huabin was a bit surprised. "Why did you bring her along?" He also sounded a bit displeased. "She's rude; aren't you worried that Old Madam Lin and Eldest Sister-in-law won't be pleased?"

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It's you who's not pleased, isn't it? Isn't it just because you look down on my maternal relatives?

Madam Zheng suppressed her irritation and smiled gently. "Didn't Wenhai come with you? My cousin said she wanted to pay her respects to Madam Lin and see what the Lin Family's grand garden looks like, so I brought her along to have a look."

"Paying respects to Madam Lin is only proper," Lin Huabin's expression softened a bit. He thought to himself that if Wen's mother saw the Lin Family's garden, it would feel like visiting a heavenly palace for a country folk. Feeling more at ease, he let it go.

But he was still suspicious. "If she came to pay her respects, why isn't she here?"

Madam Zheng lamented, "Yunwan was supposed to go and escort her back—she twisted her ankle halfway through the stroll. I had a servant send her back, but she insisted she couldn't move. I suggested calling a doctor, but she felt embarrassed. Just a distant relative of our family, no need to make a fuss in the main house," she added. "I came through the garden gate in a hurry to pay respects to Old Madam Lin, so I left her by the lotus pond in the garden."

Madam Zheng urged in front of Lin Huabin, "Yunwan, I still need to go congratulate your eldest uncle and aunt, so hurry and fetch your aunt back to our mansion."

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Lin Yunwan glanced at Madam Zheng and said slowly, "Madam, let me send a maid instead. With so many guests here, it wouldn't be appropriate for both my sister and I to be away from your side."

Standing behind her was Xiruo.

Madam Zheng sneered, "What's wrong with it? She's your aunt, your elder. Can't even run an errand?"

Lin Yunwan glanced at Lin Huabin.

Such clumsy tactics!

She refused to believe that her husband couldn't see through it at all.

Lin Huabin's expression remained amiable. "Yunwan, just go and do it."

Of course, he knew that his wife was trying to matchmake Yunwan and Wenhai. Who knows, Wenhai's mother might become Yunwan's mother-in-law in the future! If they didn't seize the opportunity to please Wenhai's mother now, when would they?

Lin Huabin smiled, adopting a similar attitude. "After all, she's your elder. It's good for young ones to be diligent and filial. It won't hurt."

Lin Yunwan had nothing more to say.

Lin Yunwan bowed and left.

Together, Lin Yunwan and Xiruo walked towards the garden. The passages between the three wings of the Lin Mansion were all interconnected, but separated by doors.

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Normally, the side doors remained closed, but today, for the banquet, several doors were open. The side door of the garden led directly to the second wing of the Lin Mansion. As they walked over, they saw Cuiqin waiting under a soapberry tree in the pavilion.

Seeing Lin Yunwan, Cuiqin quickly stepped forward and said, "Second Miss has brought the maid!"

Lin Yunwan's expression remained calm. "Go and tell Second Miss—"

What should she say?

Just relay what Madam Zheng had said.

"Madam said that since it involves elders, as a junior, it's only proper to escort them. So, it's only right for Second Miss to go and escort her."

As for what would happen after the escort, she didn't know.

Cuiqin nodded. "I understand!"

Turning around, she hurried to find Lin Yunjiao. She was also adept at pretending, so when she rushed up to Lin Yunjiao, she appeared flustered, as if some major catastrophe had occurred.

"Se... Second Miss, Madam Wen twisted her ankle!"

Lin Yunjiao, meticulously dressed with the scent of perfume lingering around her, frowned and asked, "So what if she twisted her ankle? What does it have to do with me? Am I supposed to carry her back?"

But then she thought again. After all, Madam Wen was Cousin Wenhai's mother. Ignoring her completely might not be appropriate...

Lin Yunjiao's face reddened slightly as she looked at Cuiqin and suddenly asked, "Wait, you aren't her maid? What are you doing here?"

"Things are really strange today."

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