Chapter 41: Lin Xianyun Reveals Her Secret

Madame Qin was so incensed by Lin Xianyun that she gasped for air. "Xianyun, have you lost your mind? The Su family first slighted you over the betrothal gifts, and now they pull a stunt like this! Do you want to drag the Lin family’s reputation through the mud?"

If this marriage were to proceed, their Lin family would become the laughingstock of Yuzhou City.

No matter how much she doted on her daughter, Madame Qin could not yield on this matter. Moreover, for a household to behave so scandalously when the wedding date was imminent, how could her daughter possibly be treated well once she married into that family?

Reason and propriety dictated that Madame Qin could not accept this.

To her surprise, Lin Xianyun failed to grasp her mother's good intentions. "Mother, you don't understand. Su Lang is destined for great success! In three years—three years from now, he will surely pass the imperial examinations with top honors and be handpicked by the Emperor as the Tanhua. Believe me!"

Madame Qin’s eyes widened. "Are you mad? Forget about three years from now; who can even guarantee what will happen in three days? Xianyun, have you been bewitched by that scoundrel Su Jingcheng? Why else would you spout such nonsense?"

If she had said Su Jingcheng could pass the exams, she might have believed it, but to claim he would be personally selected as the Tanhua by the Emperor? Putting aside her own disbelief, who in this world would buy such a claim?

Yet, Lin Xianyun was adamant. "Mother, I speak the truth. Su Lang will definitely become the Tanhua."

Madame Qin was so angry it gave her a headache. "Enough! Stop this nonsense! In any case, this marriage cannot continue. Otherwise, how will our Lin family ever face people again? Do not leave the house for a while; stay put, and I will have your father handle the breaking of the engagement."

With that, Madame Qin turned to leave.

Lin Xianyun panicked. How could she accept the marriage she had fought so hard to secure being called off just like that? She grabbed Madame Qin and dragged her into the inner chamber.

"My living ancestor, what are you doing? Let go of me!" cried a startled Madame Qin.

Lin Xianyun pulled her inside, chased all the maids out, and ordered them to lock the doors.

"Mother, you want to know why I am so certain Su Jingcheng will pass? It is because I have been reborn."

Madame Qin stared at her daughter for a long time before reaching out to touch her forehead. "You don't have a fever, so why are you talking nonsense?"

Lin Xianyun pulled her hand down and said with deadly seriousness, "Mother, I am telling you the truth. I really have been reborn. In my previous life, the one who married Su Jingcheng was Lin Wanqing. Later, Su Jingcheng became the Tanhua, and she became the Tanhua’s wife. Ten years later, Su Jingcheng became a third-rank official, and that bitch Lin Wanqing became a third-rank noblewoman!"

Madame Qin was stunned. She could not believe her ears, but looking at the hatred in Lin Xianyun’s eyes, she realized her daughter was telling the truth. She knew her own child; she could tell when she wasn't lying.

"So, that is why you scrambled to marry Su Jingcheng and forced the marriage with the General’s Mansion onto her?"

Lin Xianyun nodded with a smile. "Exactly. Not only that, but I specifically arranged for her to marry into the General’s Mansion on the same day I was supposed to in my past life. That way, just like me, she will spend over a decade as a widow in name!"

Madame Qin was fully convinced now.

After all, the date of Lin Wanqing’s wedding had been set because Lin Xianyun had pestered her to do so. At the time, she had wondered why Lin Xianyun was so intent on interfering with Lin Wanqing’s marriage. It turned out she knew Lu Jinxiao would receive the imperial decree to lead the army to war on that very day!

If she hadn't experienced it herself, how could she know such things so clearly?

The daughter before her had truly been reborn. A sudden fear gripped Madame Qin; her legs went weak, and she nearly collapsed to the floor.

Lin Xianyun caught her. "Mother, don't be afraid. Although I have lived two lifetimes, I am still your daughter, not some ghost or demon." She pressed Madame Qin’s hand to her own face, letting her feel the warmth of her skin.

It took a while for Madame Qin to compose herself. "Xianyun, you really are reborn? What was your previous life like? Why were you reborn?"

At the mention of her past life, Lin Xianyun felt aggrieved and wept in her mother's arms. "Mother, your daughter has suffered so much..."

She recounted her past life, adding embellishments to the tale. In her version, she was the victim, mistreated by the General’s Mansion and eventually heartlessly cast aside by Lu Jinxiao. Because Lin Wanqing stood in her way, she was forced to live as a secret concubine, and even her own son had to call Lin Wanqing 'mother.' In the end, she was stabbed to death by the jealous Lin Wanqing.

Madame Qin, who was not exactly upright herself and doted on Lin Xianyun, felt her heart break. She hugged her daughter and wept. "My poor daughter, you have suffered so much."

Lin Xianyun’s eyes were filled with tears as well. "Mother, in this life, I must live in glory. I want to trample Lin Wanqing under my feet so she never rises again!"

Madame Qin nodded. "Very well, Mother will grant your wishes. But that Su family..." She still felt the Su family was too chaotic.

Lin Xianyun held her mother's hand. "Mother, it is just a lowly concubine raised from a maid; dealing with her is effortless. Su Lang will be a high-ranking official in the future; what is this minor grievance compared to that? Besides, the Su family currently needs our Lin family’s help. If we demand they get rid of that wretch, do you think they would dare refuse?"

Madame Qin considered this and realized it made sense. A son-in-law who could reach the third rank by his thirties would surely join the Cabinet eventually. Their family’s status would rise accordingly. And her precious son would finally shed his merchant status and become a scholar!

The more she thought about it, the more excited she became. She grabbed Lin Xianyun’s hand. "My child is right. This marriage must go through, no matter what!"

Lin Xianyun seized the moment. "Mother, Su Lang needs support right now, and the Su family is useless. We must use the Lin family’s resources. When Su Lang rises to the top, he will never forget our family’s kindness. So, my dowry truly cannot be meager."

Madame Qin had no reason to be stingy now. "That is true. I will find a way to handle the dowry. You just focus on preparing for the wedding. As for that concubine in the Su family, I will take care of her for you."

No one would stand in her daughter's way! A concubine was one thing, but an illegitimate eldest son was absolutely out of the question.

Lin Xianyun finally revealed her first genuine smile in days. "Mother, you are so good to me."

Madame Qin hugged her. "You are my daughter; who else would I be good to if not you?"

After leaving Lin Xianyun’s courtyard, Madame Qin returned to her own, where she spent half the night whispering with her husband behind closed doors.

The next evening, a mole in the Su household sent word to Lin Wanqing: the concubine whom Su Jingcheng had just elevated had suffered a miscarriage.