Volume One, Chapter 12: Duke, Please Behave Yourself

Page 1/3

How could she say it was her own carelessness?! Lin Qingyun angrily looked up at Zhixin. “Why did you deliberately trip me, miss?”

“Ah, Miss, are you alright?” Zhixin seemed to realize what had happened and gasped in alarm, then quickly helped Lin Qingyun to her feet.

“Miss, your fall was so sudden. It’s true that I didn’t react quickly enough to help you, but you can’t accuse me of purposely tripping you.”

At that moment, Zhixin looked even more aggrieved than Lin Qingyun. “It’s only my first day at the mansion, and I’m already being wrongfully accused. I’m afraid I’m not fit for this job. Perhaps I should return to the palace and beg the Emperor’s pardon.”

As she spoke, Zhixin made a move to leave. Lin Wenyuan panicked at the sight. If the Emperor’s envoy cried and ran away on her first day, what future would the Duke of Ruguo’s household have?

“Miss, you’ve misunderstood. Qingyun would never do such a thing on purpose,” Lin Wenyuan hurriedly blocked Zhixin.

Then, glaring fiercely at Lin Qingyun, he said, “You’re such a reckless child. Apologize to Miss Zhixin at once!”

“Father, why should I apologize to a mere servant?” Lin Qingyun retorted stubbornly. “It was clearly her who tripped me. You should punish this lowly servant to avenge your daughter.”

This time, Lin Qingyun’s grievance was genuine.

Ever since she entered the household three years ago as the legitimate daughter of the Lin family, she had been the apple of Lin Wenyuan and Lin Qingyan’s eyes, practically getting everything she wanted within the Duke of Ruguo’s mansion.

Her parents never even spoke harsh words to her, so now to demand that she apologize to a mere servant was simply ridiculous!

With this thought, Lin Qingyun looked stubbornly at Lin Wenyuan.

But instead of compromise or coaxing, she was met with a heavy slap.

Lin Wenyuan’s eyes burned with fury. “It seems the Duke has spoiled you rotten over these years, making you so arrogant and disrespectful!”

“For a lowly maid, you want me to apologize and then hit me?” Lin Qingyun covered her cheek, staring at Lin Wenyuan in disbelief.

Then, feeling utterly wronged, she ran out...

“Qingyun!” Lin Qingyan called after her, but to no avail. Angry, he glared fiercely at Lin Qingwu. “It’s all your fault. You’re a disaster to the Lin family.”

Leaving those words behind, Lin Qingyan hurried after his beloved sister.

Page 2/3

“Miss~” Yunshang, hearing this, couldn’t help but worry. She called out to Lin Qingwu in a comforting tone.

But Lin Qingwu’s expression remained unchanged, showing no sign of taking Lin Qingyan’s words to heart.

Standing awkwardly, Lin Wenyuan said, “Qingwu, don’t listen to that scoundrel’s nonsense. I’ll make sure to teach him a lesson later. But…”

“On the other hand, today’s matter isn’t entirely unrelated to you. After all, Qingyun is the Duke’s own daughter. You shouldn’t be too harsh with her.”

“Is that a reprimand?” Lin Qingwu feigned surprise. “But didn’t you just say everything is as it was three years ago? Were those words all insincere?”

Lin Wenyuan was speechless. Those words were just polite formalities spoken because of the imperial decree, in front of Zhou Yang. And yet, she actually took them seriously.

Though he thought this, he refrained from saying it aloud.

Instead, he quickly denied, “Don’t be so sensitive. I only want you two sisters to get along well. Nothing more.”

Lin Qingwu sneered at this and had no intention of arguing further. “Don’t worry, I would never provoke my third sister.”

As she said this, a bloodthirsty smile curled on her lips: but if she ever dared to provoke me, I wouldn’t be so polite...

Lin Wenyuan didn’t catch the hidden meaning and, hearing her say that, silently breathed a sigh of relief.

However, at that moment, Lin Qingwu’s gaze returned to the spirit tablet before them. “Father, this spirit tablet still doesn’t seem appropriate.”

“Don’t... Hey! What are you doing?!” Lin Wenyuan, clearly impatient, was about to say this wasn’t something Lin Qingwu should meddle in.

But the next second, Lin Qingwu took a few steps forward, grabbed the spirit tablet, holding it firmly with both hands.

Lin Wenyuan’s face changed drastically and he rushed to stop her, but before he could reach out, Lin Qingwu exerted force, and the spirit tablet snapped in two.

“Why would you do such a thing?” Lin Wenyuan gasped, clutching his chest in anger.

Lin Qingwu ignored his questioning, letting go of the broken tablet, which fell to the ground.

Then, from her bosom, she took out a brand-new spirit tablet inscribed with “Spirit Tablet of the Honored Mother, Bai Qiuyun,” and, stepping on the broken one beneath her feet, reverently placed the new tablet in front.

“Mother, today is your third death anniversary. Your daughter has come to see you.”

Page 3/3

“I was foolish to be so late, causing you to suffer these years. If you can hear me in the afterlife, please watch over me. Qingwu will reclaim all that belongs to you. No one who harmed you shall escape.”

Saying this, Lin Qingwu knelt and respectfully kowtowed three times.

Then she rose and took three incense sticks from Yunshang, personally placing them in the incense burner before her.

“Ungrateful daughter! You ungrateful daughter!” Lin Wenyuan was stunned by her actions and words.

Fear mingled with rage as he pointed at Lin Qingwu and furiously berated her.

“Father, look carefully. This is the true spirit tablet of Mother, the mistress of the Duke of Ruguo’s household, your rightful wife!”

Having done all this, Lin Qingwu pointed at the newly replaced tablet and firmly told Lin Wenyuan, who was distraught and furious.

She disdainfully glanced at the broken tablet on the ground. “That one could be anyone. Judging by how you look, Father, I suspect she was your favorite woman, and you deliberately let her take Mother’s place!”

“How dare you! You’re insubordinate!” Lin Wenyuan’s anger turned to humiliation. “My beloved wife is only one. Our marriage is unbreakable. How could you, a mere junior, defame her with such accusations?”

Raising his hand, he was about to strike Lin Qingwu.

Zhiyi quickly stepped forward and blocked his hand, speaking calmly: “Your Grace, please show some restraint. The future Princess of Yue is not someone you can hit.”

“You...” Lin Wenyuan was furious at this bold maid but found himself unable to say anything.

Because he knew Zhiyi was right. This girl now had the Emperor’s decree of betrothal and the backing of His Highness Prince Yue. He could no longer abuse her as before.

Seeing Lin Wenyuan scowl and slowly lower his hand, Lin Qingwu sneered coldly: “Since Father has no objection, from now on, Mother will be honored with the new spirit tablet. That way, there will be no more misunderstandings—”