"That's still better than marrying a peasant!" Chén Júhuā shouted, blocking Lín Xiǎoxuě and glaring at Lín Wénhuī. "Lín Wénhuī, you ruined me, you must not ruin my Xiǎoxuě too, or I'm not done with you."
Seeing Chén Júhuā's insistence on Lín Xiǎoxuě marrying into status, and recalling the book's description of Lín Xiǎoxuě's rise to power and the Lín family's role as cannon fodder, Lín Lìxià knew she couldn't persuade Chén Júhuā.
In the book's narrative, Lín Xiǎoxuě became a concubine to Gōng Xíngtài. Upon their arrival in the capital, she was tormented by the main wife, bullied by other concubines, and disdained by the household maids, facing immense difficulties. It wasn't until the entire Lín family perished that Gōng Xíngtài began to pity Lín Xiǎoxuě's lack of support and treasured her as his own eyeball.
With Gōng Xíngtài's protection, Lín Xiǎoxuě gently and attentively raised their two children. Her daughter entered the palace and gained imperial favor. Her son, in the palace examination, was personally appointed second place.
After years of hardship, relying on her children, Lín Xiǎoxuě finally outlived Gōng Xíngtài's main wife and was elevated from concubine to the primary wife. According to Chén Júhuā's calculations, such a life for Lín Xiǎoxuě was a sure win compared to marrying an ordinary man.
One should respect others' destinies. The premise, however, was that she and her family would not be the cannon fodder in Lín Xiǎoxuě's rise to power.
"Second Aunt, we won't stop Xiǎoxuě from seeking higher status, but you cannot disrupt my dictation plan either."
Chén Júhuā let out a cold laugh, her eyes bloodshot as she glared at Lín Lìxià. "On what grounds do you make demands of me?"
Having already seen Chén Júhuā's trump card, Lín Lìxià was equally unyielding. "Second Aunt, if you don't cooperate with me, I'll have my Eldest Brother and Second Brother closely attend to those two day and night. Without opportunity, where will you go to pursue higher status?"
"......" The dead girl is so troublesome, Chén Júhuā gritted her teeth and said to Lín Lìxià, "If I cooperate, can you provide Xiǎoxuě with an opportunity?"
"That depends on the candidate," Lín Lìxià paused deliberately. "That man surnamed Gōng is old, and it's clear he already has a main wife at home. If she were to become his concubine, his main wife might retaliate against us."
"Hmph!" Chén Júhuā snorted dismissively. "Do you think she'd dare commit murder or arson?"
"......" Lín Lìxià nodded, thinking that she indeed dared, to the extent of causing the annihilation of the Lín family.
"My bosom friend has a main wife at home too, and she's not living as well as my friend is," Chén Júhuā said disdainfully, glancing sideways at Lín Xiǎoxuě, who was looking down.
"A woman's husband is heaven. As long as Xiǎoxuě is favored and has a child or two, her children will be successful in the future, and our maiden family will also prosper."
"......" What a beautiful dream, Lín Lìxià thought, assuming her maiden family would even survive. "Second Aunt, why not choose that man surnamed Lù? He's young and unmarried, wouldn't Xiǎoxuě have a better chance?"
"You don't know anything?" Chén Júhuā rolled her eyes at Lín Lìxià. "That man surnamed Lù looks unfeeling. A man like that is clearly difficult to control."
"......" That makes sense. Lín Lìxià found herself unable to refute. Could the path of breaking up this CP really be impossible?
Lín Lìxià felt a pang of unwillingness.
"Second Aunt, I heard Aunt Liu say that the more unfeeling a person appears, the more serious they are when they fall in love. Why doesn't Xiǎoxuě try both?"
This suggestion made Chén Júhuā consider it. Trying both would increase the chances of success. Thinking this, she looked at Lín Lìxià with much more favor. "Are you really willing to help your cousin?"
Lín Lìxià nodded repeatedly. Her primary goal was to save the Lín family from being fodder, which didn't conflict with Lín Xiǎoxuě seeking higher status. If Lín Xiǎoxuě and Gōng Xíngtài's CP were broken up, Gōng Xíngtài's main wife would have no reason to send assassins to kill the Lín family.
As for Lín Xiǎoxuě becoming a concubine and potentially damaging her reputation, it was not worth mentioning to Lín Lìxià.
While Lín Lìxià was lost in thought, Lín Wényào suddenly spoke, "Father, I want to divide the family! Now!"
"Eldest Brother?" Lín Wénhuī looked troubled, glancing at Lín Wényào and then at a stunned Chén Júhuā.
Old Master Lín, hunched over, sighed heavily. "Second son, divide the family! Father wants to live a couple more years!"
"...Father!" Lín Wénhuī's eyes immediately welled up, and he lowered his head in shame. "I want to divorce my wife!"
Upon hearing Lín Wénhuī's declaration, Chén Júhuā flew into a rage, leaping up and pouncing on him, scratching and hitting him. "Lín Wénhuī, how dare you divorce me? You ruined my life, how dare you divorce me? Why?"
Lín Xiǎoxuě was dumbfounded, tears welling up as she watched her parents fighting. She didn't know who to help.
Lín Lìdōng and Lín Lìchūn quickly retreated, pulling Lín Lìxià along with them, hurriedly clearing the battlefield to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
Lín Wényào reacted a beat slower and stumbled when a shoving Lín Wénhuī bumped into him.
Lín Lìchūn, quick-witted, steadied their prejudiced father. "Father, you step back, don't interfere with their performance."
Lín Wényào: "......"
"......" Lín Lìxià was witnessing a marital dispute firsthand for the first time and found it quite entertaining. If she had her phone, she might have uploaded it immediately to share with netizens.
She considered herself a complete outsider.
Seeing her second son and daughter-in-law fighting, with her son at a disadvantage, Old Master Lín became anxious and angry.
He lost his breath and began to cough violently.
"Cough, cough..."
Upon hearing Old Master Lín's coughing, Lín Lìxià snapped back to reality. The fighting couple were her family.
Despite her reluctance to admit it, Aunt Chén Júhuā, the second aunt, couldn't just stand by and watch Old Master Lín and Xǔ Táohuā.
"Grandfather, Grandmother, let me help you outside for some fresh air. Let them fight it out. Aunt Liu says fighting is passion and scolding is love; couples reconcile after fighting in bed..."
"...Xiàxia!" Old Master Lín, having caught his breath, first worried about his granddaughter being led astray. "Cough, cough, stay away from gossipy shrews in the future... cough, cough!"
Lín Lìxià glanced at the ongoing fight. In such a short time, Lín Wénhuī's face was already scratched and bleeding.
She curled her lip in disdain. As expected, scholars are useless. He couldn't even win a fight against his wife.
"Second son, stop! Cough, cough..." Old Master Lín started coughing again as soon as he spoke.
Lín Lìxià patted his back. "Grandfather, don't worry. Aunt Liu says even teeth bite tongues sometimes; conflicts between couples are very normal. It's not worth it to get yourself angry."
As soon as she finished speaking, Xǔ Táohuā rolled up her sleeves, her face flushed with anger, and charged at Chén Júhuā.
"Second son's wife, my husband is gentle and wouldn't dare kill you, but look at how you've scratched his face?"
Seeing Xǔ Táohuā about to intervene, Lín Lìxià quickly grabbed her arm. "Grandmother, you can't hit her."
Xǔ Táohuā looked bewildered.
Lín Lìxià quickly explained, "Aunt Liu says that when couples fight, they reconcile later. If a mother-in-law helps her son, the conflict will escalate, and the consequences will be severe."
Xǔ Táohuā's eyes reddened with worry. "Look, she scratched your Second Uncle so badly, can he even see anyone?"
"No," Lín Lìxià said, looking at Lín Wénhuī very seriously. "If those two in the West Wing Room see my Second Uncle's face, no matter how gentle and considerate Xiǎoxuě is, they might not dare approach..."
Before she could finish, Chén Júhuā immediately let go of Lín Wénhuī, shot her a fierce glare, and then turned her furious gaze to Lín Wénhuī. "Lín Wénhuī, for the sake of my Xiǎoxuě, I'll spare you for now. I've eaten coarse food and endured hardship for years, supported your studies, and given birth to four children for you. How dare you divorce me?"