While supporting the Old Madame as she struggled with her sprained ankle, Lin Jingyue did not miss the flash of shock and annoyance that crossed Steward Wang’s face in the corner.
The maidservants and pageboys beside the carriage finally snapped out of their stupor and rushed over, calling out anxiously for the Old Madame of the Chengyuan Marquis Manor. This confirmed Lin Jingyue’s suspicions. The woman who had just stepped out of the unmarked carriage was none other than the Marquis's mother—her own grandmother.
The Old Madame, seemingly still in a state of shock, ignored the worried inquiries of her servants and stared blankly at Lin Jingyue. Meanwhile, Bochun reached Lin Jingyue, throwing herself toward her mistress and looking her over with reddened, anxious eyes. Lin Jingyue shook her head, signaling that she was unharmed, which finally set the maid at ease.
"Quick! Someone get a physician!" A nanny from the Chengyuan Marquis Manor, having received no response from the Old Madame, immediately began barking orders. She then turned her frustration toward the woman who had galloped into the carriage, shouting, "Which family’s daughter are you? Racing a horse through a busy street and injuring the Old Madame—you’ll be held responsible for this! Go get your elders at once and bring them here to apologize!"
The spirited woman holding the reins turned livid.
Lin Jingyue felt a headache coming on. No wonder the Chengyuan Marquis Manor had fallen into decline and had no one willing to lend them a hand. With such short-sighted nannies around and an Old Madame who didn’t even bother to stop them, they were doomed. "Go get your elders"? If this woman’s elders actually came, the entire Chengyuan Marquis Manor combined wouldn't be able to afford the consequences!
Seeing the woman sneer and raise her whip in response to the nanny’s tone, Lin Jingyue stepped forward with a diplomatic smile: "My lady, she is merely worried about the Old Madame and spoke out of turn in her panic. Please, do not take offense."
The woman arched a brow, snapping her whip through the air with a whistling crack. "And which family are you from? Is this old woman your elder? Instead of saving her, you’re helping her talk back—are you looking to pick a fight with me?"
Her arrogance made it clear she had the backing to be so bold. The nanny from the manor trembled and hid behind the Old Madame.
"That is not my intention at all," Lin Jingyue said, glancing at the crowded street—the onlookers, the people cursing the blockage, and the street vendors mourning their smashed stalls. "I have only just met this lady; how could I possibly seek to antagonize you on her behalf? I simply happened upon this, and I cannot bear to see a spirited and beautiful woman like yourself get into trouble over an unintentional mistake."
The woman’s expression softened slightly.
At that moment, the Old Madame finally regained her senses. Her gaze swept over the Blood Jade Bead at Lin Jingyue’s neck, then carefully took in her face. She rushed forward to grab Lin Jingyue’s hand. "Dear child, what is your name? You saved my life—would you be willing to come home with me for a visit?"
Lin Jingyue offered a gentle smile, choosing not to acknowledge the relationship just yet. However, Steward Wang, who had been keeping a low profile, saw his chance. He squeezed through the crowd and spoke loudly: "Old Madame, you’ve finally returned! This is the Marquis’s own daughter, who has been missing for years; the Madam specifically sent me to bring her back this morning. Oh, what a coincidence—the moment the young lady returns, the Old Madame runs into such a mess! Thankfully you are in good health, otherwise the Marquis would surely—"
Lin Jingyue’s heart skipped a beat, and she shot a look at Bochun. The maid, finally shaken out of her excitement over her mistress saving the Old Madame, realized the steward’s malicious intent. She darted over, and amidst the chaos, stepped hard on Steward Wang’s feet, cutting him off mid-sentence.
The grip on her hand tightened. Lin Jingyue looked up at the spirited woman and saw her beautiful face had turned icy. It was clear the woman now thought Lin Jingyue had been playing her for a fool.
"Fine! And you dare say you have nothing to do with this old woman? Nothing but lies!"
Before the words had even finished, a whip whistled through the air, aimed directly at Lin Jingyue’s face.
"Young Lady!" Bochun screamed in terror.
Lin Jingyue shoved the Old Madame aside and twisted her body, narrowly dodging the lash. The Old Madame, seeing this, shouted before the woman could swing again: "How dare you! I am the mother of the Marquis! How dare you strike people in my presence!"
"The Marquis?" the woman repeated with a strange tone.
Just as the nanny thought the woman would finally show some deference to the manor, the woman’s expression shifted into one of realization. "Oh, that famous bankrupt family in the Capital? I was wondering which family’s grandmother was so blind, insisting on stopping her carriage right when I was riding through, causing my horse to spook. So, it’s the Chengyuan Marquis Manor—that explains everything."
The Old Madame’s face turned a shade of purple as she trembled and pointed a finger. "You! You..."
The woman’s eyes narrowed, and she raised her whip once more. Lin Jingyue quickly stepped in front of the Old Madame, raising her voice to explain: "My lady, I beg you not to be angry. The Old Madame meant no offense, but—"
"How dare you! How can you insult the Marquis?" Steward Wang jumped out, egging on Lin Jingyue and the Old Madame. "Young Lady, Madam, this person has no ground to stand on, racing through the city like this! And to insult the Marquis on top of that—I am going to the magistrate’s office to report her right now!"
"Let’s see who dares!" The woman sneered and let out a whistle. A group of guards instantly swarmed the area, surrounding the people from the Chengyuan Marquis Manor tightly.
The captain of the guards knelt on one knee before her horse and said respectfully: "The people of the Chengyuan Marquis Manor have insulted the County Princess. Should we execute them on the spot, or send them all to the Ministry of Justice dungeons?"
The Old Madame’s pupils contracted. She finally realized who this woman was. Though there were many county princesses in this dynasty, only one possessed the arrogance to speak so wildly in front of the common people: the youngest daughter of Prince Ruicheng, the Emperor’s favorite, County Princess Yunhua!
She felt a deep sense of dread. She shot a fierce glare at the nanny and Steward Wang, who were both cowering behind her, and found herself in a dilemma. How could she lower her head to a junior? Where would that leave the face of the Chengyuan Marquis Manor?
But...
Lin Jingyue sighed inwardly and calmly took a step forward. "County Princess, please be at peace. May I offer a word of explanation? I would be most grateful."
County Princess Yunhua stepped off her horse, using the captain’s shoulder as a stool. She flicked her whip, looking up with little interest. "And what if I refuse to listen?"
Lin Jingyue’s smile did not waver. "Whether you listen or not is not for me to decide, but entirely up to your own will."
"You certainly have a way with words." County Princess Yunhua waved her hand, signaling the guards to back off. "I will grant you one sentence. If that sentence doesn’t change my mind... you can join this old woman in the dungeons of the Ministry of Justice."
The Old Madame’s expression grew even grimmer. Of all the people to offend, it had to be County Princess Yunhua. Even before the Chengyuan Marquis Manor had fallen into decline, they wouldn't have dared to cross her, let alone now. They had no choice but to swallow this humiliation.
Lin Jingyue was granted her chance. She stepped forward and leaned in to whisper a single sentence into County Princess Yunhua’s ear.
The voice was so soft and low that even the guard captain closest to them could not hear it. Upon hearing it, the County Princess’s expression changed drastically. She stared at Lin Jingyue with deep intensity.
"Is what you say... truly the truth?"