Tell your young master to come and see me.

"There is no rush; I have my own ways," Lin Yuejiao said, a hint of a smile appearing in her eyes.

The forced marriage had finally been resolved. She was determined to enter the Zhaohuang Academy and become the top scholar in the Jiangnan region. Only then would she never have to fear anyone controlling her marriage again.

There was one year left until her father returned.

A year felt short, yet it was also incredibly long. Before her father’s return, she had to protect herself, her mother, and her younger brother.

News of the Chi family’s forced marriage had spread, and several branches of the Lin family came to offer their sympathies to Lin Yuejiao.

Lin Zijin was genuinely worried about her. The first branch came with hypocritical concern, driven by the Old Madam’s attitude. As for the second branch, with both Yi Hanbing and Lin Qingxu away, the only remaining representative was Lin Xuelan.

"I heard the Chi family came to force a marriage, and it truly gave me quite a fright. Thankfully, Fourth Sister is unharmed," Lin Xuelan said, looking at Lin Yuejiao with a smile.

Lin Yuejiao nodded, pressing her lips together. "Thank you for your concern."

After the sisters exchanged some pleasantries, Lin Xuelan spoke up. "Fourth Sister, now that Second Mother has been driven out of the Lin estate, I hear the first branch is preparing to report this to the authorities. If they do, I fear Father will divorce her. Should I still maintain a close relationship with Second Mother, as you advised me to before?"

"The day after Lin Qingliu’s incident, the Yi family sent a large sum of silver, and the first branch accepted it. You should be aware of this, right?" Lin Yuejiao held a cup of clear tea and took a light sip.

Lin Xuelan nodded. "Yes. The Yi family not only sent silver to the first branch but also had people come to kneel and plead before the Old Madam. It is said that even the Old Madam’s own sister came, putting Grandmother in a difficult position. However, since Lin Qingliu was disfigured, the first branch will never swallow this grievance and will certainly go to the authorities. Grandmother is also heartbroken and will not help Second Mother. It is just that the first branch is currently at a stalemate out of respect for Grandmother..."

"If the first branch truly intended to report it, they would not have accepted the silver. If Lin Qingliu were truly determined to see Yi Hanbing dead, she would not be at a stalemate just because of Grandmother’s face," Lin Yuejiao remarked, the corners of her mouth curling up.

Lin Xuelan looked puzzled. "But when the Old Madam was investigating the case, the attitudes of Eldest Aunt and Lin Qingliu were as if they were determined to kill Second Mother. The first and second branches have been at odds for so many years; now that there is an opportunity to get rid of Second Mother completely, how could the first branch show mercy?"

"When passing judgment, one must be decisive and leave no room for error. However, getting rid of Yi Hanbing right now is not cost-effective. Lin Qingliu is a clever person; she won't do that," Lin Yuejiao explained. "Lan'er, if they report it and Yi Hanbing is divorced, the second branch will inevitably have to install a new primary wife or remarry. Regardless of who becomes the new Second Mother, she will still have to vie for power with the first branch. After all, the power in the Lin estate is divided between those two branches. Who knows, a new Second Mother might even join forces with me to deal with the first branch."

After a brief pause, Lin Yuejiao continued, "But Yi Hanbing is different. Because of me, Lin Qingxu was exiled to the Shuiyue Nunnery and lost the chance to enter the Zhaohuang Academy. Yi Hanbing’s hatred for me is deeper than her hatred for the first branch. She will deal with me first before considering how to contend for power with the first branch. So, just wait and see; Yi Hanbing will definitely return to the Lin family."

"I see. Fourth Sister is truly insightful; no one else in the second branch is this clear-headed. Those concubines are all fighting to become the new mistress. Many have already started targeting Second Mother’s people and possessions, and Father, considering the possibility of divorce, has already prepared to remarry." Having understood, Lin Xuelan said with genuine admiration.

Lin Yuejiao smiled. "So, at this critical moment, you must show even more favor to Yi Hanbing. You don't need to be too obvious; just treating her as the Second Mistress when everyone else has stopped doing so is enough. You must gauge the boundaries yourself."

"Yes," Lin Xuelan nodded earnestly.

Lin Yuejiao looked at her with a meaningful smile. "You must seize this opportunity well. If all goes as expected, once Yi Hanbing returns, she will have you help with the management. Only by doing well and showing your face before the Old Madam can you make her remember you. You must satisfy not only Yi Hanbing but also Grandmother. Of course, just being satisfactory isn't enough. There is still a hurdle between legitimate and illegitimate status. The road to having Yi Hanbing willing to adopt you and make you a legitimate daughter is still long, but I will create opportunities for you. You must also work hard and seize them."

Lin Xuelan was both shocked and delighted, never expecting Lin Yuejiao to be so devoted to helping her become a legitimate daughter.

"I must enter the Zhaohuang Academy, so I will resolve your matters before I leave Xinzhou. What I have promised you, I will certainly fulfill," Lin Yuejiao said, the corners of her lips curving upward.

Lin Xuelan said gratefully, "Thank you, Fourth Sister. Your kindness in reshaping my future is something I will never forget."

After having breakfast with Lin Xuelan, Lin Yuejiao found a pretext about shopping and left the Lin estate, taking Iris and Tea-mist with her.

They circled the bustling streets of Xinzhou for a while, exchanged banknotes for small change at a money shop, and then turned into a secluded alleyway.

It was a rather dilapidated residential house, long in disrepair and looking exceptionally run-down.

"Shuniang, your husband has already mortgaged you to us. The IOU is written in black and white—come with us!" said a man with a fierce, threatening voice.

"I beg you, grant me a few more days... I will definitely pay back the money..." a woman pleaded mournfully.

"Let go of my mother, wuwuwu..." came a childish voice.

"One hundred taels of silver—you couldn't pay this debt even if you sold yourself. If our young master hadn't shown mercy, do you really think a broken woman like you is worth one hundred taels?" said another rough voice.

Lin Yuejiao frowned and stepped inside, seeing four or five thugs standing in the run-down courtyard.

"Your family is penniless, and your deadbeat husband gambled everything away. Even this coffin you bought on credit—what do you have to pay our young master back? Shuniang, it is your good fortune that the young master has taken a liking to you. Don't be stubborn, come with us!" The man in charge dragged the woman, dressed in mourning clothes, toward the door.

The child rushed forward, hitting the man’s hand with his tiny fists. "Let go of my mother, let go of my mother..."

"You brat, get lost!" The man raised his foot to kick the child away, but before his foot could land, a wooden stick slammed into the back of his head with a bang. He shrieked in pain, letting go of the woman and clutching his head.

The man turned around to see a cold, ethereal young woman in a white dress holding a laundry beater she had picked up from the yard, her eyes icy and piercing.

"Get out," Lin Yuejiao said.

The man cursed in anger, "Who do you think you are, daring to meddle in my business..."

"Our young lady is the daughter of the Lin family! How dare you speak rudely to her? Do you not want to stay in Xinzhou anymore?" Iris, who had been stunned by Lin Yuejiao’s sudden strike, finally regained her composure and rushed forward to scold them fiercely.

"The Lin family of the Prefect?" the head thug asked tentatively.

Iris snorted coldly. "Do you think there are two Lin families in Xinzhou? You scoundrels, brazenly kidnapping a woman in broad daylight! If our young lady speaks to the Prefect, you lot can just wait to rot in prison."

Although the Lin family was not as powerful as the Chi family, it was still one of the most prominent official families in Xinzhou.

"Young lady, we are not kidnapping anyone. Her husband mortgaged her to us," the man said, his attitude changing immediately upon learning she was from the Lin family.

Lin Yuejiao held out her delicate hand. "The IOU? Let me see."

The man handed the document to Lin Yuejiao, who glanced at it, her brow furrowing.

"Doesn't this state a ten-day term? It's only been two days, and you are already here demanding payment. This is bullying," Lin Yuejiao said.

The man replied, "Noble lady, look at how poor they are—how could they possibly pay back the silver? If we didn't come now, we were afraid this young woman might run away."

"Please, grant me some time, I will find a way to pay it back. I would rather die than become a concubine to Young Master Yan," Shuniang said, her eyes red and swollen, tears streaming down her face.

The man sneered, "Fine, go die right now and see what happens to your son. Once you're dead, we'll take your son as collateral and sell him to a brothel as a boy toy!"

"You, you..." Shuniang was overwhelmed with grief. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed to the ground, muttering to herself in despair, "You heartless wretch, why did you jump into the river and leave us alone? You’ve ruined me, and now you’ve doomed our son. What am I to do?"

Lin Yuejiao glanced at the black wooden coffin nearby. "What is this about?"

"Noble lady, this Zhang San was a gambling addict. He lost everything at our gambling den the day before yesterday and owed one hundred taels. When we asked him to pay, he couldn't take it and jumped into the river. This has nothing to do with us. We are just here to collect the debt; it's all written in black and white. We are honest, law-abiding citizens. Debts must be paid—it is only right and proper!" the man said righteously.

Lin Yuejiao understood the situation.

"One hundred taels for you, and this IOU is null and void." Lin Yuejiao tore up the document, and Iris stepped forward to hand the man a one-hundred-tael banknote.

The man was stunned, looking conflicted. "This, this... noble lady, Shuniang is the person our young master specifically asked for."

"She is my person now. If your young master wants her, have him come to the Lin estate to find me. My name is Lin Yuejiao. If he dares to come, let him." Lin Yuejiao curled her lips in a mocking smile.

She was the woman who had dared to reject Chi Zixian’s marriage proposal, the woman for whom even the honorable Prince Zhongyi had stood up. Lin Yuejiao’s reputation in Xinzhou was currently unrivaled.

Everyone knew her future was bright, and few dared to offend her.

"This..." The man looked at Lin Yuejiao, then at Shuniang, unsure of what to do.

Lin Yuejiao tilted her chin. "Tell your young master to come find me if he has any complaints. I will count to three. If you are not gone by then, I will report you to the authorities. One, two..."

"Let's go!" The man’s expression changed, and clutching the hundred taels Lin Yuejiao had given him, he hurriedly led his men away.

Shuniang watched the scene, still in shock. Finally realizing what had happened, she pulled her son over and knelt before Lin Yuejiao. "Young lady, you are a living Bodhisattva. Your great kindness is something we will repay even if we have to work like oxen and horses for you."

If not for Lin Yuejiao, she truly would not have known what to do.

"Shuniang, get up." Lin Yuejiao personally helped her up, a smile playing on her lips. The images of the past and present overlapped; Shuniang looked much better now than the haggard woman she had met in the capital two years later.

Her own appearance had saved this old acquaintance from much suffering, which brought her a sense of relief.

"Young lady is kind-hearted to pay one hundred taels for me. Shuniang is willing to sell herself into slavery to serve you for the rest of my life!" Shuniang, a person who knew how to repay kindness, said gratefully.

Lin Yuejiao smiled. "There is no need for that. However, I did come here with a purpose. Do not worry; I have no ill intentions toward you. As far as I know, you possess a secret manual on beauty cultivation passed down from the palace during the Warring States period, is that correct?"

"How did you know?" Shuniang was startled, then nodded in admission. "It is true. My ancestors were once palace maids, and a beauty secret manual was passed down. But the materials required for the formulas are incredibly expensive, and I have never tried them, so I don't know if they are real. If you like it, I will offer this book to you."