Chapter 245: Clean-up

 Chapter 245: Clean-up

As soon as they entered Shuangxin Courtyard and saw the large group gathered, with the eldest daughter appearing as cold as ice, Yan Zhigao’s gaze flickered quickly. "What is going on here?"

When Concubine Lin saw Yan Zhigao, it was as though her soul returned to her body. She immediately rushed over, crying, "Master, you’re finally here. If you had come any later, I’m afraid that I, Wenbin, and Yishuang would have all been taken down by the eldest daughter."

"I don’t know if I’ve done something wrong and offended the eldest daughter, but just now, while we were eating, she came with a large group of people, looking as though she was going to question us. Wenbin and Yishuang were so scared, they couldn’t even speak."

"If I have done something wrong, the eldest daughter can beat or scold me; after all, I am just a concubine. But Wenbin and Yishuang are her biological younger siblings. They are so young, they shouldn’t be treated like this."

Everyone in Shuangxin Courtyard dared not speak, all silently listening to Concubine Lin’s sobs.

Concubine Lin collapsed into Yan Zhigao’s arms. When no response came, she took the opportunity to wipe her tears and stole a glance at Yan Zhigao’s expression, only to realize he was not looking at her at all but was staring directly at the eldest daughter standing on the steps.

Yan Zhigao was listening to Concubine Lin’s words, but his attention was mostly on the eldest daughter.

At that moment, he noticed the eldest daughter’s expression was chillingly indifferent, with no warmth in her eyes.

He didn’t like this version of her. He would rather she argue with him as she had in the past, than for her to stand silently, her eyes quietly watching him.

No one responded, and Concubine Lin’s crying eventually tapered off. She could only fake wiping her tears in between sobs.

Yan Zhigao then pushed Concubine Lin away from him, looking at Daohua and asking, "What exactly happened?"

Daohua smiled faintly, seeing that her father hadn’t immediately sided with his concubine. "It’s nothing serious. Just that Concubine Lin’s sister-in-law said that Big Brother and Fourth Brother are as good as dead in Xingyun Prefecture, and that Mother has fallen ill and won’t live much longer. She claimed that in the future, the Yan family will belong to Concubine Lin."

Upon hearing this, Yan Zhigao’s face darkened, and he glared sharply at Wang Shi and Xu Shi.

The heirs of the Yan family would not be cursed by the Lin family!

Before Yan Zhigao could act, Concubine Lin suddenly dropped to her knees, crying out, "Eldest Miss, what did I do to offend you? Why are you wrongfully accusing me and my family?"

She couldn’t admit to the matter—she knew how much the master valued his heirs.

"Master, my sister-in-law is timid. Even if she had a hundred times more courage, she would never dare to have such thoughts. Please see this clearly."

Yan Zhigao furrowed his brows, glancing between the crying Concubine Lin, the frightened Yan Wenbin and Yan Yishuang, and the trembling Wang Shi and Xu Shi. Finally, he raised his eyes to look at Daohua.

Daohua looked at him with a playful smile. "Father, you are a court official and good at handling cases. Would you like to investigate this? Let’s see if I would really curse my own biological brothers and mother just to get rid of one of your concubines."

Yan Zhigao fell silent. He suddenly shook off the hands of Concubine Lin clutching his robes.

Seeing this, Concubine Lin’s heart sank, and both Yan Wenbin and Yan Yishuang turned pale.

Father believed the eldest sister’s words!

Daohua waited a moment, then, seeing that her father remained silent, her lips curled with a hint of sarcasm. "Father, I want an explanation, not just for the three brothers still in danger, but also for our mother who is bedridden."

"By the way, don’t try to fool me with those two outsiders."

Her meaning was clear: Wang Shi and Xu Shi were irrelevant to her. She only cared about dealing with the Lin family, and she wasn’t interested in prolonged confrontation. She demanded an immediate result.

Yan Zhigao saw the firm resolve in his daughter’s stance and frowned deeply. After a moment of silence, he spoke, "Concubine Lin has spoken recklessly. She is to be confined to Shuangxin Courtyard for half a year."

"Father!"

Daohua interrupted him sharply, with a smile that was neither warm nor friendly. "Father, are Big Brother and Fourth Brother’s lives worth only a half-year confinement in your eyes?"

Yan Zhigao’s face darkened. "Concubine Lin will be confined for three years and is to copy one hundred Buddhist scriptures. She may not leave confinement until the copying is completed."

At this, Concubine Lin screamed, "Master, please, I am innocent!"

Yan Zhigao shook off Concubine Lin’s clinging hands and turned to Daohua.

Daohua smiled faintly but did not say anything further. She then turned her attention to Yan Wenbin and Yan Yishuang.

Seeing this, Yan Zhigao sighed deeply. "Wenbin, Yishuang, you have shown disrespect to your ligitimate mother and elder brothers. From this day forward, you are also confined within the manor. As long as your elder brother has not returned, you are not allowed to leave."

Having said this, Yan Zhigao turned to leave.

It was fitting that Concubine Lin was punished for her wrongdoings, but his eldest daughter’s demeanor made him feel as though he had been coerced.

"Father!"

Daohua called out again.

Yan Zhigao turned around, his displeasure evident. "I have punished them. What more do you want to say?"

Daohua sneered, "Father, please trust me. If they were not your concubine and children, I would never have bothered with them."

After saying this, she no longer cared about her father’s expression and continued.

"Father, the matter with the three brothers in Xingyun Prefecture, only you, I, and Mother know about it. How did the news get out?"

Yan Zhigao froze. Yes, how did the news spread?

Daohua didn’t wait for him to figure it out and directly said, "I had someone investigate. The first person to spread the news about Big Brother’s accident was a maidservant named Xiyun, who works for Concubine Lin. Concubine Lin never leaves the house, so how could she have known?"

Yan Zhigao’s expression shifted quickly, and he looked at his daughter with a complex gaze. Then, he turned coldly to Wang Shi and Xu Shi. "From now on, no one from the Lin family is allowed to step foot in the Yan family’s estate. Lin Shiye is to be removed from his post immediately."

Upon hearing this, Wang Shi screamed, "Master, please don’t! He’s your brother-in-law! For the sake of Wenhui having borne you three children, please don’t remove Ta Liang from his position!"

As Wang Shi knelt down, Yan Zhigao frowned.

At the same time, Concubine Lin also began crying, and Yan Wenbin and Yan Yishuang fell to their knees, desperately begging for mercy.

"Heh..."

Amidst the wails, Daohua sneered, looking at her stepfather with a mocking smile. "Husband? Who’s the husband? It’s a good thing that my maternal grandparents are no longer around, or they’d be furious! Just think, suddenly there’s another relative added for no reason."

Yan Zhigao’s expression changed, and he glanced at Daohua. Without hesitating, he turned and left Shuangxin Courtyard.

At the entrance, members of the second and third houses watched as the Lin family were all punished and Yan Zhigao left with a grim expression. They exchanged glances, unsure of what to say.

Sun Shi patted her chest in relief. "I didn’t expect that when Daohua gets angry, she’s so terrifying!"

Yan Zhiyuan sneered. "I’ve been saying all along that if Concubine Lin didn’t behave, sooner or later Daohua would deal with her. And now look—Lin family is thoroughly cleaned out."

Just as he finished speaking, several maids dragged Wang Shi and Xu Shi out of Shuangxin Courtyard and directly escorted them out of the Yan household. Their faces were full of humiliation.

Sun Shi quickly pulled Yan Zhiyuan back a few steps.

Next, the maid Xiyun, who had spread rumors, was also dragged out.

Wang Man'er handed Xiyun over to Aunt Fang, who was waiting outside. She said, "The young lady said that the Yan family won’t tolerate any servants who spread gossip. Go to the main courtyard later and get the deed of sale from Sister Ping Tong. Along with the other negligent ones, you’ll be sold off."

Upon hearing this, Sun Shi trembled, and even Yan Zhiyuan’s face changed.

In the main courtyard, Ping Tong and Ping Xiao listened to Daohua’s decisions and both fell silent.

After a long pause, Ping Tong spoke. "The eldest miss always seems so gentle, but once her bottom line is touched, her methods are even sharper than the madam’s."

"After this, everyone in the house with ulterior motives will probably keep their heads down."

Ping Xiao thought for a moment and said, "It’s good this way. As our family grows, to keep everyone in check, we need to act with an iron fist. Madam is too soft."

Back at Shuangxin Courtyard.

In the west wing, Concubine Liu tightly shut the door. Earlier, she had dared to peek out the window to see what was happening in the courtyard, but after witnessing Daohua’s methods, she didn’t even dare to watch anymore.

She feared that if she wasn’t careful, she might get caught in the crossfire.

In the courtyard, after seeing his grandmother and aunt being dragged away by the servants, Yan Wenbin glared at Daohua with resentment.

Daohua paid no attention to him while dealing with the servants. Only once everything was settled did she finally glance in his direction.

Noticing the resentment in Yan Wenbin’s eyes, Daohua stared at him coldly for a moment. Then, she smirked with contempt, turned, and left the courtyard with her people.

"From today onwards, Shuangxin Courtyard is to be sealed. No one is allowed in or out of Concubine Lin’s quarters, and no one is allowed to visit. If Concubine Liu wants to leave, she may do so."

With that, Shu Xin turned and glanced briefly at the west wing before quickly averting her gaze.

In the west wing, Concubine Liu shuddered. She knew the eldest miss had just given her a warning.

There was no need for a warning, though—she would behave herself.

After all, there were very few mistresses as kind-hearted as Madam Li.

(End of Chapter)