In the men's area of the banquet, Father Lin sat stiffly, sipping his wine while trying to appear composed. But his unease grew with each passing moment. It had been a while since the women left, and none had returned. His mind raced with thoughts. What is taking them so long?
He hated Jin Yue, yes, but she was still tied to the Lin family. If anything scandalous happened, it would damage their family's reputation. Please let it be nothing, he thought, trying to remain calm. But as the minutes dragged on, the murmurs of the ministers around him grew louder, and he could feel their eyes on him, watching, judging.
Damn it, Father Lin cursed inwardly, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. What could be happening? The weight of their stares became unbearable. He was about to make an excuse to leave when he finally saw the Empress and the other noble ladies returning to the banquet hall. His heart sank at the expression on the Empress's face...it was far from good.
The Empress stopped in front of him, her eyes cold and sharp. "Minister Lin," she said, her voice laced with reproach, "is this how you discipline your daughters?"
Father Lin felt his face flush in embarrassment. "Y-Your Majesty, I—"
"Enough," the Empress cut him off. "The Emperor shall judge this matter." Her words were final, leaving no room for argument.
Father Lin's heart dropped to the pit of his stomach as the ministers around him exchanged looks. His worst fears had been realized. Whatever had happened, it was bad enough for the Empress to involve the Emperor. He could feel the disdainful gazes of the other officials, and though no one spoke directly, the whispers and murmurs of the noble ladies telling the situation thier husbands and fathers were deafening but no one told him anything.
As the crowd began to disperse, Father Lin stood there, frozen, his mind in chaos. What had happened? What could possibly be so terrible?
Meanwhile, in the distance, the Third Prince, Murong Yezi, lingered, his sharp eyes scanning the area for Jin Yue. He was certain she would come to him. After all, they had just shared a.... moment...surely, she would want to speak with him again.
But as the minutes ticked by, there was no sign of her. Murong Yezi's brow furrowed in irritation. Where is she? he thought. Did she really forget about him that easily?
He clenched his jaw, his calm demeanor cracking slightly as he waited… and waited. Finally, it became apparent that Jin Yue had no intention of seeking him out. His expression darkened. That woman, he thought angrily. after flirting with him in the market and...now.
Is she such a scumbag?leaving after what we shared?
Xiao Yi, standing nearby, felt the tension radiating from his master and quickly looked away, inwardly pitying his master for his unrequited love. If he could hear his Master's thought he will have ask exasperatingly "what have you possibly shared? a bed or what?!
____
Back at the Lin family manor, chaos ensued as soon as they arrived. Father Lin, who was told what happened and had remained stone-faced the entire ride home, turned the moment the doors shut behind them. His eyes were blazing with fury.
Without warning, he slapped Linghua hard across the face. "You…! You disgrace!" he roared.
Linghua stumbled back, shocked by the sudden blow. "Father, it wasn't me!" she cried out, still pointing fingers at Jin Yue. "It was her, Jin Yue!"
But before she could continue, Madam Wang rushed forward to intervene. "Husband, please! She's just a child! She was tricked..."
Slap! Father Lin turned and struck Madam Wang with equal force, silencing her mid-sentence. "Do you think I'm a fool, woman?" he spat angrily. "Do you really think I don't know what's going on here?"
Madam Wang's face paled as panic set in. How could he know? she thought frantically. Did someone betray me?
Linghua, still cradling her stinging cheek, watched her mother's fearful reaction, and the truth hit her like a ton of bricks. Yes...It had been her mother, all along, If it weren't for her meddling, none of this would've happened, Linghua thought bitterly, her heart filling with resentment.
It was Mother who pushed her into this mess. And now I'm the one suffering because of it.
As the tension in the room mounted, Jin Yue stood off to the side, watching the drama unfold with a look of mild amusement. She looked Next to her , Lin Mei, her second sister, who, unlike the others, had managed to stay uninvolved in the scandal.
Lin Mei's lips curled into a small, satisfied smile. Let them fight, she thought. Now that Linghua's reputation is in tatters, I'll be the one Father favors the most. All the attention, all the resources...everything will be mine.
Jin Yue, sensing Lin Mei's silent gloating, glanced at her with a raised eyebrow. Looks like i will not be bored after all,she mused. Though the whole family's reputation had taken a blow, it was clear that Lin Mei had her own agenda.
As for Jin Yue, she couldn't help but feel that this chaotic scene was the perfect retribution for the plans Madam Wang had set in motion. In the end, she got what she deserves.
Father Lin, fuming and overwhelmed, stormed out of the room, leaving the women behind. Linghua sobbed in a corner, Madam Wang trembled with fear, and Lin Mei watched with satisfaction. Meanwhile, Jin Yue turned to leave, thinking to herself that the night had turned out far more entertaining than she had anticipated.
___
The next morning, Lin Hua's misery deepened. As the Lin family gathered for breakfast, a messenger from the palace arrived, bearing an imperial edict. The tension in the air was thick as the eunuch stood before them, unrolling the scroll.
"By order of the Emperor," the eunuch began, "it has come to His Majesty's attention that the Chen family has previously shown interest in marriage with Lin Hua. After careful consideration, His Majesty decrees that Lin Hua shall be married into the Chen family... as a concubine."
The room fell silent, everyone too stunned to react. The air grew colder as the weight of the words settled. Lin Hua stared at the eunuch in disbelief, her entire body frozen. She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out.
Then, as if the reality of her situation struck her like a wave, Lin Hua fell to her knees, tears pouring from her eyes. "No... No, this can't be happening!" she cried, her voice trembling with despair. She shook her head, her hands gripping her robes tightly. "A concubine? Why?!"
Her mind spun in turmoil. She had dreamed of a grand marriage, one that would elevate her status, not diminish it. Now, she would be no more than a concubine...an afterthought in the household. Her life, as she knew it, was over.
Her hatred surged, directed entirely at her mother. This is all her fault, Lin Hua thought bitterly. If she hadn't schemed against Jin Yue, none of this would have happened. She shot a glare at Madam Wang, who stood frozen in shock, too horrified to respond.
Father Lin, who had remained composed, felt a heavy weight on his shoulders. As soon as the eunuch left and the room began to clear, he quietly excused himself and retreated to his study. There, he shut the door and sat down at his desk, his face grave. He could feel the cracks forming in his carefully built world.
Pulling out parchment and ink, he began to write letters to his two sons, both of whom had been away for months. The letters were short but urgent:
"Return to the manor immediately. Trouble has fallen upon the Lin family. We must stand together now more than ever."
He sealed each letter with the family crest, ensuring that the message would be delivered swiftly. He couldn't afford to lose control of the situation now. As the ink dried, his mind wandered to the delicate balance of power that was quickly slipping through his fingers.
Just as he was about to rise from his chair, he felt a chill crawl down his spine. Something was wrong. He wasn't alone.
From the shadowy corner of the room, a figure emerged—a man dressed in all black, his face obscured by a hood. His presence was eerie, like a ghost from Father Lin's past.
"Minister Lin," the black-clothed man spoke, his voice low and cold, "I see you've been busy."
Father Lin's heart lurched in his chest. His hands shook, but he forced himself to stay calm. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice strained. He recognized this man. He had seen him before. This was the same man who had appeared before him months ago...the same man who had convinced him to betray Jin Yue and side with the enemies.
The black-clothed man stepped closer, his eyes gleaming in the dim light of the room. "I see that the Emperor's decision has caused quite a stir," he said, almost mocking. "But you should know by now that nothing happens without reason."
Father Lin clenched his fists. "You promised me that betraying Jin Yue would secure the future of the Lin family," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But look at the mess we're in now!"
The black-clothed man chuckled softly, the sound cold and devoid of emotion. "The future of your family was never certain, Minister Lin. That is why I intervened." He paused, his gaze sharp. "The ring. You still have it, don't you?"
Father Lin's breath caught. The ring… the strange, ancient ring the man had given him as part of their bargain. He had hidden it, kept it locked away, not understanding its true purpose.
"What does that have to do with any of this?" Father Lin demanded, his voice trembling slightly.
The black-clothed man's eyes darkened. "More than you know." He leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "The ring holds power beyond your comprehension. It is tied to the immortal world, and those who possess it will either rise… or fall."
Immortal world? it existed? Father Lin felt a shiver of fear run down his spine. "What do you want from me?" he asked, his voice weak.
The man smirked, his expression hidden beneath his hood. "For now, nothing. But soon, Minister Lin, the pieces will begin to move. When they do, I will call upon you again."
Before Father Lin could respond, the man stepped back into the shadows, disappearing as silently as he had come. The room was left in an unsettling stillness, with only the weight of his presence lingering behind.
Father Lin stood alone, his mind racing. He had been pulled into something far darker than he had ever imagined. But what? And why was Jin Yue so important to this stranger's plans? The pieces were coming together, but they formed a picture he couldn't yet understand.
One thing was clear, however: the storm brewing within the Lin family was only just beginning. And with the Emperor's decree, Lin Hua's despair was just the first drop in a sea of chaos that was about to engulf them all.