Chapter 359 A Rude Watchdog

In ancient times, going back to her own family was not an easy choice for a married woman to make.

She had to ask her father- and mother-in-law for their consent, and then she needed her husband to escort her back. The process had a strict etiquette.

If she went back home without her husband, people would view her as if she had been repelled.

Lin Mengya was in the carriage. She felt that the status of ancient women was far lower than that in modern times. In modern times, people would argue intensely about whether to spend the Spring Festival with the husband’s family or the wife’s family.

She even felt fortunate to be reborn as an orphan, which saved her lots of family troubles.

She was now married to someone in the ancient times, and each of her actions would be seen as a symbol of the royal family. She felt that it was so weird.

Steward Deng took very good care of Lin Mengya because the prince had ordered him.

Steward Deng was asked to send Lin Mengya back home because the prince had no time for this. Steward Deng had already met the mother and daughter of the Lin family.

Steward Deng then realized why the prince was so concerned, but he must have forgotten that Lin Mengya was no pushover. It was possible that the mother and daughter of the Lins would be taught a lesson again.

“We’re going to arrive very soon, master. Look at that big willow tree behind our house. It’s still standing so upright.”

Baizhi didn’t enjoy the trip, but she was still happy when she saw the old place.

She wouldn’t give up on this place because she grew up here.

The carriage soon stopped at the gate of Marquis Zhennan’s Mansion. However, no one came out to greet them.

Steward Deng frowned. He had had the family informed last night, but it seemed that the gate was unattended at this moment.

“Be careful, master.”

Lin Mengya walked to the gate of her home with the support of Steward Deng and Baizhi.

She sneered a little bit when she thought of how inconsiderate Shangguan Qing was.

She could have prepared for this more or less, not for Lin Mengya, but to save Long Tianyu’s face.

She must have heard that Long Tianyu wasn’t coming today, so she didn’t even care to pretend to be welcoming.

It would be a shame for Lin Mengya if she was locked out at the gate of her own family. After all, she was the trueborn daughter of the Lin family.

Instead of getting angry, she had Steward Deng knock on the door.

“Coming… Who there?”

The door was then opened slightly, and a strange face popped out.

Lin Mengya cast him a glance. It was a servant with a tapered chin.

In the past, all the gatekeepers here were veterans from her dad’s army. They were old with grey hair, but they were very reliable.

Therefore, never before had anyone ever been looked down upon here at the gate.

The new gatekeeper might be new here, so he didn’t know who Lin Mengya was. But he should at least think about why the carriage of Prince Yu’s Mansion was here.

It turned out he didn’t even want to look at them twice.

He urged impatiently, “Who are you? This is the gate of Marquis Zhennan’s Mansion. How dare you knock on the door foolishly?”

Lin Mengya frowned at his rude tone.

Her father once told her that a real educated family would never keep any gatekeepers or servants that looked down upon others.

Her father wasn’t away for long, but they already had such a snobbish watchdog here.

Like dog, like master.

Steward Deng didn’t even care to argue with the man.

He said collectedly, “Young man, my master is the daughter of the Lin family. Please let us through.”

Steward Deng was very polite, although he could easily get rid of the man standing before him.

The young man’s rude eyes checked Steward Deng from head to toe, looking quite disdainful.

“Lin Mengwu is the only daughter of the family. Which family do you serve? You must have made a mistake!”

His words confirmed Lin Mengya’s guess.

The gatekeeper was arranged here after her father had left. Maybe he just got here yesterday.

Someone was trying to show her severity over this place.

She could take it out on this young man, but she was certain that he would claim that he was new here and had nothing to do with Shangguan Qing and Lin Mengwu.

And she would then leave a harsh impression on people for being too mean to the servants.

Li Mengya wasn’t patient enough to waste her time on a gatekeeper.

“Get out of my way.”

The gentle scolding made the young servant hesitate for a while. Then he saw a woman dressed in the clothes of the palace walking toward him.

He had already seen Lin Mengwu, whose charm and coquettishness were beyond his imagination.

But the young woman standing in front of him now looked so graceful and sophisticated. Her beautiful face was breathtaking.

The young gatekeeper couldn’t move his eyes away from her until his eyes felt sore.

“Ah…!”

He fell on the ground, groaning and rolling.

Lin Mengya, Baizhi, and Steward Deng were standing in front of him, feeling nothing painful at all.

“Let’s go in.”

Lin Mengya didn’t even want to look at him. She bypassed the groaning gatekeeper and stepped inside.

She had no mercy for those who blocked her way.

This time, the punishment was no more than a small rock from Steward Deng, which would only take him a few days to recover from. The punishment would be much more severe if Lin Mengya’s father was here.

Upon entering through the gate, Lin Mengya found that the servants in the yard were looking at her. They looked quite embarrassed.

They had already learned their lesson just now. So they each followed one another to salute her.

“All rise. These are our lady’s New Year’s gifts to you. Things aren’t easy for her in the outside world, and she shares your feelings. Thank you for all the work you did to serve our master and our young master at home.”

Lin Mengya stared straight up, trying to avoid eye contact with anyone.

Some timid servants were even quivering out of their fear due to her proud and cold look.

Shangguan Qing and Lin Mengwu were the only two masters in the mansion now. However, the master and the young master once came back and told all the servants that Lin Mengya would always be the most respected lady in this family.

Some of these people had messed with Lin Mengya, and now they were leaking cold sweat. They knew the gatekeeper, Liu Er, was a notorious hooligan in the Capital City.

There didn’t know why Shangguan Qing would hire him. They had seen how miserable the man ended up after he pissed Lin Mengya off.

Now they found Lin Mengya to be even more formidable.

Fingers crossed, they wished that they wouldn’t be the next unlucky guy.

“Thank you, my lady.”

Baizhi was standing there, generously giving away the red envelopes to all the servants.

There wasn’t much money inside them, not even enough for her to buy daily snacks. Baizhi felt so lucky to be with Lin Mengya when she saw those people she used to envy become so happy due to this little favor.

“Where’s Mrs. Lin and Miss Lin?”

All Lin Mengya could see in the yard was servants. She wondered where Shangguan Qing and Lin Mengwu were.

Usually, the two would be just standing here and watching the big show. Why were they acting like they had learned their lesson?

“Mrs. Lin is in Miss Lin’s room now. Miss Lin hasn’t been feeling well since this morning,” an argute woman replied immediately with a smile.

“Not feeling well? Isn’t that too convenient?”

Lin Mengya felt confused because Lin Mengwu had always been healthier even than her. Why did she get sick so suddenly?

“Let go and have a look.”

She didn’t care about Lin Mengwu. It was just out of curiosity.

The woman immediately showed her the way. They passed the front yard and arrived at Tinglan Pavilion, where Lin Mengwu lived.

Tinglan Pavilion was smaller but more delicate than Lin Mengya’s villa. The decorations inside were extravagant. Precious and exotic treasures filled the room.

But all of these treasures would fade next to Lin Mengya’s Liuxin Courtyard, where the pipes were made from warm jade.

Still, Lin Mengya could tell that Lin Mengwu used to live a much better life than her pushover sister.

When Lin Mengya arrived at the yard, she saw Lin Mengwu’s personal maid, Huan’er, waiting anxiously outside.

As Lin Mengya approached, Huan’er raised her voice and called out to her.

“Respect to my lady… No respect to the concubine.”

Lin Mengya looked at Huan’er. The girl was about the same age as Baizhi, but she had already learned how to borrow the power from her masters.

The snarky maid used to bully Lin Mengya and Baizhi a lot.

Now she was acting panicked, as if she was trying to hide something from the two intruders.

“Rise. I heard my sister is sick and my mother is here. I’ll go check on them.”

Lin Mengya pretend to be walking into the room, but Huan’er immediately blocked her, looking around anxiously.

“You’d better not… my lady. She’s really sick, and Mrs. Lin told us to make you wait here so you don’t become infected.”

That illness seemed like such a convenient excuse.

Lin Mengya knew that it was not about getting sick.

She stepped forward and took a deep breath.

Then she yelled, “Mother, sister, I’ll go back to my villa. Please take care of yourself and don’t get exhausted. I want to catch up with Mother in my place if you have time.”

Hearing Lin Mengya’s words, Huan’er seemed to have unloaded a burden.

She smiled and watched Lin Mengya and Baizhi leave Tinglan Pavilion.

“My lady, why were you so cautious just now? We should have just rushed into the room. I don’t think they are sick at all. They were just being rude to you!”

Baizhi seemed a little angry. She didn’t even notice the hint of a smile at the corner of Lin Mengya’s mouth.