Chapter 371 The Most Powerful Lady

For the first time, a chill went through Shangguan Qing.

Indeed, it was a feeling of fear within her.

That beautiful face and the glaring smile was a spitting image of that woman right from the start.

Shangguan Qing tightened her fists. It was Zuo Shuqing! Without a doubt, it was because the share a character in their names that her husband had eventually accepted her.

Despite the fact that she bore him a daughter and gave her meager resources to help him in times of need over the past twenty years, her husband had only place for that woman in his heart!

Although Zuo Shuqing had passed away for many years, her daughter carried herself like a victor who was all ready to take over everything she had painstakingly built up over time.

No, that was impossible!

The Lin Mansion belonged to Shangguan Qing, Lin Muzhi could only be her husband alone!

Zuo Shuqing was dead! Her body had disintegrated into ashes. She would surely not allow her that woman to snatch away what had rightfully belonged to her!

Seeing that there were panic and fear in Shangguan Qing’s eyes, Lin Mengya stopped provoking her further with her words.

A cat would never kill the rat at first strike.

In the past, Shangguan Qing owed her too much. Perhaps it was time that she repaid her.

From the perspective of a bystander, Shangguan Qing was indeed pathetic. Not only was her daughter falling short of her expectation, but even her husband showed no interest in her.

However, she had asked for this after all. There was absolutely no excuse for her to cause harm to others just because of how unfortunate she was.

The majority of the servants in the Lin Mansion had quietly acknowledged the elder Miss Lin as the real head of the family.

Although their master was not home, they could see that the mistress had lost their master’s favor and respect a long time back. Worse, she felt utterly humiliated when the master forbade her from leaving the house this time.

For this reason, no one within the Marquis Zhennan’s mansion dared to say no to whatever Lin Mengya wanted to do.

“Please go back and take a good rest, Mother. Your daughter, I, shall take my leave.”

Lin Mengya excused herself. Since she had achieved what she had set out to do, she would now leave Shangguan Qing to live in fear every moment of her life from now on.

She thought she might fight for Shangguan Qing, however, now it appeared that the queen was the only one who could have mobilized the imperial guards.

Little did she expect the relationship between these sisters to be so deep and strong.

In this case, she would not mind sending this pair of sisters, who loved inflicting harm upon others, into hell.

After washing up, Lin Mengya changed into a set of clean clothes. Finally, she could have a chat with Baizhi and Ms. Tian.

Baizhi chit-chatted about the many things which she and Lin Mengya, as a master and maid pair, went through after she entered the prince’s mansion.

“This was truly out of my expectation. It was only when I returned to the mansion this time that I learned that elder Miss Lin had married into the prince’s mansion. Heaven had been gracious to you. Finally, you’ve emerged from all the hardship and will now welcome bliss.”

Ms. Tian looked relieved and overjoyed. She had missed the knowing looks Lin Mengya and Baizhi gave each other.

Not wanting Ms. Tian to be alarmed, it was better to keep some things from her.

“On the other hand, although Baishao left, Ms. Tian is back. We will not be bullied in the mansion anymore.“

Baizhi’s abrupt mention of Baishao brought a somber mood on Lin Mengya.

That lass…

There was no news from her since she was thrown out. They wondered if she had returned to her home country safely and be reunited with her friends and relatives.

“I still feel that this is not the best arrangement. We’ve kicked up a storm after we return this time. Wouldn’t we make trouble for elder Miss Lin when we enter the prince’s mansion?”

How would Ms. Tian not worry about Lin Mengya? Elder Miss Lin might not mention anything about it, but she knew her life in the prince’s mansion was not always a bed of roses.

She was an old lady of not much use and she was afraid she could not be a good guardian over elder Miss Lin when she followed her into the prince’s mansion.

Although Ms. Tian worried she would not be of much help, she finally gave in to Lin Mengya’s and Baizhi’s persistent persuasion.

It was time for dinner by the time they wrapped up their conversation.

To their surprise as they stepped through the door, Long Tianyu, who was nowhere to be found before this appeared with Lin Nansheng.

Although they tried normal, Lin Mengya had the feeling that they were plotting something.

“Your Highness, the prince, and Elder Brother, are you hiding something from me?”

Ms. Tian insisted that Baizhi and the Tians were not to eat their meals at the same table with Lin Mengya.

As a result, the three ate at the table on their own.

The two men who commanded much power outside could not help feeling a wave of guilt before this girl.

Women were naturally equipped with a radar-like sixth sense and she had long sensed that the two men were not having a normal conversation.

How dare they hid the truth from her.

Lin Mengya snorted as her pair of sharp eyes looked from her elder brother to her husband.

Were they thinking of keeping her in the dark? Dream on!

“You, being the commander of the army at the frontline had returned to the capital city without permission, should I be ready to punish my own family if justice demands it, and send you into jail?”

Lin Mengya eyed her elder brother suspiciously. She knew Lin Nansheng’s character too well.

What happened today was very suspicious.

She knew her brother had never been an impulsive person. However, he seemed to have overreacted with anger today, having almost clashed with Baili Wuchen openly.

If he had returned to the capital city without permission, his appearance before Baili Wuchen was as good as personally handing over his weapon into the hands of his enemy?

However, lately, she had not heard about any imperial edict issued by the courts to bring her elder brother and father back to the courts.

Moreover, he had just returned. How did he learn that she was in the courtyard, being put into an awkward situation by the imperial guards?

The only possible explanation was that these two men were in cahoots with each other.

“Your Highness the prince, oh no, I should address you as brother-in-law. The papaya hashima stew in our mansion taste good, would you like to try?”

Lin Nansheng averted his eyes. He was no doubt thinking very hard to get away from trouble.

Long Tianyu could not help but despise his brother-in-law. Lin Mengya was after all his younger sister. How could an elder brother be so intimidated by his younger sister? This was a complete humiliation to the pride of a man of Dajin!

“Cough, cough, what’s this? It tastes great, much better than what we have in our mansion.”

Long Tianyu played along as he took a big mouthful. The impressed look on his face almost made Lin Mengya laughed out loud.

“Your Highness, I had the impression that you never wanted to taste papaya hashima stew. This is for women, so where have you ever eaten this?”

Long Tianyu stopped chewing all of a sudden.

Thereafter, he continued to bury his head in eating to cover up for his awkwardness.

Lin Nansheng was just feeling embarrassed about trying to get away from his awkward situation. In the twinkling of eyes, he witnessed the predicament of Long Tianyu who had gone through a strict upbringing.

Good heavens, why was his little sister so intimidating?

His Highness was after all Prince Yu, the third prince of Dajin! How was he so easily subdued by his little sister without her shedding a drop of his blood?

In this instant, Lin Mengya’s place in Lin Nansheng’s heart rose a great deal.

She was indeed fit to be the daughter of the Lin Family, being so domineering!

“Alright, I shall not force you. I guess you can tell me when you feel like it. I know I won’t be able to get anything out of you anyways if you’re not willing to tell me. Just behave yourselves. If you dare to gang up against me, I’ll not let you off!”

Lin Mengya’s last warning was sharp and severe.

So much so that the two men shook their heads vigorously. Lin Mengya could burst out laughing at their obedient faces.

Seeing that she had sufficiently terrorized them, Lin Mengya decided to stop being tough on them.

After all, it was not fitting for someone in the inner chambers to know certain matters.

However…

She put the wine cup to her lips to cover a sly smile.

As the Hall Master of Sanjue Hall, what could have escaped her?

Initially, Long Tianyu wanted to bring Lin Mengya back to the prince’s mansion, but to his surprise, she had requested to stay on for one more night.

Long Tianyu, who always gave in to all of Lin Mengya’s requests, could only leave for the prince’s mansion first, riding on his horse.

Although Ms. Tian were opposed to the idea of Lin Mengya staying for another day, they knew she had her reasons.

Ms. Tian and her elder brother had more memories of the past compared to her. She had not given up. If even Ms. Tian and her elder brother had no idea where her mother put her medical books, she had labored in vain.

After they were done eating, Ms. Tian and Baizhi followed Lin Mengya and started going through and tidying up the possessions of their mistress’s which she left behind.

Although Marquis Zhennan’s mansion was Lin Mengya’s mother’s house, Lin Mengya thought it would be a better idea for her to carry her mother’s possessions with her.

“These were what our mistress loved to wear back then. She was very beautiful, just like you, elder Miss Lin. Unfortunately, once Mistress Qing married into the family, she took away plenty of her possessions. Those were meant to be your dowry. Shame on me for not being able to guard the mistress’s possessions.”

Ms. Tian smoothed the creases on the dresses with her hands, looking like she truly cherished them.

Despite the fact that more than a decade had passed, these clothes would look brilliant and new if they were tidied up.

A little alteration would look gorgeous on the people who wore them.

Thankfully Shangguan Qing had only taken some accessories.

These clothes were preserved and kept safe simply because she was a little more plump and shorter than Lin Mengya’s mother.

“We are lucky to have kept these clothes. Please stop putting the blame on yourself, Ms. Tian. Shangguan Qing was totally unaware that these clothes carried what was most precious to my mother.”

As Lin Mengya spoke, she casually revealed a jade waistband embedded with gold, which was attached to a piece of clothing.

It should be noted that Lin Mengya’s birth mother was an absolutely intelligent person.

She ought to have guessed that sooner or later, someone would have their eyes on the pieces of jewelry and accessories. People would unlikely be eyeing on these clothes which she wore.

Therefore, she had, in her ingenious way, attached these pieces of her most precious jewelry to her clothes.

If one did not take a good look at these pieces of clothing, she would not be able to see that each contained valuable gems.