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As soon as these words were spoken, Lin Jingya's throat moved, and her steps unconsciously retreated: "You... you just moved your lips to make up such a story, you truly put in a lot of effort."
Even now, she was still adamantly denying it.
Before Lin Zhiqing could speak, Lin Congli's eyes had already widened slightly:
"Lin Jingya, if these things are false, why did you return to your maternal grandparents' home overnight?"
Facing Lin Congli's anger, Lin Jingya's body trembled.
Before she could speak, Fourth Mistress, who was completely confused, stepped forward: "Eldest Brother, this child Jingya has been having palpitations at night these past few days and can't sleep well. That's why she begged me to return to my family's home to have her maternal grandfather take a look."
Fourth Mistress's original intention was to help Lin Jingya explain and pave the way, little did she know that these words instead completely sold her out.
"Why would younger sister Jingya have palpitations for no reason? Could it be because she did something guilty?" Lin Zhiqing smiled:
"Furthermore, as soon as I found out about a key person, that person strangely appeared, and at the same time, younger sister Jingya just so coincidentally had to go to her maternal grandparents' home?"
After she finished speaking, she shook her head, looking like she couldn't figure it out.
Although Fourth Mistress wasn't strictly observant of rules, it didn't mean she was stupid.
As soon as Lin Zhiqing said these words, all the doubts from the past few days connected, coupled with Fourth Master rushing back last night.
It was clear Lin Jingya had done something wrong!
Lin Zhiqing saw her expression was fearful and she couldn't speak, so she couldn't help but step forward: "Fourth Aunt, please ask my younger sister on my behalf why she harmed me so much?"
This was asked on behalf of the original owner.
Before Fourth Mistress could organize her words, Lin Jingya suddenly pushed away her mother, who was standing in front of her:
"You don't need to act so condescending, Lin Zhiqing. If your mother saw how aggressive you are now, she would probably regret giving birth to you!"
There was a gleeful smile on her face, as if she had hit someone's weak spot, but Lin Zhiqing wasn't in as much pain as she had expected.
She just stood there, as if watching a joke.
Lin Jingya's expression changed. The initial mockery gradually turned into panic.
"Younger sister Jingya, are you mentioning my mother at this time because this matter is related to my mother?"
Lin Zhiqing carefully observed Lin Jingya's expression and found that her brows relaxed, and her smile was bright, clearly looking like a heavy burden had been lifted.
Then this heavy burden was likely related to the original owner's mother, whom she had mentioned out of nowhere just now.
As expected, upon hearing Lin Zhiqing's question, Lin Jingya's eyes widened slightly, and her mouth slightly opened, looking very surprised.
Surprised by what?
Of course, surprised that her motive had been guessed!
Apart from the two of them, everyone else was completely bewildered.
Fourth Mistress grabbed Lin Jingya's arm, her tone filled with confusion: "Jingya, your second aunt is gentle and virtuous, what does she have to do with this matter?"
Lin Jingya, who was originally in shock, heard her mother's words, violently shook off her hand, and tears appeared in her eyes:
"Mother, I didn't expect you to still be speaking up for that jianzhan at this time!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the three people present all frowned.
To speak words like "jianzhan" at such a young age was truly astonishing in the strictly disciplined Lin family.
"Jingya, if there's something wrong, you can speak properly. You are being disrespectful to your aunt; it's too rude!" Although Fourth Mistress wasn't very strict with rules, she also sensed that her daughter's words and actions were very inappropriate.
"Enough!" Lin Jingya looked at her mother with a cold, heartbroken gaze:
"Do you know why Father has ignored us all these years?"
"Her mother seduced Father. You were kept in the dark and didn't even speak up, instead you're still speaking up for that jianzhan..."
With a slap, Lin Jingya's voice came to an abrupt halt.
Fourth Mistress withdrew her hand, her lips trembling.
Lin Congli narrowed his eyes and took a small step forward.
Lin Zhiqing, meanwhile, watched all this without a change in expression, looking serious.
In the midst of the silence, Fourth Mistress spoke with a trembling voice: "Lin Jingya, do you know what you are doing?"
Lin Jingya sneered, lightly touched her already reddened cheek, her eyes full of disappointment:
"Mother, you've been living in confusion for so many years, I refuse to believe you haven't noticed anything at all."
"Father was forced to marry you, but his heart isn't with you. Precisely because of this, Father doesn't value me."
"I painstakingly studied the rules, mastered music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and was always cautious in the Lin family, all so I could gain Father and the Lin family's attention!"
Speaking of this, she shook her head: "It was useless, everything I did was useless!"
Saying this, she changed the subject and pointed at Lin Zhiqing, her eyes seemingly laced with poison:
"If it weren't for her mother's lack of self-restraint, why would Father treat you and me like this?"
"Why could that useless Lin Yangyang easily go to the Spring Banquet, while Father didn't even fight for me?"
Her voice got louder each time, as if she held a great grievance in her heart.
Fourth Mistress's chest constantly rose and fell, and she finally couldn't help but interrupt her: "Where did you hear these things from?"
Lin Jingya's tears streamed out: "Mother, Father's study hides a portrait of that jianzhan..."
"Enough!" Lin Congli stood with his hands behind his back, his face somewhat grim: "Issue the order! Lin Jingya's words and actions are improper; she has caught a madness. From today onwards, she will go to the old home in Bianliang to quietly cultivate and recuperate. Leave immediately!"
"Eldest Brother, you can't! Jingya is physically weak and still young. She cannot be without her mother by her side!" Fourth Mistress suddenly knelt down.
Lin Zhiqing sighed:
"Fourth Aunt, I also lost my father and mother at this age. I don't know why younger sister Jingya would insult my mother like this. Her hands are full of blood; being able to keep her life is already burning high incense.³"
"Once we walk out of this door, everything I heard just now will be swallowed into my belly. For her reputation and our Lin family's reputation, I believe you also won't spread it everywhere."
With just a few words, she laid out the stakes of the matter, effectively blocking everything Fourth Mistress wanted to say in her throat.
Lin Zhiqing knew that she likely didn't need to interfere further in this matter. With things having escalated to this point, Lin Congli and Fourth Master would at most cover up the truth, but Lin Jingya was certainly going to receive a punishment.
If they continued further, there was no guarantee that more scandals wouldn't be unearthed. Therefore, she only issued this warning and wisely walked out.
She walked a distance, and could still hear the sounds of sobbing coming from the courtyard, as well as Lin Congli's deliberately lowered voice scolding.
It wasn't until she returned to her own courtyard that her heart finally settled back down.
However, regarding the matter of the original owner's mother... Lin Zhiqing was somewhat silent.
She certainly wouldn't believe everything Lin Jingya said, but she couldn't not know what she should know, otherwise, she would only be blindly guessing the next time such a situation arose.
However, after talking with Butler Mu, Lin Zhiqing was still a bit disappointed.
She seemed to not know the inside story. Lin Zhiqing had to temporarily set this matter aside.
That night, a carriage quietly left the Lin family and left Shengjing in the drizzling rain.