The Lin family was the largest grain merchant in Yan Bei.

The current head of the Lin family was the eldest master of the main branch, who was also Fifth Madam Lin Shi’s father.

Decades ago, when Lin Shi’s father’s grandfather passed away, the Lin family had been divided once. The Lin family’s grain shops were equally divided between the two Lin brothers—Lin Shi’s grandfather and grand-uncle. Under the diligent management of these two brothers, the Lin family’s grain shops expanded threefold.

Unfortunately, Lin Shi’s grand-uncle and cousin encountered bandits during a long journey and were robbed and killed, leaving only the cousin’s pregnant wife in the second branch.

Lin Shi’s cousin’s wife was already eight months pregnant at the time. After suddenly hearing the devastating news about her husband and father-in-law, she couldn’t bear the shock and went into premature labor. In the end, she struggled to give birth to her husband’s posthumous son before dying on the birthing bed.

Afterward, the main branch of the Lin family took over the second branch’s business, brought this premature grand-nephew to their residence to care for him, and named him Lin Kun.

Since Lin Kun was born at eight months, everyone thought he wouldn’t survive. However, this child had remarkably strong vitality and grew up safely into adulthood.

Lin Kun was raised from childhood by Old Madam Qiu Shi of the main branch, their relationship as close as that of biological grandmother and grandson. When Lin Kun was seventeen, he begged Old Madam Lin to arrange his marriage to Miss Ren Shijia of the Ren family.

Ren Shijia was the daughter of Old Madam Lin’s niece from her maiden family, so she was naturally pleased to see this union. The Ren family, out of certain considerations, didn’t refuse the Lin family’s marriage proposal and married Ren Shijia to Lin Kun of the Lin family’s second branch.

The main branch’s takeover of the second branch’s business was originally a temporary measure. Logically, after Lin Kun came of age, the second branch’s business should have been returned to the second branch. However, after all these years, the main branch had never shown any intention of returning the business, only treating Lin Kun as one of the main branch’s grandsons.

The problem was that the main branch had many descendants, and whether Lin Kun belonged to the second branch or the main branch made a huge difference.

At this moment, the eldest madam entered, and Ren Shijia smiled and called her “eldest sister-in-law.”

The eldest madam said gently, “I’ve already had someone clean up your Warm Fragrance Pavilion. Would you like to go take a look?”

Old Madam Ren opened her eyes at this point and said to Lin Shi, “You’ve always gotten along well with Shijia and know her preferences. Why don’t you go with your eldest sister-in-law to help her look at the Warm Fragrance Pavilion? If you think it’s good, Shijia will surely be satisfied too. She just returned, and her body is heavy—let her rest here with me for now.”

Lin Shi quickly smiled and stood up, saying to Ren Shijia, “Then I’ll go help you take a look. If anything needs replacing, I’ll replace it for you. Don’t complain later that you don’t like it.”

Ren Shijia said coquettishly: “What Fifth Sister-in-law likes, I’ll like too. Thank you, eldest sister-in-law and Fifth Sister-in-law, for all your trouble.”

“What are you saying? We’re all happy that you could come back.”

Lin Shi patted Ren Shijia’s hand and withdrew with the eldest madam after bowing.

Li Shi looked at Old Madam Ren and the mother-daughter pair, thought for a moment, then also stood up: “Since aunt needs to rest, I’ll take the children and leave first.”

She could see that Ren Shijia must have some matter to discuss, having returned at this time, but hadn’t had a chance to speak privately with Old Madam Ren, so she tactfully prepared to leave.

Old Madam Ren nodded: “You may go first.”

Ren Shijia smiled friendly and said, “Third Sister-in-law, when you have time, remember to bring Yaohua and Yaoqi to visit my courtyard.”

Li Shi returned her smile and nodded.

Ren Shijia’s attitude toward Li Shi was quite friendly, especially since she had never been able to bear children after marrying into the Lin family, making her particularly able to empathize with Li Shi’s pain of not having sons.

Li Shi left with the two sisters, Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua.

Only then did Old Madam Ren dismiss the servants attending her and sit up: “Why did you come back at this time? What happened?”

Ren Shijia’s eyes reddened, and she finally lowered her head and began to sob.

Old Madam Ren frowned but sighed: “Why are you crying? Be careful not to hurt yourself—it’s bad for the child.”

Ren Shijia’s crying immediately stopped, and she quickly took out her handkerchief to wipe her tears, sniffling: “Mother, I’m so scared. I… I don’t dare stay at the Lin family anymore.”

Old Madam Ren had originally thought Ren Shijia returned because of some marital dispute, but hearing this, she couldn’t help but be alarmed: “What exactly happened?”

Ren Shijia threw herself into Old Madam Ren’s arms, her face somewhat pale: “After I became pregnant, the Lin family arranged a small kitchen for me. I had written to my aunt earlier, asking her to help me find a cook from Jiangnan. A few days ago, my aunt sent me two cooks—one skilled in Jianghuai cuisine, one skilled in medicinal cooking.”

The aunt Ren Shijia mentioned was Old Madam Ren’s biological sister, the matriarch of the Fang family in Jiangning, who was also Concubine Fang’s legitimate mother.

Old Madam Ren gently patted Ren Shijia’s back: “I heard about this from your aunt’s letter. Did something go wrong with those two cooks?”

Ren Shijia shook her head: “It’s not the cooks who have problems, it’s… It’s the Lin family that has problems. The cook who knows medicinal cooking can also treat some women’s ailments. When I had her examine whether the child in my womb was healthy, she discovered that my previous miscarriages were… were caused by someone tampering with me!”

“What!” Old Madam Ren was so shocked she nearly jumped up. She grasped Ren Shijia’s shoulders and said sternly: “Jia’er, do you know what you’re saying?”

Ren Shijia nodded with lingering fear: “Daughter knows. When I first heard this, I was also startled and couldn’t believe it. All these years at the Lin family, Old Madam and the eldest madam have treated me well. Old Madam even let me help the eldest madam manage the household, and I lived better than several sisters-in-law from the main branch. I never bore my husband children, but Old Madam didn’t make him take concubines and had the eldest madam comfort me. I thought I was a fortunate woman. But… but when I told my husband what the cook told me, he secretly found a skilled physician for me. That physician said both my husband and I are healthy and shouldn’t have frequent miscarriages.”

Old Madam Ren frowned suspiciously: “Didn’t the physicians you saw before notice anything wrong? Didn’t I send you several experienced midwives? They didn’t notice either?”

Ren Shijia said, “I later questioned those two midwives. They said they only thought I was weak with insufficient blood and qi, so they usually helped me supplement blood and strengthen qi. But they couldn’t tell whether my poor health was natural or caused by someone. As for the physicians who usually took my pulse, they were all people Old Madam was accustomed to using. I… Mother, what should I do? I’m afraid this child will also be harmed. In another year I’ll be thirty, and the midwives say it will be even harder to conceive and give birth then. Mother, save me, save me…”

Old Madam Ren was terrified by what she heard and quickly comforted her daughter: “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. With your mother here, no one can harm you. I’ll immediately have someone invite a physician to the residence to examine your pulse. I’ll help you protect the child in your womb. Just settle down and stay at home—don’t return to the Lin family for now.”

“I used the excuse of quarreling with my husband to return to my maternal home this time. On the way, Old Madam and the eldest madam had already sent people twice to persuade me. They’ll send more people.” Ren Shijia worried.

Old Madam Ren patted Ren Shijia’s shoulder: “I’ll turn them away. Don’t worry about anything—just focus on nurturing the pregnancy.”

Ren Shijia sat up from Old Madam Ren’s embrace: “Mother, if this is true, what should my daughter do? If it’s true, they… they’re too vicious. Old Madam is my great-aunt!”

Old Madam Ren frowned, thinking things over in her mind without answering Ren Shijia’s question, only saying: “When your father returns, I’ll discuss it with him. For now, pretend you know nothing.” She then called for a maid to invite a familiar physician to examine Ren Shijia’s pulse.

After the maid left, Old Madam Ren also instructed Ren Shijia: “What you just told me—remember not to mention it to your fifth brother and sister-in-law, and don’t let them see anything suspicious. To outsiders, you must insist you returned because you were dissatisfied with your husband, understand?”

“Yes, Mother, daughter understands.” Ren Shijia quickly promised.

Soon after, Fifth Madam Lin Shi came to say she had already inspected Ren Shijia’s Warm Fragrance Pavilion and replaced several small items.

Old Madam Ren then had Ren Shijia rest.

When the physician entered the residence, Old Madam first had him go to her courtyard for private instructions before letting him go to the Warm Fragrance Pavilion to examine Ren Shijia’s pulse.

At noon, when Old Master Ren returned, Old Madam dismissed others and told Old Master Ren about Ren Shijia’s suspicions.

“Speaking of which, I’ve felt something was off for a while, so when Jia’er became pregnant this time, I specifically sent her two trustworthy midwives. In previous years, the Lin family even suggested that Jia’er adopt one of the boys from among the main branch’s grandsons. But those children’s biological parents aren’t dead yet—when they grow up, won’t they still be closer to their biological parents? The main branch’s calculations are quite loud.”

“What does Lisheng say?” Old Master Ren, who had been pacing slowly, stopped and asked.

Lisheng was the courtesy name of Ren Shijia’s husband, Lin Kun.

Old Madam Ren said, “Don’t you know your son-in-law’s temperament? He’s the most easily manipulated! I originally chose him for this very reason when I agreed to marry our daughter to him, never expecting this result. When the Lin family came to propose marriage to Jia’er, they spoke so nicely, and my aunt also said she was seeking marriage for her second branch nephew. But now this second branch has become the main branch. If Jia’er suffers any harm, the Lin family shouldn’t expect to fare well either! How outrageous! I’ve treated their Lin family daughter like my own daughter, yet they abuse my daughter like this.”

The more Old Madam Ren spoke, the angrier she became, somewhat losing control of her voice.