The whole family died tragically? The eldest daughter is the most powerful in the capital after her

The teacup trembled slightly in Lin Ruoxue's hand. She quickly calmed herself down and replied in a low voice: "The family is already dealing with it. My father and sisters have tried their best to suppress the news."

The old lady's eyes darkened slightly, and her face was unhappy: "I wanted to make a big deal out of a small matter, but now it seems that I still have to remind you a few words."

She paused, her tone gradually becoming stern: "You have been in the mansion for half a year. You should be virtuous and manage the household well, but look at what you have done. How can anyone find fault with it? Have you learned even a little bit of what it means to be the eldest daughter-in-law of the eldest son?"

Madam Qi frowned and was about to speak, but she saw Lin Ruoxue smiled gently and said slowly: "The old lady is right. My granddaughter-in-law will definitely study hard and will never let you down."

The old lady's expression softened slightly when she heard her submissive tone, but she didn't change her tone. "I'm not picking on you, but Ze Shen is the eldest son, and the future of the Qi family depends on him. But you, after half a year in the mansion, haven't even tried to find a concubine for him. Don't you understand that the prosperity of a family doesn't depend on the efforts of one person?"

Madam Qi couldn't help but speak, her tone was gentle but sharp: "Mother, is it too early to take a concubine? Ze Shen and Ruoxue have just got married, and it's the time of their honeymoon. Besides, our Qi family is not one of those vulgar families. Do we have to rely on taking concubines to make the family prosperous?"

The old lady raised her eyebrows and snorted coldly, "That sounds nice, but half a year has passed and there is no good news from the eldest house. I think the problem is not with the concubine, but with Ruoxue herself! If there is no problem with her body, why has there been no movement for so long?"

Lin Ruoxue's face turned pale when she heard this, she lowered her head and remained silent, holding the handkerchief in her hand and trembling slightly.

Madam Qi sneered, her voice filled with anger: "Mother, aren't you saying too much? Ruoxue and Zeshen are still young, and their relationship is harmonious. How can there be a problem? There is no rush for children, there is still a long way to go."

The old lady sneered, "Can't you hurry? If she really has no problem, she should agree to it when I ask her to ask a doctor to take a look. Could it be that you are worried about something?"

Madam Qi was about to refute, but she saw Lin Ruoxue raise her head, her tone soft but firm: "I appreciate the old lady's kindness. Ze Shen also said that we should just let things take their own course."

Seeing that everything she said was refuted one by one, the old lady could only bring up the fourth son of the Lin family: "The scandal of the Lin family has caused a lot of controversy, and even the reputation of the Qi family has been affected. Although the eldest branch of the family has been separated, in the eyes of outsiders, you are still the daughter-in-law of the Qi family. This matter must be dealt with cleanly."

Lin Ruoxue lowered her eyes, her expression showing no emotion at all: "Grandmother, what happened to my fourth brother is indeed regrettable, but he is him and I am me. We cannot deny the entire Lin family because of the fault of one person."

The old lady sneered, leaned back in her chair, and sneered, "That sounds nice, but can outsiders tell the difference? If you can't sever your relationship with the Lin family, the Qi family will suffer for nothing. I'm not a cruel person, but I hope you think about it carefully. Cutting off contact with the Lin family will benefit both you and the Qi family."

Madam Qi coughed lightly and said at the right time: "Mother, something did happen in the Lin family, but Ruoxue has always been gentle, virtuous, and considerate. As a mother-in-law, I like her from the bottom of my heart. The Lin family's affairs are the Lin family's affairs. Ruoxue has a clear conscience. I don't think there is any need to hold on to it."

The old lady frowned unhappily and turned to look at Madam Qi: "You are too soft-hearted! Am I targeting her with what I said? It's clearly for the reputation of the entire Qi family!"

Madam Qi replied calmly, "If mother really wants to do this for the Qi family, why not pay more attention to the affairs of the fourth and fifth rooms. They have been behaving improperly recently and have made people laugh at them."

The old lady was choked, but surprisingly did not mock Madam Qi. Instead, she put all her attention back on Lin Ruoxue: "Since you are so virtuous, how come you don't understand the greater good? Now I ask you one question, do you want to sever ties with the Lin family, or divorce and return home? Choose one for yourself."

Lin Ruoxue's heart was shocked, but her face remained calm.

She slowly raised her head and looked at the old lady with a firm gaze: "Old lady, if Ze Shen had spoken, I would have divorced him without saying a word. But I'm sorry I can't listen to you."

The old lady's face suddenly changed when she heard this. She slammed the ground with her cane and said in anger, "How dare you talk back to me? Do you know what you mean by this?"

Lin Ruoxue knelt slightly and saluted, her tone respectful but not humble: "Old Madam, your children and grandchildren will have their own blessings, and the most important thing is that you enjoy your old age. Ze Shen will take care of the affairs of the Qi family, and I don't mean to worry you too much."

The old lady was so angry that she trembled. She slammed her cane on the ground again and said angrily, "Okay! Since you are so stubborn, then kneel down in the yard. When you admit your mistake, you can get up!"

Madam Qi stared at Lin Ruoxue who was kneeling on the ground, her brows furrowed. Finally, she couldn't help but take a step forward and said anxiously, "Mother, Ruoxue has already known her mistake. Besides, it's cold outside and her health is not very good. If she is punished to kneel like this, something bad might happen."

The old lady glanced at her coldly, and the cane in her hand made a crisp sound when it hit the ground. Her tone was even colder: "Something happened? Then let her learn a lesson! If you think she is kneeling pitifully, why don't you kneel down with her?"

When Madam Qi heard this, her expression suddenly changed, and the corners of her lips were pursed into a line, but she still wanted to fight for her: "Mother, this..."

Before she finished speaking, Lin Ruoxue had already raised her head, her eyes were firm, and she interrupted her mother-in-law: "Mother, please don't plead for me. I should kneel down. This is the old lady's teaching, and I can bear it."

Although her words were light, they contained a certainty that was irrefutable.

Madam Qi's heart tightened as she watched her thin figure tremble slightly in the cold wind. She gritted her teeth in pain, but she could do nothing about it. She could only turn around and order the maid: "Bring a few more thick cloaks, don't let the lady get frozen!"

The old lady watched coldly, her tone even more scathing: "Kneeling is a punishment, why do you have to do these nonsense?"

Madam Qi could no longer bear it and looked at the old lady coldly, but in the end she said nothing and only sighed secretly in her heart.

Lin Ruoxue knelt on the ground, letting the cold wind blow on her face. Her lips gradually turned pale, but she did not utter a word to beg for mercy.

After only a cup of tea, her body swayed slightly, and then she fell straight down as if she had lost her support.

The maids were horrified and rushed forward to support her, helping her up in a panic.