Dethroned the Crown Princess? Then she became your mother

Miss Lin Er called softly, "Grandma." The long-cherished wish in her heart seemed to be getting closer to reality step by step.

Madam Lin sighed helplessly, her eyes revealing a hint of fatigue and helplessness. The air seemed to freeze, no one spoke, only the sound of her deep breathing echoed in her ears.

"Grandma, mother..." Miss Lin Er spoke again, with a hint of anxiety and expectation in her voice.

Madam Lin spoke slowly, her tone filled with unquestionable determination: "If you truly have that ability, it's not a bad idea to assist Concubine Liang. But you must understand that only through your own outstanding performance can you win Concubine Liang's favor and, in turn, attract the Emperor's attention. Do you think the Emperor will even glance at you with your current appearance?"

Miss Lin Er felt resentful, but her grandmother's words hit her like a hammer, striking a chord. Her eyes flickered, as if she were pondering something. After a moment, a look of relief crept across her face. She understood that her grandmother was right; she truly needed change and support.

"Grandma." She called softly, with a little more determination in her tone.

"Remember, don't show any clues on your face. If you continue to act so willfully, I will never let you off easily. Not only me, but everyone in the family will not let you go. After all, the future of the family still depends on Concubine Liang." Old Lady Lin spoke in a stern tone, with a warning flashing in her eyes.

Miss Lin Er nodded silently. Although her heart was still turbulent, she knew that she had to restrain her edge and wait for the opportunity.

Madam Lin Da and Madam Lin Er watched their mother-in-law silently, each with their own thoughts. Madam Lin turned her gaze to Madam Lin Da and said with a hint of reproach, "You should also take care of your daughter." Then, she looked at Madam Lin Er with a complicated look.

Mrs. Lin Da and Mrs. Lin Er quickly agreed, but they were secretly thinking about it. Mrs. Lin Da glared at her daughter, while Mrs. Lin Er secretly felt fortunate that at least she was the nominal mother of Concubine Liang, and her position was relatively stable.

When they returned to the mansion, Madam Lin slowly stepped out of the carriage, her expression grave. She urged Madam Lin and the others not to speak nonsense, and they quickly complied. Afterward, Madam Lin sat alone in the house to rest, awaiting the return of the Lin family head.

Soon, the Lin family's head and the second master returned home. After giving a few instructions to his younger brother, the head of the Lin family hurried to his mother's residence.

When Mrs. Lin saw her eldest son, she quickly told him about Concubine Liang's recent situation and her conversation with her. When she talked about Miss Lin Er's thoughts, she couldn't help but sigh.

The head of the Lin family looked at his mother with a frown on his face. "Mother, how could you let the second girl act so recklessly?"

Old Madam Lin sighed and explained, "I've already told her. Besides, Concubine Liang is not really angry. It's just..." She hesitated to speak, knowing in her heart that her eldest son was dissatisfied.

The head of the Lin family interrupted, "Mother, don't dwell on this. I've already submitted a memorial to the Emperor, mentioning this matter, but he hasn't mentioned it. If the Emperor was interested, he would have already taken action."

Madam Lin nodded, but she was still a little worried: "I'm just worried that Concubine Liang might want to consolidate her position."

"No," the Lin family's head said firmly, "Liang Fei and our family are simply taking what we need. Mother, you understood this principle before, so why are you confused now?"

Madam Lin opened her mouth, wanting to retort, but ultimately swallowed her words back. The mother and son continued their conversation, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed.

The head of the Lin family mentioned that the emperor was about to return to the capital after the autumn hunt. He knew that he was one of the officials left in the capital, and if he could make some achievements during this period, he would surely win the emperor's appreciation. He also learned that both the emperor and the crown prince had sent people back to the capital, reportedly because of the crown princess.

The specific situation is still unclear, but he wants to get some information about Concubine Liang from his mother. It seems that his mother is not aware of it, and Concubine Liang may not know either.

Old Madam Lin wanted to ask something else, but the head of the Lin family did not mention it again. Since his mother didn't say anything, there was no point in asking.

-

Elsewhere, in the garden, Zhang Tianai was waiting for her grandmother to arrive. After asking her grandmother about the Lin family's visit, she suddenly remembered that she had agreed with the Lin family to go to her grave together.

The tomb had been standing for a long time, but the trip had never been made. She hadn't really intended to go with them, but now she was pregnant, and there were many inconveniences, making the trip impossible.

She suspected the Lin family might have been there, but didn't know the details. She hadn't asked, and the Lin family hadn't mentioned it to anyone else, perhaps fearing she might be upset. She thought to herself, "I should have asked about the tomb's condition."

Yuan looked at her granddaughter, who seemed to be lost in thought, and asked with concern, "Ai'er, what's wrong?"

Zhang Tianai came back to her senses and said softly, "It's okay, I just remembered something. In fact, I really want Grandma to go with us."

Upon hearing this, Yuan smiled slightly and said, "It's okay for Grandmother to go, but the Lin family might think too much. However, since they are gone, there is no need to mention it again."

Zhang Tianai nodded, secretly deciding not to mention the matter to Matron Li and the others, lest her grandmother be upset. She glanced at Matron Li and Chunmei, who understood and bowed their heads in silence. Matron Yu also bowed her head silently.

In the dead of night, Zhang Tianai suddenly woke from her sleep. She stirred and opened her eyes. After waking up, she realized that she had been awakened by thirst. Her mouth was dry and unbearable, and she urgently needed a glass of water to quench her thirst.

She recalled that she had drunk a lot of water before going to bed, but she was still thirsty. Perhaps it was because she had eaten something strong at dinner.

Besides being thirsty, her legs were cramping and painful. She also noticed some swelling in her legs. The baby in her belly was moving constantly, as if protesting the long night.

-

Meanwhile, within the palace, Crown Princess Zhang Tianci anxiously awaited news. She knew that not only were the Crown Prince's men investigating her premature stillbirth and the conspiracy against her by Luo Shi and her gang, but the Emperor's men were also secretly investigating. She secretly congratulated herself on her foresight, but she still worried about potential leaks.

Concubine Zhang had come to ask for an audience before, but she did not meet him.

It is said that the people sent back by the Crown Prince soon met with Concubine Zhang and asked about her and Fu's situation. They also went to see Luo, but no one knows what they talked about.

Luo was pregnant and in the early stages of postpartum confinement, so she couldn't personally meet with the Crown Prince's men or the Emperor's men. She could only let the women handle them. Zhang Tianci sent people to inquire about the situation again, but found nothing.

She was extremely anxious, but dared not show it. She could only pray silently that her arrangements were neat and tidy enough so that there would not be any handle left.

-

Meanwhile, Zhang Tianai, still tossing and turning in her bed in the garden, tried to fall asleep again, but the discomfort in her legs and the movement of her child made it difficult for her to fall asleep.

Nanny Li and Chunmei were supposed to be waiting outside. She quietly peeked in, but saw only an empty space, no one in sight.

Chunmei usually slept under the couch. She opened the bed curtains and caught a glimpse of Chunmei, only to find that she was sleeping so soundly.

"Chunmei..." she called softly.