A life of ups and downs is pure joy

Xiao Yi knelt in front of Lin Muchang and He Su, while Lin Mo and Xiao Qianwen stood aside, feeling reserved and embarrassed. They didn't know whether to stay or leave. They looked at each other and could only stand beside He Su with their heads down.

"Child, I'm not trying to make things difficult for you. Your Xiao family's attitude has really chilled your father-in-law and me. Huan'er is the child we love and care about the most. She has been without a mother since she was a child, and she was born with a disease. It was only after she finally recovered that we felt at ease to return to Luofeng. It was also based on our trust in you. Now, you've been harmed to this extent by a lowly concubine. We are deeply distressed."

He Su and Lin Mutang insisted on taking Lin Qinghuan back to Luofeng, and were unwilling to give in even when Xiao Yi came and knelt down to admit his mistake.

"Father and mother-in-law, please tell me what you are worried about. I will obey you. As long as you two are willing to let Huan'er stay, I will never let her suffer any injustice again."

Xiao Yi looked at Lin Mutang and his wife sincerely and swore to the sky.

"Child, you saw your parents' attitude just now in the front hall. My son hasn't even gotten out of bed, but they're already trying to take that outsider back to the mansion. Has anyone in the Xiao family ever stood in my Huan'er's shoes and considered her feelings? This is clearly bullying her, an outsider."

He Su said angrily.

"Let's not talk about this anymore. My Huan'er is unlucky and cannot bear the position of the young lady of the Xiao Mansion. I will go to see the emperor soon and ask for an imperial decree. The relationship between you two as husband and wife will end here."

The more Lin Mutang thought about it, the angrier he became. He waved his hand to signal He Su not to say any more to Xiao Yi, and wanted to get up and take his daughter home.

"Brother Lin, let's talk it over. Please don't damage the harmony between our two families. I, as your brother, am sorry for that."

As Xiao Bowen and Liu Ji walked into the inner courtyard, they heard Lin Mutang's angry voice and shouted hurriedly.

"I don't have much to say to you. I'll get angry if I say anything more."

Lin Mutang became even more furious when he saw Xiao Bowen.

Xiao Bowen smiled slightly, then waved his hand and asked Liu Ji to take the two girls away first. Liu Ji was obedient, and asked Lin Mo and Xiao Qianwen to go to the inner room with her to take care of Lin Qinghuan who was still lying on the bed.

Lin Mutang and He Su looked at Xiao Bowen, whom they defined as an old man, in surprise.

"What does Lord Xiao want to do now?" He Su asked.

"Mother-in-law, please don't be angry. Sit down."

Then he looked at Xiao Yi who was still kneeling on the ground and said.

"Yier, after careful consideration, I still feel that I should tell Lord Lin the truth. After all, we are family and we don't have different opinions."

After Xiao Bowen finished speaking, Xiao Yi looked at him in surprise.

"Tell me, child, it would be better for your father-in-law and mother-in-law to know about this matter. They can also make a decision for you and me."

Seeing Xiao Yi hesitate and remain silent, Xiao Bowen continued.

"Why are you so hesitant?"

Lin Mutang has always been a decisive and swift military commander, and he hates scenes like this where a group of people are working together.

"Father and mother-in-law, that child is not mine."

Xiao Yi sighed and then said.

"Wan'er told us that the child's features are exactly like yours. Who else could it be if not you?"

He Su naturally didn't believe it, so he said dissatisfiedly.

"This person's affairs involve the future of Dasheng, so our Xiao family must cover up this scandal even if it means bearing the infamy for a lifetime. This will only put Yi'er and Huan'er in a difficult position."

Xiao Bowen grabbed Lin Mutang's arm and spoke in a low voice.

Lin Mutang looked at Xiao Bowen for a long time before he remembered the person behind the Xiao family.

"Was this really done by the Eastern Palace?" Lin Mutang looked at Xiao Bowen with some disbelief.

"Alas, it's all a sin." Xiao Bowen nodded helplessly.

"Ridiculous! How could a prince of a country be so obsessed with pleasure? There are so many women in the world, but he chose the daughter of a criminal. This is simply a disgrace to the state. How can he be the ruler of a country in the future if he behaves like this?"

Lin Mutang said angrily, and Xiao Bowen could only shake his head helplessly. Not only had his eldest nephew been mediocre since childhood, but he was also lustful. Because he was the crown prince, the entire Xiao family had to keep covering for him.

He Su then realized that the person behind the trouble was actually the Crown Prince Ning Jinyang of the Eastern Palace. In this case, the child's eyebrows and eyes resembled Xiao Yi, or rather, the Empress.

"So this matter is of great importance. We have no other choice but to wrong Huan'er. This matter must not be known to anyone else. I have even kept it a secret from my wife. If it weren't for Brother Lin's deep love for his daughter, I would never have disturbed you two with such a sinful matter."

Although Xiao Bowen's tone seemed sincere, he actually had hidden thoughts. Now the Xiao and Lin families were like grasshoppers on a hemp rope. If something happened in the East Palace, the Lin family would naturally no longer be able to stay out of it.

"Yier, please get up first."

After He Su understood the whole story, she saw that Xiao Yi was not so angry anymore, so she signaled him to stop kneeling.

"So what are your plans now?" Lin Mutang asked in a gentle tone.

"We can only make the best of it and continue to conceal it. After all, this child is of royal blood and is already five or six years old. He can't be raised as a royal child, nor can he be raised as a useless child. So from now on, he will be a child of the Xiao family, and Huan'er will have to bear the brunt of the situation."

Xiao Bowen said this with an apologetic look on his face. Seeing that he was also very sincere, Lin Mutang looked at He Su and nodded when he saw that his wife had no objection.

"Then whose name do you plan to raise this child under?" He Su suddenly remembered and asked.

"This is also something we want to discuss with my in-laws. If the child is raised under Huan'er's name, it would be an injustice to my newborn grandson. Yi'er has a concubine who is a daughter of an official family. She is well-behaved and obedient. Her father is Li Wei, the prefect of Luancheng. If the child is raised under her name, it would be the most appropriate."

Xiao Bowen immediately made his thoughts clear to Lin Mutang.

"Is it the lady who loves to make tea and snacks?"

He Su heard Lin Qinghuan mention that there was also a woman in the Xiao Mansion who came from a wealthy family like herself but became a concubine for love.

Xiao Bowen naturally didn't know who liked to make pastries, so he could only look at Xiao Yi.

"Mother-in-law, it's her." Xiao Yi replied.

"This matter is of great importance. It's not that I'm cruel, but the child's biological mother cannot be kept." He Su said with a serious face and looked at the Xiao family father and son.

"I will take care of this matter, don't worry, father-in-law and mother-in-law." Xiao Yi said.

"It's such a sin. This is all we can do now." Lin Mutang sighed, then stood up again and wanted to go to the inner room.

Xiao Yi quickly stood up and said anxiously, "Father-in-law, Huan'er..."

"Although this matter has nothing to do with you directly, it is your indecisiveness that caused my son to suffer so much. If it weren't for the Sixth Prince's life-saving medicine, I would be sending my son to his grave today."

Lin Mutang said with a straight face.

"I will do my best to compensate Huan'er. I only ask my father-in-law to keep Huan'er." Xiao Yi said pleadingly.

"Okay, okay, Yi'er, don't be nervous. Your father-in-law and I are just going in to take another look at her." He Su stepped forward, patted Xiao Yi's shoulder and said softly.

"My dear relatives, regarding the child..." Xiao Bowen looked at Lin Mutang with concern.

"Don't worry, this matter will remain a secret among us, and Huan'er will never know about it. As for whether my son can accept this child entering the Xiao Mansion calmly, that is your family's business."

Lin Mutang then shook his head and stopped talking to the Xiao father and son. He and He Su went straight to the inner room.

"Don't worry, I will definitely come up with a plan that satisfies both parties."

Xiao Bowen stood in the pavilion and spoke to Lin Mutang's back, then gestured for Xiao Yi to follow Lin Mutang and his wife.