Having transmigrated into a book, who would still want to be a secondary wife?

"You blame me?" Old Mrs. Lin pointed at herself and said incredulously, "Back then, you were disheartened and I was afraid you would never recover, so I arranged this excellent marriage for you. If General Song hadn't promoted you, how could you have distinguished yourself in the army so quickly?"

I've always thought of you and arranged everything for you, and now you're blaming me?

Seeing the old lady's eyes redden, Lin Zhiyue felt bad. "Mother, I was just talking nonsense because I was upset. Please don't take it to heart. But you must help me with these eight million taels of silver. Otherwise, otherwise I won't even be able to keep my title of Earl."

"Eight million taels of silver is not enough even if the entire Marquis's mansion is sold. Where am I supposed to find the money? But you are now General Qin's son-in-law, and Madam Qin is the daughter of Grand Tutor Gu. Surely she won't just stand by and watch you lose your title if you can't pay the silver!"

Old Mrs. Lin's eyes were full of shrewd calculation. "Besides, the reason you lost your marquisate is all Qin Shuangshuang's fault. If she hadn't caused so much trouble, you would have only been fined a salary at most. They have to pay for it!"

Lin Zhiyue's eyes lit up, realizing that her mother's words made sense.

“Yes, I need to go see General Qin, but I’ve heard that Shuangshuang isn’t favored in the Qin family. What if they don’t agree…”

“They have no choice but to agree. Even if you are not the Marquis of Ningyuan, you are at least the Earl of Yongning. Do you think their family would want another divorced woman?”

Besides, Qin Shuangshuang had been following you mysteriously at the border. Your willingness to marry her has already given the Qin family a fig leaf. If they don't appreciate it, then no one will have a good time!

Old Mrs. Lin has a sinister look in her eyes. She ruined her son's future, and no one will get away with it!

“Mother, Shuangshuang is with me without regard for formalities because she loves me. How can I hurt her like this?” Lin Zhiyue said hesitantly.

When Shuangshuang chased after him to the border, he was deeply moved. If she didn't truly love him, how could she disregard her reputation to be with him?

He can't let her down!

“Zhiyue, I have no other choice but to do this. If the Qin family were willing to help you, why would you say such things? The Emperor has ordered you to immediately repay the eight million taels of silver. Even if it means going all out, you must keep your title. Otherwise, how can you face your father’s spirit in heaven?”

Grandma Lin was disappointed in her son, but her face remained kind and loving. She took out a silver note and handed it over, saying, "This is the 100,000 taels of silver you asked me to raise. Take it and use it to save Shuangshuang."

Lin Zhiyue was overjoyed. "Thank you, Mother."

As Lin Zhiyue rallied his forces to redeem the people from Shuntian Prefecture, he was told that Qin Shuangshuang had forbidden visits after the Emperor's furious outburst, and that bringing silver would be useless. He had no choice but to go to General Qin's mansion on his own.

Originally, the day before yesterday was supposed to be the day he took Shuangshuang back to her parents' home, but Shuangshuang was imprisoned. Today, he could only buy some gifts and go to General Qin's mansion.

"Zhiyue, why did you come alone?" Gu Yunwei, Qin Shuangshuang's birth mother, frowned when she saw Lin Zhiyue alone. "Haven't you rescued Shuangshuang yet?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhiyue felt displeased, but he still patiently said, "Mother-in-law, Shuangshuang's matter has reached the court, and the Emperor is furious. I just went to Shuntian Prefecture and said that it was impossible to let Shuangshuang out in advance."

"Shuangshuang only made a small mistake. If she hadn't been implicated by you, she wouldn't have had to be imprisoned in the government office."

"When you pursued Shuangshuang, I refused, but Shuangshuang was bewitched and insisted on marrying you. I had no choice but to accept it. I thought you had finally made something of yourself this time, but unexpectedly, you were stripped of your marquisate and demoted to duke. Do you know that everyone else is laughing at our Qin family?"

Gu Yunwei became increasingly dissatisfied. When Shuangshuang was in love with the Prince of Chu, she tried her best to help her, hoping that her daughter could make a good match and marry into a higher social class. Who would have thought that she would end up with Lin Zhiyue? Not only that, but she was imprisoned right after the wedding. Lin Zhiyue even lost his title and was ridiculed by everyone. Gu Yunwei was too ashamed to go out today.

The master felt he had lost face in court and treated her with contempt, but she could only endure it.

Lin Zhiyue was already implicated by Qin Shuangshuang, but he endured it out of consideration for their relationship. Who would have thought that his mother-in-law would turn the tables on him and blame him for being incompetent?

“Mother-in-law, if Shuangshuang hadn’t trusted the wrong charlatan, offended Grand Tutor Xu, and plotted against the Song family, things wouldn’t have come to this. How can you blame me for everything?” Lin Zhiyue argued unwillingly.

"Isn't Shuangshuang doing this for you too? She hopes to establish a good relationship with Madam Xu through the sorcerer. She is wholeheartedly planning for you. If you were truly capable, she wouldn't have needed to do this. Could it be that you really knew nothing about this beforehand?"

Gu Yunwei's voice was sharp, and Lin Zhiyue couldn't even respond.

"Since Shuangshuang hasn't come back, what are you doing here?"

Lin Zhiyue clenched his fists, suppressing his anger and reminding himself with reason that he had important business to attend to at the Qin residence today and could not give up easily.

"I want to see my father-in-law."

At this moment, General Qin, having heard the news of Lin Zhiyue's arrival, also came over. "Why do you want to see me? If it's for the money, then give up on that idea!"

Lin Zhiyue became anxious upon hearing this. “Father-in-law, the Emperor has ordered me to return the eight million taels of silver immediately. If I cannot return it, I will be dismissed from my post. Please help me this once. I will do my best for the General’s Mansion and treat Shuangshuang well.”

"Eight million taels of silver, such a huge sum was enjoyed by you and Old Madam Lin. How can I be expected to repay it for you?"

"It's already a blessing for you to marry your daughter to me. You've caused trouble and now you want me to pay off your debts? Do you think everyone is as foolish as the Song family, willing to give away so much of their fortune for a son-in-law?"

General Qin had a cold face. Not to mention that their household expenses were already quite high, and they didn't actually have eight million taels of silver. Even if they did, it would be much more worthwhile to use that silver to help their own son than to help a son-in-law!

"Father-in-law, Shuangshuang is now my wife. Can you really bear to watch me be dismissed from my post and live a life of hardship with her?"

Lin Zhiyue found it hard to believe. He had expected that borrowing money from the Qin family would not be easy, but he never imagined that they could be so ruthless as to not hesitate at all.

Unconsciously, he recalled how much money the Song family had given to the Lin family over the past two years, and how Song Ruozhen had never refused him every time he sent a letter asking for money.

He had assumed everyone was like that, but only now did he realize that only the Song family would spend so much money on him. Thinking back to how good General Song and Madam Song had been to him, he felt a pang of nostalgia...

If he were seeking help from the Song family right now, they certainly wouldn't be humiliating him like this!

"My daughter married you, so you should treat her well. Do you expect the Qin family to support you? If you don't have the ability, then you should get a divorce as soon as possible!"