The legitimate daughter returns, and everyone in the Marquis's mansion regrets and begs for for

Chen suddenly changed her mind, "No, we can't be so hasty. I need to think about this carefully. You should go back first."

"Alright, I'll take my leave now."

As Su Muya stepped out of the inner courtyard, she overheard maids gossiping about Chen's sister-in-law.

"Have you heard? I heard the Lin family wants to break off the engagement."

"I've heard about it too. I initially thought it was a rumor, but now it seems to be pretty much true."

"What are we going to do! The Lin family wants to break off the engagement, what will happen to our Yao'er?"

Su Muya was completely confused. What did they mean by breaking off the engagement? What about the Lin family?

Lotus, Chen's head maid, ran out and scolded the gossiping maids, "What nonsense are you spouting? The Lin family is related to the imperial family. How dare you spread rumors about the Lin family breaking off the engagement? Who gave you the audacity and the right?"

The maid was so frightened that she knelt on the ground and kowtowed, admitting her mistake, "This servant was wrong, please spare my life, Madam."

Su Muya waved her hand, signaling Lianhua to lead the people away.

Madam Chen walked in and asked, "What's the rumor going on outside?"

Su Muya pulled Chen Shi down to sit and whispered, "Guess what rumors are circulating outside? Some people say that our Yao'er caused Lord Lin's death, and the Lin family dislikes Yao'er for being unlucky and wants to break off the engagement. Is this true?"

Madam Chen shook her head. "I do believe that Lord Lin is not the kind of irresponsible person. Someone must be maliciously slandering Yao-jie. As for saying that Yao-jie killed Lord Lin, that's pure nonsense. I think someone is jealous of Yao-jie's good marriage and deliberately spreads rumors to ruin her reputation and make her annoying."

Su Muya said, "I think so too. Yao'er is a good girl, she wouldn't do something so foolish as to cause her husband's death."

Madam Chen laughed, "Yao'er is indeed not stupid, but she has terrible taste. Look at the two future grandsons-in-law she has chosen, one more unreliable than the other. One is sickly, and the other is not even as good as the Third Young Master."

"The third young master is an illegitimate son, so his status is awkward; the fourth young master is a stepson, so he doesn't need to rely on his maternal family. As for the fourth madam, you know her; she's a clueless person and is just a figurehead."

Su Muya nodded. "In my memory, Fourth Madam was the gentlest of all. She never said a harsh word to Fourth Young Master."

Madam Chen said, "Don't be fooled by Fourth Madam's seemingly gentle appearance; she's actually quite strong-willed. Not only does she forbid Fourth Young Master from taking concubines or keeping mistresses, but she also keeps the concubines in the house completely under her control. Her sons all take after her; they're all very opinionated."

"That's good too, it saves me from being controlled by my mother-in-law."

Madam Chen sighed softly and said, "It's a pity. If Silang were the eldest son, I wouldn't have to worry about him being bullied by his stepmother."

"Mother, you're worried that if Fourth Uncle marries another wife, and the new wife is more capable than Fourth Aunt, Fourth Uncle will suffer."

Madam Chen nodded. "Although I am the legal mother, I am getting old. Sometimes I am not strong enough. Therefore, we must be careful about the important matter of Silang's marriage."

Su Muya hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Mother, does Fourth Uncle really not plan to remarry?"

Mrs. Chen glanced at her, then shook her head and said, "I can't say for sure. If he wanted to remarry, I would definitely agree. It's a pity he's unwilling, saying he doesn't want to waste his wife's youth. I think the reason he doesn't want to marry is because he feels he can't give his wife a sense of security." After a pause, she added, "He likes homosexuals."

Su Muya was shocked. "Mother, are you sure about this?"

“I heard him say it with my own ears.”

Su Muya opened her mouth but couldn't say a word.

Mrs. Chen said with a smile, "Let him do whatever he likes. He's still young, and he can find any kind of girl he wants in the future. There's no need to force him to marry a wife who has been through thick and thin with him."

Su Muya nodded, agreeing with Chen's point of view. She only hoped that Lin Dalang wouldn't remarry. Otherwise, Yao'er would be forced to live a life of widowhood.

Suddenly remembering their earlier conversation, Madam Chen asked Su Muya, "I heard some maids were talking about you behind your back? They usually don't respect you, but this time they've all changed their tune and are being very respectful. Could something have happened?"

Su Muya frowned slightly and said, "Mother, I heard that someone is spreading rumors that I killed Lord Lin, and that Lord Lin is unlucky and they want to break off the engagement."

Madam Chen's face darkened instantly, and she snorted coldly, "Where did this mad dog come from? Yao'er and Lord Lin are sworn siblings who are in love with each other. They got married with their parents' consent, and Lord Lin was the son-in-law they personally chose. Their wedding date has been set for the sixth day of the third month next year. I don't know who spread these messy rumors; they're just nonsense."

Su Muya's tense nerves relaxed. "So these rumors were false. I knew it. No wonder I'm not destined to be with Young Master Lin."

Madam Chen patted Su Muya's head and said, "Silly girl, it's already a blessing for you that Young Master Lin, from such a noble family, is willing to marry you."

Chen patted Su Muya on the shoulder and instructed her, "You are not allowed to tell your aunt about this. Her temper has become increasingly strange lately, and I think she is psychologically twisted."

Su Muya nodded in agreement without hesitation.

************

When Sister-in-law Su returned to the room, she asked the maid, "Have you heard any news today?"

The maid shook her head and said, "The old lady and the madam don't get along. I didn't hear what the old lady said."

"Oh."

Sister-in-law Su pondered the conversation, and the more she thought about it, the more something seemed amiss. Could it be that her fourth sister-in-law really had caused Lord Lin's death, which was why she was in such a hurry to break off the engagement with the Lin family?

Thinking of this, Sister-in-law Su's heart pounded. No, she absolutely couldn't let the Lin family break off the engagement. The Lin family was a wealthy and powerful family; if Yao-jie married into their family, she would have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of her life. If the engagement was broken off, Yao-jie's future would be miserable.

However, she couldn't tell her mother-in-law this; she could only tell Yao'er secretly when the child turned one year old. She would then say that Yao'er was unlucky, having lost her father early and now being without a fiancé. Yao'er would surely be heartbroken, and at that moment, her own mother could seize the opportunity to win Yao'er's heart and get her to help her son.

Thinking of Yao Jie'er's appearance, Sister-in-law Su couldn't help but smile.

After dinner, Sister-in-law Su called Yao to her side and told her about this gossip so that she would be aware of it and not be caught off guard.

Upon hearing Su Dasao's words, Yao'er's face turned pale, and she said in a trembling voice, "Mother, is what you're saying true? Lord Lin is really dead?"

Sister-in-law Su nodded and said, "I secretly asked the old woman in the kitchen, and I heard that Lord Lin offended the Emperor."

Yao Jie left Sister Su's courtyard in a daze and returned to the west wing.

As soon as she left, Sister-in-law Su sent someone to call for the third daughter-in-law of the Su family.