She was buried alive at the start, but she's determined to smash her ex-husband's head in

Lin Qingwei had no reason to lie to her, to fabricate a lie so that she could direct her suspicions toward Aunt Liu and Lin Shuhui.

No matter how you look at it, both of them have problems.

Everything was exactly as Lin Qingwei had predicted. Perhaps returning to her hometown to visit relatives was just an excuse for Lin Shuhui, and her real purpose was to use it to kill Miss Lin.

Miss Lin died on the estate, and no one would investigate further, much less suspect her, a timid and cautious concubine's daughter with an alibi.

Lin Qingwei had her suspicions from the moment Lin Shuhui asked her to recommend her to Lin Zhengwen for entry into the palace.

Lin Shuhui did all this in order to be able to enter the palace as a companion to the emperor. Perhaps she even had a plan to prevent Lin Xiuyao from entering the palace, so that Lin Zhengwen had no choice but to push her forward.

But to her surprise, Lin Qingwei returned to the Lin residence unharmed.

Lin Qingwei's only worry now is whether Lin Shuhui has met the real Miss Lin.

Feeling completely betrayed, Ye was so angry that her eyes turned red: "How dare they lay a hand on you! I have never mistreated them! Why did they do this!"

Madam Ye wasn't actually sorry for Lin Qingwei; she just felt that Aunt Liu and Lin Shuhui were utterly heartless and vicious! To harm her child! What did this mean? It meant they were provoking her! They were dissatisfied with her!

"The problem is not scarcity but inequality. Third Sister's ambitions are much higher than we thought."

The words Lin Shuhui said when she came to beg Lin Qingwei were not entirely false. If a concubine's daughter like her didn't consider her own interests, no one in the Lin family would care about her.

She was no less beautiful or learned than Lin Xiuyao, and even a bit smarter. So why was one a beloved darling while the other was just an invisible decoration?

Lin Shuhui was unwilling to accept her fate, so she was determined to climb higher and would stop at nothing to get everything she wanted. She had the courage, determination, and brains to back her up, and Lin Qingwei admired her.

But why would Miss Lin pave the way for her future? Just because she's an abandoned daughter?

"She's arrogant? Ha!" Madam Ye laughed angrily. "How arrogant can a concubine's daughter be? Why didn't she appear in her aunt's dream before she was born and tell her not to become someone else's concubine?"

Ye's anger was understandable, but Lin Qingwei did not want to sympathize with anyone who had hurt her or Miss Lin, so she interrupted her.

"So Mother punished Aunt Liu?"

"No way?!" Ye raised her voice.

“Yes, but not very clever.” Lin Qingwei was not polite at all. “Third sister has already gotten what she wanted. With her abilities, she will one day climb to a height that you and I can’t even imagine. What’s the use of Mother getting angry now? Those who get angry are always the losers.”

Madam Ye's face turned green. Lin Qingwei was absolutely right, but what could she do? Now she couldn't even vent her anger on herself? Who could she take her anger out on in the Lin family now?

"What should we do? We can't just stand by and watch those two little bitches climb all over us!"

Lin Qingwei said calmly, "Of course not. What kind of punishment is it for Mother to give Aunt Liu such a light one? You two have been mistress and servant for so many years, and you used to have such a good relationship. How can you punish her for such a small mistake? Mother should give Aunt Liu some nice things to comfort her."

Now that I'm engaged, my second sister has nothing to worry about. Since my third sister is concerned that Mother isn't taking her marriage seriously, why don't Mother spend the next couple of days choosing a husband for her? That would put Aunt Liu at ease, wouldn't it?"

The more she wanted something, the more Lin Qingwei wanted to destroy it.

How ruthless can a person be to kill another for their own selfish reasons? Lin Qingwei will never forgive Lin Shuhui, nor will the wrongfully deceased Miss Lin.

The more Ye listened, the happier she became, clapping her hands excitedly: "Great idea! Shuhui has come of age, and I've neglected her before. Now we really should pay more attention and find her a good marriage!"

Lin Qingwei instructed, "It must be a truly good marriage, one that Father cannot find fault with, and that Aunt Liu and Lin Shuhui cannot find an excuse to refuse."

"Got it! I'll take care of it right away!"

When Madam Ye left Qinghui Hall, she was beaming with joy. Many people thought that Madam Ye was overjoyed because Lin Qingwei was too ill.

The Ye family was indeed efficient; within three to five days, they found someone who was very suitable for Lin Shuhui.

At first, Lin Zhengwen thought that Ye Shi was deliberately trying to punish Lin Shuhui, and he was very worried. However, he dared not say anything because of the fact that he had been bewitched by Liu Yiniang when Ye Shi was pregnant.

As it turned out, the person she found was indeed quite good.

Although his family background isn't particularly good, he is indeed a humble, polite, kind, and upright young man. The two of them are also very compatible in terms of their birth charts, and there's not a single flaw to criticize. He even passed the imperial examination this year, so his future is limitless!

Upon meeting the person, Lin Zhengwen praised her repeatedly with great satisfaction, and felt even more guilty towards Madam Ye.

"I'm afraid Hui'er won't like it." Madam Ye sighed deliberately. "I haven't seen Aunt Liu use the things I sent her the other day. She's probably blaming me."

Lin Zhengwen comforted her, "No, they will definitely remember all the good things you have done for them over the years. Shuhui has always been the most worry-free child in the manor. How could she not like a good marriage arranged by her parents and a matchmaker? Don't worry."

Ye leaned against Lin Zhengwen's chest: "I'm relieved to hear you say that, sir. Why don't we arrange for the two children to meet tomorrow and settle things as soon as possible?"

"Alright, I'll leave this matter to you, Madam. Thank you for your hard work."

Soon after, the news of Lin Shuhui's engagement spread throughout the Lin family. The servants didn't know why the madam was so happy. In order to please Madam Ye, the others were also beaming with joy, and they congratulated Aunt Liu and Lin Shuhui whenever they saw them.

Aunt Liu was alright; after inquiring about the other party's background, she felt it was already quite good. Only Lin Shuhui had a dark face and clenched her fists, wishing she could strangle the meddlesome Ye Shi.

"The palace has very strict rules, and I've heard that many people die there every day," Aunt Liu advised.

"You used to worry that your wife wouldn't like you and wouldn't put in any effort for you, so you had to prove yourself. But now things are different. This young master Liu is handsome, virtuous, and has passed the imperial examination. If you marry him, you might become Lady Shangguan in ten or twenty years!"

The timidity that had been so cautious vanished from Lin Shuhui's face. She sneered, "Ten or twenty years? Maybe? Why should I wait, while Lin Qingwei and Lin Xiuyao become the Crown Prince's consorts or principal wives the moment they marry? Aren't we all Father's daughters?"

She's no less capable than Lin Qingwei and Lin Xiuyao, is she? Why does she always have to be inferior to them? She refuses to marry a poor, pedantic scholar!