Chapter 65: The Border

Chapter 65: The Frontier

Chen Yuhu had discussed this with him last night.

They were on the same page.

The Lin family had their advantages—though small in number, they had fewer complications. In contrast, larger aristocratic families often had a few scumbags who bullied men and dominated women, making it easy to grab them by their weak spots.

Chen Yuhu suggested that Lin Ji pay a visit to the Chen family, especially since her eldest brother was now in charge of the Censorate.

This matter was neither too significant nor too trivial, but it was necessary to let the Cheng family know that they were not to be bullied.

Chen Yuhu couldn't come off as the crazy one; the daughters of the Lin and Chen families still needed to marry. Therefore, it had to be the woman from the Cheng family who was the madwoman.

This trip had only two purposes.

First, to cut off the Cheng family’s densely spread roots—those officials who appeared to serve but were actually causing harm. These people might seem useful at times, even critically so.

Second, to ruin the Cheng family’s reputation so that their daughter could not become the Imperial Princess Consort.

Chen Yuhu leaned toward sending the other party to a temple.

After finishing his duties, Lin Ji went straight to the Chen family and headed to the study with his brother-in-law.

…

Chen Yuhu was busy rushing to the frontier, while things in the capital were also heating up.

Lin Qingjiao was managing the household alone for the first time. Even with the help of her sisters and experienced matrons, they were still being bullied.

The three sisters banded together, determined to fight against the household stewards to the end.

Before leaving, Chen Yuhu had pointed out a clear path for her three daughters but had also told the stewards, “Do not make any special concessions for them. Challenge them as needed.”

The stewards understood their mistress’s intentions and did not hold back, leaving the young ladies overwhelmed.

Not long after, a censor filed a harsh impeachment against the Cheng family, listing charges that were all true.

Chen Yuhu’s eldest brother stood leisurely at the front of the censors, acting as if the matter had nothing to do with him.

Lin Ji also maintained a cold expression, as if he were detached from the affair.

The emperor ignored the Cheng family officials’ excuses and calmly ordered an investigation. “If the allegations are true, handle it according to the law.”

This minor matter required allowing the aggrieved party to vent their anger.

After the court session, Lin Ji and Chen Yuhu’s brother exchanged a distant glance from their respective positions among the civil and military officials.

The emperor noticed this and remarked, “Civil and military officials really should not mix.”

A eunuch nearby smiled and said, “Aside from Marquis Lin and the Chen family, there have been no marriages between civil and military officials in recent years.”

“Even this marriage was only secured because Marquis Lin shamelessly begged Your Majesty for it.”

“Oh, right, that’s true.”

The emperor recalled how the Chen family had initially refused, no matter how Lin Ji had tried to insist.

In the end, Lin Ji had no choice but to seek the emperor’s help, and the emperor had played the villain to secure the match.

The Chen family had reluctantly accepted.

So, it was his own doing.

Just when it seemed the matter was resolved, rumors spread that the eldest son of the Li family, Li Jinyao, was disrespectful to his elders and had harmed his stepmother, causing her to miscarry.

People criticized the Cheng family for their despicable tactics while also questioning whether the rumors were true.

The Cheng family’s intention was clear: they claimed Chen Yuhu was using Marquis Lin’s influence to protect her nephew, while the Chen family was trying to cover up the incident, all at the expense of their daughter.

When Li Jinyao heard this, he sneered coldly.

He no longer placed himself on a scale waiting for others to choose. From the moment he left home injured, he was no longer the naive and innocent Li Jinyao.

He understood his grandmother’s concerns—she had her own children and grandchildren to care for, and his aunt had her own family.

The people they cared about were more important than him, and Li Jinyao had never held any expectations.

After all, the person who had once valued him most was long gone.

In the end, he could only rely on himself.

The Cheng family dared to say that the Chen family’s daughters were ill-bred? Li Jinyao struggled to control his anger.

Fine! How dare they! They were not just insulting the Chen family—they were insulting his mother and him.

Now, anyone who crossed paths with Li Jinyao would find themselves in trouble.

If the allegations were true, neither the law nor family rules would spare him.

Li Jinyao quickly submitted evidence and testimonies to the capital’s magistrate.

He accused his stepmother of embezzling his mother’s dowry, attempting to murder him, and causing harm to dozens of others.

The evidence was clear, and the indictment was well-organized.

The capital was once again shaken.

Lin Ji publicly declared, “The Cheng family produces wicked women. No wonder my wife said they are a den of vice.”

With this statement, the candidate for the Imperial Princess Consort was completely replaced.

The entire Chen family felt relieved and walked with a spring in their step.

Lin Ji directly invited Li Jinyao to stay at his residence, claiming he feared the young man might be harmed.

“No wonder this child fell ill as soon as he arrived in the capital. It seems it wasn’t so simple.”

Amid the chaos involving the Chen, Li, Cheng, and Lin families, only the Lin family were the clear victims, suffering unjustly.

Lin Ji did not believe that his capable mother-in-law was entirely unaware of the situation.

Before leaving, Chen Yuhu had warned him to be cautious of the Chen family’s schemes in the future.

Her brothers were steady and reliable, but her mother was sharp, ruthless, and unpredictable.

Too dangerous.

Lin Ji was in complete agreement and was very satisfied with his wife's attitude.

Chen Yuhu knew exactly where her loyalties lay and her allegiance remained with the Lin family. This attitude made Lin Ji very pleased.

His colleague’s wife often argued with him because she kept moving things back to her maiden home, almost emptying their residence.

He had no such worries.

Thinking of this, Lin Ji felt a sense of pride.

Not long after Li Jinyao sued his stepmother, Chen’s mother, who had rarely gone out, ventured out at a banquet and happened to meet the old lady of the Cheng family.

She immediately launched into a tirade, and the entire banquet turned into their personal battlefield between the two elderly women.

Amidst all this turmoil, Chen Yuhu had just arrived at the border town.

There was still some distance to the military garrison from there.

Chen Yuhu made a point of stopping to rest in the border town. Halfway through her journey, she had already learned that the child was alive. Since the child was alive, Chen Yuhu needed to maintain her dignity.

After traveling for so long, she couldn’t show up looking all disheveled when meeting the children.

When Qing Bai and Qing Zhuo heard that their mother had arrived, they went to the city gate early to wait for her. However, Chen Yuhu remained inside the carriage and did not let the children come close, as she had not bathed for several days.

Eventually, she found an inn, she booked the best room, and had the maids who accompanied her get everything arranged before she moved in from the carriage.

Passersby could tell from such meticulous arrangements that a person of high status had arrived.

It wasn’t that Chen Yuhu was putting on airs—it was just that in ancient times, lice were everywhere, and precautions were necessary.

After washing up properly, Chen Yuhu finally came out to meet her two children.

During this time, the two children had already settled the household guards who had accompanied her.

The hardships of the journey had truly tempered Chen Yuhu. When living a comfortable life, she would grow restless with boredom staying in the residence every day.

But after this journey and seeing so much, she came to truly understand ancient times. Chen Yuhu was truly grateful to Lin Ji.

She was grateful that he was a marquis.

She thanked heaven for giving her the life of a noblewoman rather than that of a peasant woman.

After this experience, Chen Yuhu became noticeably more serene.

Earlier, she had been riding a horse, which chafed her thighs raw. Chen Yuhu had limited experience with horseback riding and didn’t believe the literary works she had read. She thought that easily chafed thighs were because of their delicate skin of noblewomen in ancient times.

But that wasn't her.

Still, before setting out, she had asked her maid to sew extra layers inside her trousers as a precaution.

Even so, it didn't spare her the pain—it still hurt, really hurt.