Chapter 123: Porridge and Tears

Chapter 123: Porridge and Tears

Lin Ji's expression shifted, shedding the subservience he had shown before Chen Yuhu, and he snapped angrily at An Zhi.

"Who let you in?"

An Zhi was startled by Lin Ji's fury and froze instantly.

Chen Yuhu, now enraged and even more displeased, shouted at Lin Ji, "Why are you yelling at her?"

"If her manners are lacking, does that mean I failed to teach her properly?"

After being in this era for so long, this was the first time Chen Yuhu had been this angry. Her movements were so forceful that her hairpin came loose.

She straightened the hairpin and said to An Zhi, "Good child, don’t be afraid. Go wait outside for now. I’ll call you later."

An Zhi glanced timidly at Chen Yuhu, then turned to Lin Ji with a resolute look in her eyes.

Her first thought after leaving was to get her brothers to come back.

Once the child was gone, Chen Yuhu turned around and continued arguing with Lin Ji.

"What gives you the right to yell at An Zhi? Do you have the nerve to tell her, right to her face, what kind of marriage you’ve arranged for her?"

"Say something!"

Lin Ji, furious and embarrassed, shot back, "Look at yourself now. Do you still resemble a lady from a respectable family?"

Chen Yuhu grew even angrier. "Then what do I look like to you? Do I look human? I think you’re the one who’s acting inhuman."

"Look me in the eyes and say it again—what kind of family did you find for An Zhi?"

Lin Ji averted his gaze once more.

Chen Yuhu slumped into her seat, defeated. "Is there really no way to change it?"

Lin Ji rubbed his nose. "The Emperor himself acted as the matchmaker."

"Some scoundrel praised our An Zhi in front of the Emperor, saying she’s the most filial, obedient, and would make a perfect wife."

"Didn’t you meet Lady Fang when you took An Zhi to the banquet?"

Chen Yuhu replied weakly, "I’ve met many ladies. How would I know which one was so unscrupulous?"

Her resistance was evident, and Lin Ji didn’t press further.

"You just agreed, just like that? Couldn’t you have stalled for a few days, even if you had to make excuses?"

Lin Ji remained silent. The Fang family! What a rare match this was.

By claiming he was forced into it, he could still save face.

Chen Yuhu saw right through Lin Ji’s thoughts.

If he truly hadn’t wanted it, he wouldn’t have agreed so readily.

Chen Yuhu gave a cold laugh, stood up, and pointed at Lin Ji. If she didn’t vent her anger today, she feared she would die of rage.

"You despicable man, selling your daughter for glory, and you still have the nerve to criticize others."

"What did you say?"

"I'm talking about you!"

...

The argument ended badly, with Lin Ji's face and neck all scratched up by Chen Yuhu.

But Chen Yuhu was still fuming. She didn't know how to tell An Zhi.

She had always imagined marrying a gentle girl like An Zhi into a gentle family.

Even if they were a bit passive, they could still rely on the influence of the Marquis's household and wouldn't dare to bully An Zhi.

But just who *was* this Fang Qiannan?

A widowed military officer pushing thirty.

She figured he was probably a few years younger than Chen Yuhu.

At least she could be thankful he wasn't *older* than her; otherwise, if he called her "mother-in-law," she wouldn't know what to do with herself.

The children came trooping back, but none of them saw Chen Yuhu.

Chen Yuhu was thin-skinned. Just thinking about having to tell the children about this made her ears turn red. It also seriously undermined her authority as their mother.

So, that evening, the Yilan Courtyard sent for the house doctor.

She was "sick."

Lin Ji came to the Yilan Courtyard and went on and on by her bedside.

Chen Yuhu tuned him out completely.

She only said one thing: "Go tell the kids yourself."

Tell them he would. Lin Ji truly didn't care.

So, with his neck all scratched up, he went to tell the children about the matter.

Into the silence, Lin Ji left.

Everyone understood—their father had made up his mind.

Chen Yuhu lay on the couch, a headband wrapped around her forehead.

An Zhi sat in front of Chen Yuhu's couch. Chen Yuhu held An Zhi's hand and said, "It would be better if you just shaved your head and became a nun—at least you'd still be by my side."

With those words, An Zhi, who had initially felt indifferent, suddenly burst into tears.

Chen Yuhu, thinking of a long-bearded, ugly old man taking away the young girl before her, couldn't hold back her own tears, which fell like rain.

The other children sat silently around them.

Behind Yiniang Hua, a maid entered carrying a meal tray.

Chen Yuhu hadn't eaten dinner that evening.

This was the scene Yiniang Hua walked in on.

Jealous? Hardly.

Seeing the scratch marks on the Marquis’s neck, she knew Mrs. Lin had tried her best.

None of them could sway the Marquis’s decision.

Yiniang Hua brought over a bowl of century egg congee, sat by the couch, and interrupted the mother and daughter’s tearful gazing while holding hands.

“Mrs. Lin, eat something. You need your strength to deal with things.”

“Don’t refuse food out of anger.”

Chen Yuhu suddenly said, “It’s my fault. I’ve let you two follow me around aimlessly all day—I should have encouraged you to curry more favor with him…”

For the first time, Yiniang Hua interrupted her.

“Mrs. Lin.”

“Mrs. Lin, that’s the Marquis.”

Chen Yuhu leaned back on the couch, wishing Lin Ji were the type to lose his head over beauty. His cold, clear-headedness just made it worse.

She refused the spoon Yiniang Hua offered; she was too upset to eat.

The thought of some scruffy old codger calling her mother-in-law made her sick to her stomach.

Wouldn’t she become the laughingstock of social circles?

An Zhi was the one who took the bowl from Yiniang Hua and stirred it with the spoon.

“Mother, don’t you trust me?”

Chen Yuhu looked up at An Zhi.

“You should believe in me—I am your daughter.”

“They say General Fang was deeply devoted to his late wife, yet they only had one daughter. Mother, it won't be a problem.”

“I’ll learn from your example and live well for myself.”

A bowl of porridge, mixed with the tears of three women.

From then on, Chen Yuhu stopped socializing and instead began digging for information on the Fang family.

Chen Yuhu lashed out fiercely, and years later, Marquis Lin once again attended court with visible injuries.

It sparked discussion.

The Emperor privately teased him, saying he deserved it for making such a decision without consulting his wife.

It was a jest—after all, it was still customary for men to have the final say.

Fortunately, the Fang family had no sons, so An Zhi wouldn’t suffer too much.

Everyone knew of Mrs. Lin’s dissatisfaction with the match.

Over this, Fang Qiannan even went to the palace once, explaining that the marriage was his mother’s idea and that if the Marquis’s household objected, the Fang family wouldn’t insist.

The Emperor gave General Fang a cold look. His wife had passed away four years ago, and he hadn’t remarried since.

The Emperor genuinely cared for him—didn't His Majesty realize this match was unsuitable?

Mrs. Lin’s “sudden illness” was clearly a protest.

His visit to the palace backfired; the Emperor issued an edict ordering them to marry quickly.

Chen Yuhu was beside herself.

That old fool dared to look down on her beautiful daughter?

The Fang family, bound by the decree, didn’t dare delay and sent envoys to the Lin residence. Chen Yuhu remained aloof, unwilling to engage.

In the end, Lin Qingbai intervened, saying, “Mother, you must at least save face for Second Sister.”

Reluctantly, she knew he was right.

As it was an imperial marriage, many formalities were simplified.

Earlier, the Fang family had sent their steward, but this time, General Fang himself came with a wild goose as a betrothal gift.

It was the formal proposal.

Chen Yuhu had no choice but to appear.

She stood stiffly beside Lin Ji, expressionless.

Neither side spoke.

Normally, Fang Qiannan might have called them “elder brother” and “sister-in-law.”

But now, awkwardness hung in the air. Fang Qiannan could only bow and say, “Marquis Lin, Mrs. Lin.”