Chapter Sixty-Six: Just You?

“You! You’ve already taken everything you wanted. Now, all I ask is to have my mother’s belongings back—can’t I even have that?” Zhao Lan’er’s eyes were bloodshot with anger.

Lin Sangqian hadn’t managed to stop her before she lunged at Xue Meier, as if determined to go down with her.

“Lan’er, calm down!” Lin Sangqian called anxiously, hurrying after her. She’s still just a young girl—why is she so hot-tempered?

“What do you want?” Xue Meier shrank back a few steps, her face twisted with indignation. “Let me tell you, I’m carrying your father’s child now. If you dare touch me…”

But Zhao Lan’er couldn’t care less. Luckily, Lin Sangqian caught up in time to pull her back forcefully.

“This won’t do you any good,” Lin Sangqian whispered into her ear. “Let me handle this.”

She pulled Zhao Lan’er behind her, turned to Xue Meier, and sneered, “So, you’re… what? A concubine? Or perhaps a second wife?”

“What did you say? I am Madam Zhao!” Xue Meier snapped.

“Oh, really? But when Mr. Zhao brought you into the house, you were just a concubine. Even though Zhao Lan’er’s mother has passed, there are rules here. When a wife dies, her husband may not remarry within three months. So, no matter what, during these three months, you are only—a concubine.”

Lin Sangqian deliberately emphasized the word “concubine.”

Xue Meier’s face turned ashen, but she had no retort.

“Now, Lan’er wants to retrieve her mother’s belongings. This is filial piety,” Lin Sangqian said coldly. “Are you going to stand in the way of her fulfilling her duty as a daughter?”

She knew that in the old days, nothing was valued more than filial piety.

“If you persist, I’ll take Lan’er straight to the magistrate.”

At the mention of the authorities, Xue Meier’s eyes flickered. Madam Gao hurried over and whispered, “Madam, it’s only a few items—give them to her. Don’t make trouble.”

Lin Sangqian narrowed her eyes as she glanced at the two women.

“Fine,” Xue Meier feigned magnanimity. “It’s just some clothes and jewelry. Take them. What’s the big deal?”

Zhao Lan’er shot her a fierce glare and strode into the house.

Most of her mother’s clothes had been placed in the coffin, with only two or three pieces left as keepsakes, along with a few pieces of jewelry.

After a while, Zhao Lan’er emerged with a small bundle, but her brows were knitted in a deep frown.

“Where is my mother’s jade bangle?” she asked Xue Meier.

“What jade bangle? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Give it back! That was my grandmother’s keepsake for my mother!” Zhao Lan’er yelled, startling Xue Meier.

“Why are you shouting? If you didn’t take care of your mother’s things, don’t blame me!”

“Did you take it?” Zhao Lan’er fixed her with a piercing stare.

“No! Why accuse me?”

“Lan’er, don’t waste your breath on her,” Lin Sangqian said evenly. “Let’s go to the magistrate.”

Xue Meier shot Lin Sangqian a vicious look. Where did this wretched girl come from, always threatening to go to the authorities? Did she really think she wouldn’t dare make a scene at the yamen?

“If you don’t want to go to the authorities, there’s another way,” Lin Sangqian continued, watching her closely. “Let us search your things. If we don’t find it, we’ll let it go.”

“Why should I let you search?” Xue Meier’s voice quavered with unease.

Lin Wenyan stepped forward. “If you’re innocent, what have you to fear?”

“So, Zhao Lan’er, you came here today just to make a scene, didn’t you?” Xue Meier protested.

At that moment, the courtyard gate opened and two men walked in.

“Husband! Brother!” Xue Meier immediately burst into tears, running to one of them and throwing herself into his arms. “Husband, look at Lan’er. I tried so hard to be kind to her, but she brought these two brats here to bully me!”

Zhao Xuwei turned a displeased gaze on Zhao Lan’er. “What is the meaning of this? Your new mother is pregnant with your little brother. Even if you’re upset, you shouldn’t behave like this!”

“She is not my mother!” Zhao Lan’er screamed, her voice raw. “My mother is dead!”

Lin Sangqian watched with a heavy heart. Zhao Lan’er had been gone all night, but her father hadn’t shown a shred of concern—he hadn’t even asked after her, just scolded her without a second thought.

“You really are an unruly child!” Zhao Xuwei glared at Lin Sangqian and Lin Wenyan. “Enough of this. Send your guests away and go back to your room at once!”

“I will not stay in this house any longer.” Zhao Lan’er wiped her face. “I only came today to take my mother’s belongings. But her jade bangle is missing—it must have been taken by Xue Meier!”

“It’s only a bangle. Why make such a fuss?”

“That bangle was my grandmother’s keepsake—don’t you know that?” Zhao Lan’er looked at her father, her eyes full of disappointment.

Once, her father had been the person she trusted and admired most.

But now, how had he become like this?

Perhaps he had always been this way, and she and her mother had simply failed to see it before.

“I don’t know anything about a bangle. If you don’t want to stay, then get out!” Zhao Xuwei snapped impatiently. “Meier needs to rest. I won’t have you causing trouble!”

Zhao Lan’er was at a loss and turned helplessly to Lin Sangqian.

“Hey, you brat! Didn’t you hear what my brother-in-law said?” the other man beside Zhao Xuwei barked. “Take your two little bastards and get out!”

“Who are you calling bastards?” Lin Wenyan’s anger flared.

“I mean you! What, you want to hit me? Go on, try it!” The man rolled up his sleeves, glaring provocatively, his mouth foul and insulting. “Well-bred children don’t make scenes in other people’s homes. You must be bastards, no parents, probably grew up in some garbage heap…”

Lin Sangqian’s heart sank.

As the eldest brother, Lin Wenyan was usually steady, but when it came to family, he lost all composure.

After all, he was only fifteen.

Predictably, as soon as he heard those words, Lin Wenyan lunged at the man with fists raised.

But the man was an adult; Lin Wenyan was no match. In a few moves, he was thrown to the ground.

“You little wretch, you dare lay a hand on me? I’ll teach you a lesson on your father’s behalf!”

“Don’t hit him!” Zhao Lan’er cried, tears streaming down her face. Lin Sangqian’s face went pale with distress.

Surely, it was time—they should be here by now!

At that moment, a figure burst into the room, swiftly kicking the man aside.

“You? You think you have the right to stand in for me?”