Chapter 55

Seeing that the person had actually fainted—an old lady who was said to be the wife of the Imperial Tutor—it wouldn’t be good if something actually went wrong in their estate. Cheng Ruyi used her mental energy to probe Old Lady Lin’s condition, only to discover that the old woman was actually faking it.

And she was doing a very convincing job, too.

Cheng Ruyi said with a peculiar expression, “Mom, A-Mo, this old lady is faking it!”

Rong Susu’s lips curled. Under these circumstances, faking a faint was the best strategy for Old Lady Lin to preserve her dignity and avoid being ridiculed by two juniors. She just hadn’t expected to be seen through by her daughter.

“Ruyi, do you have a way to wake her up?” Rong Mo asked expressionlessly, ignoring the pleading look in Zhou He’s eyes. His voice was bone-chillingly cold.

Cheng Ruyi’s eyes darted around. She glanced at Old Lady Lin’s slightly twitching eyelids and suggested with a touch of mischief, “I do. Don’t we have that stinky water from washing the chickens and ducks in the kitchen? Tell them to bring a basin and splash it on her—she’ll wake right up!”

Rong Susu stifled a laugh as she watched her daughter speak with such feigned seriousness. She then noticed the chest of the “unconscious” old lady in Zhou He’s arms suddenly heave violently, and the eyelids on that old face flickered.

“That’s a good idea. Mo Lan, go tell the steward to bring a basin of stinking poultry water.” Rong Mo’s lips hooked upward. He cast a cold sneer at the still “unconscious” Old Lady Lin and gave the order to Mo Lan.

Mo Lan’s shoulders shook. The future son-in-law and the young miss were truly wicked. She responded and prepared to leave.

At this point, Old Lady Lin could no longer keep up the act. If she continued, she was going to be splashed with stinky water. She was forced to open her eyes, her gaze bloodshot as she glared at the two juniors. Her fury was immense, and her face was terrifyingly dark.

“Fine, fine! You two are truly something!”

Cheng Ruyi rolled her eyes, her words lethal enough to provoke a heart attack. “Old Lady, you don’t need to tell me; I know we’re great. But wow, you’re impressive—you’ve got that ‘fainting’ act down to an art!”

Now that Old Lady Lin was provoked, Cheng Ruyi sensed the same dark aura around her as the fake Consort. It seemed this old hag wasn’t a good person either.

Rong Mo looked at Old Lady Lin with mockery, as if watching a clown.

Having been ridiculed, Old Lady Lin’s face darkened further. She glared at Cheng Ruyi and barked sharply, “You uneducated, low-bred brat!”

Rong Susu’s face fell, and her brows sharpened with cold hostility. “Mind your words, Old Madam. I know best whether my daughter is educated or not. I don’t need an outsider like you running your mouth!”

“Good, good! You people are wonderful!”

Old Lady Lin’s gaze turned cold and murderous. She was used to a life of luxury and being pampered; even the high-ranking concubines in the palace showed her respect. She had never been mocked and rebutted like this.

Zhou He watched this scene with a pounding heart, terrified that the Old Madam might actually be driven to a health crisis. This Changle Marquis family was truly difficult to deal with.

Cheng Ruyi pouted impatiently. “Old Lady, is that the only phrase you know? Look at you, looking like you want to kill us. You claim to be here to recognize a relative—who would believe that?”

Rong Susu watched coldly. Old Lady Lin had put on a touching show earlier, but the moment Rong Mo arrived, the flavor of this “reunion” had changed. Perhaps Rong Mo’s suspicion was correct; the Lin family was indeed involved. After all, Rong Mo was her biological grandson, wasn’t he? It was just strange why the Old Lady’s attitude was so bizarre.

“Ruyi, you’re mistaken. She is here for a reunion—she just wants me to recognize that murderous impostor in the Prince Rong Estate as my mother.”

“Absolute wishful thinking!”

Rong Mo had no intention of entangling further with the Lins, so he simply laid the truth bare.

“A-Mo, why did you reveal the truth so quickly? I wanted to keep watching the show!” Cheng Ruyi said, a bit displeased.

Rong Mo raised an eyebrow and said meaningfully, “Shows come one after another. No need to worry about having nothing to watch. I think this Old Madam is very willing to perform for us.”

Rong Susu burst into laughter. “…” These two kids were truly formidable in combat!

Old Lady Lin’s face turned pitch black, then shifted between blue and white. She looked at Rong Mo with intense resentment. So this “abomination” had known his true background all along? Then her previous actions… weren’t they just a joke for them to watch?

Old Lady Lin’s eyes shot toward Rong Mo like poisoned arrows. She pointed a trembling finger at him and cursed furiously, “Rong Mo, you unfilial son! To be so rebellious as to slander your own mother!”

“A-Mo’s mother has been gone for a long time. If you don’t want people to know, don’t do it in the first place. Old Lady, you and your eldest daughter—the fake Consort—played a grand game of ‘swapping the plum for the peach’ and deceived the world for twenty years. Do you feel a great sense of accomplishment?”

The protective Cheng Ruyi was enraged. This old hag really had some nerve. Even now, she refused to admit it.

At these words, Old Lady Lin and Zhou He’s hearts skipped a beat in terror.

“Daughter, you’re wrong,” Rong Susu sneered. “I don’t think they feel accomplished; I think they’re just incredibly bold. To brazenly use a notorious, ‘unclean’ woman to impersonate a Consort… the Lin family’s good days are over.”

“The fake Consort sent people to massacre the Rong family. Just like this Old Lady, she clearly knew of A-Mo’s existence but pretended not to. Now that the fake is in trouble and can’t save herself, she wants to use A-Mo to get back on top. To think there are such thick-skinned people in this world; I’ve truly had my eyes opened today.”

Cheng Ruyi unleashed her venomous tongue, looking at Old Lady Lin with disdain and a cold sneer.

“Nonsense! Absolute nonsense!” Old Lady Lin barked back in desperation. Listening to them go back and forth, she felt as if her secrets were being peeled away layer by layer, sending a shiver down her spine. How much did they actually know? Perhaps coming here today was a mistake. But of course, she couldn’t admit to it now.

“A-Mo, there’s one thing I find very strange,” Cheng Ruyi ignored the frantic Old Lady and asked curiously. “Isn’t Chu Ran the son of that fake? He was already stripped of his title by Prince Rong. Could recognizing you really help that fake make a comeback? Aren’t they afraid Prince Rong would vent his anger on you too?”

“Maybe that Chu Ran is an impostor as well!” Rong Mo sneered, tossing out a random guess.

At those words, Old Lady Lin’s pupils shrunk, and a flash of pure dread crossed her eyes.

Cheng Ruyi, who had been secretly observing her every expression, caught it and couldn’t help but gasp. That Chu Ran really is a fake… This Lin family was simply audacious beyond belief, flirting with death.

“Looking at the Old Lady’s reaction, maybe Chu Ran really is an impostor. A-Mo, do you think we should ask Dad to remind Prince Rong to investigate?” Cheng Ruyi’s eyes darted about, speaking with a clear intent to stir up trouble.

Everyone’s expression changed. Rong Susu looked at Old Lady Lin in shock and took a step back. Heavens, the Consort was a fake, and even the son was an impostor? This Lin family… this Lin family…

“You wretched girl, stop your malicious lies!” Old Lady Lin shouted in fear, staring at Cheng Ruyi with an eerie gloom. It was this girl again; a flash of murderous intent passed through her eyes.

“Old Madam, why such a big reaction? I’m just suggesting the Prince look into it. The truth can’t be hidden, and a lie won’t hold up. Acting like this makes me think you have a guilty conscience…”

Cheng Ruyi grinned at Old Lady Lin while inwardly scoffing. This woman had directed murderous intent toward her several times—did she really think she was a pushover? This Chu Ran definitely had a problem. Poor Prince Rong, his hat was so green it was practically glowing. Oh, wait—he’d been raising someone else’s son for eighteen years. Tsk tsk.

Rong Mo watched coldly. Based on Old Lady Lin’s reaction, Chu Ran’s background was indeed fishy. His impression of the Lin family had hit rock bottom.

“Enough! The Lin family’s reputation is not to be defiled! You… just you wait! Zhou He, we’re leaving!”

Having lost all face and with her long-hidden secrets exposed, Old Lady Lin could stay no longer. She dropped a hollow threat and fled the Changle Marquis estate as fast as she could.

The three of them watched the master and servant retreat in disgrace. This time, Cheng Ruyi didn’t trip her on purpose; the revelations today were enough to keep the old hag trembling for days.

Mo Lan, who had witnessed it all, was stunned. She hadn’t expected the future son-in-law’s background to be so complex.

“Mom, should we go public with A-Mo’s identity?” Cheng Ruyi asked after taking a sip of tea to wet her throat, clearly still energized.

Before Rong Susu could answer, Rong Mo shook his head. “There’s no need.” Now was not the time. Even when the truth eventually came out and the Lins were held accountable, an internal royal scandal of this magnitude shouldn’t be broadcasted.

“What if that old hag spreads rumors to link you with that fake?” Cheng Ruyi was concerned; she had noticed the terrifying look Old Lady Lin gave her and A-Mo before leaving.

Rong Mo narrowed his eyes. His fiancée’s concern was valid; Old Lady Lin was clearly a woman of no scruples. “I’ll send a letter to Old Master Lin.”

Cheng Ruyi looked at him in surprise. “A-Mo, maybe that Old Master is just like her. Why bother?”

“It’s just a probe. Let’s see his attitude first.” Rong Mo’s eyes were dark and unreadable. Old Master Lin was the Imperial Tutor for two reigns, a man of high status and great repute. Rong Mo didn’t believe he was entirely in the dark. He just didn’t know what role the man played in all this.

Meanwhile, as soon as Old Lady Lin returned to the Lin manor, she was immediately placed under house arrest by Old Master Lin. After confining her, he returned to his study and pulled out a letter. Looking at the powerful, flowing calligraphy, he felt a mixture of shock and fury, which finally dissolved into a long sigh.

After a long silence, a sharp glint flickered in his cloudy eyes. He tapped the desk three times, and a dark shadow appeared before him.

“Conduct a thorough investigation into Chu Ran’s background.”

He hoped things hadn’t reached a point where they were beyond redemption.

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