“Sister, you’re so careless! But next time you deliver food, can you bring me a share too? I want some soup as well!”

Lin Yuxin walked up, grabbed Lin Qianqian’s hand, and patted it as she spoke.

“If my little sister likes it, I’ll bring you some next time.”

Lin Qianqian glanced at her with disdain. Hmph! Just a countryside girl. Has she never had chicken soup before? And now she’s even fighting to get some?

“Hmm, as long as you have the heart, I’m very pleased. Go on now!”

Zhao Hanya’s tone softened as she spoke.

“Then I take my leave, Mother.”

After Lin Qianqian left, Lin Yuxin watched her departing figure and secretly laughed in her heart.

[This two-faced snake stayed quiet for a few days, and now she’s back, poisoning people again? You like playing with poison, huh? Just wait for tonight—you’ll get a taste of your own medicine.]

Zhao Hanya looked at her daughter in confusion. It seemed like Yuxin had done something.

A smile tugged at her lips—being protected by her daughter felt wonderful.

..

That night, in Lin Qianqian’s Cuì Yù Pavilion…

After her bath, Lin Qianqian started feeling an unbearable itch all over her body.

She scratched and scratched, but nothing relieved the itching.

By the time she stopped, her whole body was covered in bloody scratch marks.

Even the doctor was called, but no treatment worked.

The next morning…

“Aahhh—!”

A piercing scream echoed from Cuì Yù Pavilion, loud enough that Lin Yuxin heard it all the way from Tīng Yu Pavilion.

“Serves her right!”

Lin Yuxin chuckled.

Meanwhile, Zhao Hanya began investigating the poisoning incident.

Since they had already made a move, she wouldn’t just sit back and do nothing.

“Mo Yu!”

“Miss!”

A shadowy figure suddenly appeared in the room, standing before Zhao Hanya with a respectful posture.

“I have something for you to investigate.”

Zhao Hanya said softly, looking at Mo Yu.

“Yes!”

With that, the figure disappeared as quickly as it had arrived.

Her father had assigned this secret guard to her when she got married, saying that one day, she would need him.

She never expected that the first time she’d use him—after more than ten years—would be to investigate her own husband.

Zhao Hanya let out a mocking smile.

..

A couple of days passed.

Lin Yuxin had been staying home, practicing her etiquette, but she was getting restless.

Finally, she ran to her mother and asked to go out for a stroll.

Zhao Hanya simply reminded her to be careful and let her go.

….

Lin Yuxin left the house in high spirits.

“Come on, Xiao Die, let’s go to the next shop!”

It was her first time going out alone, and she was in a great mood. She tugged at her maid, leading her forward.

Just then, a ragged little beggar ran straight into Lin Yuxin’s arms, nearly knocking her over.

“Miss, be careful!”

Xiao Die gasped and hurried to steady her mistress.

By the time Lin Yuxin regained her balance and looked up, the beggar had already buried his head and run off.

She hesitated for a moment—Why does this seem so familiar?

“Wait—!”

Lin Yuxin quickly checked her waist.

Her coin pouch was gone!

“Xiao Die, chase him! He stole my pouch!”

Lin Yuxin shouted and ran after the beggar.

“Miss, wait for me!”

Xiao Die called out, following closely behind.

[Damn it! I got careless. I’ve been living too comfortably at home these past few days—I forgot the storyline!]

[This isn’t just a simple theft. That scumbag father’s mistress planned this! ]

[They want to frame me, claiming I had an illicit affair, to ruin my reputation.]

Gritting her teeth, Lin Yuxin ran as fast as she could.

Up on the second floor of a nearby tea house, Li Xiaochén witnessed the whole scene and even heard her inner thoughts.

He watched her retreating figure and spoke in a cold voice.

“Go help her.”

“Huh?”

His subordinate, Wang Yu, was stunned. Help? Help who?

But he quickly received a cold glare from Li Xiaochén.

Wang Yu stiffened and quickly bowed.

“Yes, my lord!”

Then, he hurried out the door.

..

Lin Yuxin chased the beggar into a deserted alleyway.

“Pant… pant… Stop running! Give me back my pouch, or don’t blame me for bullying the weak!”

She leaned against a wall, trying to catch her breath. Despite her threat, her delicate beauty made her look more adorable than intimidating.

The little beggar shook his head stubbornly.

Lin Yuxin frowned and reached for her silver needles. Fine, I’ll just knock him out for a bit.

Before she could act—

Thud!

The beggar collapsed onto the ground.

“Huh???”

What just happened? Who knocked him out?

Lin Yuxin looked around but saw no one. Someone’s helping me?

Shrugging, she picked up her pouch and turned to leave.

After taking a few steps, a sly smile curled her lips.

She turned back to the unconscious beggar.

Since you wanted a pouch so badly… here, have one!

She fished out an identical-looking but fake pouch from her sleeve and placed it in the beggar’s hand before leaving.

Not long after, Xiao Die found her.

“Miss! Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Let’s go home.”

Lin Yuxin was in good spirits as she led her maid away.

From the shadows, a figure watched, glanced at the beggar’s fake pouch, flicked a small stone at him, and then disappeared.

The beggar groggily woke up, looked around in panic, and clutched the pouch before running off.

..

Back at the palace…

“Your Highness, Miss Lin has returned home. But… she left a fake pouch with the beggar.”

Li Xiaochén didn’t even look up from his documents. He simply replied, “Noted. You may go.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Wang Yu bowed and left.

..

Meanwhile, at Lin Manor…

Not long after Lin Yuxin returned home, a servant reported:

“Madam, Lady Bai from the Prime Minister’s residence has sent an invitation. She requests the presence of both you and Miss Lin for a banquet.”

“The Prime Minister’s residence?”

Zhao Hanya was puzzled. She had little contact with them, and they had never been particularly close. Why would they suddenly invite her?

“Alright, I understand. You may leave.”

She waved the servant away.

[The Prime Minister’s residence? If I remember correctly, Bai Yaoyao, the Prime Minister’s daughter, was my elder brother’s beloved. But in the end, she was kidnapped by bandits, and he risked his life to save her—only to be left crippled and abandoned, living in misery.]

[But if Bai Yaoyao were a good person, that would be one thing. Unfortunately, she was a pawn planted by my scumbag father and the Crown Prince, meant to trap my brother and steal his military power.]

Zhao Hanya’s face paled.

Before she could fully process her thoughts, a familiar voice called out from the doorway.

“Mother, I’m home.”

She turned to see a tall, muscular man with a strong, commanding presence—clearly a seasoned martial artist.

“Ah, Lie’er, you’re back! How long are you staying this time?”

Her son, Lin Chenglie, smiled and replied, “I’ll be home for a few days—to keep you company.”

Then, he turned to the girl beside her.

“This must be my little sister!”

He had arrived just in time to hear the name Bai Yaoyao at the door.

So he had quietly listened, and what he heard left him deep in thought.

Had he imagined it, or… had his sister just predicted the future?