Lin Qianqian gritted her teeth and then forced a smile.

“Yesterday… was quite scary, huh?”

“Exactly, sister. A girl must learn to protect herself. You never know when someone might try to harm you.”

Lin Yuxin looked at Lin Qianqian meaningfully as she spoke.

Lin Qianqian’s heart tightened upon hearing this, and she stammered, “S-Sister, you’re right. Then… why don’t we stay in the manor? I’ll keep you company.”

Lin Yuxin raised an eyebrow at her.

[She’s still not giving up? Well, let’s see who plays who!]

“Alright! Do as you please!”

Lin Yuxin shrugged, ignoring her.

She planned to clear a plot of land behind her courtyard to grow medicinal herbs.

It would serve as a distraction and also allow her to use some of the supplies hidden in her space openly.

Taking a hoe handed to her by a maid, she walked toward the backyard.

Her backyard had some flowers, but not many—just enough to look pleasant.

First, she cut all the flowers, divided them into portions, arranged them in vases, and then instructed Xiaodie, “Take these flowers to my mother and my three elder brothers.”

“Yes!” Xiaodie responded and carried the vases away.

“Little sister, what are you doing? Why are you cutting all these flowers?”

Lin Qianqian had been following behind Lin Yuxin, utterly shocked by her actions.

“Oh, I want to clear this space and plant something else.”

Lin Yuxin casually answered while continuing her work.

“Sister, this isn’t right! Mother carefully arranged this courtyard for you, and you’re just destroying it like this? She’ll be heartbroken if she finds out! And this is the Prime Minister’s Manor—growing useless plants here is beneath your status!”

Lin Qianqian rolled her eyes disdainfully. As expected of someone from the countryside—always doing things unworthy of nobility.

“You don’t need to worry about that, Sister. Besides, didn’t you say you wanted to keep me company today?”

Annoyed by Lin Qianqian’s words, Lin Yuxin’s eyes gleamed mischievously as she set a trap.

“Y-Yes, of course!”

Lin Qianqian had a bad feeling but still answered reluctantly.

“Aww, I knew you were the best! Since you’re here to keep me company, and I have so much work to do, why not help me?”

Before Lin Qianqian could react, Lin Yuxin shoved the hoe into her hands and gripped her tightly, giving her no chance to escape.

“Lin Yuxin, how dare you! I’m a noble lady! And you expect me to do a servant’s work?”

Lin Qianqian tried to step back, but Lin Yuxin held her firmly. Infuriated, she yelled at her.

“Sister, have you still not realized the truth? The real noble daughter of the Lin family is me. You were just a mistakenly raised imposter. You don’t even know who your real parents are. In this manor, you’re merely an outsider, living under someone else’s roof.”

“And since you insisted on staying with me today, you can either help me work or leave.”

Lin Yuxin rolled her eyes, speaking bluntly.

“What nonsense are you saying? I am—!!”

Lin Qianqian was livid and wanted to retort, but halfway through, she suddenly remembered what her mother had told her. She forcefully swallowed her words.

Last night, her mother had sent a message saying they had obtained what they needed. She reminded Lin Qianqian to complete their plan but warned that now was not the right time to reveal her true identity.

They had to wait until her father seized all of her stepmother’s dowry, divorced that old woman, and dealt with this wretched girl. Only then would she officially become the only daughter of the Lin family.

“What are you?”

Lin Yuxin raised an eyebrow, her sharp gaze piercing into Lin Qianqian.

A chill ran down Lin Qianqian’s spine as she realized she had almost exposed herself. Quickly, she covered it up.

“Sister, I didn’t say anything. Oh, right! I just remembered I have something to do—I’ll take my leave!”

Lin Qianqian turned and fled.

Lin Yuxin watched her retreating figure and sneered but didn’t dwell on it. Instead, she focused on loosening the soil.

For the next few days, Lin Qianqian continued coming to her courtyard, sitting around even though Lin Yuxin ignored her.

She was determined to make her presence known.

Lin Yuxin didn’t care.

In fact, she even deliberately gave her alone time, providing her with opportunities.

After three days, Lin Yuxin finally planted her medicinal herbs.

She transplanted some of the herbs from her hidden space into the backyard, except for the rare ones, which she feared wouldn’t thrive outside.

That morning, with nothing urgent to do, Lin Yuxin decided to visit her mother.

Wanting to avoid Lin Qianqian’s interference, she headed straight to Zhao Hanya’s courtyard after breakfast.

“Mother!”

She called out cheerfully before even stepping inside.

“Hehe, you little girl. What have you been up to these past few days? I heard you dug up your entire backyard?”

Zhao Hanya was pleased to see her daughter and asked with concern.

“I cut down the flowers and planted some medicinal herbs.”

Lin Yuxin didn’t hide it. Sooner or later, her medical skills would be known.

“That’s fine. Do as you wish. By the way, has Lin Qianqian been visiting you often? Has she troubled you?”

Zhao Hanya had heard from the servants that Lin Qianqian had been going to Lin Yuxin’s courtyard every day.

She hoped it hadn’t upset her daughter.

“She claims she’s there to keep me company, so she just sits around in my courtyard every day.”

Lin Yuxin shrugged nonchalantly but scoffed inwardly.

[Keeping me company is just an excuse—she’s looking for an opportunity to frame me. But if she doesn’t make use of the chances I’m giving her, she’ll have no one to blame but herself.]

Zhao Hanya, having heard her daughter’s thoughts, felt reassured that she had a plan.

“That’s good. Oh, by the way, I just received news—His Majesty has bestowed marriage upon the Crown Prince and Bai Weiwei.”

“Really?”

Lin Yuxin’s eyes lit up.

[This means Bai Weiwei should no longer have any ties with my elder brother. But just in case they try something else, I must remain cautious.]

Zhao Hanya’s eyes flickered, pretending not to notice her daughter’s scheming thoughts.

Instead, she changed the subject.

“Yuxin, I’ve arranged for a nanny to teach you proper etiquette.”

“Huh? Didn’t I just learn court manners recently? Why do I have to study again?”

Lin Yuxin was horrified.

[Ugh!!! Why is there no escaping studies? Nooo! Save me!!!]

“It’s for your own good. Just learn for a while and see how it goes.”

Zhao Hanya smiled reassuringly, but in her heart, she was worried.

If Yuxin didn’t learn proper decorum, her occasional crude remarks might ruin her future prospects!

“…Fine!”

Lin Yuxin’s excitement instantly vanished, but she didn’t want to reject her mother’s kindness.

“Good girl.”

Lin Yuxin had arrived cheerfully but left with a sulky face.