Turning around, he saw that the Regent was still there. His face stiffened, and he quickly stepped forward, bowing respectfully.

“Your Highness, Regent, I have been negligent today. Next time, I will make up for it properly.”

Wasn’t the Regent known for being cold and ruthless?

Why did he have the mood to watch the commotion today?

The Prime Minister was miserable! Hosting a banquet was no easy task.

“No need.”

Li Xiaocheng uttered two words expressionlessly and then turned to leave.

Seeing the Regent depart, the other guests also took their leave and exited the Prime Minister’s residence.

Lin Yuxin and Zhao Hanya walked towards the mansion gate, followed reluctantly by Lin Qianqian.

Lin Qianqian glared at Lin Yuxin with resentment, clutching her handkerchief so tightly that it almost tore apart.

She had been so excited, thinking she would witness Lin Yuxin’s disgrace today.

But after all that anticipation, it turned out Bai Weiwei was the one who suffered.

Hadn’t her father said that someone would deal with Lin Yuxin?

Why was this wretched girl still standing before her, perfectly fine?

Lin Qianqian was unwilling to accept this, but there was nothing she could do. No matter how frustrated she was, she had to endure it.

As soon as Lin Yuxin stepped outside, she saw her elder brother waiting at the entrance.

“Big Brother?” she called out curiously.

“Mother, Sister! Father and Second Brother have gone back first. I stayed behind to escort you home,” Lin Chenglie explained.

“Alright.”

Lin Yuxin then helped Zhao Hanya onto the carriage.

Just as she was about to board, she heard her brother call out.

“Sister!”

“What is it, Brother?” Lin Yuxin paused, turning back in confusion.

Lin Chenglie gave her a deep look and, in his heart, said, “Thank you.” But instead of voicing it, he shook his head and simply said:

“Nothing. Get inside. The wind is strong outside.”

“???”

[There’s no wind though? Brother is acting weird today! Oh well, maybe he’s upset after seeing his beloved Bai Weiwei fall from grace today. Understandable. I’ll send him a few jars of fine wine later—let him drown his sorrows in alcohol!]

Lin Yuxin looked around doubtfully, but after considering something, she seemed to understand and climbed into the carriage.

Outside, Lin Chenglie twitched the corners of his mouth.

That was completely unnecessary!

Zhao Hanya watched the interaction between the siblings, smiling slightly but saying nothing.

After Lin Qianqian got on, the carriage started moving toward the Lin residence. However, throughout the journey, Lin Yuxin and Zhao Hanya chatted away, completely ignoring Lin Qianqian, making her fume in silence.

Upon arriving at the Lin residence, Lin Qianqian stepped down, flicked her sleeves angrily, and stormed off to her quarters.

Zhao Hanya watched her leave with an unreadable expression.

Lin Yuxin bid her mother farewell before heading straight back to her own courtyard, Tingyu Pavilion.

Zhao Hanya turned to a maid and instructed, “Go call the Second Young Master and Third Young Master. Tell them I need to speak with them.”

“Yes, Madam.”

The maid bowed and left.

Zhao Hanya then addressed Lin Chenglie. “Come with me.”

Though confused, Lin Chenglie followed obediently to his mother’s courtyard.

Once inside, Zhao Hanya sat down and stared at her son.

“Mother, is there something you wish to discuss?” Lin Chenglie finally asked, feeling a bit uneasy under her gaze.

“No rush. Let’s wait for your brothers.”

She took a sip of tea, speaking calmly.

Soon, Lin Shaoyang and Lin Shixiao arrived.

“Mother, why did you call us?” Lin Shaoyang asked, noticing his two brothers were already present.

“Ping’er, have everyone leave and guard the door. No one is to enter.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Ping’er signaled the surrounding servants to withdraw before closing the door.

Seeing that there were no outsiders, Zhao Hanya spoke directly.

“I called you three here today because of your sister. You must have noticed something special about her. You should also be able to hear her thoughts, correct?”

“What?! You can hear them too?” Lin Chenglie was shocked.

The ability to hear thoughts was already bizarre enough, but now he wasn’t the only one?

Was this ability common or something?

“Yes, I can hear them. I suspect Shaoyang and Shixiao can as well,” Zhao Hanya confirmed.

“Yes, I can hear them.”

“So can I.”

Both Lin Shaoyang and Lin Shixiao admitted.

“This…! Mother, then why have you gathered us today…?” Lin Chenglie asked after a moment of processing.

Zhao Hanya looked at her three sons with a serious expression.

“I wanted to tell you all to keep this secret. The fact that we can hear Yuxin’s thoughts is too strange. We must not let her know, nor let this information spread. Otherwise, it could bring disaster upon her.”

“Moreover, you must have noticed the things she mentions in her thoughts—events she predicts before they happen. While it may seem absurd, danger lurks around us, and we cannot afford to be careless.”

“You all witnessed what happened at the Prime Minister’s banquet today. It was Yuxin’s doing. She did it to change Chenglie’s fate. She is already trying to alter our destinies. But as her mother and brothers, we cannot let her bear this burden alone.”

“Our fates should be in our own hands. It’s time we took responsibility for the dirty work. What do you say?”

Zhao Hanya stopped speaking, watching her sons process her words.

After a long silence, Lin Chenglie stood up, bowed deeply, and said solemnly:

“Mother, I understand. My sister helped me today. I am not blind to her kindness. From now on, we will protect her.”

“Yes, we will protect her!”

The other two echoed his sentiment.

“I’m glad you understand. Keep today’s discussion a secret. Understood?”

“Yes, Mother!” Lin Shaoyang nodded.

“One more thing, Chenglie—do you resent Yuxin for what happened today?” Zhao Hanya hesitated but decided to ask.

“Mother, I know that everything she did was for my sake. How could I resent her? Besides, since she chose the Crown Prince, she is no longer the person I once held in my heart.”

Lin Chenglie spoke with certainty.

“Good. You will find someone better in the future.”

Zhao Hanya sighed in relief, reassured that he wouldn’t hold a grudge.

“Alright, you may all go. I am tired.”

With that, she dismissed them.

---

The next morning, Lin Qianqian stormed into Yuxin’s Tingyu Pavilion, claiming she was here to “play.”

[Really? Someone is looking for trouble this early in the morning? She must be tired of living.]

Lin Yuxin didn’t expose her but was curious to see what Lin Qianqian was planning.

“Sister, let’s go out shopping today!” Lin Qianqian said enthusiastically, grabbing Lin Yuxin’s hand.

“I’m not going. Yesterday’s events were too scary. I won’t be going out for a while,” Lin Yuxin replied, unwilling to take the bait.