“Half a year ago, my father passed away, and I had no choice but to come to the capital to find him. I ended up finding him in a brothel. But at that time, he promised he would treat me well in the future. Since I had finally found him after so much hardship, I wanted to live a good life with him. Yet now, he wants to marry someone else.”

As Fang Dahua spoke, her voice became choked with sobs.

[Isn’t this just like Chen Shimei? Scumbag! He’s ugly and heartless—ugh, disgusting!]

Lin Yuxin had just reached the entrance when she heard the woman’s tearful complaint.

She felt a bit sympathetic but didn’t step forward immediately, deciding to observe the situation first.

“You shameless woman! Stop talking nonsense!”

Liu Chen’s face turned red with anger, feeling humiliated after being exposed.

“Enough! We didn’t call you here to watch you cry. You claim this man is your husband—do you have any proof?”

Zhao Hanya coldly interrupted the woman’s sobbing. It wasn’t that she lacked sympathy, but nothing was more important than her daughter’s reputation at this moment.

“Proof? He has a scar on his inner thigh! And at his house, we still have our marriage certificate.”

Fang Dahua thought for a moment before replying.

“Hanya, this matter is rather disgraceful. Shouldn’t we discuss it inside?”

Lin Xiongan, fearing complications, wanted to move the discussion indoors where there would be fewer witnesses.

“No need. Since he wants to create a scene here, we’ll settle it here and clear my daughter’s name.”

Zhao Hanya shot Lin Xiongan a sharp glance, immediately shutting down his idea.

Then she turned to Liu Chen, her voice stern:

“You already have a wife, yet you dare to slander my daughter from the Lin family? You must have a death wish! Also, you claim to have secretly pledged yourselves to each other, but do you even realize my daughter was only brought back to our family last month?”

“She is a young lady who barely recognizes her own family members and doesn’t even know her way around the capital. How could she have had the time to sneak out and form an engagement with some random man?”

“I… I have this embroidered pouch as proof!”

Liu Chen, at a loss for words, desperately held up a small embroidered pouch.

“A pouch? Look carefully at the one in your hand.”

At the mention of the pouch, Lin Yuxin knew it was time for her to step in. She walked forward, looking at Liu Chen with a knowing smile.

Liu Chen was startled and frowned at her.

“Who are you? What’s wrong with my pouch?”

“Hah! You don’t even recognize me? Then why did you come here today?”

Lin Yuxin rolled her eyes in exasperation.

[Where did they find this idiot? Did he forget to bring his brain today? And he wants to ruin my reputation?]

“I came today to marry… You… You are the second daughter of the Lin family, Lin Yuxin?”

Liu Chen suddenly realized who she was, his voice faltering. But as he looked at her beautiful face, greed flickered in his eyes.

If he could marry this woman today, he would rise to wealth and power. As for that old hag Fang Dahua—if she dared to ruin his plan, he would divorce her as soon as he got home.

Liu Chen clenched his teeth, making up his mind.

“That’s right, I am Lin Yuxin. You claim we have an affair and use this pouch as proof, but I have never lost my pouch.”

As she spoke, Lin Yuxin pulled out her own identical pouch from her waist and waved it in front of him.

“You still say it’s not from you? Look, they are identical!”

Liu Chen became even more excited upon seeing the two identical pouches.

“Heh… I told you to look more carefully.”

Lin Yuxin chuckled softly, looking at him as if he were a fool.

Liu Chen hesitated and examined the pouch in his hand more closely. Suddenly, he noticed embroidered characters inside.

“Why is there a name here?”

He muttered in confusion.

Seeing his discovery, Lin Yuxin smiled and urged, “Go ahead, don’t be afraid. Say what you found.”

“It has a name… It’s embroidered with the character ‘Qian.’”

Liu Chen admitted, thinking it might be a part of Lin Yuxin’s name.

But Lin Xiongan’s expression darkened upon hearing this. Just as he was about to speak, Lin Yuxin cut him off.

“That’s right, the pouch has the character ‘Qian’ inside. Do you know what it means?”

“What do you mean? Isn’t it part of your name?”

Liu Chen asked, confused.

“You didn’t even bother to investigate our family’s situation before daring to come here and propose marriage? How bold! Let me explain—our Lin family has two daughters. Aside from me, we also have an adopted daughter named Lin Qianqian. The pouch in your hand belongs to her.”

Lin Yuxin didn’t hesitate to throw the blame on Lin Qianqian.

Hiding in the crowd, Li Xiaocheng watched the radiant young woman before him, the corners of his lips curling into a slight smile—even he didn’t realize it himself.

Zhao Hanya remained silent.

Ever since Lin Yuxin stepped forward, her imposing presence had softened.

Seeing how the situation had unfolded, a flicker of amusement passed through her eyes.

She hadn’t expected her daughter to be this sharp.

“Yuxin, what nonsense are you spouting? How could your sister do such a thing?”

Lin Xiongan immediately tried to intervene when he saw Lin Qianqian taking the fall.

“Father, just because Lin Qianqian is the illegitimate daughter you had with Concubine Qin, doesn’t mean you should shield her. She and Liu Chen have already secretly pledged themselves to each other—are you really going to separate them? Won’t that break my dear sister’s heart?”

Lin Yuxin’s words made Lin Xiongan tremble with rage.

“What are you talking about? What illegitimate daughter?!”

Lin Xiongan roared, his face turning red with embarrassment.

“Oh? So we can’t say ‘illegitimate daughter’? Should we call her a bastard instead? After all, her mother was never officially married into the household, nor was she given an official residence outside the family. So, by definition, her child is an illegitimate one.”

Lin Yuxin’s eyes glinted coldly as she stared at Lin Xiongan.

Trying to use her as a scapegoat? She would make sure his reputation was utterly ruined.

“You… you unfilial daughter!”

Lin Xiongan, furious, stepped forward and raised his hand to slap Lin Yuxin.

But Zhao Hanya swiftly grabbed his wrist, her expression icy.

“Do you want to disgrace yourself even more?”

Her words made Lin Xiongan regain some composure. He looked around and saw the many commoners watching him. Grinding his teeth, he forced himself to suppress his anger.

Turning to Liu Chen, he growled, “Think carefully. Which daughter are you talking about?”

Liu Chen hesitated.

He had been told to propose to Lin Yuxin, but the pouch clearly had the character “Qian” embroidered on it.

Wouldn’t it be easier to switch targets and propose to Lin Qianqian instead?

After all, any daughter from the Lin family would help his career—so why not take the easier route?

Having made his decision, Liu Chen looked at Lin Xiongan and declared, “Master Lin, I made a mistake earlier. The one I truly pledged myself to is Miss Lin Qianqian! See, the pouch even has her name on it. I also sent her letters. If you don’t believe me, bring her out to confirm.”

“You… you…!”

Lin Xiongan was so furious he could barely speak.

[Hmph! Serves you right. You wanted to be ruthless? Now, taste your own medicine.]

Lin Yuxin smirked, watching him seethe.