Lin Ningyu tugged at her clothes but couldn't stop herself from shivering. The rain had already made the day cold, and at night the temperature had dropped even further. Her frail body was reaching its limits. If she weren't worried about her eldest sister and second brother being implicated, she would have already fainted—she had no desire to suffer in the cold here.
Lin Ningyu didn't think much of herself, but after all these years, she understood the principle of shared fortune and misfortune. If she were criticized, it would likely bring trouble upon her beloved siblings. As for her third sister, with whom she had hardly interacted, she was not even in her consideration.
Lin Xuanyu noticed the slight shiver of his younger sister and realized she was struggling. He immediately rose and draped his own cloak over her shoulders.
"Ningyu, how are you? Perhaps you should go back and rest. My eldest sister and I can stay here," Lin Xuanyu said, feeling uneasy. Even after the stepmother had left, the family still wanted to torment the illegitimate children. His gaze fell on the housemaid standing to the side, glaring at them. He sighed inwardly. His fourth sister had always been physically weak. He knew how much effort their eldest sister had put into raising her to this point. And now the Lin family was once again wearing her down—but she absolutely could not fall ill.
Lin Ningyu shook her head and pressed her second brother's hand, trying to return the cloak. He had been staying here longer than her and was likely freezing as well.
Lin Xuanyu understood her intent and waved his hand. But looking into her determined eyes, he knew Lin Ningyu would never leave him and their eldest sister behind. He patted her shoulder and turned toward the housemaid at the door—a Lin family servant, not from the stepmother's side. Speaking to her would likely be more effective.
"Please fetch a few more cloaks. The younger sisters are naturally frail. Don't let this cold, damp night harm their bodies, or Father will worry." Lin Xuanyu said, then glanced at the kneeling sisters. At that moment, Lin Daiyu coughed twice.
Hearing Lin Xuanyu, the housemaid rushed to fetch cloaks. Hearing Lin Daiyu cough, she dared not delay even a moment, quickening her steps. Soon, she returned with several thickened cloaks and hurriedly draped them over the young ladies and young master, finally letting out a sigh of relief.
She scolded herself for being careless all day. If anything had happened to these children from the cold, Master would have been heartbroken. After all, the male heir of the Lin family was in this group. And although the two young ladies who had just returned were illegitimate, they were close to the young master.
She sighed again. The Lin family had always been weak in heirs, and this generation finally had more, yet now they were split into two groups. The eldest young lady, the second young master, and the fourth young lady were all illegitimate, naturally distant from the legitimate daughters, and had been sent to the manor from a young age, barely forming bonds. When daughters married, they relied on their maternal brothers. In the end, wouldn't the Lin family legacy still pass to the eldest illegitimate son? She blamed the lady for making the children distant from one another. Thinking of Master's worsening health, she felt her chest tighten.
Lin Xuanyu ensured the younger sisters were properly cloaked, then turned to Lin Daiyu. Seeing that the maid beside Jia Min had already draped a cloak over her, he withdrew his gaze and returned to kneel at his place.
Lin Ningyu felt increasingly unwell and wondered how her eldest sister might be scolding her inwardly. Her body had been painstakingly nurtured to resemble a normal person, yet this vigil would drain it further, and she had no choice—protocol must not be broken, or future life would bring trouble. Ningyu sighed again. Life was truly difficult.
Outside, the rain fell harder. Even with the door closed, the room remained cold, growing chillier with time. The braziers burning paper offerings did little to warm the space. At that moment, the door opened, and a slightly frail but scholarly man entered.
Lin Ruhai first helped Lin Daiyu up and quietly comforted her, then had the maid escort her back. The young girl was too weak to endure much longer. His heart ached—he had not attended to them earlier because of grief. After sending away the third young miss, he turned to see three pairs of eyes fixed on him.
His eldest daughter's eyes were filled with worry, glancing at her younger siblings with concern, as if she wanted to speak but restrained herself.
His second son's expression mirrored the eldest daughter's but carried a hint of reproach. He understood this—he had been negligent, and the blame was on him.
As for the youngest fourth daughter, her gaze was simpler, purely observant, devoid of other emotion.
Lin Ruhai felt bitter. Burdened with imperial favor and responsibility, he had neglected the household. All matters of the inner residence had been handled by Jia Shi.
By the time he learned the news, the children had already been sent away. Though he wanted to bring them back earlier, obstacles prevented it. Eventually, he decided it was safer for them to stay in the countryside, where they would attract less attention. Years of neglect—he owed these children so much.
He remembered the estrangement in his son's eyes when the children first returned yesterday. He did not blame them; he had wronged them. In the time left, he just wanted to make amends.
Lin Ruhai adjusted the cloaks on the children, tucking them more securely. Seeing the late hour, he had the servants escort them back to the courtyard.
The maid beside Jia Min, witnessing Lin Ruhai's gentle care, felt angry. Now, seeing him let the children return to the courtyard, she could no longer contain herself.
"Master, someone should be keeping vigil tonight. The third and fourth young ladies are weak and young—returning to rest is fine. But the eldest young lady and second young master should stay, lest people think they are neglecting protocol."
Lin Zhiyu glanced at the maid, her eyes darkening. She said nothing, turning instead to Lin Ruhai, curious about his decision and his attitude toward Jia Min.
Unexpectedly, Lin Ruhai responded with impatience toward the maid. Previously, out of respect for Jia Min, he had overlooked her mistakes, but now, the children had just returned and were already exhausted—they could not endure until morning. Even adults would suffer kneeling in this weather overnight. The maid was clearly trying to intimidate the children, but when had a Lin family master ever been bullied by a mere servant?
Lin Xuanyu, seeing the maid obstruct his father and prevent them from resting, felt his anger rise. Just as he was about to speak, Lin Zhiyu tugged his sleeve. He glanced at his sister and restrained himself, recalling her words from last night, forcing calm upon himself.
"Madam has always been kind-hearted and would never deliberately trouble the children. Or do you think Madam is so strict that she values rules over the children's well-being?" Lin Ruhai's tone was calm but carried a weight that demanded reflection.
The household often praised Madam's kindness. Even the Jia family maids spread her good reputation beyond the estate. For years, everyone in Yangzhou knew Jia Min as generous and compassionate. Yet if she truly were so, why had the illegitimate children been left to grow up in the manor's outlying estate? Only upon her death did people realize the Lin family had three children scattered away.
Having said this, the maid no longer dared to speak, though inwardly she grumbled, feeling that people's attention cooled once they were gone.