However, when the pair of calm eyes looked in her direction in a seemingly unintentional manner and met her eyes for a moment, a sense of insecurity rose from the depths of Lin Mengya’s soul.
It was the first time for Lin Mengya to avoid his gaze.
“Master, this way, please.”
Aunt Yan, who was walking beside Yunshen, had no idea about the episode between Lin Mengya and Yunshen.
She just lowered her head respectfully and led Master Yunshen to the Grand Hall.
Lin Mengya bent her head, suppressed the strange feeling in her heart, and tried her best to hide herself in the crowd.
However, many questions arose in her mind simultaneously.
Who the hell was that monk?
However, no one answered her questions as everyone’s attention was on the deepest part of the Grand Hall.
As the Empress had left, these women began to be perfunctory about chanting. No one would really pay attention to the religious ceremony.
Even Lin Mengya was distracted. She wanted to know the identity of the monk who had made her feel frightened for no reason.
In everyone’s suspicion, the religious ceremony finally came to an end temporarily.
A group of madams was having a break in the side chamber of the front yard.
Although they didn’t do any hard labor, kneeling outside in the blazing sun was also extremely exhausting.
In the side chamber, a little monk had already prepared warm and sweet tea for all the madams to quench their thirst.
But Lin Mengya was a little dispirited. Although the Empress did not tell them what had happened today, she could guess the seriousness of the matter from her grave look.
What exactly had happened to almost bring this religious ceremony to an end?
There was no shortage of gossip in women’s circles.
Gradually, the focus of the discussion shifted to what had happened today. However, Lin Mengya remained silent and quietly listened to the madams in a corner. As a result, those madams almost forgot about her presence.
“By the way, do you know which temple the handsome monk who came this afternoon is from?”
As soon as someone asked the question, Lin Mengya pricked up her ears and listened carefully.
“I don’t know, but I heard that he has won the Empress’s praise since he entered the palace. Besides, I also heard that this master is extraordinary…”
The madam stopped speaking as a pair of eyes gazed at her.
Lin Mengya quietly looked over and saw Old Madam Shangguan was staring at the woman who was talking about the Empress.
The madam immediately shut up, and Old Madam Shangguan then looked away. From that single glance, Lin Mengya realized that the status of the Shangguan Family here was still unshakable.
Actually, it was reasonable. After all, Old Madam Shangguan was the current Empress’s birth mother, and naturally, she was worthy of this identity and status.
Unexpectedly, Lin Mengya, who only wanted to hide in the crowd and tried to minimize her presence, once again became the focus of attention.
“Princess Yu, your grandmother is here. Shouldn’t you come up to her and let her take a good look at you?”
Lin Mengya glanced at the woman who spoke and found that she seemed to be a madam of the Shangguan Family.
At this moment, a gloating look appeared on the madam’s beautiful, soft face.
Everyone knew that Shangguan Qing was Lin Muzhi’s wife and Lin Mengya’s stepmother, but she had never been favored by Master Lin. Moreover, it was said that she was grounded at home.
She even wasn’t able to attend the religious ceremony because of Lin Nansheng’s obstruction.
This matter had already been widely spread in the Capital City. Old Madam Shangguan certainly would not stand by while her daughter was humiliated.
Therefore, she had expected her confrontation with Lin Mengya.
Soon after the madam who deliberately stirred up trouble laughed, Lin Mengya stood up gracefully and made a bow to Old Madam Shangguan, greatly showing the etiquette of the girls from the Lin Family.
“Greetings, Grandmother. Wish you good health.”
Seeing how obedient and gentle Lin Mengya was, those who had not seen her before naturally thought that she was not a smooth-talking woman as legend had it.
But Old Madam Shangguan didn’t think so. She could see her cunning heart through her cleverness and beauty.
“No wonder Qing’er was defeated by her within just a few rounds of battles.”
“The girl of the Lin Family is really well educated.”
Old Madam Shangguan slightly raised her eyes, cast a glance at the woman in front of her, and gave a small nod. She did not seem to treat Lin Mengya as her granddaughter.
“I heard that you’ve married Prince Yu? That’s good. Anyway, the Crown Prince is your cousin, and we’re twice related. Your husband could assist the Crown Prince in the future, and you will naturally enjoy prosperity and a high position.”
The old madam said in a tone of charity as if it were all thanks to them that Lin Mengya was safe and sound now.
Lin Mengya felt disdainful in her heart, but she still put on a calm look on her face.
“Grandmother, you’re right. My husband and I naturally will serve our country wholeheartedly. Don’t worry, Grandmother. I’ll never fail what my mother taught me at home.”
Of course, she would never forget how Shangguan Qing schemed against that innocent woman and killed her.
Nor could she forget how Shangguan Qing plotted against her status and man and almost took away her happiness.
Lin Mengya would definitely revenge on the entire Shangguan Family for all of these matters; otherwise, it would not be worthy of the Shangguan Family’s schemes against the Lin Family.
“Well, I’m relieved that you’re so sensible. Remember, the Shangguan Family is always your maternal grandparents’ family. Although your mother didn’t give birth to you or bring you up, she has tried her best to treat you well. You and Mengwu should visit our family more often, so others won’t think that the Shangguan Family is stingy.”
“Does she want me to ask Elder Brother to release her daughter?”
Lin Mengya couldn’t help sneering inwardly. If Shangguan Qing and Lin Mengwu had not had the protection of the Shangguan Family, they wouldn’t have dared to raise such a big storm.
Lin Mengya bowed her head slightly before uttering in a soft voice.
“You’re right, Grandmother. It’s just that my mother isn’t feeling well these days, and Sister Mengwu is filial and wants to take care of her by her bedside for me, so they aren’t able to go to your mansion and pay respects to you. Grandmother, please don’t blame my mother and sister. When my mother recovers, I’ll take my sister and mother to visit you in person.”
She politely refused Old Madam Shangguan’s kindness. She was clear that Old Madam Shangguan tried to force her to give in because Shangguan Qing could not come out.
Lin Mengya really did not like the Shangguan Family. Why did others have to obey their arrangements?
Everyone was equal. She resented the way the old madam attempted to dominate other people’s lives.
Old Madam Shangguan did not seem to have expected Lin Mengya’s refusal.
Perhaps it was because there were very few people who dared to disobey her before.
Old Madam Shangguan shot a cold glance at the docile woman who hung her head in front of her, as if she were not her granddaughter but a disobedient creature.
“Since your mother is ill, she needs to rest quietly to recuperate. Your brother is busy with the affairs of the court and has no time to care about these things. If you’re filial, you should take your mother to your mansion and take care of her. I heard that there are a lot of famous doctors coming to your mansion. Maybe your mother will recover soon there.”
What she said was a little unreasonable.
Everyone in the Capital City had learned that Shangguan Qing and her daughter had once stayed in Prince Yu’s Mansion and refused to leave, but returned to the Lin’s Mansion with disgrace in the end.
Now Old Madam Shangguan asked Lin Mengya to personally take her to Prince Yu’s Mansion again. Wouldn’t that be a slap in her face and embarrassing her?
Or was the Shangguan Family so overbearing that Old Madam Shangguan even dared to order the daughter-in-law of the emperor?
The madams only dared to put this question in their hearts, but no one dared to show the slightest doubt on their faces.
Hearing her words, Lin Mengya suddenly straightened her back and looked straight at Old Madam Shangguan, without any fear on her face.
“Grandmother, since you asked me to do that, I’ll definitely bring my mother and younger sister to my mansion. But…”
Lin Mengya suddenly twisted the conversation. Even in front of Old Madam Shangguan, who had gone through a lot, Lin Mengya was as regal and graceful as her.
“There are rules in my mansion, which were set by the ancestors. No matter how close my mother and sister are to me, they have to follow the ancestors’ rules if they come to my mansion. If I offend them, please mediate for us and don’t make it difficult for me.”
Old Madam Shangguan raised her eyebrows. It was the first time she had carefully looked at Lin Mengya.
“What a slick talker! What a pair of fearless eyes!”
Old Madam Shangguan seemed to have seen the Empress from more than a decade ago. The Empress had been good at hiding her feelings since she was born, but she had been so smart that both Old Madam Shangguan and her husband were a little afraid of her.
Although the old madam had never taken Lin Mengya seriously, what the Empress said was right. If she didn’t interfere with her, the girl might influence her grandson’s succession to the throne.
The cold smile gradually stretched across the corners of her mouth.
Her old, wrinkled face now lit up with a subtle expression of murder.
“In that case, let them be. However, if something goes wrong with your mother, your uncles and grandfather won’t just stand by and do nothing.”
When her oppression didn’t work, Old Madam Shangguan started threatening Lin Mengya.
The latter finally understood why her father was not interested in the women of the Shangguan Family.
Old Madam Shangguan was so aggressive. No man in the world would treat such a woman with sincerity.
Lin Mengya nodded slightly, but she was not as respectful as before.
“I understand. Although my mother’s life and death are the Lin Family’s business after she married into our family, her maternal family is naturally different from outsiders. If something happens to her, I’ll naturally inform you.”
