Lin family.
"Ze-er said that he is looking for me?" Madam Lin said in surprise after she heard what the servant said that Lin Ze was looking for her. "Alright. I will go and see him." She said and walked out of her room, then went alone to the courtyard where her second son Lin Ze is.
Lin Ze was reading the report about Jin Peng's death when suddenly he heard footsteps coming behind him. He turned and saw that it was his mother.
"Mother." He rose from his seat and greeted.
"Ze-er." Madam Lin smiled as she checked her son in case her son was injured. Just like before when Lin Ze got into fights when he was young.
Then, five years ago, Lin Ze decided to go to jianghu. That really broke Madam Lin's heart, since she doesn't want to part with her son, especially after knowing that her son will go to a dangerous place. And so, when the Meng family proposed an engagement between Lin Ze and Meng Ruyan, Madam Lin thought that it would stop Lin Ze.
But, who knows that Lin Ze was unstoppable? Furthermore, the Meng family didn't even let them see Meng Ruyan, which is ridiculous! Wasn't it them who proposed marriage to their family? Then why refuse the Lin family to see the bride? Madam Lin thought that if Lin Ze would see his bride, Lin Ze might not go to jianghu anymore. Unfortunately, the Lin family didn't see even just the shadow of Meng Ruyan.
Madam Lin sighed when she recalled the past.
"Mother, what's wrong?" Lin Ze asked when he saw his mother sighing.
The reason why his father never took in any concubines is because aside from Father Lin who loved dearly Madam Lin, Madam Lin also has a tough personality. Not to mention her maiden family who is backing her, so which woman would dare fight against the princess of the Fang family?
"It's nothing." Madam Lin shook her head and sat while Lin Ze poured tea into the other cup. "Ze-er, I heard that you were looking for me?" she asked.
Lin Ze nodded as he sat across her. "Mother. I want to ask you something." He said.
"What is it?" Madam Lin asked. Judging by her son's expression, she knows that it must be something serious.
And, it was as she expected when she heard him speak.
"Mother, do you have a sibling named 'Fang Bozhi'?" Lin Ze directly asked.
Madam Lin froze when she heard the name. She looked at her son in shock. "What… Ze-er, how do you know this name?" she asked as her eyes widened in horror. "Have you met him in jianghu?" she asked. "What did he do to you?" she added as she worriedly looked at him.
Lin Ze shook his head. "I didn't meet him in jianghu. I am fine." He answered. "So, Fang Bozhi is really your brother?" he asked her.
Madam Lin nodded. "He is my younger brother." She answered. "You… where did you meet him, if not in jianghu?" she asked, feeling puzzled.
"In the capital." Lin Ze answered.
Madam Lin was stunned. "In the capital?!" she exclaimed. "He is here?!" she asked as her face turned pale.
"No. He isn't here anymore." Lin Ze answered as he calmed his mother down. "Mother. You should have heard of Jin Peng, right?" he asked.
Madam Lin nodded and she frowned with disgust on her face. "Yes. Why, did my younger brother mix with this messy person?" she asked.
"No." Lin Ze answered. "He was Jin Peng." He told her.
"What?!" Madam Lin was shocked. "You… is what you said true?!" she asked as she looked at her son.
Lin Ze nodded in affirmation. "Yes," he answered. "Well, technically, I never met him, since he was already dead." He told Madam Lin.
Madam Lin fell silent.
"Mother." Lin Ze called as he stared at her, worried that she might feel sad.
Madam Lin heaved a sigh. "The moment that he killed second brother, I knew that that father, who was very strict, would kick him out of the family." She said.
Madam Lin's maiden name is Fang Hui, and she came from the Fang family. She is the only daughter, and after her were two sons – one of which was Fang Bozhi, who is the third son. Father Fang was raised by his strict parents, and so father Fang was also strict when raising his children. He also cherished his daughter, Fang Hui, very much, and Lin An, who wanted to marry Fang Hui, had encountered a problem before with father Fang. Because father Fang didn't want Lin An to marry a concubine, and only wanted his daughter Fang Hui to be Lin An's only wife, even if Fang Hui later won't be able to bear any child.
Lin An, in fact, was reluctant since he wanted to have children. However, the Lin family didn't agree with father Fang because they wanted to produce heirs, considering their family's wealth. And so father Fang decisively had Fang Hui end her relationship with Lin An. Fang Hui also doesn't want to feel wronged. After all, she was raised by her family spoiled; they all doted on her. But, she had to suffer grievances when she married. So, she broke up with Lin An.
Lin An, who was reluctant at first, saw that Fang Hui was as decisive as her father. He was stunned to find out her stubbornness. He felt his pride was challenged, and so he decided to conquer Fang Hui. Thus, he argued with his family, since he really loves Fang Hui. It wasn't certain yet whether Fang Hui would not be able to bear a child, so why be afraid now? Furthermore, there were still his other male siblings who already had their own children, so their family already had many heirs. He loves Fang Hui for who she is, and not her being able to bear a child for him. So why would he let go of Fang Hui?
But, Fang Hui already has many suitors who are just waiting to marry Fang Hui. So when they heard that father Fang objected to the marriage between Fang Hui and Lin An, they rejoiced.
The author has something to say:
Lin Ze: I didn’t know father was so indecisive back then.
Meng Xing: yeah, and you and your siblings were almost never born.