Chapter 48: Slander
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Lin Lan’s residence in the Lin family household was a small courtyard with four rooms. This was where she had grown up. In the past, Lin Lan, her parents and Granny Lian had all lived here.
It’s been some time since Lin Lan was last there, so cobwebs were everywhere and dust was kicked up with each step. It took just half an hour of tidying up by Granny Lian and Fu for the whole courtyard to look completely different.
“Ma’am, I had thought Lin Hua would cause you trouble, but not only did he not do so, he even stopped the others from putting you on the spot and allowed you into the Lin household,” said Granny Lian with some surprise.
“I did not expect that either,” said Lin Lan, who was similarly surprised.
“Granny Lian, why did you think that Lin Hua would cause trouble for Mother?” Zhou Donghuang was curious.
“Young Master, that Lin Hua had once tried to pursue Ma’am desperately. Only when Ma’am rejected him in front of everyone did he stop pestering her.” Granny Lian laughed. “Just now when I saw him, I thought he would bear a grudge from last time when Ma’am embarra.s.sed him in front of everyone and cause us trouble. Looks like I had judged him wrongly.”
“That really happened?” Zhou Donghuang looked at Lin Lan. Looks like his mother had been extremely attractive back in the day, or she would not have been chased like that.
“How many years ago was that? If he still remembers that then that means he is really narrow-minded.” Lin Lan laughed as she shook her head. “Furthermore, the reason why I rejected him publicly was because I was afraid after being pestered by him, that’s why I decided to end it quickly there and then and not to embarra.s.s him.”
Just as they were chatting happily, Fu, who had been repairing the damaged door of the courtyard outside, said, “Young Master, Madam, there are people coming. One of them is the man who let us in at the main door.”
Right then, an old man in a gray robe appeared with the support of a middle-aged man.
“Lin Lan, meet Second Elder.”
“Second Elder.” Lin Lan and Granny Lian bowed and greeted the old man. Seeing Zhou Donghuang motionless, Lin Lan glanced at him and reminded, “Donghuang.”
“Second Elder.” On Lin Lan’s reminder, Zhou Donghuang then looked at the old man and nodded.
The old man frowned and looked at Zhou Donghuang disapprovingly. His gaze landed on Lin Lan, and said, “Lin Lan, Chief ordered that unless ordered by the family, you are not to step within the doors of this house. Coming back like this, are you disregarding Chief or the Lin family rules?”
“Second Elder,” answered Lin Lan respectfully. “I would never dare to disregard the chief nor the Lin family rules. The reason why I am back today is to get Chief to revoke that ban issued to me.”
“Get Chief to revoke the ban?” The old man laughed coldly. “Do you take his words for a joke? Instead of getting Chief to revoke the ban, why don’t you reflect on your mistake?”
“Second Elder, I admit that it was my fault for releasing the formula for the blood staunching elixir,” said Lin Lan. “But later when I returned, I gave the family an even better formula. Just because Fourth Elder took my formula for the blood staunching elixir and submitted it as his own, should my efforts be ignored? I can’t accept it!” Lin Lan’s voice rose as the depression that she had suppressed for more than a month was released entirely.
Hearing Lin Lan’s words, the old man was surprised, then frowned. The formula that Fourth Elder had presented to the family had originally been Lin Lan’s?
“Hmph!” Just then, the man standing behind the old man, who was Lin Hua, gave a cold smirk. “Lin Lan, it’s enough that you brought people to sneak into the house like a thief. Now you even dare to slander Fourth Elder?” Lin Hua laughed.
“Sneak in like a thief?” Zhou Donghuang glared at Lin Hua as his eyes narrowed.
“Lin Hua, what do you mean?” Lin Lan’s expression changed as she glared angrily at Lin Hua. “Just now, didn’t you let us in? Now you’re telling us that we snuck in?”
“Lin Hua, you’re lying through your teeth!” Granny Lian could not take it either. She glared at him. “Just now, I even said that you were open-minded and would not hold a grudge from years ago. Looks like I thought too highly of you. You let us in, just to slander us?” Granny Lian was so angry that her old face was crunched.
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Lin Hua laughed. “Chief had already ordered for Lin Lan not to step foot into the household unless ordered. Without any order, why would I allow Lin Lan to come in?”
“You’re really asking for it!” Zhou Donghuang’s expression turned cold as a murderous glint s.h.i.+mmered in his eyes. He stepped forward, about to kill this b.a.s.t.a.r.d who had maligned his mother, but he was stopped by Lin Lan.
“Mother.” Zhou Donghuang’s eyes met Lin Lan’s. His voice pained, he said slowly, “Mother, he’s setting you up.”
“Donghuang, promise me… in the Lin family, unless they act first, you must not act against any member of the Lin family. The Lin family is my roots,” Lin Lan begged her son. She knew that he was extraordinary, and even Lu Qinghu, chief of the preeminent Lu family, was respectful in front of him. But she did not wish for her son to use his powers on any Lin family member, because that would only further antagonize the family. She hoped that the Lin family would accept her son. This was her home, and she hoped that it would also become her son’s home.
Zhou Donghuang was furious but could only restrain himself after seeing his mother’s begging eyes.
“Fine, I will listen to you, Mother.” He breathed in deeply, and said, “I just wish that the Lin family can be reasonable and return you justice. If not, don’t blame me for being rude!” As he said this, his icy gaze landed on Lin Hua and Lin Second Elder.
“Lin Lan, so this is your adopted son? How audacious! I can’t wait to see how a sixteen-year-old teenager can do anything to me!” Lin Hua looked at Zhou Donghuang with disdain. As a level-two adept, Lin Hua was hardly afraid of a young teenager.
“Lin Lan, do you have any proof for all that you just said?” Lin Second Elder, Lin Chonghuan, asked. He added, “If you openly made such a slanderous statement about Fourth Elder without any evidence, this shall be added to your offense!”
“I do,” Lin Lan nodded determinedly.
“Alright! Wait here, for the time being; I shall report this to Chief. When Fourth Elder returns, we will call you to confront him.” Lin Chonghuan nodded and left.
“Second Elder, not to forget the matter about the formula, but Lin Lan snuck into the household, shouldn’t we punish her?” Seeing Lin Chonghuan about to leave, Lin Hua hurriedly reminded him.
“If what she said is true, Chief will revoke the ban. In that case, no matter how she came in, it will not be considered as breaking into the Lin family household,” Lin Chonghuan said.
“She cannot be telling the truth,” Lin Hua said with disapproval. “The blood staunching elixir made from that formula is even more effective than the one made by the intermediate-level medicine doctor that the Lin family wors.h.i.+ps. How could Lin Lan have had such a formula?
“Fourth Elder will return in a few days. Then we will all find out the truth.” Lin Chonghuan ignored Lin Hua and left.
Lin Hua turned around and glared at Lin Lan, then left.
“This Second Elder is quite reasonable,” said Zhou Donghuang.
Lin Lan smiled, “Second Elder is responsible for order and discipline in the Lin family. He is morally upright and is worthy of respect. The next time you see him, don’t be rude.”