After being forced to leave the marriage, I became the wife of a top scholar.

Chapter 161 What does this have to do with me?

When Meng Zhan came to inform Hai Shengyang that everyone had been arrested, a resolute expression appeared on Hai Shengyang's face.

"I was too impulsive," Hai Shengyang murmured to himself, looking down.

Chunru felt relieved at this moment. "Miss, they were the ones who were rude first. What's wrong with us arresting them? Why are you so unhappy?"

Hai Shengyang pursed his lips. "Although I feel better now, I have a grudge against the Bai family. It might not be easy for me to join the Lin family."

Chunru couldn't understand why her young mistress, with such excellent qualities, would insist on marrying into the Lin family.

“Miss, we’ve only offended the Bai family. The Bai family is the Bai family; they can’t make decisions for the Lin family.” Chunru felt that the Lin family’s marriage to Bai Wanqing was just a temporary measure, and they probably didn’t have any deep feelings for the Bai family.

Hai Shengyang originally thought so too, but when she went to the Lin family today, she found that things were not so simple.

The Lin family is not as easy to threaten as it seems, especially the Cui family; they don't seem like people who can be easily manipulated.

But they still agreed to Lin Yunche and Bai Wanqing's marriage. What does that mean? It means the Lin family was willing.

But when she came to visit, Cui refused her on the grounds that the Lin family did not take concubines.

This is clearly just an excuse.

Hai Shengyang clenched his handkerchief. "It seems that a gentle approach won't work."

"Now that I've offended the Bai family again, I'm afraid I won't be able to get Bai Wanqing's approval."

"Alright, Chunru, go to Linjia Village first thing tomorrow morning and invite Madam Lin over."

"Since the soft approach isn't working, I'll have to resort to the hard approach."

Chunru nodded in agreement, but also reminded her mistress, "Miss, if we force our way into the Lin family like this, we're afraid our future days won't be easy."

Hai Shengyang smiled slightly, "What's there to be afraid of! Once I'm truly in the Lin family, they'll soon know how good I am."

“My role is much more important than Bai Wanqing’s.”

Chunru immediately smiled and said, "Miss is right. How could the Bai family possibly compare to the Hai family?"

Hai Shengyang pondered for a while before going to sleep. When she woke up early the next morning, Chunru had already gone to pick up Cui Shi as she had instructed.

When Chunru arrived at Linjia Village, it was still barely dawn. The entire village was awakened by Chunru's knocking.

Cui had already gone to bed late yesterday because Hai Shengyang and the others had delayed their work, and now that she heard knocking on the door outside the courtyard, she was feeling a little irritated.

Especially when she saw Chunru, the maid, her face darkened to the point of almost disappearing into the inky night.

"Big Head Auntie, it's so early. Is everything alright at home?"

Hearing the commotion, Sister Lin and the other villagers from Linjia Village all poked their heads out.

Mrs. Cui immediately put on a smile and greeted the neighbors around her, "It's alright, it's alright, I'm sorry to have disturbed you so early."

Aunt Lin recognized who it was and, seeing that nothing was wrong, went back to sleep.

When Cui turned to look at Chunru again, her expression became even more furious.

"What is it? Come in and tell me right now!" Cui shouted in a low voice.

Chunru followed Cui Shi into the room with her head down. She hadn't wanted to come so early! But yesterday, her mistress said that she wanted to settle this matter as soon as possible to prevent Bai Wanqing from causing trouble.

So when Cui was furious, Chunru didn't dare to utter a single word.

"Alright! You've already started arguing. Now, if you have something to say, say it quickly. If you have nothing else, then you should leave immediately. Our Lin Family Village doesn't entertain just anyone," said Madam Cui.

Chunru nodded hurriedly, "Madam Lin, my young lady invites you to the Hai family for a meeting. What do you think?"

Cui laughed in anger. How could Hai Shengyang be so brainless? He was so eager to get into the Lin family, yet he was so arrogant as to expect her to come to him.

"Did I hear that right? Your young lady wants to invite me to her home?" Cui Shi raised her voice unconsciously.

Chunru replied, "Yes, Madam. Madam Bai and the Third Miss are both in the yamen now. The only one who can save them now is Madam Lin."

Slightly startled, Cui slowly stood up. "What did you just say?"

"Where are Madam Bai and Bai Qinglian now?" Madam Cui was skilled in martial arts and had lived in the harsh conditions of the border region for a long time. Her aura was murderous, completely different from the dark and gloomy aura of ordinary women in the inner quarters.

At this moment, she became angry, and Chunru's body trembled involuntarily.

"Speak quickly! Where are Madam Bai and Bai Qinglian now?" This time, Madam Cui grabbed Chunru by the collar.

Chunru dared not look Cui in the eye, "They're in jail! Lord Meng arrested them both last night."

The Cui family isn't stupid; Meng Zhan's willingness to arrest people directly must have been Hai Shengyang's doing.

Now they've sent someone to invite her again. Ha, it seems they want to blackmail her.

How interesting, how interesting! I never imagined that even though she's hiding in this remote northern region, there would still be people with such filthy intentions towards her.

"Alright! We'll marry your young lady now." Madam Cui loosened Chunru's collar.

He turned around, greeted Lin Feiyun, and then followed Chunru.
When Cui arrived at the courtyard where Hai Shengyang was renting, Hai Shengyang had already prepared a table full of morning tea.

She stood respectfully at the door to welcome Cui as she alighted from the car.

"Madam Lin!" Hai Shengyang greeted Cui with a smile.

Cui straightened her clothes, not even glancing at her directly. "Call me Madam Lin. Madam Lin is my daughter-in-law." Hai Shengyang's face showed a moment of embarrassment, but he still smiled and said, "Yes, Madam Lin. It was my oversight."

Cui remained silent with a cold expression, so Hai Shengyang quickly stepped aside to invite her inside.

"Madam Lin, you haven't had breakfast yet! I've prepared a lot of delicious food, Madam Lin, you can try some!" Hai Shengyang said, leading Cui Shi into the house and letting Cui Shi sit at the head of the dining table.

Hai Shengyang showed no sign of neglect in following through on this set of formalities.

"Hey, Miss Hai, you didn't invite me over so early just so I could try this breakfast, did you?"

"Then Miss Hai is probably going to have wasted her time. A rough man like me is used to a simple life. I can't stand such complicated etiquette and food."

The Cui family had no intention of giving Hai Shengyang any face.

Hai Shengyang was not annoyed. She picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and placed it in front of Cui.

"Madam Lin, please try this osmanthus cake. It's sweet but not cloying, and quite delicious."

"Try this ginseng chicken soup. I made it especially for you. In this northern border region, eating some ginseng is good for your health."

Hai Shengyang seemed oblivious to the displeasure on Cui's face, continuing to introduce the food to her with great care.

At first, Cui ignored her, but no one could resist the delicious food on the table!
Now that she had the chance, Cui Shi didn't care what Hai Shengyang thought and started eating with relish.

Seeing this, Hai Shengyang was overjoyed. She knew there was no one she couldn't subdue.

After drinking a large bowl of ginseng chicken soup and eating two plates of pastries, Cui was too full to eat anymore. She stood up and wiped her mouth.

"Alright, Miss Hai, I'm full now, I should go back to the village."

"The horses in the village are still hungry."

Without waiting for Hai Shengyang to speak, Cui Shi started to walk out.

Hai Shengyang didn't expect Cui Shi to react this way, and quickly stood up, "Old Madam Lin, aren't you worried at all about Madam Bai and Miss Bai the Third?"

Madam Lin raised her eyes slightly. "Why should I worry about them?"

Hai Shengyang was taken aback. She knew the two families weren't on good terms, but wait a minute! Wasn't she very protective of Bai Wanqing yesterday?
"Madam Lin, do you know that they are in prison right now!"

"so what?"

"Isn't this a matter for the Bai family? What does the Lin family need to do?"

Cui's attitude completely baffled Hai Shengyang. It shouldn't be like this! Shouldn't she be terrified right now, and then offer her own terms to help her smoothly enter the Lin family?

Why is it that the Cui family doesn't play by the rules at all?

“Madam Lin, even if you are not worried about them now, your daughter-in-law, Madam Lin, is probably very worried.”

“If you don’t agree to my terms now, your daughter-in-law will agree to them later.”

"But things are different now than they were then. I'll make sure the Bai family gets a taste of their own medicine."

"Madam Lin, are you really willing to see the Bai family destroyed because of your refusal to help them in their time of need?"

The smile on Cui's face vanished instantly. What she hated most was being threatened, especially so openly.

"So what? Miss Hai, you've gone through all this trouble just to get into the Lin family?"

Hai Shengyang nodded slightly, "That's right! Madam Lin, my sincerity is complete, please grant my request."

Cui laughed loudly, "I can't grant your wish! I can't grant your wish!"

"I'm not in charge of making decisions for our family, you've got the wrong person!"

Hai Shengyang was slightly taken aback. "Madam Lin, you are an elder. Even if you are not the head of the family, I still have to listen to your words."

Cui waved her hand, "Our family is different. In our family, Lin Datou has always been the one to make the decisions."

"Now that Wanqing is here, she's in charge. You should go find Wanqing."

Hai Shengyang was surprised that the Cui family had completely distanced themselves from the matter, it seemed they really didn't want to get involved in the Bai family's affairs.

"Isn't Madam Lin afraid of creating a rift between her and her daughter-in-law?"

"What if something happens to the Bai family? Won't Bai Wanqing resent you, Madam Lin?"

No sooner had Hai Shengyang finished speaking than a woman's voice came from the doorway.

"Miss Hai is overthinking it. This is a matter for the Bai family; what does it have to do with my mother-in-law?"

Hai Shengyang turned his head slightly and saw Bai Wanqing standing in the middle of the courtyard. The yamen runner at the gate was looking at Hai Shengyang nervously, but he couldn't stop her! This was the wife of the prefect.

Hai Shengyang smiled and said, "Madam Lin, you've come at the perfect time. Your mother-in-law and I were just discussing when I would be married into the family. Now that you're here, it saves us the trouble of notifying you later."

Hai Shengyang let the yamen runners let Bai Wanqing in. When Cui saw Bai Wanqing, a smile appeared in her eyes. She immediately walked up to Bai Wanqing, took her hand, and whispered.

"This Miss Hai is a vicious person. You'd better be careful."

Bai Wanqing gently patted Cui's hand, "Mother, I know! I know what to do."

(End of this chapter)