Chapter 1277: Chapter 1277

They say it’s suicide, but she doesn’t believe it. She only thinks these men are heartless, and most of those sisters were likely forced to their deaths by husbands trying to sever ties with the Ducal Residence and prove their loyalty to the Emperor.

When the Ducal Residence held immense power, they were revered within their homes, and their husbands feared them greatly. The men harbored resentment for years. Now that the Ducal Residence has fallen, how could they possibly fare well?

Though Lin Xingyi hadn’t done anything to her, she still felt her death might not be far off.

Lin Xingyi let out a soft sigh and decided to sit down to have a proper talk with her.

"I have never considered your identity or your natal family to matter in our relationship. The hurdle here is in your own mind. If you fall gravely ill, many might rejoice, but I certainly wouldn’t be one of them."

Madam Lin only felt a sourness welling in her heart and said, "Haven’t you always thought I was too overbearing? Oppressing the concubines in your household? Otherwise, you might have had more sons by now."

"When have I ever said you oppressed the concubines?" Lin Xingyi asked, puzzled.

"Then what is with their behavior now? Multiple times a day, groups come into my quarters to flaunt their power."

"Such a thing happened?" Lin Xingyi took a sharp breath. No wonder he’d been feeling more irritable lately, as though the household was no longer as peaceful as it used to be.

"Alright, I understand now. Just focus on recuperating. As for Qianqing, she’s fine and should be returning soon. Since King Jin has been confined to the Zongrenfu, she will likely be sent back to her natal family."

Hearing Lin Xingyi’s words, Madam Lin finally showed a trace of liveliness on her face and exclaimed, "Really? Qianqing is coming back soon?"

"Of course it’s true. The Emperor has shown us some measure of mercy," Lin Xingyi sighed. "But the Emperor has conditions. He wants you to write a letter to the Beiping Army Camp to persuade General Jin to submit."

Madam Lin’s expression turned bitter as she said, "What use is it for me to write? When the Ducal Residence was ransacked, it was done without hesitation. Hundreds of lives—all gone. My parents, my elder brother, and his wife... I wasn’t even allowed to collect their bodies. How am I supposed to write such a letter?"

Lin Xingyi gazed at her calmly and sighed, "I didn’t tell you sooner because you’ve been unwell. The Emperor has allowed them to be laid to rest, and I’ve already buried them. However, the Emperor’s condition is that the Beiping Army must surrender. Although he phrased it that way, he first issued the decree to let the Ducal Residence’s people be buried. The Emperor has shown his sincerity; the rest is up to you."

"Me? What can I possibly do? If I write the letter, they’ll only curse me as a traitor, someone who loves her life too much to care. How can I write such a thing?" Faced with Lin Xingyi’s exhortations, Madam Lin became visibly agitated.

"How can they be so cruel? They wipe out my entire family and then ask me to write a letter of surrender?"

"The Ducal Residence plotted treason for years; their fate was of their own making. According to the law, you and I shouldn’t even be alive. Wake up; the Ducal Residence is finished."

Lin Xingyi became agitated as well. If not for the Emperor arranging the marriage, he never would have married Jin Yuan.

But since the marriage had been made, he took responsibility for it. Over the years, though he couldn’t say he was entirely satisfied, Lin Xingyi still believed he had treated her fairly.

It was Jin Yuan who, time and again, blindly obeyed her natal family, dragging him into countless incidents as their pawn.

Madam Lin began to sob uncontrollably, crying out, "Will you only be satisfied if you drive me to death as well? I understand now. People like us are all destined to die. The only reason you’re not pressuring me to death right now is that you want that letter from me. I finally see it now. No wonder all my sisters are dead. It’s all because of men like you forcing us!"