Madam Huang said, "That is acceptable. Since the mother of your in-law doesn't trust us, you can take Yunqi back yourself to see a doctor. If it matches what our physician said, I hope Yunqi won't lie to us when she returns. By then, we will need to make arrangements in our household, and I doubt you'll be able to stop us then."

Madam Huang hadn't intended to be so blunt, but upon hearing Yunqi’s mother berate her own family matters, she assumed Yunqi had been the source. Holding a grudge against Yunqi naturally made her disregard her feelings entirely.

When Yunqi heard Madam Huang’s words, her already ashen complexion turned even paler; she seemed ready to collapse at any moment. If the maid beside her hadn't supported her, she would surely have fallen.

She had spent days contemplating this matter and had mentally prepared herself, yet hearing it stated so plainly by her mother-in-law was something she could not immediately process. A single sentence from her mother-in-law shattered her composure.

Chen'er, watching his mother push his sister-in-law to this state, tugged at Madam Huang’s sleeve and whispered, "Mother, stop saying such things. Look, Sister-in-law can barely stand." After speaking, Chen'er hurried to Yunqi’s side, helping Zisu support her as they led her inside.

Madam Huang was, after all, a soft-hearted person. Although Yunqi was wrong to discuss their family affairs with her mother, and the facts remained what they were, speaking to Yunqi this way at this moment was overly cruel. After all, they were both women; experiencing such an issue would be devastating for any woman, let alone the somewhat naive Yunqi.

She heeded Chen'er’s words and said no more, merely turning her head away, resolving not to argue further with Yunqi’s mother.

On the side, Er Niu noticed Yunqi’s mother still standing there, anger clouding her face, clearly disbelieving them. He then spoke up, "In-law, we have indeed had Yunqi seen by a doctor these past two days. Several renowned physicians in town have already made a diagnosis; Yunqi herself knows this. She went with Da Bao to see the doctors; you can ask her later."

"It is fine for you to take Yunqi back. Let her rest for a couple of days, and let the respected father-in-law examine her to confirm our statements. Although our Lin family values heirs greatly, we would not act against our conscience. We have not uttered a single falsehood today. As for future matters, we will discuss them thoroughly after Yunqi returns."

Er Niu's few sentences were delivered with such sincerity that Yunqi’s mother could not offer a rebuttal. She merely nodded softly and headed toward Yunqi’s room.

Later, as afternoon approached, Yunqi’s mother took Yunqi and returned home. Er Niu went to the pastry shop to ask Da Bao to arrange a carriage to send them off.

Hearing this, Lin He finally understood the whole situation. She felt a degree of awkwardness, realizing this matter was indeed difficult to manage and handle delicately. In truth, her own family was facing a similar predicament.

At this moment, Lin He felt her mother hadn't been too harsh. If it had been a different mother-in-law, Yunqi’s fate might have been far worse. After all, one could not compare the customs of this era with those of her previous life. People in the past had broader perspectives; many believed that as long as two people were happy together, that was sufficient, and the essence of marriage was not solely about producing children. But these ideas would not resonate in this world.

After saying her piece, Madam Huang took a breath and asked, "He'er, what do you think our family should do? Your father and your elder brother are both waiting for your return to decide. The situation has reached this point."

Lin He sighed, "I truly cannot make a decision on this matter. Let Elder Brother decide for himself. Don't pressure him; let him speak with Sister-in-law directly. Whatever he feels should be done, let him do it. He is a grown man; he can handle these things himself. You all just need to stay out of it."

"He'er, what are you saying? How can we not be involved? If your elder brother never makes a decision, am I just supposed to let him drift along? That is simply not acceptable," Madam Huang murmured in complaint.

Seeing Madam Huang’s demeanor, Lin He frowned slightly and patiently advised, "Mother, you must trust Elder Brother. He will certainly reach a conclusion; he cannot remain in this state forever, rest assured. In any case, stop bringing this up frequently in front of him and Sister-in-law, and just let him handle it. Whether it’s taking a concubine or divorcing her, it has to be his own choice. Elder Brother is not young anymore. As you yourself say, other men his age already have several children, meaning he is an adult. He cannot expect you to arrange everything for him his entire life. If such a grown man cannot even manage these matters, how will he shoulder the responsibility of this household when you and Father grow old?"

"Then, He'er, are you saying that from now on, Father and I should not interfere in any of you children's affairs?" Madam Huang complained, displeased.

"Mother, that is not what I mean. I mean that Elder Brother is old enough; he needs to carry the burdens that are his to bear. Think about it: even if you help him resolve this, if he disagrees, you still cannot force it. In the end, the conflict between mother and son will only multiply, and if he becomes too frustrated, he might even defy you. Do you think that would be good? When children grow up, as parents, you should only offer your advice at the appropriate time. The final decision should still be his to make. Think about it, isn’t that the logic?" Lin He looked at Madam Huang as she spoke.

Madam Huang considered Lin He’s words and conceded it was true. Setting aside other things, just thinking about her argument with Da Bao recently—though what Da Bao said about marrying Yunqi initially was spoken in anger and shouldn't be taken entirely at face value—the underlying resentment was apparent. If she hadn't been so hasty to bring Yunqi into the family, Da Bao wouldn't harbor these grievances.

After a long silence, Er Niu also chimed in, "Wife, He'er is right. The children have grown up; they are no longer like when they were little, where whatever we said went. We should stop pressuring Da Bao about taking a concubine; let him decide for himself. Furthermore, look at how the house has been full of quarrels these past few days because you keep holding onto this issue. It wears people out, and the daily life of the household suffers. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings; it is time for us to let go."

"Yes, Mother, look at Father; his thinking is so much better. Stop dwelling on these unhappy things all day. Father has finally managed a few days in town; when you have time, walk around with him. Don't keep thinking about those vexing matters," Lin He said, smiling at Madam Huang.

"Fine, I will listen to He'er. I won't rush Da Bao about this for now, I'll let him handle it himself, but the time frame cannot be too long, or I will still nag him," Madam Huang said, also smiling.

"Mm, whatever you say. Right now, my mother is the mistress of our household; who would dare disobey her words?" Lin He teased, linking her arm through Madam Huang’s.

Madam Huang laughed at Lin He’s words, shooting her a playful glare, "This child, even though you're married, you’re still so mischievous. Be careful people don't laugh at you."

Lin He smiled until her eyes crinkled, resting her head on Madam Huang’s shoulder. "I am speaking with my own mother; I can act however I wish. I am not afraid of being laughed at."