Lin He offered the Third Madam a faint smile, lifted the tea from the stone table, took a light sip, offered no agreement or disagreement, and said nothing more. She had already stated her position; whether they believed her or not was up to them. Besides, the more one talked about such matters, the more speculation arose, so there was no need to rush to confirm anything.

Furthermore, regardless of the motives of these women, Lin He had no intention of forming close bonds with them. However, since they had come to her courtyard today, as the younger generation, it was necessary to offer some courtesy. As for other matters that could be avoided, it was best to steer clear of them as much as possible.

As soon as the Third Madam finished speaking, the Second Madam quickly chimed in, “Indeed, Xuan’s wife, this position of head of the household is coveted by many, but not everyone is qualified to hold it. Look around the family now; the one with both the ability and the right to contend with Ning Chen is your husband, Ning Xuan. And compared to Ning Chen, Ning Xuan even has an extra pillar of support.”

“I heard my husband say that most of the goods in the family’s shops are supplied by your balm workshop, and those goods sell the best in the shops. If Ning Xuan takes over as head of the household in the future, it will naturally benefit the Wen family, and both you and your husband. I presume Father already considered this point, so…” The Second Madam trailed off mid-sentence, suddenly stopping.

Though she left the rest unsaid, everyone present understood her implication. Lin He remained outwardly silent, but inwardly, she sneered; it turned out the Second Madam harbored the deepest scheme.

These few sentences, while seemingly praising her and her husband, were actually designed to cause trouble for them. Once spoken, it was unlikely anyone would believe they had no desire for the position of the Wen family head. Those who were previously unwary would now start guarding against them, and those already cautious would undoubtedly tighten their vigilance.

If one looked no further, even the usually seemingly simplest Third Madam’s gaze toward her had changed. There was a flicker of envy in her eyes—no, more accurately, a look of ingratiation—as she said, “He’er, Second Sister-in-law speaks the truth. It seems the position of head of the household belongs only to Ning Xuan. When you become the matriarch of the Wen family, you must look after Third Aunt.”

Aunt Luo, standing nearby, displayed a complex expression after hearing the words of the Third and Second Madams. After a moment, she composed herself into a forced, relaxed smile and said, “Yes. I also believe Ning Xuan is the most suitable candidate. If the Master entrusts the Wen family to his hands, I will be the first to agree.”

Lin He listened to their chatter, growing more vexed with every word. If these remarks reached Madam Wen or the Old Madam, her hopes for a leisurely future might be dashed. Lin He rubbed her forehead and spoke with a tone that was half-joking, half-serious: “Both Aunts and Aunt Luo are clever women. You have been in the Wen family long enough to know which words should be said and which should not. Please, do not spread such jokes in the future. Eldest Brother is the eldest son; the position of head of the household inherently belongs to Eldest Brother—that is the Wen family rule. I believe no matter how capable a person is, they cannot override family rules. Those who know us will understand you are speaking lightly today, but those who do not might take it seriously. If others begin to suspect what my husband and I are plotting, I truly cannot bear that burden. Please, do not speak of such things again.”

By the time Lin He finished, her expression had become somewhat stern. Her words had been rather blunt, causing the women to pause, momentarily stunned that Lin He would criticize them so directly. Suddenly, they all looked somewhat awkward, unsure how to respond.

After a long silence settled over the courtyard, Lin He scanned their faces, then laughed again, adding playfully, “Look at me, my tongue runs away with me once I start talking. I forgot I was speaking with my Aunts and Aunt Luo. Surely you aren't angry with me, are you? I am simply not adept at speaking. If I have offended in any way, please forgive me, if not for anything else, then for the sake of the fragrant balm today?”

The Fourth Madam, who had remained silent until then, chuckled upon hearing Lin He’s words. “Indeed, if you want us not to be angry, you must think of us first when making fragrant balm in the future, always setting some aside for us. Otherwise, my sisters-in-law and I certainly won’t let you off easily.”

The Fourth Madam spoke with a smile, which helped dissolve much of the awkwardness in the courtyard. The other women present followed suit with laughter. The Third Madam interjected with a smile, “Yes, Fourth Sister-in-law is right. He’er, you must not forget us when making balm in the future. Otherwise, if I smell fragrance in my courtyard later, I’ll come looking for you. If you don’t have ready-made balm, then you must make some for us on the spot.”

The Third Madam’s comment elicited more laughter from the others. The women began chatting animatedly again, but the conversation shifted entirely to typical feminine topics. The earlier contentious remarks were never brought up again, and the small unpleasantness seemed as if it had never occurred.

As lunchtime approached, the Madams rose to take their leave, all mentioning that their husbands would be returning soon and they needed to attend to preparations.

Lin He escorted them all to the courtyard gate. The Fourth Madam was the last to depart. After the others had gone, she looked at Lin He with a gentle smile and said, “He’er, some things do not need to be explained so clearly to people. Those who understand you will know your thoughts even if you don't explain. Those who don't will never believe you, no matter how much you elaborate, especially here in the Wen family. If you can take things in stride, life in the Wen family will not be so difficult.”

The Fourth Madam addressed her as “He’er,” not “Xuan’s wife.” This made Lin He feel that the Fourth Madam was genuinely speaking to her as Lin He the person, rather than to the Second Young Mistress of the Wen family. This unexpected warmth touched Lin He. She smiled and nodded to the Fourth Madam, who then departed with a smile.

Watching the receding figure of the Fourth Madam, Lin He felt a lingering warmth. In the time she had been here, aside from her own family and the ever-present Zi Qing and Zi Yu, no one had spoken such heartfelt words to her. Although this woman was her Fourth Aunt by title, in terms of true affection, she was still a stranger. Yet, her words and actions invariably brought a sense of comfort. Could this be what people called fate? Lin He had always believed in the concept of fate.

After the Fourth Madam left, Lin He, accompanied by Zi Yu, prepared to turn back. Before she could pivot, she saw Wen Ning Xuan returning from outside, followed by the expressionless Ling Xiao.