Lin He thought that after this long absence, Wen Ningmo's youthful affection for her would eventually fade. But seeing his current expression and hearing the words he spoke aloud, it seemed the knot in his heart had never unraveled. Perhaps now was the time to untie it with her own hands.

The smile faded from Lin He's face as she regarded Wen Ningmo solemnly. "Xiaomo," she said seriously, "I will never regret marrying your second elder brother. Although our marriage has lasted only a short while and many events have occurred, I'm actually grateful for these trials we've shared together. Truly, no matter what we endure with Second Brother, I'll always be without regrets."

Seeing Wen Ningmo's wounded expression, Lin He offered him a faint smile brimming with easy grace. "Xiaomo," she continued gently, "I once heard of a Western tale where the Creator plucked a rib from a sleeping man to create woman, from whom all humanity descended. Since then, men have been missing one rib - only when they find their matching bone do they achieve true completeness."

"This means every soul in this world requires its own corresponding rib. Evidence has already shown that I am Second Brother's missing rib, while yours still awaits discovery. One day you'll encounter the right woman who complements you perfectly," she assured him. "Not just for you but everyone, such a person will appear eventually. When they do, I hope you'll cherish them deeply. And if something doesn't belong to you, learn to let go early - it's better that way, yes?"

Lin He had never formally refused anyone before. Now all she knew was the need to clarify with Xiaomo, though uncertainty left her words slightly incoherent. If only he could grasp her meaning.

After speaking these thoughts aloud, Lin He brushed past him as if they were children again - a gentle pat on his head, then summoning Zi Yu and others back to their courtyard.

Left alone beneath the rib story's weighty implication, young Wen Ningmo eventually reached understanding. As Lin He had said, she was Second Brother's missing piece, not his own.

Lin He spent several days in the Wen household. The clan indeed grew quieter after splitting apart. Elder Master Wen now rested but still summoned Xiaomo daily to manage family affairs through shop operations - a clear indication he intended to entrust everything to his son in time. Xiaomo was both intelligent and the legitimate heir, making him an ideal choice with Lady Wen's inevitable approval.

Meanwhile, Madam Er and Madam San busied themselves day and night arranging comforts for their imprisoned husbands. Young Masters Si and Wu mourned their grandmother's downfall though they knew she'd brought it upon herself through her own misdeeds.

Curiously, Fourth Madam visited Lin He multiple times during her stay. Unlike others, she never mentioned the matriarch's troubles but simply conversed about child-rearing as before - serene and composed in manner. To Lin He, their connection felt like an inevitable thread of fate between people.

In following months quiet settled over Lin He's life. The elderly matron received a ten-year sentence for being chief conspirator while her sons-in-law got eight years each for complicity. Winter Rain's case also cleared up - the mastermind behind it all was indeed Zeng Weiliang, who had connected with her through Third Happy Auntie from Lin He's household. Through her brother working at Zeng family's cosmetics shop, he'd established contact.

It seemed Winter Rain and Zeng Weiliang shared more than business ties. Rumors suggested the man promised to take Winter Rain as concubine after she helped him execute his schemes, which explained her fervent assistance. When the plot unraveled, Winter Rain requested either marriage or redemption from Zeng Weiliang - only to be dismissed completely when her usefulness ended. Not only did he eject her publicly with no compensation, but some of his men later brutally assaulted her in a secluded location after chasing her away, which shattered her sanity.

Now Winter Rain roamed Lin village barefoot and half-dressed during daylight hours before returning to sleep on straw at night beneath the eaves of their former shack. Though He Shi provided extra quilts, she was beyond help now.

Zeng Weiliang's ill fortune didn't stop there. Ling Xiang had already disclosed all details from Lin He to Zeng family elders through Zhao Yu's return. Unexpectedly, Master Zeng didn't expel him but handed judgment over to his daughter-in-law. Rather than showing mercy for their marital bond, the lady of the house divorced him publicly and condemned him to the lowest menial tasks in her household with a solemn vow that he would remain a servant forevermore.

Lin He kept this revelation private within family circles though Da Jiang knew about it since Zhao Yu detailed everything - including how Zeng Weiliang manipulated a dying man into a brothel. With additional funds provided by Lin He to the victim's family, all accusations were confirmed.

Overwhelmed with guilt over these events, Da Jiang personally apologized to Lin He at her home. He vowed none of his kin would ever seek positions in her shops or properties no matter how much they pleaded - something she agreed with wholeheartedly as this was exactly what she'd planned anyway.

Lin He believed all bad chapters had finally closed until a family incident during her seventh month pregnancy tested her faith again.

One day, Lin He sat in the courtyard with several maids. Her pregnant belly now bulged abnormally large compared to average expectant mothers - possibly twins though Purple Jade's relentless feeding habits might also be blame. Munching on pastries while watching her attendants work, she asked Zi Qing suddenly, "Zi Qing, when exactly will my elder brother return? Months have passed since he left and everything for your wedding is ready. Why hasn't he come back yet?"

As Zi Qing served more cakes, she replied softly, "My lady need not worry about immediate nuptials even if Da Bao returns soon. At the earliest I'd wait until you've recovered from childbirth first - otherwise I wouldn't feel at ease."

Rolling her eyes as dozens of wet nurses and attendants bustled around, Lin He waved dismissively. "Nonsense! When my elder brother arrives, you must marry immediately," she insisted. "My parents have already pressured me repeatedly about this matter. If they discover your hesitation now, they'll certainly accuse me of delaying things further. From here on out you should focus completely on my elder brother - not waste thoughts on me!"