Indeed, the affair with Lan Jiu suited Lin Maoshan perfectly; it was smoothly concluded by going with the flow. Otherwise, he had actually been cooperating with Lan's father, never imagining that Lan Jiu, once grown, would be just as capable as her father. In this round, the two of them joined forces to thoroughly fleece the Su family.

Although Ning Yunhuan felt the Su Ying family was pitiful, she didn't understand the affairs of these big players, nor did she care to meddle. She only heard that things had become extremely perilous. After concluding this matter, Lan Lingyan kept silent and changed the subject. Lan Jiu naturally understood her thoughts and didn't press the matter further.

Lan's father had secretly arrived in Huaxia in the early hours of the morning. The couple was currently on their way to the Lin family's old residence for a meal. Since everyone knew Ning Yunhuan's son was on the mountain, some people were suspicious if Ning Yunhuan was going to the Lin residence or had discovered something. However, Ning Yunhuan often visited the Lin family anyway, and with the Su family now beyond recovery, even if they were plotting something, it would be a futile effort. Several cars made their way into the mountains without incident.

Upon reaching the mountain, Lan Lingyan was immediately pulled aside by Lin Maoshan. He had rendered great service in this recent affair. Many among the Lin family’s new third generation looked at this cousin with malice. Lin Min was still as flamboyant as the first time Ning Yunhuan met her, pulling Ning Yunhuan into the house to talk.

“That surnamed Gu from last time—I’ll get back at her for you.” Lin Min tossed her head proudly at Ning Yunhuan, twirling a strand of her long, wavy, curled hair around her finger. She looked enchantingly graceful, like a woman just in her twenties or thirties, radiating mature allure.

Ning Yunhuan had hidden at home these past two days, aware of the tense atmosphere outside, and hadn't dared to go out. She had completely forgotten about that issue. Now, hearing Lin Min mention it, her head began to ache. “Mom, I won’t lie to you. You don’t know this woman; she possesses special abilities in a certain aspect.” Seeing Lin Min’s skeptical look, she sighed, “If you don’t believe me, just watch. Gu Yingxi is a fatal ** for men, like the poppy flower. If you send people after her, you’ll only facilitate her chance encounters, and a powerful patron will save her.”

Such talk sounded utterly fantastical, and Lin Min naturally didn’t believe it, assuming Ning Yunhuan was joking. “I am the powerful patron!”

“Let me tell you quietly, she was infatuated with Xiao Jiu back then and had harassed your son, didn't she? Lan Jiu had people teach her a lesson, but she was saved by Young Master Mu Er.” Although there was no one around, Ning Yunhuan lowered her voice. “Afterward, Lan Jiu never made a move again. He had actually noticed Gu Yingxi’s extraordinary good fortune.”

Mentioning Mu Jinyan, Lin Min’s expression immediately soured, and the smile at the corner of her lips vanished, replaced by solemnity. “Huanhuan, do you really think Jinyan is feigning idiocy? Your father once said the same thing, and he also said that last time…” Lin Min showed a flicker of embarrassment at this point before quickly continuing, “He also said he harbors ill intentions. I’m somewhat reluctant to believe it.”

Since Mu Jinyan was brought up, Ning Yunhuan actually knew the true capabilities of this man; anyone who underestimated him never ended well. Just as she was about to speak, Lin Min interjected:

“The Su family is going to be unlucky this time, but Cousin over there has some ambitions for that position. Father hasn’t expressed his stance yet, so I’m only telling you this; it hasn’t been officially announced yet. Don't tell anyone else first.” Lin Min suddenly thought of something and spilled a secret to Ning Yunhuan before asking, “If Jinyan really is pretending to be foolish and is also scheming, perhaps his sights aren't set on the Mu family, but rather on our Lin family’s position. Is his goal the Head of State position?”

Whether Mu Jinyan possessed that ability, Ning Yunhuan didn’t know, but he was certainly not lacking in ambition.

“That’s certain. Mu Jinyan is absolutely faking it. Think about it, how could a truly idiotic person only say a few nonsensical things and have people genuinely believe he’s an imbecile? I’ve been paying attention to Mu Jinyan all these years; I haven’t seen him do anything foolish, like drooling or eating his boogers…” She described it gruesomely, causing Lin Min’s mouth to twitch. However, upon serious consideration, she found the idea quite plausible. Thinking of Mu Jinyan maintaining his pretense for so many years, to the point where everyone assumed he was an idiot, she fell silent.

“If that’s true, what an excellent Mu Jinyan, what an exceptional fool, to even dare plot against me! He’s gone too far!” Lin Min’s attitude toward Ning Yunhuan had changed most drastically after Ning Yunhuan was kidnapped. Initially, Lin Min had gloated, but later, under Lan’s father’s guidance, she realized she had been used as a pawn.

This realization naturally enraged Lin Min. Having been a favored daughter since birth, she had now been toyed with by a mere younger relation. Recalling her own mockery of Ning Yunhuan, if this matter truly involved her, Lin Min imagined herself in that position and likely wouldn't have remained as calm as Ning Yunhuan. A sliver of apology formed in her heart. When she looked at Ning Yunhuan, she no longer found her as objectionable as before. Furthermore, Mu Mingli had vaguely mentioned Lin Maoshan’s affairs to her, and Lan’s father had also advised her. After spending time with Ning Yunhuan, she found that the women married into the Lan family were merely pitiable women who shared the same plight.

Ning Yunhuan dared not boast about other skills, but having lived several lifetimes, she possessed richer experience in dealing with people. If she didn't actively try to win people over, fine, but once she decided to get along with Lin Min, their bond naturally deepened. Having cast aside their previous prejudices, as women married into the Lan family, they found common ground. Lin Min also harbored some resentment over being manipulated by Mu Jinyan at that time, which is why, upon hearing about Gu Yingxi, she wanted to stand up for Ning Yunhuan.

“He plotted against you?” Ning Yunhuan asked with some curiosity. Seeing Lin Min hesitate, clearly unwilling to elaborate, she asked one question before turning to discuss something else. Lin Min breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing her discretion, she felt her previous dislike for Ning Yunhuan had indeed been excessive.

They had only chatted for a few moments when someone knocked on the outer door. Lin Min responded, and the outer door opened. Mu Mingli, holding onto the arms of Madam Mu and others, was approaching Lin Min’s room. “What secret conversation are you two having, you in-laws, that you even excluded me?”

With the Su family fallen and the time ripe for a change in leadership, the position of Head of State was certainly up for grabs. At this juncture, those related by marriage to the Lin family included not only the Mu family but also the Ye clan, the maternal side of Lin Chen’s wife, and other in-laws from various families who had arrived. Everyone now desperately wanted to cling to Mu Mingli’s coattails. For several days, outsiders aside, relatives had been visiting frequently. Madam Mu, capitalizing on the fact that Mu Mingli was Mu Shaohua’s paternal aunt, visited the most. Seeing her now reminded Lin Min of Mu Jinyan, and a look of ill intent flashed in her eyes. Although it was fleeting, Ning Yunhuan, seated beside her, caught the flicker of Lin Min’s gaze.

“Minmin, it’s rare to see you. You didn’t say goodbye last time you left; it made me miss you for ages,” Madam Mu Tian Yuxin said in an intimate tone. Her relationship with Lin Min, her husband’s cousin, wasn't bad in the past. The other Lin family relatives nearby looked on with envy.

Take Lin Chen’s wife’s family, the Ye clan, for instance. When Lin Chen’s wife married into the Lin family, Lin Min was already close to marrying Lan’s father. The two sisters-in-law had little interaction and weren't particularly close, not comparable to Tian Yuxin, who had been married into the Mu family for decades and had spent time with Lin Min when she was quite young.

Standing at this perilous juncture, even if they knew the Head of State position might not necessarily go to them, facing such a ** temptation, everyone inevitably harbored some yearning. Among these competitors, Mu Mingli’s maternal family, who currently held the reins, was undoubtedly the most promising. Lin Maoshan was Mu Shaohua’s direct paternal uncle; there was no reason he would support his son-in-law's future in-laws over his own wife’s family. As for the Lin family’s various princes, they were all excluded by general consensus. After all, Lin Maoshan would rather cede the Head of State position to an outsider than give it to his own sons, showing that while Lin Chen and the others held status, ascending to the Head of State position was impossible.

Lin Min did not smile when she saw Madam Mu, as she might have in the past. Instead, she replied coldly, “What’s on my mind? Why should I tell you?”

Her blunt words stunned Tian Yuxin for a moment. When she recovered, she saw the surprise and mockery on the faces of those around her, instantly freezing in shock. Lin Min and she had always maintained a decent relationship; regardless of their inner thoughts, they had at least preserved appearances. As the saying goes, one doesn't strike a smiling face. Now that she had been so ingratiating, everyone knew she was trying to get close to Lin Min, yet she was spoken to like this.

Tian Yuxin’s face instantly darkened. Mu Mingli glanced faintly at her daughter: “How are you speaking to your cousin-in-law, Minmin? Have no manners.” Although it was a reprimand, there was little true blame in Mu Mingli’s tone. Everyone present felt they had heard something unspoken. Tian Yuxin started to panic slightly. She had received instructions from her husband: pleasing Mu Mingli and Lin Min was essential. If she failed to manage things now and instead annoyed this mother and daughter, Mu Shaohua probably wouldn't treat her kindly later. Moreover, the prestige of the First Lady was incredibly tempting, something Tian Yuxin certainly desired.

For some inexplicable reason, Lin Min had turned hostile. Tian Yuxin felt humiliated and extremely fearful. “Minmin, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” She was trying to give Lin Min a way out, which everyone could see, but Lin Min showed Madam Mu absolutely no courtesy. She sneered coldly: “Are you cursing me? Mind your own son. Pretending to be an idiot, hiding schemes behind the scenes—he even dares to frame me. He must have the gall of a leopard.”