Shang Mingjie asked cautiously, "Was the commander-in-chief at that time a member of your family?"

  The old lady smiled, "At that time, Lin's army was still there. Your great-grandfather was in Lin's army, and the commander-in-chief would naturally be someone from the Lin family."

  "Your great-grandfather has been through a hundred battles, how could he have died so easily?"

  The old lady sighed, "I vaguely heard your grandfather say that they encountered an ambush, and only a few of the people your great-grandfather brought with him survived."

  The brother and sister exchanged a glance, and Shang Danzhu quietly stretched out her hand to poke her brother. Shang Mingjie lowered his head and whispered: "Will it be that the Lin family doesn't like Grandfather Zeng, so..."

  The old lady glared at him and scolded, "What nonsense are you talking about? At that time, the Lin family's military power was very high, while the Zhao family was just a small deputy general under their command. Why would the Lin family target the Zhao family?"

  The old lady was a sharp woman, and the two children were not very good at hiding their intentions. At this time, she had somewhat sensed their purpose and couldn't help but let out a faint sigh: "I don't know what misunderstanding there is between the Lin and Zhao families, but when your uncle was still alive, the relationship between the two families was not bad. I really can't understand how they became like this now."

  She reached out and grasped the hands of the two children, sighing: "Grandmother is old and can't force your uncle to let Lin's family off, nor can I ask you to get along with Zhao's family, but I hope our Shang family can be impartial and not help one side suppress the other. The Zhao family is your mother's brother's family, but the Lin family is also your aunt's family, and your cousin Lin is your aunt's only blood relative."

  "Grandma..."

  The old lady wiped away her tears and said, "To think about it, I still owe you an apology, Lin sister. I couldn't protect her after all. Fortunately, she has an aunt, otherwise..."

  The old lady's words trailed off here, and she fell into a daze. Could it be that Lin Jiang had been unwilling to give Yu Bin to her because of the Zhao family?

  Her face gradually looked unwell.

  Shang Mingjie and Shang Danzhu didn't think that much, they simply thought Old Lady Shang was heartbroken, so they hurriedly promised to get along well with the Lin family in the future and take good care of Lin Yubin.

  The old lady was exhausted and waved her hand: "I know you are all good children, as long as you get along well."

  Nan Chun glanced at Old Madame's face and immediately stepped forward, saying: "Second Master, Third Miss, Old Madame is tired. Why don't we stop here for today? Let Old Madame take a rest."

  The brother and sister saw that their grandmother's face was not good, so they hurriedly stood up and bid farewell.

  The old lady waved her hand, and after they left, she sat back on the bed with Nan Chun's hand in hers. Her heart was burning with anxiety, and she couldn't help but ask, "Nan Chun, do you think Master Gou had already discovered that the Zhao family was not right, so he didn't want Yubin to live with us at first? He would rather donate all his property than let me take care of it for the Shang family?"

  "Old lady, you're thinking too much. Didn't the two families just have a falling out recently? My uncle said so himself, it's because he's worried about the country and its people that he donated his property."

  The old lady shook her head slowly, "No, no, the Lin family is good, but not to that extent of selflessness. Besides, there's still Master Yu and Yu Bin around, how could they possibly be willing to donate so many properties?"

  "This is... evading trouble?" Old Lady Shang frowned, "As long as our Shang family is here, how can the Zhao family bully Yubin and get away with it?"

  Nan Chun lowered his head and thought silently, isn't the Zhao family bullying Miss Biao right under your nose?

  Shang Mingjie and his sister walked out of the yard with a different mood. Shang Mingjie said, "There might be some misunderstanding in between. I also feel that the Lin family doesn't seem like the kind of people who would design to harm Grandfather Zeng. Let's talk it over with our uncle and let the two families make amends."

  "Are you kidding me? With the way things are between our families now, how can we just go back to normal? And from your great-grandfather to your uncle, and even your mother, they've all acknowledged this grudge. What makes you think they'll believe you without any evidence?"

  Shang Mingjie licked his lips, "Grandma didn't say that there were still a few people alive back then, maybe they know the truth."

  "How many years have passed and you think they are still alive?" Even their grandparents are gone, can we still expect people from the generation of great-grandparents to be alive? Or those who participated in the war.

  Shang Danzhu rolled her eyes and asked, "Do you think the Lin family will have any records?"

  Shang Mingjie slowly shook his head and said, "Even if there is, it's probably very difficult to find. Otherwise, Uncle wouldn't be completely unaware of this. He has a good relationship with the uncles after all these years."

  At least before, he had never heard of any contradictions between the two families. In his impression, the relationship between the three families had always been good. By comparison, the relationships between the other two major families in Jiangnan, the Zhou family and the Xie family, were much more lukewarm.

  While his uncle's family hated his aunt's family so much, they could still be so close to each other, Shang Mingjie just thought about it and felt a chill all over his body.

  Shang Mingjie licked his lips and turned to leave. Shang Danzhu was stunned for a moment, then immediately pulled him back and asked, "Where are you going?"

  "I'm going out for a walk."

  Shang Danzhu looked at him suspiciously, "You're not going to look for Lin sister, are you?"

  Shang Mingjie's expression didn't change as he said: "Am I such a muddled person? The matter hasn't been investigated yet, how could I have spoken with her?"

  Shang Dan let out a sigh of relief and said in a low voice, "After all, they are our uncle and mother. Don't be reckless. If it's really a misunderstanding later on, the two families might still be able to make amends."

  Shang Mingjie pursed his lips and didn't say a word, turning around and walking away.

  He certainly also knew that this was the best for both the Shang and Zhao families, but even if it proved to be a misunderstanding, his uncle would not be willing to stop.

  Lin Aunt and others are completely unaware, aren't they going to suffer a great loss?

  Looking at Mother's expression just now, the Zhao family obviously has a deeper grudge against the Lin family. I'm afraid that even if it is confirmed that what happened to my great-grandfather was a misunderstanding, they will not let go of this matter.

  Shang Mingjie felt a pang in his heart and rode his horse directly to the Lin family's villa, and when he came back to himself, he was already standing in front of the gate.

  He grasped the reins tightly, staring at the two characters "Lin's Residence" on the signboard, momentarily bewildered and at a loss.

  The gatekeeper opened the door and saw Tabo Gongzi standing there motionless, so he walked over to him and followed his gaze upwards, "Tabo Gongzi, what are you looking at?"

  Shang Mingjie came back to himself, lowered his eyes and stared at his toes for a while, hesitated for a moment before asking, "Is Lin Aunt here?"

  The gatekeeper almost suffocated and seeing him finally speak up, hastily nodded: "Yes, the young lady and the two sisters are all here."

  He invited people in, "Tell Master Gongzi to go to the flower hall first, and I'll send someone to inform Auntie."

  Shang Mingjie walked dejectedly towards the Flower Hall.

  Lin Qingwan and Lin Yuhong were accompanying Mrs. Xie to make dumplings, when they heard that Shang Mingjie had arrived, they looked at Lin Yuhong.

  Lin Yuhong's face turned slightly red as he said, "He mustn't be looking for me, Auntie doesn't need to look at me."

  Lin Qingwan smiled and got up to wash her hands, saying: "Then you all go ahead with your work, I'll go take a look."

  He was hanging his head and tapping his foot, full of sorrow and pain. Lin Qingwen couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Shang Mingjie had always been optimistic, and there were very few things in this world that could make him so sad.

  "What's wrong?" Lin Qingwen asked with a smile, "Why are you like an eggplant that has been frostbitten?"

  Shang Mingjie couldn't help but redden his eyes when he heard her laughter, and his determination to say nothing was suddenly shattered. He asked frankly, "Aunt Lin, did you have a fight with my uncles?"

  Lin Qingwan couldn't help but laugh and raised an eyebrow, saying: "They wanted to fight, but I, a weak woman, wouldn't dare to engage in physical altercations with them."

  "Lin Auntie, you know I'm not talking about that," Shang Mingjie said dejectedly. "These past few days, some of my classmates have been asking me if the three families - Shang, Zhao, and Lin - have fallen out with each other. Otherwise, why would the Zhao and Lin families be at odds with each other?"

  It's said to be a showdown, but in fact it's just the Zhao family uniting with other families against the Lin family. Previously, Zhao Sheng was still looking for benefits related to the Lin family bookstore, and their own family wasn't from Jiangnan anyway, so it didn't make a big fuss, and not many people knew about it, it belonged to their individual secret.

  But this time Zhao Sheng is going to deal with not only Lin Qingwan and her niece, but also the entire Lin family, it's like he has united all the people who can be united.

  The matter had become so big that even students studying in school had heard their elders at home mention it a couple of times, and out of curiosity they couldn't help but ask Shang Mingjie.

  The three sisters of Shang Danzhu were also investigated, so the siblings only knew about it.

  Lin Qingwan smiled and asked, "Is that arena set up by your uncle?"

  Shang Mingjie's face turned red and he lowered his head without saying a word.

  "Has she found someone to help her?" Lin Qingyan continued to ask with a smile.

  Shang Mingjie's face turned even redder, No, the Lin family has a great reputation in Jiangnan. Even if Lin Jiang is no longer around, the remaining influence of the four generations of the Long House still exists. Whether it's for personal gain, fame or the hearts of the people, at this time, no one in Jiangnan dares to follow the Zhao family out.

  Lin Qingwan smiled slightly, "Since we are not all here, how can this arena be set up? How can you say that we are fighting in the arena?"

  "But Lin Auntie, everything has a reason, what's the reason for this?"

  "You ask me why?" Lin Qingyan said in a low voice, "I'd like to ask you, Uncle, why is it that since my aunt passed away, the Zhao family has been secretly targeting us? Is it because they think my cousin and I are weak and feeble women who can't do anything about it?"

  Shang Mingjie fell silent for a moment before speaking in a low voice: "I asked Mother about it, and she said that our two families have an ancestral feud."

  He looked at Lin Qingwan with difficulty, but seriously: "Mother said that the death of my great-grandfather was related to the Lin family, and my grandfather was also suppressed by the Lin family, so my two uncles have a big prejudice against the Lin family."

  "This is impossible," Lin Qingyan frowned without thinking: "Your great-grandfather died in battle, what does it have to do with my Lin family? As for your great-grandmother,"

  "She rolled her eyes and said, 'Do you think my grandfather was the kind of person who was jealous of others' talents? Don't forget, those who followed my grandfather and made contributions all became generals, while my father didn't join the military but instead served as a scholar-official. The Lin family's army had already been handed over to Your Majesty after my grandfather passed away. Your maternal grandfather was a military general, his appointment and dismissal had nothing to do with my father, what are you talking about suppressing?'"

  Lin Qingwan's eyes were piercing as she asked, "You ask around and see who would believe that Lin Shi's Lin Yu would use war to plot against a deputy general under his command? My grandfather is open-minded and broad-hearted. Let alone a small deputy general of the Lin family army, even if it were an arch-nemesis of our family, he could let it go. What more for just one person from the Zhao family?"

  Shang Mingjie's face flushed with shame.