At this moment, Wen Lingrao was bathing in her room.
She had ordered the maids to prepare hot water and was enjoying a comfortable soak, washing away all her frustrations.
【Ding—Host, a plot node has been detected: The husband’s family is forcibly seizing the dowry. It is recommended that the Host remain calm, handle the situation with ease, and demonstrate the independent spirit of a modern woman.】
Wen Lingrao let out a soft laugh: “Don’t worry, I have a plan.”
She washed herself in a measured, unhurried manner, changed into a moon-white dress, and had her maid dry her hair before loosely twisting it into a bun.
Only then did she exit the inner chamber at a leisurely pace.
Outside, Chu Huan had already surrounded the courtyard with his men.
The maids standing in the courtyard all looked pale. Banxia stood at the very front, trembling with anger: “What are you doing? This is the Heir’s wife’s courtyard—who dares to behave so recklessly?”
Chu Huan put on a fawning smile: “Miss Banxia, please don’t misunderstand. I am here acting on the Old Madam’s orders to have a few words with the Heir’s wife. There is no other intention.”
Banxia sneered: “Does having a few words require bringing so many people?”
Chu Huan was embarrassed and did not know how to respond. Just then, the door of the inner room opened.
Wen Lingrao walked out.
She wore a simple, unadorned dress, her hair was loosely pinned up, and her face was devoid of makeup, yet she carried an indescribable air of authority.
Everyone in the courtyard subconsciously fell silent, their gazes fixed upon her.
Wen Lingrao scanned the area, her eyes landing on Chu Huan’s face as the corners of her mouth curled slightly: “Steward Chu, what is the meaning of this? Bringing so many people to surround my courtyard—are you here to ransack my home?”
Chu Huan hurried forward to salute and forced a smile: “The Heir’s wife is joking. How would I dare? It is truly that the Old Madam has words she wishes me to pass on to you.”
Wen Lingrao sat slowly on a chair in the veranda and then said: “What words? Speak.”
Chu Huan swallowed hard and braced himself: “The Old Madam says that the estate has had heavy expenses recently and funds are tight. Those things in your storeroom are just sitting there unused; it would be better to bring them out for use first. When the estate is prosperous again, they will be returned.”
As he spoke, he looked up at Wen Lingrao, then quickly lowered his head: “The Old Madam also said that a wife’s property belongs to her husband’s family; this is an old rule. Therefore, she sent me to retrieve the keys to the storeroom.”
The courtyard went quiet.
Banxia’s face turned white with anger. She opened her mouth to curse, but Wen Lingrao stopped her with a raised hand.
Wen Lingrao looked at Chu Huan, her face expressionless, and simply asked: “Did the Old Madam tell you to say this?”
Chu Huan nodded stiffly: “Yes.”
Wen Lingrao asked again: “And was bringing men to seize them also the Old Madam’s idea?”
Sweat broke out further on Chu Huan’s forehead, but he dared not deny it: “The Old Madam said that if you do not give them up, I should take them myself.”
Wen Lingrao suddenly laughed.
The laughter was soft and gentle, but to Chu Huan’s ears, it felt like needle pricks. His legs turned to jelly; he almost collapsed to his knees.
Wen Lingrao still carried a faint smile: “Steward Chu, I have thought about what you just said, and it is not entirely without merit.”
Chu Huan was startled and did not react for a moment.
Wen Lingrao continued: “A wife’s property belonging to the husband’s family—this is an old rule. Although I came from the Wen family, since I have married into the Marquis estate, I should observe the estate’s rules.”
Chu Huan’s eyes darted around, and a thought suddenly jumped into his mind.
Is the Heir’s wife giving in?
He tentatively asked: “What does the Heir’s wife mean?”
Wen Lingrao did not answer; she simply said to the maid beside her: “Banxia, go and bring out that chest containing the silver from the storeroom.”
Banxia was stunned, clearly not expecting her mistress to say such a thing.
Nevertheless, she answered and led a few young maids into the storeroom.
Before long, four of them carried out a large trunk and placed it in the center of the courtyard.
It was a red-lacquered chest, three feet long and two feet wide, looking heavy and substantial.
Wen Lingrao stood up, walked over to the chest, and said to Chu Huan: “Steward Chu, come and take a look.”
Chu Huan walked over, feeling both suspicious and expectant.
He stole a glance at Wen Lingrao, and seeing her face remained expressionless, he gathered his courage and reached out to lift the lid.
Inside the chest, gleaming white silver ingots were arranged neatly, filling half the trunk!
The sunlight shone on the silver, dazzling the eyes.
Chu Huan gasped, his legs buckling.
The servants and housekeepers still remaining in the courtyard saw it too, and their eyes turned glassy.
That was pure, glittering silver! They had never seen so much silver in their entire lives!
Wen Lingrao watched their reactions, the corners of her mouth curling slightly.
【Ding—Host, the system detects you are using money to disintegrate the opponent’s camp. It is recommended to maintain the rhythm and strike with precision.】
Wen Lingrao replied inwardly: “Don’t worry, I have a plan.”
Chu Huan managed to steady himself, swallowed, and piled on a smile: “Heir’s wife, this is…?”
His heart was already blooming with joy.
The Heir’s wife is truly giving in! Bringing out so much silver, she must be handing it over for the estate to use.
If he could pull this off, the Old Madam would surely reward him handsomely!
He even began to calculate how to claim credit from the Old Madam later and how to seize the opportunity to line his own pockets.
The Heir’s wife had offended him before; once the keys were in hand and the storeroom was under the estate’s control, he would definitely make her pay.
Seeing the unconcealable triumph on his face, Wen Lingrao said slowly: “Steward Chu, you just said that the estate’s expenses are high and funds are tight. I thought about it, and since that is the case, then this silver…”
She paused and kicked the chest!
The chest tumbled to the ground with a loud “clang.” The white silver ingots rolled everywhere; some stopped at the feet of the housekeepers, others right in front of the maids.
A collective gasp echoed through the courtyard.
Everyone stared at the silver on the ground, their eyes burning with greed.
Wen Lingrao stood in the middle of the scattered silver ingots, dust staining her skirt, but she did not even glance at it. She shouted aloud: “Listen well, everyone! This silver is not for the estate—it is a reward!”
Chu Huan’s expression changed: “Heir’s wife, what are you doing?”
Wen Lingrao ignored him and continued: “Whoever drives Steward Chu out of this courtyard for me, these one hundred taels of silver are theirs!”
She pointed to the silver ingots on the ground: “See clearly, they are all pure government-issued silver—one is fifty taels, two make one hundred! Instant payment, no deception!”
The courtyard fell into dead silence.
Chu Huan’s face went white as a sheet.
He spun around to look at the housekeepers.
The housekeepers who had just been acting arrogant behind him were now looking at each other, their eyes darting between the silver on the ground and then at him, their expressions turning bizarre.
“What do you want to do?” Chu Huan took a step back, his voice cracking. “I am the Old Madam’s man! Do you dare touch me?”
No one moved.
One hundred taels of silver was certainly tempting, but Chu Huan was, after all, the steward; if they offended him, how would they survive in the estate later?
Wen Lingrao watched this scene, not in a hurry, and simply added leisurely: “Those who take the silver, if you fear you won’t be able to stay in the estate, you can come work in my courtyard. I am currently short of staff.”
As soon as these words were out, the housekeepers’ eyes brightened even further.
Working in the Heir’s wife’s courtyard? That was a plum assignment!
Who didn’t know that the Heir’s wife had a massive dowry and was generous with money? Following her—wouldn’t that be much better than following Chu Huan?