The afternoon tea was set in the glass Greenhouse on the west side of the castle.
Outside was a grey-blue lake, with a row of neatly trimmed holly by the shore.
A few white swans rested on the lawn in the distance.
It was very warm inside the Greenhouse.
A fire was burning in the fireplace.
On the long table were silver tea sets, a three-tier snack stand, scones, jam, clotted cream, and a few thinly sliced sandwiches.
Victoria sat at the head of the table.
Isabella sat to her left.
Jiang Lin's seat was arranged to Victoria's right.
Chen Qian and Martin sat a little further away.
As soon as the seating was arranged, the atmosphere changed.
Isabella glanced at the place card but did not move.
Victoria picked up her teacup.
"Does Mrs. Montclair not like this arrangement?"
Isabella smiled.
"Mrs. Wendell is a very thoughtful host."
Victoria looked at Jiang Lin.
"Mr. Jiang, please sit."
Jiang Lin sat down directly.
Only then did Isabella sit on the other side.
When Chen Qian sat down, her back was very straight, and her notebook was already open.
Victoria saw it.
"Miss Chen is very diligent."
Chen Qian said, "Madam, I am responsible for taking notes."
"Very good. The Wendell Family currently lacks people who carefully review the accounts."
After she finished speaking, her gaze swept over Jiang Lin.
"Mr. Jiang must have discovered this as well."
Jiang Lin said, "I've looked at a portion of them."
"What did you see?"
"The Wendell Family has a broken cash flow, excessively high castle maintenance costs, chaotic trust expenditures, and old collection assets flowing out without complete registration."
Victoria put down her teacup.
"Very direct."
"You invited me here just to hear direct words."
Isabella picked up her tea and took a slow sip.
Victoria looked at her.
"Mrs. Montclair trusts Mr. Jiang very much."
"He is currently trustworthy."
"Currently?"
"Trust requires a settlement cycle."
"I like that sentence."
She raised her hand.
Irene placed a dark brown leather suitcase on the edge of the table.
Inside were several old files.
The old collection catalog.
The castle trust ledger.
A list of recently sold assets.
The equity structure table of the Wendell Football Club.
Jiang Lin first picked up the old collection catalog.
Victoria said, "Did you bring 'the lady in the grey dress by the window'?"
"The painting is in Paris undergoing testing."
"What about the data?"
Jiang Lin handed over Auguste's preliminary report.
Victoria read it very quickly.
When she saw the signature trace in the bottom right corner, her fingers paused for a moment.
When she saw the Wendell old collection label, she looked up at Jiang Lin.
"You spent 210,000 euros at Drouot to buy it."
"Correct."
"Bernard offered 300,000, but you didn't sell."
"Correct."
"What if I offer 500,000 euros now?"
Isabella looked at Jiang Lin.
Chen Qian also stopped her pen.
Jiang Lin said, "I won't sell."
Victoria said, "One million euros."
"I won't sell."
"You didn't even hesitate."
"The faster you offer a price, the more important it is."
"Mr. Jiang, negotiating with you is not easy."
"Then let's not talk about the price first."
"What shall we talk about?"
"Let's talk about why it flowed from Wendell Castle to a small French auction house."
"Do you think I know?"
"You know a part of it."
"Which part?"
Jiang Lin opened the old collection catalog.
"In 1896, there was a painting titled 'Woman Reading by the Window' in the Wendell Family's old collection catalog, with the author marked as 'J.A.D. circle'."
He then opened the list of recently sold assets.
"Three years ago, a batch of old paintings from your family left the castle under the guise of restoration. It was only recorded as maintenance expenditure deductions, with no auction destination listed."
He then flipped through the trust ledger.
"This money eventually went into an account under a family trust, with control under your husband's name."
The smile on Victoria's face faded.
Isabella put down her teacup.
Chen Qian lowered her head and quickly wrote down a few lines.
Jiang Lin placed the three documents side by side on the table.
"That painting was taken from the castle, handled by a middleman, and finally ended up at a small Drouot auction. The auction house treated it as a copy, and you discovered it too late."
Victoria looked at him.
"Why would I have discovered it?"
"Last night's news."
"Do you think I invited you here just to get that painting back?"
"That is only one of the reasons."
"What else?"
Jiang Lin picked up the Wendell Football Club equity table.
"You want to use that painting to investigate the chain of assets your husband is transferring. You want to know which assets should be sold and which cannot be sold."
He tapped on the equity table.
"This cannot be sold."
Victoria's gaze finally showed a clear change.
"You have your eyes on the football club."
"Correct."
"It loses money every year."
"It loses money now."
"It is in a lower-tier league."
"That's why it's cheap."
"The Wendell Family doesn't hold much of the shares."
"It's enough to serve as an entry point."
"Mr. Jiang, you are indeed very greedy."
Isabella said calmly, "He has already proven this in France."
Jiang Lin glanced at her.
"Madam, is that a compliment?"
Isabella said, "It depends on the occasion."
Victoria laughed.
"The relationship between the two of you is more interesting than in the news."
Isabella replied calmly.
"The news is usually too superficial."
"Mrs. Montclair, Mr. Jiang helped you save your winery; what did you give him?"
Isabella said, "Core partner status, authorization for Asian channels, and an equity framework."
"What else?"
"What does Mrs. Wendell want to ask?"
"I want to know if Mr. Jiang has a fixed standard when charging fees."
Jiang Lin said, "It depends on the target's value."
Victoria turned to look at him.
"Then what is my value?"
"Currently, it is very high."
"Mrs. Montclair, does he say this to every lady in trouble?"
"Mrs. Wendell can rest assured; he is usually more direct."
"For example?"
Jiang Lin took over the conversation.
"For example, you need me right now. You have the title of Countess, sitting in this castle in name, but you don't have much cash you can actually mobilize."
He looked at her.
"You invited me here, not for afternoon tea."
Victoria slowly put down her teacup.
"Irene."
Irene stepped forward.
"Madam."
"Please ask the Earl to come over."
Irene paused slightly.
"Now?"
"Now."
Irene turned and left.
Isabella looked at Victoria.
"Does Mrs. Wendell intend to show her cards?"
"Mr. Jiang has already shown them for me."
She looked at Jiang Lin.
"I want to see if he can remain this direct after meeting my husband."
Ten minutes later, footsteps were heard outside the Greenhouse.
The door was pushed open.
A man around fifty years old walked in.
He was tall and thin, with greying hair.
Behind him followed a young blonde woman.
She was in her twenties, wearing a light pink dress, and holding a hound on a leash.
Victoria sat at the head of the table, looking at her husband.
"Edward."
Earl Edward Wendell glanced at everyone at the table.
"Victoria, I thought you were just meeting a few French guests today."
"They are indeed from France."
Edward's gaze fell on Isabella.
"Mrs. Montclair, long time no see. I heard your winery has been very lively lately."
"A bit quieter than Wendell Castle."
Edward's face darkened slightly.
He looked at Jiang Lin.
"Is this the person who spent over 200,000 euros to buy a painting?"
Jiang Lin said, "Jiang Lin."
"I don't care about your name. What are you doing bringing that painting to the Wendell Family?"
Victoria spoke up.
"That painting might come from our family's old collection."
"There has been too much junk flowing out of Wendell Castle over these years; do we have to track every single piece back?"
"What if it is a Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres?"
Edward's expression paused.
The young woman following him also raised her head.
Jiang Lin saw the ring on her finger.
It was very new.
And very expensive.
Edward quickly recovered.
"Victoria, are you trying to shame the Wendell Family in British social circles by inviting outsiders to investigate family assets?"
Jiang Lin pushed the old collection catalog over.
"This painting left the castle three years ago."
Edward didn't even look at it.
"What qualifications do you have to audit the Wendell Family's accounts?"
Jiang Lin picked up the football club equity table.
"Because you are planning to sell this."
When Edward saw that page of the table, his eyes changed.
Victoria immediately caught his expression.
"You did know."
Edward said coldly:
"What's the use of keeping a money-losing club? It needs money injected every year; selling it is very normal."
Jiang Lin said, "To whom?"
"That's none of your business."
"Hall Capital?"
Edward's face completely darkened.
The dog leash in the blonde woman's hand jerked.
Victoria looked at Jiang Lin.
"Who is Hall Capital?"
"A fund that specializes in acquiring low-priced sports assets, backed by American capital, with deep ties to several British betting groups."
Edward shouted angrily, "Enough!"
Jiang Lin didn't stop.
"They will use debt restructuring to take over the club and then swallow up the surrounding Training Ground at a low price."
"A few years later, when Premier League broadcasting contracts rise and youth players appreciate in value, the club's valuation will multiply many times over."
He placed the equity table back on the table.
"If the Earl sells now, the money he gets will only be enough to cover this year's castle maintenance costs."
Victoria looked at Edward.
"You intended to sell the club's shares behind my back?"
"You know nothing about football."
"I am becoming increasingly familiar with you transferring assets."
"Victoria, watch your status."
Victoria stood up.
"I have always been very mindful of it."
She looked at the blonde woman.
"That's why I didn't ask why this young lady is wearing old Wendell Family jewelry."
The blonde woman's face turned pale instantly.
She subconsciously touched the ring on her hand.
Edward shouted angrily, "That was just a gift."
"That ring came from my mother-in-law's jewelry box."
Edward's face was livid.
Isabella picked up her teacup and took a slow sip.
Jiang Lin looked at Chen Qian.
"Record it."
Chen Qian nodded.
Victoria saw this action and smiled slightly.
"Mr. Jiang, do you even need to record this kind of thing?"
"Old paintings can be lost, and old jewelry can too; the chain is likely the same."
Edward pointed at Jiang Lin.
"Get him out of here."
Victoria turned to look at her husband.
"This is my afternoon tea."
"This castle is named Wendell."
"I am also named Wendell."
The two looked at each other.
The blonde woman whispered, "Edward, let me leave first..."
Edward ignored her.
Jiang Lin spoke up, "Earl, I suggest you don't be in such a hurry to kick people out."
"Are you trying to threaten me?"
"I am just reminding you that the painting is already undergoing testing in Paris. Auguste Lemaitre has issued preliminary observation notes."
"The Parisian media, Mrs. Montclair, and Miss Claire all know that it might be related to the old Wendell collection."
Jiang Lin looked at him.
"If it is confirmed to be a Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, the outside world will ask one question: Why was an important old collection piece of the Wendell Family sent to a small Drouot auction to be sold as a copy?"
Edward's expression was ugly.
"Then they will ask a second question: how many more Wendell assets have flowed out in the same way?"
Victoria took over.
"Including jewelry."
She looked at the ring on the blonde woman's hand.
The blonde woman's face turned even paler, and she immediately took off the ring and placed it on the table.
"I didn't know this was family jewelry, Edward, you said this was just..."
"Shut up."
Edward snapped at her in a low voice.
But it was already too late.
Chen Qian lowered her head and wrote down: 【Old jewelry lost, recipient confirmed, the Earl's mistress】
When Edward saw her writing, he shouted angrily.
"Who allowed her to record?"
Isabella finally spoke up.
"I allowed it."
Edward looked at her.
Isabella put down her teacup.
"Miss Chen is the Financial Assistant of Montlais Winery."
"She came with me to record business meetings. If the Earl is worried about being recorded, he can choose not to speak."
Edward's face flushed red.
Victoria looked at Isabella and nodded slightly.
"Mrs. Montclair, your assistant is very useful."
"She is very smart."
Edward sneered.
"Victoria, do you now need a French widow, an oriental speculator, and a Chinese assistant to back you up?"
Victoria walked up to Edward.
"Edward, you are right."
She raised her hand.
Slap.
A slap landed on his face.
The sound was crisp.
The blonde woman recoiled in fear.
The pen in Chen Qian's hand stopped.
Martin's eyelid twitched.
Isabella finally revealed a very faint smile.
Victoria withdrew her hand.
"Now, this British Countess can back herself up."
Edward covered his face.
"Are you crazy?"
"I am very clear-headed."
She turned to look at Irene.
"Notify the lawyer to arrive at the castle before five this afternoon."
"Yes, Madam."
"Freeze all family accounts under my name that can be frozen."
"Yes."
"Send all documents related to old collections, jewelry, and club equity from the past five years to the study."
A glimmer flashed in Irene's eyes.
"Yes."
Edward laughed in anger.
"Do you think the lawyer will listen to you?"
"They listened to you before because I didn't have evidence."
She looked at the old collection catalog, equity table, ring, and Chen Qian's records on the table.
"Now I do."
Jiang Lin added.
"And there will be more."
Edward stared at him intently.
"What exactly do you want?"
Jiang Lin picked up the Wendell Football Club equity table.
"This, the club shares held by the Wendell Family, I want the right of first refusal."
Edward acted as if he heard a joke.
"Do you have the money?"
"I will."
"By relying on a French widow?"
Isabella stood up.
"Earl, watch your wording."
Edward looked at Isabella, wanting to speak again.
Victoria said coldly, "Edward, get out."
"This is my castle."
"At least this Greenhouse belongs to me."
Edward looked at her, then at Jiang Lin.
Finally, he turned and left with the blonde woman.
The door was slammed shut.
The Greenhouse quieted down.
Isabella walked over, picked up the glass of ice water on the table, and handed it to her.
"Your hand will hurt."
Victoria glanced at her and took it.
"Thank you."
Chen Qian lowered her head to organize the records.
Jiang Lin took a look.
She had divided it into four columns:
Old collection paintings.
Jewelry lost.
Club shares.
The Earl's asset transfers.
Very clear.
Jiang Lin said, "Well organized."
"Thank you, Mr. Jiang."
Isabella looked at her.
"Thank me too?"
"Thank you, Madam."
Victoria looked at the three of them and suddenly laughed.
"Mrs. Montclair, you have led your team very well."
"This is the trouble Mr. Jiang brought out."
"He does indeed seem like trouble."
Victoria turned to Jiang Lin.
"Mr. Jiang, I now believe that you are very good at saving women in trouble."
"Shall we talk about the remuneration now?"
"You want club shares."
"The right of first refusal."
"What else?"
"Source data for the old collection paintings."
"Okay."
"The complete version of the castle asset list."
"Okay."
"You will endorse me in the old British aristocratic circles."
"You already have Mrs. Montclair."
"France is France, and Britain is Britain."
"You have a really big appetite."
"You've already said that."
"I need to consider the last item."
"You can consider it until dinner."
"You are giving me very little time."
"Your husband won't wait too long."
She put down her teacup.
"Irene, prepare the study. I want to talk to Mr. Jiang alone before dinner."
Isabella immediately looked at her.
Victoria met her gaze.
"Mrs. Montclair, rest assured, the door will be open."
Isabella smiled.
"I am not worried about the door."
"Then what are you worried about?"
Isabella looked at Jiang Lin.
"I am worried that Mrs. Wendell underestimates the level of trouble he brings."
"She won't anymore."