Wang Yanwan had always known that her children often bullied Lin Pianran, even acting like bandits by forcibly taking numerous benefits from her.
Since her own children never suffered any losses, she naturally turned a blind eye, considering it insignificant. She persistently feigned ignorance and never interfered.
To put it nicely, the children were borrowing things from Lin Pianran; to put it bluntly, it was outright extortion and plunder.
The notion of “borrowing” was merely a veil to cover up her children’s bandit-like behavior.
Now that the situation had escalated, she realized that what she had understood was only the tip of the iceberg.
Seeing the densely listed items in the account book, she felt dizzy.
Her heart was like turbulent waves, utterly shocked.
The price of each item in the account book was clearly visible.
She had previously known that Lin Pianran had a knack for making money and ran her business quite well, but she never imagined she had so much silver to acquire so many fine things.
It was truly enviable and jealousy-inducing!
How unfair!
She roughly calculated that just the jewelry alone was worth at least over ten thousand taels of silver, not to mention the other items, whose value was even more astonishing!
Zhao Yurou was both angry and ashamed. She glanced at her two daughters and coaxed gently, “You’re too naive. After borrowing your younger sister’s things, you should return them as soon as you’re done. Now you’ve made your sister ask for them back—how embarrassing! How hurtful for the family!”
“Hurry and return everything you have with you! And from now on, don’t do such disgraceful things again! It will harm your reputations.”
Lin Chuyan and Lin Chuyao were extremely reluctant. Since they had obtained the items through deception and force, why should they easily give them back?
Their eyes flickered with intense resentment and a sense of humiliation.
The two looked at each other, firmly refusing to relent and unwilling to return the items.
After all, as young ladies of marriageable age, without a few presentable pieces of beautiful jewelry, they would lack confidence even to go out and meet people.
Their mother would never be willing to spend so much silver to acquire such valuable items for them.
If they returned them, how could they shine brightly in front of others? How could they proudly show off among the noble young ladies?
How could they make the elegant young gentlemen of Jing linger their gazes on them for long?
Lin Pianran smiled radiantly. She looked at Zhao Yurou and said very reasonably, “Since my two elder sisters are unwilling to return the items, then compensate me at their full value! Converting everything into silver and giving it to me is also acceptable. I’ve always been very easy to deal with.”
“A daughter’s debt is paid by the mother. Surely, you two ladies wouldn’t be unable to afford such a small amount of silver?”
She practically stripped Zhao Yurou and Wang Yanwan of their dignity, threw it to the ground, and trampled on it fiercely, putting them on the spot and making it impossible for them to back down.
Having been humiliated so greatly today and forced into a corner with no means to fight back, Zhao Yurou secretly loathed Lin Pianran to the core, though she showed no sign of it on the surface.
In the end, she had no choice but to sternly order the maids, “Take all the jewelry from the two young ladies and return it to the Sixth Miss immediately!”
Wang Yanwan was even more forceful. She personally removed the jewelry from her two daughters and, with an apologetic smile, returned it to Lin Pianran.
These two old foxes had no intention of converting everything into silver to compensate Lin Pianran—that would amount to a considerable sum.
They certainly didn’t want to give Lin Pianran such an advantage.
Moreover, even if they used all the silver they had on hand, it might still not be enough.
In the end, Zhao Yurou sent her maids to search the rooms of the young ladies, retrieving numerous pieces of jewelry and ornaments, all of which were returned to Lin Pianran.
Even so, the total value still fell far short.
Zhao Yurou handed over six thousand taels in silver notes to Lin Pianran and wrote an IOU for another three thousand three hundred taels, settling the accounts for her three daughters, including Lin Chuge’s share.
Wang Yanwan produced three thousand taels in silver notes and also wrote an IOU for fifteen hundred taels.
Only then was the matter temporarily resolved.
Not only did they have to write IOUs, but they also had to offer soothing words and flattery, piling up compliments by the basketful. They forced smiles until their facial muscles ached, fearing that Lin Pianran would expose their daughters’ misdeeds.
They nearly talked themselves hoarse.
It could be said they went to great pains.
At the same time, they harbored a deep-seated hatred for Lin Pianran.
Lin Pianran had a fairly accurate grasp of their thoughts and knew these people would not let the matter rest.
In the coming days, they would surely find ways to cause trouble.
She was ready to face whatever came her way.
When soldiers approach, deploy generals to block them; when floodwaters rise, use earth to dam them—there is always a way forward when the cart reaches the mountain.
In the end, it was still uncertain who would emerge victorious!
Even if the Lin family did not take action against her, she would never let them off.
Aside from her adoptive mother, not a single member of the Lin family was a good person, and she would spare none of them.
She would send every one of them to the eighteenth level of hell.
As for the several Wangpu shops that the Lin young ladies had seized from her, Lin Pianran did not bring them up now. She would wait until after the hunt, when they returned to Jing, to settle accounts with them slowly.
Bringing it up now would be futile—with everyone away from Jing, distant water cannot quench a nearby fire.
It was only then that Zhao Yurou remembered the purpose of their trip. She asked gently, “Have you seen your third brother and seventh sister? Didn’t they go hunting with you? But they haven’t returned yet.”
“They’ve already been sent to meet King Yama!” Lin Pianran silently replied in her heart.
Outwardly, however, she remained perfectly calm. She shook her head in surprise, her expression utterly bewildered, with no trace of deception visible.
“I was only with them at the beginning. After that, I didn’t see them again.”
“I’ve been hunting wolves with Third Sister the whole time. Today, I even happened to rescue The Eldest Princess and several noble young masters and ladies from Jing. Third Sister knew about this from start to finish—has she not told you, Madam?”
“Moreover, during the wolf hunt, Second Brother Lin Chuxuan seemed to be severely injured. One of his legs was badly hurt, so much so that he couldn’t even walk. He had to be carried back by other Yulin Jun. Have you not heard about this until now?”
Upon hearing this, Second Madam Wang Yanwan immediately turned to Lin Chuyan for confirmation. “How could you not mention such an important matter about your second brother’s injury? Where is he now? I must go see him and take care of him…”
Only then did Lin Chuyan recall Lin Chuxuan’s injury. She had originally intended to bring her mother and second aunt to cause trouble for Lin Pianran and, in the process, persuade Lin Pianran to let her participate in The Eldest Princess’s archery competition. She had not expected Lin Pianran to reveal this matter first, leaving her to bear her second aunt’s reproach. It was utterly infuriating.
What a fine mess I’ve made of it!
Not only had I failed to achieve my goal and lost my jewelry, but now I was being questioned by Second Aunt.
It was truly heartbreaking.
She still had to answer Second Aunt’s questions seriously. “Many people were injured this time. Second Brother was carried away for treatment. I suppose they’ve all gone to the temporary Imperial Hospital by now!”