Main Courtyard.
Lin Zhengbei was a military general. He always spoke directly.
His blunt question made Lin Xiner blush.
“Father… you know that buying goods for the jewelry shop requires a lot of money…”
“Why are you speaking so loudly? You’re frightening the child.”
Wang Qingwan glanced at her husband, helping their daughter out of the awkward situation.
“I’m only worried about her.”
Lin Zhengbei answered casually.
“She says she’s short by one hundred thousand taels. I don’t have that much cash on hand.”
Wang Qingwan sighed.
“Altogether, I only have about fifty thousand taels. That’s including my personal savings and the cash from the family’s accounts.”
“Father, Mother, it’s all my fault. Even after getting married, I’m still causing you trouble.”
Lin Xiner’s eyes became red.
“You silly child. Why would you say something like that to your own parents? You’ll only make us feel bad.”
Seeing her daughter like this, Wang Qingwan’s heart ached.
She gathered the banknotes from the table, put them back into the box, and pushed it toward Lin Xiner.
“Take this with you for now. The money shops are still closed because of the New Year. After they reopen, I’ll send the remaining fifty thousand taels to you.”
“Mother, you’ve both been so good to me.”
Lin Xiner reached out to take the box.
“How about this?”
Lin Zhengbei reached over and took the box first.
“Since fifty thousand taels still isn’t enough, let’s wait a few more days and send you the full one hundred thousand taels all at once.”
“To be honest, Wife, I came back this time because I want to use my connections and see if I can stay in the capital.”
“Stay… in the capital?”
The news came so suddenly that Wang Qingwan could hardly believe it.
“Yes. Yan’er has been training on the northern border. I plan to slowly hand everything over to him.”
Lin Yan was their eldest son.
He had gone to the northern border two years ago and had not even returned home for the New Year.
“Husband, if you’ve truly decided that, then that’s wonderful.”
Now it was Wang Qingwan whose eyes filled with tears.
She had never cared about glory or serving the country.
She had only wished that her husband could stay in the capital so they could live together.
“Xiner, what do you think of my idea?”
Lin Zhengbei suddenly looked at his daughter.
He had not missed the flash of hatred in her eyes.
“If Father can stay in the capital, that would naturally be a wonderful thing.”
The hatred disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
If he had not already been on guard…
Lin Zhengbei would have thought he had imagined it.
His daughter looked so loving and respectful that nothing seemed wrong.
“I’ll use these banknotes for some New Year expenses.”
He handed the box to the guard standing behind him.
“After the New Year, when the money shops reopen, it won’t delay your business for long.”
“Xiner, your father is handling important matters.”
Wang Qingwan held her daughter’s hand.
“I promise that after the New Year, I’ll send the money to you.”
“Mother, I’m not in a hurry. Father’s business is more important.”
Seeing that she could gain nothing more here and afraid she might reveal something if she stayed longer, Lin Xiner stood up.
“I’m a little tired. I’ll go rest in my old courtyard for a while.”
“We’ve kept your courtyard just as it was. It’s cleaned every day, and the charcoal fire has already been lit.”
Wang Qingwan truly loved her daughter with all her heart.
“Thank you, Mother. I’ll go now.”
Lin Xiner smiled, bowed politely, and left with her personal maid.
Lin Zhengbei watched her leave, his expression unreadable.
The Duke’s Mansion held the evening banquet earlier than usual.
Although the three married daughters all lived in the capital, two of them lived quite far away.
Since the weather was bad, the Old Madam worried about their safety and told Wang Qingwan to prepare dinner early.
After dinner, the guests left.
It was still daylight outside.
The Old Madam suddenly wanted to walk around the mansion to help digest her meal and enjoy the snowy scenery.
Naturally, her three daughters-in-law wanted to accompany her.
But she refused.
“You’ve all been busy the whole day. Go back and rest. My three sons can walk with me.”
She pointed at her sons.
“They’ve spent the whole day relaxing. Surely they don’t mind taking a walk with their mother.”
“Mother is right. We wouldn’t dare complain.”
Second Master Lin Zhengnan quickly smiled and supported one of the Old Madam’s arms.
“You all go back. We’ll walk around the mansion with Mother.”
Third Master Lin Zhengchen supported her other arm.
“Mother, the ground is slippery because of the snow. Walk slowly.”
The three daughters-in-law looked at each other.
They all thought the Old Madam was being a little stubborn.
Walking around to admire the snow was something young girls usually did.
She was already an elderly woman. What if she became sick?
“Nanny Qian, don’t forget Mother’s hand warmer. Make sure she doesn’t get a cold.”
Seeing that the Old Madam had made up her mind, Wang Qingwan could only remind the servants to take good care of her.
“Don’t worry, Madam. I’ll look after the Old Madam.”
Nanny Qian bowed quickly and hurried after her mistress.
“Mother, everything the Fourth Girl said was true.”
Lin Zhengbei made the servants stay far behind.
When they reached a quiet place, he lowered his voice.
“Take a look at this letter.”
He had already opened and read it.
Thinking about what was written inside…
Even a man who never feared the battlefield could not stop himself from trembling.
Working with the enemy was treason.
It was a crime that could destroy an entire family.
How could Lin Xiner dare do such a thing?
The letter was only two pages long.
There were only a few short paragraphs.
But everyone who read it felt as if they had been struck by lightning.
“Big Brother… our family is finished.”
Lin Zhengnan stared blankly at the letter.
His whole body shook so badly that, if Lin Zhengbei had not been supporting him, he would have collapsed to the ground.
Lin Zhengchen managed to stay standing.
But his face had turned completely pale.
Only the Old Madam remained calm.
“Let’s go find Fourth Girl.”
“If she knew about this beforehand, then she probably knows what will happen next.”
She had never imagined…
That the little granddaughter she barely remembered could possess such an amazing ability.
“Mother, don’t you think it’s strange?”
Although his hands were still shaking, Lin Zhengnan’s mind was clear.
“Even we knew nothing about this letter. How did Fourth Girl know?”
“Didn’t the child already say that once we found the letter, she would explain everything?”
The Old Madam sighed.
A storm was coming.
The Duke’s Mansion was in great danger.
She did not know whether her three sons could handle what was coming next.
Fortunately…
They had learned about the danger before it happened.
If they prepared in advance, they might still have a chance to survive.
“Nanny Qian, take us to the Bamboo Garden.”