Yang Chengmo staggered back from the impact, one hand pressing against the wall while the other covered his mouth as he coughed violently.
He raised a hand, stopping the guards who were about to rush forward.
Lin Yiyi was bounced backward by the collision and fell straight onto the ground.
Xiao Tao hurriedly helped her up.
When she looked up at the man she had just crashed into, she froze instantly: Damn, he’s insanely handsome!—if only one could ignore the scar on his face!
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed something red seeping through the gap between his fingers as he covered his mouth.
“Uh… you seem to be coughing… blood!” Lin Yiyi reminded cautiously.
When Xiao Tao clearly saw who they had bumped into, her mind went completely blank. She just stood there, stunned…
“It’s nothing.” After saying that, the handsome man turned and left on his own.
“Hey, you can’t just leave! You’re coughing blood—go see a doctor!” Lin Yiyi panicked.
What kind of person is this? Just walking away like that? In her world, wouldn’t this require a full hospital check-up?
She turned to the man’s attendant awkwardly and said, “Sir, I’m really sorry. He really needs a doctor, but he…”
“My master says it’s nothing. Miss need not worry,” the guard replied.
Then he quickly followed his master.
Lin Yiyi was completely dumbfounded.
What is going on? Did she just meet some unbelievably good-natured people?
She turned around and saw Xiao Tao standing there pale as paper.
“Xiao Tao, Xiao Tao…” Lin Yiyi waved her hand in front of her.
“Mi… miss… that person just now… seems… seems like… the War God Prince!” Xiao Tao stammered.
“What?!”
“I… I’ve… seen his portrait!”
Lin Yiyi’s mind went boom.
A prince?!
It’s over. It’s over. It’s completely over.
Xiao Tao had once said that the War God Prince had a scar on his face—and she hadn’t even recognized him!
After a long moment, Lin Yiyi finally recovered and said shakily, “Xiao Tao, let’s go home. We’re not going out anymore!”
The two of them walked back with their heads hanging low.
Madam Zhou looked at them in confusion and pulled Xiao Tao’s sleeve. “What happened?”
“Waaah—Aunt Zhou…” Xiao Tao burst into tears.
“What exactly happened?” Madam Zhou panicked.
“After we finished eating… we bumped into the prince… and made him cough up blood!”
“What?!!” Madam Zhou almost jumped up.
……
Inside the courtyard, the usual cheerful atmosphere was gone. The three of them remained silent.
Suddenly, Lin Yiyi remembered something. She blurted out, “I’ll be right back!” and ran out of the courtyard.
She sprinted toward the back gate of the Lin residence.
She almost forgot about the account books!
When she arrived, Steward Zhao was already preparing to leave.
“Uncle Zhao, sorry to keep you waiting!”
“It’s alright, I’ve only been waiting a short while.”
After a brief exchange, Lin Yiyi took the two wooden boxes and hurried back.
Fortunately, her courtyard was in a secluded corner of the estate, so she didn’t run into anyone along the way.
Back in her room, she stared at the wooden boxes and the dowry list placed on top.
She sighed softly.
Fate cannot be avoided. Since she had injured someone, she had to take responsibility.
She couldn’t just pretend nothing had happened because the other party didn’t pursue it.
“Madam Zhou, Xiao Tao, don’t let anyone disturb me,” she said before closing the door.
That entire afternoon, she did not leave her room.
She even skipped dinner with them.
Of course, she wasn’t actually starving.
Inside her space, she reviewed the real and fake account books along with the dowry records. When she was tired, she drank spring water; when hungry, she grabbed quick meals.
Unknowingly, it was already morning.
She stretched.
Finally finished.
She was exhausted.
The real account books showed that over the past 16 years, total actual profit amounted to 150,000 taels of silver.
The fake account books only showed 50,000 taels.
After deducting the 50,000 taels currently controlled by Madam Zhang, Steward Zhao held 100,000 taels.
And thinking that this money might be used as compensation for the coughing prince made Lin Yiyi’s heart ache.
Damn it—100,000 taels!
Could she not pay?
But… he was a prince. What if he came after her head?
No, no. She couldn’t be stingy. She had to survive first. She was only 16—she didn’t want to die now.
After a mental struggle, she decisively decided: pay.
“Miss, are you awake?” Xiao Tao called from outside.
Lin Yiyi quickly exited her space and sat on the bed, pretending she had just woken up.
“Come in.”
The door opened. Xiao Tao brought wash water, and Madam Zhou brought a hearty breakfast.
After finishing, Lin Yiyi went out again with Xiao Tao.
At the Jin Yu Pavilion, Steward Zhao respectfully greeted her.
Half an hour later, Steward Zhao left with a small bottle and a wooden box.
Soon after, he arrived at the gate of a grand estate.
On the plaque were four bold words: Southern War God Prince’s Residence.
He knocked on the door.
After a short exchange, a guard came out.
The steward handed over the wooden box respectfully. “Please deliver this to the prince, and convey an apology.”
Soon, the box was placed in front of Yang Chengmo.
“From Jin Yu Pavilion?”
“Yes. He also asked me to deliver an apology.”
Yang Chengmo opened the box. On top of a stack of silver notes lay a note.
He picked it up.
Three elegant characters were written on it:
“Sorry.”
He counted the silver notes.
100,000 taels.
Yang Chengmo frowned. Wasn’t Lin Yiyi supposed to be very poor?
Even the guard was confused.
Three days passed.
The trio stayed inside their courtyard without stepping out, anxious the entire time.
But the War God Prince never came to cause trouble.
It seems… it’s over?
Lin Yiyi thought to herself. Thankfully she had sent the apology money.
But… it hurt so much!
She was so poor again!
Standing in the courtyard, she clenched her fists.
Money! She needed money!
Her gaze landed on the newly sprouted vegetable patch, and in her eyes, it looked like a field full of chicken legs.
Knock—knock—
Someone was at the door.
Xiao Tao went to open it and returned with a maid.
“This servant greets the young miss,” the maid said respectfully.
“What is it?” Lin Yiyi asked.
“The Madam instructed me to inform you that in ten days, there will be the Hundred Flowers Banquet hosted by the Empress. Please prepare accordingly.”
“I understand.”
After the maid left, Xiao Tao closed the door.
Lin Yiyi smiled coldly.
A banquet?
Perfect.