Chapter 128 You, Li Nian'er, must repay every penny!
Lu Zhaoruo didn't rush over immediately. Instead, she suppressed her anger and heartache and said, "Shimozi! Go and fetch Doctor Liu from Xiangyun Medical Shop right now! Quickly!"
"Dongrou! Lüer! Be careful, help Yunniang to the back room to rest quietly!"
Dongrou and Lü'er, fighting back tears, carefully helped Yunniang, who was curled up in pain, to her feet and carried her step by step to the backyard.
After arranging all of this, Lu Zhaoruo slowly turned around.
Lu Zhaoruo's gaze was sharp as an ice pick, shooting straight at Li Nian'er. She took a step forward, her aura chillingly cold: "Young Master Li, you certainly have a lot of official power."
Her gaze swept over the mess on the ground, and she questioned, "You allowed the yamen runners to destroy my property, trampling on the law first; you personally injured my people, committing violence and evil afterward! Which of these things complies with the laws of the court? Which of these things reflects your so-called 'enforcing the law on behalf of the court'?"
She raised her chin, her eyes filled with mockery and anger: "You keep claiming to be enforcing the law on behalf of the court, searching for unauthorized items, then I'd like to ask you, Miss Li! You've searched my hall for so long, smashed so much..."
"Where is the 'evidence' you claimed you were searching for? You couldn't even find a single piece of unauthorized property in my main hall, yet you've already destroyed my business and harmed my people! Is this what you call 'law enforcement'?"
Upon hearing this, Li Nian'er not only did not get angry, but instead covered her mouth and smiled sweetly: "Master Lu, please calm down, why get angry? Isn't it because... the storeroom and embroidery workshop inside haven't been searched yet? Perhaps those contraband items are hidden inside?"
Lu Zhaoruo stood firm: "Search? Does Young Master Li intend to 'search' the place, or does she intend to continue smashing and destroying it as she is now?"
A hint of guilt flashed in Li Nian'er's eyes.
Her goal was indeed to destroy this embroidered building.
Lu Zhao knew exactly what she was thinking, so he let her destroy it! If she didn't destroy it, how could he convict her later?
Li Nian'er forced herself to remain calm and said, "What are you saying, Master Lu? It's a search conducted in accordance with the law. How can you say it was destroyed?"
"good!"
Lu Zhaoruo stepped aside to make way, her voice echoing throughout the hall: "Then please, Miss Li—please come in!"
“But today, every needle and thread you smashed, every object and utensil you destroyed in my boudoir,” she said, enunciating each word clearly, “if we ultimately cannot find any of your so-called ‘usurped possessions,’ you, Li Nian’er, must repay every penny of the price!”
Having said that, she suddenly turned around and ordered the group of grief-stricken embroiderers behind her in a deep voice, "You all follow the officials inside!"
"You don't need to do anything, just keep your eyes wide open and watch carefully..."
Her gaze swept over the constables. “Watch how they ‘search’! If anyone tries to frame someone, shout it out immediately.”
"Yes, sir!"
The embroiderers, fighting back tears, responded in unison, their gazes like sharp needles, fixed firmly on the constables.
Li Nian'er did not expect Lu Zhaoruo to retaliate like this.
She did indeed prepare something 'unworthy', but since she couldn't frame someone, she'd try again next time, and the time after that, and the time after that...
...
Much later.
The constables eventually searched the embroidery workshop and storeroom thoroughly, only to find them in complete disarray and empty-handed.
Everyone returned to the ravaged lobby.
Lu Zhaoruo's gaze swept directly past Li Nian'er and looked at Peng Bantou, her voice calm: "Bantou Peng, after searching for so long, have you found that so-called 'illegitimate item'?"
Peng Bantou looked embarrassed, his eyes darting around, and he stammered, "Uh... well... not yet..."
Li Nian'er remained calm and composed, her tone light and casual, as if she had merely broken an insignificant teacup: "Tsk, if you didn't find anything, then you must have gotten wind of it beforehand and moved or hid the items! No problem, we'll come back next time! 'Search carefully'!"
After saying that, she glanced at the devastated lobby with satisfaction, a smug smile playing on her lips, and said lightly, "Let's go."
Lu Zhaoruo stared at her departing figure and shouted, "Li Nian'er, today you abused your power and ruined my family's business. I will remember this debt. One day, I will make you pay for every single thing you destroyed, down to the last penny!"
Li Nian'er paused, then suddenly turned around, as if she had heard the funniest joke, and burst out laughing: "Make me pay it all back? With your abilities?"
She glanced at a piece of embroidery at her feet, rubbed it hard a few times with the sole of her shoe, and her face suddenly turned cold: "You're just a mere merchant's wife. Even if you take me to the state government, what do I, Li Nian'er, have to fear?"
Lu Zhaoruo remained silent, simply staring at her with unfathomable eyes.
yes.
Now, in your eyes, I am nothing more than a mere merchant's wife, so naturally you are not afraid.
but.
Soon, I will no longer be.
At that time, not only the prefectural government, but even your aunt who is from the capital, will have to bow and pay her respects when she sees me.
And every move you make today will become irrefutable evidence to nail you to the grounds of guilt!
Li Nian'er and her group left triumphantly.
Wan Wanning shuffled out from the corner, her face streaked with tears, her voice broken and choked with fear and sobs: "Sister... why... why did you let those officials search the storeroom and embroidery workshop just now..."
She became increasingly distressed as she spoke, almost incoherently: "Now... it's bad enough that the main hall is smashed... but the storerooms and embroidery workshops behind... are all... are all destroyed... How... how are we supposed to live from now on..."
She spoke timidly, almost pleadingly, "Or...or we could prepare generous gifts, bow our heads and apologize to Miss Li...and...and give her some money...and they...they might not come back...But now that we've fallen out like this...they'll definitely come back next time...and humiliate us to death..."
Lu Zhaoruo's gaze swept over the ruins, but her eyes were unusually clear and calm: "Let them come. Not only should we let them come, but next time, we should also open the door wide and welcome them."
Wan Wanning suddenly looked up, her tear-filled face full of incomprehension.
As she watched her hard work vanish into nothingness, she felt both fear and resentment. She couldn't understand why her usually shrewd and capable older sister was so helpless in the face of such a disaster.
In her opinion, the biggest problem was simply spending some money, putting on a good smile, offering the best embroidery, saying nice things to Li Nian'er, and smoothing things over... How could it have come to this point of mutual destruction?
The more she thought about it, the more panicked and confused she became, even starting to doubt: "Was it really a good choice for my sister to entrust me to her? Can I really have a peaceful life with such an inflexible and trouble-making employer?"
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