Chapter 144 Smash the boudoir, not a single copper coin can be spared.
This commotion had already drawn the attention of the surrounding embroiderers, who began to whisper among themselves.
Dong Rou frowned and couldn't help but step forward: "Miss Wan Ning, when did Madam say she was going to punish Sun Jing and Shi Mozi? You're crying and kneeling like this, making yourself look like you've suffered a great injustice..."
She paused, her tone tinged with reproach: "It's as if our mistress is mistreating the servants without distinguishing right from wrong."
Wan Wanning's sobs caught in her throat, and the aggrieved expression on her face froze instantly.
She never expected that Dongrou, a mere maid, would dare to publicly humiliate her like this, refusing to even offer her the slightest leeway.
She's nothing but a lowly maid!
Lu Zhaoruo glanced at Wan Wanning's stiff face and said, "I didn't ask about the reason for their dereliction of duty just now. When did I say that they would be punished?"
Wan Wanning's expression immediately became even more embarrassed, her face turning red and white in turns.
Lu Zhaoruo continued unhurriedly, "Sun Jing went to great lengths to save people, and Shi Mozi also wanted to make amends. Although his actions were not well thought out, his intentions were not bad."
She glanced at the uneasy Sun Jing and Shi Mozi, and said calmly, "This matter ends here. Everyone, disperse."
Sun Jing and Shi Mozi responded in unison, then bowed their heads and quickly retreated.
Wan Wanning wiped her eyes with a handkerchief in her hand, stood up, and walked out with her head down.
As she passed by several embroiderers, her ears burned red, and she felt that even their glances were piercing. She wished she could shrink into the ground.
Her heart was filled with bitterness and sorrow, a knotted knot in her chest.
It turned out that in Lu Zhaoruo's eyes, she was not as important as one of her maids.
As the crowd gradually dispersed, Dongrou hesitated to speak.
Lu Zhaoruo's eyes flickered slightly, and she said knowingly, "Are you trying to say that Wan Wanning has too many ulterior motives?"
Dong Rou nodded solemnly: "Her behavior today was really..."
Lu Zhaoruo smiled faintly, but the smile didn't reach her eyes: "I promised her older sister that I would give her a comfortable, stable, and respectable future. But if she's dishonest and unwilling to walk the straight path..."
"Whether it brings good fortune or misfortune in the future is up to her own fate."
Dongrou couldn't help but interject, "My wife has already shown her immense kindness; if she doesn't cherish it..."
The words were not fully spoken, but the meaning was clear.
Two days later, Lu Ji Embroidery Shop reopened with lanterns and decorations.
The embroiderers and their assistants all had beaming smiles on their faces, moving nimbly and busily, full of energy.
Carriages and horses streamed in and out of the gate, and wealthy families and officials from the city came to offer their congratulations with gifts. The hall was bustling with activity, and there was hardly any room to stand.
Two government officials were ordered to guard the gate, highlighting the extraordinary status of the embroidered tower.
Meanwhile, Zhou's Embroidery Shop across the street was deserted, with not a single person in sight. The few remaining employees inside were distracted, frequently peeking out and looking around, wishing they could immediately switch jobs to the shop across the street.
Lu Zhaoruo was smiling and exchanging pleasantries with several wealthy ladies who had come to offer their congratulations.
At this moment.
The former Master Li led Li Nian'er in with her head bowed, followed by several servants carrying two heavy wooden boxes.
In an instant, all eyes were focused on the father and daughter.
As soon as Li Nian'er entered, her gaze involuntarily swept over the magnificent hall...
Inside the embroidered building, silks shimmered, guests thronged, and laughter filled the air—it was many times more magnificent than when she had vandalized it that day!
A surge of jealousy, resentment, and bitterness welled up in her heart.
Why? She was just a lowly merchant's wife, yet she now enjoys such fame and fortune.
Not only did he fail to avenge his brother, but now he has to offer his family fortune to her as compensation, without any dignity!
Lu Zhaoruo stepped forward slowly, and Master Li hurriedly bowed and made a gesture of extreme humility.
At Li Yuanwai's prompting, Li Nian'er also bowed, never daring to raise her head.
Lu Zhaoruo's gaze swept over her swollen and red cheek.
Tsk, I got a lot of disciplined treatment after returning home yesterday.
Li Nian'er noticed her gaze and lowered her head even further.
Master Li forced a guilty smile, but out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of several local gentry and officials' wives watching him coldly. He felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that Lu Zhaoruo's status was no longer what it used to be. He could only bite the bullet and say a lot of polite words like "My daughter is ignorant and has offended the master" and "I hope you will forgive her." Then he ordered his men to open the chest, revealing the gleaming silver ingots inside.
Lu Zhaoruo glanced at it and said indifferently, "Shitou, go and take inventory."
After Shi Tou roughly checked the items and reported the amount, Lu Zhaoruo looked at Master Li and said, "Master Li, these are still seven hundred taels short."
Master Li's face stiffened, and he almost lost his voice: "This...Master Lu, please understand, this is all the cash our family can raise, a full two thousand taels, how...how could it not be enough?"
Before he could explain, Dong Rou stepped forward with a detailed account book and handed it directly to him.
Lu Zhaoruo's lips curled up slightly, her smile gentle yet undeniable: "That day, when your daughter led a group to smash up my embroidery building, I memorized every single stitch, from the overturned teacups to the broken embroidery frames. Afterwards, faced with the mess on the ground, I ordered people to check everything one by one and record it in detail, without a single mistake."
"Master Li, you may wish to take a closer look."
Master Li took the booklet with suspicion, and after flipping through only two pages, the veins on his forehead began to throb.
The booklet even clearly listed the price of the teacup that was smashed that day, the roll of silk that was trampled on, and so on, with no discrepancies whatsoever!
He slammed the booklet shut, turned around, and slapped Li Nian'er hard across the face, yelling, "You wretched creature! Look what you've done!"
The crisp slap startled all the guests into a sudden silence.
Li Nian'er covered her face and collapsed to the ground, her shame, anger, hatred, and fear all tangled together, but she only dared to let out low sobs.
Madam Yang couldn't help but sneer, "Now you know how to cry? You were so arrogant when you smashed up the shop!"
Master Li stepped forward tremblingly, barely able to speak coherently: "Master Lu... you see... this seven hundred taels... could... could you be so kind as to waive it? My family has already exhausted all our resources..."
Lu Zhaoruo raised the corners of her lips slightly, as if she suddenly remembered something: "Tsk, look at my memory."
"We only considered the property damage earlier, but forgot about another expense..."
Master Li's eyes widened. There was another debt?
Li Nian'er suddenly looked up and glared fiercely at Lu Zhaoruo. What other score did she want to settle?
Lu Zhaoruo smiled faintly, but her voice was like ice beads falling on a jade plate: "When your daughter led people to smash things that day, three of the embroiderers were pushed and injured. The head of the embroidery shop, Lady Yun, was even kicked by her in public and had to stay in bed for ten days before she could barely recover."
"Medical expenses, lost wages, cost of calming medicine... all in all, roughly calculated..."
Her gaze suddenly sharpened: "Another three hundred taels will be added, making a total of one thousand taels."
She spoke each word clearly and distinctly, her voice resounding throughout the hall: "Not a single copper coin less."
From seven hundred taels to one thousand taels?
Master Li's legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground.
His finger trembled as he pointed at the ledger, stammering, "This...this...how can this still be..."
Before he could finish speaking, Lu Zhaoruo turned to Dongrou and said, "Dongrou, bring over the injured embroiderer's medical records, prescriptions, and job vacancies for Master Li to review."
"It's all in black and white, so that people won't think that Lu Ji Embroidery Building is the kind of person who extorts money out of thin air."
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