Chapter 36 Execution and Framing
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The preface is free? This is worth two hundred and fifty taels!
In reality, Lin Xihe won a total of 520 taels, which, when split in half, wouldn't amount to 250 taels. She admitted she had a slightly deliberate mindset. When Wen Zhixu handed over the annulment letter, she silently retorted to him, "So what if it's 250 taels?"
She held the silver coins guiltily, secretly observing Wen Zhixu's expression. Seeing his chin slightly raised, she said, "The day the falcon snatched Miss Lin's hairpin, it was my fault. This silver coin is my apology."
"Ah? That's a fake, it's worthless." Before Lin Xihe could say anything more, Wen Zhixu had already entered the Wen residence.
Back at Tinghe Pavilion, the familiar figure was missing. In front of the dressing table were several small, hand-sewn cushions and a bird's nest she had made from twigs.
She then realized with a start that Bu Bu had gone home.
A series of tapping sounds came from outside.
Lin Xihe listlessly strolled into the courtyard.
Beside the dog hole, Mo Hu huffed and puffed as he dragged out a bundle.
Lin Xihe ran over excitedly, opened the bundle, and found it filled with neatly arranged silver ingots!
She was startled and quickly put the silver back into her bundle, ordering the dog to hold the bundle shut: "Little Black, you can't secretly move your family's property to my house! What if that guy thinks I stole it and files a lawsuit with the authorities..."
"I don't want to go to jail!"
"Please go back quickly, secretly, please, okay?"
Lin Xihe was practically ready to kowtow to the dog.
Like owner, like dog. This one is stubborn. It plopped its rear end down on the ground, as if it were rooted to the spot, looking determined to stay put.
The Wen family really spared no expense in raising dogs. This breed of mongrel should have lean and wiry lines, but Lin Xihe pawed at its body and couldn't feel any ribs; it was all fat.
"Are you really not leaving?" she threatened. "Then I'll report you to the authorities."
"I'm accusing your master of framing you." That charge was fabricated.
"Waaah..." Mo Hu let out a whimper, and his two erect ears drooped down.
The large dog looked aggrieved, making Lin Xihe seem less like the dog.
Lin Xihe pinched the dog's ears, forcing them to stand up, and pretended to scold it: "You're the one who's accusing me first?"
"Bad dog!"
"Ahem." A sound came from the courtyard wall. "That silver is a reward, thank you Miss Lin for helping me find Cuihuang."
The notice posted at the Wen family mansion clearly stated that anyone who found the Azure Phoenix would be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver.
When Lin Xihe brought Bu Bu home, she intended to adopt it. Little did she know, the little guy already had an owner.
"No, no!" she quickly waved her hand. The wind swept through the crabapple trees, the branches swayed gently, and dappled shadows fell on her face.
“So be it.” Wen Zhixu, standing at the other end, seemed to be weighing his options.
Lin Xihe pressed her ear against the wall, trying to hear what was happening on the other side.
"Mo Hu, let's go back to the manor," he said again.
"Ah." Lin Xihe almost choked on her breath. If he wanted to thank someone, why didn't he insist? If he had asked just one more question—just one more question!—she would have "reluctantly" accepted!
That's a huge sum of one thousand taels!
An irrepressible smile spread across the wall.
"Just kidding, you can keep the money."
Lin Xihe exclaimed "Oh!" before she could recover from the ecstasy of "losing and regaining" when she heard Qingwu's exclamation behind her.
"...Nineteen, twenty?"
"Ahhh! It's two thousand taels! A full two thousand taels!"
"Miss, have you struck it rich?"
The original text gave double the amount.
terrific.
Lin Xihe, corrupted by money: Her mortal enemy no longer seems so repulsive.
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The candles in Tinghe Pavilion burned all night long, and Lin Xihe counted silver until her hands cramped.
She was unaware that the gossip about her in Shengjing had already been updated to version 2.0.
Right now, all the officials and nobles in the city are gossiping about the same thing: the eldest daughter of the Lin family is secretly having an affair with a man by sending messages by carrier pigeon, and her behavior is suspicious.
At the residence of Vice Minister Zhao of the Ministry of Rites, Miss Zhao is getting ready.
"Really?" Having lost out to Lin Xihe earlier, Miss Zhao had been sullen for several days. Upon hearing this rumor, she couldn't help but have doubts.
After all, she really didn't want to recall how Wen Zhixu had protected Lin Xihe that day.
The maid's embellished version: The eldest daughter of the Lin family openly wrote letters to her lover every day to express her longing.
The old woman even unlocked an advanced version: Miss Lin secretly dug a tunnel and sneaked out at night to meet her sweetheart.
Miss Zhao had never been so excited: "I'm going to tell my sister!"
Her older sister married the eldest son of the Minister of Justice.
Gossip, after all, is something that spreads from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred.
In just half a day, the gossip from the Lin family flew all the way into the palace.
A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of flowers in the Imperial Garden, but the Empress, with no interest in admiring the blossoms, asked the old nanny beside her, "Is there such a thing?"
Unable to fathom the Empress's temperament, the old nanny could only offer a roundabout explanation on behalf of the Lin family: "The young lady of the Lin family has regained her senses; allow me to investigate this matter further..."
The empress plucked a flower and broke off the petals one by one: "...behead me, don't behead me, behead me."
The old woman's knees buckled, and she knelt down unconsciously.
The Empress's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly: "Lord Lin has always been honest and upright. His daughter has just recovered from a long illness. How could she do such an absurd thing? Those who spread rumors should be killed."
The old woman said, "Your Majesty is wise!"
Sigh, all that kneeling was for nothing.
"You said before that Wen Zhixu looks down on everyone?" After Wen Zhiyue's death, the Empress had her trusted nanny sound out Wen Zhixu's thoughts.
The old woman bowed her head and agreed.
That Wen Zhixu was indeed unmoved by reason. No matter how outstanding the noble ladies were, he didn't even glance at the portraits brought by the nanny.
"Then it's settled," the Empress said, taking the handkerchief offered by a palace maid and lightly wiping her fingertips. "I gave him the opportunity to choose another wife, but he refused. Since he hasn't taken a liking to anyone... then tell me, which girl has he chosen?"
The old woman seemed to understand something.
"I will go and inform His Majesty immediately to grant him a marriage. If he does not settle down soon, I fear I will never have a peaceful day again."
Every now and then, ladies of noble birth from various households would come to pay their respects, openly or secretly promoting their daughters and hoping the Empress would act as matchmaker. If Wen Zhixu were to marry soon, it would put an end to these people's hopes.
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The room was pitch black in Tinghe Pavilion. A lazy voice came from the bed: "Qingwu?"
The maidservant waiting outside hurried into the room and reached out to lift the curtain.
"Don't open the window, light the candles."
"..."
The sun was high in the sky outside, yet the young lady still asked for candles to be lit.
On days when she didn't have to care for the sick, Lin Xihe completely stayed in bed. Once the candle was lit, along with the orchids in the room, wouldn't she have an antique-style scented candle?
So what if the sun is shining on your butt? Sleeping in is all about creating a good atmosphere!
After rinsing her mouth, Lin Xihe ate some pastries in the dim light.
"It's not as good as the Wen family's." If my cheap father could get his hands on the Wen family's chef, that would be perfect.
"Miss," Qingwu said softly, her heart filled with concern for her, "I'll try to find someone I know in the Wen family. Maybe I can get you the Taixue steamed buns you like."
"An acquaintance? Who is it?" Lin Xihe asked casually.
Qingwu's face was complicated, with a hint of reluctance, as she whispered the name: "...Wen Qi".
"Qingwu, you're something else! You even managed to get in touch with Wen Zhixu's chief assistant?"
Qingwu, who was also Lin Xihe's assistant, said with a hint of fear, "Miss, if you want to eat it, I will go and ask him for it right away."
“Come back.” Lin Xihe sighed. “You can’t just take it for free. Otherwise, Wen Zhixu will find fault with you again.”
She pulled out a silver ingot: "Let's go through the proper channels! You buy it from Wen Qi!"
"..." Qingwu clenched the silver in her hand, her expression quite complicated.
Hidden Spring Study Room.
Wen Qi brought over a food box and bowed, saying, "Second Young Master, these are snacks that Master specially ordered to be made. Master said that you didn't eat much for breakfast."
Upon hearing this, Wen Zhixu, who was searching for something on his desk, wrote: "I don't want to eat."
"Second Young Master, please at least take a look..." Wen Qi wanted to persuade him again, so he eagerly lifted the lid of the box.
The pastries inside the food box were exquisite and brightly colored. Wen Zhixu had little appetite and waved his hand, "Take it away."
He was busy looking for the annulment letter, but after only a few days, he couldn't find it.
Wen Qi's tone became more earnest: "Master saw that you have lost a lot of weight since the mourning period, so he specially ordered me to watch you eat. Master, you are still waiting for my reply."
“Then you will go and stand guard in your grandfather’s room.” Wen Zhixu said in a flat tone, leaving no room for negotiation.
"..."
The study door opened, and Wen Qi dejectedly stepped out, the scenery of the backyard eagerly crowding into view.
The soft pink crabapple blossoms and the clear sky, though the abundant sunlight failed to illuminate the full bloom of spring, left only a head missing from the gleaming white courtyard wall.
Suddenly remembering that a leopard lived next door, Wen Zhixu changed the subject: "Give the food box to Miss Lin. You can explain to your grandfather that I ate it."
"Wouldn't this be too abrupt?" Sending food to a young lady like Lin Xihe so abruptly might be offensive to her. The Lin family is no small household; they certainly wouldn't lack such a treat. Wen Qi had spoken too quickly and only now realized that his words were presumptuous. He was filled with fear, worried that the young master might truly dislike him.
"Abrupt?" Wen Zhixu pondered for a moment, a faint smile flashing across his eyes. "How could a gluttonous person find food abrupt?"
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"Miss Lin?"
"Woof woof, woof."
The sounds of furtive voices and two long barks followed by a short bark came from the backyard.
Qingwu lifted her skirt: "Who?"
Upon hearing his arch-rival's voice, Wen Qi replied in a businesslike tone, "My young master wishes to send some snacks to Miss Lin."
Lin Xihe wasn't there, and Wen Qi asked curiously, "Is your young lady not here?"
How could you tell others about Miss sleeping in late? Qingwu scolded him for being nosy.
A war of words could erupt at any moment.
Like master, like servant; Qingwu has now become quite domineering: "If you're going to send it, hurry up! Where are the snacks?!"
He intended to send a maidservant out of the mansion to fetch it. Unexpectedly, a long pole slowly rose from the other side of the courtyard wall, with a food box hanging from the top, and it was handed over swaying back and forth.
Qingwu: "..."
"Hmph, not even a thank you." Wen Qi was dissatisfied with Qing Wu's attitude. He turned around and almost bumped into his master's arms.
Wen Zhixu stood behind him like a ghost, a faint hint of resentment escaping his lips: "Where is Miss Lin? Why didn't she come?"
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