That Little Hussy's Dowry Will All Be Yours

Everyone looked at each other, wondering where this little girl got the audacity to challenge the Lin Family.

Zhou Wanwan spoke slowly, her expression calm:

In February of the third year of the Zhengde reign, Lord Lin received one hundred bolts of silk and six pieces of jade from his private treasury.

In April of the same year, you received three volumes of land deeds at a villa in the west of the city.

In June, another thousand taels of gold were acquired.

Lord Lin's face turned deathly pale. He coughed heavily and said, "Nonsense! Shut up! Don't say another word! What exactly do you want?"

Zhou Wanwan said softly, "There are too many people here, and since this is a teahouse, why don't we go upstairs for a chat?"

Lord Lin gritted his teeth and nodded, saying, "Alright, let's go upstairs and discuss it in detail."

The two men stepped onto the second floor. As soon as they found their footing, Lord Lin could no longer contain himself and asked in a deep voice, "Who exactly are you? How did you obtain these secret accounts? How much evidence do you possess?"

Zhou Wanwan smiled slightly and said:

"Lord Lin, please don't get angry. Such agitation will only make you lose your composure."

I didn't intend to bring you down, I'm just telling you that I have all the evidence of your embezzlement, and much more than you can imagine."

Lord Lin sneered, "How could that be? Who are you trying to scare?"

"You think you've destroyed all the evidence of your embezzlement? Hah!" Zhou Wanwan took out an account book and threw it in front of Lord Lin.

Lord Lin flipped through the account book, his hands trembling with fear. It contained his accounts from over ten years in office, with everything recorded clearly.

It was clearer than he remembered it himself.

How is that possible?

This is certainly possible, because the trees in their yard witnessed how Lord Lin rose from a minor official to the Minister of Rites.

After communicating with the person sent by Zhou Wanwan, Shu wrote down all the details of the corruption and embezzlement.

Lord Lin looked at Zhou Wanwan and asked, "What exactly do you want?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said:

"Lord Lin doesn't really care about the child he had with his ex-wife."

Just because Lin Yue lost her mother, is it appropriate for you to treat her like this?

Lord Lin sneered, "Lin Yue was disobedient from a young age, while Lin Xi was obedient. How can they be the same?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at Lord Lin and said:

"You're saying Lin Yue is disobedient? How exactly is she disobedient?"

You're asking her to become a concubine to a man in his sixties? Do you expect her to obey?

You make her do all the things a maid should do at home every day, and she does them all, but you don't even give her a bite to eat. How can you expect her to be obedient?"

Lord Lin snorted coldly and said, "That's utter nonsense. Although her mother is her stepmother, she treats her well and never lacks food."

Zhou Wanwan laughed heartily:

"Lord Lin, just how little do you care about this child?"

Lin Yue hasn't eaten a single piece of meat all year. The vegetables delivered to her every day are either spoiled, rotten, or just leftover meat and bones.

You didn't know these things?

Zhou Wanwan didn't know this person at first. Later, Lin Yue was really short of money and found out that Zhou Wanwan was recruiting people, so she joined her food delivery team.

Lin Yue is quite capable, so as soon as Zhou Wanwan arrived, Lin Yue promoted her to be a first-class maid.

Being a first-class maid wouldn't have been a problem, but her father actually wanted to sell her. She had no choice but to beg Zhou Wanwan for help.

It all happened by sheer coincidence.

Just then, Lin Xi started making a scene about breaking off the engagement, so Zhou Wanwan brought Lin Yue here.

Lord Lin frowned and said, "Impossible. My wife is virtuous and kind. She treats Lin Yue like her own daughter, even more so than she treats Lin Xi."

"Oh? Is that so? Then how about I invite Lord Lin to watch a good show?"

Lord Lin thought for a moment and asked, "What kind of good show?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said:

"If Lord Lin sees how his wife mistreats Lin Yue, then Lin Yue will have nothing to do with your Lin Family from now on."

However, Lin Yue's mother's dowry should still be given to her. What do you think?

Lord Lin said confidently, "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! I know my wife's temperament very well."

The two quickly wrote a contract.

Zhou Wanwan took out a thick dowry list and said, "Lin Yue's mother's dowry is all here, and it's all registered. Lord Lin, you can't go back on your word!"

Lord Lin frowned and said, "I've locked all these dowries in the storeroom!"

"Is that so?" Zhou Wanwan was too lazy to say anything more to Lord Lin.

Lord Lin only sees what he wants to see.

Soon it was evening, and Zhou Wanwan brought Lord Lin back to the Lin Family, where they hid outside the main house.

Lord Lin said in a low voice, "How can I possibly sneak back to my own home? What kind of decorum is that?"

Lin Yue had already entered the main room. She looked at Madam Lin, "Mother."

Madam Lin went up and slapped him:

"You unfilial daughter, how dare you come back? Do you want to ruin your sister?"

You actually proposed marrying into the Chen Family yourself. The Chen Family is now a fallen family. What good can come of marrying into them?

Furthermore, why can't a girl An'an peacefully at home? Why does she have to go out and show her face in public?

You're a slut, just as slutty as your mother. Now kneel down in the yard and reflect on your actions."

Lin Yue wiped away her tears and knelt down in the courtyard.

Madam Lin sneered, "She's just an orphan girl who lost her mother, and she thinks she can compete with my daughter? She's dreaming."

Lin Xi, her eyes red, said, "Mother, now that she's made such a scene, everyone outside knows it's my fault, and the engagement is called off. What should I do?"

Madam Lin comforted her with a smile:

"Look at you, you can't keep your temper in check. I've heard about this. Don't worry! We only talked about a marriage alliance between the two families, not who would marry whom!"

This lowly wretch was originally intended to be given to an old man as a concubine, but now it wouldn't be bad to give her to the Chen Family.

Chen Ankang used to be a promising talent, after all, he was a third-rank official, but now he has nothing left, he's just a good-for-nothing.

The two of them actually make a pretty good match now.

As for you, I've already reached an agreement with the Huo Family. Huo Lingchuan is quite a good person."

Lin Xi thought for a moment and said to Huo Lingchuan, "He's really too ugly, Mother. I don't like him at all."

Chen Ankang and Huo Lingchuan are indeed quite talented, but Chen Ankang is as handsome as Pan An, while Huo Lingchuan is... well, let's just say his face is covered in pockmarks.

Madam Lin sighed and said:

"Now Huo Lingchuan is a fifth-rank official with a promising future, and the Huo Family is also at the height of its power."

Once you marry into the family, you'll be the lady of the house, with no worries about food or clothing. What could you possibly be dissatisfied with?

I've prepared your dowry; that slut's dowry will all be yours later.

Lin Xi said with a face full of joy:

"Mother, are you saying that my sister's dowry will all be mine?"

That dowry was given to her by her own mother, is it alright?"

Madam Lin scoffed coldly:

"I've always been in charge of this dowry; I can just make up an excuse that it's lost."

"Isn't it normal for a house to be burgled?"