Chapter 25: She Seems Like a Petty Person-A matriarca renasce como madrasta e a família do marido canalha se arrepende profundamente(Uma flor desabrocha.)

Lin Wanqing handed her private seal to Lianying.

Lianying hurriedly took it and examined it closely. The longer she looked, the uglier her expression became.

Banxia snatched the seal back. "Have you seen enough? If you have, why haven't you opened the door yet? A mere maid, daring to question the mistress of the house—who gave you the courage?"

She was not usually this aggressive, but Lianying’s intentions were clearly suspect. The way she had been acting earlier, anyone who didn't know better would have thought she was the General's wife.

Banxia had seen plenty of maids at the Lin estate who dreamed of climbing into their master's bed, but she had never encountered one like Lianying, who held the mistress in such blatant contempt.

She didn't care what status Lianying held in the General's eyes. Since her own mistress had married into the General's manor and become the General's wife, Lianying needed to learn her place. No matter how much she was favored, she was still a servant! And a servant could never stand above her master!

Lianying felt incredibly humiliated, her face turning pale. "Madam, I did not intend to be difficult, but the General has given orders, and I must—"

Lin Wanqing said coldly, "I understand. Open the door." She had no patience for Lianying's excuses; it was nothing more than an attempt to use Lu Jinxiao’s name to pressure her. She had no interest in what kind of role Lianying played in Lu Jinxiao’s life, but as long as she bore the title of the General's wife, no servant in this household would dare to act above their station in front of her. This was the rule of Lin Wanqing.

Lianying obediently retrieved the key and opened the storeroom door. Lin Wanqing entered with Banxia and Zisu, only to be struck by a fresh wave of shock. This time, it was the sheer scale of Lu Jinxiao’s wealth that stunned her.

Lu Jinxiao’s private treasury, built beneath his study, occupied an area half the size of the entire courtyard. And this massive space was packed to the rafters. Lin Wanqing mused, *For a military general to possess such vast private wealth, could he have been embezzling the spoils of war?* Yet, Lu Jinxiao did not seem like that kind of man.

"Lianying, is it? Bring me the ledger for this storeroom."

Lianying did not dare to talk back this time and quickly brought the ledger over. Lin Wanqing flipped through it for a while, her surprise deepening. She had always thought of Lu Jinxiao as merely a military man, but it seemed he had a remarkable talent for business. Though he didn't own many shops or trading houses, all of them were involved in maritime trade.

The names of these trading houses were very familiar to Lin Wanqing. In her previous life, these were major firms she had dealt with, and they had even provided her with assistance.

She never expected that their secret owner was none other than Lu Jinxiao. Lin Wanqing was deeply shaken. While these firms were nowhere near the scale they would reach in her previous life, they were already generating significant wealth for him.

She inspected the contents of the treasury. A portion of the items originated from overseas countries, many of which were rare treasures not found on the open market. Lin Wanqing reached out to touch a red coral piece nearby. It was a vivid, fiery red that looked worth a thousand gold pieces.

She had only touched it out of curiosity, but Lianying immediately grew visibly anxious. Lin Wanqing asked curiously, "What? Am I not allowed to touch it?"

Lianying lowered her head and replied, "This is the General’s most prized possession. I hope you will be very careful, Madam." She said this with a hint of insincerity.

Having run a massive business in her past life, Lin Wanqing was an expert at reading people. She knew at a glance that Lianying was lying. She didn't know exactly what Lu Jinxiao liked, but it was unlikely a military man would be obsessed with a trinket like this. Clearly, the one who truly coveted the coral was Lianying.

Lin Wanqing turned to Zisu and said, "Have this moved to my room. It will look perfect as an ornament by my daybed."

Lianying panicked. "Madam, you cannot take it away! It is the General’s favorite!"

Lin Wanqing smiled faintly. "If it is the General's favorite, is there a problem with it being in my room?"

Lianying stammered, "This... this..."

Lin Wanqing glanced at her. "When the General handed me the private seal, he told me that I may dispose of everything in his treasury as I see fit."

Lianying’s face turned even paler as she retreated to the side with her head bowed. Zisu immediately called for people to move the coral out. Lianying watched as the piece was taken away, looking as if she were on the verge of tears.

Lin Wanqing felt like a spiteful villain, but she had to admit, the feeling was rather satisfying. In truth, she didn't care much for the coral, but she refused to tolerate a maid stirring up trouble in front of her. As long as she held the title of the mistress of the General’s manor, every servant here would learn the meaning of decorum.

Lin Wanqing personally recorded the transaction in the ledger, noting down two hundred taels of silver. "Withdraw two hundred taels to prepare gifts for my return to my maiden home."

Banxia was puzzled. "Mistress, aren't there ready-made items in the storeroom?" Why go out and buy more? Besides, two hundred taels wouldn't buy anything particularly impressive.

Lin Wanqing glanced at the items in the room and replied calmly, "The Lin family does not deserve these things."

Banxia tried to persuade her, "Mistress, if the return gifts are too meager, people will look down on you." Especially Madam Qin and her daughter, who would surely mock her in private.

Lin Wanqing laughed softly. "It doesn't matter. Appearances are not that important to me." Appearances were for others to see; substance was what truly belonged to her. In her previous life, she had lived so miserably for the sake of so-called face. In this life, she would not repeat such foolishness, especially for people who didn't deserve it.

The next day, Lin Wanqing returned to the Lin residence with her maids and a few return gifts. Knowing that Lu Jinxiao had gone to the frontier, the Lin family did not place much importance on the visit. Only the steward was waiting at the main gate to welcome her.

Lin Wanqing sneered, unsurprised by this treatment. After all, like the other daughters of the Lin family, she was merely a tool. Before confirming that a tool could bring benefits to the family, one could not expect the family to show them much respect. In her past life, when Lin Xianyun returned, only Madam Qin had come out to greet her. Since she had no mother of her own, only the steward was there to wait for her.

The steward stepped forward and bowed with a smile. "This old servant greets the Eldest Miss. How have you been faring at the General’s manor?"

Lin Wanqing replied coolly, "Everything is well, thank you for your concern, Steward Lin."

The steward smiled. "That is good to hear. Madam is waiting for you in the flower hall."

Lin Wanqing nodded. "Very well, please lead the way."

The group made their way to the flower hall. When they arrived, Madam Qin was not there. Lin Wanqing knew this was a deliberate slight, but she didn't mind. She sat comfortably and began to sip her tea.

Madam Qin and Lin Xianyun left Lin Wanqing waiting for nearly half an hour before finally appearing. As soon as she walked through the door, Lin Xianyun laughed. "Oh, the esteemed General's wife returns home, and you bring so little? What’s the matter, is your General’s manor running out of food?"