Chapter 7: Recovering Principal and Interest Together

Lin Wanqing sensed her intention immediately and hurriedly clutched the dowry list to her chest, then swiftly turned around, attempting to shield herself from the tea with her body.

But what she expected did not happen.

The tea never spilled on her.

She glanced back and saw Lu Jinxiao standing quietly behind her, having intercepted the entire splash of tea water.

Lin Wanqing was utterly surprised; she had never imagined Lu Jinxiao would come to her aid.

After all, Lu Jinxiao was famously cold and unfeeling—why would he care about such trivial matters?

The maidservant, realizing her plan had failed and that Lu Jinxiao had been scalded instead, went pale and knelt on the ground, trembling as she begged, “I deserve death; General Lu, please spare me!”

Madam Qin’s heart was pounding, but she maintained a facade of concern. “General Lu, are you burned? Someone, fetch a set of the Young Master’s clothes for the general to change into.”

Lu Jinxiao waved his hand dismissively and said coolly, “No need. A soldier doesn’t fuss over such things. But how can someone so careless remain by the master’s side? Aren’t you afraid that one day she might splash tea on the wrong person and bring disaster upon the family?”

Lin’s father immediately commanded, “Someone, drag her away.”

The maidservant begged frantically, “General Lu, please spare me! Master, please save me, Madam, save me…” If she were dragged away, her only fate would be to be sold off.

Madam Qin dared not intervene; she even feared being implicated and stepped aside to avoid the scene.

Lin Wanqing sneered coldly. That Qin woman was truly heartless—that maidservant had been loyal to her all along.

But what did it matter to her?

Carefully, she picked up the dowry list and glanced at it, then deliberately exclaimed, “Uncle, is this really my mother’s dowry list? Are you sure you’re not mistaken?”

Jiang Huaixian replied, “Of course not. This list bears the seals of your grandfather and your father; it couldn’t be forged. What, is there a problem with this list?”

Lin Wanqing looked incredulous. “This doesn’t match at all with what Madam gave me.”

She then pulled out the counterfeit dowry list she had been carrying: “Uncle, please look. This is the inventory Madam handed me a few days ago.”

Jiang Huaixian was already aware that the dowry had been embezzled, but seeing the list still made him unusually angry. He turned and glared at Master Lin. “Elder, when the Jiang family married our daughter off, we nearly emptied half of our family fortune. Why is there now only this left? Please give me a reasonable explanation, or I will have to visit the Yuzhou government office today to seek justice for my sister, Jiang Huaishu!”

In Daliang, the law states that a woman’s dowry is her personal property. If she dies, the dowry should be inherited by her children; if she has none, it must be returned entirely to her natal family. No one is allowed to embezzle it, or they will face legal consequences.

Master Lin was shocked. “Nephew, calm down. Let me first figure out what happened. Hand me those lists.”

Jiang Huaixian handed over both dowry lists. Master Lin understood immediately and turned to scold Madam Qin, “Qin, how dare you!”

Terrified, Qin fell to her knees and defended herself: “Father-in-law, please don’t be angry. Your daughter-in-law only… only worried that Wanqing is young and inexperienced, that she might squander it recklessly. That’s why I tried to safeguard it for her. When she marries, she would naturally receive all of her mother’s dowry.”

Suddenly, Lu Jinxiao laughed aloud.

Everyone turned to look at him.

He stopped laughing and solemnly said, “I was merely moved by Madam Qin’s sincerity. I did not mean to laugh at her for treating others like fools.”

Lin Wanqing tightly pinched her own thigh to keep from bursting out laughing.

That Lu Jinxiao!

Master Lin’s face darkened further. It was already disgraceful enough that the stepmother embezzled the first wife’s dowry, but to have the future grandson-in-law witness this—both the family’s reputation and dignity were utterly ruined!

He took a few deep breaths and commanded, “Qin, immediately return all of the Jiang family’s dowry to Wanqing! If even a single item is missing, you will answer to me!”

Qin dared not object and hurriedly promised compliance.

Fortunately, she would only lose the possessions she had withheld; the damage was not too great.

Unexpectedly, Lu Jinxiao suddenly spoke again. “Returning the items alone is not enough. Those estates and shops generate quite a bit of income each year. That wealth also belongs to the Jiang family.”

Master Lin waved his hand. “Of course. Qin, compile the accounts for the shops and estates over these years. I will send a few clerks to audit everything thoroughly. Nothing must be omitted!”

Qin bit back the urge to faint and nodded in submission.

...

Lin Wanqing had been back in her own courtyard for quite some time and still found it hard to believe.

She had expected a great struggle to reclaim her mother’s dowry, yet it had been so simple.

With eighteen years of accumulated income, she went from owning a mere thirty taels of silver to becoming a modestly wealthy lady with assets worth tens of thousands.

Banxia’s face twisted with a smile. “Miss, we finally got the madam’s dowry back. I heard the one in the front courtyard fainted after returning—well deserved!”

Lin Wanqing was truly delighted. Although she had owned far greater wealth in her past life, this time the meaning was different.

This was her mother’s legacy.

In her previous life, she only discovered the dowry’s status after marrying into the Su family. She had even tried to reclaim it from the Lin household, but they lectured her endlessly, accusing her of being ungrateful. Bearing in mind the恩 of being raised, she swallowed the loss bitterly.

And what was the result?

The Lin family was fully aware of Lin Qianyun’s affair with Su Jincheng! Everyone in the family knew except her. She even suspected that the poison used against her was connected to the Lin family!

In her past life, the Lin family had eroded all her feelings. This time, she would no longer sacrifice herself for their sake.

Banxia laughed as she told Zisu about the front courtyard. “You missed a big show! General Lu really protected our miss. Without him, today wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.”

“That’s true,” Zisu agreed.

Lin Wanqing was a discerning person. Had Lu Jinxiao not been present, Master Lin would not have so readily forced Qin to account. Even if her uncle had come in person, Master Lin could have found ways to delay the matter.

She had no relationship with Lu Jinxiao, either in this life or the last, and couldn’t understand why he had helped her. He didn’t seem the type to meddle in others’ affairs.

Could it be because she was about to marry him, and he considered her one of his own, unwilling to see a family member suffer?

For some reason, this thought suddenly occurred to her. Lu Jinxiao personally delivering the betrothal gifts, and her uncle arriving on the same day—could there be some connection?

But as far as she knew, they had no close ties.

She couldn’t figure it out.

Banxia leaned closer and suggested, “Miss, General Lu helped us so much today. Shouldn’t we thank him? He even blocked that bowl of hot tea for you.”

Lin Wanqing considered this and replied, “We really should thank him, but I don’t know what would be an appropriate gift.”

Banxia smiled brightly. “Of course, something made by you would be most sincere. Since you and the general will marry soon, if you make it yourself, no one will criticize it.”

Zisu nodded in agreement. “Even if it’s not handmade, as long as it’s something the general can use, that’s the best and most sincere gift.”

Lin Wanqing’s heart stirred slightly—she had an idea.