Chapter 159
Chapter 159
[After Zhu Yuanzhang Returned to the Great Ming – 10]
Fury had been raging in Lin Lanyi’s heart, but Zhu Yuanzhang’s words made her burst out laughing. Afraid of losing her imposing air, she quickly covered her mouth.
Her smile made Zhu Yuanzhang smile too. He whispered, “You look better when you smile.”
Heat touched her face. When she looked up, his eyes were utterly sincere. He truly believed it.
The flames kindled by her argument with her uncle faded, replaced by a gentle stream of warmth.
How should one describe Prince Lu?
He was an upright gentleman, yet fierce by nature and intolerant of wrongdoing. He was dignified, yet quietly teased her in an unexpectedly amusing way. He seemed playful, but every word and gesture carried a bold, unrestrained air.
However one judged him, he was an excellent husband.
The thought brought another smile to her lips. Then she noticed her uncle staggering upright with tea leaves all over his head and became serious again.
“Uncle, Aunt, since matters have reached this point, let us speak plainly.”
Lin Lanyi began directly. “I am my parents’ only daughter. Apart from the portion used to support Grandmother, everything they left belongs to me. My mother was not a duke’s or marquis’s daughter, but she came from a distinguished family. Her maiden family sent eighty-eight chests of dowry with her. Before she died, she left it all to me. Three identical inventories were held by her husband’s family, her maiden family, and her daughter. After her death, Grandmother and Mother’s dowry attendants managed it together. Later, Grandmother died…”
She turned abruptly to Second Madam Lin. “Aunt, tell me: have you touched my mother’s dowry over these years?”
The threat of being flayed and stuffed with straw had turned Second Madam Lin’s face gray. Her eyes shifted at the question. “The inventory states everything clearly, and your maternal family watches closely. How could I touch it? Lanyi, don’t throw every accusation at me!”
Lin Lanyi waited until she finished, then sneered. “If your conscience is clear, swear it. Swear you never touched Mother’s dowry or replaced its gold, silver, and silk with inferior goods. If you lie before the gods, may Cousin never succeed in office and die without descendants!”
Second Madam Lin’s expression changed. “Hefeng is your own cousin and has always protected you. How can you curse him so viciously?!”
“When did I curse him? The oath takes effect only if you touched the dowry. Why are you afraid to swear? Do you know you’re guilty and fear retribution upon your son?”
Second Madam Lin’s face turned purple with shame.
“Mother’s dowry is the first matter. Grandmother’s private treasury is the second!” Lin Lanyi continued. “I was raised at Grandmother’s knee. Her old attendants all witnessed how she treated me. While lucid, she repeatedly said that after her death, her treasury would be divided equally between Cousin and me. Do you deny it?”
Second Madam Lin clenched her jaw.
Lanyi turned to Father Lin. “Grandmother said it during family banquets. If Aunt forgot, did you forget too?”
He guiltily looked away. “Mother… seemed to say it once or twice.”
“Father trusted his own brother with his only daughter. Grandmother trusted her son and never put her wishes in writing. Yet when she died, Aunt swore Grandmother had left everything to Cousin because he was the Lin Family’s only male heir. When Nanny Deng questioned her, Aunt wept, swore to heaven, and made such a scene that everyone finally let the matter drop.”
Neither husband nor wife dared meet her eyes.
Lin Lanyi stared at Second Madam Lin. “In Grandmother’s final days, she could no longer rise. Then her spirits suddenly improved. She said she dreamed of Grandfather and sent me to offer incense at the temple. Everyone knew it was her final rally. I hurried back after fulfilling her wish, but arrived too late. Nanny Deng said you alone were beside her when she died. Did heaven take her naturally-or were you so eager for her property that you took her life?”
Father Lin’s expression changed. His gaze snapped toward his wife.
Second Madam Lin stared as if she had never expected the question. Feeling every eye land upon her, she panicked. “I didn’t! It wasn’t me!”
Tears filled her eyes as she searched for someone who believed her. “It truly wasn’t me! Husband, even if no one else believes me, you must!”
She scrambled to Father Lin and wept. “I thought Mother was biased, but I never wanted to kill her! Sister-in-law left such a rich dowry, and Elder Brother built an enormous estate. Lanyi could never exhaust it. Why did Mother still insist on giving her half the private treasury? Lanyi would marry into another family, while our Hefeng is the Lin Family’s only male heir!
“I did harbor selfish thoughts. When Mother was dying, I dismissed the others and fabricated her final instructions. But I did nothing else! She had been bedridden for so long that even the physician said medicine was useless. The coffin was already prepared. Why would I harm her?”
Clutching her husband’s robe, she sobbed, “You treat me so well. Mother was your own mother. How could I kill her? If I did, may I be reborn as a pig or dog and suffer forever in the eighteen levels of hell!”
Father Lin relaxed and shed tears. “Enough. I believe you.”
Lin Lanyi had watched every expression and also believed this part. Her face softened. “What did Grandmother actually say before she died?”
Second Madam Lin choked out, “Her mind was confused. She remembered the hard years after Father died and asked, ‘Do we still have grain to eat?’ I told her the granary was full. Then she closed her eyes…”
Lin Lanyi’s heart clenched. She shut her eyes and let tears stream down. Father Lin also wept for his long-dead mother.
After a time, Lanyi composed herself. “I hold Mother’s dowry inventory. We will open the storerooms and count everything. You will replace whatever is missing or inferior. You will also return the two hundred thousand taels Father left me. Grandmother promised me half her treasury, and I will surrender not one coin. I would sooner sell it and feed the poor outside the city than give it to people who manipulated her death and shamelessly enjoyed a cousin’s inheritance!”
The Lin couple looked gray and terrified.
She continued, “Father built this residence. I haven’t seen the title deeds, so you likely put them away. No matter. The government keeps records. We will settle everything today. Tomorrow, your whole family moves out. Go wherever you please.”
Zhu Yuanzhang leaned close and whispered, “They aren’t going anywhere. They’re already scheduled for flaying.”
Lin Lanyi: “…”
Half exasperated and half amused, she said, “I know! I mean the accounts must be settled before they go!”
Zhu Yuanzhang rubbed his hands eagerly. “They occupied your parents’ home and swallowed your mother’s dowry, your father’s silver, and your share of your grandmother’s treasury because they were your closest blood relatives, correct?”
Lin Lanyi wiped her tears. “Yes. Why?”
He grew more excited. “Then you’re also their closest relative. Your uncle’s parents and full elder brother are dead. He and his wife have only Lin Hefeng, who just married and has no son. If their entire family dies, won’t you, as your uncle’s closest living relative, naturally inherit all their property?”
Lin Lanyi: “…”
That maneuver left her speechless.
Father Lin: “???”
Second Madam Lin: “???”
There was an option like that?!
Munching melon seeds, Liu Che gleefully summarized, “Kill the whole family, then inherit the estate. Brilliant!”