Chapter 039
Chapter 39: Testing the Waters
When no one listened, Grand Madam Lin threw herself on a box: “These belong to the Ping An Marquis Manor. You cannot touch them.”
The Minister of the Ministry of Works, Lord Wang, had received instructions from the Imperial Palace as soon as the guards entered the Marquis of Xuan Ping’s estate: move the silver back quietly. He thought it would be simple, but a water tank burst and leaked into the ground, making a big sinkhole.
By bad luck, it was right where the silver was hidden.
Lord Wang cursed inside and wanted to move the silver before the people from the Ping An Marquis Manor arrived, but he was caught.
“Old madam, what are you doing?”
Lord Wang signaled to his confidant. The man led the guards to keep carrying the boxes.
Madam Jiang stepped up to steady the old madam. Staring at all the boxes, the greed in her eyes nearly spilled over: “Lord, these are my mother’s private stores. You cannot take them. His Majesty told you to repair the Ping An Marquis Manor, not to loot it.”
“That is right, you are looting us. I will enter the palace and accuse you,” Grand Madam Lin raised her voice. Never mind whether this money could be shown in the open. If the Ministry of Works took it, there would be no way to answer for it when Ye Lan returned.
Grand Madam Lin looked to the steward: “Go and call the marquis.”
These were the Huo Family Army’s military funds. Even if His Majesty came, he could not touch them.
A trace of mockery curled at Lord Wang’s lips. He did not stop them.
Hidden in the shadows, Xia Ping Yuan and Xia Meng Yan had already taken the best vantage point and waited for the Lin Family to arrive. Seeing that Lord Wang did not block them, they were both surprised.
Was Lord Wang not afraid of Lin Ye Lan, or of making a scene? Could it be that His Majesty was ready to turn on the Huo Family? This test by casting a stone seemed to be paying off.
Lowering her voice, Xia Meng Yan asked: “Father, do you have people among those hired by the Ministry of Works?”
Xia Ping Yuan smiled with pride: “Your mother gave enough silver.”
“Then add another tenth,” said Xia Meng Yan with a sly smile as she whispered a few words in his ear.
Xia Ping Yuan’s eyes lit up. He waved his hand. A shadow dropped, listened to the order, and vanished.
Lin Ye Lan came fast. This time he had not taken Numbing Powder, so he limped in with a servant’s help. When he saw the boxes on the ground, his face changed: “Lord Wang, what are you doing?”
Grand Madam Lin cried before Lord Wang could speak: “The Marquis Manor finally saved up a few things, and they are taking them. There is no justice.”
Lord Wang straightened his robe. With a lifted mouth and a hint, he said: “Marquis Ping Yang, we are all smart people. Are these really the Marquis Manor’s?”
“What do you mean? They were moved out of the Marquis Manor. If they are not ours, whose are they?” Ever since entering the capital, Lin Ye Lan had been blocked at every turn. To be suppressed on his own turf made his anger surge.
Smiling, Lord Wang stepped close and patted Lin Ye Lan’s shoulder: “Marquis, some words cannot be said carelessly. His Majesty ordered the Ministry of Works to repair the Ping An Marquis Manor for free. Did you truly think it was free? Think about what kind of background the Ping An Marquis Manor has. That His Majesty spoke in person should already tell you.”
He had said enough. If Lin Ye Lan kept blocking him, he would only be showing poor judgment.
Hearing this, Lin Ye Lan’s face changed again. Even a fool could hear what Lord Wang meant. His Majesty knew the two hundred thousand taels were in the Ping An Marquis Manor and sent the Ministry of Works here on purpose to move the money in secret.
Once that thought appeared, he felt sick. How did His Majesty know? If Lord Wang took the silver away, how could he answer to Marshal Huo?
Questions crashed down one after another, and Lin Ye Lan lost the swagger he had shown.
Grand Madam Lin did not care about any of that. Once the silver entered her private store, it was hers: “Do not try to trick us. His Majesty said free, so it is free. You saw the money and got greedy. You are stealing.” She flung herself on a box. “This is the silver my son paid back with his blood. No one is taking it.”
“Old madam, do not say I did not warn you. The monthly pay of the Ping An Marquis is only so much. Even with His Majesty’s rewards, it would not add up to this,” said Lord Wang as he looked at Lin Ye Lan. “I am taking these. You pretend you do not know, and we let this pass. If you make trouble, bear the consequences.”
Lin Ye Lan frowned. Lord Wang did not have the guts to embezzle this much. Moving so much silver would draw attention. If this were his private theft, his enemies at Court would tear him apart. That left only one possibility: His Majesty had ordered it.
Seeing Lin Ye Lan frozen in place, Lord Wang laughed inside. At least the man knew when to back off. When he entered the palace to report later, he would spare him a complaint: “Men, hurry and load the carts.”
At the order, the guards began moving the boxes from the courtyard.
Grand Madam Lin clung to a box and would not let go: “It is mine. You cannot touch it. Someone, stop them, stop them.”
“Mother, let go…”
“Ungrateful son, you just watch them bully your mother… let go of me. You cannot take it. Ah…”
In the struggle, a box flew open and its contents spilled out.
“Gold bricks. So many gold bricks,” a cleaner cried out at the sight of the shining pieces on the ground.
Gasps followed. Even Lord Wang, who had seen plenty, froze. So many?
Grand Madam Lin ignored everything and threw herself forward to hug the gold bricks. When she was unhappy, she would open the box and stroke the bricks. They were dearer than her own son.
“Pick them up,” Lord Wang snapped back to his senses and ordered his men to grab the gold.
Grand Madam Lin refused to let go and ran around the courtyard clutching a brick.
One of the cleaners drifted a few steps, then, as Grand Madam Lin rushed by, slid his broom out.
Grand Madam Lin was caught off guard and fell flat on her face. The gold brick flew from her hands.
The man dropped his broom and sprinted after it, calling: “Old madam, I will get your gold brick back.”
Hearing that, Grand Madam Lin was delighted. She sprang up and blocked the people behind her.
“Old madam, there is a crest on the brick,” the man said to himself as he walked. “Looks like Madam Lin’s crest. Old madam, please see if I am right.” He turned the stamped side to show her.
In the shadows, Xia Meng Yan wanted to applaud him. The setup was flawless. What a talent. But this was not the time to admire him. It was time for her to step out.
The Shadow Guard moved her out of the Ping An Marquis Manor.
Seeing the crest, Grand Madam Lin’s heart thumped. Madam Jiang hurried over to support her and whispered: “Mother, is this Xia Meng Yan’s property?”
Suddenly understanding, Grand Madam Lin raised her voice: “Yes, yes, this belongs to Xia Meng Yan. You cannot take it.”
Lin Ye Lan had not expected such chaos and did not know what to say.
Lord Wang had not expected the brick to bear the Lin Family’s crest either. If no one knew, he could have it melted and no one would be the wiser. But now…
He scanned the courtyard. There were guards from the Imperial Palace and workers hired by the Ministry of Works. What annoyed him most was that the front gate of the Ping An Marquis Manor still had not been installed. People on the street heard the commotion and craned their necks to watch.
He could control those in the manor. As for those outside, who knew how much they heard.
The gold brick returned to Grand Madam Lin’s arms. She hid behind Lin Ye Lan without a care: “Son, this is Xia Meng Yan’s property. The Ministry of Works cannot take it, or the Marquis Manor will not be able to answer to her.”
Lord Wang stamped his foot. The duck that had reached his mouth was about to fly away. Dream on. Others might not want their heads. He still wanted his.
“Ping An Marquis, I have already given you a chance. Whether you take it is your choice.” He bowed toward the direction of the Imperial Palace. “I must return to report. How I should put it, I ask the Ping An Marquis to instruct me.”
Lin Ye Lan did not understand how things had turned out like this. He looked coldly at Lord Wang: “I will enter the palace with Lord Wang and explain everything.”
A cool voice cut in: “Explain what? I will listen too.”