21 Taking Things Back

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Liusu’s brows drew together slightly, but she said nothing.

When her gaze fell upon the box nearby, she seemed to remember something and spoke cautiously.

“Miss, Cousin Miss Lin has borrowed so many things from you over the years. I know you have always treated her kindly, thinking it must be difficult for her to live under someone else’s roof, so you have often yielded to her. But this time, she actually did such a thing with the heir apparent in public. Miss, you must stand up for yourself. You cannot let her climb all over you.”

Thinking of Lin Rou’s shamelessness, Liusu looked deeply indignant.

Jiang Shuwan set down her cup and stared at Liusu solemnly. “Liusu.”

Seeing Jiang Shuwan’s expression suddenly darken, Liusu realized that she had spoken out of turn. Jiang Shuwan had seemed so approachable just now that she had forgotten the relationship between her mistress and Lin Rou. She lowered her head and said, “I’m sorry, Miss. I spoke too much.”

Jiang Shuwan rose to her feet.

“Liusu, I have told you before that you need not be so cautious around me.” She turned to her and continued, “Go immediately and make a list of everything Lin Rou has taken from me over the years. We are going to demand repayment.”

Jiang Shuwan’s gaze turned cold and sharp.

Liusu brightened. “Yes, Miss. I will organize the list of everything from all these years at once.”

***

Fragrant沁 Courtyard.

The floor was a complete mess, while Lin Rou screamed like a madwoman.

“Ah! Why? Why? Brother Xin clearly said he would marry me! Why would he give a gift to that little wretch Jiang Shuwan instead of me?”

The more she spoke, the more twisted her expression became, utterly stripped of its former gentleness.

As though that still did not satisfy her anger, she swept her hand across the teacups before her. Everything on the table crashed to the ground and shattered.

Her maid stood to the side, apparently accustomed to such scenes.

“It must be that little wretch who seduced my Brother Xin. That must be it. It must be!”

“Why, Cousin, what happened? Why are you throwing such a terrible tantrum?”

Jiang Shuwan’s mocking voice suddenly came from the doorway.

Lin Rou looked over and saw Jiang Shuwan standing against the light at the entrance. Sunlight spilled across her face, surrounding her in a hazy radiance and making her even more captivating.

Jealousy surged through Lin Rou so fiercely that she wanted to claw Jiang Shuwan’s face apart, but she knew the time had not yet come.

After taking a deep breath, Lin Rou forced a smile. “Cousin, what brings you here?”

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Jiang Shuwan glanced at the wreckage on the floor and carefully picked her way through the gaps, a smile playing at the corners of her lips.

“I came to see you. It seems Cousin has not been doing very well. Would you like me to have my son buy you some gifts to cheer you up?”

The smile on Lin Rou’s face cracked. Her hand clenched tightly at her side.

Jiang Shuwan had deliberately struck where it hurt. She had come only to mock her.

Lin Rou stopped pretending and looked at her coldly. “If you have something to say, then say it. If not, Cousin, please leave. I have matters to attend to and cannot receive you.”

Seeing Lin Rou’s humiliated expression, Jiang Shuwan was delighted.

“I came to find you, so naturally I have something to say.” Jiang Shuwan drew a sheet of paper from her sleeve and waved it at her. “I am here today to have you return what you borrowed.”

“What?” Lin Rou stared at Jiang Shuwan in confusion.

“All these years, I have kept a record of every piece of jewelry and every other item you borrowed from my courtyard. I have come today to reclaim them.”

With that, Jiang Shuwan unfolded the paper. It was densely covered with a detailed list of belongings.

Recognizing the familiar items, Lin Rou was horrified. She rushed forward and tried to snatch the paper, but Jiang Shuwan stepped aside.

Lin Rou fell to the ground. A shard from a broken teacup happened to be beside her and pierced her palm, making her cry out in pain.

Jiang Shuwan looked down at her from above.

“Cousin, there is no need to get so excited and offer me such a grand bow. But no matter how deeply you bow, it will not help. Anything you borrowed from me must be returned.” She handed the paper to Liusu. “Liusu, find each item on the list.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Liusu took the list and turned toward the dressing table on the left.

Suppressing her pain, Lin Rou struggled to her feet and pointed at Jiang Shuwan’s nose.

“Jiang Shuwan, on what grounds are you searching my courtyard? You have no proof that any of your things are here. Perhaps your maid took them and sold them herself.”

“Slap!”

The moment Lin Rou finished speaking, Jiang Shuwan struck her viciously across the face, knocking her head to the side.

“Since you refuse to show yourself any respect, I see no reason to show you any.”

Lin Rou covered her cheek, staring at her in disbelief. “You actually dared to hit me? I am the future heir apparent’s wife of the Gu family!”

“Oh? Have you forgotten that the Old Madam of the Gu family has never agreed to let you marry into the household? With your lowly status, do you really think she would permit it?”

Those words struck directly at Lin Rou’s deepest wound. She gritted her teeth in fury.

“You…”

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“Miss, isn’t this the seven-colored bead bracelet you wore when you were little? It disappeared several years ago. How could it have ended up with Cousin Miss?”

Before Lin Rou could respond, Liusu came over holding an open box. She looked at Lin Rou strangely.

Lin Rou’s heart jolted, but she glared fiercely at Liusu to conceal her panic.

Frightened by the dark look in Lin Rou’s eyes, Liusu lowered her head.

Jiang Shuwan turned to the side and saw a dark-red box, slightly larger than a palm. Inside lay a string of beads in seven colors, corresponding exactly to the seven colors of the rainbow.

Jiang Shuwan took the box and lifted the bracelet, her voice cold.

“Lin Rou, does the Gu family know that their future heir apparent’s wife is a thief?”

“Give it back to me!”

Lin Rou raised her hand and lunged forward, but Jiang Shuwan stepped aside and walked to the seat of honor, where she sat down.

Lin Rou chased after her, frightened yet agitated.

“Give me the bracelet! You can take everything else, but you cannot take this bracelet!”

Jiang Shuwan clasped the box to her chest, leaning forward with a mocking smile.

“Cousin, it is not impossible for you to have the bracelet back. But surely you understand that you must pay some price?”

Lin Rou stared fixedly at Jiang Shuwan. A few seconds later, she suddenly dropped to her knees and pleaded, “Cousin, I beg you. You have so many wonderful things. I only want this bracelet. Please give it back to me, all right?”

Jiang Shuwan reached out and lifted her chin. Her voice was cold as ice.

“Lin Rou, I will tell you this today. You will not get a single one of my belongings.”

With that, she tightened her grip on Lin Rou’s chin, a cold smile appearing on her face.

Pain brought a sheen of cold sweat to Lin Rou’s forehead. Just as she was about to lash out, Jiang Shuwan released her.

Lin Rou immediately collapsed onto the floor, utterly devastated.

Jiang Shuwan closed the box, rose, and walked toward the door.

When Lin Rou came to her senses, she ignored the shards scattered across the floor and crawled after Jiang Shuwan on her knees, seizing the hem of her robe.

“Please, give them back to me. Give them back!”