Chapter Eleven: Borrowing Money

Lin Qingwan had long anticipated his character and was not bothered by it.

“Cousin-in-law, where are you headed?”

“Better not call me that. I wouldn’t dare associate with the princess’s family. It’s best we each go our own way!” Zhou Shi took a step back, his face full of disdain.

Princess! Indeed! Although Lin Menghua was no longer favored within the mansion, outside she still carried the dignity of a princess consort. Others did not know of her falling out of favor.

Originally, Prince Ning had ordered all servants not to gossip about the household outside, to protect Pei Zhenzhen, that wretched woman. Thus, only families of similar status were aware of the inner workings of the prince’s residence.

Lin Qingwan’s expression stiffened, forcing a smile. “Cousin-in-law, that sounds rather distant! Alas... my sister’s life in the prince’s mansion is also very difficult!”

Her eyes flickered slightly as she pretended to wipe away tears with her handkerchief.

“Oh?” Zhou Shi’s interest piqued, and he took a couple of steps closer.

One person sat inside the carriage covering half their face while speaking; another stood stiffly outside, straining to listen.

Passersby frequently turned their heads at the scene.

“So the prince truly favors his concubine but, constrained by the emperor and the empress, married your sister?” Zhou Shi mused.

Lin Qingwan nodded.

So Lin Menghua held no real status in the prince’s mansion. There was no need to show her respect!

At this, Zhou Shi was stunned. Wasn’t this just like him? Even as a royal prince, he couldn’t marry the one he loved. How could an ordinary scholar like himself?

The thought deepened his melancholy.

Lin Qingwan expected him to defend Lin Menghua, but instead he sighed, “Why is it that true lovers seldom become spouses?”

Lin Qingwan was baffled.

What did he mean? Seeing Zhou Shi like this, she felt an intense blockage in her heart. She recalled how, in her previous life, Prince Ning viewed her as an obstacle between him and Pei Zhenzhen.

Truly, she clashed with this type of man! She was immensely grateful to have been reborn in this life, no longer forced to face such a rotten man.

Because Lin Qingwan had shared some gossip with him, Zhou Shi’s attitude toward her softened; he found her different from the rest of the Lin family.

Thinking of his current predicament, Zhou Shi said, “Cousin, I want to ask you for a favor.”

“What is it?” Lin Qingwan had already lost the desire to speak with him.

“I want to borrow some money from you,” Zhou Shi said awkwardly.

“To borrow money for what?” Lin Qingwan was momentarily stunned before becoming wary. She was no longer the naive girl without a concept of money.

The Jiang family was fine except for one thing: they were very poor.

When she first married in, Jiang Ping’s sisters often borrowed her jewelry, clothes, and money.

Yet no one ever repaid her voluntarily.

Later, when she asked them, they made excuses. She turned to Jiang Ping, who only comforted her and promised to repay with interest once she was officially employed.

Eventually, she came to understand: borrowing money among relatives often meant it would never be returned.

“Cousin-in-law, you’re from an official family; why would you need to borrow money from me?” Lin Qingwan said.

“My monthly allowance was cut off by my father, so I’m a bit short on cash...” Zhou Shi rubbed his hands, his face full of embarrassment.

“I live in the mansion and don’t spend much monthly, but my mother lives outside, and expenses are everywhere. So I want to borrow two hundred taels from you.”

“Two hundred taels!” Lin Qingwan exclaimed. She now knew that one hundred taels was enough for an ordinary family to live comfortably for a year. Yet a concubine spent two hundred taels monthly?

Besides, if his allowance was stopped, how would he repay her? This was like beating a dog with a meat bun.

Her expression immediately darkened. “Noted.”

Thinking she agreed, Zhou Shi was overjoyed, stepping back and bowing. “Thank you, cousin. I always knew...”

Before he could finish rambling, Lin Qingwan let down the curtain and scolded the coachman, “Hurry up and leave!”

The coachman reacted swiftly, cracking the whip, and the carriage sped off a great distance.

Zhou Shi looked up, only to be choked by the dust, and as he regained composure, he saw the spot empty and stomped his foot in anger.

In the main hall of Shaohua Courtyard, a rosewood desk was piled with ledgers. Lin Menghua sat upright at the desk.

She was wrapping up affairs concerning Zhuangzi.

Today marked her twenty-first day in the prince’s mansion. She had thoroughly sorted through the many matters inside and outside the residence, with obvious results.

Wherever she went within the mansion, a group of maids and attendants came forward to greet her.

Yu Guangquan also came to report all matters to her first.

She knew this was what it meant to be the true mistress of the prince’s household.

Counting the days, the time to leave the capital was near. She needed to settle Yang Yin’s affairs before then.

“Princess, Steward Yu requests an audience.”

“Let him in.”

The embroidered silk curtain was drawn aside. Yu Guangquan stepped forward respectfully, holding a ledger.

“Princess, here is the guest list for the banquet. Please review it.”

Though the departure was rushed, Fu Cen still planned to hold a small feast to gather friends before leaving.

Lin Menghua glanced over it, found no issues, and added Yang Yin’s name.

“All right, you may leave.”

With Yang Yin coming, Inspector Zhou would surely pressure Zhou Shi to attend.

In her previous life, Yang Yin died. Inspector Zhou initially opposed the woman entering the household, but Zhou Shi threatened to die, and because Zhou Shi had passed the imperial exam, Inspector Zhou begrudgingly consented.

This time, if Zhou Shi still resorted to threats, she’d let him truly disappear!

However, she needed to ask Yang Yin if she was willing to remain a widow.

Lin Menghua pondered quietly.

Inspector Zhou had been having a hard time lately. The role of inspector was naturally contentious, but the current administration was relatively good, with no private retaliations for impeachments.

But now that he was stuck in the mud, whenever he appeared among officials, he faced waves of mockery.

He was increasingly displeased with Zhou Shi and had no intention of restoring his allowance.

He no longer dared to drink with friends, staying home in gloom.

One day, the steward informed him a notice from Prince Ning’s mansion had arrived.

After some thought, he saw this as a good opportunity to clear the air. If his son and daughter-in-law appeared together at the same event, showing affection, it would prove the rumors false.

Moreover, it was a Prince Ning’s banquet—a perfect chance to integrate into the upper echelons of the capital.

He immediately resolved, “Where is the eldest son?”

The steward hesitated for a long time.

Inspector Zhou instantly understood and angrily said, “Hurry and have him return!”

“Also, invite the great madam.”

At that moment, Yang Yin was teaching He Ge’er to recognize characters on the daybed.

Cui’er called from the courtyard, “Madam, the old master wants you to come over.”

Yang Yin paused, then patted He Ge’er’s head. “Play by yourself for a while. Mother will be there soon.”