Chapter 85 "Running a Debt"

Lin Zhongkun frowned, Yan Yan what are you trying to do? Finally, there is peace between the Zhu and Lin families, why is she causing trouble?

"Yan Yan, it's all in the past, there's no need to mention it again."

"Uncle Er, eight or nine out of ten of the servants in my Moyuan Court are bedridden and can't get up. Most of the servants in the Marquis Mansion are also injured. They were all hurt while upholding the dignity of the mansion. Shouldn't we seek justice for them? Besides, Aunt Zhu promised to compensate me before." Lin Yannan said earnestly.

"A few days ago, my mother-in-law fell ill. It was only with the free ginseng and bird's nest that she managed to recover through intensive nourishment. But today, she has vomited blood due to anger, and her condition has worsened. I don't even know how much money it will take to treat her." Mrs. Zhou also said.

He gave Uncle Lin Qi a threat-filled look, as if to say "Shut up and don't interrupt."

Lin Zhongkun felt suffocated. Yan Yan and the Zhou family were just so narrow-minded, clinging onto small issues and not letting go. Their perspective was limited to that of a woman. What good would it do for the Lin family to quarrel with the Zhu family over a little money?

Zhu Guangqi smiled slightly and said, "Speaking of injuries, it seems that the guards in my house were more seriously injured."

"Uncle Zhu, it's different. According to our Dashing Law, breaking into someone's house privately is considered robbery, and even killing is not a crime. But if you go into someone else's house and injure someone, you should compensate them."

Zhu Guangqi:...

What a sharp tongue you have, bringing up the Law of Great Prosperity to outwit me.

Zhu Guangqi took a sip of tea, gently put it down, and looked at Lin Zhongkun with a half-smile. "My dear Lin, whose advice should I follow?"

Yin Piao, he brought it. In order to settle things peacefully, the Zhu family decided to compensate, but Lin Zhongkun himself said he did not want it. Now Lin Yannan is coming to demand it, so we need to ask Lin Zhongkun, who has the final say in the Lin family?

Lin Zhongkun's face is burning hot, and Yan Yan is slapping him in the face.

"Yan Yan, this is an adult's matter, children should stay out of it, leave quickly."

"Uncle, when the house was surrounded by more than sixty fully armed guards today, you and third Uncle were not at home. Grandmother fainted from anger. It was me, the niece, and third Aunt who resisted the pressure, that's why the Lin family's prestige wasn't completely lost." Lin Yannan retorted, saying that you are inferior even to a child.

Lin Zhongkun was speechless, and Lin Yanyan spoke the truth. When the situation was most critical, Lin Yanyan did indeed stand up and defend the Lin family. Isn't it better now to reconcile and shake hands? Why insist on asking the Zhu family for compensation? The Zhu family must not be happy about this.

Mr. Zhou is aware that he didn't contribute much today, and that Lin Yannan arranged everything. Lin Yannan is also the one who stands against the Qin family. But now Lin Yannan says that they both faced the pressure together and protected the dignity of the Lin family. This stirs up emotions in Mr. Zhou, who says, "Second brother, you don't understand the difficulties of being in charge. So many people in the mansion are injured and need medical treatment. There's work that needs to be done, and we have to hire people to do it. Doesn't all of this require money? How about you pay for it? It's a total of 36,000 taels!"

A few coughs were heard in the flower hall, and Uncle Lin hurriedly picked up a cup of tea to drink, pretending as if he couldn't hear what was being said.

Lin Zhongkun was immediately dumbfounded, 36,000 taels? Is it really that much?

He thought it only cost a couple thousand.

He can't afford more than thirty-six thousand two taels, as Zhen Zhen's wedding has already depleted all his money.

Forget it, he'd better stay silent!

Zhu Guangqi took a deep breath: "36,000 taels? How do you come up with that number?"

Even if a few people die, it would only cost a few thousand taels at most. The Lin family is clearly being greedy and trying to extort money.

Lin Yannan opened the booklet: "Nineteen people with severed hands, the medical treatment cost is calculated at fifty taels per person, plus a reward of fifty taels per person, and a family compensation of twenty taels per person. Taking care of their injuries for three months, the monthly allowance will be doubled, amounting to twelve taels per person. Additionally, we need to hire servants to do the work, so for nineteen people it will be ninety-four taels, totaling two thousand seven hundred and ninety-three taels... Eleven people with severed feet, totaling one thousand six hundred and seventeen taels... Twenty-three people with internal injuries, totaling three thousand three hundred and forty-five taels... Thirty-seven people with minor injuries, totaling eight hundred and seventy-seven taels. Also, the cost of medical treatment for the elderly lady who has been receiving treatment and medication was all in vain, those losses need to be included as well, totaling six thousand four hundred and thirty taels. Here is a total of fifteen thousand taels, verified by the Shuntian Prefecture with evidence." Translated content:

Zhu Guangqi gritted his teeth: "Even so, there is only fifteen thousand two hundred taels, how did you come up with over thirty thousand taels?"

Lin Yanyan smiled: "I forgot to mention, your Zhu family's guards also broke several priceless antiques from our Lin family. I'll round it up to an even number and count it as twenty thousand taels, I won't ask for the remainder. That makes a total of thirty-five thousand two hundred taels, how about that?"

There are many counterfeit goods in her Mòyuān Gé shop, right? Smash a few things and exchange them for money.

"Are you saying that antiques are antiques? Who keeps antiques in their courtyard? Furthermore, the scene is chaotic. Who knows if it was your own people who smashed them?"

"Even if it was our own people who caused the damage, it was to fight against the guards of the Zhu family. Naturally, it should be counted against your Zhu family. Uncle Zhu, if you can't come up with the money, you can put it on credit. You can even write an IOU."

Zhu Guangqi was almost dumbfounded, it was clearly your Lin family's extortion, and now you want him to write an IOU?

"However, if you refuse to acknowledge the compensation and want to backtrack, then we will have to hand the matter over to the authorities for resolution. The Shuntian Prefecture has examined the injuries and evaluated the antiques. If that's not enough, we will let the Emperor decide. If the Emperor says you don't have to compensate, then we won't force you. The Lin family will just have to accept their bad luck."

@Zhu Guangqi suddenly wilted. Today, he and his father were scolded by the emperor, with words like "rebelling" and "disrespecting the emperor." It felt like their Zhu family was being roasted over a fire. Subsequently, Ziyu is still lying in bed, wrapped up like a zombie, and nobody knows who the culprit is. Qin Shi is still kneeling as a punishment in front of their ancestors' ranks, and it's estimated that he won't be able to stand up for three days and three nights, making it hard for his father to calm down. Zhu Guifei, his sister, keeps sending messages, urging him to quickly resolve the conflict with the Lin family...

What can he do?

Even if he knows that the Lin family is extorting, he still has to reluctantly acknowledge it.

"Mr. Lin, so it turns out that your family is under the command of Miss Lin!" Zhu Guangqi couldn't bear it and sarcastically taunted Lin Zhongkun. Reply: There might not be much he can do in this situation. Though he is aware of the Lin family's unethical behavior, he is forced to accept it due to their influence and authority. Zhu Guangqi sarcastically remarks that Miss Lin has the final say in the family, indicating his displeasure with the situation.

Uncle Zhu, my second uncle is a modest and kind-hearted person. Besides, he had no knowledge of the severity of the situation. It is only fair to compensate for the injured person and damaged property. Uncle Zhu, please give the money!

Zhu Guangqi only brought three thousand taels of silver tickets, not even enough for the small change. Under Lin Yannan's urging, he eventually wrote an IOU.

"Is this acceptable?" Zhu Guangqi said bitterly. He thought to himself, the Lin family better not cross him in the future, otherwise, he will seek double the humiliation endured today.

"There is one more thing." Lin Yanyan smiled slightly and handed the IOU to Aunt San.

Zhu Guangqi's eyelid twitched, "What else?"

"If Lin Zhenzhen wants to divorce, the Zhu family cannot stop her."

"Lin Yanyan." Lin Zhongkun yelled coldly, wondering what Lin Yanyan was up to. Zhenzhen is a daughter who has been married off, even if she was deceived into marriage, she can never return to the Lin family. If she were to die, she would have to die at the Zhu family's hands.

Lin Yannan said earnestly: "Second Uncle, Zhenzhen is the daughter of the Lin family. If there is anything wrong with her, the Lin family should handle it themselves, but we must not let outsiders take advantage of her."

She is not trying to save Lin Zhenzhen, but to save the entire Lin family.

北狄的细作在京城图谋大事，这个内应是谁？现在不得而知，但总归与皇权之争有关，就算三殿下与此事无关，单看今日晋国公府的行径，先前那般张狂，就算秦氏是为子报仇心切，也足可见朱家有多目中无人，有恃无恐。而现在朱光启被她这般刁难也得认，可见是有不可抗的力量让朱家不得不低头，那便是朱家已经惹怒了皇上。

His Highness the Third Prince has such a powerful family-in-law, I'm afraid that his position as crown prince is gradually slipping away from him.

Therefore, it is better to break ties with the Zhu family as soon as possible. So, this is also the reason why she must make the Zhu family pay today.