Volume One, Chapter Seven: One Hundred Thousand Taels

The next day.

Lin Che woke early, changed his clothes, and headed to the Xiao residence.

At the Xiao residence, Xiao Aoyu and the others had spent the entire day searching for Lin Che but to no avail.

Instead, they heard rumors that the Emperor was bringing back a prince who had been lost for years and intended to crown a new emperor.

This news filled them with excitement.

“It must be Prince Liang! It has to be him!” Xiao Chen nearly jumped with joy.

“But why has he been missing for so many years?” Xiao Boqing was puzzled. Why didn’t they just say it was Prince Liang directly?

Xiao Aoyu also couldn’t understand.

“That’s simple. It’s to solidify his position even more—that’s why they say he’s been lost all this time!” Xiao Chen explained.

Upon hearing this, the others agreed.

If people thought Prince Liang was the Emperor’s son, his claim to the throne would be more legitimate.

“Sis, it looks like you’ll soon be Empress!” Xiao Chen said excitedly.

Xiao Aoyu felt hopeful but remained a bit shy. “Don’t say that yet; nothing’s certain…”

Still, given her abilities, she believed being Empress was well within her reach, and Prince Liang would definitely make it so.

“All right, this isn’t something we should gossip about. Let’s eat properly first,” Xiao Boqing said.

After breakfast, just as they were about to continue searching for Lin Che, a servant hurried over.

“Miss, Master, Young Master Lin Che is here!”

“Lin Che? Where is he?” They all froze slightly; Xiao Chen quickly asked.

“He’s outside, asking for Miss.”

“I thought he’d be stubborn this time, but he came in less than a day!” Xiao Chen scoffed. “Sis, looks like he still can’t let you go!”

A trace of contempt curled at the corner of Xiao Aoyu’s lips.

She had known Lin Che would come looking for her.

But this time, she wouldn’t forgive him so easily.

Knowing Prince Liang was about to be crowned Emperor only made her more arrogant.

Lin Che, a mere commoner, was not worthy of her regard.

“This time, he must kneel and kowtow—he needs a proper lesson!” Xiao Boqing gritted his teeth, filled with resentment.

Soon, footsteps sounded, and Lin Che entered.

Now dressed in splendid robes, his hair meticulously tied back, he exuded an air of cold detachment.

Everyone was taken aback by his appearance.

Xiao Aoyu frowned, her expression full of disgust.

Lin Che must have deliberately rented such fine clothes to impress her.

Yet no matter how dazzling the exterior, his insides were still ugly.

Seeing the Xiao family present, Lin Che was puzzled. “All here? That makes things easier.”

Before he finished, Xiao Boqing pointed at him, flushed with anger. “Lin Che, I, Xiao Boqing, never expected you to be such a despicable scoundrel. Kneel and confess your crimes!”

“That’s right! My sister has found Prince Liang as her husband, and you dare treat us like this? How bold!”

Lin Che frowned, surprised by their intense hostility.

He knew Xiao Aoyu had found Prince Liang, but that was none of his business.

“I came to see you,” Lin Che said calmly, looking at Xiao Aoyu.

“Lin Che, what’s the point?” Xiao Aoyu sneered, her gaze icy and unhidden.

“I thought we could part amicably, but I didn’t expect you to be so vile.”

“If you had something to say, why not say it to my face? Instead, you ran behind my back to the Emperor to complain?”

“I know you want to win me back, but your methods are disgusting.”

“If you had divorced me properly, maybe we could have been ordinary friends later. But with your petty schemes, you’ve destroyed the last bit of goodwill I had left for you.”

Having said this, Xiao Aoyu felt satisfied, anticipating Lin Che’s regret.

Lin Che was stunned; he hadn’t expected such confidence from her.

Then he sneered coldly, “The rewards your family received weren’t because I reported you. Perhaps your merits were only worth those rewards. If you lack ability, don’t blame others.”

“Besides, I don’t want to win you back or have anything to do with you.”

He knew what the Emperor had arranged yesterday and had no objections—after all, it was all over now.

Sometimes, fairness was better.

“What did you say?!” Xiao Boqing nearly lost his temper.

How outrageous!

Xiao Chen shouted, “Our Xiao family is a prestigious clan in Chang’an, with outstanding achievements. Receiving titles of nobility is only right!”

Lin Che shook his head, amazed at their confidence.

“Lin Che, stop pretending. You came here to make me forgive you, didn’t you? Keep being stubborn, and you’ll only annoy me more!” Xiao Aoyu thought Lin Che was playing hard to get.

Lin Che chuckled twice. “I came here just to get something back.”

“The betrothal gift?”

“What?” Everyone was surprised.

“The betrothal gift? Don’t even think about it. You’ve been married to my daughter for over four years. How could the betrothal gift be returned?” Xiao Boqing felt humiliated.

Xiao Aoyu was stunned. He wasn’t here to win her back?

No, he wanted the betrothal gift back to make her regret it!

How malicious!

But she would never regret it. Compared to Lin Wangzhi, who could give her much more, Lin Che was nothing.

“Heh, four years of marriage, yes, but ask her if I ever touched her in all that time,” Lin Che said with a self-deprecating smile.

Xiao Aoyu didn’t feel the least bit guilty; she wanted a man with unyielding integrity.

“The betrothal gift is impossible. We’ve already spent it. Even if you want it, there’s nothing left!” Xiao Boqing said arrogantly.

Lin Che knew the money was in their hands and there was no way to get it back.

He wasn’t here for the money anyway.

“I don’t want the money. Just return the dragon-shaped jade from the betrothal gift,” Lin Che said.

Xiao Aoyu thought for a moment, then nodded. “I think it’s in the cabinet.”

She didn’t want any ties with Lin Che and didn’t want Lin Wangzhi to get angry, so she told Xiao Jiu to fetch it.

Hearing Lin Che didn’t want the money, Xiao Boqing also relaxed.

But even if he wanted it, he wouldn’t give it.

After a while, Xiao Jiu returned and said she couldn’t find it.

“No?” Xiao Aoyu was stunned.

Xiao Boqing frowned. “Did you look carefully?”

He didn’t want to owe that good-for-nothing!

At that moment, Xiao Chen suddenly raised his hand. “Sis, Dad… I think I took the jade.”

“You took it? Then hurry and give it to him.” Xiao Aoyu didn’t want to continue the dispute.

“I can’t. I sold it…” Xiao Chen’s voice faltered, his face awkward.

“What? Sold it?!” Lin Che was the first to get angry!

That was a royal item, the only heirloom his mother left him!

He actually sold it?!

“Why the fuss over a jade piece? How much silver was it? Just give it to him!” Xiao Boqing scolded, disgusted by Lin Che’s attitude.

Everyone looked at Xiao Chen.

“How much silver did you get? Give it to him. Is ten taels enough?” Xiao Boqing asked.

Xiao Chen hesitated, struggling to speak, “I sold it for… one hundred thousand taels…”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Boqing nearly fainted.

“W-what?!” Xiao Aoyu’s eyes widened.

Impossible. That worthless jade for a hundred thousand taels?!

Lin Che’s eyes also widened. One hundred thousand taels? That jade was worth over a million!

That scoundrel!

He had caused trouble before and even sold Lin Che’s dragon jade for a hundred thousand taels?!

“One hundred thousand taels…” Xiao Chen trembled as he uttered the number. “Dad, I also gave you fifty thousand taels for the Xiao residence’s renovations.”

Xiao Boqing gasped, looking at Xiao Aoyu.

Lin Che suppressed his displeasure, realizing there was no chance of getting the jade back from them.

But this time, he would teach them a lesson.

“Enough. One hundred thousand taels it is. You’ll just have to compensate me now.”

These words turned Xiao Boqing and the others green with envy.

One hundred thousand taels.

Their household barely had ten thousand taels left.

Although Xiao Aoyu had received many rewards over the years, the Xiao family’s reputation demanded extravagance, so most of it had been squandered.

Now, let alone one hundred thousand, they couldn’t even raise thirty thousand!