Chapter 62: The Young Man Who Resembled Chu Mu by Six or Seven Degrees

Lin Jiaojiao entered the shop and headed straight for the counter. The shopkeeper promptly handed her the ledger. Shen Zhao’s gaze flickered—this ready-to-wear shop belonged to Lin Jiaojiao. Two years ago, Lin Jiaojiao was a lonely girl dressed in coarse linen; now, she possessed her own private business. One could imagine how much silver Lin Jiaojiao had siphoned from the Grand General’s Mansion over those two years. Most of that silver came from her dowry; Shen Zhao realized she had fattened Lin Jiaojiao herself! Fortunately, she was now Chu Mu, and had the opportunity to reclaim what was hers. She would make Lin Jiaojiao pay back every coin, with interest.

Lin Jiaojiao took the ledger and flipped through it with practiced ease, then deftly retrieved a purse from behind the counter and tucked it into her sleeve. She gave the shopkeeper a few instructions and left the shop. Shen Zhao quickly blended into the crowd, silently memorizing the location of this shop, her mind already forming a plan. She would not only reclaim what was rightfully hers, but ensure Lin Jiaojiao could never recover. She would sever all her escape routes. She wondered how Lin Jiaojiao’s second aunt, who was always in need of money, would react upon learning of this shop’s existence.

After leaving the clothing store, Lin Jiaojiao visited the pharmacy and the pawnshop. Shen Zhao watched from the crowd as Lin Jiaojiao sold all the medicinal herbs provided daily by the Grand General’s Mansion for her dietary prescriptions, as well as the medicine for her heart pain, to the pharmacy. She also pawned some small jade ornaments. No wonder Lin Jiaojiao always appeared to be carrying so much; she was hiding all these valuables.

After Lin Jiaojiao left, Shen Zhao lined up to question the staff at the pharmacy and the pawnshop. She spent two taels of silver to learn that Lin Jiaojiao came every month on this day to sell herbs and pawn items—always as permanent pawns. She spent another two taels for the staff to copy down everything Lin Jiaojiao had pawned, to collect later. These would all serve as evidence for a fatal blow against Lin Jiaojiao in the future.

To outsiders, Lin Jiaojiao was a guest in the Grand General’s Mansion, living under the oppression of the unreasonable general’s wife. Especially in the eyes of Vice Commander Zhang and others, Lin Jiaojiao endured a miserable existence. Shen Zhao intended to make them open their eyes and see just how “pitiful” their beloved Lin sister truly was!

Leaving the pawnshop, Lin Jiaojiao returned directly to the Grand General’s Mansion. The time was not yet right to expose the true faces of the Lin siblings.

If she exposed Lin Jiaojiao now, she might be turned upon instead. Hearing about something was never as shocking as witnessing it firsthand. Next month, on this day, she would bring Chu Mu and the vice commanders who protected Lin Jiaojiao to observe together.

They would see with their own eyes how Lin Feihu, supposedly sacrificed to save Chu Mu, was actually living well in the capital; how Lin Jiaojiao, supposedly devastated and helpless after her brother’s death, energetically pawned all the supplements and medicines provided by the mansion, and swindled silver to build her own private business; and how Lin Jiaojiao’s father, who was supposed to have died long ago, would appear before them.

Perhaps she wouldn’t need to wait until next month—Lin’s second son might be getting married, the youngest might be going to school. These would require money, and she might witness a good drama yet. She needed to work hard to make the Lin family approach Lin Jiaojiao sooner. She loved nothing more than a “dog eat dog” spectacle.

Turning toward the main entrance of the Grand General’s Mansion, she noted that it was still early enough to return home, ride Yufeng, and then head to the barracks. As Shen Zhao reached the gate, she saw a thin, plainly dressed youth carrying a gray cloth bundle, pacing in front of the mansion.

Upon seeing the youth’s face, Shen Zhao was stunned. Who was this boy? Why did he resemble Chu Mu by sixty or seventy percent? Especially those eyes—they seemed to be carved from the same mold. She would never believe they shared no blood relation.

Could he be a relative from the Chu family, seeking refuge at the mansion? But the old lady was not surnamed Yu.

Just based on his appearance, she would never let the boy leave. Since Chu Mu was not the biological son of the old crone, and this youth looked so alike, she could say the old crone was not Chu Mu’s mother. Chu Mu might not believe her without evidence, but if she could find clues from this youth, Chu Mu would have to accept it.

The youth appeared about fifteen or sixteen, and the only one with a marriage contract involving someone his age was Chu Miao. No wonder Chu Miao, who rarely entered the capital, had come to the city.

It was all to avoid a marriage contract.

How could that be allowed? The Chu family was renowned for keeping their promises. This marriage could not be broken—if it were, how could she persuade the youth to stay?

Seeing the youth approach the gatekeeper, Shen Zhao immediately called out, “Young man, I see you’ve been lingering at my mansion’s gate for quite some time. Are you here to pay a visit?”

The youth looked at Shen Zhao calmly. Upon seeing her face, he was briefly startled, and a strange expression flickered in his eyes. Anyone who called this “my mansion” must be the General Chu. Yet this General Chu looked remarkably like his father, reminiscent of his childhood memories.

He clasped his hands respectfully and said, “Commoner Yu Zihuan greets General Chu.”

Shen Zhao hurried forward, feigning to support Yu Zihuan warmly. “So it’s Zihuan! You needn’t be so formal with me. Why do you hesitate at your own family’s gate? Come, Zihuan, enter the mansion with me.”

Yu Zihuan handed over the marriage contract with both hands. “I will not trouble you with a visit. Since I have met General Chu, please pass this marriage contract to Master Chu. Since Miss Chu does not wish to marry, let this union between the Yu and Chu families come to an end. I shall not disturb you again; from now on, the Yu and Chu families owe each other nothing.”

Chu Mu’s elder brother has come to the capital?

So the whole family has come to escape the marriage. They fear someone might cling to them, it seems. Chu Mu often talked about how upright his elder brother was—well, upright indeed!

Shen Zhao did not reach out to take the contract. She could not accept it; if she did, how could she coax Yu Zihuan into the mansion? She still wanted Chu Mu, that blockhead, to see Yu Zihuan.

Look—your twin brother has arrived!

She wondered how Chu Mu and the old lady would react upon seeing Yu Zihuan.

“Zihuan, I cannot accept this marriage contract. Since you and Chu Miao have an engagement, you must deliver it to my elder brother yourself. Come, Zihuan, enter the mansion with me. You must be exhausted from your journey from Jinzhou to the capital.”

Yu Zihuan regarded Shen Zhao warily—this General Chu was being far too enthusiastic. Besides, this marriage contract was not an ordinary one.

He could avoid meeting Master Chu altogether.

He opened his mouth to refuse.