My Darling, Coax Me.

CHAPTER 53: Lady Is Back.

　　Early the next morning, Wu Youlong and Wu Tiande were having breakfast at home.  

　　Thinking about how they would have 12,000 silver taels in a few days, Wu Tiande was so happy that he hadn't slept well the night before.  

　　 His appetite improved a lot during breakfast.

　　 “Youlong, when will Ge's second-in-command deliver the money?” He was already impatient. “My Wu Tiande’s son is indeed promising.”

　　Wang Shi heard their conversation and asked, “What money?”

　　Wu Tiande, unable to contain his joy, said, “You'll know in a few days.”

　　Wu Youlong also smiled triumphantly, “Father, don't worry, Ge's second-in-command's contact is at Yong'an Restaurant. I'll go ask him later.”

　　“Good, good, remember to bring something, don't go empty-handed.”

　　“Yes, yes.”

　　The father and son were beaming, as if the 12,000 taels were already in their pockets.

　　At this moment, a young servant rushed in from outside, panicked, “It's not good, it's not good! The contacts of Ge's second-in-command at Yong'an Restaurant, they ran away!”

　　Wu Youlong thought he had misheard, “Who ran away?”

　　“Those contacts, they took the money and ran away!”

　　Wu Tiande, upon hearing this, couldn't catch his breath, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

　　Wu Youlong suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

　　Then he also fainted.

　　The women in the house all screamed and panicked.

　　This wasn't even the worst of it. As soon as Wu Youlong woke up, he saw the pawnbroker's boss arriving with people to reclaim the house. “I'm sorry, Mr. Wu, this house is already mortgaged to us. You can no longer live here.”

　　Wu Youlong coughed up a mouthful of blood, “Didn't you say I could redeem the house in five days?”

　　The pawnbroker sneered, “I heard those people ran off with the money. Do you even have the money to redeem it now? Mr. Wu, accept reality. You don't have a single coin on you now; you're worse off than a beggar.”

　　The words caused Wu Youlong to vomit up another mouthful of blood.

　　Five thousand taels of silver, his decades of savings, swindled away!!!

　　Now, he doesn't even have a house!

　　Wu Tiande, who had just begun to regain consciousness, heard this and fell back again, his mouth askew and his eyes rolling, suffering a stroke.

　　The Wu family's sudden downfall, the dissipation of their decades of savings, and the imminent homelessness of their family of over ten, spread throughout Pengshui County that very morning.　　Wu Youlong gritted his teeth in hatred. The moment he got out of bed, he went to find Yang Gang, grabbing Yang Gang's collar. “You ruined me! I'll kill you!”

　　Yang Gang pleaded, bowing his head, “Brother Wu, please wait. Someone is clearly targeting your family; it has nothing to do with me.”

　　“Who?”

　　“The person said it was revenge for your cousin! I remember you did have a cousin many years ago, didn't you? He disappeared afterwards.”

　　“That spineless, useless waste? You couldn't even get a peep out of him even after slapping him twice,” Wu Youlong said dismissively. “He was a disgrace to the Wu family, sold into the palace to be a eunuch. He's probably dead by now. How could he possibly have the power to do this!”

　　Yang Gang shook his head repeatedly, “I'm afraid, Brother Wu, you've got it wrong. They've already gone to Wujiacun village. If you want to get your silver back, hurry!”

　　Wu Youlong's expression hardened. He hesitated, glancing at Yang Gang once more, before returning to the Yamen to summon a few officers. He then marched off to Wujiacun village, full of bluster and self-importance.

　　Anyone daring to cause trouble on his turf and cheat him out of his money... Today, no matter who it was, would pay the price!

　　……

　　Yun Ling arrived at Wujiacun village. Several children were playing and laughing at the village entrance, their giggles mingling with the loud voice of a woman shouting, “Tiezhu, come back for dinner!”

　　Smoke curled from chimneys, and the scenery was picturesque and serene.

　　Yun Ling looked around. This was her Master's hometown. She wondered if anyone here still remembered him.

　　An older woman, noticing Yun Ling's elegant bearing despite the veil, realized she wasn't a local. Curiously, she asked, “Miss, who are you looking for?”

　　Yun Ling approached and asked softly, “Madam, I'm looking for Wu Shengping. Do you know him?”

　　The woman, upon hearing the name Wu Shengping, immediately pursed her lips. “That man? I know him, but he hasn't been back for many years. That ungrateful wretch stole his uncle's money and ran away long ago!”

　　“Stole his uncle's money?” Yun Ling asked, surprised.

　　The woman was quite talkative, and immediately began to recount the story vividly, “It's true! You wouldn't believe it, that ungrateful wretch! After his parents died, his uncle kindly took him in. Not only did he beat his uncle and anger his grandmother to death, but he also stole all the family's money!”

　　“He was good-for-nothing, always stealing and scheming. Not as successful as his cousin, who's now a government official. This Wu Tiedan (Wu Shengping nickname) hasn't been back in years; he probably died somewhere out there. People like him are better off dead.”

　　It was clear he had suffered injustice and hardship, yet he still bore such a bad reputation and false accusations. Even after all these years, the villagers still misunderstood and condemned him.

        Yun Ling's eyes welled up as she listened. 

        The woman continued her rapid-fire account, “Oh, right, Miss, who are you to him?”

        “I'm his daughter.” 

        Yun Ling replied slowly.

        The woman was instantly stunned.

　　Yun Ling, however, took out a piece of silver and placed it in the woman's hand. “Excuse me, where are the village head and the elders? Could you help me call them over, Madam?” 

        The woman's eyes immediately lit up. “I'll call them for you right away.” 

        The village head was an old man with a white beard. The woman's loud shout attracted almost the entire village. 

        “Wu Tiedan's daughter is back!” 

        “Everyone, come and see!”

　 　Having heard that Yun Ling had an injustice to redress, the village head and several elderly clan elders arrived.

        Village head Wu Youtian examined Yun Ling for a moment, questioning her, “Are you truly Wu Tiedan's daughter?” 

        Before Yun Ling could answer, Wu Youlong stormed in with several Yamen officers, pointing at the veiled Yun Ling, his face flushed and contorted with anger. “Tell me, did you steal my money?” 

        “You cheated ¹‘your grandfather’ out of money! Don't you want to live anymore?!”

　　The village head quickly interjected, “Youlong, what are you doing? Why have you brought officers into our village?" 

        Wu Youlong immediately retorted, “Uncle Youtian, this woman is a swindler! She stole all my wealth, and I'm here to settle the score!” 

        A collective gasp filled the hall as all eyes turned to Yun Ling. Wu Youlong was the county magistrate's subordinate; could Wu Shengping's daughter really have stolen all his money? 

        Just like her father, they all thought, another ungrateful wretch.

　　Some people pointed and murmured, others cursed. Yun Ling, however, remained calm and asked, “Sir Wu, have you even met me? Why do you accuse me of stealing your money?” 

        “I only arrived in Pengshui County yesterday, and I'm just a young woman. How could I possibly have the ability to swindle you? Even if I had, why would I not run away but return to Wujiacun village?” 

        Her words were logical and persuasive, immediately gaining some credibility. 

        A villager chimed in, “Yes, Youlong, she's just a young woman. How could she possibly steal your money? Are you sure you haven't made a mistake?”

　　Wu Youlong's face went from pale to flushed, suddenly unsure if he’d been too quick to trust Yang Gang. 

        Then, Yun Ling calmly took two documents from her sleeve and handed them to the village head. “However, I did have some accounts to settle with Sir Wu upon my return.” 

        “Yesterday, upon arriving in Pengshui County, I saw Sir Wu pawning these two deeds – to land and a house. Out of curiosity, I went to take a closer look, and discovered they were the deeds my father mentioned were taken by his uncle's family.” 

        An elderly elder exclaimed, “What? Wasn't it said that Tiedan took them away? How could they be with Wu Tiande?”

　　Wu Youlong's face paled. “You're actually that good-for-nothing Wu Shengping's daughter?" 

        Yun Ling ignored him, continuing her account, tears welling up in her eyes, making her appear pitiable. “Everyone thinks my father was disrespectful to his uncle and aunt. In reality, Wu Tiande, that heartless man, plundered all his possessions, beat him daily, and starved him. Even my cousin, Sir Wu Youlong, frequently bullied my father. My father didn't run away; Wu Tiande sold him for ten taels of silver! He suffered terribly all these years!” 

        Wu Youlong immediately retorted, “You say he was sold? You can't just twist the truth to suit yourself! Everyone in the village knows what kind of man Wu Shengping was! An ungrateful wretch! We fed and clothed him, and yet he still beat my father! He was worse than a dog!”

　　Everyone's expressions turned uncertain. 

        “I have witnesses,” Yun Ling declared, turning around. “I've brought two witnesses.” 

        As she spoke, Jinyiwei Asan entered with Wu Tiande's former neighbor and the human trafficker who sold her Master. 

        The neighbor recounted the events truthfully, “Wu Tiande was truly wicked. He beat that poor child until he was bruised and bleeding. To do that to his own nephew...it's unthinkable.”　　

        The human trafficker stepped forward to identify him, “It was Wu Tiande. He said the boy was an orphan, so no one would investigate. He even took ten taels of silver from me!” 

        With the truth revealed, the villagers looked at Wu Youlong with disbelief. Several elders spoke, 

        “Youlong, he was still your cousin! How could you...?” 

        “What a wicked deed!” 

        “Wu Tiande has done so much evil; he won't have a good end.” 

        Yun Ling looked at the village head and pleaded, “My request is simple. Wu Tiande's family beat and abused my father, and illegally seized his land and property. I ask the uncles and elders of Wujiacun village to acknowledge this. Please restore my father's name to the family register and clear his name.”

　　Wu Youlong retorted harshly, “Add him? I refuse! Wu Shengping was a good-for-nothing. He broke my father's head and now wants to be in our Wu family register?”

        A heavy silence fell upon the gathering. 

        After a long moment, Village Head Wu Youtian stepped forward to console Yun Ling, “Shengping suffered for so many years. I never imagined such a thing could happen in our Wujiacun village.” 

        His tone shifted, however. “But Youlong is now a county magistrate—a source of pride for our village. He's given us so much support. Your father, on the other hand… where has he been all these years? We know what happened, but it's been so long. Let me give you some advice: let the past be the past. Don't bring it up again. Let's all live in peace from now on." 

        Others echoed his sentiment, “Yes, Wu Shengping was never successful. A little hardship won't hurt. Everyone knows what happened, isn't that enough?” 

        “He's probably just jealous of Youlong's success.”

　　“Exactly, if he'd been successful, wouldn't he have returned long ago?” 

        A villager grumbled, “Making such a fuss over such a trivial matter. I thought they were giving out money.” 

        A smug smile spread across Wu Youlong's face. “So you're here to plead for your good-for-nothing father. What's wrong with beating him a couple of times? He ate our food and used our things. My father was his uncle; what's wrong with disciplining him? A useless man. He should just die.” 

        Those cold words pierced Yun Ling's ears. 

        In this world, if you're lowly, no one cares about your suffering.　　

        She only wanted the villagers to see Wu Tiande's family's true nature and then ask the Wu family elders to restore her father's name to the family register. Yet, not a single elder agreed.

        She had anticipated this.

        Yun Ling slowly removed her veil, wiping away the tears she'd shed for effect. Her voice was calm, “What if I don't let it go?” 

        Seeing Yun Ling's face, everyone was startled.

        She was an incredibly beautiful woman.

        Wu Shengping's daughter was unexpectedly beautiful. 

        But the calmness on her face inexplicably chilled the Wu family elders, and what did she mean by those words?

        Wu Youlong, upon seeing Yun Ling's face, was momentarily stunned, then let out a lecherous smile. “Wu Shengping's daughter is quite pretty, but what can you, a woman, do to me? Not only did I sell your father, I'll sell you—” 

        Before he could finish, someone kicked him hard in the shin, causing a bone-jarring pain. He crumpled to his knees, screaming in agony, “Who...who dares to kick this official?!”

　　 He ordered the Yamen officers, “Arrest that woman!” 

        But before they could move, Jinyiwei Asan swiftly took them down with a couple of moves. “Useless!” 

        The fact that one person could so easily defeat several Yamen officers terrified the villagers, who began to retreat. 

        Yun Ling then approached Wu Youlong, who was wailing on the ground. “A petty county magistrate who rose to power by exploiting his family...nothing special.”  

        Looking at Wu Youlong's fat, fleshy face, she felt a surge of hatred. 

        Seeing Yun Ling's apparent distress, Asan stepped on Wu Youlong's fingers, eliciting a bloodcurdling scream. 

       Asan's face was stern as he announced loudly, “I am a fifth-rank commander of the Jinyiwei, far above your rank. Lady Yun is also a fifth-rank Shanggong, not someone you can insult so casually!” 

        In truth, Lady Yun is the Crown Princess, but that's not a title to be casually revealed. 

        Shanggong?

　　What was a Shanggong? 

        The villagers didn’t even know what a Shanggong was, but they understood it must be a significant title. 

        Wu Youlong was already begging for mercy.

        A commander of the Jinyiwei?!!! 

       Wu Youlong’s face turned pale with fear. A Jinyiwei commander had appeared in Pengshui County—what kind of identity did this Yun Ling have? 

        Even more startling, the magistrate of Pengshui County rushed in, bowing nervously as he greeted them, “I greet you, Commander. I greet you, Lady Yun. I apologize for my tardiness.” 

        At this moment, all the villagers broke into a cold sweat and hurriedly knelt down.

　　 Wu Shengping's daughter had such a significant presence that even the magistrate of Pengshui County had to bow to her. 

       Yun Ling simply asked, “Village Head, can I now have my father's name restored to the family register?” 

       It turned out that the truth could not clear her Master's name, but power could. 

       She understood that ordinary people should not confront officials, so she didn't hold any resentment towards them. 

        The village head quickly kowtowed, “Yes, yes, of course.” 

        Wu Youlong’s status was obtained through bribery, and after becoming the county magistrate, he not only lined his own pockets but also secretly opened gambling houses. The magistrate of Pengshui County had reported him and successfully had him removed from office. 

        Now, Wu Tiande's family was left homeless and destitute, finally facing the consequences they deserved. 

        This served as a form of vengeance for her Master. 

        Now, the villagers of Wujiacun were saying that her Master had accomplished something great, raising such a powerful daughter, bringing honor to the family.

　　……

　　Yun Ling paid her respects at her Master's cenotaph, bowing three times. 

        “Master, from now on, I may not be able to visit you again.” 

        A trembling sound of footsteps approached. “Are you Tiedan's daughter?”

       The voice was old and frail.

       Yun Ling turned and saw an old man with white hair. 

       “I'm Tiedan's second grandfather,” the old man said. 

        Yun Ling hadn't seen him just now, but when she heard him say that, she turned around and bowed to him, “Great-grandfather.”  

        “Good child, get up,” the second grandfather said, his gaze fixed on the tomb as if lost in memories. “Tiedan came to me after injuring his uncle, staying for a day. The next day, he disappeared.”

　　 “He disappeared and we never saw him again. Tiedan was a bright student when his parents were alive, but later he neglected his studies. I thought he was simply lazy, but now… Tiande was truly wicked!” 

       The old man looked sorrowful, shaking his head and sighing. 

       Yun Ling didn't know what to say, so she simply replied, “Good and evil will be rewarded.” 

       The second grandfather didn't say anything more, asking if she was about to leave. 

       Yun Ling nodded. A protective amulet slipped from her sleeve. She bent down to pick it up, and as she straightened, she heard the second grandfather ask in surprise, “How did you get that amulet?” 

        Yun Ling paused, quickly looking up. “Great-grandfather, do you recognize this amulet?”

　　 The second grandfather reached out with trembling hands to take the amulet, examining it closely for several moments. “How could I not recognize it?” 

        “This is from our Yunze...a very ancient symbol. Nowadays, aside from us old folks, hardly anyone knows about it.”

        He slowly recalled, “This amulet originally came from a prominent family in Yunze, kept secret and not publicly shared. Our Wu clan served as their household servants several generations ago. My father once showed me this amulet, and I’ve shown it to a few children as well.”

        Yun Ling tightened her grip, her voice trembling slightly. “Which family?” 

        The second grandfather slowly uttered two words, “Lin clan.” 

        Lin clan?

　　Could her origins be related to the Lin clan? The Lin clan was indeed a prominent family, with ancestors who had held high-ranking positions in the cabinet. However, why had she never heard of anyone from the Lin clan losing a daughter during her time in Yunze? It seemed unlikely that such news would remain completely hidden. 

        This left her puzzled. 

        Moreover, as a prominent family, it was hard to believe that they would engage in selling daughters. Could there really be hidden circumstances behind this? 

       With so many thoughts swirling in her mind, she felt overwhelmed. The Lin clan was a large family, and many people could possess this amulet. However, following this lead could certainly yield more information. 

       After all this time searching for her origins, she finally had a sliver of a clue. She never expected it to arise in Wujiacun village, her Master's hometown.

　　Wait. 

       Yun Ling suddenly realized something and quickly asked, “Great-grandfather, did you show this amulet to my father?” 

        Second Grandfather: “Yes, I did.” 

        “Tiedan saw it the most. He even asked me about the meaning of the symbols on it, searching through the books left by our ancestors. He probably understood more than I do.”

       Yun Ling's mind went blank for a moment. 

        Her Master knew about it?! Could it be that he knew her true origins all along? But why didn't he ever tell her?

　　……

　　Having fulfilled her Master's last wish, Yun Ling felt a weight lift from her shoulders. 

        She had been hesitant for two years while preparing in Meiyang County, knowing that this situation would arise. 

       Ordinary people cannot fight officials. No matter how well she planned, no matter how she presented the facts, Wu Youlong was a county magistrate, a source of pride for Wujiacun village. In the face of power, her Master's suffering meant little. 

       With her Master's affairs settled, urged by her guards, Yun Ling hurried back to Zezhou. 

       Nine days passed in the blink of an eye; this trip had certainly taken longer than anticipated. The Crown Prince's affairs in Zezhou should be nearly completed by now. 

       The embezzlement case involved dozens of officials in Zezhou, both big and small. In addition to recovering the stolen 200,000 taels of silver, he also needed to investigate Zezhou's administration, appoint a new governor, and purge corrupt officials— he was undoubtedly extremely busy.

　　Gazing out the carriage window at the receding yellow earth, Wujiacun village grew smaller and smaller in her eyes. 

        After this return, she would truly be going back to the depths of the Palace, with no chance of leaving again. 

        Seeing her staring out the window, Bai Ling asked, “Lady Yun, are you reluctant to leave this place?” 

       Pengshui County truly was a beautiful place with stunning scenery. 

        “Lady Yun, you don't need to be reluctant; you can always visit again in the future.” 

      Yun Ling slowly shook her head. 

      “I'm not reluctant. This is my Master's hometown, not mine. Besides, this trip was already a special favor from His Highness; I can't ask for more.” 

       He was such a powerful man; when it came to power, he was the most influential figure in the Great Jin Dynasty.

       Bai Ling fell silent.

　　……

　　In the Zezhou prison. 

       Governor Qin Yi, his hair disheveled, was a shadow of his former self. 

       The hiding place of the 200,000 taels of silver had already been discovered. When asked why he embezzled the disaster relief funds, Qin Yi simply claimed that he was blinded by greed and deeply regretted his actions. 

       Xie Jue didn't believe him. 

       This governor was foolish and greedy, yet the plan to embezzle all the disaster relief funds was surprisingly meticulous. 

       Despite several days of interrogation, he immediately confessed the whereabouts of the silver but remained silent on other matters, even under severe torture. 

        There was only one possibility: Qin Yi was indeed blinded by greed. However, whether he was acting for someone else remained unknown. 

        In the blood-soaked prison, wails of despair echoed continuously.

　　Qin Yi knew that his execution was imminent. Desperate to survive, he begged for mercy upon seeing the Crown Prince enter, claiming that a strategist had advised him, leading him astray and arousing his greed. 

       Xie Jue watched Qin Yi prostrate himself in supplication, remaining silent. 

       Qin Yi had achieved two significant feats in his early career, which explained his rapid advancement. However, given his intelligence, it was hard to believe this plan originated from him alone. There was likely someone behind him guiding him. 

        Turning to leave the prison cell, he asked, “Have you found the strategist?” 

       Pei Yuan replied, “Yes, but he claims he resorted to this strategy to gain favor with Qin Yi.” 

       It seemed, therefore, that the greed stemmed from the lure of immense wealth. 

        “Hmm,” Xie Jue responded indifferently, his belief uncertain. He simply ordered, “Guard these two men closely.”

　　With the interrogation of Qin Yi complete, Xie Jue returned to the government office. He had investigated all matters in Yunze, and soon, the new governor he appointed would arrive. It was time for him to leave Yunze. 

       Yunze was long overdue for reform and purification. 

       Rubbing his aching temples, Grand Eunuch An suddenly entered, his face beaming. “Your Highness, Lady Yun has returned and has arrived outside the city.”

       Xie Jue paused, his fingers stilled. 

      After a moment, he said, “It's the ninth day; she should be back by now.” 

       Otherwise, he would have gone to Pengshui County to fetch her after finishing his work today. 

      After all the trouble of finding her, he had resolved to never let her leave his side again. 

      Yet, her use of charm on him... it always worked. 

       Xie Jue clicked his tongue softly and closed his eyes.

　　……

　　The carriage entered Zezhou City. As the sun began to set, many street vendors started packing up their stalls to go home. 

       A Shadow Guard outside the carriage announced, “His Highness sent word that he still has official business at the government office. Lady Yun, you may return to the inn first.” 

       Yun Ling lifted the curtain and nodded. “Very well.” 

       The journey had been dusty and tiring. She needed to return to the inn, bathe, change her clothes, and rest. 

       She wondered when they would be leaving for the capital. 

       But it should be within the next two days. 

        He would need about ten days to handle these matters, so the maximum deadline he gave her was also the same.

　　The carriage slowed as it entered the city, proceeding leisurely towards the inn. 

       Yun Ling's mind was occupied with thoughts of returning to the capital and the matter of the Lin clan. 

        Suddenly, she heard a guard outside say, “Lady Yun, we've arrived at the inn.” 

        Yun Ling came to her senses, stood up, and was about to lift the curtain when she heard the sound of galloping horses approaching rapidly.

       She looked up and saw a familiar figure on horseback. 

       She was startled. He was supposed to be handling official business; why had he returned? 

       Before she could react, she saw the Crown Prince dismount, his long legs carrying him swiftly to the carriage. His handsome brow furrowed slightly as he reached out, “What are you doing? Get out of the carriage.”

　　Yun Ling came to her senses, looking at his outstretched hand. It felt somewhat presumptuous to have the Crown Prince himself help her down. 

       Taking his hand, she stepped down from the carriage. He turned and quickly walked towards the inn. 

       Darkness gradually fell, and twilight enveloped everything. 

        Walking behind him, Yun Ling observed his back for a moment before hesitantly asking, “Your Highness, why did you return? Didn't you say you still had affairs at the government office?” 

       Without turning around, he replied, “I've finished them.” 

       “Finished already? So quickly?” Yun Ling instinctively responded. 

       He suddenly stopped, reaching the private room. All the attendants had retreated. 

       A tranquil silence surrounded them.

       Xie Jue slowly turned around, walking step by step towards her until he embraced her. Lowering his head, his tall nose almost touched her face, his gaze deep and dark. “Then how should I put it?” 

       “Simply say that Lady Yun has returned, and I couldn't wait a moment longer. I had no heart for official business and rushed back to see you.” (T/N: UwU, our Prince is totally smitten with Lady Yun.. 🤭)

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Glossary:

¹‘Your grandfather’

Easterners like Koreans, Japanese, and especially Chinese have this concept of “face”. It's like your street cred, or reputation and when people try to smear it by disrespecting others then shit gets wild and they try to dis the other one back to save “face”.

These cultures also greatly respect hierarchy in families and respect for one's elders. That's why when someone says call me granddaddy or Grandpa or great aunt, they are saying to respect me cause I'm on a higher level than you, b*tch. Which goes back to the concept of “face” and people going bat shit (guano) crazy.

(Taken from Novelupdates comment’s forum by Scholar Occult CauldronBonk Maestro | Ascended)

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(T/N): Wow, this novel has a 4.2/5 star rating (29 votes)! Huge thanks to everyone who voted for it on Novelupdates—I truly appreciate your support! 😊 Special shout-out to Tararissa and A-Zedel-Zong for being such wonderful readers and leaving such kind comments. Your kindness means a lot!

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