Chapter Seventy-One: Casting the Net and Setting the Hook

He grumbled inwardly for a few moments.

“So, what do you have to say?”

“I’ve heard that the primary material for their mosquito coils comes from camphor trees. Didn’t the court issue laws forbidding the indiscriminate felling of trees? Isn’t this against the regulations?”

Uncle Zhao spoke with confidence, thinking he could use the court to put pressure on them. Surely, the mosquito coil shop couldn’t last long.

“But what if they’ve received permission from above? Last time, I doubted the source of their salt merchants, and look how that turned out—I ended up swallowing my words.”

Second Young Master Bai shook his head, perplexed.

This strategy was riddled with holes; it simply wouldn’t work.

“Then should we stir up trouble and deliberately frame the Mosquito Coil Hall?”

“Child, since the Inspectorate supports this shop, do you think you can frame them at will?”

Old Master Bai spoke coldly, almost rolling his eyes and ready to drive the man out.

After a few more useless suggestions, Uncle Zhao left in embarrassment.

“Don’t associate with these people in the future; none of their ideas are reliable. We should focus on resolving the matter with Master Chen. Isn’t it said that Lady Zhilán from the Drunken Flower Pavilion is his daughter? Spend some money to ask if reconciliation is possible.”

The old master intended to turn major issues into minor ones and minor ones into nothing, for it affected his official career. Whether he could live out his later years peacefully depended on how this was resolved.

“Yes,”

Second Young Master Bai nodded.

After spending a few days in the prison, he had become much more cautious, no longer reckless as before, causing trouble and then failing to clean up the mess.

“Lady Zhilán, regarding your father, it is truly our fault. Had we controlled our steward properly, this tragedy would not have occurred.”

He spoke earnestly, seemingly sincere in his concern.

But he had clearly forgotten something: disguising lies as truth—would anyone believe them?

“Why the hypocrisy? If you had even a shred of remorse, you wouldn’t have built such a massive gambling house, nor harmed countless common folk.”

Zhilán spoke fiercely.

“We admit to some of these wrongs, but what you mentioned truly has nothing to do with us. We’ve come today simply to ask if reconciliation is possible.”

“Reconciliation? Perhaps in the next life!”

Zhilán would not be swayed.

She had endured twenty years of hardship solely for vengeance. Why should forgiveness be granted with a mere word of reconciliation?

“Consider your current predicament. If this is settled now, the Bai family may fall from grace. But if evidence remains inconclusive, the Bai family might ensure you can no longer stay here.”

A retainer nearby also tried to persuade her, seemingly out of concern.

“As for your hope for the Han family’s help, what are you to Han Qing? He has a beloved wife, and your acquaintance is nothing more than a fleeting encounter—he merely pitied you.”

These persuaders stabbed at her heart, sparing no feelings.

Reality seemed to shake Zhilán’s resolve.

Business at the Drunken Flower Pavilion had indeed been bleak for months, partly due to Bai family suppression.

It was her only foothold, so she had to live for herself, at least once.

“I can agree to reconciliation, but what I require you must provide.”

“What is it?”

“The deed for the shop my father lent you, and the guarantee letter he wrote.”

Second Young Master Bai was stunned, as he had not been involved and knew nothing of these intricacies. Clearly, he would need to consult the old master.

“I’ll prepare them as soon as possible. I hope next time we meet, we can have a cordial conversation.”

Zhilán nodded, uninterested in seeing these unwelcome guests out.

Her plan was now set in motion.

Yet Xiaocui, standing by, was full of confusion.

“Zhilán Auntie, how could you agree to people like them? What if they suddenly turn hostile—what good is reconciliation then?”

Even Xiaocui understood; how could she not? She was merely buying time.

The real evidence was mostly in Old Master Bai’s hands. Only if he coughed up some of it would there be hope.

“You don’t understand.”

She offered no further explanation, but that night, she wrote a letter and sent it to Tinglan Court.

Han Qing read the letter and immediately reported the matter to Lin Fei.

“Is this all true? Are these solid pieces of evidence?”

“Yes, my father never wanted to sign that agreement, and I’ve found the one who forced him to do so.”

Lady Zhilán spoke angrily.

Once she had that agreement, the evidence would be irrefutable.

The Bai family would have no escape.

“Should we go to the Bai residence immediately?”

“No, assign a few people to follow Old Master Bai discreetly and wait for news.”

Han Qing decisively stopped them.

If they barged into the Bai residence, would he produce the documents?

Lin Fei belatedly realized his own folly in considering such a plan.

After about an hour, the constable returned slowly.

“Lord Lin, we followed Old Master Bai’s route and tracked him to the Song family’s underground bank, but then lost his trail.”

The Song family?

They’d never had any dealings with the Bai family. How could there be interactions between the two clans?

“We waited on the rooftop for half an hour and saw Old Master Bai with some papers, which he stuffed into his sleeve before hurrying away.”

So that was it!

“In a day or two, Second Young Master Bai will likely visit you again. Follow the plan then; don’t let them see through you.”

Han Qing instructed her carefully.

A vast net had been cast, just waiting for them to walk into it.

“All right.”

Zhilán nodded.

At last, dawn was breaking.

After so many years of endurance, it was time for them to taste suffering.

It hadn’t even been two days.

The very next morning, Second Young Master Bai, accompanied by his retinue, hurried to the Drunken Flower Pavilion.

After ensuring there were no suspicious people around, he went upstairs to find Lady Zhilán.

“I have brought everything you wanted. What happens next, I hope you understand clearly.”

He drew several contracts from his sleeve—indeed, the very ones that had forced Master Chen to write them years ago. Originally, Chen had refused to lease the properties to the Bai family, but somehow they had been seized.

Each of these evil deeds was truly hateful.

“Well then, tell me—let’s hear it.”