Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 299 If you mess with me, I'll tear you to pieces!

Before Xie San could even testify, someone suggested that the "Third Young Mistress of the Yan Family" was a suspect. After hesitating for a moment, the Taoist priest saw Lu Jia's gloomy face as she served tea and drank it, and finally sent someone to invite the Third Young Mistress over.

With the emperor's backing, the Taoist priests of Baiyun Temple, as long as they act with reason and evidence, would have to respond to anyone, not just the third young mistress of the Yan family, but even the Yan family members or Yan Shu and his wife themselves.

Lu Jia let the Taoist priest leave, took a sip of tea, and then another young Taoist priest came to the door: "Reporting to my master, someone just gave a hint that the two old women described by Young Master Xie seem to be very similar to the two nannies who came to offer incense to the eldest young mistress of the Yan family today!"

Perhaps it was because he heard that another young mistress of the Yan family had been brought up again that the Taoist priest paused for a moment.

Lu Jia raised her head and said loudly, "The Yan family has strict rules. Their eldest daughter-in-law is the matriarch of the family. How could she allow her servants to do something that would damage the relationship between the Shen and Yan families?"

"If we really did that, wouldn't it ruin the Grand Secretary's reputation?"
"Don't you respect the Shen family and want to become enemies with the Shen family?"
"You little Taoist priest, how dare you spout such nonsense! Be careful, or I'll give you a beating!"

The young Taoist priest hurriedly knelt down: "I dare not speak nonsense, but it is true that someone said so. The eldest young mistress of the Yan family was just nearby. If you have any doubts, you can ask her to ask her directly!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Jia glanced at the guards beside him. As they silently withdrew, the expression on the face of the Taoist priest in charge on the other side changed!

He could still handle the previous involvement of the third young mistress of the Yan family, but now they've dragged in their eldest young mistress. One side is implying that the third branch of the family is a suspect, while the other side is openly implicating the eldest branch. If they really bring them here, won't they have to set up a stage at their Baiyun Temple to have a showdown?

"What are you daydreaming about, Daoist Master?" Lu Jia's clear and bright voice rang out. "Since this young disciple has explained things so clearly, and someone has already been sent to invite the Third Young Mistress, why not invite the Eldest Young Mistress over to confront her and clear up the misunderstanding? Are you going to let the Eldest Young Mistress of the Yan family bear this suspicion?"

There's no way to find fault with that!

In front of so many people, could the Taoist priest possibly refute this?
He immediately said, "Go and invite the eldest young mistress of the Yan family!"

When the Taoist priest's voice pierced through the crowd and reached Jin Shi, the smile that had just appeared on her face instantly froze after she had just heard the old woman's report that the Taoist priests had gone to find Lu Ying to confront her!

"They even want to ask Grandma to confront them?" The old woman next to her twitched. "Where did this eldest aunt of the Lu family get the guts? Even her father can't act arrogantly in front of the Yan family!"

"...Young Madam!"

No sooner had the old woman finished speaking than the young Taoist priest, who had been sent to fetch someone, arrived. He glanced at the old woman and then bowed to Madam Jin: "There has been a small incident at the young mistress of the Shen family. Someone is suspected of disrespecting you, young mistress. The young mistress of the Shen family said that in order to avoid damaging the reputation of the Yan family, she would like to ask you to come over and make a clarification."

What a clarification!
Once these words are spoken, can the Jin family still avoid the topic?

She gritted her teeth and looked at the crowd: "Didn't they just say that the Third Young Mistress had gone over? Why am I being dragged into this again?"

"...Reporting to Master Uncle! The Third Young Mistress of the Yan family has already left the temple. When I chased after her to inquire, she said that this matter had nothing to do with her and told us to find the Eldest Young Mistress who was in charge of the affairs of the mansion to handle it."

"The third young mistress also said that if anyone can provide evidence to accuse her, she will definitely come forward to cooperate."

The young Taoist priest's voice drifted back from afar, barely silencing Jin Shi's words. She stared wide-eyed in disbelief. That bitch Lu Ying had set her on fire, and now she'd just left?!

The Taoist priest withdrew his gaze and bowed to her again: "This concerns the dignity of the Yan family. I would like to ask the eldest young mistress to say a word."

Jin glared at him and gritted her teeth.

Lu Jia watched as Madam Jin arrived at the door and smiled, "I told you the eldest young mistress has a clear conscience, she came as soon as she said she would. — Xie San, I've already invited the people for you, take a good look at the people around the eldest young mistress."

"You'd better watch carefully. If you talk nonsense, making something out of nothing, or something out of nothing, not only will I not let you off the hook, but you will also have to find the person who instigated you today." Upon hearing this, Xie San immediately stood up and turned to the servants beside Jin Shi.

Lu Jia then smiled at Jin Shi and said, "These people who gossip behind people's backs have to be taught a lesson, so I'm sorry to have troubled you to come here, sister-in-law."

She said all the polite things, and Jin was furious inside, but she had to try her best to keep a straight face!
She put on a gentle expression and said, "It's kind of you to think of things so thoughtfully, sister. You truly deserve the love and care that our madam has shown you in the past."

"I don't care; the world's gossip can't hurt me."

"But such a thing is not honorable after all, and it is not worth making such a fuss and ruining my sister's reputation."

"Since this Xie family member is so hateful, let's just punish him directly. Instead of dragging things out, it will only cause gossip, and then the Grand Commandant will blame my sister for being unreasonable."

“My sister is upright and honest, and is clearly an innocent victim. Why can’t we get to the bottom of this?”

"Besides, this fellow didn't get close to me at all. I'm protected by guards and maids. If anyone else tries to use this as an excuse to damage my reputation, I won't let it go. I'll tear her to shreds."

"Whether you, sister-in-law, feel sorry for me or want to fulfill my wishes for the Yan family, please call everyone around you over so that this fellow can see this and shut him up, so that he won't smear the Yan family. This way, you can explain to Madam when you go back, right?"

Lu Jia knew that Yan Shu and his wife were the people she feared most, so she naturally wanted to strike at her weak spot.

Jin thought she had been married for many years and had some experience, but she never expected this powerless maid to be so sharp-tongued!
But this brat had something to say next—after saying the above, she turned to the Taoist priest beside her: "Let Xie San recognize the person as soon as possible, so that we can clear ourselves of any involvement with Baiyun Temple."

"Otherwise, who would know what kind of shady business the Taoist priests in this temple are doing in private?"
"Is this specifically designed to provide convenience for lecherous men, or is the target solely our Shen family? We need an explanation, otherwise, who among our female followers will dare to come here again?"

Lin Chi, who was accompanying the emperor, was the Taoist's junior brother. Because of this relationship, the Taoists in Baiyun Temple usually acted arrogantly, claiming to be from a prestigious and orthodox lineage. Now, the Taoists could hardly stand this kind of humiliation.
Holding his whisk, he said to Madam Jin, "I beg you, young mistress, to cooperate. Otherwise, if the Emperor were to punish us, my humble Taoist priest and Baiyun Temple would not be able to bear the consequences!"

If you can't afford to take responsibility, you have to make a big fuss about it.

After things escalated, the culprit naturally suffered the consequences.

Jin smiled and turned to the side, saying, "I only brought a few people with me. Ask away if you want."

The guard next to Lu Jia leaned down: "This is not right. I saw with my own eyes that when the young mistress went to offer incense, she was accompanied by four people. Why are there only two now?"

Jin's expression changed: "Who told you there were four?!"

"Young lady!"

Just then, two more guards from the Grand Commandant's mansion came in, each carrying an old woman: "These two have been acting suspiciously behind our house. We don't know who they are. We've brought them back to await the young mistress's judgment!"

The old women were pushed and shoved to the front.

Upon seeing this, Jin's face instantly contorted in anger!

Some readers have pointed out the connection between the book's title and the story. "Small Fortune, Peace" doesn't actually relate to business, but rather reflects on the Yan family's addiction to wealth, which harmed the court, implicated the people, and ultimately led to their downfall. Wealth is undoubtedly good, but happiness doesn't necessarily require endless riches, especially ill-gotten gains. Simply put, the title can be interpreted as "Don't be too greedy." A wise person loves wealth, but acquires it ethically.