LOT – Chapter 205 Changing Everyone’s Mind

Lin Mo’s outrageous stunt left the guards completely speechless, but since they had confirmed that she was someone they knew, they let everyone in.

After all, with Little Master Lin standing in front, there was absolutely nothing to be afraid of!

It wasn’t dark yet, so this big muddy group attracted plenty of attention. Some people even walked past them, turned around, and came back just to stare. Hearing the murmurs around them, all those young masters and ladies felt their faces burning hot.

They had never done anything this outrageous in their entire lives. Would their parents scold them when they got home tonight? If they really did get scolded—well, they would just blame everything on Little Master Lin. Yes! That’s the plan!

Compared to everyone else, Lin Mo’s mood was on a whole different level. She walked with her head held high and chest out, completely unaffected by anyone’s looks.

This was the part Bai Xiao admired the most.

“Momo, I feel like you’ve walked this road as if it’s your own personal grand avenue. People around you are even making way for you,” Bai Xiao said with genuine admiration.

Qin Zheng murmured quietly, “I don’t think they’re making way. They’re just afraid we’ll bump into them… I think they’re disgusted by how dirty we are.”

Lin Mo, who had been ready to act modest: “…”

Bai Xiao, whose illusion had been shattered: “…”

So it wasn’t that they were awed? They were avoiding them because they were filthy!?

Lin Mo looked down at the mud on herself, then at everyone else.

…Okay, yeah, they were pretty dirty.

When they reached the busy part of the city, it was time for everyone to go home. Lin Mo flung her sleeve and gave a ceremonious bow.

“Everyone! I had so much fun today. Thank you all for keeping me company. It’s getting late, so let’s head home for now. If we have free time, let’s meet up and play again!”

The Peacock and the Beautiful Simpleton standing beside her, who were splattered with chunks of dried mud from her dramatic bow: “…”

Your bow is very dashing, yes—but could you not fling mud into our eyes!?

Dried mud hurts when it hits!

Still, Lin Mo’s bold, hearty attitude earned unanimous affection.

“We also had a great time. And we dug up so much lotus root—it was our first time trying something like this. It’s all thanks to Little Master Lin.”

“Yes, yes! Let’s meet again whenever we have time.”

After saying their goodbyes, everyone headed home.

Lin Mo happily ran back to her own gate and slapped the door with her muddy hands—twice.

Looking at the two filthy handprints on the door, she even tried wiping them off with her sleeve.

Bai Xiao sighed, “Don’t bother. Your sleeve is dirty too.”

The doorkeeper opened the door and looked at the two mud monkeys, entirely unfazed. Second Miss coming home looking like this every few days was nothing new.

“You still remember to come home, huh? You two sure are bold, having the Grand Preceptor run errands for you. Even the emperor hasn’t dared ask him to do that.”

Official Lin took one look at the pair and didn’t even need to imagine what they had done outside.

Lin Mo grinned. “Our carriage broke down! And we just happened to run into the Grand Preceptor. Thankfully he helped us, otherwise we wouldn’t have gotten home this easily.”

“Dad, mom, brother, sister—did you see the lotus roots I dug? Let me tell you, none of them dug as many as I did! That whole big bag is mine!”

Her proud tone, combined with her mud-covered appearance, was… strangely impressive.

Madam Lin tapped the hardened mud on her head and sighed with a mix of annoyance and amusement. “All right, all right. Tonight we’ll cook the lotus roots you dug. Now hurry and take a bath. You both stink.”

The two of them laughed awkwardly, sniffed themselves, and quickly headed off to bathe.

When they passed Lin Qi, he sighed at Bai Xiao. “Didn’t you say you would watch her and make sure she didn’t fall into the pond?”

That was your so-called watching over her!? You two clearly jumped in together!

Bai Xiao answered solemnly, “I did watch her. She didn’t fall in—she dove in. And she took a big bite of lotus root.”

Lin Qi: “…So she went down with her mouth wide open? Ate lotus root and mud together?”

Forget it. There was no point talking sense to these two brainless people.

That night, most wealthy families in the capital ate lotus root. The leftovers were even gifted to relatives and friends.

When gifting them, the parents proudly said, “These were personally dug by our child, from outside the capital.”

Originally, many young masters and ladies thought they would be severely scolded upon returning home. Unexpectedly, their parents were gentle—some even praised them.

“Young people should be lively. Just… don’t be as lively as Little Master Lin.”

This was something all parents agreed on.

They used to think their children being polite and well-mannered was great.

But after the comparison… their thoughts changed.

Their children were well-behaved—perhaps too well-behaved, too rigid, lacking youthful energy.

Especially when compared to Lin Mo, who caused trouble daily, the difference was stark.

The Lin family had three children. The older two were proper and polite, but not stodgy. They were energetic and lively in their own ways.

Why weren’t their own children like that?

Many parents began quietly reflecting on themselves. So in the end, today’s chaos turned out to be a good thing.

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The next morning, Lin Mo asked the servants to pack up some lotus roots so she could bring them to the palace.

【Let the Emperor, Empress, and the consorts try the lotus roots I personally dug. Maybe I can exchange them for two chickens.】

The Lin family had thought the girl had finally become sensible. Turns out she was just eyeing their chickens.

Bai Xiao: 【Probably won’t work. They’re running short on chickens themselves. Even the Emperor can’t have any now.】

Indeed, until the new chicks hatched, the Emperor absolutely could not touch the chickens.

Still, the gesture touched the Emperor.

During court, he even complimented Lin Mo for being thoughtful.

Lin Mo practically floated with joy. 【Hahaha! Did you hear that? I got praised!】

Bai Xiao: 【I heard, I heard. Stop laughing—everyone can see your molars.】

Summer was getting hotter and hotter. And today they brought up something Lin Mo had been eagerly waiting for: going to the Summer Resort to escape the heat.