LOT -Chapter 265 Burying the Silver Under the Tree

Old Prince Wang sat to the side with a beaming face, listening with great interest, looking entirely like an outsider in this situation.

It really didn’t look like he was the one who had borrowed money from the Emperor. Minister Lin couldn’t help but sigh—this old prince’s skin was unbelievably thick.

If he had swindled such a huge sum from the Emperor and run off, forget returning home—he wouldn’t even dare to send a message back.

Fortunately, the Emperor was merciful and valued this imperial uncle. Otherwise, with a wanted notice or a kill-on-sight order, how could this old prince have lived so freely outside for so many years?

Lin Mo’s gaze toward the old prince grew more and more respectful. Indeed—when a person becomes shameless, they become invincible. Old Prince Wang was truly a model among men!

But Lin Mo was still extremely curious. “Your Highness, how much silver did you borrow back then?”

If he didn’t dare return for decades, just how much did he take?

The old prince chuckled triumphantly. “Not much, not much. All together—just a few hundred thousand taels.”

A few hundred thousand taels?! That much?! Were you eating gold outside?! How do you even spend that much?!

Bai Xiao added: 【He borrowed 200,000 from the Emperor alone, directly draining him. After saving for years, His Majesty’s money was swindled away by his dear uncle.】

【And then he borrowed from every official he knew in the capital—hundreds, thousands each. Sometimes wealthy merchants, eager to curry favor, even gave him money proactively. Add everything up, that’s how much it became.】

The Lin father and daughter raised their thumbs in admiration. This really wasn’t something an ordinary man could do.

Being able to borrow this much was a skill of its own.

Being stared at like that, even the old prince felt a little embarrassed. He humbly explained: “At the time, I didn’t expect I wouldn’t return for so long. I only wanted to wander around for a few years. But the outside world was too fun—the rivers and mountains out there aren’t anything like the tiny capital.”

“I traveled while doing business. I invested all that money into ventures—lost some at first, but later it slowly made profit.”

“Now that I’m old, wandering around isn’t suitable anymore. So I thought I’d return. I have no children or descendants, and aside from my own living expenses, the rest I planned to donate back to the treasury… to make up for what I took from my nephew.”

Back then, he hadn’t expected his nephew to be truly that poor. Who would think a prince could be this broke? He originally thought the boy was hiding his brilliance, living simply on purpose.

Actually, the main reason for coming back this time—besides retiring—was to see the legendary Young Lord Lin.

And upon meeting today—truly extraordinary. Interesting personality, interesting looks. Lin Huan really had a good daughter.

For a moment he even thought he was looking at Lin Huan’s younger self. These two were carved from the same mold.

Only, this young lady was a bit shorter. Lin Huan had been tall and slender even in his youth.

Back then, seeing such a handsome young man, he genuinely admired him. After all—who doesn’t enjoy looking at beautiful things?

The Lin family had good looks in their blood. Naturally, the son was even more outstanding. And his daughter too. He wondered how Lin Huan’s other two children looked.

Rumor had it the eldest son took after their mother completely and had even been chosen as the imperial tanhua, now known as the Capital’s Number One Young Gentleman.

The previous Number One Young Gentleman had also been Lin Huan. This family really knew how to grow good-looking people.

“Aiya, it’s getting late, I should head back. My beloved is quite clingy—if I don’t return soon, he’ll fuss again.”

When the old prince mentioned his beloved, he simply couldn’t hide the smile on his face.

Lin Mo curiously asked Bai Xiao: 【What does the person the old prince likes look like, to make him this fond?】

Bai Xiao: 【Use your toes to think—of course he’s good-looking. But not the absolute best-looking. They’re together because their values match, their personalities fit. Looks are just one part. If it were about looks alone, the old prince would’ve fallen for your father back then.】

Old Prince: “……”

Minister Lin: “……”

These two really knew how to talk. Were they complimenting them or insulting them?

Hugging the huge bundle of silver, Lin Mo couldn’t close her mouth the entire way home.

Heavy it was—but that weight was deeply comforting.

Minister Lin wanted to carry it for her, but she refused.

“I can hold it myself! How could I let Father carry it? That’d be unfilial. I’m strong enough.”

She hugged the silver to her chest and spoke so righteously—though no one would believe it.

Minister Lin snorted. “Fine, carry it yourself. I’m curious where you plan to hide it. If your mother finds it, she’ll beat you.”

Lin Mo retorted, “And Father—you don’t have any hiding place either! If your stash is discovered, your ending will be worse than mine!”

The father and daughter glared at each other, neither willing to budge.

Bai Xiao sighed on the side. What were they fighting for? Why not just store it with him?

His unused courtyard was the safest—everyone assumed he lived there, so no one would enter.

(Everyone else: “Heh. Whatever makes you happy.”)

When they got back, father and daughter covered for each other and buried the silver under a tree.

Lin Mo reminded her father: “Remember clearly—it’s THIS tree! And these coins are mine. Father, you’re not allowed to dig them up secretly!”

Minister Lin: …

As if he cared. He only wanted to keep the money safe so this girl wouldn’t spend it all at once.

Why bury it in the ground? So many hiding spots and they chose this.

That night, Lin Mo lay in bed, feeling uneasy.

The tree was outside. The silver was at its roots. Too unsafe.

What if some maid or servant dug it up? That would be a huge loss.

“No, I have to dig it up. This is way too unsafe.”

Bai Xiao, lying on her pillow, said speechlessly: “What’s unsafe? I’m watching over it, isn’t that enough? If anything happens, I’ll tell you. Go to sleep.”

Lin Mo smacked him with her palm. “What if you don’t notice? It’s a huge sum! That’s months of living expenses for us!”

Bai Xiao: …

Are you trying to press me to death with your palm?!