LOT – Chapter 85 We’re Spending Money to Eat Melon!

After crying for quite a while, Lin Mo finally showed up in front of her parents and siblings—with her pig-headed face.

The Lin family stared at her swollen face again and again.

Tch. They really hadn’t hit her face, and they hadn’t even used much force. How did her face swell up like that?

Lin Mo touched her face and said pitifully, “Father, Mother, I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have played with balsam flowers in the middle of the night, and I shouldn’t have laughed while you were crying.”

Yes, the reason this girl got beaten so badly was because after her father slapped her awake, she didn’t know what was going on and asked the system. When she found out that her family thought she was dead and had been crying all night, she couldn’t help but laugh.

And then the beating got worse.

System: 【Tsk. If you put yourself in your parents’ shoes, having a daughter like you is honestly kind of stressful. First thing in the morning, they got scared half to death thinking something happened to you. Then they cried their hearts out, only for you to laugh. Tsk tsk tsk. Host, sometimes the beatings you get… you really do deserve them.】

For once, the Lin family actually thought the system had said something reasonable.

“Alright, alright, we’ve already taken leave from the emperor on your behalf. The doctor said your face will be fine in a couple of days,” said Minister Lin.

Even though looking at her face made his eyes sting, she was still his daughter—no matter how much of a headache she gave him, she was his little girl.

Back in her own courtyard, Lin Mo took out the unused balsam flowers.

【System, what should I do with these? I didn’t finish using them, and with the weather turning cold, they’ll just go to waste.】

She stared at the balsam flowers, not wanting to waste even a single one. After all, she had traded a little turtle for them—and they didn’t even have a greenhouse.

System: 【Then don’t waste it! You’ve got so many people at home—just paint it on them.】

Right! Lin Mo immediately sobered up at the system’s suggestion.

Half an hour later, Lin Ran stared wordlessly at her now-stained fingernails.

Meanwhile, Lin Mo looked gloomily at the remaining henna paste. “There’s still so much left.”

Lin Ran casually said, “Why don’t you do my toenails too?”

Before long, as she looked at her now-wrapped toes, Lin Ran fell into deep thought.

Wait a second—do you take everything I say seriously!?

System: 【There’s more! Still so much left! Your brother’s asleep—go find your brother! Let him have a taste of it too!】

The system was truly enjoying the chaos, and Lin Mo was also extremely excited.

Hehehe! Time to paint big brother’s nails!

Lin Ran, still sitting on the chair: !!! What are you guys planning!?

Lin Mo sneakily crept into her brother’s courtyard. There, in the middle of the yard, on a reclining chair, lay her elder brother.

Hmm, he looked like he was sleeping pretty soundly.

Quietly, Lin Mo moved closer to Lin Qi and skillfully began applying henna to his pinky nails.

She hadn’t planned to paint them all—just the pinkies would do.

The system was absolutely thrilled. When the host causes trouble, it gets to sit back, enjoy the drama, and recharge with juicy gossip!

While asleep, Lin Qi suddenly felt a cool sensation on his pinky finger. Half-awake, he opened his eyes—only to see a swollen, distorted face looming close.

Hiss—what kind of monster is this!?

Lin Mo had just finished and was about to slip away, but her big brother suddenly opened his eyes.

At that moment, only two words flashed through her mind: Run!

System: 【Run run run!】

Lin Mo took off like a shot. Lin Qi, still groggy from sleep, didn’t manage to catch her.

He glanced down at his pinky nail, and his eyes widened in disbelief.

“Lin Mo’er! Get back here!!”

Nice. Since Little Miss Lin was grounded and couldn’t cause trouble outside, she turned to torment her own family.

While Minister Lin and Madam Lin enjoyed a peaceful time in the kitchen, their three children outside were in complete chaos.

The couple had grown used to this. As long as nothing major happened and they weren’t dragged into any trouble, they let the three of them do whatever they wanted.

After all, their eldest son and daughter still had some sense. The problem was that wild youngest child.

Lin Mo was grounded at home for three days. After that, her beautiful face finally returned to its original state.

Looking at her pretty face in the mirror, Lin Mo felt incredibly pleased. Tsk, this looks way better!

She was enjoying her days, carefree and cheerful, but the rest of the household was busy fretting over her upcoming birthday.

“She used to just stay in her boudoir, and aside from the coming-of-age ceremony where we invited a few more guests, all her previous birthdays were small affairs with close family friends. But now she’s a court official… We’ll have to send out invitations to the other officials. How do we plan this?”

Madam Lin was practically worried sick. She was terrified that rascal would cause trouble at her own birthday banquet.

They initially planned something simple, but Lin Mo had been the talk of the capital lately. Some people even came asking what Lady Lin liked, hoping to use it as a gift for her birthday.

Minister Lin thought it over and decided to follow the standards used for noble young men who had recently joined officialdom.

“As long as she behaves herself at the banquet, I don’t care what gossip she listens to. Better she hears others’ drama than causes any of her own.”

Let her eat other people’s melons—just don’t let her lose face.

Meanwhile, in the households of various officials throughout the capital, similar discussions were underway.

“I wonder what kind of birthday banquet Lady Lin will have. Can we bring our whole family along?”

“Sigh, it’s a pity we’re not that close with the Lin family. Do you think they’ll invite us? If I prepare an expensive enough gift, maybe I can get in?”

“What if we sponsor the whole banquet for Lady Lin? I bet tons of people would show up—Lin Manor might not even be able to host them all.”

Everyone was eager to chip in and help organize Lin Mo’s birthday banquet.

It wasn’t about feasting—it was about the gossip! They were willing to pay just to hear some juicy stories!

Even Emperor Xuande in the palace was racking his brains over the matter.

“Is it appropriate for me to attend that girl’s birthday banquet in person? She’s only an eighth-rank official—if I go myself, she might grow suspicious.”

“But if I try to hide my identity, that’s not really going to work either.”

He paced back and forth inside his chamber, making Eunuch Li dizzy just watching him.

“Your Majesty, how about you pretend to go on an incognito inspection? Use that as an excuse to attend.”

That’s right! He’d gone undercover before anyway!

Emperor Xuande shot Eunuch Li a look of appreciation.

The next day, after court, Minister Lin was surrounded by other officials and dragged into a lively discussion. Listening to their outrageous ideas, he stood there completely dazed.

Are you all serious? You want to spend your own money to throw a birthday banquet for my daughter? And say I don’t even need to worry about a thing? She’s my daughter—why should you host her birthday!?

(The officials: Because we’re paying for gossip!)