The Princess of Northern Land
Chapter 685: Joint Calculation (3)_1

Chapter 685: Chapter 685: Joint Calculation (3)_1

What could she do as a woman?

"Pingping, your parents, brother and sister-in-law, nieces and nephews all live in the You Residence. Can you bear to see it fall?" The old Master You, now in his seventies, trembled as he spoke. His hope still rested on his daughter.

Great resentment filled Lady You. It was always like this. If it weren’t for these burdens of her family, would she be living such a tired life?

"If eldest brother trusts me, he should donate all of this grain to Prince Ling overnight. Otherwise, a great disaster will befall the You family." However harsh she felt, Lady You could never actually be heartless enough to allow everyone in the You Residence to lose their lives.

"How can we do that?" You Shiyong blurted out. A hundred thousand jin of grain is not a small amount. Add in the transportation expenses and other costs, he couldn’t bear to give it away for free.

"Can’t bear to do it, can you?" Lady You sneered at him. "Then just wait for Prince Ling to come for your lives."

The others in the You Residence all glared unhappily at Lady You upon hearing this. Who did she think she was, suggesting such a solution? A hundred thousand jin of grain was worth quite a lot of silver. Did she think everyone had as much pocket money as her?

If they were to give away the grain, it would take the You Residence two whole years to fill the void.

"Could we perhaps..." You Shiyong asked with a frown.

"No." Before he finished speaking, Lady You straightforwardly rejected him. She knew what her elder brother was about to say - he wanted her to plead with her father-in-law at Prince Ling’s Residence so that they could sell the grain through a regular channel.

What a fancy thought. But how could they know that the Marquis Residence itself was like a clay Bodhisattva crossing the river, barely keeping itself afloat?

"If you disagree, figure it out yourselves." Lady You stood up. "The old lady of the residence has collapsed. I must go back. Everyone is gathered in the residence waiting. If I don’t go back now, people will speak ill of me."

Without waiting to see the discontented expressions on the faces of the others from the You Residence, she took her servants and hastily departed.

"Madam." The old nursemaid looked at Lady You with hesitation. As someone who also came from the You Residence, she naturally did not want any harm to befall it, so in private, she tried to persuade Lady You.

"Enough. I know you’re concerned out of old affection, but don’t forget. If we get involved again, we might get drawn into the mess. If my eldest brother listens to me, it’s fine - Prince Ling would not destroy the You family if he receives the grain. But if he doesn’t listen, I’m afraid not even heaven and earth can save them." As she spoke, Lady You’s voice choked with emotion, "Have someone keep an eye on him, and remind him daily. We must ensure my eldest brother sends the grain to Prince Ling’s Residence as soon as possible. If he’s late, even offering the grain won’t save him."

By the end, Lady You was in tears. However ruthless she appeared, her family was, after all, her family. How could she just stand by and watch them die? But, she also knew the temperament of her elder brother You Shiyong - he was selfish, stingy, and self-righteous. He certainly wouldn’t listen to what she had said tonight.

However, with the old lady having collapsed, and Prince Ling still at the Marquis Residence, he certainly wouldn’t concern himself with such a trivial matter as the You Residence for the moment. That could buy them a bit of time.

These days, she just had to send more people to remind him, then You Shiyong would certainly hearken to what she had said.

By the time she returned to the Marquis Residence, Chu Suifeng had already returned to Wang Residence with Lin Ziyin. As for Prince Ling, he was just an outsider and newly married. There was an old custom in the Northern Land, that a newlywed couple should stay in their bridal chamber for five days at the least; otherwise, it would be bad luck.

Li Yanran wished Chu Suifeng could have stayed behind at the Marquis Residence. After all, it would be better in her book if Lin Ziyin had to guard an empty bridal chamber, which was itself a bad omen. Regrettably, despite his concern for the old lady, Chu Suifeng eventually returned to Wang Residence.