The Princess of Northern Land
Chapter 836: Return (7)

Chapter 836: Chapter 836: Return (7)

The Yu Family members felt a deep sadness when they saw Lin Ziyin interacting with Qiaoqiao.

"It’s cold outside, let’s talk back home," Chu Suifeng spoke in a timely manner.

His words brought everyone back to their senses, and the crowd escorted Lin Ziyin and Chu Suifeng back to the Lin Family courtyard.

Too many villagers had gathered, and after a lively moment of expressing their happiness, they all went home. However, the He Family, and the Wu and Bai families, who usually had good relations with the Lin Family, stayed behind.

"Those Tatars didn’t hit you, did they?" Once inside the house, Zige finally voiced her concern, "Did they bully you?"

At her question, the old master and others also looked at her anxiously.

"The Monarch of the North Country wanted me to teach them farming techniques and also wanted me to share the methods for making powdered milk and wool yarn, so they didn’t dare lay a hand on me," Lin Ziyin covered her concerns well, not mentioning the ordeal she had suffered in the North Country.

"They sure wish," Changting interrupted angrily, "Even if they begged us, we wouldn’t pay them any attention."

"And as for Changchun Country, we’ve already stopped doing business with them this month," Lin Changshu also said furiously. "We will never deal with their merchants again."

"Who is Changchun Country’s distributor?" Lin Ziyin asked.

"Reporting to Your Highness, it is the fifth prince," Yu Shaohui answered from the side.

"When you get back, bring me the information on the fifth prince," Lin Ziyin ordered.

"Yes, Your Highness. Once I return, I’ll organize all the information regarding Changchun Country and bring it to you," Yu Shaohui promised. He and Jue Xin, who managed internal and external affairs respectively, made an excellent team and were very capable butlers.

They had detailed records of all the merchants who did business with the Lin family, including backgrounds.

This was precisely the information Lin Ziyin needed; she wanted to analyze the personal data and strength of Changchun Country’s fifth prince to see if she could use him to eliminate an enemy indirectly.

Chu Suifeng and the others guessed her intention and couldn’t help but smile.

Even if Lin Ziyin were not to pursue the matter, Chu Suifeng would not let the Crown Prince of Changchun Country get away with his actions behind the scenes.

But to use another to eliminate one’s enemy, that was the best strategy. Chu Suifeng was glad that Lin Ziyin was not of a soft-hearted disposition.

Indeed, Lin Ziyin didn’t want to waste a single soldier in dealing with the Crown Prince of Changchun Country. Doing business with the Lin Family was immensely profitable. If the fifth prince had enough strength, he wouldn’t willingly let go of such a large piece of the pie. Perhaps with a little catalyzation and instigation, the fifth prince would take care of the Crown Prince in the way she desired.

On the other hand, if the fifth prince lacked strength, it was no matter. After all, a wise man wouldn’t let a duck that comes to his mouth fly away. Even if he couldn’t outcompete the Crown Prince, he would still find opportunities to cause trouble for his elder brother.

"You’ve gotten so thin, we’ll have to nourish you well when we get back," Guo Huiniang said with a look of affection, "I’ll go to the kitchen to see if we need to add a few more dishes."

"Okay," Lin Ziyin felt much more comfortable back at home. Feeling the care of her family warmed her heart.

Yanzhi was always sticking close by, carrying a little stool to sit near her. Changting had grown up and was a bit too shy to stick close anymore. But his eyes never strayed from Ziyin.

"Ah." Perhaps because they saw the interesting items in Lin Ziyin’s hands, the two chubby children kept staring at the small windmill she held.

Lin Ziyin watched them with joy, her heart filled with amazement. In just over a month, the little ones seemed to have grown chubbier.

She longed to hold the children, but Chu Suifeng forcefully kept her from the chance, firmly holding her other hand.

Having no choice, Lin Ziyin had to be content with just looking.

Lin Ziyin’s return filled the entire Lin Family with immense joy; everyone not only wore smiles on their faces but also walked with a newfound vigor.

This joy nearly spread throughout the whole of Shili Village, and even to the neighboring villages.

The Ma Family, however, was under a cloud of gloom.

The matriarch of the Yan Family sat biting her nails in her house, too lazy to even cook.

When Lin Ziyin was captured, she had been the happiest person in the village. Over the past month, every look of worry on the Lin Family’s faces and every query from the villagers excited her.

Although Ma Dalang did not show it as openly as Yan Shi, he was equally motivated. In Ma Dalang’s view, the Lin Family had risen thanks to Lin Ziyin. With her disappearance, it would surely collapse.

He might even find a chance to seek better business opportunities.

With this in mind, he worked tirelessly every day. Ma Dalang was very ambitious; he always sought to learn a craft from the Lin Family workshop. If he could master even one, especially the cosmetics or candy-making process, which he considered the most profitable since becoming a broker, he was convinced he could become as wealthy as the Lin Family.

The prospect of becoming a household as grand as the Lin Family got his heart soaring. Of course, for his dream to become a reality, Lin Ziyin had to stay in the North Country or, better yet, die there; only then could the Lin Family lose the protection of Prince Ling. Then, he would have a chance to plot.

But Lin Ziyin had returned, and his dreams were dashed. From the moment the villagers prepared to welcome Lin Ziyin back, his heart felt empty.