Chapter 791: The Provocation Strategy Doesn’t Work

The young clerk brought in a delicate food box from outside.

"Miss Lin, you’re not accustomed to mutton soup, so I specially bought breakfast for you from the restaurant."

The young clerk opened the box.

Inside was a bowl of white fungus soup, a bowl of almond tofu, a plate of small flower rolls, and two types of delicate side dishes.

The young clerk noticed Miss Lin’s distaste for the mutton soup and pitied her for going a whole day and night without eating, so he bought breakfast for her from the nearby restaurant.

"Thank you."

Miss Lin raised her head and smiled at the young clerk.

The young clerk was flattered and overwhelmed.

Miss Lin picked up the spoon and scooped a spoonful of white fungus soup.

Her manner was exceptionally graceful.

The young clerk was so entranced by her that he was left staring.

Miss Lin swallowed the white fungus soup and slightly frowned.

The white fungus soup was overcooked.

After one bite, Miss Lin put down the spoon.

"Miss Lin, is it still not to your liking?" the young clerk asked.

Miss Lin shook her head sadly and replied, "No, it’s just that I have no appetite for anything right now."

She sighed deeply and said, "If I’m caught and taken back by my stepmother, I’ll either be drowned in the pond or stuffed into a pig cage. I don’t care about myself, but I’m really worried about my maid right now. She grew up with me, and although outsiders see us as master and servant, we are more like sisters... wu wu wu... I really want to know how she is now."

Miss Lin began to sob, and after a while, she looked up at the young clerk with a face full of sorrow.

The young clerk’s face indeed showed pity.

This young clerk had a kind of innocent stupidity; if he took the initiative to speak, she could persuade him to go to the side door at the Lin family to pass a message to the maid. The boy guarding that door was her maid’s cousin and also her confidant.

Once the maid received the message, she would surely know how to pass it on to Prince Ning Mansion.

The young clerk said, "In that case, why didn’t you take her with you when you escaped, then you could both look after each other."

Miss Lin was nearly choked by the tears that were about to be pushed back in.

This young clerk was too foolish, he couldn’t grasp what she meant.

The young clerk truly didn’t doubt Miss Lin’s intentions; he just purely didn’t understand the reason.

Miss Lin lowered her head and remained silent, her mind racing to think of a strategy.

Dashi said to the young clerk, "This doesn’t concern you. Go check the inventory."

The young clerk responded affirmatively and walked towards the storeroom.

Miss Lin looked disappointed.

Dashi finished his last bite of sesame seed cake and said slowly, "Don’t worry. I didn’t say I wouldn’t help you, but when I help people, I need to ensure a foolproof plan that won’t harm you and also clears my involvement."

Miss Lin was stunned for a moment, her tears on the verge of falling, and decided to retreat tactically, trying to provoke Dashi. She sniffed and said, "Brother Gu, you’re known as a hero, protecting women from Dasheng who were captured in Mo Bei. I thought you were someone who sympathizes with the weak and would lend me a hand casually, but I didn’t expect you’d leave me to die."

"If that’s the case, then I’ll walk to Prince Ning Mansion myself."

Miss Lin stood up.

Dashi chuckled without stopping her.

Did he not know that Miss Lin was trying to provoke him?

Miss Lin’s little tricks might work in the inner courtyard against other girls, but facing someone like Dashi who had weathered so much was as childish as a three-year-old clamoring for candy.

Miss Lin reached the door, but the wind and snow hit her face like a knife.

Yesterday, she fled in the storm like a stray dog, and she didn’t want to experience it again.

Miss Lin stepped back into the shop and cried on the table.

She sobbed while recounting her bitter experiences at the Lin Mansion.

Dashi said, "Miss Lin, go back to the room for now, and I’ll go outside to gather some information. Once I confirm what’s happening at the Lin Mansion, I’ll take you to Prince Ning Mansion. Otherwise, if we go so openly now, what if the Lin family, searching for you everywhere, captures you back?"

Dashi didn’t wait for Miss Lin’s response, locked up the shop, and ordered the young clerk to watch over Miss Lin.

If Miss Lin ran away, the young clerk would be held responsible.

The young clerk dared not disobey Dashi’s instructions.

With everything arranged, Dashi rode out on his horse.

Originally, he wanted to go home to discuss with Tong Huaqiong, but since he didn’t know if Miss Lin was speaking truthfully, it was better not to involve his mother yet.

He needed to first check the situation near the Lin Mansion.

"What’s your name, little brother?"

After Dashi left, Miss Lin began to try to get close to the young clerk.

The young clerk smiled and said, "My humble name would sully your ears, Miss. There’s no need for you to know it. If you need anything, just ask me."

Miss Lin slowly tried to coax information out of the young clerk, but though the young clerk spoke a lot, she didn’t get any useful information out of him.

Miss Lin narrated her tragic experiences of being abused by her stepmother and framed by her legitimate sister at the Lin Mansion. The young clerk clenched his teeth in sympathy, even shedding tears along with Miss Lin.

But whenever Miss Lin hinted at asking the young clerk to help send a message to the Lin family side door, the young clerk would change the subject.

"Miss, since you’ve escaped, don’t think about these things for now. Let’s wait for our shopkeeper to come back and then we can think of a plan."

"Miss, maybe when the shopkeeper returns, he can report this on your behalf. Your stepmother mistreated you; surely the magistrate wouldn’t ignore it."

"Your stepmother is the madam of the Marquis Mansion; I’m afraid even the magistrate can’t handle her. But it’s not difficult, as our shopkeeper knows people in the palace; maybe he can help you file a petition."

"I advise you not to go to Prince Ning Mansion for now. After all, Princess Consort Ning is a member of your Lin family and relies on their support. If, to please your stepmother, she hands you over to the Lin family, your escape would have been in vain."

...

The young clerk rambled on with a lot of useless talk, which annoyed Miss Lin.

"Can you help me send a message to the Lin family side door? I’ll give you this bracelet. It’s worth at least a hundred taels of silver, enough for a year’s salary."

Miss Lin gritted her teeth and took off the bracelet to hand it to the young clerk.

The young clerk couldn’t deny the temptation of the bracelet.

But if he sent the message without Dashi’s consent, Dashi wouldn’t tolerate it. A clerk expelled from the shop for losing trust might not find employment easily in other shops in Shengjing.

He’s looking to stay with Dashi long-term, not just make a quick buck and run.

The young clerk said, "Miss, I can’t accept this bracelet. Taking it would seem like I’m taking advantage of you. Rest assured, our shopkeeper is the smartest person; he’ll definitely come up with a foolproof plan to help you out of this situation."

Miss Lin thought that he found the bracelet’s value too light and cursed herself for not bringing more silver out with her.

Miss Lin was so angry she gritted her teeth, but she said softly, "Little brother, I know asking you to bear such a big risk for just one bracelet is too stingy. I only brought this one bracelet out, but when I get to Prince Ning Mansion, I’ll make sure you’re taken care of for life."

The young clerk was displeased and said, "Miss, how could you think of me like that? My employer is Manager Gu, so I naturally only listen to him. You’re not my employer; no matter how much money you offer, I can’t take your orders. Just wait here patiently for our shopkeeper to return."

At that moment, there was a knock on the shop door.

Miss Lin and the young clerk were startled.