Chapter 81: Yellow-Green Camellia
“Miss Lacy, I don’t quite understand what you mean.”
Mell spoke, still trying to avoid the main issues. Many of these matters were not within her power as the eldest daughter, even the head of the family, Hose, did not dare make promises now.
To outsiders, the Helis family might seem like one of the five major merchant guilds in Hope Lane, very powerful. But only she knew that the Helis family had gradually become divided internally; the main house could no longer control everything. Taking sides at this moment would only widen the internal rift.
She was not unaware of Lolan Hill’s meaning, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it.
“Over a decade ago, when Carites and Helis fought over spice trade, do you know about it?” Lolan Hill looked at the fire in the fireplace, the wood burning quietly with occasional crackles.
“I have a general idea,” Mell seemed to recall something, her face showing some unease.
“At that time, Lord Angus considered future development and was willing to put aside differences and conflicts, taking a step back and giving up the spice industry in the Southern Islands. The previous head of the Helis family reciprocated by transferring some of his lumberyards and estates. Thus, both sides put aside their differences and helped each other, stabilizing their market and position within the alliance.”
“But no one expected that the traditionally honest Helis family actually set a trap for the Carites family head, attempting to gain control of Carites’ inheritance through one of their own children and thereby split the merchant guild.”
“Miss Mell, do you know about this matter?” Lolan Hill finally raised her head slowly, her eyes looking at the eldest daughter of the Helis family once more.
“I… I have a general idea,” watching Lolan Hill’s captivating blue eyes, she could only admit bitterly.
Indeed, the Helis family had acted unethically, and they never reconciled with Angus after the incident. They thought everything had passed after ten years and Angus was no longer around. But the new head of the Carites family had found out the truth.
“Uncle Sares is driving me today for the last time. After tomorrow, he will resign from his duties at home and go south to retire, never to return.”
Lolan Hill continued speaking about seemingly unrelated matters, but Mell understood that this indicated that all their actions and weaknesses had been seen through by this young lady.
There was no turning back now. Mell lowered her head to look at the teacup, the scattered green tea leaves slowly swirling and settling at the bottom.
Recalling her childhood memories, everything felt like yesterday. Grandpa was still alive then, and all the uncles gathered together often, talking about which place had new ingredients, which route had a good profit margin, and which new product was popular. It was very lively.
As the eldest daughter, she often entertained her younger siblings, taking them out to play, read books, and fly kites. The uncles often praised her, bringing her gifts from all over the Snowland Seven Kingdoms, which were the happiest moments of her life.
But after Grandpa passed away and Father took over, things gradually deteriorated. Father messed up several projects right away, causing dissatisfaction and resentment among the uncles. They gradually stopped obeying the main house’s orders, while Father indulged himself in pleasure and no longer cared about family affairs, leaving her to make decisions in recent years.
But she was just a daughter, her seniority and experience could not suppress the uncles. Even the familiar younger siblings became distant, sometimes causing conflicts.
As the heat dissipated, the tea in the cup gradually cooled down, and the tea leaves stopped moving, like stagnant water. Mell raised her head and said softly,
“I’m very sorry, Miss Lacy. The Helis family does not have the qualifications to be your ally now.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Perhaps it is still the same splendid blooming camellia, but the branches under the petals have long diverged. I can only represent one faction; the Helis family has already split internally.”
“Legally speaking, your main house still holds over 50% of the shares,” Lolan Hill was not disappointed.
“That’s just legally speaking. The industry union of the Vergha Merchant Alliance doesn’t have as much power as the kingdom’s king. Most of the time, it’s local self-governance. The Hope Lane branch is mostly composed of people from our five major merchant guilds. How much binding force does self-management have?”
“But you still hold over 50% of the legal shares, which is undeniable justice,” Lolan Hill repeated, her pupils reflecting the firelight, as if flames were burning within.
“I understand, but…”
“Can you bear to watch your family disintegrate during your generation?” Lolan Hill interrupted Mell’s words.
“Waiting won’t yield any results.” Lolan Hill placed the teacup on the table.
“After reclaiming your rights and everything, your relatives and uncles might argue and have grievances, but they will still rely on you, and there will still be a time when they sit together again. If they split now, their inheritance would be illegitimate, making them even more fearful of your future claims, thus leading to darker thoughts and intentions.”
“Mell, you don’t want to see the worst outcome, do you?”
“I”
Looking at the dreamy girl in black, Mell felt like she was being advised by an angel and tempted by a demon, unable to speak.
Lolan Hill did not immediately ask Mell to answer. She knew that changing perceptions and habits required time to digest.
Then she stood up, walked to the fireplace, and took down the teapot being baked by the fire, refilling the boiling tea water into Mell’s and her own teacups.
Mell sat quietly on the sofa, watching the hot tea flow from the pot, forming an arc, rising in white mist, then flowing into the white-edged porcelain cups. The tea leaves at the bottom of the cup rolled again in the hot water, the light green leaves floating like small boats in turbulent waves.
Helis, yellow-green camellia, blooms in winter and spring, its flowers full and dignified.
“Only the mountain tea endures long, uniquely occupying the spring wind in deep months.” — Seventh line (Song Dynasty · Zeng Jili) rhyming with “Dong”
“I understand, Lady Lacy. Can I have a little more time?”
Mell looked up at Lolan Hill, revealing a relieved smile. Under the glow of the firelight, her chestnut gold hair reflected a faint luster.
— Today is a bit late.
—
