It's just... She had taken quite a lot of silver from the mansion this month. She wondered if there was still enough left in the mansion?
It should be about right. If it really wasn't enough, Xie Yunxiao must still have some.
"Okay."
They had bought a lot of fabrics and clothes today. Naturally, the shopkeeper was all smiles as he had made a good profit. Immediately, he sent two assistants to the Huainan Prince's Mansion to collect the money.
Wen Qianyue had specifically asked Lihong to come out with them today.
Ever since she had publicly punished Lihong last time, she had transferred the girl to do some rough work like sweeping in the outer courtyard. Meng Ruxue had shown remarkable patience and said nothing about it.
After a day of shopping, Lihong was more attentive to Meng Ruxue than to Wen Qianyue, her nominal mistress.
"Lihong used to serve you. If you treat her well, she'll surely remember the old master - servant bond," Qin Wan glanced at Wen Qianyue in the carriage and chatted with Meng Ruxue on her own.
"Dear me!" Qin Wan took Lihong's hand. It was covered in thick calluses. "Look at this. How did it come to this?" She turned her head. "Lihong used to serve you closely in your room. How could she do such heavy work? In my opinion, some people treat their servants so harshly. Aren't they afraid of retribution?"
Wen Qianyue blinked.
Was she the one being talked about?
Wen Qianyue lowered her head to straighten her clothes. "Well, since you two, Miss Meng, have such a deep master - servant bond, I wouldn't want to take her away. You might as well take her back."
"How can that be?" Meng Ruxue looked apologetic. "I sent Lihong to take care of you. How could I take her back?"
"She's just a maid. There are plenty in the mansion. Since you two get along well, take her back," Wen Qianyue said casually.
She had originally planned to get rid of Lihong. This way, it would save a lot of trouble.
Lihong was actually a maid sent by Meng Ruxue to keep an eye on Wen Qianyue. Naturally, Meng Ruxue didn't want to take her back.
Her intention was to use Qin Wan's words to make Wen Qianyue feel embarrassed and transfer Lihong back to the room so that she could gather some information and act more conveniently. But things had backfired.
However, since Wen Qianyue had said so, she couldn't very well object.
"Since Miss Wen doesn't want her, I won't insist. I'll pick a good one from my room and send her to your courtyard another day."
Wen Qianyue shook her head. "After all, Miss Meng, you're just a guest in the prince's mansion. Isn't this a bit overstepping your bounds?"
Meng Ruxue's face turned pale. Tears welled up in her eyes but didn't fall. She looked so pitiful.
"What do you mean by that?" Qin Wan couldn't stand it anymore and shouted angrily.
Wen Qianyue: "I don't mean anything else. It's just..."
Her eyes darkened, with a hint of sincere concern. "Miss Meng has been sincere to me, so I should tell her some truths for her own good."
"Miss Meng's actions might lead to misunderstandings. Those who know you're the young prince's benefactor will understand, but those who don't might think you're relying on saving his life and refusing to leave."
"Did someone else say this? I'm afraid it's what you, Wen Qianyue, think," Qin Wan sneered.
Just then, the carriage stopped. They had arrived at the prince's mansion.
The three stopped their conversation.
Meng Ruxue grabbed Qin Wan, who still wanted to argue, looking submissive.
"Forget it, Awan."
Wen Qianyue just smiled and got out of the carriage first.
Xie Yunxiao was standing at the door, looking anxious.
Wen Qianyue knew immediately what it was about.
When Qin Wan got out of the carriage and saw Xie Yunxiao waiting at the door, she smiled knowingly. "Xie Yunxiao might be a bit of a scoundrel, but he really treats you well."
Meng Ruxue blushed and whispered, "Don't talk nonsense."
But she felt a bit proud inside.
"Why are you blushing?"
As soon as Xie Yunxiao saw them, he rushed over.
Just when the two girls thought he was coming towards them, he took a turn and walked towards Wen Qianyue.
Wen Qianyue looked at the hasty - looking man. "What's wrong?"
"Do you know where Yue Heng is?"
Wen Qianyue: "Why are you looking for him?"
Xie Yunxiao said anxiously, "Someone came to collect debts today. My subordinates told me there's no silver in the mansion's accounts."
Wen Qianyue looked puzzled. "Yue Heng hasn't spent the prince's mansion's silver. Why are you looking for him?"
Xie Yunxiao scratched his head. "I remember Yue General knew something about the mansion's income before. So I want to clarify."
"Normally, there should be a sum of silver coming into the mansion today, but I've waited all day and there's nothing. Yue Heng used to handle these things, but now I can't find him."
"I sent Yue Heng out. I know about that income," Wen Qianyue looked hesitant and continued. "It's part of the princess mansion's property."
"The princess mansion's property?" Xie Yunxiao frowned.
He remembered handing everything over to Xie Yunhuang before leaving the capital. How could he still have some here?
Wen Qianyue saw his confusion and explained, "Your sister must have been afraid that you wouldn't live well in Lingzhou, so she let Yue Heng manage a part of it secretly to support you."
Xie Yunxiao looked a bit awkward. "So that's how it is."
"Who asked for her help..."
The voice was so soft that Wen Qianyue didn't hear it. "What did you say?"
Xie Yunxiao: "It's nothing."
Now that the money was gone here, what about Xie Yunhuang...
Xie Yunxiao worried, "Will Xie Yunhuang be okay in the capital?"
Wen Qianyue felt a twinge of bitterness. These two siblings still cared about each other. After all, blood relations couldn't be severed so easily.
"I've already sent someone to the capital. After things here are stable in a few days, I'll go back to the capital too."
Xie Yunxiao nodded and started to worry about his own sudden situation again.
That meant that starting from today, apart from the imperial stipend, the prince's mansion would have no other extra income.
What should he do?
Meng Ruxue didn't know what the two were talking about. She wrung her handkerchief until it was all wrinkled.
The shop assistant hadn't left yet. When he saw Meng Ruxue, his eyes lit up.
"Miss Meng!"
Meng Ruxue looked at him in confusion.
"These are all the bills for what you bought in our shop today. I came to the mansion to collect the money just now, but it seemed inconvenient. I wonder if it's okay now?" He tentatively looked up and then quickly lowered his head with a smile.
Meng Ruxue was puzzled and walked towards Xie Yunxiao. "Axiao, what's going on?"
Xie Yunxiao was also in a complete mess. "There's no silver in the mansion."
Meng Ruxue was stunned for a moment and felt a bit guilty.
Wen Qianyue stared at Meng Ruxue with a smile and pretended to be confused. "Hey? Logically speaking, the prince hasn't been out much recently. How could there be no silver in the mansion at all?"
As if suddenly remembering something, she said angrily, "Could it be that the servants in the mansion have embezzled the money?"
As she said this, Wen Qianyue kept an eye on Meng Ruxue's expression.
Seeing her looking uneasy and flustered, it further confirmed her suspicion.
Xie Yunxiao was furious and was about to order an investigation when Meng Ruxue stopped him.
Xie Yunxiao's expression softened. "What's wrong, Ruxue?"
Meng Ruxue said softly, "I just remembered that I took some money from the prince's mansion's accounts a few days ago. I originally wanted to prepare a birthday gift for you, Axiao. Since the mansion is short of money now, I'll use this money for the mansion first."