After Jiang Ning'an returned to the Princess Mansion, she devoted herself to checking the accounts.
The accounts accumulated over the past two years were simply too numerous, and as she had expected, they were extremely chaotic.
Fortunately, Lin Ji had invited the best accountants in the capital. With several of them working together, they quickly got a clear idea.
During the time when the accountants were checking the accounts, Chu Ming came several times, trying to find out about the account - checking in a roundabout way, but every time he was fobbed off by Jiang Ning'an.
In a blink of an eye, half a month passed. The accountants finally sorted out the accounts completely and came to report to Jiang Ning'an.
"Don't be in a hurry," Jiang Ning'an said. "My father has been worried about this matter these days. Meng Chun, go and invite him here."
"Your Highness?"
Meng Chun frowned tightly.
Even she knew that Chu Ming had come these days to stop the account - checking. Could Jiang Ning'an not see it?
Meng Chun was about to persuade her further when she met Jiang Ning'an's gaze.
That look seemed gentle, but actually contained an unrefusable meaning.
Meng Chun felt a jolt in her heart and quickly responded and left.
Chu Ming came quickly, but there was an extra tail behind him.
It was Chu Yu.
Seeing the two of them sit down on their own, Jiang Ning'an raised her hand, signaling the accountant to start.
"Your Highness, we've carefully checked the accounts. Let's not talk about the mansion's income for the time being. The prices recorded for the purchases are six or seven times higher than the market price. Also, we've carefully checked the contracts of the servants in the mansion. There are exactly two hundred servants in total, but the number of servants recorded in the accounts is as many as five hundred!
Moreover, as we see it, about half a year ago, the monthly stipend in the mansion was raised once. All in all, it's at least seventy thousand taels of silver!"
As he said this, the accountant's face was trembling.
Seventy thousand taels of silver!
Jiang Ning'an pondered for a moment and looked at Chu Ming: "Father, the previous accountant was recommended by you, right?"
Chu Ming forced himself to remain calm and said, "Yes. But the accounts have been accumulated for two years, and we've only been checking them for a few days. Could there be any omissions?"
Jiang Ning'an looked at the several accountants.
One of the smart ones quickly bowed and said, "My Lord Consort is right. But even if there are omissions, it will only be an even bigger hole. We've carefully checked this account together. There's absolutely no mistake."
Chu Ming's face darkened.
He looked at Jiang Ning'an, but Jiang Ning'an just lowered her head to drink tea and didn't even give him a glance.
Helplessly, Chu Ming had to let out a long sigh: "I trusted him so much and entrusted all the big and small matters in the mansion to him. I didn't expect that he would play such a trick behind my back!"
At this moment, Jiang Ning'an finally spoke: "Father really trusted him. You didn't check the accounts even once in these two years."
Normally, the accounts should be checked every ten days. If the master was lazier, they would be checked once every six months or a year. Someone like Chu Ming who didn't check for two years couldn't just be explained by laziness.
Moreover, the accountant was so bold as to create such a big hole. Jiang Ning'an absolutely didn't believe that Chu Ming wasn't involved.
Meeting Jiang Ning'an's meaningful gaze, Chu Ming couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. But in front of outsiders, he couldn't show weakness. Immediately, he scolded: "What do you mean? Do you suspect me? I'm your father!"
"Father, why are you in such a hurry? I didn't say you were involved," Jiang Ning'an said with a smile. "But since this person was brought in by you and caused such a big mess under your nose, you can't just ignore it, right?"
Chu Ming's face turned ashen. He finally understood why Jiang Ning'an had specifically sent someone to call him here.
He had thought that Jiang Ning'an was being muddle - headed again. Now it seemed that Jiang Ning'an was extremely clear - headed. Calling him here this time was clearly to ask him to make up for the deficit!
At this time, Chu Yu finally couldn't stand it anymore. She sighed and said, "Sister, over the years, Uncle has not only raised you but also had to worry about the affairs of the mansion. It's already very difficult for him. If you don't understand, that's fine, but why are you so aggressive?
Seventy thousand taels of silver may seem like a huge amount to outsiders, but in your eyes, it may not mean much. So, why do you have to make it so unpleasant with your own father for just a few taels of silver?
Moreover, if this matter gets out and people know that you've made such a scene for just a few taels of silver, it won't be good for you, right?
Is it worth falling out with your own father for seventy thousand taels of silver?"
Chu Yu's consecutive questions were extremely pressing.
What she said made sense. For a moment, not only did Chu Ming breathe a sigh of relief, but even the accountants couldn't help but nod repeatedly.
After all, Chu Ming was Jiang Ning'an's father.
Since they were a family, what couldn't they talk about nicely? Why did they have to fall out?
Chu Yu scanned the room. Seeing that everyone supported her, she became even more confident. She looked at Jiang Ning'an and slightly curved her eyes: "Sister, do you think what I said makes sense?"
But Jiang Ning'an only looked at Chu Ming, with a slight curve of her lips: "I'm young and naive. Please teach me, Father. Is it worth falling out with me for seventy thousand taels of silver?"
Her gaze wasn't sharp, nor was it aggressive, but an invisible sense of oppression spread.
The accountants who had just been nodding their heads all lowered their heads, and even held their breaths subconsciously.
Facing such a gaze, all the color drained from Chu Ming's face.
Jiang Ning'an... really was Jiang Jia's child.
This kind of imposing manner was exactly the same as Jiang Jia's!
Thinking of this, Chu Ming subconsciously clenched his fists.
He had been suppressed by Jiang Jia for half his life. Just when he finally waited for Jiang Jia to die, was he going to be suppressed by her daughter?
"What will you do if I don't make up for this deficit for you?"
"Nothing. After all, you're my father. What can I do to you?" Jiang Ning'an said. "But I really feel bad that the seventy thousand taels of silver are gone. If Father is unwilling to make it up for me, I'll just go to the palace and ask my uncle for it."
Chu Ming's face changed drastically.
If the Emperor found out that someone had been secretly deceiving Jiang Ning'an, there would surely be a bloodbath in the Princess Mansion.
With the Emperor's thunderous means, all the confidants he had painstakingly cultivated over the years would probably be completely destroyed!
Chu Ming took a deep breath and forced out an ugly smile: "Look at you, such an impatient child. When did Father say he wouldn't make it up for you? There's no need to bother your uncle."
Seeing Jiang Ning'an looking steadily at him, Chu Ming knew that she wouldn't let go until she saw the result. He almost gritted his back teeth.
He didn't feel much when he slowly collected the silver from the accountants, but it was really painful to give out seventy thousand taels of silver all at once.
But he had to give it even if it was painful.
Gritting his teeth, Chu Ming told someone to go back and get the silver notes.
Fortunately, Chu Ming had his own industries outside, so he was able to take out the seventy - thousand - tael silver notes.
The servant quickly came back with the silver notes.
There were exactly seven ten - thousand - tael silver notes, and each one was like a piece of Chu Ming's heart.
When the silver notes were handed to Jiang Ning'an, Chu Ming's hands were trembling.
After leaving Wutong Residence, Chu Ming walked as if he was floating in the clouds. Every step seemed to be stepping on nothing.
After walking a long way from Wutong Residence, Chu Yu finally called out to him.
Seeing Chu Ming come back to his senses, Chu Yu said, "Father, Sister is angry. Shouldn't we try to coax her?"