When Su Nansheng returned from the study, Su Hele had already been waiting in the front hall for about half an hour.
But this time, she really didn't mean to keep Su Hele waiting on purpose. It was mainly because there had been so many things to deal with in the past two days that checking the accounts had been delayed.
Seeing her come in, Su Hele spoke first, looking as haughty as usual:
"I thought Concubine Su felt too ashamed to come out and see me."
Hearing this, Su Nansheng raised her eyebrows.
How did Su Hele always manage to put on such a haughty air? Was it because the punishment had been too light or was she just born with such arrogance?
"The Second Young Mistress dared to show her face after kneeling in the front yard for so long. What reason do I have not to come out?"
Su Nansheng had a smile on her face, but her words really hit a sore spot with Su Hele.
Sure enough, Su Hele's face stiffened for a moment, but only for a split - second. Then she said with a cold face:
"Concubine Su should know why I'm here, but instead she's beating around the bush. Isn't this a sign of a guilty conscience?"
Su Nansheng sat down and took the tea handed by Ruyi, blowing on it gently:
"Alas, could it be that I was mistaken?
I thought the Second Young Mistress came here to thank me. After all, if it weren't for my sake that day, Mother wouldn't have let you off so easily."
Saying this, Su Nansheng took a sip of tea and looked at Su Hele, whose face was already looking a bit unpleasant, with a smile:
"Am I right, Second Young Mistress?"
The calm look on Su Hele's face was gone. Grinding her teeth, she said:
"Who wants to talk about this with you? Where are the silver taels from our Bitao Courtyard? Dare you show me the account books?"
She must not dare. As long as she hesitated for even a moment, she would drag her to see Chen Wanrong and let her see what kind of person Su Nansheng really was.
"The account books? I don't have the original ones." Su Nansheng gave Bitao a look.
Su Hele smiled smugly. She had guessed right. Let's see how Su Nansheng would explain this to Chen Wanrong later.
Just as she was thinking, she saw Su Nansheng take a thin booklet from Bitao and throw it onto the red - wood table beside Su Hele:
"The main account book of your Bitao Courtyard has been sent to Concubine Li. It won't be back for a couple of days. But you can take a look at this copy."
Su Hele was stunned. Why was it sent to Concubine Li?
As if seeing her confusion, Su Nansheng said calmly:
"Naturally, I'm asking her to help you figure out how to pay back this debt."
"Pay back what debt?"
Su Hele frowned. She didn't owe Su Nansheng any money.
Su Nansheng snorted:
"So it seems you've not only forgotten my kindness, but also what you've done. Don't those precious peonies you destroyed cost money? Don't those servants who were injured because of you need treatment? The Mistress said that one should take responsibility for one's own actions."
Saying this, she motioned towards the booklet with her chin:
"You were so eager to see the account books. Every single entry is clearly recorded there. Take a look for yourself."
Frowning, Su Hele picked up the account book, looking haughty:
"Those are just common things. How could they be worth so much money?"
So it was still about that trivial matter.
Su Nansheng didn't reply. She just sipped her tea and watched Su Hele flipping through the account book.
With each page Su Hele turned, her face grew more and more unpleasant, while Su Nansheng's smile grew wider and wider:
"What the Second Young Mistress calls common things are actually worth a fortune. And there are records for each and every plant. Since there are so many, I'll just tell you directly. It's 4,500 taels of silver."
Su Hele's hand froze: "Impossible!"
4,000 taels of silver. Didn't that mean that her Bitao Courtyard wouldn't be able to get any money from the public funds for a whole year?
"Don't be in a hurry. Concubine Li is also looking at this account book. She'll decide whether the accounts are correct or not."
Looking at Su Hele's stiff face, Su Nansheng's smile became even more brilliant.
"The Mistress said that the subsidy for Bitao Courtyard will be restored to normal only after this money is paid back."
Su Hele looked at the final total amount in the accounts. Her ears were ringing.
How could there be so much? Why plant such expensive flowers in the garden? It was just a waste!
Her long, slender fingernails scratched a hole in the rice paper and smeared the string of numbers.
"What did Concubine Li say?" Su Hele looked hopeful.
Since the account book had been sent to Concubine Li, and He Jin was her son, she should share some of the burden, right?
Su Nansheng's words immediately shattered her hope:
"Concubine Li thinks that such a large sum of money should be known to He Jin first so that your Bitao Courtyard can pay for it."
Su Hele lowered her eyes and said nothing.
He Jin's face had looked a bit unpleasant that day. If she annoyed him because of this money matter, he might be dissatisfied with her.
"If you can't pay back this money for the time being, I do have a suggestion. You can reduce the number of servants in the yard, buy fewer jewelry and calligraphy and paintings, use fewer tonics, and live frugally. You'll surely be able to scrape up the money."
Su Nansheng gave a very practical suggestion.
But Su Hele snorted:
"It's just 4,000 taels of silver. There's no need for me to worry about it. I'll just ask Sumo to send the money over later."
Reduce the number of servants and live frugally?
Wouldn't that be telling everyone clearly that she was in financial difficulties and had bowed to money? She wasn't that vulgar.
Su Nansheng lowered her head to drink tea, hiding the cold light in her eyes.
Such arrogance. How much silver had the Deng family subsidized her?
...
As soon as Su Hele paid back the money, Concubine Li heard the news and was so angry that she stamped her feet.
She had originally wanted to delay this matter. Later, when Chen Wanrong's anger subsided, she would discuss the compensation with her.
After all, what Chen Wanrong cared about wasn't really the money. There must be some room for negotiation on the amount.
If all else failed, she could just drag it out and not pay. As long as Chen Wanrong didn't say anything, who would dare to ask her for the debt?
But Su Hele had actually paid back the money. Just like that! Was she trying to piss her off?
She knew that the money must have come from Su Hele's private savings. But since Su Hele had married He Jin, that money was He Jin's, and thus the money of their Yurong Courtyard.
How dare Su Hele make such a decision on her own!
Just thinking that she had lost 4,500 taels of silver for no reason made Concubine Li's heart ache.
No, she had to find a way to get that money back. She couldn't let Su Hele squander it like this.
...
Outside the Anshun Marquis Mansion, Su Hele looked at the blue sky and showed a faint smile.
It had been a long time since she last went out. She really missed it.
"Think carefully about what you should say and what you shouldn't say when you get to your uncle's mansion."
Chen Wanrong stood behind Su Hele, looking unhappy.
When going out with an elder, instead of staying behind to accompany her, she ran out first. What kind of etiquette was this?
Seeing Chen Wanrong looking so serious again, Su Hele felt wronged, but she could only curtsy and say yes.
"Today I've arranged Nanny Du to serve you. If you don't understand something, you can ask her more often. Cause less trouble."
After saying this, Nanny Du came out from behind Chen Wanrong and curtsied to Su Hele.
Su Hele gave a faint smile, but was actually quite dissatisfied in her heart.
She wasn't a newbie to visiting noble houses. Did she really need Nanny Du to teach her?