The roof tiles had been put back in place. Chu Jinli had walked to the center of the courtyard. Four young servants each held a long stick and stood in a row, looking quite imposing.
Chu Jinli stopped in front of the house. Looking at the wide - open door, he scanned around. His eyes fell on the three people in the main hall. With a gloomy face, he ordered the servants behind him, "Search!"
Chu Yaoyao helped Shang Yunruo get up. She curtsied and asked, "My lord, what's going on?"
Chu Jinli seemed to be in a fit of anger. He gave a cold snort and said, "Don't ask for now. Just wait."
This morning, right after Shang Yunruo left with the chicken soup, his aunt came to him and showed him the purchase list from the furniture store. It included all kinds of tables, chairs, and beds.
His aunt, looking embarrassed as if it were a family disgrace, said to him, "It seems she's setting up a little home. Using the mansion's silver is a minor issue. But if it's found out that your new wife is having an affair, our Marquis Mansion will never be able to hold our heads up in the capital. And you, Jinli, will lose all your face."
At first, he didn't believe it. But his aunt continued, "She doesn't make a fuss when you're not in the mansion. She doesn't complain when you ignore her. What kind of wife is so magnanimous? It's obvious she doesn't care about you."
Remembering that she had shown no concern when he stayed in another mansion last night, he suddenly realized. It seemed she was just waiting for him to never come back!
She had a good eye for a place. Chu Yan's place was remote and rarely visited. And he was timid and obedient. If she threatened him not to tell and used his place to meet her lover, it would indeed be a good way to keep it a secret.
However, when he rushed over aggressively, he found her looking at the account books with the maid and Chu Yan. So he didn't dare to make a direct accusation.
If there really was a lover, he couldn't have gone far. He'd wait until he caught the person and then settle the score.
The mastermind of this incident, Mrs. He, was watching the show from the accounting room.
The accounting room wasn't far from Zhuoxi Courtyard. She couldn't wait to hear the news in the mansion. How could she miss such a big show?
When Chu Xiuyi heard about this, she also clamored to come. Excitedly, she said, "Great! Now there's hope for Ning'an. Once Jinli writes a divorce letter and gets rid of that shrew, Ning'an can marry into the mansion."
Mrs. He glanced at her and said leisurely, "I don't know if she's having an affair. But she stole my account books and refused to return them. I must give her a hard time."
Chu Xiuyi's smile froze. "Ah? You're not sure she's having an affair?"
Mrs. He squinted her eyes, looking very shrewd. "Not sure. But even if we don't find anyone in the end, it doesn't matter. If this kind of dirty accusation were made against you, wouldn't you make a fuss?"
Chu Xiuyi said, "I'd surely make a huge ruckus!"
Mrs. He smiled faintly. "Exactly. If you would, how much more would the daughter of the prime minister? She's so proud and domineering. How could she bear such humiliation? She'll surely demand a divorce without me even having to do anything."
Chu Xiuyi exclaimed, "Mother, you're so clever! But aren't you afraid she'll come after you?"
Mrs. He said, "What have I done? I just provided a furniture purchase list and reminded the marquis to protect his reputation. It was the marquis who went to catch the lover. What does it have to do with me?"
Chu Xiuyi clapped her hands and gave her a thumbs - up, waiting eagerly for the storm to break out in the Marquis Mansion.
About a quarter of an hour later, Chu Jinli's four servants finished the search and returned to the courtyard. Their replies were the same. They didn't find any strange men, not even a single servant or maid.
Shang Yunruo roughly guessed what he was doing. She suppressed her anger again and again. If it weren't for that dream, she really wouldn't have been able to control her temper.
Chu Jinli frowned and asked, "There's no one at all?"
While he let out a sigh of relief, he started to worry. He had to come up with a reasonable excuse to end this, or else Shang Yunruo's outburst would be hard to handle.
Shang Yunruo walked forward slowly and gave him the excuse. "Husband, you must have heard that there are no servants in A Yan's yard. You came here out of concern for your younger brother, right?"
Chu Jinli said, "Ah... yes. How could there be no servants in this yard? It's outrageous!"
Shang Yunruo sighed and pulled on his sleeve. "Husband, come and take a look. There are some old furniture in the house that haven't been thrown away yet. When I came here for tea the other day, the armrest of the chair almost scratched my finger."
Chu Jinli looked at the old and worn - out tables and chairs and frowned. He had never noticed these before. Now that he saw them, it did seem a bit too much.
Shang Yunruo said, "He's still the legitimate second son of the Marquis Mansion. Only a low - class family would treat their concubine - born children so badly. It's okay before I married into the mansion. But now that grandmother has asked me to manage the mansion, I can't turn a blind eye. It'll damage the reputation of the Marquis Mansion if it gets out."
Chu Jinli nodded and asked her, "Then why didn't you use the mansion's account? Why did you use your own private silver?"
This was the very reason he suspected she was hiding something.
Shang Yunruo pulled his sleeve again and led him into the main hall. She motioned for Chu Yaoyao to show him the account books they had just calculated.
Shang Yunruo said, "This is the account book for last month that I just checked. The mansion is running at a deficit every month. I thought if it came to it, I could use my dowry to subsidize the family expenses instead of using the public account."
Chu Jinli was shocked. Pointing at the amount marked "Withdrawn by the Marquis", he asked, "I alone withdrew over ten thousand taels of silver?"
Shang Yunruo said, "Yes. The accounts are so muddled. Did you have some big gifts or banquets that cost so much?"
Chu Jinli said firmly, "Impossible. Those kinds of expenses are all paid directly from the mansion's account. I've never withdrawn silver for such things."
Shang Yunruo was puzzled. "Then what were you using the silver for?"
Chu Jinli was at a loss for words. He changed the subject. "I can't remember clearly. So it seems there really is a problem with the accounts. You, my wife, should investigate thoroughly!"
Shang Yunruo took the opportunity to act weak. "With your words, I'll be able to handle things better, husband. You rarely come to my room. The servants are all trying to please the powerful. They disrespect me because they think I'm out of favor."
Chu Jinli couldn't resist her pitiful look. He immediately agreed.
Shang Yunruo bit her lips to hide her smile. Remembering how he didn't believe his aunt was wrong this morning, she lowered her eyes and changed the subject gently. "Husband, I know aunt would never make a mistake. Why don't you ask someone to keep a record every time you withdraw silver and then compare it with the mansion's accounts every few days? Then you'll know whose fault it is."
Chu Jinli looked at her appreciatively. "You're right, my wife. It's a good idea."
He took her hand and placed it in his own. Softly, he said, "I'll go back to your place tonight. It'll also shut those people up and give you more authority in the mansion."
Shang Yunruo smiled sweetly. "Thank you, husband."
As they talked affectionately, no one noticed Chu Yan standing in the shadow behind the door. He gently tightened his fingers and broke a plum branch in the potted plant.
The two people still waiting for news in the accounting room suddenly heard Chu Jinli's servant loudly announce, "The marquis said that anyone in the mansion who dares to disobey the mistress will be beaten to death with sticks!"
Mrs. He and Chu Xiuyi:?!