Chu Jinli stared blankly at the palm print on the ledger. Suddenly, he remembered what Shang Yunruo had said before.
He had only thought it was a mistake made by the accountant or that some servant had been dishonest. He had never imagined that it could be his aunt's problem.
He asked the accountant unwillingly, "Is it really aunt who came to get the silver in person? Not her maid or page boy?"
The accountant raised his loyal and somewhat rigid face and said, "Absolutely. Just now, it was the mistress of the house who stamped the seal and took away the 200 taels of silver."
The great shock left Chu Jinli speechless. He turned to leave but then turned back. He quickly flipped through the previous ledgers.
The last time he had withdrawn 400 taels!
When had he ever withdrawn such a large amount as 400 taels?
The last time he seemed to have sent 200 taels to his cousin! So every time he asked his aunt for money, she would immediately go to the accountant and withdraw double the amount?
No wonder Shang Yunruo had said that his annual expenses under his name were almost as much as the entire annual expenses of the mansion!
Aunt had actually deceived him and embezzled the mansion's silver like this?
All his trust was slowly collapsing. He wanted to rush over right now and question his aunt about what was going on!
But as he turned around, a lean and handsome figure blocked his way. Chu Jinli, who was on the verge of collapse, said angrily, "Get out of the way. Don't block me."
Chu Yan's eyebrows twitched slightly and his eyelashes drooped, covering the momentary haze in his eyes. When he lifted his eyelids again, his eyes were clear: "Sister-in-law invites brother over."
Chu Jinli, who had already taken a few steps, paused slightly. He turned back and asked in surprise, "She invites me. Why did she send you to deliver the message?"
Instead of answering, Chu Yan asked, "If you go to aunt now, she will come up with all kinds of reasons to make you believe her. Brother, do you really want to be deceived by her all the time and not know the truth?"
Chu Jinli frowned and scrutinized him. This half-brother, who was usually obedient and timid, how could he suddenly speak such a well - reasoned and insightful speech?
It must have been taught by Shang Yunruo.
Chu Jinli had already changed his direction and was walking towards Muchenxuan. He said discontentedly and warned, "Have you been getting a bit too close to your sister - in - law recently?"
Chu Yan lowered his eyebrows and said meekly, "Is brother afraid that the matter of the wedding ceremony will be exposed? Don't worry. I won't tell anyone."
These words choked Chu Jinli. It was as if Chu Yan had grabbed his weakness, and he didn't dare to say another word.
—
Muchenxuan was eerily quiet at this moment. Chu Jinli looked around. There was not a single servant or attendant.
He followed Chu Yan's guidance curiously and walked to the pavilion by the lake. He looked at Chu Yan suspiciously.
Why did it feel like Chu Yan was the master of this yard and he had become the guest?
Before he could open his mouth to question, a soft voice sounded, "Is my husband here?"
Following the voice, he saw Shang Yunruo in the pavilion. She was wearing a plain sunflower - colored silk robe and sitting upright behind the black stone tea table. She waved her wide sleeves gently, scooped up the boiling water, and poured it into the teapot. In the curling water mist, she was like a celestial being.
Chu Jinli responded softly and walked over. He sat down directly opposite her.
It was getting dark. Shang Yunruo couldn't clearly see the outline of the figure in front of her. She could only stretch out her slender white fingers and push the teacup forward.
Just as Chu Jinli was about to reach out for it, Chu Yan picked up the teacup and placed it in front of Chu Jinli. He said politely, "Brother, please have some tea."
Chu Jinli's face darkened. He said slowly, "You really treat this place as your own yard."
Chu Yan immediately stood up and took a step back. He stood there carefully on one side and said in a low voice, "Ayan doesn't dare. I just wanted to help sister - in - law serve tea to brother."
The more he was like this, the more inexplicable anger Chu Jinli felt towards him. He put down the teacup heavily. Before he could say anything, Shang Yunruo's soft voice interrupted him.
"Alright, husband. Don't scare Ayan. He just wanted to help me."
Chu Jinli's anger was instantly stifled in his chest. He couldn't spit it out or swallow it. He glared at Chu Yan fiercely and said, "You've delivered the message. I still have something to say to your sister - in - law. You can leave now."
Shang Yunruo said, "Husband, Ayan is not an outsider. There's no need to avoid him. I want to borrow some soldiers from you."
The slight annoyance towards Chu Yan was covered by her request to borrow soldiers. Chu Jinli swallowed and asked, "You're a woman in the inner chambers. What do you need soldiers for?"
Shang Yunruo frowned slightly. She was a bit annoyed by the term "woman in the inner chambers", but she didn't dwell on it.
She asked, "I told you last time to keep a record of your own withdrawals. Have you kept the record, husband?"
Mentioning this, Chu Jinli nodded, "Yes. I just asked aunt for 100 taels, but the accountant recorded it as 200 taels."
Shang Yunruo said in surprise, "How dare she embezzle money by doubling the amount? Didn't anyone notice this before?"
Chu Jinli said, "Aunt has always managed the mansion well. She can always cover all the expenses of the Marquis Mansion. I really can't figure out why there's suddenly no money in the mansion. We can't even withdraw 100 taels of silver."
Shang Yunruo sighed, "Husband, the Marquis Mansion has long been emptied by her. Do you know how much profit from the shops she has embezzled? It's not just this little bit of money for her own pocket."
She briefly told him about the matter of checking the shops today in detail. She directly ignored small episodes like Miss Yang and that young clerk.
Shang Yunruo said, "The shopkeeper said there are two sets of ledgers. I'm afraid she will destroy them. Then we will really have no evidence. So, husband, can you lend me some soldiers?"
Chu Jinli pondered for a long time and hesitated, "This... is a bit difficult."
Shang Yunruo said admiringly, "I've heard that husband is well - versed in military strategies and can deploy troops. I really want to see your heroic appearance."
Chu Jinli immediately straightened his back. He showed the aura of a lieutenant general and waved his hand, "It's nothing. They are all my brothers. It's just a matter of a single word. Alright, tell me the time and location. I'll make arrangements in advance."
Shang Yunruo secretly made a fist gesture behind her back to Chu Yan, indicating that she had succeeded.
Chu Yan lowered his eyes and grinned slightly, hiding his smile.
—
As soon as Chu Jinli left to invite his brothers to dinner, he would go to help her get the ledgers right after the meal.
Shang Yunruo had already told him all the problematic shops. But she still didn't know how they were going to destroy the ledgers, and she was also worried about alerting the enemy.
Just as she was feeling anxious, a page boy came to report that someone had come with a jade pendant to claim compensation.
Shang Yunruo quickly ordered someone to invite him in. Her heart was pounding. She wasn't sure if he had really come for the compensation or if he had understood her intention.
Not long after, Shan Junxin arrived in the yard. After greeting, he presented her jade pendant with both hands, "Madam, I've come to claim the compensation."
Shang Yunruo's mouth drooped. She asked in a low voice, "Can't you see that the jade pendant is more valuable than the compensation?"
Shan Junxin slightly raised his eyes and also answered in a low voice, "Of course I can see. Not only that, I've also brought what you want."