Chapter 80 – Count the Old Accounts

Old Princess Consort Chu did not expect the County Mayor to answer so honestly. She could not help looking at her and said, “Do you want me to praise you for your great progress?”

 

Miantang seemed embarrassed and closed her mouth and smiled at the Old Princess Consort.

 

Old Princess Consort Chu was too lazy to say more about her handwriting. She asked about the process of the banquet, and Miantang said it in an orderly and thoughtful way.

 

It seems that she has handled big events before.

 

Old Princess Consort Chu originally intended to give her some heads up. Lian-Chu said that such a woman from a humble background would look at people’s expressions and bully the weak and fear the strong.

 

She knew that she was soft-tempered, but she didn’t want to be bullied by a seductive woman who seduced her son. As a mother-in-law, she should set her dignity and let Liu Miantang knows how to behave, so that she wouldn’t be confused by her son’s doting in the future.

 

But now when she was alone with Liu Miantang, she found that the woman’s words are appropriate. She is not the type who flatters and talks a lot. Her attitude is neither humble nor arrogant, and she seems not afraid of being made difficult by her future mother-in-law.

 

She looks good, and her eyes glisten when she smiles. Not only do men appreciate beauty, but even women can’t help being intoxicated by the beauty’s every look and smile.

 

Old Princess Consort Chu’s sharp spines, which were erected secretly, were short of comparable opponents, and naturally eased a lot. Next, she was asked to look at the accounts.

 

Miantang didn’t look very carefully at the beginning, but after turning a few pages, she began to turn forward, then frowned slightly and asked hesitantly, “Old Princess Consort, why is the daily expenditure in the Residence so large?”

 

The Old Princess Consort drank a sip of tea and said, “Apart from the inner courtyard, there are also outer courtyards, manors, and other courtyards in the Residence. Everywhere needs money. Besides the guards, there are hundreds of people inside and outside. Do you think it’s those kinds of ordinary mansions where hundreds of silver taels can be used for two to three years?”

 

The accountant who was in charge of checking the accounts smiled and said, “The Old Princess Consort is right. These accounts are taken by Old Princess Consort Chu every month. Is there any mistake?”

 

Miantang smiled and said, “Since I’m learning the accounts of the Residence today, I just want to learn more thoroughly. I wonder if I can look at the old accounts of the Residence and see if I can learn something?”

 

She didn’t ask too much. The Old Princess Consort naturally went to the library to collect the old accounts of the past years.

 

When the old accounts are brought, the thick piles are stacked according to the year.

 

Miantang went to have a look, reached out, and took out some books.

 

The accountant thought that she was going to collect the account, so he reached out for it.

 

But Miantang didn’t speak either. She simply reached out and held the abacus in front of herself, put it in front of her, and quickly dialed with one hand. For a moment, only the sound of the abacus was heard in the hall.

 

Her way of collecting accounts is different from others. She doesn’t look at the beads plate but dials the abacus with one hand. On the other hand, she points the accounts down quickly and then turns the page. This style of capabilities and experience amazed the Old Princess Consort and the servants.

 

Without a moment’s effort, several large and thick account books were organized by Miantang.

 

She quickly wrote down the books she had just calculated in her mind and did not talk to the Old Princess Consort. She only directed at the accountant who said the money was not used wrongly, “Many years ago, in response to the frugality of the Emperor, Your Highness once adjusted the personnel of the Residence and removed most of the servants in it. In that year, the expenditure was 3 million silver taels. In the following years, it fluctuated in this number. However, in recent years, the number has increased year by year, especially this year, when Your Highness was not in the Residence, it has reached nearly 6 million silver taels. In recent years, people’s livelihood has been stable, and the price of rice and noodles in the south of the Yangtze River has not fluctuated much. I would also like to ask you why the amount of money has increased so much.”

 

Maybe they were shocked by Miantang’s amazing abacus skill, which was just like flowing water. People didn’t turn back their senses for a moment. Hearing what Miantang said, the accountant couldn’t respond. He just stammered, “In recent years, I have organized several birthday parties for the Old Princess Consort, and other things are different every year, all of which cost money…”

 

To be honest, although the Old Princess Consort checked the previous accounts, she looked at whether the payment was reasonable. There was no big difference in a year. As for the general ledger of expenditures from a few years ago, it would not be turned over. Although the silver increased year by year, the annual increase was not large, which was within a reasonable range and was not noticeable.

 

But now Miantang has raised nearly three million silver taels more than her old account… It’s a bit hard to believe. The Old Princess Consort also widened her eyes and took out this year’s account again.

 

After listening to the accountant’s explanation, Miantang smiled and said, “I’m not the Master of the Royal Residence. I’m new here and everything seems strange to me. Since the silvers have a reasonable place to go… Old Princess Consort, I have some old diseases and am sleepy. Can I go back to rest?”

 

How will the Old Princess Consort have the time to care for her now? His son is not at home, but she spends so much. People who don’t know might think that she doesn’t care about her son and party in the Residence every day! Damn a group of slaves. She doesn’t know which part they lied about that they corrupted the money. Today she will find out even if she were to stay up all night!

 

So Miantang, though a little impolite, suggested going to rest, the Old Princess Consort also waved her hand in annoyance, indicating that she could leave.

 

When Miantang came out, her steps were slightly brisk. According to the military strategy and tactics, the only way to slow down is to “drag”.

 

Now the Old Princess Consort is not in a good mood and is determined to trouble her for some time. It happened that The Prince has gone to the State of Dong for an inspection today, and will not come back for a while. If the Old Princess Consort continues to put her in a difficult position, it will hurt their relationship, although she is not afraid that she will go too far.

 

She then finds something for the Old Princess Consort to do. It is estimated that the bad debts in recent years will keep her future mother-in-law busy for some time. She can also take it easy and get busy with her own affairs.

 

But from those bad accounts, she can see how big the boosting Prince Huaiyang planted for himself earlier is. Does he think she really wants to accept this broken Residence?

 

Many people guessed that he would not come back this time when he went on the expedition. People’s hearts were weaving below. It was not surprising that each of them planned their private interests. But Cui Xingzhou has to settle the troubles in the State of Dong next. Even if there are worms at home, he doesn’t have time to care about them.

 

Servant Li once said how beautiful it is to marry into the Residence of Princes and Ministers! In fact, the burden on the shoulders is no less than the competent officials of the six departments of the Ministries.

 

If he meets a mistress who can’t take charge of the family, his official career will be poor, and the whole Mansion will fall apart. The Capital is like a pawnshop every day. In fact, many Princes live by pawning ancestral things.

 

Therefore, in addition to the virtuous life experience, it is also important for the wealthy and powerful nobles to choose a wife. Those ladies of concubines who are in charge of the common affairs with their mother, regardless of their ugliness, are all wanted by others!

 

Miantang used a trick to divert the tiger from the mountain, which made her time easier. Although the Old Princess Consort came to her several times later, she was asked to help check the accounts, and she could not even check on her and inquire.

 

Miantang felt that she was still unmarried and could not take charge of the internal affairs of the royal residence, but she also gave the Old Princess Consort a general direction so that she would not be blinded by the dog slaves.

 

So in the next few days, the flogging sound in the residence kept on, and the stick and leather strip that had been prepared for Mo Ru earlier had been put to good use.

 

With the excuses of the birthday party, and the idea of buying items for the manor, the Old Princess Consort suspected some of them and ordered the official to take them down. Other than that, they also found approximately one million silver ingots computed.

 

On the day when the banknote was returned, Miantang praised the Old Princess Consort for her competence, and unexpectedly investigated and handled the largest corruption case in the State of Zhen.

 

Her ability to flatter is beyond ordinary people’s ability. She always praises her ideas. People who listen to her always take her words seriously.

 

Old Princess Consort Chu thought so. She felt that she was really strong this time and could finally give her son an explanation.

 

People who have been soft all their lives have finally been able to talk to their children about her achievements. In front of the servants, the Old Princess Consort is more bearing than before.

 

However, the servants were very insightful. Now when they look at the Mayor of Huaisang County who is like a willow, even if she smiles softly, it seems that she has a somewhat hidden look.

 

So they are a little consensus. The future Princess Consort who was brought back by The Prince is not simple, and she can’t tolerate sand in her eyes!

 

As for the Lian-Chu family, Cui Xingzhou mercilessly chased them back to their Mansion that day, and then she was reprimanded by his husband when she returned home.

 

It turned out that Prince Huaiyang found his uncle again the next day, and was very unkind to reiterate that the marriage between the two families had been dissolved and would not renew their previous relationship.

 

Lian Hanshan was ashamed of The Prince’s words. When he heard that his wife encouraged the Old Princess Consort to beat the Prince’s personal servant, he was about to jump up.

 

At last, Prince Huaiyang said to his uncle, “My aunt and cousin have come here very often recently, but I have broken the engagement with her and made a new engagement. I always want to avoid suspicion. If they come to the residence without you, I’m afraid it will be inconvenient…”

 

Speaking of this, how will Lian Hanshan not understand that Prince Huaiyang did not welcome Lian-Chu to cause trouble?

 

So when he returned, he was furious and scolded his wife and daughter. At the same time, he told Lian-Chu not to act on the basis that he was the Aunt of Prince Huaiyang.

 

Is the young servant of The Prince someone they can judge freely? The Prince is now a man of military power. How many important military affairs does he contact every day? What qualifications does she have to judge the people around The Prince?

 

Don’t wait until the day when the offense towards The Prince gets overwhelmed and ignores their relationship as a relative and punishes her for complicity.

 

Lian-Chu was wronged this time, and even her daughter Lian Binglan was angry that she doesn’t listen to her advice and insists on doing such things.

 

Lian-Chu was not allowed to go to the residence, and she was very angry and anxious. She just thought her nephew is confused by the vixen, and she wish that her sister will step up and do something. Take the advantage of Cui Xingzhou not being in the residence these days, pick up the manner of a mother-in-law, and teach her a lesson about the current affairs of the residence.

 

It’s better to let Cui Xingzhou change his mind and destroy the marriage certificate.

 

It was a pity that she waited and waited until the residence rectified the common affairs and checked the accounts of corruption and, there was nothing else. It is said that the Old Princess Consort acted vigorously and investigated several silvers.

 

Lian-Chu waited and waited, but she didn’t manage to hear the news of the Old Princess Consort coming to rectify the future bride.

 

Because of the order of Prince Huaiyang, she could not visit the residence again. She did not know the details. She was so anxious that she was scratching her head.

 

Fortunately, Madam Hou of Maquis Zhennan’s Residence will hold a tea party. It was said that Old Princess Consort Chu was going to take the Mayor of Huaisang County with her. Lian-Chu hurried to the Marquis’s Residence with her daughter Lian Binglan.

 

After all, the royal family’s marriage is not over for the time being, and they are looking to see if they can get married to Marquis Zhennan. Lian Binglan is too old to afford to delay.