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墨書 Inktalez
In the following days, the atmosphere was calm and quiet. Shen Ling did not come to Zhi Lan Courtyard, and the Liu family merely sent someone to check on me regularly, offering some trivial gifts that I turned away with various excuses.
I knew they were waiting and observing. My sudden change had caught them off guard, making them hesitant to act rashly. Meanwhile, I took this time to begin sorting through my "assets."
As the legitimate daughter of the Grand Scholar Shen, my dowry was exceptionally rich, not only consisting of my mother's private possessions but also the treasures, antiques, and fertile lands accumulated by the Shen family over the years. In my previous life, most of these items were controlled by the Liu family and Shen Ling under the guise of management, ultimately ending up in Zhao Yan's hands, becoming his capital for treason.
In this life, I would never allow these belongings that rightfully belonged to me to fall into others' hands again. I had Qing Zhu fetch the dowry list and meticulously checked it page by page. Many valuable silks, land deeds, and shop contracts were indeed not in my possession but were "managed" by the Liu family.
"Qing Zhu," I set down the list and looked at her. "Go find an elder in the household and inquire about what happened to my mother's dowry after her passing, especially regarding that Hot Spring Manor in the outskirts and those shops in the southern part of the city. Who is managing them now, and where do the profits go?"
I remembered that Hot Spring Manor left by my mother had beautiful scenery and was quite profitable; it was a significant part of her dowry. The shops in the southern city were located in a prime area. In my previous life, I had been foolish and never asked about them, only hearing from the Liu family that they had been sold due to poor management. Now I realized it was all lies!
Qing Zhu was efficient; within two days, she had gathered information.
"Miss, both the manor and the shops have been managed by Manager Liu all along; he is a distant relative of Madam. It is said that profits have always been good, but every year he reports losses on paper, claiming that repairs and labor costs are enormous. The specific accounts are with Manager Liu, directly overseen by Madam," Qing Zhu reported quietly, her face filled with indignation.
Manager Liu? A relative of the Liu family? It was indeed a case of guarding against oneself!
"Manager Liu..." I repeated his name with a cold smile tugging at my lips. "I see now. It's time to shake things up and reclaim what belongs to me."
The next day, I requested my father to accompany me under the pretext of inspecting my dowry and went to the storeroom where it was kept. Naturally, the Liu family followed along with forced smiles on their faces.
Inside the storeroom, rows of redwood boxes were neatly arranged, covered in dust. I ordered some boxes opened; inside were silks and jewelry still gleaming brightly.
"Wei'er, look at these; they were all prepared for you—none are missing," said Liu with a smile that hinted at something more.
I nodded and picked up a piece of cloud-patterned brocade. "Mother put in so much effort. However, as her daughter, I feel foolish; while these silks are exquisite, they are not as tangible as real gold or silver. I've heard Mother has been managing Hot Spring Manor and several shops in the southern city for me; how have they been doing in recent years? Are there any accounts for me to review? After marrying into a royal household, I should learn how to manage properties to avoid embarrassing myself before the prince."
As soon as my words fell, Liu's smile froze on her face. She hadn't expected me to bring up properties and accounts so suddenly.
"Well... The manor and shops have indeed... not been doing well in recent years," Liu's eyes flickered nervously. "The accounts are complicated; what would an unmarried young lady like you need to see those for? You can rest assured that your mother is managing everything for you."
"That is true," I replied thoughtfully. "But I believe it's better to familiarize myself early on. Father, what do you think?" I turned towards Scholar Shen, who valued propriety and hoped I would learn how to manage affairs.
Scholar Shen nodded affirmatively: "Wei'er makes a valid point. Liu, since Wei'er wishes to see them, you should show her the accounts. After all, they are her belongings that will eventually be handed over to her."
Liu's expression grew even darker as she looked at Scholar Shen for help but found him resolute.
"Well... The accounts are with Manager Liu; it might take some time to get them," she stammered.
"That's fine," I smiled slightly. "Today happens to be free for me; I can visit Manager Liu myself to get acquainted with him for future handover."
I spoke with precision, clearly expressing my determination to audit the accounts while also providing Liu with a way out, making it impossible for her to refuse.
Liu glared at me with resentment, ultimately gritting her teeth and saying, "Fine. Madam Zhang, go call Manager Liu and have him bring the account books from the past three years to Zhi Lan Courtyard."
"Yes," Madam Zhang replied and left to carry out the task.
A cold smile crept onto my lips. Having them delivered to Zhi Lan Courtyard was perfect; it saved me another trip.
"Thank you for your understanding, Mother," I said with a slight bow. "Father, I will take my leave now."
Scholar Shen looked at me, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes. "Go ahead."
I left the storeroom with Qing Zhu, my steps light and buoyant. The first step to reclaiming financial power had been taken. Liu, your good days are over.
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