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墨書 Inktalez
In the following days, I locked myself in Zhi Lan Courtyard, dedicating my time to studying the three stacks of ledgers sent by Manager Liu.
These ledgers were meticulously organized; at first glance, every transaction was recorded, and all expenses seemed reasonable. The Hot Spring Manor and Chengnan Shop had been operating at a loss for years, seemingly due to mismanagement.
But I knew that was impossible. The estate left by my mother was located in a prime area with abundant resources; it couldn't be perpetually unprofitable. There had to be something amiss.
Qing Zhu ground ink beside me, observing my furrowed brow with concern. "Miss, could these ledgers be fake?"
"Half true and half false is the hardest to discern," I replied, setting down one of the ledgers and rubbing my throbbing temples. "Manager Liu is a seasoned trickster; he must have put considerable effort into these accounts. Finding a flaw won't be easy."
I picked up another ledger and flipped through it quickly. This one recorded the income and expenses of the Hot Spring Manor. I noticed that the largest annual expenditure was consistently labeled as "repairs" and "additions." There were numerous entries for refurbishing springs, reinforcing walls, replacing furniture, and purchasing decorations—all with significant amounts.
"Qing Zhu," I pointed out several dates in the ledger, "note these down and inquire outside if there were any major natural disasters around these times last year in the outskirts of the capital, such as heavy rains or earthquakes."
"Yes, Miss," Qing Zhu responded before leaving.
I then examined the ledger for the shop. The reasons for its losses were primarily attributed to "unsold goods" and "excessive labor costs."
I looked at the lengthy list of employees, which included names of the shopkeeper, assistants, and several others along with their monthly wages.
"Find out if these individuals are still working at the shop," I instructed. "Especially this assistant named Wang Wu; I don't recall him being there when my mother was alive." I pointed to one of the names.
Qing Zhu took her leave again.
During the two days of waiting for news, I kept myself busy. I had the housekeeper purchase a batch of high-quality medicinal herbs under the pretense of needing them for health reasons. In reality, these herbs served another purpose.
Two days later, Qing Zhu returned with information.
"Miss, I've gathered all the details. During those dates you mentioned last year, the capital experienced favorable weather—there were no natural disasters at all. Furthermore..." Qing Zhu leaned closer and lowered her voice, "I also found out that last summer, Prince Jing and... Second Miss stayed there for a few days to escape the heat."
My heart sank. Zhao Yan and Shen Ling? Spending time at my estate? Using my money?
Well then, how delightful!
"What about the shop?" I forced down my rising anger and asked.
"The assistant named Wang Wu is unfamiliar to the old staff at the shop. Several others on that list are also untraceable. The shopkeeper said there are only five assistants in total—including him—so there can't possibly be that many!"
Just as I suspected! They inflated repair costs, inserted fake names to embezzle wages, and even used my estate as a rendezvous point! Manager Liu—or rather, those behind him like Liu and Shen Ling—were truly audacious!
"What evidence do we have?" I inquired. Mere hearsay wasn't enough; I needed solid proof.
"I found a few elderly individuals who worked at both the estate and shop but were dismissed by Manager Liu later on. They are willing to testify and have preserved some items and scattered records from that time. Although incomplete, they can still prove certain things." Qing Zhu pulled out a small cloth bag from her pocket containing several yellowed papers and a couple of old objects.
I took the bag from her and examined its contents closely. While they might not constitute direct evidence, they were sufficient to raise suspicion and prompt my father to initiate an investigation.
"Very well." I nodded, "Qing Zhu, you did a great job."
The time had come. It was time to speak with my father.
I organized the account books again and carefully tucked away the "evidence" that Qing Zhu had gathered. Then, I changed into a simple outfit and, accompanied by Qing Zhu, made my way to my father's study.
Inside the study, Scholar Shen was reviewing documents. Upon seeing me enter, he put down his pen, somewhat surprised. "Wei'er? What brings you here at this hour? Have you had lunch?"
"I have." I approached the desk and gently placed the marked account books in front of him. "Father, I have been looking over the accounts of the estate left by Mother these past few days. There are some aspects that I find quite puzzling, and I would like to ask for your guidance."
Scholar Shen picked up one of the account books and flipped through a few pages, his brow furrowing. "This is... the account for Hot Spring Manor? Continuous losses? That can't be right."
"I find it strange as well," I said, deliberately displaying a look of confusion. "And regarding this shop's accounts, it seems... somewhat inflated."
I presented to him the information that Qing Zhu had gathered, along with the testimonies and items from the elderly witnesses.
The more Scholar Shen read, the darker his expression became. Finally, he slammed his hand on the table in anger. "This is outrageous! How dare Manager Liu be so bold as to embezzle funds and deceive us!"
He was clearly furious.
"Father, please calm down," I quickly stepped forward. "This matter is serious and requires careful investigation. After all, Manager Liu is a relative of Mother’s; if we wrongfully accuse him, it could lead to..."
I intentionally mentioned the Liu family to remind my father of the delicate situation.
Scholar Shen indeed calmed down somewhat, but his anger remained. "Hmph! Even if he is her relative, he cannot act with such impunity! I will thoroughly investigate this matter! There will be no leniency!"
"You are wise, Father." I lowered my eyes to hide the cold glint within them. "However, if this matter becomes public, it may tarnish the reputation of the Shen family. Perhaps... we should first summon Manager Liu for questioning and see how he explains himself?"
"That sounds reasonable." Scholar Shen nodded. "Let it be as you say. Someone! Go summon Manager Liu for me!"
The servant outside responded and left.
I knew that the show was about to begin. Once Manager Liu fell from grace, the Liu family's influence in our household would be greatly diminished. As for Shen Ling... her good days were coming to an end as well.
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