Noble Lady

"Madam, you are wise." Xiaocao said with a wry smile, feeling a little embarrassed, and had no intention of asking her to go with him.

Xue Chenyu raised her hand and motioned her to stand up.

"The old lady always knows how to make things difficult for people. She knew that if she sent someone else, I would not respond, so she sent you."

Xiao Cao then stood up and said, "Madam, don't be embarrassed. Please ask your cousin to go. At most, you will get scolded. If you go, no good will happen."

Xue Chenyu was clear about this.

Liu asked her to go at this time, ostensibly to let her see her enforce the family rules and rectify the family traditions.

In fact, he just wanted to let her know that the He family's money had been squandered by Ji Minrou and was really running out. Liu would have no money to see a doctor in the future. It would be best if she could feel compassion and take the initiative to pay.

They can no longer pay back the previous 30,000 taels, and giving them more would be like filling a bottomless pit, a thing that will never come back.

Xue Chenyu claimed to be feeling unwell and did not go out.

"Just tell the old lady for me, and I won't go."

Xiaocao nodded in understanding, drank a cup of tea, and ate a few snacks before leaving.

Seeing that she had been gone for such a long time and still couldn't find Xue Chenyu, Liu didn't scold her, but asked in a gentle tone what was going on.

Xiaocao then told Xue Chenyu the reason why she was feeling unwell.

Liu had nothing to say.

"In that case, then forget it."

Now, even if she wanted to say something unpleasant, she had to think carefully, because everyone in Kyoto knew that her daughter-in-law, Xue, had knelt in front of the Jishan Hall for three days in order to ask for a doctor to treat her illness.

If she dared to say anything unpleasant and it got out, a daughter-in-law who got sick while saving her life would not be cherished, and people in Kyoto would call her an ungrateful and evil mother-in-law.

By then, the He family will really have no way to survive in Kyoto.

An hour later.

Mrs. Ji arrived and He Minzhi also came back.

As soon as Mrs. Ji entered the room, she saw Ji Minrou kneeling in the main hall of Ciwenyuan, and she immediately had a bad premonition.

"Cousin, what rebellious thing has she done again?"

Mother Huang was ordered to invite Mrs. Ji, so naturally she could not tell her that her daughter took advantage of her position as head of the household to steal more than 8,000 taels of silver from the household to buy her own private property.

Besides, Uncle Ji is not at home, so we can only invite Mrs. Ji over first.

"It can't be said to be unorthodox. You will know when you listen to it later, sister-in-law." There is no need to repeat the same thing at this point. Liu is just waiting for her eldest son to arrive so that she can solve the problem once and for all.

Mrs. Ji's bad premonition became stronger and stronger.

Although she didn't know what her daughter did in the He family, she was there on the day He Ruyi got married. He Ruyi's dowry was scattered all over the floor, and most of it turned into stones.

Plus, there's been a lot of talk in the city lately, so don't do that!

She walked over to Ji Minrou and glanced at her coldly, "What on earth did you do? Tell me yourself!"

Ji Minrou pursed her lips, looked at her resentfully, and then, like a gourd with its mouth sawed off, refused to speak.

Mrs. Ji became panicked when she saw her stubborn look.

Just as he was about to hit the child, He Minzhi came in hurriedly from outside.

"Mother, the child is back."

Liu heaved a sigh of relief. "Okay, I'm glad you're back. Let's all sit down."

After saying that, he asked Mother Huang to close the door and told no one to tell anyone what he was going to say next.

He Minzhi also glanced at Ji Minrou.

Compared to Mrs. Ji who knew nothing, He Minzhi knew basically everything he should and shouldn't know. He even knew more about some things than Mrs. Liu - such as his secret affair with Ji Minrou.

"Cousin, I..."

"Don't talk first!" He Minzhi interrupted her harshly.

"Sister-in-law, I brought Rou'er to the He family to raise her since she was little. She is now considered half my daughter. There are some things that you and your cousin should not worry about."

"But this matter involves quite a lot, and I'm afraid I can't handle it myself, so I had to ask Mother Huang to invite you and my cousin. But since my cousin is not available, it's just as well if you come."

"Cousin, just say whatever you want to say. We...we are a family. There's no need to beat around the bush."

Mrs. Ji's heart was already hanging in her throat, and when she heard what Liu said, her heart almost jumped out of her throat.

Liu sighed almost inaudibly, "Since you've said so, sister-in-law, I'll be frank with you. I just hope you can be prepared, as what I'm about to say may not be very pleasant to hear."

At this point, there is nothing more to say to the Ji family.

He Minzhi was getting a little impatient and urged, "Mother, it's not easy for me to put down my work and come back. Just tell me what you want to say. We must let my aunt know that our He family has done nothing wrong to them."

"Don't be rude. After all, your aunt is the elder." Liu thought so in her heart, but she couldn't say it out loud.

He Minzhi shut up awkwardly.

Next, it’s Liu’s turn to shine.

"Mother Huang, please show the account book to my aunt."

Following the order, Mother Huang brought a stack of account books to the desk in front of Mrs. Ji.

"What do you mean, cousin?"

Liu rubbed her temples and said weakly, "Sister-in-law, you'll know once you take a look. You've been the eldest wife in charge of the family for many years, so you'll be able to understand the account books."

Mrs. Ji subconsciously glanced at Ji Minrou.

Ji Minrou finally felt flustered at this time. She met Mrs. Ji's eyes and then turned away.

Mrs. Ji had no choice but to look through the account book.

The first book looked strange, so she picked up the first book from another stack.

Suddenly, she understood.

These two books are the same account book, but the amounts recorded on them are completely different.

There is nothing much to say, except that one account is fake and the other is real.

Mrs. Ji held her breath and flipped through the pages quickly. The more she looked, the more frightened she became, and her face turned pale.

He Minzhi also stepped forward and took the account book to look at it.

When Shi Tou went to find him, he only said that the old lady had found evidence that Ji Minrou had embezzled money by selling inferior goods as good ones, but did not mention the specific amount.

Of course, the exact number of stones is also unclear.

At this moment, He Minzhi saw Mrs. Ji with a pale face, covering her chest and leaning back in the chair, so he wanted to take the account book in her hand.

However, Mrs. Ji was using hidden strength in her hands, as if she didn't want him to see what was in the account book.

But He Minzhi couldn't just give up like that.

He exerted a little force and put on an official air on his face, and Mrs. Ji let go.

Although He Minzhi did not take care of the household, he had learned some mathematics.

After comparing the two accounts, how could he not understand?! His face instantly turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.

Finally, he couldn't help but throw the account book at Ji Minrou, "Ji Minrou, what on earth is going on?!"

Ji Minrou remained kneeling there and did not move even after being hit.

He Minzhi roared uncontrollably, "Ji Minrou, how dare you? Over 8,300 taels, how long have you been helping to manage the household expenses? And you've embezzled such a large sum of money?!"