After the mind-reading and gossip-eating incident, officials in the imperial city were demoted one a

Ye Mian also didn't give his children much money each month, believing that they should maintain a frugal attitude.

He always taught his children with a serious expression that they should be diligent and thrifty and not extravagant and wasteful.

He himself came from a poor background, so he required his children to live a relatively simple life as well, to show that they would not forget their roots.

Therefore, compared to the wealthy young masters and ladies of other households, the Ye family's children indeed received very little monthly allowance.

Liu Yunshu didn't think so, since Ye Mian's salary was just enough for the family to live comfortably.

Liu Yunshu covered the expenses of her children with the income from her shop; she couldn't bear to let her children suffer.

Now, just by reviewing two years' worth of accounts, a shocking fact has been discovered:

The Ye family only had a mere five hundred taels of silver left in circulation.

The more I flipped through the numbers, the more alarmed I became. My brows furrowed, and I couldn't believe the numbers before me; they were clearly extremely abnormal.

She didn't know until she checked that Ye Mian had asked her for three thousand taels of silver last month, saying it was to help with household expenses, but there was no record of this expense in the accounts.

He was careful with the expenses of his mother and children, and the money he saved, along with what he took from her, was probably all used to support his mistress's family.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Liu Yunshu picked up the account book and threw it at the accountant. Her voice was as cold as ice, full of authority and anger.

"Disrespectful to the mistress, deceitful and fraudulent! I only looked at the account books for the past two years and found a deficit of over a thousand taels. How big is your appetite?"

"Madam, I'm innocent! I kept the accounts truthfully, without any falsification!" The accountant knelt on the ground and cried out his innocence.

"I heard that your family built a brick house a few years ago, and an accountant earns 800 coins a month."

"You have elderly parents to support and young children to raise. How did you manage to upgrade your thatched hut to a brick and tile house in less than two years?"

Ye Yaoyao exposed the accountant's lies. Her mother just didn't manage things, but that didn't mean she didn't have her own opinions and only listened to her scumbag father.

Building a brick and tile house would cost at least several tens of taels of silver.

The accountant's face was deathly pale, and large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.

"Fourth Miss, I...I usually...save money by eating and living frugally."

The accountant stammered, his eyes darting around, avoiding Ye Yaoyao's gaze.

He was terrified. How did the Fourth Miss know about his family's affairs?

"How come I've also heard that both of your children are attending a private school? You can afford to build a house with 800 coins?"

This investigation into his family's situation caused the accountant's psychological defenses to completely collapse. He knelt on the ground, desperately trying to explain himself:

"Yes...it's because I did a good job, and the old lady gave me a reward in private."

Ye Yaoyao exclaimed exaggeratedly, "Wow! When did Grandmother become so generous and treat you so well? A few days ago, I asked Grandmother for five taels of silver, and she told me she didn't have any money!"

How did you talk to your grandmother? Let me say it too!

"Little, little..."

The accountant broke out in a cold sweat; he was terrified that the fourth young lady would speak. He forced a dry laugh and said:

"Fourth Miss is joking. How could the Old Madam not give you five taels of silver?"

"Then I'll ask Grandmother later what great contribution you made."

How much of a tip did she give you privately?

Ye Yaoyao pouted, inwardly complaining.

[What reward money? It's just hush money. He discovered the old witch and the steward's affair, and the hush money he received was a hundred taels.]

That scumbag father's money, that old hag wouldn't give it to her; it all belongs to her mother, and she'll definitely get it back.

"Fourth Miss, please go and ask."

The accountant was stubborn, but inside he was in a state of great anxiety. He couldn't say anything, or his entire family would be ruined.

Liu Yunshu, standing to the side, took a few sips of tea, her heart filled with resentment.

The old woman wanted to take over her shop, but she didn't give her the chance. Over the years, she had given her a lot of money in order to have some peace and quiet, and now she had to get all the money back.

"Granny Zhang, the prices of these items in the kitchen are three times higher than what I saw in my maiden family's account books. How come the food in our Ye family is as exquisite as that in the imperial palace?"

Granny Zhang opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word; fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

“Madam, this…” Liu Yunshu’s words cut off her original words.

"And you, I've heard some gossip that you've acted improperly. Is that true?"

"Madam, you are innocent! Someone is framing me behind my back."

Liu Yunshu's eyes seemed to see right through people, filled with authority and a sense of oppression.

"I don't have the energy to waste on you. Your conduct is poor, so the Ye family naturally cannot keep you here."

"Listen up, everyone here! You all know the character of these three people best. If you have any grievances, speak up today, and I, this lady, will settle them for you."

The servants in the hall were silent, each secretly weighing the situation in their hearts, their eyes filled with hesitation and worry.

Many people were tempted by the idea of ​​punishing the three men, but considering that they had been running rampant in the mansion for a long time and that the old lady was in charge of the household, they all hesitated and dared not be the first to step forward.

Ye Yaoyao saw that several people were itching to move, but were afraid of retaliation afterward, so she stood still and swayed.

Ye Yaoyao could only give them courage, blinking her bright eyes and saying earnestly:

"Grandmother is getting old, and I don't know how long she will be bedridden after this illness. Although Mother doesn't like to get involved in things, she is still the matriarch of the Ye family."

"Damn it... Father gave Mother the power to manage the household, but that was just a few days ago."

Liu Yunshu sighed softly, a hint of helplessness in her eyes.

"Yaoyao, your mother also wants to live a peaceful life. A few days ago, your father told me that his colleague suddenly started talking about managing a household for some reason, and suddenly handed over the power of managing the household to me. I have no choice!"

It turns out that the master was being watched, and the master asked his wife to investigate.

The three stewards' faces changed, their legs trembled uncontrollably, and cold sweat poured down their foreheads.

Hearing this, the servants also gained courage. A pretty little maid bit her lip and cautiously took a step forward.

"Madam, I have something to say." The maid's voice was tinged with nervousness.

"Go on!" Liu Yunshu nodded slightly, signaling her to continue.

“The accountant often deducted our wages in private and even harassed us young women.”

As the young maid spoke, her eyes reddened, she gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, and her body trembled slightly with emotion.

“Xiao He is right, Madam. We have also been harassed by the accountant.”

“He told the housekeeper that we were lazy or made other excuses, so that our monthly wages were deducted, and then they pocketed our monthly wages.”

Several maids stepped forward to identify the suspect.

"Madam, they're all talking nonsense. I didn't do that," the accountant stammered in protest.

“And Granny Zhang also often bullies us. She beats and scolds us whenever she is unhappy.”

"Granny Zhang often stole the masters' food and was very unclean. When guests came to the mansion and there was no time to serve the dishes, Granny Zhang would make us put the unwashed vegetables in to cook."

"Yes, she said she has a relationship with the housekeeper, and if anyone tells anyone, she will deduct our wages."

The people in the kitchen were indignant and exposed Zhang Pozi's evil deeds one by one.

"Madam, this old servant did not. These few wretches were scolded by this old servant a few days ago, and they are talking nonsense and slandering this old servant."

Ye Jingyang looked at him with disdain and said with a sharp gaze, "Look at your big and thick body, who can't tell that you eat well every day?"

The mother and her daughters looked quite displeased with the presence of such a filthy item in the kitchen, but thankfully they had their own small kitchen.

A young servant covered his face and cried uncontrollably, his shoulders shaking with sobs, looking utterly pitiful.

"Madam, Instructor Yang is forcing me to have an affair with him. If I don't comply, he will withhold my wages."

"The same goes for some of us."

Several handsome young servants came out with their heads down to identify the suspects.

Wow! This is the first time I've ever seen a man cry so pitifully.

No wonder that pervert likes it so much; not only should we get our monthly wages back, but we also need to pay compensation for emotional distress.

"Madam, that's not true..." Instructor Yang panicked, "I've been framed."

Instructor Yang, his face flushed with embarrassment, cried out that he was innocent.

"Shut up!"

Liu Yunshu frowned deeply, never expecting that the Ye family's servants alone were so wretched.