In the afternoon, the courtyard was extremely quiet, save for the sound of the clapper. The maids, who had initially looked at Qingyan with pleading eyes, knew that even if their master was soft-hearted, she would not easily forgive a disobedient servant.

The noble ladies of the Eight Banners all had their own methods of disciplining slaves, and some of them started training from a young age. Qingyan's methods were entirely taught by Consort Tong.

"Little Darling, go and rest in the inner chamber!" Yin watched from the doorway for an hour as batches of servants were beaten to death. The servants in the corridors on both sides, from the standing pens to the limp patterns, collapsed to the ground, which made Yin find it amusing.

Qingyan shook her head. Before she left the palace, Consort Tong had a heartfelt talk with her, saying that she should personally handle all the affairs of the mansion. Yin was busy with outside matters and would definitely not have much energy to manage them.

The deputy steward's rampant corruption likely stemmed from the fact that Qingyan was easygoing and Yin did not frequently check the accounts, which emboldened him to become even more unruly.

"Fourth Master, this servant is truly innocent!" The deputy chief steward cried out from the side, not wanting to be sent back to the Imperial Household Department by Qingyan. His family had served the royal family for generations, and if they were sent back, their reputation in the Imperial Household Department would be completely ruined.

After Yin sat down, he looked down at the deputy chief steward. This man's corruption was far from over. He even started arguing with the little devil. This action was also excellent.

"Master...this is the account book that was confiscated from the deputy steward's courtyard!" Erlu arranged for several fast-moving men to record the confiscated items and silver in detail. In the courtyard's kitchen, there was a considerable amount of grain that only the masters could afford.

Qingyan flipped through the booklet, which contained records of the allowances given to the two of them by the Imperial Household Department. After Qingyan became pregnant, Emperor Kangxi ordered the Imperial Household Department to send allowances according to the birth of the little prince. All of these were put into the rice bin of the deputy chief steward.

"Rouge Rice... Your life is still extremely luxurious." Qingyan's lips curled up slightly, revealing a cold smile.

Yin took the prayer beads off his left wrist and began to spin them.

Normally, when he felt anger rising in his heart, he would silently recite the Heart Sutra to calm himself down completely.

"This servant... dares not!" The deputy steward realized that his wife hadn't properly stored the things in the kitchen. This spendthrift woman only knew how to show off, and now it had become evidence of his crimes.

Qingyan looked at the courtyard gate, where the deputy chief steward's wife and children were being brought in. His son was not yet ten years old, but he was a chubby little boy with a shiny face, indicating that he had eaten well. His clothes were made of brocade, and although there was not much embroidery, the dark blue fabric was given to Yin by the Imperial Household Department.

"Fourth Brother, look, this guy has probably already taken your favorite piece of cloth." Qingyan said half-jokingly, pointing at the child.

Snap!

Yin smashed the teacup, and when the deputy steward saw the long robe his son was wearing, his back was soaked with cold sweat.

The fabric was delivered by the deputy chief steward of the Imperial Household Department, who supposedly withheld some from the Fifth Prince and the Seventh Prince.

"Eru, go and check the fabric in the mansion!" Yin couldn't accept that he had to wear the same clothes as the servants' offspring.

This would not only slander the Emperor, but also earn him the reputation of being guilty of failing to manage his household properly.

At this moment, Yin felt very distressed. He didn't want to dwell on the problems of his past life, nor did he want to bear a stern reputation.

Faced with one problem after another, he had to think a lot and realized that the methods he used in his previous life were also very good, at least no one was sabotaging him behind his back.

Erlu accepted the order and went to the inner treasury. Yin then stood up and went down the stairs, lingering around the chubby little boy. The boy was the most pampered in the family and was not afraid of Yin. He found Qingyan's appearance to be excellent and couldn't help but take a few more glances. That determined look in his eyes annoyed Yin.

Aww!

A pitiful scream echoed throughout the courtyard. Yin noticed the little fat boy's gaze and made a gesture towards the corner of the wall. The maid hiding there used a poisoned stick to blind the little fat boy.

Qingyan closed her eyes; the bloody scene was something she found hard to accept.

"Sulan, help the Fujin inside!" Yin had been observing Qingyan's actions out of the corner of his eye. When she frowned slightly, he immediately ordered someone to take Qingyan back first.

Qingyan was helped to a soft couch by Sulan. In this place, one could only hear sounds but could not see what was happening outside.

"Master, shall we close the window?" Su Lan thought that Yin had let Qing Yan in probably to prepare for an interrogation.

"No need!" Qingyan wanted to calm down. Yin's interrogation skills were extremely skillful, and looking at Yin's words, she had to admit defeat.

The pitiful cries of the little fat boy outside made Qingyan shudder. The lives of servants were always like kites in the hands of their masters; if they were not careful, they could be used as cannon fodder.

"You can't treat us like this!" The deputy steward's wife couldn't swallow her anger after seeing her beloved son treated like this, and she argued directly with Yin.

They were sent to the Fourth Prince's residence by the Imperial Household Department. People from other princes' residences respected them greatly. They lived very comfortably, and their masters generally tried to win them over. They were the first to be chosen for many public appearances.

At the Fourth Prince's residence, everything was different. Not only did they not receive any benefits, but they were also treated as ordinary servants by Prince Yin.

"No?! Should we talk to Mother about how the servants in the Imperial Household Department are all starting to act like they're in charge?" Yin's cold words completely jolted the man awake.

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