Chapter 16 She is indeed my biological daughter!
Yu Tingwan looked directly into Lin Siqiong's eyes. "The first-class maids wear Bishui silk, which is light, thin, and breathable, perfect for summer. A piece of it costs only five hundred coins. To make four sets of dresses for all the first-class maids, it only costs thirty-six taels. This is the most expensive material used by servants."
The fabric used by second-class maids was inferior, not to mention the third-class and menial maids, whose materials were even cheaper. Calculating this way, the cost of making summer clothes this season would not exceed three hundred taels.
But the account book clearly states that more than 1,300 taels were spent. Did someone pocket the remaining 1,000 taels?"
The Marquis's wife was stunned and couldn't speak for a long time.
After a long while, she finally stammered, "Tingwan...is what you just said true? Did you miscalculate? You actually know the price of these materials?"
Lin Siqiong's face turned much paler than before, and the hand holding the handkerchief was even paler. "Yes! Sister, you just came to the capital, how do you know the price of fabrics in the capital? This is under the feet of the emperor——"
"I've only been in the capital for a few days, but that doesn't mean I don't know anything." Yu Tingwan glanced at Lin Siqiong with a half-smile. "If you don't believe me, just send someone to the major cloth shops in the capital to inquire about the prices, and everything will become clear."
The Marquis's wife looked at Lin Siqiong, then at Yu Tingwan who looked determined, and felt a little hesitant.
Seeing that the Marquis's wife was still silent, Yu Tingwan continued, "Mother, I know that the Marquis's Mansion is very wealthy, so naturally they don't care about this one thousand taels of silver. But mother, think about it, summer clothes are thin, the material is relatively cheap, and they don't cost much. If you can embezzle one thousand taels, won't it be even more in autumn and winter?
Calculating this way, it would cost at least six thousand taels of silver a year. If this continues for more than ten years, it would be hundreds of thousands of taels!"
Yu Tingwan's voice was not loud, and her speaking speed was neither fast nor slow, but every sentence was like a heavy hammer, hitting the Marquis's heart.
Especially after hearing the last sentence, the Marquis' wife was furious and slammed the table heavily, "How unreasonable! Who on earth dares to deceive the superiors and subordinates in the Marquis' Mansion and enrich themselves? I haven't been in charge of the family affairs for many years, and they are bullying Siqiong because she is young and ignorant!
Nanny Lin, please take your men to the major silk shops in the city and ask them about the prices of these materials. I want to see if what Ting Wan said is true."
Nanny Lin was an old woman who had followed the Marquis' wife all her life, so she was naturally loyal to her. When she heard the order, she agreed without any hesitation and left with her people.
Seeing Nanny Lin leave, Lin Siqiong's eyes flashed with panic, and she said a little embarrassedly, "Mother... I want to go change clothes."
Mrs. Lin was still angry, but she nodded and said, "Then go! Come back soon."
"yes!"
Lin Siqiong agreed and walked out. When she passed by Yu Tingwan, she looked at Yu Tingwan.
Just this one glance made Lin Siqiong panic.
She actually felt that Yu Tingwan seemed to see through her just now.
Without giving it any time to think about it, Lin Siqiong returned to her yard, quickly called over her confidant, whispered something in a low voice, and finally urged, "Hurry up!"
Only after watching his confidant walk away did Lin Siqiong breathe a sigh of relief.
I hope it’s not too late!
An hour later.
Nanny Lin came back with her people, her expression very complicated.
The Marquis's wife had been waiting impatiently for a long time. Seeing Nanny Lin, she hurriedly asked, "How is the investigation going?"
Nanny Lin glanced at Lin Siqiong subconsciously, then slowly spoke, "Miss Siqiong is still a little young."
With just these one sentence, the Marquis's wife understood everything.
Yu Tingwan is right!
"Tell me in detail," said the Marquis's wife.
"Yes." Nanny Lin bowed and then slowly told the results of the investigation.
"The price of the materials used to make summer clothes in the mansion last year was exactly the same as what the young lady said. I went to many silk shops, and after hearing what I had said, the owners actually showed me last year's account books.
"I looked carefully and found that the price was exactly the same as the young lady's price! It seems that the purchasing agent in the mansion was dishonest and deceived Miss Siqiong by deceiving her superiors and subordinates, and even deducted so much money from her."
The Marquis's wife slammed the table again. "Damn it! Take your men and investigate right now. I want to see who is so audacious! How dare they be so bold!"
Nanny Lin left again, but Lin Siqiong knelt down beside the Marquis's wife's legs, covering her face and sobbing.
"Mother, it's all my fault! I thought I managed the house perfectly, but I never imagined such a huge mistake would happen, and I hadn't noticed it yet. Please punish me and take back my management power!"
Madam Hou looked at the pitiful crying Lin Siqiong, feeling a little sorry for her. She sighed softly, "Hurry up and get up. What are you kneeling on the ground for? You were also deceived by the cunning slave. How can you be blamed for this?"
It's also because Mother is lazy that she left all the affairs of the mansion to you. I always thought you were capable, but I forgot you were still young. Those old hands, having lived decades longer than you, naturally have more tricks, and that's why they deceived you."
As she spoke, the Marquis's wife looked at Yu Tingwan with a hint of admiration in her eyes. "However, Tingwan, I am really surprised. How did you discover the problem so quickly? Didn't you say before that you had never learned how to be a housekeeper?"
Yu Tingwan blinked, smiling slyly, "Such a simple thing, do you still need to learn it? I know the prices of those materials, and I also know the number of servants in the mansion, so I can naturally see the problem at a glance."
"You're really smart!" The Marquis's wife was delighted. "You're worthy of being my legitimate daughter. You've got the same demeanor as I did back then! You've done a great job. I'll leave the summer clothing matters for the servants in the mansion to you. If anyone dares to play tricks in front of you, don't worry about your reputation. Just bring them to me and I'll take care of it."
"Thank you, mother." Yu Tingwan responded happily, like a white flower gently blown by the wind.
Lin Siqiong looked at the mother and daughter talking and laughing, and her teeth were itching with hatred.
What a great Yu Tingwan!
First she pretended to know nothing, and then she was directly hit by a sudden attack. She was really careless!
She was not worried that the people below would expose her, but she could no longer underestimate Yu Tingwan!
Nanny Lin came back soon and brought back Manager Zhang from the purchasing department.
As soon as Steward Zhang came in, he knelt on the ground and said, "Madam, please calm down! This is all because of my own ignorance. Please don't take your anger out on others!"
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