Chapter 26 Get rid of the wicked servants!
Shen Qing's face was ashen.
Zhang's eyes darted around, and she twisted the handkerchief in her hand tightly.
Lu Bohong suddenly asked loudly, "Who is in charge of the Shen family?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Zhang hurriedly replied, "I entrust all matters of household management to your younger sister. I spend my days chanting scriptures and worshipping Buddha in the small Buddhist hall; these mundane affairs..."
She suddenly raised her voice: "It is your younger sister, as the head of the household, who was completely unaware that so many valuable items had been stolen from the house. That is what makes people suspicious!"
Lu Zhaoruo knelt down and wept: "Although I bear the title of mistress, in reality... I have never even touched the key to the inner quarters. I have only done some trivial housework."
Her voice trailed off: "Actually, we realized the theft had happened quite some time ago..."
At this point, she glanced at Zhang Shi and said in a trembling voice, "But my aunt always says that they are three generations of servants, and that they are more loyal and righteous than I, the new bride... My aunt treats them kindly, and as her daughter-in-law, I can't embarrass her, so I always tolerate them..."
"I am not even allowed to review the accounts in the storeroom, and the ledger..."
She suddenly fell silent, only whispering, "They're from Miss A's family. My aunt said they're more trustworthy than an outsider like me."
This statement couldn't be clearer.
Lu Bohong was truly angry this time, and said angrily, "Interesting. The mistress of the house has never even touched the key to the inner quarters, let alone managed the storeroom, yet the accounts are handled by the old lady's family. It's clear that my little sister is being mistreated in the Shen family."
Zhang's face turned deathly pale.
She used to look down on Lu Bohong, but now he's a provincial-level inspector.
Upon hearing this, Deputy Inspector Li stroked his chin: "So, although Madam Lu of the Shen family holds the position of mistress, she has neither the key nor the right to check the accounts?"
He stroked his stubble meaningfully: "Then this 'master' who embezzled from his post..."
The finger, which had been pointing at Zhang, finally stopped in front of Shen Qingshu, whose face was ashen: "Could it be that you, Patriarch Shen, personally ordered this?"
Shen Qingshu's temples bulged with veins: "Absurd!"
Zhang was so guilty that she didn't dare to raise her head.
The broker suddenly crawled two steps on his knees and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Heavens above! I bought this goods at three times the market price! I thought that anything from the Shen family must be of good quality, but who would have thought it was stolen goods! This has really ruined me!"
Xing'er collapsed to the ground, drenched in cold sweat.
The extra money was secretly pocketed by her.
This is a complete disaster!
Triple price?
Upon hearing this, Zhang tore her embroidered handkerchief in her hand with a sharp "rip".
These four pieces of jewelry alone were originally worth two taels of silver. If you sell them to a broker, they'll only fetch three strings of copper coins.
If it's three times the market price, that's four taels of silver.
But these lowly maids only paid her the original price!
Enraged, she gripped the edge of the chair tightly, glaring fiercely at the kitchen maid kneeling at her feet. This heartless servant! Eating the master's food, foolishly making accusations in public, and now audacious enough to tamper with things behind the scenes!
Those damned bastards!
What's even more hateful is that she usually treated these servants as her confidants, yet they dared to stab her in the back!
She knew that these servants could not be kept.
The old woman, still unwilling to give up, tugged at Zhang's skirt and cried out, "Madam, you must do justice for this old servant!"
"Bang!"
Zhang smashed the teacup hard against the stovewoman's face, the broken porcelain leaving a bloody mark: "You treacherous, ungrateful slave!"
This action shocked everyone present, including the Grand Secretary.
Xing'er trembled with fear and broke out in a cold sweat.
The old woman covered her bleeding face and dared not utter another sound.
Zhang turned to Lu Zhaoruo, feigning heartache: "My son, it's all because your aunt was foolish, deceived by these lowly servants, causing you to suffer injustice..."
Lu Zhaoruo lowered her head and smiled faintly.
Only if it concerns her interests.
Zhang walked over to Lu Zhaoruo, helped her up, and held her hand, forcing a loving expression on her face: "It was all my fault before, I was too soft-hearted. Fortunately, your brother caught the thief red-handed and got the stolen goods back. There was no damage, but..."
She pointed viciously at the trembling family of the old woman who worked at the kitchen, saying, "These ungrateful wretches, you can beat or kill them as you please!"
Lu Zhaoruo stood with her head bowed and eyes lowered: "Although my daughter-in-law bears the title of mistress, she lacks the authority of one. These servants..."
She paused meaningfully, then added, "I'm afraid my daughter-in-law has no right to make that decision."
Madam Zhang quickly retorted, "Nonsense! You are the eldest daughter-in-law of the Shen family, married through proper channels. Who says you have no right?"
Lu Zhaoruo lowered her eyes and spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz: "But, my daughter-in-law doesn't have the key to the storeroom and can't manage the accounts."
Zhang hurriedly unfastened the key chain from her waist: "This storeroom key should have been handed over to you long ago..."
"As for the accountant, I'll send him back to his parents' home. From now on, you'll be in charge of the accounts."
Lu Zhaoruo's fingertips trembled slightly as she pushed him away: "Aunt, how can this be?"
Zhang cursed under her breath, but remained outwardly amicable: "Don't refuse."
Lu Zhaoruo deliberately looked at Shen Qingshu: "Then Uncle..."
Shen Qingshu took a deep breath and said, "I'll listen to your aunt."
After saying that, he glared at Zhang Shi and said, "You should have given the key to Zhao Ruo a long time ago."
Zhang: "Yes, yes, yes, it's because I'm old and senile."
She chuckled dryly, then turned to glare at the kneeling servant, saying, "Since you can deal with the servant as you see fit, it's a family matter after all. Taking it to the county government will only damage your reputation..."
She suddenly turned to Lu Bohong, her tone almost fawning: "Why don't we ask Inspector Lu..."
Lu Zhaoruo stepped forward at the opportune moment and bowed gracefully to Lu Bohong: "Today, thanks to my brother for arresting the broker and clearing my name, and for helping to uphold justice."
She added softly, "However, I believe that Aunt would not have ordered these unruly servants to steal. Since this is a matter of the inner quarters, it would be better for me, the mistress of the house, to handle it."
Lu Bohong feigned hesitation, tapping his fingers lightly on the hilt of his sword a few times before slowly nodding: "Very well, but..."
He glanced at the group of servants and said, "These unruly servants should be severely punished."
Having said that, he waved his hand and led his men and soldiers away in a long stride.
Deputy Inspector Li was the last to leave. As he looked back, he saw Lu Zhaoruo still with her head bowed, but her talent and strategy filled him with admiration and awe.
Seeing that everyone had left, Zhang finally breathed a sigh of relief and sat back down in her chair.
The main hall fell silent instantly.
Shen Qingshu coughed violently, staining his handkerchief with a few drops of crimson blood. He waved his hand and said in a hoarse voice, "These servants... are yours to deal with."
After saying that, he pushed away the stone that was helping him and staggered towards the inner courtyard.
Looking at these former wicked servants who had deceived their master, Lu Zhaoruo recalled the pitiful sight of A Bao hanging from a tree, and the humiliation of her brother being blocked at the side gate...
She maintained her composed and gentle demeanor, but her tone carried a hint of authority: "This servant stole my master's money; my master has the right to kill me..."
Zhang panicked but forced a smile.
The whole family, including the old woman who lived by the stove, were terrified.
The old woman grabbed Zhang's foot again and wailed, "Old lady, save this old servant! Save this old servant and my whole family!"
Zhang gestured for Granny Zhou to pull her away, then turned her back: "How can I save you? Who gave you permission to steal like this..."
Xing'er cried and said, "It was clearly you..."
The old woman covered Xing'er's mouth, signaling her not to speak, or she would surely die.
Zhang turned around and glared fiercely at Xing'er. Seeing that Xing'er's mouth was covered and she dared not say anything more, she looked at Lu Zhaoruo and softened her tone: "Dear daughter-in-law, if you really kill her, it will damage the family's reputation and it will be bad luck to be stained with blood... Why don't you spare her life for the sake of this family, since she is indeed a servant and has served the old lady?"
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