She had arrived at night the day before and hadn't seen them clearly, but when the village chiefs came to pay their respects to Minglan behind the screen early that morning, she immediately sensed something was amiss. The chief steward, Wu Guang, showed his presence with every move, and the other stewards, following him, knelt and kowtowed in unison, greeting Minglan. When it was quiet, no one interrupted, and their responses to Minglan were mostly logical and coherent.
There were only two explanations for this situation. Either, just like when Yao Yiyi's unit welcomed a leader or a health inspection, everyone in Guyan Village had rehearsed this beforehand, or...
Even when she proposed to measure the land just now, Wu Guang responded calmly and prepared the corresponding fish scale book and farmer's list. The village heads under him immediately arranged to help.
Minglan lowered her eyelids.
There's no such thing as an impenetrable wall. Her brazen actions at Black Mountain Manor could easily be leaked by any servant or tenant farmer. The same tactics couldn't be used repeatedly. Black Mountain Manor might have caught her off guard, but not Guyan Manor. Besides, she hadn't intended to be on guard in the first place.
Unlike Heishan Manor, Guyan Manor was the property of a criminal that was confiscated many years ago. It has been more than ten years since it was turned into an imperial estate. This property is managed by the eunuchs appointed by the emperor. With the emperor in charge, no matter what happens in the estate, few people care.
Minglan wanted to see how deep the water in Guyan Village was, and how much more beautifully this peaceful scene could be whitewashed. The Cui brothers went down to measure the land as usual, Gongsun Meng was ordered to visit the tenants, and Minglan dragged the chief steward, Wu Guang, to talk.
"...It turns out that Manager Wu is a relative of Eunuch Wu of Guanzhuangsi. I am so sorry for my disrespect." Minglan smiled as warm as the spring breeze.
"How dare I? I'm just a distant relative, and I'm using this title to make a living." Wu Guang bowed respectfully and replied, "After the emperor awarded this farm, my father-in-law originally asked me to work in the government, but I've been here for many years and have developed a close relationship with both sides. I thought if the madam and the governor thought highly of me, I would stay and serve."
"How can I do this? After all, Mr. Wu is a relative of Eunuch Wu. It would be against the rules to tell anyone about it. It would be bad if there were rumors outside." Minglan showed a hint of hesitation.
Wu Guang's eyes flickered as he spoke tactfully, "I'm not much of a master, but... my uncle has a good relationship with all the eunuchs in the palace. They all say that the governor is generous and open-minded, and doesn't mind trivial matters. Everyone is happy to make friends with the governor, so I don't think there will be any complaints."
This passage was profound and profound, and was said with great skill. Minglan smiled and picked up her teacup: "Manager Wu is right. I am just a woman, so I still need to discuss this matter with the master."
After three days of checking, the Cui brothers and Gongsun Meng came to report in detail, and there was also information secretly obtained by the spies sent by the Tu brothers. After hearing this, Minglan frowned and gave a brief order to call Wu Guang.
After a few pleasantries, Minglan said gently, "I've thought this over carefully. As the saying goes, every family has its own rules, every country has its own laws. Not only would the Gu family never have asked outsiders to manage the estate, but even after asking around the capital, how many families would dare to employ the former steward of the imperial estate? It just doesn't make sense."
Wu Guang's pale triangular face suddenly darkened.
"...If I really keep Master Wu, not to mention how outsiders will laugh at the Gu family for being unruly, even the elders of the Gu family will probably come and scold them immediately." Minglan joked with a smile, looking at his expression carefully through the silk screen. She bet that he would not be willing to sell himself into slavery.
Wu Guang's face darkened for a moment, but he quickly recovered and sighed, "Madam, you have a point, but these fifty or sixty tenant farmers still owe the farm rent and debts. I can't explain this to my superiors until the previous debts are settled."
Minglan was slightly startled. She hadn't expected this fellow to have such a strong and healthy courage. At this moment, there was a slight noise behind the lattice fan at the side of the hall. She glanced sideways and asked, "How much is owed in total?"
Wu Guang was prepared and started right away, "The tenant farmers have been in arrears of rent for years. I estimate it's about 20,000 taels. Everyone has their own problems, and when the tenant farmers can't pay their bills, they have to borrow money. That's about 13,000 to 15,000 taels in total."
Minglan was surprised: "So many?!"
"Alas..." Wu Guang pretended to sigh loudly, "Everything else is fine, but the loans are what's important! I don't have any money at all, most of it is from the nobles above me. Besides, if you think about it, this farm was just awarded to me years ago, and the overdue rent is also from the royal family!"
Minglan clenched her fingers so tightly that her teeth ached. After catching her breath, she said in an embarrassed tone, "This is really difficult. Manager Wu, please help me think of a solution..."
Wu Guang felt relieved. It was indeed a woman's family, young and timid. He had observed in the past few days that Gu Tingye didn't take care of the affairs of the household, and he was very fond of this young lady, and she obeyed him in many things. Thinking of this, he hurriedly said attentively, "Madam, don't worry. As long as I am here, I can take care of all these chores for you!"
Minglan smiled and sent him away, then spread out her palms, which were covered with nail marks.
After that, she did not say anything and continued to ask people to check the affairs of the farm. Even when Tu Hu and Gongsun Meng were very angry and wanted to find trouble with Wu Guang and other village heads, she stopped them.
Two days later, this afternoon, Gu Tingye suddenly returned. He had changed out of his cumbersome robes and armor, and after a bath, he dressed in casual clothes and sat comfortably on the kang, sipping a bowl of tea. "...The weapons are gathered, and the military exercises are in good order. Although we can't compare to the strict discipline of Marshal Bo back then, it's presentable enough. Rest for half a day today, and the Emperor will come for an inspection tomorrow."
Minglan personally brought over the fruit soaked in well water. Upon hearing this, she chuckled and said, "Isn't this just a face-saving exercise? If the Emperor truly believes that everything is going smoothly in the army, wouldn't it be disastrous if he were to resort to military action?"
Gu Tingye smiled bitterly: "It's only been a few days, and we don't know any magic, so how could the emperor not know the details?" However, this was the first time the new emperor was reviewing the military, so it was important to keep up appearances.
"In that case, Master can now breathe a sigh of relief?" Minglan peeled a loquat for him with a smile.
Gu Tingye was eating the sweet fruit. He saw Minglan's slender fingers, as white as coconut milk, flying flexibly among the golden and fragrant loquats, as if her fingers were also fragrant and delicious. He looked at her quietly for a while.
"What happened in the village?"
Minglan looked up at Gu Tingye, puffed her cheeks, and said apologetically, "I wanted to wait until you were done with your work."
"Tell me." The man pinched her cheek and said gently, "Tell me what's so great about it."
Minglan bit her lip and finally told Gu Tingye everything she had seen and heard in the past few days, as well as the whole story. The more Gu Tingye listened, the gloomier his expression became. Gradually, he became unable to bear it any longer and pounded the kang table with a fist in anger, causing the loquats on it to jump.
Minglan quickly opened her arms to hold Yuan Guozi, who was trying to run down, and glanced sideways outside the door. Fortunately, Xie Ang led his personal guards to surround these rooms, otherwise, in this place, she would be afraid that there are eavesdroppers on the walls.
"...I hadn't made up my mind at first, until Ah Meng and the others started reporting the news. I was furious." Minglan picked up the loquats one by one and put them back into a small basket woven from white jade bamboo stalks. "Not only is the rent 20% to 30% higher than that of other imperial farms, but Wu often forces the tenant farmers to do private work for him. He demands money and people during festivals, and even increases the rent whenever he finds an excuse. These village heads abuse their power to wantonly abuse people's wives and daughters. They are truly worse than beasts. A mere manager actually disregards justice and exploits us to this extent. I will not tolerate him!"
"I'm terrified to hear what they're saying." Minglan threw back the last fruit, a look of reluctance on her face. "In the coldest days of winter, the family has no firewood and relies on a few thin clothes to keep warm. Some children have died of cold and illness, and some have starved to death because the rent is so heavy that the elderly can't afford to eat. Even so, the able-bodied men and women still have to go to the fields to work day and night—"
They had to work even when the sick coughed up blood, even when their feet were frozen and rotten, and even when the children were crying heartbreakingly in the house from hunger and cold... The tenant farmers wanted to fight back, but they had the influential inspection office above them and the thugs and village heads below them. The tenant farmers were watched closely and did not know where to go to complain to the censors. After making trouble several times and being suppressed, they only cried out even harder.
Minglan's eyes grew moist. She couldn't imagine such a scene, and anger welled up in her heart. In all her years in the ancient world, she had never felt such disgust and hatred for anyone. Those women in the inner chambers who did things wrong could be said to be forced by survival, due to the social and institutional reasons, but what about someone as ruthless as Wu Guang? Minglan wanted to shoot them all, one by one!
Gu Tingye's face was filled with gloom and anger. He said to Minglan, "I've heard a little bit about this, but I don't know what it is. I don't have the time to deal with these beasts. I left some people with you so that you can deal with them! Tie them up and send them to the government office."
After a burst of anger, Gu Tingye took a few deep breaths and sneered, "How dare you threaten the master? This rascal must be tired of living! He's been living a comfortable life for too long! What about the officials and the palace? Where in the world can there be so many nobles? They are just relying on the late emperor's kindness. They are all taking advantage of others and acting arrogantly. A manor that only earns three to five thousand taels a year has a back rent of twenty thousand taels in just twelve or thirteen years?! Has there been a disaster here in recent years? How come I don't know? Let's see who dares to come out and argue!"
Minglan lowered her head, remained silent for a long time, and sighed softly: "If I could have an outburst like this, I would have done it long ago."
"What are you worried about?"
"It's not that I'm concerned, it's just..." Minglan sighed softly, "Years ago, Dad had a classmate named Qiu. Uncle Qiu was certain that the Third Prince would ascend to the throne. But even if he had a keen eye, what good was that? Before the Third Prince could be named heir, Uncle Qiu was impeached and imprisoned years earlier, and later died in a military exile. The Third Prince wasn't destined to be emperor, and Uncle Qiu died in vain. To this day, no one has overturned the verdict on the Qiu family's behalf."
Gu Tingye's anger gradually subsided. The fight for the throne that lasted for nearly ten years had almost upset half of the capital, and involved countless civil and military officials. After years of mutual attacks, even those who stood on the right side might not end up well.
He felt something in his heart and listened to Minglan's words quietly.
Minglan lowered her voice even more. "It's better to offend a gentleman than a villain. Although the late emperor has passed away, those concubines and eunuchs may not have completely lost their power. They may not be able to resist now, but as long as the snake is not dead, over the years, if they hold a grudge and think of revenge, and seize the opportunity to stab me in the back, it will be difficult to say. After all, breaking off relations and refusing to communicate are two different things."
In the Sheng family, such advice was mostly given by Old Madam Sheng to Sheng Hong. Unfortunately, Gu Tingye had no elders to rely on.
Gu Tingye closed his eyes. The big locust tree outside the window was chirping with the sound of cicadas, long and short, just like Minglan's heartbeat, uneasy and confused. After a long time, Gu Tingye finally exhaled with difficulty.
"—Your concerns are justified. What do you want to do now?"
"I don't know." Minglan's face was filled with confusion. "Those damned bastards, I really want to chop off their heads, but unfortunately, I'm restricted in every way and can't do anything about them. I don't know what to do. But I think, at the very least, we have to drive them away. Only then will this farm truly be ours. Otherwise, if I keep these scum around and worry about taking the blame for them all day, I won't even be able to sleep. So..."
"how?"
Minglan gritted her teeth and finished her words in one breath: "Can we pay off this debt for the tenants, settle it all once and for all, and send those people away and be done with it?"
As soon as the words came out of her mouth, Minglan hurried to look at his expression. He seemed surprised at first, but then he calmed down and thought about it. Minglan was worried because she knew that this proposal was quite wasteful. The average wealthy family would only spend around five or six thousand taels a year, but now Gu Tingye was asked to pay thirty or forty thousand taels of silver in one go!
It's not about buying an official position, bribery, or even enjoyment; the quality requirements are indeed a bit high.
Gu Tingye didn't say anything else. He just slowly picked out a very plump loquat from the basket and slowly peeled the skin with his bony fingers. After a while, a loquat with bumpy flesh was picked up by the man's slender fingertips.
Minglan's eyes blurred and a fruit was stuffed into her mouth. Gu Tingye poked Minglan's chubby cheek in amusement.
"That's a great idea." He smiled, his expression bright and cheerful. "I'll pay for it."
Before Minglan could come to her senses from her surprise, he turned around and loudly told Xiaotao to call someone; Minglan had no choice but to go into the inner room to listen.
…
"Hao Dacheng."
"I'm here." A manager of medium build stepped forward and stood with his head bowed.
Gu Tingye placed one hand on the kang table, his posture as stern as a mountain. "You lead a team of people to keep an eye on Wu Guang and the other eight. Provide them with good food and drink, and persuade them with kind words. Don't let them leave the house or interact with anyone. Ah Meng, you go too. If anyone dares to force their way in, show off your kung fu skills. In short, watch out for me!"
Hao Dacheng bowed and responded loudly; Gongsun Meng followed him out happily.
Gu Tingye nodded, turned to Tulong, and said in a deep voice, "Go back to the mansion and ask Mr. Gongsun to write a name card. Ask Shuntian Prefecture's Lü Tongpan to send two county magistrates and clerks. Ask Eunuch Xiaoxia to send two eunuchs to bring the person. Also, ask the local provincial inspection office to hire someone to act as the intermediary. Will three days be enough?"
Tulong has always been cautious, and he immediately clasped his fists in response.
"Master, what about me?" Tu Hu was already getting impatient.
"Tiger, take the people and keep a close eye on the manor. If anyone dares to cause trouble..." Gu Tingye picked up the silk handkerchief on the kang table and gently wiped his fingers. "I, Gu, have never hired thugs to help. Just don't get anyone killed."
The white silk handkerchief in the man's hand was dyed with light gold and had a faint fruity fragrance.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
