Chapter 40 The West Courtyard Incident (Part Two): Shen Wanqing thought this in her heart and naturally asked the question. The couple had been discussing things amicably, but who knew…
Shen Wanqing thought this in her heart and naturally asked the question. The couple were talking peacefully, but before she could finish speaking, Yu Lang showed a complicated expression that was hard to describe. Shen Wanqing couldn't help but look down at herself.
"What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"
"That's right, absolutely right."
It wasn't that Yu Lang underestimated Shen Wanqing, but rather that in all his years, the most capable ladies he'd ever met were only capable in domestic affairs. Shen Wanqing clearly didn't concern herself with outside matters, yet she always guessed correctly.
Moreover, such keen insight into matters of the court goes far beyond mere guesswork. Even if one did guess, how meticulous and clear-headed must one be to connect a matter of investigating usury to the court's military campaign?
"Is it because the old man doesn't like me thinking about these things?"
People tend to relax unconsciously when they are in a relaxed and comfortable environment. If this had happened in the first few days after she transmigrated, Shen Wanqing would have simply told Yu Lang what had happened at home, and she would never have said so much.
"Look at you, you react like this no matter what I say. I want the whole world to know that my great-grandmother is so shrewd, how could I not be happy?"
Humans are born to admire the strong, and Yu Lang was no exception. Shen Wanqing's competence and vision seemed to be innate talents. After realizing this, Yu Lang couldn't describe his feelings. He only knew that at this moment, he couldn't take his eyes off his wife.
"Alright, alright, what time is it and you're still playing games with me? Tell me straight, is this what I think? Is there something I don't know? The West Courtyard isn't really going to get into trouble this time, is it?"
Now that her true nature has been revealed, hiding it would only seem pretentious. It's better to go with the flow and be more assertive. Besides, she's been following the original owner's path all along, and she didn't become like this overnight.
The original owner's silence and taciturnity before marriage became the best excuse. The Shen family girl, who was shrewd but did not show it on her face, became more mature and capable after marriage, and her temperament and way of handling things became more mature and capable, without being too outrageous.
"The day before yesterday, when I was on duty in Jide Hall, I happened to run into Suo Zhongtang who went to see the Crown Prince and mentioned His Majesty's plan to build a firearms battalion."
Last year, Galdan led his troops to flee to Kobdo, seemingly repelling them, but this matter is certainly not over. Those people on the grasslands disperse and regroup quickly; I reckon it won't be long before His Majesty has to wage war against Galdan again.”
The reason for establishing the firearms battalion is that during the campaign against Galdan last year, Prince Gong Changning's troops fought Galdan in Ujumchin and suffered heavy losses. Changning failed to capture Galdan and Galdan instead occupied Ulan Butong. It was only after Prince Yu Fuquan led his troops to attack the city with firearms and artillery that Galdan was finally defeated.
Although the enemy army was defeated, this unexpected turn of events prevented Galdan from being captured alive. Releasing a tiger back into the mountains ultimately led to a major disaster. After the triumphant return to the capital, news of His Majesty's plan to establish a firearms battalion never ceased. From last year to this year, numerous rumors, both large and small, circulated until this time when Songgotu solemnly mentioned the matter to the Crown Prince. Only then did Yulang feel that the matter was most likely settled.
"The firearms battalion must be selected from the Eight Banners. It is said that even the Han and Mongol Eight Banners may not be eligible to participate. With such high standards set, isn't it a slap in the face to His Majesty to have something like this happen at this crucial moment?"
As Yu Lang spoke, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh. He wasn't worried about He Yi, nor was it his place to worry about him.
What troubled him was that he also wanted to join the firearms battalion. Being a close bodyguard to the Crown Prince wasn't easy. If possible, he'd rather be a trusted confidant the Crown Prince could use but not someone he was too clingy with. Originally, this wouldn't have been too difficult, but now that something had happened in the West Courtyard, it was hard to say whether he would be implicated.
Shen Wanqing was unaware that Yulang had developed a desire to join the firearms battalion. She had only mentioned the outside world casually, and even if she had predicted it, it was not something she could handle or interfere with right now. It was more important to sort out the affairs at home first.
"Anyway, that's the gist of it. There's no use in us guessing what His Majesty wants to do. Yesterday, after my second uncle and second aunt had their argument, they sent a nanny to our courtyard, saying that they wanted you to go to the west courtyard when you get back from your shift. Go whenever you're back, don't delay."
"How about we eat first and then go?" Just thinking about the West Courtyard gave Yu Lang a headache, but he couldn't just ignore it. If he just stood by and watched, he'd be drowning in the gossip of his relatives and neighbors tomorrow.
"Try this. Chang Shun specially went to Huguo Temple to buy it. Their glutinous rice is steamed exceptionally well, and the soybeans are also stir-fried until fragrant. It was found for me by two Blue-feathered officers when I was in the Hujun Camp. No other place can taste this."
Yu Lang really likes these snacks. Back when he was in the guard camp, his two platoon leaders, Su He and Martai, would buy him a few every now and then to take to his duty room.
At first, some people whispered behind Suhe and Martai's backs that they were willing to lower themselves to fawn over Yulang, who was much younger than them.
As time went on, everyone realized that Suhe and Martai were genuinely happy to feed Yulang, and Yulang was also genuinely happy to rely on these two people who were nominally his deputies but were in reality like brothers and fathers in these small matters.
"It's delicious." Shen Wanqing didn't really like these sticky, chewy snacks, but since they had kindly saved them for her, she had to give them face.
“My mother used to always have people go to the vicinity of Huguo Temple to buy braised beef. Next time, have Changshun bring some beef back too. I didn’t give any of the jars of sorghum liquor that came with my dowry to anyone. They’re a perfect match with braised beef.”
"Hiss~ Grandma, don't tempt me. If you say that again, I really won't go to the West Courtyard today. Whatever happens, happens. What can I do?"
Yu Lang was helpless, and the West Courtyard was naturally even more gloomy. When this matter was brought to the Emperor's attention two days ago, He Yi happened to be serving in front of Emperor Kangxi, and his legs went weak when he heard it.
He already knew about Guangyuanxing's driving the Manchus to their deaths, but he didn't take it to heart. The women in the inner quarters might have found such things novel, but He Yi, who was out on business every day, knew better than anyone that it was no big deal.
But this seemingly insignificant matter snowballed and grew bigger and bigger.
At first, Guangyuanxing took the initiative to hand over a few people to the Infantry Commander's Office to settle the matter. However, the office accepted the people and the money but did not explain the procedures. They just told Guangyuanxing's people to go back and wait.
This statement was neither entirely true nor false, and the manager of Guangyuan Bank thought that he had taken too little silver. The next day, he specifically withdrew five hundred taels of silver from the counter and went to the Infantry Commander's Office.
To my surprise, when I went back this time, they refused to accept any money. When I asked where those people who had driven the man to his death were being held, they said they had already been sent to the Ministry of Justice, and even the commanding office of the bannerman to whom the man had died had gotten involved, so this matter was difficult to resolve.
However, no one at Guangyuan Trading Company expected things to turn out this way when trying to collect a debt from a gambler. The manager had originally intended to handle this small matter himself, but now that he could no longer suppress it, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and report it to the owner.
Before the owners of Guangyuanxing could even come up with a solution, they heard that the matter had spread far and wide. When they first heard the news, everyone thought it was fake news, and everyone felt that it was just a matter of one person dying.
But things just kept getting bigger and bigger. Not only were all the thugs at Guangyuan Bank arrested, but all the money shops and banks in the capital known for lending money at exorbitant interest rates were investigated. Stacks of employee rosters were taken away, and nobody knew what was going on.
It wasn't until the list of those in the Eight Banners who had borrowed money at exorbitant interest rates and deposited their family's silver in money shops and banks to lend at exorbitant interest rates was submitted to His Majesty that everyone belatedly realized that things had gone wrong.
"Huamei, go to the study and see if the master has finished his work."
"Madam, why don't you eat first? Dr. Peng repeatedly told me this afternoon that you need to rest now, and you must take your meals and medicine on time, otherwise it will be really troublesome if you bleed again."
For the past few days, Shumulu had stayed in the west courtyard and hadn't gone out, and Shen Wanqing hadn't come over to make a fool of herself either. In just a few short days, Shumulu's complexion, which was rosy and full when she went to the First-Class Duke's mansion, had become sallow with dark circles under her eyes, and even her once upright back had become hunched.
"Just go when I tell you to, stop arguing."
Tu Nan and Hui Zhong were still sitting in the room. The two brothers sat at the dining table with their heads down, neither of them speaking. The two younger brothers, who were born out of wedlock, had been confined to their rooms by their aunt and had not dared to go out for two days.
Hua Mei had no choice but to turn around and walk out with a bitter face. When she reached the door, she did not forget to signal to the maid next to her to take the half-cold food to the corner room and heat it up on the stove, even though it had already been heated up once before.
Watching the thrush head towards the study, Shumulu turned to look at her two sons. She didn't know how things had turned out this way.
When He Yi returned yesterday, he didn't start a big argument at first. He just repeated his old refrain, telling me to quickly sort out the accounts in my hands and return them to the East Courtyard. He said that my family might have to move out of the mansion at any time, or even leave the capital to take up our posts.
Before she could figure out what was going on, Shumulu casually asked what was wrong. Little did she know that this question would ignite He Yi’s anger. It turned out that the silver she had put in Guangyuan Bank had really become a hot potato. Even He Yi had been implicated and had to suffer in front of the emperor. The things that Shen had said to scare her had actually come true.
Shumulu wanted to tell Heyi not to rush, that she would accept the situation, but that she needed to sort out the family's accounts for several years, and that she should give herself some time. Before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by her husband's short, contemptuous laugh.
The words were spoken by He Yi yesterday, and even now, Shumulu can still hear her husband's cold words whenever she closes her eyes.
"I don't care how long it takes you to sort things out. In short, I will leave the capital once I have finalized the arrangements with the Shen family. Once you have sorted out the affairs at home, you can come with me. If you can't sort them out, I will take Aunt Li and Aunt Ma with me to my post."
Yu Lang never expected that what he thought was the West Courtyard seeking him out to discuss how to resolve the matter was actually his good second uncle's only thought: how to leave the capital as soon as possible and avoid the limelight.
After dinner, he pestered Shen Wanqing like a dog for a long time until Granny Feng knocked on the door twice before Lord Yu reluctantly got up and walked to the west courtyard.
In the past two years, the conflict between the East and West Courtyards has deepened, and Yu Lang has been coming to the West Courtyard less and less. Usually, the servants on both sides act as if they don't interfere with each other, but today when Yu Lang went to the West Courtyard, he was greeted by Old Hu, who was waiting at the second gate of the West Courtyard, from afar.
"This servant greets you, sir. You must have just finished your shift."
"Yes, I just got back. My great-grandmother told me that my second uncle had something important to discuss with me, so I came over without even changing my clothes."
Old Hu was the most capable manager in Second Uncle's household. He was clever and thorough in his work. His only flaw was that he always had this insincerely attentive manner towards everyone, which made people feel uncomfortable from the bottom of their hearts.
Yu Lang refused to believe that the West Courtyard hadn't received the news when he returned. Since he insisted on saying that, Yu Lang naturally went along with it and answered accordingly, leaving Old Hu speechless, his face turning red and his eyes rolling back. He couldn't utter a single word of the pleasant words he had prepared.
Shumulu repeatedly sent people to the study to invite He Yi to dinner. After all, he was the proper wife whom she had married. Even if she was holding back her anger and wanted Shumulu to understand who was in charge in this family, she couldn't just slap her in the face.
Back in the main room, the atmosphere was even more somber than yesterday. He Yi was seething with anger, feeling that Shumulu was too greedy and had caused him to make such a big blunder in front of the Emperor for such a small gain.
This can't be kept secret; the whole capital will know in a few days. Before, when I discussed with the Shen family about taking up an official post outside the capital, it was mutually beneficial. Now, if I bring it up again, it will seem like I'm begging the Shen family. It will be difficult to bargain like before.
Thinking of this, He Yi's expression became even more unpleasant. Shu Mulu, on the other hand, felt that she had been humbled time and time again, and that her husband should restrain his anger, no matter how great it was.
It's the same simple truth: everyone in the family spends the interest generated by the money invested. You can't expect everyone to act like royalty when you're spending money, and then turn around and complain about how dirty the money is when something goes wrong. That's just being a hypocrite.
She is, after all, a great-aunt of a Manchu family, who grew up learning to manage the household and handle affairs. How could she be treated like a piece of dough, to be molded and abused by He Yi?
Since being humble and subservient was useless, they decided to stop. Before they could even finish their meal, the couple started arguing again. When Yulang entered the courtyard, he happened to run into the two brothers, Tu Nan and Hui Zhong, who had been kicked out and were standing there looking flustered and uneasy, not knowing what to do.
"Big brother, you've arrived."
Seeing Yu Lang at this moment was like finding a lifeline for the two. Tu Nan was thirteen years old this year, which is considered half an adult. He was the eldest son of the West Courtyard, and he always forced himself to put on airs of a young master, whether at home or outside.
But at this moment he couldn't hold on any longer. With red eyes, he walked up to Yulang and said, "Brother, has my mother gotten herself into big trouble? Will the yamen arrest her? My mother's money is in Guangyuan Bank, but who can guarantee that it was my mother's money that was lent to that gambler? If anyone is to be arrested, they should arrest the people in Guangyuan Bank first."
The twelve or thirteen-year-old boy had studied and understood the principles he should. He knew that lending money at exorbitant interest rates was explicitly forbidden by the court, but who could blame him when his own mother did it? The Analects says, "The father conceals the son's wrongdoing, and the son conceals the father's wrongdoing; this is the essence of righteousness." This principle has held true for thousands of years, no wonder Tu Nan defended Shumulu.
"Brother, if it really doesn't work, can I go? Huizhong and I have already used the money Mother brought back. If His Majesty wants to punish us, we can't escape it either."
These words sounded childish, and even a bit like a sullen remark. Yu Lang, however, couldn't help but laugh. He raised his hand and patted Hui Zhong's head, who was trembling with fear at his brother's words. Then he called over the two of their wet nurses.
"What punishment? It's just a few words of scolding from the master, nothing serious." The Upper Three Banners are under the Emperor's command; they're practically the Emperor's servants. Even if someone is to be arrested and punished this time, it won't be the women in the inner quarters.
The two children were so frightened because He Yi had been very particular about appearances these past few years and rarely got angry. Shu Mulu, the wife, always presented a smiling and approachable demeanor. Now, things had suddenly turned so ugly, no wonder the children were not used to it.
"Aren't you worried about your father's job? You only ask about your mother."
“My father is so capable; he always finds a way to keep his official hat and plume. Brother, my mother is not like him.”
"What father and son wouldn't know each other?" Tu Nan said, looking somewhat embarrassed. He knew he shouldn't have spoken of his father like that, but he could clearly sense that his father was bullying his mother.
"You've said that to me, but don't tell your father again, understand?"
There was no point in saying more. Yu Lang wanted the two boys to go back to their room with the nanny, but both of them stubbornly refused to move. He didn't try to persuade them; let them stand if they wanted. Anyway, they were both dressed warmly and wouldn't catch a cold at night.
Hearing the clanging and banging noises inside the house, which sounded like a house being demolished, Yu Lang stopped arguing with his two cousins, turned around and quickly pushed the door open and went in. He then immediately closed the door to block the view of Tu Nan and Hui Zhong outside.
"Second Uncle, now is not the time to argue with Second Aunt. Tu Nan and Hui Zhong are not young anymore. What kind of big deal do you have to make a scene in front of the children? Aren't you afraid that the two children will hold a grudge against you?"
Inside the room, He Yi and Shu Mulu were standing and sitting respectively. He Yi, who was standing, had long lost his usual gentle, refined and self-possessed demeanor. Shu Mulu's face was as white as paper, which was frightening. Yu Lang was startled when he took a closer look. He turned around and went out to call Hua Mei and the old nanny next to Shu Mulu in.
"What exactly made Uncle and Aunt so angry? Is it their reputation or their money? If it's money, Aunt has certainly brought back quite a bit over the years with the interest compounded. Even if Guangyuan Bank goes bankrupt this time, Aunt's losses will only be so much. If it's their reputation, Uncle, if you really anger Aunt to the point of causing her serious illness, do you think the Shumulu family will let you off the hook?"
Even though Yu Lang disliked the West Courtyard, he could only patiently pull He Yi back. He didn't want the Emperor to say whether or how to deal with the situation, and for the Second Madam to be driven to her death at home first; that would be incredibly shameful.
"Ha." Shumulu was so angry with He Yi that she felt a lump in her throat and almost suffocated. She called Huamei and the nanny over, and the two of them fed her medicine and massaged her back and pinched her philtrum. It took them a long time to calm her down.
"Don't worry, Ah Lang, I won't die. I have two sons and this one in my belly, how can I die?"
Shumulu was filled with hatred, and her voice was sharp as knives. He Yi, who had been arrogant because he was in the right, immediately calmed down.
"Second Uncle, you sent someone to the East Courtyard yesterday to ask me to come over, and now I'm here. What's the matter?"
"Sit down and let's talk. We should have discussed this with you a long time ago. But after you got married, you immediately entered Yuqing Palace. Then there were festivals at home, and we, uncle and nephew, were both on duty. We didn't even have time to sit down and have a proper chat."
He Yi has always been like this. Before saying or doing anything, he always makes sure to explain the background. Outsiders say that the second master of the Hesheli family is an extremely reasonable person. Only those close to the family know that this master is unwilling to get even the slightest bit dirty or filthy on himself, which is why he always has to explain things thoroughly.
"I don't have time." Yu Lang was too lazy to argue with him, so he just let him say whatever he wanted. "Then what is it, Second Uncle? Tell me quickly."
After recovering, Shumulu didn't move. She never listened to He Yi's outside affairs in the past, but today she didn't want to follow the rules. He Yi glanced at her but didn't say anything. He turned around and beckoned to Old Hu, who quickly brought a red lacquered box from the study.
He Yi opened it and found a thick stack of silver notes inside. Yu Lang glanced at the top note and knew that there were no less than three thousand taels of silver notes in the box.
“Your second aunt has been managing the household affairs for the past few years and has always had some surplus. I’ve done a rough calculation and it’s definitely over five thousand taels. You know what’s been going on outside lately, and I won’t go into details. It was your aunt and I who were wrong about this, and today I, as her second uncle, apologize to you on her behalf.”
"Here is a total of three thousand five hundred taels of silver. That's all the money the West Courtyard has for now. Take it for now. Once this matter is over and we've calmed down, your second uncle will give you the rest of the silver."
Three thousand five hundred taels—it's a perfect amount, neither too much nor too little. Any less would seem like an insincere offer, while any more would make the West Courtyard appear greedy, having already suffered such a loss at Guangyuan Bank, yet still managing to come up with this much.
The West Courtyard had been in charge for several years, and the public funds in the manor were always just enough to make ends meet; by the end of the year, there wasn't a single penny left over. The money that Shumulu had squeezed out from all sides was definitely more than this, but the West Courtyard had only produced this amount for now, so there was no point in saying anything more.
“Alright, Second Uncle always keeps his word. If I insist on not accepting this money, I would be looking down on Second Uncle.”
The box was placed on the table closer to He Yi, but that didn't prevent Yu Lang from reaching out to pick it up and handing it to Chang Shun to put away. "Second Uncle, we've said everything we need to say about our family matters. Now you should tell me why you called me here."
The family matter was just the beginning; Yu Lang didn't believe that his good second uncle had called him over just to give him this little bit of money.
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