Lord Gu said, "It's alright. There are still two days before the manor is opened. The head of the Imperial Medical Academy will only be available to come and examine it tomorrow. Let's take care of things at the manor in the next two days. If the Emperor really intends to, I will find a way to postpone it."
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "That's good then."
These past two days have indeed been quite busy. All the smallpox patients in the manor have recovered, and everyone is now free to move around the manor at will.
In an instant, many people poured into the mansion.
Hongye asked Gu Shiliu to help her look at the booklet that Hongmian handed over, and she also checked it herself. Seeing that there were no omissions, she handed it over to Qin Yuan.
Since it was the first time he had appeared in front of the lady on official business, Hongmian kept a close eye on him and questioned him the next day.
"Sister Hongye, did I do well? Did Madam say anything?"
Hongye said, "Madam didn't say anything, she just said to leave it there. Let me tell you, if there are no mistakes, there's nothing to worry about. After Madam announces the rewards and punishments, if no one makes a fuss, then it's done well. Even if someone makes a fuss, it's not necessarily your problem; it depends on whether the person in charge reports it to us and makes a mistake."
Hongmian was somewhat disappointed, but she didn't dare to ask any more questions.
Seeing her like that, Hongye suddenly remembered something and said, "I've been busy with the accounts these past few days. When I have some free time in a couple of days, I plan to teach a few people how to read accounts. Could you ask around for me to see if anyone is willing to learn?"
Hongmian paused for a moment, then smiled and agreed.
Hongye not only told her, but also told others.
Several maids discussed privately whether they should follow suit.
Hongmian said, "I don't know what we can do even if we learn to read account books. Are we girls supposed to become accountants?"
Some people hesitated.
Those who were close to Hongye said, "Since Sister Hongye is willing to teach, it's always good to have more skills. I'll learn from her, and I can use them even if I'm released from the manor in the future."
Hongmian then fell silent.
When Cuiming found out, she told Hongye, who sighed, "I only saw her as feisty and capable, I didn't expect her to have so many hidden thoughts."
Qin Yuan glanced at her with a smile and said, "Which smart person doesn't have a few thoughts? But you are half smart and half muddle-headed. You use all your intelligence on getting things done, which is quite rare."
Hongye forced a smile and said, "Then you'll have to be extra kind to me, Miss."
Qin Yuan said, "Of course, if I don't care about my people, who will? You used to follow me, but you didn't have many subordinates. You'll understand once you've seen more of the world. These things are nothing, but you still need to keep your eyes open and be discerning. Don't be afraid just because someone is smart and cunning. Different people have different uses. How to use people is a skill in itself. You should learn it slowly."
Upon hearing this, Hongye immediately became much happier.
Cui Ming sighed, "It's only because Miss knows how to comfort you. If I were to advise you, you wouldn't have recovered so quickly."
Hongye ignored it and took out the list she had copied a few days ago, asking Qin Yuan, "Miss, there is a gap of several dozen days between the transfer of monthly allowances from the outer courtyard to the inner courtyard and their distribution to the inner courtyard. It can be as short as twenty days or as long as almost two months. All of the allowances from the past few years are registered here."
Qin Yuan nodded and then said, "Take another look at when the money is paid and when it is deposited into the accounts of the estates and shops owned by the manor, and who is in charge of handling them?"
Upon hearing this, both Cuiming and Hongye became serious.
Meeting their earnest and probing gazes, Qin Yuan said calmly, "Even if there are some errors in Accountant Sun's accounts, they won't be too obvious. In fact, the most hidden and serious problems of wealthy families are in these areas. I'm just taking precautions to nip them in the bud."
Cuiming frowned and asked, "Miss, did you learn about the Xu family's misdeeds and start suspecting them because of this?"
Qin Yuan nodded, "More or less, but we'll have to see how it goes."
The previously somewhat listless red leaves suddenly became full of fighting spirit again.
Qin Yuan continued, "The inner court's records from previous years have all been extracted. When someone comes to handle matters, we can simply adjust the old rules by adding or subtracting. The outer court doesn't have these yet. Since you're going to teach people how to read the accounts anyway, why don't you help organize them as well?"
Hongye couldn't help but groan, "You really know how to assign me work! At this rate, I don't know when I'll be able to return the account books to Accountant Sun."
Qin Yuan laughed, "The later you pay, the happier he will be, right? He'll definitely think we're incompetent and just putting on an act, little does he know that Hongye has exposed all his secrets."
Hongye said, "We don't need to wait a few days. Let's do it now. I'll go teach them how to read the accounts now and help me transcribe them."
After saying that, he called people to look at the account books together in the side room.
Qin Yuan then instructed Cui Ming, "Go and urge Mama Li again to see how the preparations for Doctor Li and Xiao Dong's clothes are going. They will be leaving tomorrow and will be leaving through the small door used for daily shopping. Make sure to arrange everything in advance to avoid any trouble later."
Cuiming responded and went to the sewing room.
Qin Yuan only had two maids serving her. She spread out paper and ink, and began to write and draw. Before she knew it, it was dinner time. Gu Jinghui came and asked, "Weren't we supposed to have a farewell banquet for Doctor Li and Xiao Dong today? What are your plans?"
“My mother said she would come, so I didn’t get involved.”
Lord Gu responded and sat down next to her.
Qin Yuan put down her brush, tilted her head to look, and saw that he looked unhappy. She knew that something else had happened, so she quickly asked the maid to pour tea and picked up the round fan next to her and slowly fanned herself a couple of times.
Lord Gu picked up the writing she had done, glanced at it haphazardly, and put it aside, saying, "That old woman in the dungeon has had her poison sac removed, and no matter how much torture or bribery she receives, she won't talk. General Jin investigated many soldiers from Jizhou who had close ties with Pang Hai, but most of them have already retired and returned to their fields. He can't remember the rest clearly, since Pang Hai has been dead for some years. He only said that Pang Hai was very familiar with the customs and people of Jizhou, and it seemed that he also had dealings with the local powerful families."
Qin Yuan remained silent, waiting for Lord Gu to continue.
Lord Gu continued, "The women who are close to Madam Jin and Madam Zhao recall that Madam Zhao once mentioned that she had a younger sister who seemed to have married a money shop owner, but they don't know who she is."
This means both lines are now broken.
Lord Gu said dejectedly, "Brother Cheng and the others can't say which relatives they can rely on. After the establishment of the manor, we can only find a family to take care of them. I have already instructed General Jin to see if we can find an old soldier in the city who has no children. The person must be honest, reliable, and trustworthy. It is still difficult to find one in this urgent situation."
The maidservant brought tea, but Lord Gu only glanced at it and had no interest in drinking it.
Qin Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Why don't we do as we said before? We can set aside a courtyard in the mansion facing the street for them to live in. They can choose some servants to go there themselves. That fake Granny Yang will naturally go with her. We can just find an adult to supervise the two children. It's not much different from fostering them under someone else's care. Tonight, we'll ask Mother if she has anyone she can use."
The Gu family has other relatives, so why send them to be raised by the old soldier? Since Zhao sent the two old women back, it's probably because she wanted to cause trouble in the mansion while the smallpox was still there, and also because of the two children.
Since that's the case, it's best to keep it under close watch.
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