Chapter 18: You'll be rewarded with silver if you do a good job.
"According to the law, fines exceeding one thousand taels are punishable by imprisonment, and if it's ten thousand taels..."
Jiang Wan Ning softened her tone, "That's a capital offense."
“If I just file a complaint with the yamen, Steward Wang, your head will be on the line.”
Wang Fu listened to the gentle-sounding young lady, but the words she spoke were like the coldest winter day, making him shiver involuntarily.
"Please spare me, young lady! Please let me go!"
"I am just following Aunt Liu's orders; everything is done according to Aunt Liu's instructions."
"Will you tell me the total amount of embezzlement, or will I investigate it myself?"
"Tell me, tell me," Wang Fu kept kowtowing. "All the amounts and details of the embezzlement are in the cabinet at the very bottom behind you."
"The total is twenty thousand taels."
Peony turned around and deftly pried open the cabinet with a dagger, took out the contents and handed them to Jiang Wanning.
Wang Fu was terrified again. "I dare not hide it from you any longer, Miss."
"I was afraid that one day someone would find out the truth, so I left these pieces of evidence."
"Every time Aunt Liu falsified the accounts, she would give me a sum of hush money..."
Fearing that Jiang Wanning wouldn't believe him, Wang Fu continued, "Everything I said is true."
Jiang Wan Ning put the account book away. "Every time we meet, who does the Liu family send?"
Wang Fu dared not hide anything any longer, "It was Aunt Liu or something, Zhang Mama."
"Aunt Liu values Zhang Mama very much, and sometimes she even listens to Zhang Mama on many things."
"Besides that, is there no one else?"
Wang Fu shook his head.
Jiang Wan Ning originally intended to use the investigation of the accounts as a way to find out Wan Ru's biological father.
If Lady Liu is so careful and cautious, why did she entrust such an important matter to a nanny instead of her own husband?
If we're talking about carelessness, it's because Granny Zhang was sent.
This Granny Zhang has been with Liu since she entered the mansion; she's a loyal and devoted lackey.
Jiang Wanning stood up and walked to Wang Fu's side. "Manager Wang, you know that even if you were acting under someone else's orders..."
However, they are still accomplices, and if their crimes are discovered, they will also be punished.
Seeing the fine beads of cold sweat on Wang Fu's face, Jiang Wan Ning smiled slightly, "However, if someone protects you..."
"This should alleviate the symptoms somewhat."
“You know,” Jiang Wan Ning said, admiring her newly dyed nail polish, “Lord Shen of the Dali Temple has a very good relationship with the Marquis’s mansion.”
"Manager Wang, I believe you are a smart man."
"Your one-year-old son has just learned to call you 'Dad'."
Wang Fu shuddered. "I will obey your orders, Miss, no matter what."
"I only beg you, young lady, to spare my life and spare my entire family."
"Then we'll see how Steward Wang redeems himself."
"Please give your orders, young lady, and I will do my utmost..."
"Then let me see your sincerity first..."
Jiang Wanning gave some instructions to Manager Wang and then left the shop with Shaoyao.
"Miss, why don't we take these account books directly to the master and mistress and expose Concubine Liu?"
“If we expose them directly, the 20,000 taels of silver will have disappeared. Even if Father kicks Liu out of the mansion, there is still Jiang Wanru.”
"I'll make her cough up double the amount of that silver."
"Simply kicking them out of the mansion is too lenient on them."
As soon as Jiang Wan Ning and Shao Yao returned to the Marquis's residence, Hai Tang came out to greet them.
"Miss, everything is taken care of," Haitang whispered. "It's the people Madam sent to keep an eye on Bihe Courtyard."
"The second young lady has made an appointment to go out after dinner tonight."
"Beautiful crabapple blossoms," Jiang Wanning said with a smile. "Let's go back inside first."
The three entered the house.
Jiang Wan Ning took out the ointment she had prepared in advance. "Apply it well, apply it to every part of your body that you can reach."
"Miss, what's the point of applying this stuff? It doesn't smell good at all." Peony frowned.
"You'll find out soon enough," Jiang Wanning said.
After dinner.
The three of them walked towards the back gate of Bihe Courtyard and waited in the shadows for no more than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
Then two maids came out furtively from the back door.
Jiang Wan Ning strode out, "Stop!"
The two women dressed as maids were taken aback at first, but then quickened their pace as if they hadn't heard them.
"If you don't stop, I'll call for help."
The two paused, hesitated, turned around, and lowered their heads.
Jiang Wan Ning stepped forward, "Are you maids from Bihe Courtyard?"
The maid in front gave a slight curtsy and replied, "Yes, Miss."
"Didn't you hear me calling you just now?"
The maid hesitated for a moment and then nodded.
"There isn't much rice left in the small kitchen. I was thinking of going to get some now so that I won't delay Aunt and Second Miss's meal tomorrow morning."
Jiang Wan Ning laughed and said, "Since you were going to get things for your second sister and aunt, why didn't you say so earlier?"
"You don't need to go. I'll have someone bring it over in a bit."
“I happen to have something to do and I’m short-handed, so you two come and help me.”
"Young Miss...this..."
"What? You don't want to?" Jiang Wan Ning said. "Or do you think you're a servant of Bihe Courtyard, and I can't order you around?"
"This servant wouldn't dare," the maidservant immediately knelt down.
"Then come with me." Jiang Wan Ning turned and left first.
Jiang Wanru, who was behind the maid, originally wanted to take the opportunity to slip away, but Haitang and Shaoyao were watching her closely.
They could only lower their heads and follow along.
Upon arriving at the stable, Jiang Wan Ning pointed to the buckets and brushes that had been prepared in advance.
"I've arranged to go horseback riding with Zhizhi in the countryside tomorrow. Could you please help me wash the horses clean?"
"And while you're at it, clean up the horse manure in the stable as well."
The young maidservant tightened her grip on her abdomen. "Young Miss, isn't this... this is the groom's job?"
"You do whatever the young lady tells you to do," Haitang snapped. "When did the rules begin, and who has to do what?"
"How about we ask the young lady to bring the two of you from Bihe Courtyard over here to clean the stables?"
Jiang Wan Ning pretended to be angry, "Haitang!"
He smiled and said to the two maids, "The coachman has something to attend to at home today and is taking the day off."
"I just went out to look for someone and ran into the two of you."
"It's really pitiful that such a nice young girl is doing these things," Jiang Wanning said with heartache. "You should do your best."
"I'll reward you with silver if you do a good job."
The maid secretly turned her head to glance behind her.
"You don't want to?"
"This servant wouldn't dare!"
If I really anger the young lady, I might end up here cleaning the stables every day.
The maidservant's heart tightened, and she deftly carried the water bucket towards the stable.
"My horse has a fiery temper, so you guys have to be very careful when you're using it."
Jiang Wan Ning gave a 'kind' reminder.
Jiang Wanru kept her head down. Fortunately, it was already dark, so as long as she didn't make a sound, Jiang Wanning wouldn't recognize her.
It seems the only way out is to clean up this beast before we can get away.
Jiang Wanru pinched her nose, suppressed her nausea, and wiped the horse's body.
The horse manure in the stable doesn't look like it hasn't been cleaned for a day, but rather for several days.
Sudden.
Something dark flew over her head and landed at Jiang Wanru's feet.
"ah!!!"
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