"Since Your Highness knows the truth, then release us immediately, or you'll regret it!" A hot-headed young man stepped forward angrily.
Yun Qingluo was taken aback by these words; there was more to the story.
Manager Wang gave that hothead a look of exasperation.
Everyone glared at the man who had just spoken, saying, "If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute."
Xiao Yi was laughing hysterically in the system, "Hahaha, it's not the god-like opponents you should fear, it's the pig-like teammates. I'm dying of laughter, the inside story has been revealed."
Yun Qingluo remained noncommittal upon hearing Xiao Yi's words.
He then said, "Well done, it's good that you confessed without being asked, it saves you trouble and effort, but I really don't know any inside story, why don't you tell me?"
The crowd glared at the man again, and he shrank back, not daring to look up again.
Manager Wang stepped forward, "What inside story is there?"
Yun Qingluo was too lazy to play games with them and went straight to the point, "I only have three questions for you. First, how exactly did the hundreds of people in the manor die? Second, where did the money you embezzled go? Third, who is your backer?"
"I can answer the first question. Those hundreds of people did die because of the poor harvest last year. Every family was struggling, and it was just bad luck that they didn't make it through."
"We didn't embezzle any money; your accusations are baseless. You can't just slander us like that. Besides, we don't have any powerful backers. If we really have any backers, it's nothing more than the former emperor, the former general's mansion, and now the regent's mansion."
After speaking, the person glanced at Manager Wang, who nodded slightly, and the person gave a forced smile.
Upon seeing this, Yun Qingluo flung her teacup away, her anger finally reaching its peak.
"You're really good at lying through your teeth. Go out and see for yourselves. Is there even a single able-bodied young man among those fifty-six people?"
Of the more than 300 people, the old ones were indeed starving and died, and the young ones were not well-fed or clothed and did not survive the winter.
What about the young people? What about the able-bodied men? Where did they all go? Don't tell me they starved to death last year, or froze to death this winter too!"
Everyone was shocked and knelt down again, their backs covered in cold sweat.
“I naturally believe you haven’t embezzled anything…” Yun Qingluo said, and saw everyone looking up at her with joy.
Yun Qinglu sneered, "The revenue from hundreds of acres of fertile land is more than just a little bit, but nowadays you managers can only afford to eat white flour buns during the New Year and other holidays, and you have to agonize over buying a new piece of clothing. When your family members are sick, you can't even afford to buy medicine. So where did your money go? Hmm?"
Everyone's expression changed drastically. How did she know all this?
Yun Qingluo never expected that her casual remark would actually cause such a stir.
"Xiao Yi, well done."
Yun Qinglu praised Xiao Yi with her mind. She had just paid special attention to everyone's clothes and found that they were not much different from those of the tenant farmers outside, which made her a little puzzled.
So, while arguing with the managers, he specially asked Xiao Yi to do an X-ray examination of everyone and found that several people were in very poor health. He also discovered a pleasant surprise.
There wasn't a single trace of meat in their stomachs, and they hadn't even analyzed any wheat flour.
It's interesting that someone who embezzled so much money still lived a frugal life.
Yun Qinglu snorted coldly, glanced at everyone, and said, "Alright, just say what you know. Steward Wang's wife has already confessed everything, but not in great detail. I only want to hear the details, so just pick out the important points."
Upon hearing this, everyone turned pale and looked at Steward Wang. Steward Wang froze, never expecting this to happen.
But then he gave a strange smile, stood up and looked at Yun Qingluo, "Hahaha, Your Highness, the same trick is no longer novel after being used once. I didn't tell my family anything at all, so how could they possibly know who's behind this? Your Highness, don't bother."
Upon hearing Manager Wang's words, everyone's expressions softened somewhat.
Yun Qingluo covered her mouth and laughed, "Oh dear, you guys found out, how embarrassing."
But her smiling expression didn't reveal anything wrong at all.
Everyone's expression suddenly changed, and they all looked at Steward Wang.
Manager Wang, confused, recalled what had just been said, his expression changed slightly, and he angrily said, "You...you...you've set a trap again..."
Yun Qinglu smiled and said, "The trick doesn't have to be new, as long as it works."
Now everyone panicked. The princess already knew there was more to the story and that they had someone backing them.
Enraged, Steward Wang decided to throw caution to the wind, "I have people outside. If they find out I'm dead, do you think the General's Mansion and the Regent's Mansion can remain unscathed, Your Highness?"
Yun Qingluo raised an eyebrow. "If I kill them all and leave only you and your family, does Steward Wang think the people outside will believe you've betrayed them or that you're so capable that you can escape unscathed?"
Manager Wang was so angry that he pointed at Yun Qingluo and cursed, "You are despicable and shameless."
Yun Qinglu waved her hand, "Hey, don't praise me like that, it's all thanks to the manager's excellent teaching."
Steward Wang was furious. "Hmph, so what if the Princess knows these things? We've decided not to reveal a single word."
Yun Qingluo's voice rang out, "Not going to talk?"
Manager Wang tossed his head with his hands behind his back and said, "I won't tell, I'd rather die than tell."
Upon hearing this, Yun Qinglu clapped and laughed, "Not bad, not bad at all. Manager Wang's integrity is truly admirable. Men, chop off half of Manager Wang's son's arm to entertain Manager Wang."
An Jiu stepped forward, accepted the order, and left.
Manager Wang's expression changed drastically, his previous bravado vanished, "You slut, you devil, you even prey on children!"
Yun Qinglu sneered, "You dare to say that? When those tenant farmers' children starved and froze to death, did you spare them?"
Manager Wang was taken aback, and his arrogance immediately vanished.
A moment later, a scream and a wail came from the backyard.
Manager Wang's body went limp; those were the voices of his son and wife.
Manager Wang looked up at Yun Qingluo and saw her sitting there calmly, motionless.
I genuinely felt that someone with such a kind face couldn't possibly do something so cruel.
But when the door opened, a bloody arm smashed in, telling him it was true.
His arm was tightly wrapped in a patched-up garment, made of a material he recognized.
I saw him jumping around at breakfast this morning, complaining to me that there was another blue patch on his clothes.
Manager Wang looked at the familiar arms and clothes not far away and burst into tears.
Just as he was about to crawl over and grab it, An Jiu swiftly picked up the arm and threw it away.
"You...you beast, what are you doing!" Manager Wang roared at An Jiu.
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