Chapter 10 Embezzlement of Dowry
Shen Qingtan and Zhao Yi returned to Lanxueyuan together. After walking a short distance, they heard Zhao Yi coughing intermittently several times.
She stopped, looked up and saw that his lips were pale, and asked with concern, "Second Master, do you want to ask a doctor to take your pulse?"
"It's okay. I cough a few times every day." Zhao Yi smiled faintly: "You'll feel better after boiling some medicine."
Shen Qingtan frowned when he remembered that he was seriously ill half a year later.
At this time, a servant came hurriedly and greeted, "Second Master, Second Madam." Then, he said to Zhao Yi, "Second Master, the Master has returned. Please go to the study in the front yard."
"I'll be there later." Zhao Yi sent the servants away and told Shen Qingtan some things: "Mother Liu is in charge of the affairs of the courtyard. She will call the people working in the courtyard later. You can recognize them. If you need them in the future, feel free to call them."
Shen Qingtan felt a little warmed at the respect he received from Zhao Yi. "Second Master, I've taken note. Go and do your work. Don't keep Grandfather waiting for too long."
Zhao Yi nodded slightly and left with the servant.
Shen Qingtan returned to the house and sat on the hexagonal Huanghuali armchair. Not long after he rested, he saw a woman with a round waist and strong arms come in.
The woman had a round face and a smiling face. She looked very kind, but her slender eyes were shrewd.
"Second Madam, I was originally Second Master's wet nurse. I was highly respected by Second Master and took care of all matters at Lanxue Garden for him. Now that you have come in, all matters of this courtyard will be in your care." Madam Liu held a wooden box in both hands and handed it to Shen Qingtan, saying respectfully, "Here are the indentures of the servants in this courtyard. They are all waiting outside."
Shen Qingtan was genuinely surprised. She hadn't expected Zhao Yi to delegate so much power to her. She held the indentures for the guards, which meant she held their lives in her hands, completely at her beck and call.
"Madam Liu, you are the elder by the Second Master's side. The Second Master has entrusted you with the management of the courtyard, which shows that you are the person he trusts the most. Although I am now married, I don't know much about the affairs of the mansion. I have to trouble Madam Liu to help me manage the affairs of the courtyard and share some of the responsibilities for me."
Shen Qingtan has no useful people around her. Except for Liu Yue and Tingxue, she doesn't trust any of the people brought by the Marquis' Mansion. They are not as easy to use as Liu Mama, who is by Zhao Yi's side.
In this case, it would be better to win over the hearts of the people.
Shen Qingtan took out the key from his sleeve pocket and handed it to Mother Liu: "Keep the key and lock the indenture in the black lacquer box inlaid with gold and silver pieces by the window."
When Mother Liu saw that Shen Qingtan did not confiscate her management rights, but instead gave her personal belongings for safekeeping, it was obvious that he was planning to make use of her.
Before coming to see Shen Qingtan, she had inquired about the news about the second house. Shen Mingzhu had confiscated Qian Mama's management power and handed it over to the dowry mother she brought with her to manage the yard.
In contrast, Madam Liu was grateful for the trust she had received from her mistress: "Second Madam, before I came here, Second Master told me that I must do my best to serve you."
Shen Qingtan smiled and said, "I trust you to do the work."
Mother Liu was so delighted by the praise that she immediately locked the box back into the chest, invited Shen Qingtan to go to the yard, and asked the servants on duty to report their names and jobs one by one.
Every time someone came up to announce a name, Mother Liu would tell Shen Qingtan in detail about the other person's family background.
Shen Qingtan silently took note that there was no one born in a family in Lanxueyuan. The relationships among children born in a family were complicated and they were prone to being unfaithful and being manipulated by those with ulterior motives.
Each servant was bought from outside and his relationship with other people in the mansion was relatively simple.
She was lost in thought, thinking that Zhao Yi was a person who didn't like trouble.
Madam Liu asked, "Second Madam, do you have any other instructions? If you don't have any errands for them to do, I will let them all go."
"There's something I need to do right now." Shen Qingtan took out the dowry list and handed it to Mama Liu: "Pick a few strong servants and take them to the second room to carry my dowry back."
——
The second room is Mingde Hall.
Zhao Jue and the second master entered the study.
"Father, upon returning home, grandfather summoned my second brother and me to his study." Zhao Jue spoke slowly, "The Emperor urgently summoned grandfather to the palace regarding the shortage of military rations at the front. As the Minister of Revenue, this important responsibility fell upon him."
A gleam of light flashed in the second master's eyes. Isn't this the chance to atone for his sins?
"The Emperor has allocated 50,000 taels of silver, requiring the preparation of 100,000 dan of military rations for shipment to the front lines. This situation is urgent, and all the rations must be delivered to the front lines within a month at the latest. We cannot delay the war." Zhao Jue said solemnly, "I have volunteered to take on this task and have signed a military order in front of my grandfather to prepare 100,000 dan of grain within ten days."
"Are you crazy?" the Second Master said anxiously, "Forget about raising 100,000 dan of grain from any grain merchant. Just consider that grain is eight cents a dan these days. 100 dan would cost 80,000 taels. How are you going to fill the remaining 30,000 taels?"
"I know a Huizhou merchant. He is a grain merchant and has more than 100,000 dan of grain." The reason why Zhao Jue knew this Huizhou merchant was because of Shen Qingtan's connection.
When Shen Qingtan returned to Beijing from his summer retreat in Zhuangzi, he accidentally saved the grain merchant's youngest daughter, and thus they became acquainted.
As for silver...
Zhao Jue thought about the dowry: "I heard Mingzhu say that the Shen family gave Shen Qingtan 20,000 taels of silver notes as a safe deposit. The other fertile land and shops, as well as other gold and silver jewelry, are also worth 20,000 taels, which is enough to fill the gap in buying military rations."
"This dowry was originally meant for Shen Mingzhu, but it's being given under Shen Qingtan's name. Now that she's in our Second House, there's no reason for her to be taken out again." The Second Master had high hopes for Zhao Jue: "Son, if you handle this matter well, you will surely be appreciated by your grandfather."
He had one legitimate son and one legitimate daughter, three illegitimate sons and one illegitimate daughter. Now, only the eldest illegitimate son is alive, and the other two died young.
The eldest son of a concubine is mediocre in knowledge and has no outstanding features. Only this legitimate son has a promising future.
Zhao Jue never thought of giving the dowry to Shen Qingtan. She was not a daughter of the Shen family, so how could she have the face to ask for a dowry?
The Shen family had raised her and done their utmost. Anyone with a conscience would be grateful to the Shen family.
Just as he was about to speak, he heard a commotion outside: "Second Madam, this old servant has come here on the orders of the Second Madam to retrieve her dowry."
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