"In reply to Madam, it's because there was a shortage of food after the start of spring, and the people were hungry every day. However, the heavy snow promised a good harvest, so there was always something to look forward to, and thus no trouble arose."
"But who knew that war would break out in the north? His Majesty ordered the Fourth Prince to lead troops to the aid. Before the army could move, supplies had to be sent first. The Ministry of Revenue couldn't gather enough supplies in time, so they added another tax to the people. This made things worse. These people already had no rice to cook and couldn't eat. Now they had to pay taxes and had no choice but to borrow money again."
"But recently the interest rates have gone up, and those local thugs who lend money are afraid that these people won't be able to pay back their debts, so they go to collect the debts in advance. These people were already dirt poor, and they didn't have anything of value in their houses, so they go to their fields to harvest wheat. After they finish harvesting, they calculate that not only is the principal not enough to pay back the debt, but the interest is also not enough to pay back the debt, so they make them sell their land."
“Those lowly people don’t own any land. They’ve all rented land. They’ve already sold their own land. The local thugs then go and take their children. Seven- or eight-year-old sons are sold to do hard labor, and four- or five-year-old daughters are sold to brothels.”
"This stirred up a hornet's nest. The people cried out that after a year of hard work, they couldn't even afford a bowl of white flour, and they had to sell their children. Several of them immediately smashed their heads against their heads and died. Others picked up hoes to fight back, but were beaten instead. They shouted that they couldn't live anymore, that they couldn't go on living..."
As she spoke, the head maid observed the expressions of the masters in the room. Seeing that they were indifferent and did not care about the life or death of these people, she quickly added.
"Of course, these lowly people have worthless lives and are not worth dying for. Even if they were to complain to the capital's government, no one would care. But I don't know where they got the rumor that His Majesty was going to the summer palace. They blocked the main road halfway there and reported those local thugs. The wives of those thugs also knew about it, so they were very arrogant towards those lowly people and poor people. As soon as they saw His Majesty's personal guards, they confessed everything. It was only after the investigation was carried out that the wives were implicated..."
"So that's how it is! No wonder this usury is so rampant now, of all times."
"I knew it! The common people can't fight against the officials. These lowly people can survive on clay and tree bark, so how dare they sue us? It turns out their thugs are trying to force them to their deaths. What a bunch of idiots! If we force them to their deaths, who will lend us money? They're short-sighted and don't understand the importance of a steady, long-term approach!"
"So you do understand the principle of slow and steady wins the race?"
Lady Wen sneered at the words of the Lady of the House. She glared at the Lady of the House and said, "In the past, when your thugs killed people for exorbitant interest rates, why didn't you know to take a long-term view and manage your money slowly? You only realized this after His Majesty issued a reprimand?"
Lady Bo was taken aback. "Didn't I learn it from you? Our Yongchang Marquis's manor used to be so wealthy. We had many estates and shops that were very profitable. We had few family members and not many expenses. It's just because you made a fortune lending money at exorbitant interest rates that I would never have done such heinous things..."
"What did you say? I didn't hear you."
Madam Wen didn't hear what Madam Bo was muttering. Madam Bo quickly shook her head, "It's nothing, it's nothing. Sister-in-law, you must come up with a plan. The old lady has gone to the palace, and we don't know what the Empress will say..."
This was indeed a concern for Lady Wen, but she and her wife were currently sitting peacefully in the mansion, suggesting that His Majesty still remembered the merits of the Pei family.
However, she can't relinquish her control over the household...
Madam Wen suddenly grabbed Pei Jing and said, "My son, when the old lady comes back, you must plead for me. You were raised by the old lady when you were little, and she has always thought of you. You must help your mother. The power to manage the household must not fall into Jiang's hands. I have no money left. If I lose the power to manage the household, I really can't live..."
Madam Wen covered her mouth and burst into tears, “Heavens above, if I lose my power to manage the household, I don’t know how I will live in the future. Even if I have fine clothes and delicacies, I can’t eat them anymore, sob sob sob…”
Pei Jing quickly reassured her, "Don't worry, Madam, I will definitely help you..."
"Madam, the old lady is back."
As they were talking, Madam Pei walked in, leaning on her cane. The old lady was wearing her official robes; she had come straight here as soon as she returned to the mansion, without even going back to her courtyard to change.
Madam Wen rushed forward and hugged her leg, asking between tears, "Grandma, what did the Empress say? She didn't blame me, did she? I've always been diligent in paying my respects at the palace. I'm just a few lowly lives. How could the Empress be angry with me..."
With a "slap," Madam Wen covered her face, staring in astonishment at Old Madam Pei.
"Grandma, you hit me? You've never hit me in all these years..."
"Smack!"
Madam Pei slapped her again.
"You vile woman! My mistake was not hitting you, which is why you've caused this disaster. How dare you lend money at exorbitant interest rates! You poisonous woman, interest at three percent, compounding every year, borrowing in one year and having to pay back in ten! You're really obsessed with money, daring to earn even this kind of money, and lending out two hundred thousand taels of silver at once! Do you think you have a few heads?!"
You're worse than an animal!
"How many people have you harmed over the years! You still don't know you're wrong, and you keep calling them worthless lives! Do you know how many people have had their homes and families wiped out because of this? The Marquis of Yongwu's mansion on the next street has already been raided, and the entire clan has been imprisoned. His Majesty even stripped them of their titles. Our mansion was almost ruined by you!"
Madam Bo was stunned by Madam Pei's words. "Old Madam, is it really that serious? It was just a few lowly... no, no, what I mean is, it was all done by the thugs below, not by us officials' wives."
Wen nodded in agreement.
"Yes, yes, what do the thugs' actions have to do with us!"
"We are innocent victims too!"
"I just wanted to make some money, who knew it would lead to someone's death!"
"Moreover, His Majesty was too ruthless. The old man, Marquis Yongwu, once shielded the late Emperor from a knife. When the late Emperor passed away, he told His Majesty to take good care of us, the descendants of old ministers."
"Hmph! It's only because His Majesty cherishes past favors that the whole family of Marquis Yongwu, who are worse than animals, has been allowed to live to this day. It would be fine if they didn't strive for progress and just lived a peaceful life, but instead they run rampant in the capital, bullying men and women, lending money at exorbitant interest rates, and even causing deaths. Do they really think there is no law in the capital?"
Madam Pei said angrily, pointing at Madam Wen and Madam Bo, "And you, have you been living a life of luxury for too long and want to suffer a little? You dare to lend money at exorbitant interest rates. Do you think our Pei family is starving you so that you have to make this kind of unscrupulous money?"
"What the old lady is saying is true. It's not like we forced them to lend the money. They could have chosen not to!"
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