Chapter 15 I dare to give it, do you have the nerve to take it?
Marquis Changning was a handsome man, and his wife was powerful, arrogant, and the Crown Prince's aunt.
As soon as she finished speaking, Hongxiu returned happily carrying her bundle.
The bundle was opened, revealing a stack of silver notes and a small box full of silver.
"Young master, this old woman is a swindler! There are still ten thousand taels of silver in the accounts. Here, I've even brought back the account book for you."
"Oh, that dog of an accountant also embezzled our money. I found out, and they found two thousand taels on him. I broke both his legs."
Shen Chu took the ledger and flipped through it. "Well done."
Hongxiu, having received the praise, arrogantly raised her chin.
Shen Chu raised an eyebrow at Granny Yang, "How dare you lie to me! There's clearly so much silver in the manor, yet you dare to feed me spoiled food."
Granny Yang knelt at the feet of Marquis Changning, wailing and refusing to admit what she had said before.
"My lord, please investigate. I never said that the manor was short of money. The eldest young master is deliberately making things difficult for me."
Chen stepped forward, adding fuel to the fire: "Achu, we're all family. How can you rob the accounting office just for a bite to eat or a drink?"
With just one sentence, Shen Chu was convicted of robbery.
The thought of her daughter being forced to eat porridge with stones by Shen Chu made Madam Chen wish that Marquis Changning would beat Shen Chu until he was covered in bruises.
"Rebellious son!"
Marquis Changning, his face dark, strode toward Shen Chu.
Shen Chu looked surprised. "Father, so there's money in the family? So you're only cutting back on my expenses?"
Marquis of Changning: "Is that the point?"
"Isn't that the point? Oh, you mean the accountant embezzled? As the family's accountant, how dare he line his own pockets?"
Breaking both his legs would be too lenient on him. Father, you don't need to thank me.
Marquis Changning was so angry that his vision blurred.
Should we thank him?
"This isn't an audit, it's robbery! And you're even robbing your own family's accounting office! This is utterly lawless!"
"Return the money to the accounting office immediately, then kneel obediently in the ancestral hall to beg for forgiveness, otherwise I will..."
Shen Chu smiled and raised an eyebrow, "Otherwise, Father will personally write to His Majesty, saying that I am disobedient and unfilial, and that he will revoke my academic title?"
Marquis Changning opened his mouth, but was choked and speechless for a moment before coldly rebuking him:
"What nonsense are you talking about? How could I revoke your academic title? Quickly return the money to the accounting office, and I can be lenient with you for today's matter."
Chen Chu chuckled and picked up the ledger beside him, reading aloud:
"On February 18th, Caiyifang's monthly income was two thousand taels."
"Twenty-twenty, Diancui Pavilion's monthly income is four thousand taels."
"On the sixth day of the third month, the Marquis's monthly salary of three hundred taels was deposited into his account."
"On the fifteenth of March, the tuition fees for the Prince's Academy amounted to 1,600 taels, the Marquis's banquet expenses amounted to 1,000 taels, and the clothing expenses for the Madam and the eldest daughter amounted to 800 taels..."
Hongxiu exclaimed, "Caiyifang, Diancuige, Tonghe Restaurant... Oh, aren't these Aunt Qiao's dowry?"
So your whole family is being supported by Aunt Qiao?
Shen Chu feigned surprise, "Heavens, Father, so your salary can't even support our whole family?"
"Ah, this... Father is a marquis, yet his annual salary is only a little over three thousand taels, which is less than the monthly profit of my aunt's shop."
Marquis Changning's face flushed red, his eyes blazing with anger.
"You, a scholar, talk about money all the time. How utterly vulgar! Have all the books you've read over the years gone to waste?"
Chen Chu remained calm and composed. "Probably. I am your son. As long as you're happy."
"You...you!"
"Sigh, I was so focused on passing the imperial examinations that I never imagined the official salary would be so low. In that case, I'd better not become an official."
Marquis Changning was furious, "If you don't become an official, what will you do?"
"Of course, I'd take a rich and beautiful concubine, then have her provide for my food and drink, and she could even bear my children. How wonderful!"
"The father is definitely smarter; he found a shortcut to life early on. The son is still too young."
Marquis Changning's face was so angry it was as if it had been dipped in a dye vat, displaying a riot of colors, and he didn't know which one to choose first.
"You wretched child, how long have you been back and you dare to interfere in family matters? You ignorant brat, do you think that just because you passed the imperial examination, you can do whatever you want at home?"
I'm telling you, as long as I'm alive, I'm the one who calls the shots in this family.
Shen Chu picked at her ear. "Okay, okay, you're in charge."
Marquis Changning choked so hard that he couldn't catch his breath, and his face contorted with rage.
Chen Chu: "Your father's books were all for naught. Why don't you tell me which book of sages says that a man can spend a woman's money to support the family?"
"You...you!"
Marquis Changning was so angry that he slapped him across the face.
Shen Chu stepped back, her smile somewhat cold.
"Red Sleeve, what's this called in your martial arts world again?"
Hongxiu answered loudly: "As the saying goes, 'After eating your fill, you scold the cook; after reciting the sutra, you beat the monk.' To put it more elegantly, it's ungrateful and heartless."
The master and servant exchanged questions and answers, and Madam Chen's face turned pale with anger.
"You unfilial son, shut up!" Marquis Changning roared, unable to contain himself any longer.
As if waking from a dream, Chen Chu handed over the silver notes and the box full of silver.
"I couldn't help but exchange a few words with Hongxiu about the rules of the martial arts world. I suppose the rules are the same in the capital. Father, please take back my aunt's money."
She emphasized the words "my aunt's money" and laughed without restraint.
I dare to give it to you, but do you have the nerve to take it?
A grown man supporting his entire family with his concubine's dowry—doesn't he feel ashamed?
Marquis Changning glared fiercely at Shen Chu, veins bulging on his temples, his eyes burning with rage as if he wanted to burn Shen Chu to death.
How could he possibly take that money in front of everyone?
Does he even care about his reputation anymore?
"Get out! Take this money and get out!"
"Okay."
Shen Chu got up with a nonchalant look on his face, quickly put away the silver notes, and swayed towards the door with his suitcase.
Reaching the doorway, he suddenly turned back, leaned against the doorframe, and murmured:
"I've wasted all my time reading books, so I'm a bit of a scoundrel in my actions. If this doesn't get out of the public eye, I might even spread it myself."
At worst, I'll just be labeled a disobedient and unfilial son, and my career will be ruined. I don't care.
Marquis Changning was so angry that his eyes turned black. "Get out! Get out!"
Shen Chu scoffed and turned to leave.
Chen realized what was happening and shouted, "We can't let him leave! Someone, stop him!"
The guards rushed in.
Madam Chen tugged at Marquis Changning's sleeve, "Achu is so young and already so disobedient and unfilial. If you let her off lightly this time, everyone in the family will follow suit. Wouldn't that mean everyone could come and rob our house?"
Most importantly, we must not let Shen Chu take the money away.
Marquis Changning came to his senses, a shadow crossing his eyes.
"Guards, tie up the eldest son and punish him according to family law."
The guards rushed towards Chen Chu.
Before they could even get close to Chen Chu, Hong Xiu quickly knocked them all to the ground.
One of the guards was violently thrown to the feet of Marquis Changning by Hongxiu, and with a "poof," two bloody front teeth were spat out, which hit Marquis Changning.
Marquis Changning was so angry that he could no longer make a face.
With her hands on her hips, Hongxiu arrogantly swept her arms around the room.
"A bunch of weaklings, if you want to hurt my young master, you'll have to get past me first."
Guards: ......
"This is outrageous! This is truly outrageous! How dare a mere servant girl be so arrogant!"
Marquis Changning roared, "Send me archers! I don't believe I can't deal with you!"
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