Chapter 037
Then Nanny Zhao, who came out of the carriage, saw through these people's plan at a glance without changing her expression. If Chu Xiuming was a lustful person, Emperor Cheng would not be so wary of him. Nanny Zhao looked down on Emperor Cheng in the first place, and now she felt that Emperor Cheng was the king of a country, but he used some women's tricks, which was not only stingy but also despicable.
It was already evening when they arrived in the capital. Chu Xiuming simply did not ask anyone to wake up Shen Jin. Even when Chu Xiuming got up in the morning, he was reluctant to ask anyone to wake her up. Instead, he went to practice martial arts nearby.
The people brought from Border Town knew Chu Xiuming's habits, but the people in the Earl's Mansion didn't know. The maids dressed up in fancy clothes early in the morning, but they were not stupid. Some of them were carrying water and some were carrying kettles. An Ning had already noticed it and quietly told Zhao Ma. Zhao Ma sneered and just said, "Don't worry about it."
Shen Jin was awakened in the morning by a shrill scream outside. If Shen Jin didn't wake up, he might not have fallen asleep, but had died in his sleep.
Nanny Zhao didn't expect that the situation would turn out like this before she even made a move. She didn't care about anything else and hurried in to check on Shen Jin, for fear of scaring her.
Shen Jin was alert and not confused at all. "What happened?"
Madam Zhao said, "It was also my negligence. The little one was arranged to stay outside yesterday, and he came here early this morning following the smell."
Shen Jin frowned as he listened to the incessant shouting outside. But Aunt Zhao said, "An Ning, go and watch over them. Don't let anyone get hurt."
Whether it was the man who hurt the dog or the dog who hurt the man, Aunt Zhao didn't say, and An Ning didn't ask.
Chu Xiuming was in the next yard and was also alarmed. A hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes. After putting away his weapons, he went back. Because of his martial arts training, he was wearing a short suit, which made him look taller and more beautiful.
Seeing Chu Xiuming, some of the screaming maids covered their faces with their hands, some half covered their faces with their sleeves, and some looked at Chu Xiuming with tears in their eyes.
The little one squatted on the ground and scratched his ears with his hind legs. When he saw Chu Xiuming, he wagged his tail and barked a few times.
At this moment, the little one didn't look scary at all. Instead, he looked cute, except that he was a little bigger. He looked even more innocent when he tilted his head slightly and stuck out his tongue.
They didn't have the angry and bared look they had when they first came in. The maids really thought they had encountered a wolf.
Chu Xiuming didn't even look at it. He stopped beside the little one, patted his head, and walked inside with him. An Ning also came out at this time. After Chu Xiuming went in, she looked at the group of frightened people in the yard and said, "Take them all away."
Before An Ning could say a second word, the women and guards who brought people from the border town came up and picked them up one by one, or grabbed them in pairs and threw them out.
When Chu Xiuming came in, he saw Aunt Zhao helping Shen Jin wash and comb her hair. Shen Jin was staring at the bronze mirror in a daze. When she saw Chu Xiuming, she asked, "Did I disturb my husband?"
"Just a clown." Chu Xiuming said, and then asked the servant to fetch some water to wash.
Madam Zhao said gently, "Madam, do you have any plans in mind?"
Shen Jin thought for a moment and nodded, "Is the kitchen ready?"
Zhao Ma's eyes twitched as she said, "It has been packed and replaced with the people we brought. I'm afraid it will be too late today. Madam, please have someone prepare whatever you want to say at noon."
"Madam, please take care of it." Shen Jin said, "Doesn't my husband need to go to the palace?"
Chu Xiuming was not as worried as Nanny Zhao. Hearing this, he said, "Let's go later. Princess Rui and the others should be back home today."
Shen Jin calculated in her mind and said, "Then pack up your things today, send the visiting card, and go visit tomorrow." Although she knew that her mother would be safe and sound with Princess Rui, she was still worried, so she went to see An Sheng herself, "Will my husband go?"
"Of course I'm going to go." Chu Xiuming said with a smile, "I also want to see where my wife grew up."
Shen Jin also laughed and started talking to Chu Xiuming about things in the Rui Palace, such as the pond in the garden.
She stopped only when it was time to eat, and after accompanying Chu Xiuming to change into court clothes, she stretched and said, "Madam Zhao, gather all the servants in the mansion to the front hall."
"Yes." Nanny Zhao did not ask any more questions. Since the general wanted to hand over the affairs of the mansion to the lady, she should just assist from the side and must not interfere.
An Ning and An Ning had no idea what Shen Jin was planning, so they just stood beside Shen Jin and walked towards the front hall when they felt it was about time. Today, Nanny Zhao changed Shen Jin into a light red dress. Although the material was not Yuehua brocade, it was not bad either. Since they were at home, there was no intention of dressing up.
When I arrived at the front hall, I saw several managers of the mansion standing in front of me. Maids, servants, and even old women who did menial jobs were called over according to the list.
When everyone saw Shen Jin, they felt relieved. Shen Jin had a tender face, a pair of watery almond eyes, and naturally upturned lips. She looked like a person with a soft temper. In other words, she was easy to deceive.
Shen Jin didn't even look through the list, he just asked, "The family children of the former general's mansion should also stand up."
That's true, because the Chu family's roots are all in the border town, and the Yongning Earl's Mansion in the capital didn't have anyone arranged. Shen Jin felt that things were much simpler, and then handed the list to Zhao Ma and said, "Madam, see if there is anyone familiar."
Upon hearing this, Madam Zhao casually flipped through the books and said, "I have been away from the capital for a long time, so I don't have any familiar books."
Shen Jin nodded and said, "That's good. OK, take out the account book."
All the managers knew that this was a necessary process. After learning that the Earl of Yongning had returned to the capital, they redid all the account books to ensure that there were no mistakes. In fact, all the expenses of the Earl of Yongning's Mansion were from his salary. However, Emperor Cheng directly had the Earl of Yongning's salary sent to his Mansion. The people in the Mansion found that the Earl of Yongning didn't care about these things at the border, and he had become bolder. He didn't send any money to the border town at all, and he also secretly withheld a lot of the income from the farms and fields awarded by Emperor Cheng.
Anping went to collect all the account books, and Shen Jin asked, "Anything else?"
The butler said respectfully, "No, all the account books are in the accounting office. Madam, you can send someone to check them. This is the general ledger."
Shen Jin nodded and said directly, "Someone send these housekeepers to... find an empty courtyard and send them in. Treat them well. Manager Zhao, go check the accounts. If there is no problem, send them home."
Is there a problem? Before the steward of the general's mansion could even open his mouth, he was taken away by the guards from the border town.
Manager Zhao was brought here specially by Chu Xiuming. Shen Jin had long known that Chu Xiuming was a petty and vengeful person. He was just too lazy to care about the affairs of the Earl's Mansion. They were not his own people, so if he wanted to die, he could just follow them. All the accounts would be settled together then.
"Yes." Manager Zhao did not ask any more questions. The young apprentice beside him took the keys to the general ledger and the accounting office and stood behind Manager Zhao.
Shen Jin said, "If you are too busy, go to... borrow a few people from the Rui Palace. I will greet my mother."
"Yes." Manager Zhao still didn't say much.
Shen Jin didn't care and said, "Then go ahead and tell me how many people are needed."
After paying his respects, Manager Zhao left with his apprentice.
"Who are the servants in the main courtyard?" Shen Jin asked.
As soon as these words were spoken, she walked out from among the maids with her head lowered.
Shen Jin looked at the more than 20 beautiful maids. They were not as flamboyant as they were in the morning. Their clothes were much simpler. "They are quite pretty." This was the truth. "Madam Zhao, bring their indentures and give each of them five taels of silver. Send them all away."
"lady……"
As soon as these words came out, the maids all knelt down and cried, "Madam, we will serve you and the Earl of Yongning loyally, and will never dare to..."
"Look, they are all crying with joy." Shen Jin concluded, "You don't have to be too grateful to me. Just give each of you an extra tael of silver and consider it as a dowry from the Earl's Mansion. She will be so beautiful that she won't have trouble finding a husband."
Before they could make any more noise, An Ning had already gone over, picked up the two maids who wanted to hold Shen Jin's feet and threw them outside. Shen Jin sighed dejectedly. She felt that An Ning was so powerful, and she was worried about what kind of person she would choose to be worthy of her in the future.
Zhao Ma said coldly, "Are you all deaf and can't hear Madam's orders?" She said this to the servants, "The Earl's Mansion never takes in useless people."
However, a maid with a gold bracelet on her hand said, "Madam, I'm afraid this is not a good idea. Some of them were bestowed by His Majesty. It would be better to wait for Earl Yongning to come back and deal with them." She felt that Shen Jin was too jealous, but she didn't think this would be Earl Yongning's idea.
Shen Jin looked over and said, "If it was someone else's gift, it wouldn't be easy to handle it this way. Don't worry, I'll talk to the emperor's uncle."
The old woman's eyes widened. She then remembered that the wife of the Earl of Yongning was a princess and a royal relative. It would not work to use the emperor and the Earl of Yongning to pressure her.
No one dared to make any more comments, and two servants carried a pretty maid away.
Shen Jin looked at those with ordinary looks and said, "You are not as pretty as them. Forget it. Aunt Zhao, give them seven taels of silver each, along with their indentures. You can use the extra money to buy dowries and choose someone else."
The style of the painting is wrong! There is an ordinary-looking maid hiding among the crowd, and she is confused. Why is this the result? Give her an extra ounce of silver and then send her away?
"We are willing to serve the Madam." They were smarter and thought that Shen Jin was preventing someone from seducing Chu Xiuming, so she did this. This time, only Shen Jin was mentioned and not Chu Xiuming. Besides, they all looked ordinary and should not be an eyesore.
Shen Jin said, "No need, I have someone to serve me."
After saying this, he waved his hand. The servant was very nervous and didn't dare to delay any longer. She sent everyone out quickly with a firm attitude.
At this time, the only ones left were some younger maids. Shen Jin did not ask them to get married, but just said, "Register who still remembers where their home is. We don't need the money to redeem you. Each of you should give eight taels of silver and go home."
"I have no home anymore." The little maid, who was only six or seven years old, knelt on the ground and cried, "Please have mercy on me, Madam. My mother died early, and my father remarried..." Her life experience was so pitiful that anyone who heard her heartbroken would cry.
"Poor thing." Shen Jin sighed. When everyone thought Shen Jin would keep the person, they heard her say, "In that case, send him to learn a craft. If your family can't be relied on, you have to rely on yourself." Shen Jin said sincerely, "Who else wants to learn a craft? No one? Then go out and get the indenture and silver and go."
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