"As long as you agree, you can take Yan'er with you when you go to study at the Prince Qin's Mansion. The account books and keys will be sent to you tomorrow morning." Master Ling Er was unable to stop Ling Xiang and instead put forward conditions.
"If Second Uncle thinks that anyone can come and take advantage of the Qin Palace, then I don't mind having more people follow him. However, if this backfires and upsets the Princess and the Qin Prince, or if Second Sister does something foolish, then Second Uncle will bear the consequences."
The next morning, Second Master Ling personally handed the mansion's account books and keys to Ling Xiang, and brought all the stewards with him. He instructed, "From today on, all affairs of the mansion will be managed by Third Miss. You must cooperate with Third Miss and not cause any chaos in the mansion."
Ling Xiang took out the written agreement and handed it to Second Master Ling: "This is the terms we agreed on yesterday. Second Uncle, take a look. If there is no problem, sign the agreement and we can all feel more at ease."
After reading the agreement, Mr. Ling Er said nothing and stamped his own seal.
Mr. Ling Er did a lot of superficial work, however, when Ling Xiang checked the account books, no matter what she asked, the managers were extremely perfunctory and completely uncooperative, trying their best to trip her up.
"You know nothing about anything. Is this how you manage things? No wonder the atmosphere in the mansion is so bad." Ling Xiang closed the account book and glanced at the manager.
"Since you don't live up to your reputation, from today on, you don't have to work anymore. Pack up and leave."
The managers knew that Ling Xiang would definitely get angry, and they had already discussed a countermeasure, but they never expected that Ling Xiang would actually drive them away directly!
They are in charge of all the affairs in the mansion. If they all leave, there will definitely be chaos in the Marquis Zhenguo Mansion. By then, Ling Xiang will not be able to clean up the mess and will have to ask them to come back!
"Since the Third Miss is dissatisfied with all of us, let's just leave."
The stewards left quickly and efficiently.
The servants were instigated by the manager and did not work hard. When lunch time came, they did not even prepare lunch.
Mrs. Ling Er watched the chaos in the mansion until she felt that Ling Xiang was beyond repair. Then she leisurely walked to Ling Xiang's yard and accused him:
"Xiang'er, you drove away all the stewards? Do you know that the mansion is now in chaos! I'm afraid everyone will go hungry at noon today!"
Ling Xiang raised an eyebrow. "I've already issued an order this morning. Everyone should continue working as usual. Anyone who causes trouble will be punished. And now that there's trouble in the kitchen, anyone who doesn't work will be punished."
Madam Ling was so angry that she laughed: "Xiang'er, you don't really think that managing such a huge Zhenguo Marquis Mansion is an easy task? If you can't convince the people, even if you sell out everyone, no one will listen to your orders!"
"Is it that they don't listen to my orders, or is there someone behind the scenes instigating them to go against me?" Ling Xiang didn't argue with Mrs. Ling Er, and directly summoned all the servants in the mansion.
All the servants gathered in the hall, each of them secretly gloating in their hearts, waiting to see how Ling Xiang would end up.
Ling Xiang took a sip of tea slowly and pointed at Zhang Sui, saying, "Accountant Zhang, Xiaoyu just used my token to withdraw money, and you didn't give it to her?"
Zhang the Accountant raised his neck and said, "Without the Second Madam's token and without the Second Master's instructions, Third Miss, I really can't give you this money."
"My second uncle gave the order this morning that all matters in the mansion will be decided by me from now on. Accountant Zhang was also present at the time. Is he deaf and didn't hear it, or is he deliberately going against me, the head of the family?!" Ling Xiang threw the teacup in her hand and smashed it directly at Zhang Sui's feet.
"Zhang Sui has neglected his duties and disobeyed my orders. I hereby dismiss him from his position as accountant, punish him with one hundred strokes of the cane, and expel him from the Marquis of Zhenguo Mansion!"
Zhang Sui was not afraid at all and still stood there with his head held high.
The guards in the mansion are all his sister's men, and no one will obey Ling Xiang's orders. Unless Ling Xiang disregards his status and does it himself, otherwise, this beating will be just empty talk.
Not only Zhang Sui thought so, but others also thought so, waiting to see Ling Xiang make a fool of herself.
Ling Xiang had long expected that no guard would obey his orders and beat anyone up.
However, there must be brave men under a big reward. She is just a small guard, so there is no such thing as an iron plate. With just one hundred taels of silver, there are plenty of people who will come to her.
She had made preparations in advance and bribed two guards to serve her.
Two usually inconspicuous guards came out from behind, holding torture sticks, carried Zhang Sui away, and beat him without mercy, soon breaking Zhang Sui's buttocks into pieces.
"Stop!" Mrs. Ling arrived upon hearing the news and immediately stopped him.
Ling Xiang didn't even raise her eyelids. "Continue."
The guards continued to beat him with the boards, the sound even louder than before.
"Stop it!" Madam Ling Er was furious. "Who dares to hit my brother? Come, arrest them!"
The guards behind Mrs. Ling Er immediately rushed over to rescue her.
Ling Xiang raised her eyebrows but didn't try to stop her: "Second Aunt, if you take the lead in disobeying my orders, as your niece, I can't bear to let you be beaten with a stick. I can only let Zhang Sui take the stick for you. I just don't know if Zhang Sui is strong enough to bear it..."
"Also, if your men move the executioner once, I will give Zhang Sui ten more strokes of the cane. Ten more strokes for every single move... I hope Zhang Sui won't be killed by his own sister."
Ling Xiang looked at Mrs. Ling Er and laughed like a madman.
"Stop!" Mrs. Ling was really afraid that Ling Xiang would not care and really beat her brother to death. The person who tried to stop her immediately glared at Ling Xiang.
"Xiang'er, what do you want?"
"I always stick to the facts and never target anyone." Ling Xiang said with a smile.
"As the saying goes, rations must be sent before the army moves. Zhang Sui, the accountant, is deliberately trying to make things difficult for me, the new head of the household, by controlling the treasury and denying me access to money. Those who know this think it's the Marquis of Zhenguo Mansion; those who don't think it's the Zhang family."
"How is this possible! Xiang'er, you misunderstood. My brother definitely didn't mean that!" Mrs. Ling explained immediately.
Are you kidding? If this news really gets out, won’t her family be scolded to death?
"Second Aunt is so reasonable, Xiang'er certainly believes that Second Aunt would not have such intentions, but people's hearts are hidden, and it's hard to say for others." Ling Xiang took out the account book of the expenses in the mansion and pointed to a few pages.
"Second Aunt, you might as well take a good look at the area I circled."
Mrs. Ling Er took a closer look and found that what Ling Xiang had circled was actually the fake account she and Zhang Sui had made!
Over the years, with the collusion between her and Zhang Sui, such fake accounts appeared every once in a while. The money obtained was either used to subsidize her family or went into her own private treasury.
Less than half a day after the account book reached Ling Xiang's hands, she actually pointed out the false accounts she had made accurately!
Not to mention her, even the old man who has been working as an accountant for decades probably doesn't have such a skill, right?!
Is this still the Ling Xiang in her impression who knows nothing and can only cry in grievance?
What kind of niece has she raised over the years?
If Ling Xiang's previous cowardice was all pretended, then her character is too terrible!
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