Wei Mansion.
Before dawn, Zhu Changsheng wrote a letter and handed it to Fu Xin. “Ride swiftly back to Azure Cloud Temple,” she instructed. “Make sure to ask Master about the origin and purpose of that copper coin. I hope you can return before the funeral.”
The copper coin Zhu Changsheng mentioned was the strange object found in Wei Yuan’s corpse. Its material was the same as ordinary copper coins, but the ghostly symbols inscribed on it were markings she had never seen before.
Though its origin was unknown, she could determine that the coin was harmful to Wei Yuan’s soul. If she didn’t clarify its background beforehand, the person behind the scenes who wanted to disperse Wei Yuan’s soul might strike again from another angle. She needed to know where the coin came from to quickly identify the target and find the suspect.
Fu Xin took the letter and replied, “Yes, I will leave the city immediately and return to Azure Cloud Temple.”
Fu Xin bowed and then turned to leave Songzhu Tower.
Shui Yao entered the courtyard together with Steward Su Ji.
Su Ji placed the Wei Mansion’s income and expenditure ledgers on the table beside Zhu Changsheng’s left hand and reported, “Young Madam, these are the mansion’s account books that I organized last night. However, a large portion of the ledgers were burned by Lady Xiang. Moreover, when I went to the treasury to count the silver, I discovered that our mansion has no money left.”
“Before the tragic news of the Wei family masters’ deaths in battle reached Shengjing, how much silver was originally stored in the Wei Mansion’s treasury?” Zhu Changsheng picked up the top ledger and began flipping through it.
Lady Xiang had burned the treasury’s general ledgers, while the one in Zhu Changsheng’s hands recorded the donations made by the Wei Mansion’s masters.
The Old Madam alone had donated two hundred thousand taels of silver. The combined donations from the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth branches, along with the concubines of each branch, amounted to three hundred thousand taels.
For instance, Wei Yuan’s birth mother, Concubine Liu, contributed the largest share, donating two hundred thousand taels.
These donations were made in the name of the Wei Family Trading House to provide initial funds for the people of neighboring counties who had lost their homes due to floods, helping them rebuild.
The masters of the mansion had collectively donated five hundred thousand taels.
Given this, the vast treasury of the Wei Mansion must have held a considerable amount of silver.
“The Old Madam and Concubine Liu enjoyed hoarding gold at home during their lifetimes, especially Concubine Liu. Her business flourished, and every month, she would use the surplus silver from her earnings to buy gold, storing it in the treasury. She said that with the instability among the five nations, gold would serve as a universal currency in case of emergencies. It could also combat inflation and ensure that assets wouldn’t be eroded by it. Therefore, Concubine Liu stored one million taels of gold in the treasury.”
Thud! The ledger in Zhu Changsheng’s hands slipped to the ground.
She looked up at Su Ji in shock. “How much did you say?”
“One million taels… of gold,” Su Ji replied with certainty. “The treasury accounts have always been managed by me. Before Lady Xiang drove me out of the Wei Mansion, the treasury held one million taels of gold, fifty-two taels of silver, and seventy thousand strings of cash. All of this wealth has disappeared. The only items left in the treasury are the imperial gifts bestowed by His Majesty in the past. These gifts are valuable but cannot be resold, so Lady Xiang dared not touch them. However, the Wei Mansion urgently needs funds to arrange the funerals for the masters.”
Zhu Changsheng took a moment to calm her inner astonishment. As she was about to bend down to pick up the ledger, Steward Su Ji retrieved it first and handed it to her with both hands.
Zhu Changsheng took the ledger, her fingers trembling slightly.Is Zhu Yuanshu out of her mind, turning down a great noble family to marry Prince Jing and serve Princess Consort Jing, even paying her own way into the prince’s mansion?
Come to think of it, in her previous life, Zhu Yuanshu was suppressed by Lady Xiang as soon as she married into the Wei Mansion, and she was defeated before she even had a chance to bring back the Wei Mansion’s steward.
The true situation of the Wei Mansion is probably still unknown to Zhu Yuanshu to this day!
Even she herself, if not for Su Ji personally telling her, would have only thought that the Wei Mansion was somewhat more established than other mansions.
After all, the Wei Family had built their achievements generation after generation on horseback. The shortest-lived son born into the Wei Mansion died at three, while the longest-lived was Old General Wei, who had just died in battle this year at forty-six.
From the moment they stepped onto the battlefield, they were prepared to be wrapped in horsehide for burial.
Thus, the Wei Family’s wealth was accumulated through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
However, what Zhu Changsheng never expected was that the Wei Mansion was so wealthy.
No wonder Lady Xiang and Wei Clan Leader were trying every means to drive her out of the Wei Mansion.
It seems her conflict with Lady Xiang won’t be easily resolved!
Seeing Zhu Changsheng’s strong reaction, Su Ji quickly explained, “Young Madam, rest assured, every copper coin in the Wei Mansion is clean. After the Wei men died in battle, the court would issue a condolence payment. The old madam used this money to start a business. Later, when Concubine Liu married into the family, she expanded the business to neighboring countries with her unique Peach Blossom Brew. Over the years, the Wei Mansion has only recently become slightly prosperous.”
Slightly prosperous!
Does Steward Su know that this “slightly prosperous” has reached the point where they could bury someone alive with copper coins?
Zhu Changsheng snapped back to reality and asked, “Does the Wei Family still have the recipe for the Peach Blossom Brew?”
“Yes,” Su Ji sighed with a frown. “But it was taken by Lady Xiang.”
Zhu Changsheng took a deep breath.
Seeing Zhu Changsheng’s expression, Shui Yao softly asked, “Young Madam, should we report this to the authorities?”
Zhu Changsheng quickly shook her head. “We cannot report it.”
“Then are we just going to let Lady Xiang and the clan leader off so easily?” Shui Yao said.
Su Ji replied, “Miss Shui Yao, if we report it, the exact amount of the Wei Mansion’s wealth will also be exposed. The Wei Mansion has been enduring rumors of overshadowing the emperor with their achievements these years. If outsiders find out that our Wei Mansion is as rich as a nation, who knows how they will slander the deceased masters.”
Wealth should not be flaunted—this was what Concubine Liu taught them.
Otherwise, when the Wei Mansion’s mistresses donated to charity, they would not have done so under the name of the Wei Family Trading Company.
Moreover, when donating that sum, Concubine Liu split it into three separate donations.
“Steward Su is right. We cannot report this matter,” Zhu Changsheng nodded, agreeing with Su Ji. “Steward Su, leave this matter to me. I will make Lady Xiang spit out that silver herself.”
Along with the Peach Blossom Brew recipe.
This is a way to generate wealth.
Then, Zhu Changsheng added, “Shui Yao, go to my storeroom and take thirty thousand taels of silver for Steward Su first.”
Su Ji’s expression changed, understanding Zhu Changsheng’s intention, and he quickly refused on behalf of the Wei Mansion’s masters. “Young Madam, you cannot touch your own dowry. If the masters find out they have to spend a woman’s dowry, they will definitely—”
“It’s just an advance. Once I recover the silver Lady Xiang embezzled, I’ll replenish it. By the way, have those brats gone back?” Zhu Changsheng interrupted Su Ji.
Su Ji secretly breathed a sigh of relief, his tone softening. “They knelt in the spirit hall keeping vigil all night. I took the liberty of letting them go back to rest first. I will call them back tonight to continue the vigil.”Zhu Changsheng gave a soft “Mm” in acknowledgment.
Shui Yao took out thirty thousand taels in silver notes and handed them to Su Ji.
At the same time, Zhu Yuanshu’s voice rang out from outside the courtyard: “How dare you block this consort? Open your dog eyes wide and see clearly who I am! Where is your young mistress? Tell her to come out and greet this consort!”