“There’s still so much I need to learn. I need to learn from the way the Princess Consort hits people, remember the way she speaks, and figure out what she likes and dislikes. I want to be the most useful maid by her side, so she thinks of me whenever something comes up…”
“Hongying, you have to try your best! Such a good master is hard to find even with a lantern. You absolutely must not let her down!”
The curve of Wen Lingrao’s lips grew a little wider.
This little girl had a simple mind.
Gratitude was gratitude, and admiration was admiration; there were no convoluted twists and turns. Using someone like this put one at ease, without the need to be constantly on guard against them.
She withdrew her attention, leaned back in her chair, and revealed a satisfied expression.
These two people, one guard and one maid, were both usable.
Tong Meng had martial skills and could get things done. Hongying was clever and knew how to handle matters. With the two of them by her side, anything she did in the future would be convenient.
As for the others?
Wen Lingrao’s gaze swept over the bustling servants in the courtyard, and she had a clear idea in her mind.
That cook who took the silver and wanted to go to the Xiaoxiang Pavilion to find his lover could be used, but could not be entrusted with major tasks.
That servant crouching in the corner regretting standing on the wrong side was a fence-sitter. She could call upon him when needed and keep him at a distance when not.
As for the little maid sent by Concubine You.
Wen Lingrao narrowed her eyes. She wouldn’t touch her for now; keeping her might prove useful.
[Ding— The Host has initially mastered the usage of Mind Reading. It is recommended to continue practicing to improve accuracy.]
Wen Lingrao agreed in her mind, closed her eyes again, and tried to extend her attention further away.
Half an hour wasn’t long, but it wasn’t short either. She had to seize the time to listen to more useful things.
Several voices flooded in at the same time. She frowned and filtered through them one by one.
Suddenly, a familiar inner voice drilled into her ears.
“Bitch! Stinking woman! Daring to hit me, sooner or later I’ll show you!”
The corners of Wen Lingrao’s lips curled up slightly.
It was Chu Huan.
She focused her mind to listen.
“Hiss— It hurts to death. This face is swollen like a pig’s head, how am I supposed to see people tomorrow? That crazy woman, her strikes are so ruthless!”
“No, I can’t swallow this anger. Later, I’ll go to the Rongxi Courtyard to find the Old Madam and tell her everything in detail. The Old Madam values face the most; knowing that bitch hit her person, she definitely won’t spare her!”
As Wen Lingrao listened, the smile on her face deepened.
Complain? Fine, go complain.
But Chu Huan’s inner voice suddenly paused, then sounded again, this time with a bit of hesitation.
“Wait… what can the Old Madam do to her? That’s someone who even dared to hit Noble Consort Xi! Noble Consort Xi is so favored. Back then, she was so arrogant in the palace that she didn’t even lower her head when she saw the Emperor. And the result? She was slapped by this crazy woman and didn’t even dare to let out a fart!”
“The Emperor even protects her, what kind of logic is this?”
Wen Lingrao almost burst out laughing.
Chu Huan’s inner voice continued.
“No matter how formidable the Old Madam is, can she be more formidable than Noble Consort Xi? Even Noble Consort Xi couldn’t do anything to her, what can the Old Madam do? Complaining will be for nothing, and I might even be falsely counter-accused by that crazy woman. No, I can’t go complain.”
Wen Lingrao raised her eyebrows.
This Chu Huan actually had some brains and knew how to judge the situation.
But the next thoughts made her eyes light up.
“Hmph, if you won’t let me have it easy, I won’t let you have it easy either. Anyway, I’ve prepared long ago. Those fake accounts are cooked flawlessly, no one will be able to find out even if they investigate. The real account book is hidden well, along with the fifty thousand-odd taels of silver and a few title deeds for shops, all inside the secret compartment under the bed.”
“When the wind blows over in a few days, I’ll find an opportunity to abscond with the funds. When the time comes, with the sky high and the Emperor far away, who will be able to find me? Taking this silver, I’ll find a place to buy a big mansion, marry a few concubines, and comfortably live out the rest of my life. Isn’t that better than being a servant here?”
“Isn’t that crazy woman arrogant? Didn’t she hit me? By the time she realizes the silver is gone, I’ll be long gone, living it up somewhere! Let her be arrogant! Let her hit! All this hitting, and she’s still just paving the way for me!”
Wen Lingrao opened her eyes, the smile on her face fading, replaced by a thoughtful expression.
More than fifty thousand taels of silver.
And title deeds for shops.
This Chu Huan, his guts weren’t small.
She had acted in many historical dramas in the modern world and knew that embezzlement by stewards in these large noble households was common, but to embezzle this much was truly rare. More than fifty thousand taels was enough to buy several mansions.
What was even rarer was that this guy actually cooked the books and boasted that they were flawless.
Wen Lingrao stood up and walked outside.
Banxia hurriedly asked, “Princess Consort, where are you going?”
Wen Lingrao didn’t answer and directly lifted the door curtain, exiting the room.
In the courtyard, Tong Meng was still standing by the door, and Hongying was directing the young maids to clean up.
Seeing her come out, they all stopped their work and waited for her instructions.
Wen Lingrao’s gaze swept over and landed at the courtyard gate.
Chu Huan, not knowing when he had returned, was huddled in the corner outside the courtyard gate, clutching his face and groaning.
There was no one beside him; those few confidants had long run away without a trace.
Wen Lingrao walked over.
Hearing the footsteps, Chu Huan looked up and his expression instantly changed. He subconsciously wanted to run, but his legs were so weak he couldn’t even stand up. He could only shrink back and stammer, “Prin… Princess Consort…”
Wen Lingrao stood still in front of him, looking down at him from above.
Chu Huan’s face was swollen like a pig’s head. His left cheek was from the previous beating, and his right cheek was from the slap she had just added. Both sides were symmetrical.
Purplish-red, it looked both pitiful and comical.
Wen Lingrao squatted down to look him in the eye.
Chu Huan’s whole body trembled as he shrank back.
Wen Lingrao reached out and gently patted his face.
“Steward Chu,” she said softly, “what were you thinking about just now?”
Chu Huan froze, then desperately shook his head. “Nothing! This lowly one wasn’t thinking anything!”
Wen Lingrao smiled. Her smile was extremely gentle, and her eyes were extremely gentle, but the words she spoke sent a shiver down Chu Huan’s spine.
“Thinking nothing?” she said unhurriedly. “Then how come I heard someone say they cooked the books, hid silver, wanted to abscond with the funds, and go live it up?”
Chu Huan’s face instantly turned deathly pale.
He stared wide-eyed at Wen Lingrao, as if he had seen a ghost. His lips trembled, unable to utter a single word.
Wen Lingrao patted his face again. This time the force was heavier, making a loud smack, smack sound.
“Steward Chu, if a person embezzles a little bit of money, it can be overlooked, but to embezzle over fifty thousand taels, isn’t that going a bit too far?”
Chu Huan’s entire body stiffened, his eyeballs nearly popping out.
Over fifty thousand taels! How did she know this number?
Wen Lingrao looked at his expression of having seen a ghost, her smile growing even gentler. “And those few shop title deeds hidden in the secret compartment under your bed, right? It’s done quite covertly; ordinary people wouldn’t be able to find it.”
Chu Huan was completely dumbfounded.
His mouth hung open and his eyes were wide, his mind entirely blank.
Apart from himself, no one knew where the silver was hidden. Not even his wife knew about the existence of that secret compartment.
But how did the Princess Consort know? How did she know so clearly?
Wen Lingrao stood up, looking down at him from above, the smile on her face slowly fading.