Chapter 164: Questioning in the Face (3)

Translator: Antonia

Even an immortal god couldn’t sort out these account books in less than seven days.

The hundreds of books contained records of many shops in five years and eight months...

He had paid a lot of money to fabricate them. Even he himself couldn’t find the flaws.

After Mo Qianxue pointed out the flaws, the butler picked up the ledgers on the ground one by one, “Open your damn eyes! These are what you gave us. If they are fake, then where are the real ones?”

She turned around gracefully and sat back in the chair, smirking, “Or, if these are fake, then, manager Feng, do you mean you have another set? One for public, and another one for yourself?”

Feng Da wasn’t a normal person now that he had the guts to make fake ledgers. After insane behaviors, he at once tore up, “There is only one set of ledgers. I really don’t know how to prove my innocence if lady insists there are two. I was appointed by madam and worked hard for her for years... Now madam is gone, and lady frames me like this. Lady, did you think about madam and filial piety? ...”

Mentioning madam again? How dared he! Upon hearing his words, nanny Mo had a headache and drew out her sword again, at the sight of which, Feng Da quickly shut up.

“These accounts are well-founded, but lady, you’re trying to pick out a bone from eggs. It’s true that the third lord Wan bought a jade vase with 9999 taels, but our Tianshengxuan sold one at 4000 taels. Couldn’t there be two jade vases in those three years? I just don’t accept your accusation. I request an official pleading.”

Only after the officers took over the case and the ledgers would he have a chance.

He was going to pull dirty tricks by taking the case to the court.

Mo Qianxue had been waiting for him to reach this point and smiled faintly, “Before we go to court, manager Feng, please allow me to deal with a few servants. Butler, please find me the life indentures of Feng Da’s parents. And let Mo Qiang get Feng Da’s parents and his wife Dongniang. Today, I’m going to clear away disloyal servants...either to kill or sell is up to my mood.”

She sipped tea leisurely while saying killing and selling, her eyes cold but face bright like a flower.

Feng Da’s parents were dowry servants from the Feng family. Her mother only returned Feng Da’s life indenture and cancelled his slavery. But his parents and wife were still slaves that belonged to the Founder mansion.

Don’t blame her for the cruel approach to coerce him with his families. But it was because Feng Da was too hateful...

In Tianqi, it was a convention that once a servant gained his/her superior’s approval to stay outside the mansion, he/she automatically became a freeman.

However, that was a convention, not law.

If he tried to bully and cheat her, then she could only use tough methods.

Didn’t he just say that he wasn’t a servant of the Founder mansion? Then, she would let him know how shameful and ugly things could get.

It was a matter of expediency. Courteous methods just didn’t work on such a bastard.

Seeing that Mo Qianxue ignored his words but threatened him with his parents, Feng Da showed malice in his eyes, “Madam approved that I took my parents back home. It was also madam that gave Dongniang to me. Then, lady, you have no right to dispose of them... If you insist in doing so, then I’ll accuse you in the court... Then let’s meet in the court...”

Feng Da’s face turned dark. After he had mentioned court, it meant a real tearing of faces. He found it no longer necessary to show respect to Mo Qianxue.

Then, he turned away to walk out of the front hall, but before he reached the door, he was stopped by the door guards pulling out swords.

As the swords got out, the air in the room instantly boiled with condensed murderousness.

The butler left. Chuyi only served tea. Mo Qianxue sneered without talking. But nanny Mo wouldn’t let Feng Da have a good time.

“Just leave like this? Today you can go nowhere before you make things clear...” She took the sword, brandished around his chest and satirized, “You still remember that it was madam who permitted you to take your parents home? That Dongniang was given to you by madam? Is your heart eaten by a dog? Even your freedom was granted by madam!

Without madam, you’re still a low-level servant in the Feng family and doing hard labors in Yangzhou. Without her, could you come to the capital and live a respected life? It’s alright you forget her kindness. But how dare you to pay lady back with entrapping!”

historical

Feng Da was silent by nanny Mo’s successive questioning. He was afraid of her, because he knew that nanny Mo had always served around madam through many hardships. Moreover, just now she had cut off his hair on the top of his head. As the sword moved about before his chest, his heart trembled along with it. He struggled to stand straight, but the discomfiture was visible.

However, his years of experience in deal with all kinds of situation wasn’t futile. By a little thinking and observing of nanny Mo’s sword, he understood that Mo Qianxue was in control of everything and, at the same time, that she didn’t want to him, at least right here right now in the mansion.

He had proofs of the tricks those eight managers had played, so now all the them were kneeling on the floor, but none of them dared to say anything. As long as he clammed up until evening, lady, a female, could do thing to him and would either release him or sent him to the court. There wouldn’t be a third way.

A damned person had his own damned method. Thinking this through, he raised his head and appeared righteous again, saying loudly, “I earned my freedom through my hard work. It has nothing to do with lady. There isn’t such a thing in Tianqi to force a freeman back to slavery...”

Mo Qianxue enjoyed her tea as if she hadn’t heard it. She didn’t want to talk to him. A crazy person couldn’t be talked through. This kind of people only regret with tears until they saw their coffins. Only tough methods would be effective.

Nanny Mo had all rage in her belly and said ironically, “Tianqi does have such a thing to allow a manager to steal away his superior’s money...”

Chuyi, holding the teapot, advised, “Nanny, don’t waste words with that ungrateful man. Don’t be mad and hurt your own health.”

Meanwhile, the butler returned, bowing and reporting, “Lady, Mo Qianxue has left for his house at Tongfu Alley. We’ve also sent words to the court, and our mayor Mr. Wang will be here personally soon to take away all those involved in this case. I think he’s on the way at this point.”

Hearing Mr. Wang would come, Feng Da shivered and smelt a rat, but he chose not to believe it. Although Capital Mayor only ranked level-four, a noble lady didn’t have the right to summon him.

Even if in the name of the Founder mansion, considerations must be taken into...

Mo Qianxue sneered inwardly at his complicated expression. He would understand in a while. Just let him die a clear death. Otherwise, other servants would follow his suit and made it hard for her to manage the mansion.

At this time, butler Mo ordered in a low voice, “Go and bring over the ledgers we prepared for Mr. Wang to carry back to office.”

Wasn’t Feng Da planning to do tricks on the ledgers and shake off all blames? Then, she cut off his way out. As early as before the ledgers were sent to uncle Yu, she had had these account books all copied.

Last time, about killing beggars on street, Mr. Wang reported to the Emperor in memorials what Mo Qianxue had told him that there wasn’t a single beggar survived. The two had a tactic understanding, so Mo Qianxue also didn’t point out at court the suspicious behavior of Mr. Wang.

That was a huge favor!

Otherwise, in the stormy reshuffle days ago, he would have been kicked out of his office.

Later, Mr. Wang, a well-informed and sophisticated man, prepared a generous gift as his and sent to the Founder mansion as his gratitude. Of course, Mo Qianxue wasn’t mean and also prepared him the same generous gift. Hence, the connection was built.

As all the ledgers were carried to the front hall, Feng Da went crazy immediately! He couldn’t remain calm, dashed forward desperately to check the account books. The butler and other servants, with a smirk, didn’t stop him.

There was a subtle curve on Mo Qianxue lips. Whom god will destroy, the first made mad.

Even if he bought connections to destroy the ledgers, but the original copy was here in the Founder mansion and could be copied again and again. This was the way to put him into the deadly trap and sell all his families.

Feng Da checked them with the original books one by one. After a dozen, his heart was soaked in coldness utterly and muttered incoherently, “Impossible...that’s impossible...”

Realizing that his dream would be shattered, Feng Da turned around suddenly, a little insane, and pointed at Mo Qianxue, “You, you’re not a human...”

Nobody could think of copying the ledgers while finishing reading all of them in seven days.

At this moment, a man with the manner of arrogant officials came in and shouted, “How dare you! Catch this crazy servant who offends the noble lady of Founder mansion!”

“Yes.” Several officers rushed out from behind Mr. Wang.

Feng Da was dumbfounded, and the other eight managers all collapsed onto the floor.