Chapter 36 The Battle of Argument

“The two people were likely to be afraid of their masters,” Qin Yunzhuang just glimpsed at Concubine Liu kneeling on the ground, “Or, the two concubines threatened them, but they dared not to do that.”

“Sister, why are you so urgent to defend these two people?” Qin Yunuan smiled, and said to Nanny Qiao, “You mean it was the two concubines that forced you to purchase inferior goods. Apart from those wooden charcoals, is there any other evidence? Do you get the receipt?”

Nanny Qiao was stunned, with her fingers rubbing her apron in her waist, “I... I forget. We mansion Qin is so familiar with those merchants of goods. We usually settle the accounts every three months if there is no other reason.”

“Then, that’s weird,” Qin Yunuan smiled with a handkerchief covering her face, “Just now my mother said that it was commonsense to do a backup when doing the accounting, and these two concubines were their first time to do the house management. They lacked relevant experience, so they did not do the accounting. However, you also said you have been responsible for purchasing at the mansion for 8 years. Why don’t you know that it is commonsense that receipt is indispensable when purchasing goods?”

After Concubine Liu heard Qin Yunuan’s words, she suddenly straightened her body and shouted, “It must be you that substituted the inferior charcoal and you gained the benefits.”

Qin Zhi was shocked and slowly turned his eyes onto the panic Nanny Qiao. The nanny did not present any evidence about her charge, and now the receipt and account book were all missing. It was hard to punish Concubine Liu and Concubine Chang. However, the inferior charcoal did cause the big fire and did destroy his wedding and the counting house. Qin Zhi must punish the initiator of this disaster or he will lose his prestige.

It was not so appropriate to conclude before the whole thing was clear. Now Qin Zhi was in a dilemma.

“Since the two sides have their respective reasons,” Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows, “Why not invite the merchants to be here to judge the thing.”

Dou Qing’e covered her mouth and smiled, “Unfortunately, I just heard that boss Yuan went home for the funeral of his family, and he maybe come back after two or three months.” Concubine Liu and Concubine Chang have to be punished without the person as the witness.

Su Chenghai suddenly said gently, “Aunty, do you think it is a pity?”

Qin Yunuan and Dou Qing’e simultaneously turned back to look at Su Chenghai, but one was trusting him but the other was doubting him.

Dou Qing’e was speechless but her eyes were evident. She thought Yuan Dao had already been in his hometown in South Fujian, which was far away from the Royal City. The money she gave to him was enough to help him open another goods shop.

“To be frank, aunty, you should not feel it a pity,” Su Chenghai pretended to be unconscious to tidy his cuff, and said, “Because I have met boss Yuan the other day at the First House, and we regretted we didn’t meet sooner, so I invited him to visit the mansion today. Now he maybe has arrived at the mansion.”

After the incense burnt half, they did not see the alive boss Yuan, but received a thin letter.

“The gatekeeper said boss Yuan seemed to be urgent and drove his carriage away after leaving this letter in a hurry.”

Dou Qing’e moved her body forward spontaneously, some helpless emotions got involved in her calm and elegant face. She argued helplessly, “We do not see his real body, and how can we make sure the letter is from him?”

“There must be a seal of him on the letter,” Su Chenghai held a cup of tea slowly, leaning the armchair made of Huanghuali wood, “Aunty, if you do not believe it, you can check it by taking this letter to the shop of boss Yuan.”

Dou Qing’e said with her still kind face, “No, I believe you all the way.” But secretly, she had pinched her hands tightly, leaving a crescent moon-shaped imprinting. She raised her head and looked at Qin Zhi. Qin Zhi now was frowning and looked at the letter. Surprise and anger emerged on his face, and he seemed to be about to vent his anger heavily.

“Tell me, you, a bad thief,” Qin Zhi pointed at Nanny Qiao kneeling on the ground, “You have been in my house for many years, and you have been responsible for purchasing for many years. How much money did you get illegally?”

The whole thing was going in the opposite direction Dou Qing’e expected.

“Father, what does the letter say? Why do you get so angry?” Qin Yunuan’s question was like a big kick on Dou Qing’e’s body.

“This is not a letter,” Qin Zhi squinted at trembling Nanny Qiao kneeling on the ground, “This is an account submitted by boss Yuan. It records clearly that the nanny, this menial thief, plotted with boss Yuan that she wrote down that the mansion purchased the superior goods on the receipt, but the shop only sent the inferior goods which were hard to sell in the shop to the mansion. This is a conspiracy. I am afraid that there are still numerous inferior things at the whole mansion.”

“What? The nanny is the real thief,” Qin Yuwan instantly defended her mother, “And she blames all on my mother. Such a lousy motive. Father, I think she should not work in our family any longer.”

Nanny Qiao constantly kowtowed. She did gain some illegal profits through her position, but she never signed the account with boss Yuan. All they had plotted was oral secretly, and besides, what she did was well known by the madam. Madam also gained some shares.

“M... madam, you should....” Nanny Qiao lowered her head heavily into her shoulder shudderingly. She opened her mouth and showed her yellow teeth. It was so disgusting that she cried with her snots and tears. She dared not to say more after she caught the eyes of Dou Qing’e.

“That’s not enough,” It was the first time that gloom flashed on the eyes of Qin Yunuan, “We should check all the accounts of her family. All money from those dirty deals should be submitted.”

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“Right,” Qin Zhi nodded to express his agreement. He cared less about that money, but what he cared about was the discipline of the family. That’s also related to the prestige of him, the master of the family, “Butler Xie, you are in charge of this issue. And the dirty thief should be punished by the family’s discipline. 50 sticks, not one less.”

Butler Xie was an elder steward who was responsible for many things in the family. He had served Qin Zhi for many years and Qin Zhi trusted him very much.

“As for the counting house,” Qin Zhi made a long pause here, and his eyes fell onto Concubine Liu and Concubine Chang, and then rolled for a while. He looked at Dou Qing’e aside, “Qing’e manages the counting house.”

Dou Qing’e felt relieved but still pretended to refuse. She received the power of managing the family after all thought she was the only right person.

“But I have promised that I needed to do the Buddha worshiping for one month. Now it is still some days left, so I am afraid that....” Dou Qing’e said off and on.

Qin Yunuan exactly found that Dou Qing’e was looking up and down at her. She raised her eyes and was about to say something, but Su Chenghai aside said calmly, “Now the Queen mother manages the whole Imperial Harem but still does the Buddha worshiping. She chants the Buddha texts every day. So, in my opinion, aunty can do the management of the family and the Buddha worshiping simultaneously.”

That’s what Qin Zhi wanted. It was he that let Dou Qing’e do the Buddha worshiping at her room, and it also was he that let Dou Qing’e re-manage the family. Su Chenghai’s suggestion seemed to intervene in the inner issue of Qin Family, but Qin Zhi was more confident, “Yes. So my wife Qing’e, she will be more overworked.”

Dou Qing’e did not fear the overwork, but she feared the whole issues of the family had nothing to do with her. For Dou Qing’e, the most terrible thing was to lose her management power of the family.

“Of course, I will try my best.” Dou Qing’e stood and gave her salute to the master. Today she did not coil all her long hair deliberately, because she wanted to pretend to come here in a hurry, and Qin Zhi had ever said that he loved her long dark hair. She stepped forward and asked Qin Zhi where he chose to have a rest. Frankly, Cui Xuan Courtyard was the unique perfect place. What she wanted was to let Qin Zhi stay at the courtyard.

Before Dou Qing’e said, Qin Zhi just turned back to ask Li Qiqi, “Tired? Madam just now said that she had already prepared another courtyard, and we can move there right now.”

Dou Qing’e was stunned but quickly added, “Right, though the new-prepared Furong Courtyard was small, it is well equipped. So, you can live there right now.”

“Furong Courtyard?” Qin Zhi seemed to be not satisfied.

Qin Yunuan raised her head and looked at Dou Qing’e. It seemed that after half a month, Dou Qing’e was shrewder. Furong Courtyard was a serious taboo in Qin Family. Qin Yunuan, only about nine years old at that time, remembered that Concubine He lived in Furong Courtyard, who was very delicate and elegant. She was sick and never went out. She was dead and nobody found that until the next day. Qin Zhi blocked Furong Courtyard and believed that the disease energy would linger at the courtyard for a long time, and the place was not very auspicious.

“Mother, Furong Courtyard, is not so suitable, right?” Qin Yunuan responded gently, “Concubine Li just joined our family, and now it is the right time to enjoy the auspicious phenomenon. I think Furong Courtyard is not so auspicious.” Though QinYunuan did not know the plot Dou Qing’e had on earth, she knew well that Dou Qing’e must plot something evil.

Qin Zhi’s face was stiff and not so normal, “There are so many courtyards at the mansion, but why do you choose that one?”

Dou Qing’e was not panic, “Master, I choose that one because I consider much. First, Furong Courtyard is close to Shunchang Courtyard. Second, though Furong Courtyard has been empty for so long, it is well equipped. Sister Li can move into the courtyard at once Third,” Dou Qing’e nodded, “I know you, my master, have not forgotten Sister He. She is a perfect woman. Since she died, you have been upset always. Now I see that you are very happy to marry Sister Li, and I am relieved for Sister He. ”

Now the sky was bright enough. Butler Xie had recorded all the loss and items which were burned out in this fire in Hai Tang Courtyard and showed the record to Qin Zhi. It was a big loss this time and the renovation of Hai Tang Courtyard would spend one or two months. Qin Zhi seemed to be convinced. He believed that the love he gave to Li Qiqi would not be less than the love given to He Lian. Besides, they can move back after two month’s renovation of Hai Tang Courtyard.

“OK, move to Furong Courtyard,” Qin Zhi massaged his sour corner of eyes, “It’s late, and everybody just quits.”