Transmigrated into an Ancient M-Preg Novel as the Scumbag Alpha (GL) - Chapter 14
With Shen Liunian’s single word, “Kill,” most of the people in the courtyard knelt.
A bolder manager stepped forward and asked, “Does the Princess Consort have evidence for this statement? Although we are servants of the princess manor, if the Princess Consort has no evidence, we may not submit. Furthermore, some of us are internal palace maids from the Ministry of Internal Affairs; how can we be arbitrarily beaten or killed?”
“Your Highness!” A plump old woman knelt towards Yun Chenghuai, “When Your Highness first established the manor, your servants were already serving here. For the Princess Consort to call for beatings and killings, to treat us so harshly, if word gets out, wouldn’t outsiders say that Your Highness is tyrannical and unpredictable?”
“Presumptuous.” Xiao Bei was the first to speak. “Her Highness has always treated the manor’s servants generously, which is why you’ve grown accustomed to being so audacious, daring to question Her Highness!”
“Xiao Bei.”
Yun Chenghuai raised a hand to stop her. She first looked at Shen Liunian, seeing that the other party didn’t wish to speak, presumably wanting to observe her attitude.
“From the Ministry of Internal Affairs? Cannot be arbitrarily killed?” She repeated the manager’s words, then sneered, “What if this Princess kills you? Or shall this Princess invite the head manager of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to tell you who is master and who is servant?”
She had no concept of master-servant relations, but the original owner was accustomed to arrogance, so she merely imitated a fraction of it.
Yun Chenghuai had a sudden thought and said with a hint of mockery in her tone, “The Princess Consort is the mistress of the princess manor. It is her duty to inspect the accounts as she has just taken over the household. As for whether your accounts are incorrect, that will only be known after investigation.”
“The Princess Consort is merely giving you an opportunity, so as to avoid severe punishment after the investigation and being called heartless. But since the Princess Consort gave you an opportunity beforehand, and you showed no gratitude, then we shall investigate directly.”
She stretched out her hand, pointing at the two who had just spoken. “Start with those two.”
“By the way, they just now openly defied the Princess Consort and even attempted to slander this Princess. What crime is that?”
Xiao Bei immediately interjected, “A capital offense.”
Her words, both overtly and subtly, were in defense of Shen Liunian and served as a warning to others. Those who hadn’t knelt also began to kneel.
“Your Highness, spare our lives!” The bolder manager, thin and tall, hastily knelt on the ground, begging for mercy.
The plump old woman also knelt prostrate on the ground, her flesh trembling with extreme fear.
Yun Chenghuai was merely supporting Shen Liunian, not truly intending to kill anyone. “Death penalty can be exempted, but punishment cannot be avoided…”
Should it be slapping or caning? She was a bit unsure.
“An Yuan, you handle it.”
She didn’t notice the astonished expression on Xiao Bei’s face beside her. An Yuan had people drag the thin manager and the plump old woman away.
Their pleas for mercy had barely begun when the guards gagged them, and their voices abruptly ceased.
At this moment, Yun Chenghuai hadn’t yet considered what their fate would be. She said coldly to the kneeling servants and nannies, “The Princess Consort is the mistress of the princess manor. Her words are this Princess’s words. All of you remember this. If I find out anyone disrespects the Princess Consort, while the Princess Consort is kind-hearted, this Princess is not to be trifled with.”
She thought to herself: I’m easy to deal with, but the female lead isn’t. It’s exhilarating to say something like this for the first time, thankfully I didn’t stutter.
She then flashed another smile. “Madam, the rest is up to you.”
Shen Liunian’s eyes held a peculiar glint. Could Dog Yun truly feign to this extent?
“Begin the drawing of lots.”
The drawing of lots would determine whose accounts would be audited first. Once that person’s accounts were cleared, if there were indeed problems and the person had not admitted them beforehand, the punishment would be doubled.
Shen Liunian was truly adept at psychological warfare. Those with guilty consciences, seeing their turn approaching, would surely be terrified.
There were those who would resist to the end, but the outcome would show them that stubborn resistance was futile.
The Shen family had many capable accountants. Auditing one person’s accounts was quick. Despite the numerous accounts, with the effort of several Shen family accountants, checking one person’s ledger took only half an incense stick of time.
It was a cold winter day, and snow had begun to fall. Everyone stood in the open courtyard, snowflakes dusting their shoulders and heads, shivering from the cold.
Shen Liunian drank hot tea, her legs covered by thick animal fur. She warmly admired the falling snow, seemingly in a different world from the anxious people in the courtyard.
Yun Chenghuai obediently peeled a few sugar-roasted chestnuts and placed them closer to Shen Liunian’s side. With the brazier providing heat, the chestnuts wouldn’t get cold.
“Madam, have some chestnuts.”
Shen Liunian’s gaze returned from the falling snow. Trapped in this imperial city, even watching the snow had unexpectedly brought some amusement.
She casually picked up a peeled chestnut. Suddenly, she realized that Yun Chenghuai seemed to have peeled it. Since she had already picked it up, if she threw it back, Dog Yun would probably explode, right?
For her to control the princess manor, what she needed most was Dog Yun’s attitude. If she openly humiliated Dog Yun, the entire household might not easily submit.
If she provoked Dog Yun into dropping the act, all her efforts would be in vain.
Shen Liunian decided that since Yun Chenghuai wanted to pretend, she would seize this opportunity to develop her influence in the capital.
Destiny was often in one’s own hands. She might not be able to wield absolute power in the capital, but at least she wouldn’t be at anyone’s mercy.
The visible retainers who had accompanied her upon her marriage were still too few to control the entire princess manor. To truly gain control of the entire manor, she still had to maintain the pretense.
Shen Liunian discreetly put the chestnut into her mouth. Yun Chenghuai’s eyes lit up when she saw this, and she peeled chestnuts with even greater enthusiasm.
Soon, the first manager’s accounts were ready. Xu Er stepped forward to report, “Princess Consort, Manager Qian’s accounts are ready.”
Xu Er was Shen Liunian’s most capable manager, also the leader among those who came with her as part of her dowry.
Yun Chenghuai remembered there was also Xu Da, who would later become a capable general under Shen Liunian. Xu Er was like half of her money pouch.
Even though Shen Liunian was young at this time and not yet deeply experienced, her talent for discerning people was already evident.
Many of those who followed Shen Liunian years later were captivated by her charm.
“Manager Qian?” Shen Liunian’s gaze fell on a plump Qian Yuan. The person was sweating profusely in the middle of winter, suggesting a guilty conscience.
Hearing his name, Manager Qian hurriedly stepped forward. “Your Highness, Princess Consort.”
Manager Qian appeared terrified, but still seemed to be struggling, wondering if there was a sliver of hope.
Shen Liunian waved her hand, signaling Xu Er to speak.
“Reporting to the Princess Consort, Manager Qian, who oversees the manor’s comings and goings, has many discrepancies in his accounts. Among the most valuable missing items are the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Pendants bestowed by Her Majesty, the Gold-Inlaid Mutton-Fat White Jade Crown bestowed by the late Empress, items sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and gifts from various parties. A list has been compiled; please review it, Princess Consort.”
“No need.” Shen Liunian sneered. “Forget about items bestowed by Her Majesty and the Empress Mother. Even items sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs are all officially manufactured. Taking a single officially manufactured item is a capital offense. As for items bestowed by Her Majesty and the Empress Mother…”
Her voice turned colder. “Extermination of nine generations.”
As soon as Shen Liunian’s words fell, Manager Qian immediately knelt and begged for mercy. “It’s a misunderstanding, Your Highness! Your servant is loyal and would never dare to embezzle!”
“Is that so?” Yun Chenghuai, who had been playing the part of a compliant wife, said calmly upon hearing Manager Qian’s words, “An Yuan.”
Soon, several guards came forward, carrying more than ten boxes.
An Yuan opened one of the boxes and said, “Your Highness, these were all found at Manager Qian’s residence.”
Before Shen Liunian’s nap, she had sent An Yuan to lead people to the homes of those managers and nannies. Besides other things, imperial gifts and officially manufactured items all had their unique markings.
An Yuan, leading her people, didn’t need to find too many items; just finding things with official markings would suffice.
Then, matching the account books with the items, the embezzling managers and nannies would have no room for argument in the face of irrefutable evidence.
With overwhelming evidence, Manager Qian collapsed to the ground. The remaining people were in turmoil, their resolve beginning to waver.
Yun Chenghuai looked at Shen Liunian obediently. “Madam, how should we proceed?”
She appeared to be completely submissive to Shen Liunian, and those who saw this had varying thoughts.
Especially the managers and nannies, seeing the Princess trust the Princess Consort so much, their last glimmer of hope vanished.
Shen Liunian’s gaze rested on Yun Chenghuai’s face, seeing her completely obedient, her eyes practically overflowing with sincerity, firmly defending her.
Shen Liunian’s eyes flickered slightly. She was almost beginning to believe that Yun Chenghuai had truly changed.
But how could a person change so drastically, unless there was an ulterior motive?
Of course, Shen Liunian also had her own motives. If Dog Yun’s motives blocked her path, then she would eliminate anyone who stood in her way.
Yun Chenghuai suddenly felt a bit cold and couldn’t help but lean closer to the brazier for warmth.