Translator: Dj22031
Editor: Dj22031
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“We were in a hurry to get back to see the young lady, so we didn’t have time to ask too many questions. We only heard that quite a few people were cheated out of their money by the second manager of the Chang Le gambling den.”
Jiu Jin poured tea and served it, smiling as she said, “That second manager tricked people into depositing money, offering them two percent interest every month, and quite a few people actually fell for it.”
“Actually, those in the know understand. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Money shops only offer one or two percent interest a year. Who can give you two percent interest every month out of thin air? It must be usurious lending.”
“It’s just that no one says anything, and they don’t ask, so they just accept the interest without a second thought.” Jiu Jin shook his head.
Ba Liang looked around, a hint of disdain in her eyes, “The young lady was made to stay here after returning to the mansion?”
This governor’s mansion is too shabby.
Giving their young lady such a small, dilapidated house to live in, who are they looking down on?
“Yes, I see this little courtyard, it seems like the young lady isn’t the only one living here?” Aunt Huang also frowned.
Yu Linlang patted their hands, “It’s just a temporary stay. Once we transfer our household registration from their house, we can return to Jinling openly and honestly, without having to hide anymore.”
The three of them looked delighted and nodded in unison.
“By the way, the rice you requested should arrive in a few days.” Ba Liang’s expression turned serious as he thought about the important matter at hand.
Yu Linlang nodded. “Did you encounter anything along the way?”
“Nothing major, just a long journey, and we encountered three groups of river bandits. Fortunately, we met people from the Dafeng Merchant Guild along the way. They were very warm and friendly, and we hitched a ride with them, so nothing else happened.”
Yu Linlang raised an eyebrow, a half-smile playing on her lips. “Hmm.”
“This year, not only are the harvests in Qizhou and Qingzhou poor, but the livelihoods in Weizhou Prefecture will also be difficult after winter.” Aunt Huang sighed. “Since Miss intends to stay here temporarily, she should make plans as soon as possible.”
As they were talking, they heard Mama Hu calling from outside, “Miss Yu, Miss Jiu Jin!”
Aunt Huang and Ba Liang frowned involuntarily upon hearing this inappropriate address.
“Who are you calling Miss Yu?” Aunt Huang opened the door and yelled at the old woman. “All the girls in this house, young and old, are surnamed Yu. Which one are you calling Miss Yu?”
“What? My Miss was thrown out into the world by you since she was little, so she doesn’t even deserve a birth order, is that it?”
Xiang Ling and Xiang Ye, following behind Mama Hu, lowered their heads and dared not utter a sound when they saw Aunt Huang’s unfriendly expression.
Mama Hu was startled.
Jiu Jin walked out and smiled at her, “Mama Hu, this is my young lady’s personal cook, Sister Huang.”
“That’s Ba Liang, the young lady’s personal maid. I mentioned it to you yesterday. My young lady has quite a few capable people around her, so she doesn’t really need the three of you.”
“If you really can’t handle it, you can go back to Madam’s courtyard. An old woman who can’t even call the proper titles is useless.”
“Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Third young lady, please forgive me. Yes, it’s just that this old woman is slow-witted and doesn’t know manners. She deserves a beating.” Mama Hu was quite flexible and immediately slapped her mouth to admit her mistake when she saw that things were not going well.
Yu Linlang came out and glanced at her, asking expressionlessly, “Another death?”
Mama Hu’s face twitched, and she hurriedly waved her hand and replied, “No, no. But something did happen in the mansion. The old lady asked all the young ladies, along with the madam and concubines, to go to her courtyard for questioning.”
….
The old lady’s residence, Yuhua Garden, was located in the southeast corner of the mansion, in the best and most spacious location.
Yu Linlang came alone this time, led only by Mama Hu.
Passing through the corridor and entering the courtyard, she immediately saw the eldest daughter, Yu Qiuping, kneeling pale-faced at the main gate.
Two maids lay prostrate beside her, beaten and unable to move.
Yu Linlang glanced at them indifferently, then followed the trembling Mama Hu inside. After announcing her arrival, she entered the old lady’s main room.
The old lady was dressed in a brocade red robe today, her white hair covered in frost, and her expression was even colder than before.
Time had refined her temperament, giving her a unique nobility and beauty. Even with the deep wrinkles on her face, her former beauty was still evident.
The usually quick-witted Concubine Cui, under the old lady’s imposing presence, dared not act recklessly today, standing obediently beside her sisters, silent.
Seeing Yu Linlang enter, she looked at her with her clear, autumn-water-like eyes.
Yu Linlang bowed respectfully and walked slowly to the side.
“The Governor has arrived.”
Many of the women in the room were unaware of what had happened, but upon hearing that Governor Yu had arrived, their spirits lifted.
Madam Huo took a sip of tea, glancing at the timid and cowering Concubine Ma with a hint of mockery in her eyes. “There must be some people who don’t know what happened today. Let Master tell you.”
Governor Yu stormed in with a cold, angry face, first bowing to the old lady, then glaring angrily at the timid Concubine Ma, shouting, “Concubine Ma, what a spoiled daughter you’ve raised!”
Concubine Ma knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly and crying, “Master, please forgive me, Madam, please forgive me. It’s all my fault. I didn’t know how to advise Miss. If you want to punish me, then punish me. I’m willing to bear the consequences.”
“Can you bear the consequences?” Governor Yu suddenly stepped forward and kicked Concubine Ma, knocking her to the ground, still not satisfied.
“Do you know what your good daughter has done? She’s secretly been lending money at exorbitant interest rates without telling the family!”
“Heavens!” Concubine Cui covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide with surprise. “How could Miss do such a thing?”
Yu Zhihua’s face went cold, her small hands clenched into fists. “Eldest sister is truly foolish. Lending money at exorbitant interest rates is illegal. What about Father? Doesn’t this put him in a very difficult position?”
“This matter has now reached the ears of the Heir Apparent and Lord Lu! It has completely disgraced me!”
Madam Huo sneered repeatedly. “The eldest daughter’s foolishness has implicated the entire Yu family. What will others say about her sisters in the future? I think it’s better to cut the Gordian knot and send her to a nunnery to calm down, so as not to implicate her many sisters.”
Concubine Ma collapsed to the ground, her face pale with fright, and kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy, “Madam, spare her! Master, spare her! Old Madam, please have pity on the eldest daughter! She was just confused for a moment. She’s only seventeen years old. How can she go to a nunnery to suffer for the rest of her life?”
The old lady, holding a bracelet, stared at Concubine Ma with a cold expression for a long time before speaking in a low voice, “Madam, didn’t you say last time that you had found a family for the eldest daughter? If things are well, let her marry into that family, and this trouble can be put to rest as soon as possible.”
“Seventeen isn’t a young girl anymore. If you keep picking and choosing, she’ll become an old maid.”
Concubine Ma trembled, tears streaming down her face as she repeatedly kowtowed, “Madam, Madam.”
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