Chapter 35: Li Rou's Request

As soon as Pan Yueqing finished speaking, Nanny Zhou and Nanny Zhao, who had been sent out and just returned, were escorting a middle-aged man. The man had a shifty look, and his body was extremely fat in his silk clothes. When he saw Nanny Mei, his face changed.

Pan Yueqing reached out and took the two account books that Luo Shui respectfully presented with both hands. One was the newly recorded jewelry account book by Gu Pan, and the other was the account book when it was handed over to Nanny Mei for management before. The two account books were stacked together. Without even opening them, anyone with eyes could see that the upper account book was really thin. Pan Yueqing raised her eyes and said to the middle-aged man, "Li Sier, do you know me?"

The middle-aged man trembled, shrank back, and shook his head, putting on a flattering smile. "How could I know such an esteemed person as the Miss?"

"Is that so?" Pan Yueqing sneered, then raised her eyes and motioned for Nanny Zhou to speak.

Nanny Zhou took out an account book from her waist. "Miss, the Changrui Ji used to be the Ruixiang Ji. Because of the Madam's marriage back then, it became a dowry shop and changed its name. Over the years, those precious jewelry and brocades of the Miss were all sold off by Nanny Mei and this Manager Li, who were in cahoots. Miss, please look at the account book."

Pan Yueqing didn't take it. Instead, she stared at Li Sier and Nanny Mei and uttered a word, "Read."

"…On the eighth day of the seventh month in the twelfth year of Tianqi, a pair of specially supplied green jade was sold for one hundred taels; on the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month in the twelfth year of Tianqi, three gold foil flower bracelets were sold for one hundred and fifty taels…" Nanny Zhou's voice was like the roll call in the palace. The voice echoed in the Dongfeng Pavilion. Pan Yueqing stood still, her gaze fixed on Nanny Mei and Li Sier. After Nanny Zhou read a few pages, Pan Yueqing raised her hand to stop her and then said to Nanny Zhao, "Check the additional income and expenditure of Nanny Mei over the years."

Nanny Zhao took out the account book obtained from Nanny Mei's home. Without opening it, she said to Pan Yueqing, "It matches. Nanny Mei has bought a total of fifty mu of fertile land, one hundred mu of paddy fields, three mountain peaks, and twelve houses. After questioning Nanny Mei's husband, it was found that over the years, she used money to secure an official position for her eldest son and made connections. Altogether, it cost eight hundred and eighteen taels of silver in total, big and small expenses included."

"You divided the money equally. You sold my jewelry for more than one thousand six hundred taels of silver in total. These things originally belonged to me. It's only right that you pay back your debts. If you don't pay me back today, I'll have someone chop off your hands and feet!" Pan Yueqing gave a sharp look at Nanny Mei and Li Sier.

The money had long been spent, and even if they were killed, they couldn't produce that much money. Nanny Mei immediately thought of acting like a shrew and wailed pitifully, "My life is so hard! I've raised a white-eyed wolf with fear and trepidation for more than ten years!" As soon as she said this, even Li Rou couldn't help frowning.

Luo Shui released her hand and dislocated Nanny Mei's chin. She glared and scolded, "You old hag! You ate and used the Miss's things! You even dared to steal from the Miss! And now you have the nerve to howl here! The Miss has elders above her. How could the Pan Mansion have fallen to the point where you were the one raising the girl!"

Pan Yueqing rested her chin in her hand and looked at Nanny Mei. "It seems that Nanny Mei doesn't want to pay back the money." Luo Shui understood her meaning. She raised her hand and grabbed Nanny Mei's hand. With a crack, Nanny Mei's left arm was dislocated. Pan Yueqing smiled slightly. "What about you, Li Sier?"

Li Sier had never seen such a scene and was already scared silly. He nodded hurriedly. But Pan Yueqing, with a smiling face, walked up to him and said softly, "Manager Li, over the years, you owe me a lot."

"Just talk about the income of the Changrui Ji over the years. You haven't given me a single penny." Pan Yueqing reached out and took the two deeds of sale that Luo Shui presented, which were exactly the slave deeds of Li Sier and Nanny Mei. Pan Yueqing held the two deeds in front of them, and raised her eyebrows. "I'm kind-hearted. I also know that you can't raise that amount of money today. So, you two will stay in the mansion these two days. I'll release you when your family brings the money."

"If no one cares about you after two days, it's no big deal for me to beat and kill a few slaves. Don't forget that when you had children with others back then, the deeds of your wives and children are still in my hands." Pan Yueqing sat back on the chair and smiled as she warned the two people on the ground.

"You clearly have so much money! This amount is just a drop in the bucket for you! Why do you have to drive me to death!" Li Sier pointed at Pan Yueqing and accused her loudly. Pan Yueqing raised her eyes and looked at Li Sier like he was a fool. "Wealth is a blessing. Little by little, things can accumulate, but they can also fall apart. If you want to blame someone, blame your insatiable greed." After saying that, she waved her hand and called for the servant boys to tie them up and lock them behind the firewood pile in the small kitchen.

Nanny Liu felt awkward as she watched Pan Yueqing dealing with Nanny Mei and the others so forcefully. She didn't know whether to sit or stand. She was somewhat resentful in her heart but couldn't find a way to vent her anger.

Li Rou was quite at ease. She lowered her eyebrows, raised her eyes, and took a sip of tea.

Pan Yueqing stood up and motioned for Luo Shui to move the stool to the door. She gracefully sat down, took the hot tea that Luo Shui served with one hand, and glanced slightly at the dozen or so maids in the courtyard. She smiled gently. "I'm young, and I trusted the old people around me. I was kind to you, but I didn't expect you to treat me like a fool?!" When she said the last sentence, her voice turned stern, and her face instantly became cold. The maids in the courtyard couldn't help but kneel down with a thud when they met Pan Yueqing's sharp gaze.

The maids begged for mercy one after another. Pan Yueqing, looking tired, waved her hand. "When dealing with Yingying that day, the Master wanted to sell you off. I let you go because of our past relationship. But since I can't order you around, you're of no use. Call the human traffickers and sell you far away." After saying that, regardless of how the maids pleaded, the rough servant boys outside the courtyard came up and dragged them away one by one.

Taking this opportunity, Nanny Liu stood up and took her leave.

"Miss, if you want to replace the maids around you, you shouldn't do it in front of Nanny Liu," Li Rou said with a gentle gaze and a sincere tone. "You can't be without people in your courtyard. Replacing so many people around you at once will always give the Old Madam an opportunity to place more people here."

"If the Old Madam sends someone, I will naturally respect them," Pan Yueqing pretended not to understand the hidden meaning in Li Rou's words. She wasn't a naive young girl. Although she had a good impression of Li Rou, it didn't mean she would trust her. She gently fiddled with the double-ring bracelets on her wrist, making a clear sound. Pan Yueqing smiled and said to Li Rou, "Concubine Li, you didn't just come here today to watch the excitement, did you?"

"Of course not," Li Rou said calmly. "I need Second Miss's help."

"Concubine Li is now in a good position. What help can I offer?" Pan Yueqing looked at Li Rou with a slight gaze.

"I want to ask the Miss to help me give birth to the Master's eldest son!" Li Rou stood up, her gaze sincere. "This child will definitely regard the Miss as his own kin."