SGEIRS -Chapter 135 Closing the Deal

“Miss, you’ve finally arrived! Please, come in quickly.”

When Li Cheng saw Meng Jinyao, it was as if he had spotted a lifeline—a ray of light in the darkness. His eyes lit up, and he quickly stepped aside to let Meng Jinyao and her two attendants enter.

Meng Jinyao nodded slightly and stepped into the elegant room.

Ningdong and Qingqiu followed closely behind.

Nanny Qiao, seeing the three of them enter, forced a polite smile and poured tea for Meng Jinyao. “Miss, please have some tea.”

Back when Meng Jinyao had not yet married, Nanny Qiao had been a trusted aide of the lady of the house. For a girl like Meng Jinyao, who had never been favored, she would have paid no attention at all. But now that she had come to request something from her, the feeling was both awkward and delicate.

Meng Jinyao glanced at Nanny Qiao and got straight to the point. “Six thousand taels is no small sum. I need to see what is worth that much before I can help Steward Li. Nanny Qiao, perhaps you can first tell me what you have that’s worth six thousand taels?”

Li Cheng immediately grew anxious upon hearing this. “Miss, didn’t you say yesterday that you wanted my mother to do something for you?”

Meng Jinyao’s voice was calm and measured. “Yesterday, I thought it over and realized this task does not necessarily require Nanny Qiao. It would just be more convenient if she did it. Besides, Nanny Qiao is very close to Madam Sun and loyal to her. Who knows—she might turn on me. It wouldn’t be worth the risk, and I’d lose six thousand taels.”

Nanny Qiao and Li Cheng were stunned. They had not expected a marquis’ wife to be so cautious over six thousand taels.

But indeed, the salary of a county magistrate was only thirty taels of silver per month. Six thousand taels was an enormous sum. Before marrying, this young lady’s allowance had been only one tael per month. It made sense that someone so used to poverty would be cautious with money—but was she really considering not using them at all because of that?

Li Cheng, remembering the pain from the injuries he received yesterday, grew even more anxious and quickly replied on Nanny Qiao’s behalf, “Miss, my mother would never do such a thing.”

Nanny Qiao had originally thought that since Meng Jinyao was asking for a favor, she would be easier to negotiate with. She did not expect that her participation was not essential. Now anxious, she hurriedly said, “Miss, if you can help Cheng’er, I will follow your orders at any time.”

Meng Jinyao seemed mildly interested. She stared at Nanny Qiao and asked, “Even if the task I ask you to do harms Madam Sun, you would still be willing?”

A flicker of hesitation crossed Nanny Qiao’s eyes. She glanced at her son, then quickly firmed her resolve. Her voice, however, still carried some tension. “May I ask what you would have me do, Miss?”

Meng Jinyao curled the corner of her lips. “It’s not anything like killing or burning. For Nanny Qiao, completing this task will not be difficult.”

Upon hearing this, Nanny Qiao secretly relaxed. It was not about murder or arson—otherwise she truly could not do it. She hurriedly agreed, “Rest assured, Miss. I will do my best to accomplish it for you.”

Meng Jinyao, still somewhat skeptical, asked, “Nanny Qiao, I’ll ask you again—between your son and Madam Sun, you truly choose your son? I recall that before, you were nearly killed when you were injured trying to save Madam Sun.”

Her casual skepticism made both mother and son feel tormented. Nanny Qiao had still held some hesitation, but now her mind was fully resolved. People are selfish—what master could be more important than their own flesh and blood? The past favors had already been repaid over the years.

Nanny Qiao’s eyes grew resolute as she knelt before Meng Jinyao. “Miss, at that time, when I risked my life to save the lady, the debt was already repaid. I only ask that you save Cheng’er. If you do, I am willing to serve you for the rest of my life, doing whatever you wish.”

Seeing their sincerity, Meng Jinyao was silent for a long moment before nodding. “Since you and your son are sincere, this matter will be left to you. I won’t bother finding someone else. As for serving me for life—that’s unnecessary. Just handle this one task properly.”

Hearing this, Li Cheng also knelt and joined Nanny Qiao in expressing thanks. “Thank you, Miss.”

Meng Jinyao gave Qingqiu a subtle look.

Qingqiu understood immediately, taking an envelope from her sleeve. She opened it, taking out two sheets of paper with writing on them. She then took a small round box from Ningdong and opened it—it was a box of vermilion ink paste.

Meng Jinyao said again, “Nanny Qiao, Steward Li, imprint your seals on these.”

At her words, Nanny Qiao and Li Cheng froze, standing and looking at the two sheets of paper, puzzled.

Nanny Qiao asked, “Miss, what is this?”

Meng Jinyao’s smile was calm as she spoke slowly, “I am giving you six thousand taels. What if later you deny it? It’s better to have some proof. Madam Sun is petty—if they knew you ever betrayed them, even if you return to them later, once your usefulness is exhausted, there will be no good outcome for you.”

Nanny Qiao and Li Cheng were struck again. They hadn’t expected her to be so cautious, leaving such a safeguard.

At this point, no one else could negotiate—no one but Meng Jinyao could provide them help. Even the lady of the house could not produce that much silver. The dowry had already been pawned, the marquis’s household was in poor circumstances, and Li Cheng had misappropriated the estate’s income—there was no one else to help.

Li Cheng, being literate enough to have been promoted by Madam Sun, glanced roughly at the contents of the papers. His pupils constricted in shock and disbelief.

The two sheets contained: one, a confession admitting to embezzling one thousand taels of estate income in betrayal of his master; the other, an IOU for five thousand taels.

Li Cheng was puzzled. “Miss, I admit to the confession, but what about this IOU? Didn’t you say my mother doing a task for you would be worth six thousand taels?”

Meng Jinyao replied warmly, “Steward Li, don’t worry. I’m just being cautious. As long as you complete the task I’ve assigned, this IOU will be destroyed. I won’t ask you for the five thousand taels. You were loyal to Madam Sun, but suddenly switching to me—I need assurance of your sincerity. Do you agree, Steward Li?”

She believed Nanny Qiao and her son would not betray her, but just in case, she calculated the potential consequences and made them leave a lever, so they wouldn’t dare act duplicitously.

When she was young, she had known Madam Sun had caused Cheng’er’s death, but she had no proof. She had suffered losses without evidence and allowed the perpetrator to escape for so many years. Now she understood the importance of always keeping proof.

Nanny Qiao and Li Cheng exchanged glances.

Meng Jinyao did not press further, speaking casually, “If you are unwilling, I won’t force it. One thing you can rest assured of: I won’t tell Madam Sun about this, not even about the embezzlement.”

The moment her words fell, Li Cheng’s resolute voice rang out: “Miss, I am willing to serve you with all my efforts.”