TRBDM -Chapter 95 One Thousand Three Hundred Taels

Tears the size of beans slid down Shen Zhizhi’s cheeks. Suddenly, she clutched her stomach, her face contorted in pain. “Ah… it hurts… it hurts so much, husband… it hurts—”

Xie Sheng, who had been angry just moments ago, immediately knelt down to support her. “Madam, madam, what’s wrong?”

Shen Zhizhi lifted her eyes, the corners red, looking utterly pitiful. “Husband… my stomach… it hurts so much… what if… what if our child… doesn’t stay…”

Xie Sheng spoke anxiously. “Nonsense! It won’t happen. I’ll have the household doctor come immediately.”

Quyang Courtyard was in chaos, people coming and going, and it wasn’t until the later half of the night that things finally quieted down.

Because of this incident, Xie Sheng didn’t press the Shen family to return the silver.

Shen Zhizhi exhaled a long sigh of relief. She knew she had bet correctly—Xie Sheng still cared more about the child.

As dawn approached, the candlelight in Ruixiang Courtyard finally went out.

Dou Shuyao had been checking the account books all night.

She went through the ledgers from beginning to end three times and finally sorted out all the accounts.

Xie Wanrou brought a steaming bowl of hibiscus and lotus seed porridge to Ruixiang Courtyard.

“Shuyao, take a break. Are you hungry? Have some porridge.”

The porridge was made by Xie Wanrou herself, having gotten up before dawn to cook it. It was fragrant, soft, and melted in the mouth.

Dou Shuyao, having been busy all night, was starving. She didn’t bother with etiquette and took three hearty sips straight from the bowl.

Only after finishing did she remember to say, “Thank you, big sister.”

“No rush. Drink slowly; there’s more when you’re done.”

“And you, big sister? Have you eaten yet?”

Xie Wanrou shook her head. “I’m not hungry. I’ll eat with mother once she wakes up.”

Having worked all night, Dou Shuyao didn’t fuss either—she finished her bowl completely. Afterward, she felt alive again.

“Xiaodie, give the madam a massage on her head,” Xie Wanrou instructed.

“Shuyao, Xiaodie’s technique is really good. Try it.”

After a night of poring over the accounts, Dou Shuyao’s head was indeed throbbing violently.

“Thank you, big sister.”

Xie Wanrou smiled faintly.

Her personality was gentle and soft-spoken, like spring rain nourishing everything silently, always caring for everyone in the Xie household.

With her around, Dou Shuyao felt reassured.

Just as Xie Wanrou had said, Xiaodie’s massage was excellent, and Dou Shuyao fell asleep.

Xie Wanrou had someone bring a blanket to cover her lightly and instructed the servants to keep their voices low.

An hour later, Dou Shuyao woke up.

Though she hadn’t slept long, she felt energetic upon waking. The headache symptoms had completely vanished thanks to Xiaodie’s massage.

“Madam, madam,” Xie Chuan called as he walked in.

He had slept in the Eastern Courtyard last night. When someone sent word from Wei Zhaorong to go to Anhe Courtyard, he first returned to Ruixiang Courtyard.

Dou Shuyao had just finished washing up and was combing her hair.

“Madam, were you tired last night? When did you sleep?”

Xie Chuan’s first concern wasn’t the account books but Dou Shuyao’s well-being.

A maid replied, “Madam didn’t sleep at all last night.”

“That won’t do!” Xie Chuan plopped down beside Dou Shuyao. “Look, my second brother’s wife is pregnant, so we have to take care! Previously, Physician Xiao said your pulse was weak and your qi and blood deficient. You should be properly resting and recuperating. Staying up all night over account books will ruin your body. How will you ever conceive like this?”

Dou Shuyao, annoyed at his nagging, said:

“Shut up. What’s more important is clear—why worry about this right now?”

Xie Chuan’s expression darkened. “Of course you’re more important. The account books are right here—they won’t run away. What’s the difference if it’s a day earlier or later? If your body breaks down, it won’t be fixed in a day or two.”

“….”

For the first time, Dou Shuyao felt that what he said made sense.

No—she quickly stopped that dangerous thought.

How could she have almost been led astray by Xie Chuan?

The account books of the Marquis’ Mansion were, of course, far more important than her own body!

This involved every single person in the entire mansion—dozens of people.

Dou Shuyao no longer paid him any attention and instructed her maid to hurry with her hair.

“Madam, have you eaten breakfast?” Xie Chuan squeezed up to Dou Shuyao, grinning.

“Yes, Elder Sister made lotus seed and egg white porridge.”

“Was it delicious? Elder Sister has always loved cooking since she was young, and she also practiced music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Back then, she was a model of refinement for young ladies in the capital.”

She could handle the hall and the kitchen, compose poetry with others, and play music.

“That brute Lei Lieshan, after marrying Elder Sister, should have gone home to offer incense, yet he didn’t cherish her at all. He deserves to end up in prison. By the way, Madam, has Lord Jiang reached any conclusion on Lei Lieshan’s case?”

Dou Shuyao shook her head: “The case involves many people. It’s not something that can be resolved quickly.”

“Indeed, Madam is right. Then we shall wait a little longer.”

After finishing her preparations, Dou Shuyao brought the real and fake account books along with her compiled summaries and went to Anhe Courtyard with Xie Chuan.

Xie Wanrou was already there, and after a while, Xie Sheng arrived as well.

“Where’s Madam Shen?” asked Wei Zhaorong.

“She’s not feeling well. The second branch having me is enough,” Xie Sheng replied, his voice hoarse and his face drawn.

“Very well.”

Wei Zhaorong asked Dou Shuyao to explain what had been uncovered.

Dou Shuyao said, “Mother, after checking multiple times, I’ve confirmed that last year, the Marquis’ Mansion had a shortfall of one thousand three hundred fifty taels. Of this, fifty taels were the procurement and delivery fees claimed by the steward, Old Ding, while the remaining one thousand three hundred taels were deducted under various other names.”

“The first item: the mansion’s farm harvest totaled eight hundred taels last year, but only five hundred taels were recorded in the accounts.”

“The second item: shop rent and profits totaled one thousand taels, but only four hundred were recorded.”

“The third item: daily household purchases totaled seven hundred taels, but only four hundred were actually accounted for.”

“The fourth item: interest held in various money houses totaled two hundred taels, but actually amounted to three hundred taels.”

“In total: one thousand three hundred taels.”

With each item Dou Shuyao reported, Xie Sheng’s face grew grayer and grayer.

“Old Ding, what Madam Dou has said—do you have any rebuttal?”

“No… I have none,” Old Ding replied, his eyes vacant, already hollowed out.

“What did Madam Shen give you that made you agree to create both the real and fake account books?”

To produce fake account books, the steward’s cooperation was essential. Without some form of benefit, Old Ding would never have risked it.

“The Second Madam gave… one hundred taels.”

So that was it—she was so generous, willing to give away a hundred taels.

Xie Sheng clenched his fists, almost grinding his back teeth to dust.

After questioning Old Ding, the next person was the masked man.

“Bring him forward.”

The masked man, who had received twenty lashes yesterday, was dragged in. His back was mangled, flesh torn, and he barely had any breath left.

“Who sent you?”

“Shen… the Shen family master. I am… a servant of the Shen household.”

Xie Sheng’s mind exploded. Although Shen Zhizhi had confessed the previous night, being identified publicly before everyone made him feel as if his face had been trampled underfoot.

“Xie Sheng, now that we have both witness and material evidence, do you have anything to say?”

Xie Sheng’s Adam’s apple moved up and down; he opened his mouth, then closed it.

“Mother, I will make the Shen family repay this debt.”

Wei Zhaorong had already thoroughly investigated the Shen family.

“As far as I know, the Shen household has already sold almost all their assets to repay Shen Tianci’s gambling debts. How do you expect them to pay?”

“I… I will repay it for him.”