The servant boy returned and reported, “The Young Master is reconciling accounts.”
Zeng Wu kicked the servant boy, saying, “Don’t I know the Young Master is reconciling accounts?! Who is he reconciling with? When did they start? How are the profits from the thirteen businesses in Guangdong? Can’t you use your brain to find out more? You’re as dim as an oil lamp, only brightening when prodded!”
Rubbing his sore leg, the servant boy mumbled, “Even the Duke doesn’t know the profits from the thirteen Guangdong businesses. How would I know?”
“I call you stupid and you dare talk back!” Zeng Wu kicked him again. “Couldn’t you at least see if the Young Master was happy or not? No wonder you’ve made no progress as a servant after years! Go back and find out more details!”
The servant boy dared not reply and limped back to Yizhi Hall.
Zeng Wu dusted off his sleeves, thinking to himself: I’m not a fool like Lu Zheng, going to get beaten by the Young Master!
Remembering that Lu Zheng would now only be able to idle away in the accounting office, he felt smug. He grabbed a passing maid, “Go, brew me some Da Hong Pao tea.”
The maid rolled her eyes, “Da Hong Pao is a tribute tea. We can only use it with the Duke’s permission.”
Zeng Wu sneered, “It’s the Duke who wants Da Hong Pao. If you don’t believe me, go ask him yourself.”
The maid’s face reddened. Even though she knew he was abusing his authority, she didn’t dare to ask the Duke. She could only lower her head and go to the tea room to brew Da Hong Pao for him.
He sat in the tea room’s armchair, slowly savoring the tea. The now wiser servant boy returned with more substantial information: “The one who came is Zhong Bingxiang, the chief manager of the thirteen Guangdong businesses, along with the heads of various estates. They’ve been reconciling accounts for five days now. The Young Master is very pleased and even hosted a banquet at Zuixian Lou last night for Manager Zhong and the estate heads.”
Zeng Wu’s mind wandered as he listened.
Before Duke Ying’s household and Yizhi Hall split, Manager Zhong would bring small gifts for the servants when he came from Guangdong to reconcile accounts each year. Even at the pawnshop on East Street, these gifts could be pawned for one or two taels of silver. But since Yizhi Hall’s people stopped sharing meals with Duke Ying’s household, they never saw Manager Zhong’s gifts again.
Those dogs at Yizhi Hall were getting all the benefits now!
He felt both jealous and envious. He recalled one year when Lu Zheng entrusted 200 taels of silver to Zhong Bingxiang to invest in Guangdong. The next year, those 200 taels had turned into 1,200 taels. Watching this, he had been tempted but lacked the funds, so he could only secretly covet it. But now… Yesterday, while accompanying the Duke to Zuixian Lou, a general had rewarded him with 5 taels of silver. A couple of days ago, when the Duke wanted sesame cakes, he ran the errand and earned 0.2 taels… He had only been serving the Duke for seven or eight days, but he had already earned about 10 taels of silver. Though not comparable to Lu Zheng, it wasn’t a small amount. Perhaps he should also entrust Zhong Bingxiang to invest for him…
But would Zhong Bingxiang still be willing to help with this?
Lost in thought, he went to Duke Song: “The Young Master is reconciling accounts with Manager Zhong from the thirteen Guangdong businesses, and the heads of other estates have also arrived. Although I don’t know Yizhi Hall’s profits this year, I heard the Young Master is very pleased. He even treated Manager Zhong and the others to drinks at Zuixian Lou yesterday.”
Duke Song was speaking with the Tianjin estate head: “The mountain forests at Tun Kou yielded 2,000 taels of silver last year. Why only 800 taels this year?”
Hearing Zeng Wu’s words, a fire ignited in his heart, rising uncontrollably.
He picked up the account book and threw it at the Tianjin estate head’s head: “Fool, you can’t even answer a simple question. What use are you?”
Startled, the Tianjin estate head’s legs trembled like sieves. He fell to his knees with a thud: “Please calm down, my Lord! Last year the weather was favorable, but this summer we had strong winds that uprooted some trees—there are fewer trees this year, so the profits are less than last year.”
Why did his forests suffer from strong winds while Song Mo’s thirteen businesses remained unaffected, without even a tornado all year round?!
Duke Song’s face turned ashen, his eyes inadvertently catching Tao Qizhong’s expression—a flash of surprise in Tao’s eyes. Being naturally suspicious, Duke Song felt a jolt in his heart. He immediately shouted “Guards!” and pointed at the Tianjin estate head, “Take this lying wretch away and give him twenty heavy lashes. Let’s see if he’ll tell the truth then!”
Hearing this, the Tianjin estate head collapsed in terror, begging and crying for mercy: “It wasn’t the strong wind! It wasn’t! I was trying to please you, my Lord. We sold all the marketable trees last year, leaving only small saplings this year that don’t fetch a good price… I’m not lying! If you don’t believe me, you can ask Liu Da. He knows everything.”
Liu Da was the former head of the Tianjin estate. Dissatisfied with Tianjin’s profits, Duke Song had replaced him with this man, recommended by his personal servant’s cousin, who seemed knowledgeable… Little did he know he was just a theorist!
Trembling with anger, Duke Song stepped forward and kicked the estate head several times: “Get out! Don’t let me see you again!”
The estate had scrambled to his feet and ran out, his face filled with terror.
Tao Qizhong couldn’t help but cough lightly.
Duke Song came to his senses and quickly ordered his attendants: “Tie that fellow up and throw him in the woodshed. If he doesn’t give a clear account, send him straight to the magistrate’s office.”
Several guards waiting outside rushed in and dragged the estate head away.
Zeng Wu watched, his shoulders hunched.
Duke Song had lost all interest in continuing to reconcile accounts. He waved his hand, dismissing everyone.
The Duke’s moods changed as quickly as the wind and rain. Zeng Wu decided he needed to save up some silver while he was still in the Duke’s favor, so he wouldn’t be destitute if he fell from grace in the future.
After some thought, Zeng Wu called a trusted servant boy: “Go see what Manager Zhong is doing.”
The boy left quietly and returned at noon with the news: “Manager Zhong has finished reconciling accounts. He spends each day chatting with people in the side hall. The Young Master is reconciling accounts with several estate heads.”
Zeng Wu decided to see Zhong Bingxiang now. If he waited until evening, he might not get to see him and instead end up tied up and handed over to the Duke by Yizhi Hall’s people.
The doorkeeper at Yizhi Hall stopped him at the entrance with an ambiguous smile: “Who is Master Zeng looking for? Shall we announce you? You are an honored guest, after all!”
Zeng Wu didn’t dare put on airs in front of Yizhi Hall’s doorkeeper. He smiled ingratiatingly, “Oh, you flatter me. I’m no honored guest, just someone who runs errands for the Duke…” After a long string of pleasantries, seeing the doorkeeper’s expression softened slightly, he finally explained his purpose.
As the doorkeeper was about to announce him, he saw Zhong Bingxiang and Chen Qushui walking towards them, chatting and laughing.
Zeng Wu’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.
Instinctively wanting to hide, he hurriedly said, “Since Manager Zhong has a guest, I’ll come back later.” Then he ran off like the wind.
But as soon as he turned past the grove, he stopped abruptly and, without thinking, ducked into the woods.
Through the tall shrubs, Zeng Wu saw Zhong Bingxiang and Chen Qushui standing on the steps of Yizhi Hall’s main entrance, casually glancing in the direction he had run before resuming their cheerful conversation.
Soon after, a carriage drove in.
A young man in his early twenties alighted from the carriage.
Zhong Bingxiang and Chen Qushui went to greet him.
Chen Qushui introduced the young man to Zhong Bingxiang.
The young man respectfully bowed to Zhong Bingxiang.
Zhong Bingxiang quickly took the young man’s arm, smiling and saying something to Chen Qushui.
Five or six servants jumped down from the carriage behind the young man, carrying several camphorwood chests.
Chen Qushui, Zhong Bingxiang, and the young man walked towards Yizhi Hall.
The servants carrying the chests followed behind.
The group soon disappeared through Yizhi Hall’s side entrance.
Zeng Wu’s eyes darted rapidly. He took a shortcut out of Duke Ying’s mansion and, pretending to have just entered from outside, approached the carriage parked next to Yizhi Hall. He curiously asked the coachman who was grooming the horses, “Oh, which household are you from? Why are you parked here?”
The coachman replied in a thick accent, “We’re from Zhending. Manager Zhao told us to rest here.”
Zhending?
The Lady’s maiden home!
Zeng Wu thought of the two chests of banknotes in Lady Dou’s dowry, then of the chests just carried in. He began to tremble. He wanted to ask more but saw Yizhi Hall’s doorkeeper walking over with a teapot and several cups. He quickly mumbled something and ducked back into the nearby woods, rushing headlong into the flower hall of Qixiang Court.
“My Lord, My Lord!” he called out deliberately loudly, “I saw guests arriving at Yizhi Hall!”
Duke Song said irritably, “Why are you shouting? You have no manners at all!”
Zeng Wu hurriedly straightened his clothes and bowed respectfully.
Duke Song then asked, “What happened?”
Zeng Wu stepped forward and said in a low voice, “My Lord, I was about to inquire about the account reconciliation at Yizhi Hall when I saw that Mr. Chen, who used to live there, and Manager Zhong welcomed a strange young man inside. The young man brought several chests with him.”
Song Mo had been rescued, but so far only Duke Song, Tao Qizhong, and Guard Chang knew about it in Duke Ying’s household. Zeng Wu only found Chen Qushui’s appearance abrupt and strange, without thinking further.
Duke Song’s expression changed drastically: “Chen Bo and Zhong Bingxiang welcomed a young man together?”
A glint of cunning flashed in Zeng Wu’s eyes as he said, “I also found out that the young man is surnamed Zhao and came from Zhending. He’s from the Lady’s maiden family… Those chests were all made of camphorwood, the kind usually used for storing books or banknotes, which can prevent insects.”
Duke Song also thought of the two chests of banknotes in Lady Dou’s dowry.
His expression turned very ugly.
What exactly were the Dous planning?
Duke Song summoned Tao Qizhong.
Tao Qizhong said with a headache, “My Lord, why not invite the Young Master to clarify—if those chests contain banknotes, given the Young Master’s character, he surely won’t deny it. If we send people to inquire, we might not be able to find out anything.”
What did he mean by “might not be able to find out anything”?
Duke Song was so angry his mouth twisted, but lacking a better option, he had to instruct Tao Qizhong: “Go invite the Young Master here!”
This was truly a case of whoever suggests the idea has to carry it out!
Tao Qizhong smiled bitterly.
Meanwhile, Zhong Bingxiang had jumped up from his armchair, pointing at the camphorwood chests placed in the center of the flower hall, stammering, “What, what is this?”