Song Mo sneered and asked Wu Yi to invite Liao Bifeng over while he went to the study to fetch a ledger.
“Take a few people to the upper courtyard,” he said, handing the list to Liao Bifeng. “Check everything in the upper courtyard against this ledger and make sure it’s all accounted for. Even if a single needle or thread is missing, make Song Han hand it over to me.”
Liao Bifeng had already heard about the incident in the upper courtyard. Although he didn’t know why Song Mo and Song Han had come to such a state, as Song Mo’s advisor, he naturally had to consider Song Mo’s interests. Hearing Song Mo’s instructions, he said nothing, bowed his head respectfully in acknowledgment, and led a group of guards and about twenty maids and servants to the upper courtyard in a grand procession.
This night was destined to be sleepless.
Liao Bifeng and his team continued taking inventory until midnight. Meanwhile, Xixiang Court received sudden news to prepare rooms for the Second Young Master, boil water for tea, and was in a flurry of activity until midnight as well.
Madam Jiang had no sisters-in-law, and Song Yichun’s collateral brothers had long since moved out to live separately. The communal belongings of Duke Ying’s mansion were essentially hers. Her dowry and the mansion’s possessions had long been indistinguishable; she used whatever she wanted. After Madam Jiang’s passing, Song Han had been living in the upper courtyard. When Song Mo initially proposed splitting Madam Jiang’s dowry with Song Han, it wasn’t out of pettiness.
Rather, he didn’t want to leave his late mother’s belongings in Duke Ying’s mansion to be mistreated by Song Yichun. He also considered that if Song Yichun were to remarry and have legitimate sons in the future, Song Han’s position in the family would become awkward. It would be better for Song Han to establish his household after marriage. Therefore, Song Mo allocated Madam Jiang’s estates, shops, furniture, and antiques to Song Han, keeping only her jewelry, some personal items, manuscripts, and paintings for himself.
Since Song Han received the lion’s share, Lu Fuli praised Song Mo for his kindness and brotherly affection at the time.
Thus, the upper courtyard remained as it was during Madam Jiang’s lifetime. In spring, Huang Quan’s “Peony Painting” would be hung in the main hall. In summer, large blue and white porcelain vats filled with lotus flowers would be placed in the rooms. In autumn, the mother-of-pearl inlaid chicken-wing wood screen would be brought out for use. In winter, Jun porcelain vases would be used to display plum blossoms, creating an elegant atmosphere.
The ledger Song Mo gave to Liao Bifeng was precisely the inventory of items in the upper courtyard during Madam Jiang’s lifetime.
It also included a pair of jade peace knots that the Empress had bestowed upon Madam Jiang in the spring of the fourth year of Chengping.
Since Song Han was moving to Xixiang Court, his usual belongings naturally had to be moved there as well—he couldn’t be left without even a teacup to drink from. In the middle of the night, they couldn’t very well ask Zeng Wu to open Song Yichun’s storeroom!
When Liao Bifeng took inventory, it wasn’t just needles and thread that were missing.
A set of Famille rose teacups with brocade-like floral designs, a purple clay bamboo-shaped teapot, a glass lotus-shaped teacup, a pair of crystal plates with chrysanthemum and peach designs… Ten pairs of nanmu chopsticks, ten pairs of ebony chopsticks inlaid with ivory, ten red lacquer fruit plates with bird and flower patterns… Six sheep-fat jade lion-and-ball curtain weights, a light green jade tree root brush washer, a Hetian jade dragonfly-skimming-water water container… All in all, no less than two or three hundred items.
Songluo, who had come along, broke out in a cold sweat and asked Liao Bifeng, “What should we do?”
“What else?” Liao Bifeng smiled bitterly. “Of course, we have to go ask the Second Young Master for them!”
“But the Second Young Master is in Xixiang Court…” Songluo mumbled.
“Why else would the Young Master specifically instruct us to have the Second Young Master hand over everything, even down to a single needle and thread?” Liao Bifeng cast a disappointed glance at Songluo, selected a few guards, and took the list to Xixiang Court.
Song Han was lying in bed, groaning and clutching his neck. A doctor, summoned in the middle of the night, was wiping away cold sweat while telling Song Yichun, who stood at the bedside, “The Second Young Master is not seriously ill; two doses of medicine should suffice.” Upon hearing Liao Bifeng’s purpose, both Song Yichun and Song Han were dumbfounded.
Song Mo was burning bridges and going for the kill!
The doctor was even more distressed, hunching his shoulders and bending over, wishing he could turn into dust in the corner, unnoticed by anyone.
Song Yichun’s face turned bright red as he shouted at Song Han, “You little beast, how could you be so short-sighted? They’re just cups, chopsticks, bowls, and plates. You’ve used them, so you’ve used them. Did you have to move them to Xixiang Court? Do you think the items in this mansion aren’t accounted for? If you’re not ashamed, I certainly am! Hurry up and return all these things!”
Qixia wanted to speak but hesitated.
Song Han, unable to contain his grievance, said, “These are all things I use regularly. How can Brother be so petty as to quibble over even this? Am I supposed to use Father’s things instead?”
Song Yichun was at a loss for words.
Song Han lowered his eyes and began to cry softly.
Song Yichun had no choice but to tell Songluo, who had brought in the list, “Go tell the Young Master that these are all items belonging to the mansion. Have Steward Huang record them under Xixiang Court’s inventory.”
If Songluo weren’t quick-witted, he wouldn’t have been serving in Yizhi Hall.
He smiled, bowed to Song Yichun, and said, “Then I’ll take this list to Steward Huang. However, some of these items are part of Madam Jiang’s dowry. Should we write up another list for the Second Young Master to give the Young Master a receipt? That way, we can balance the accounts.”
Song Yichun was quite surprised and couldn’t help but glare at Song Han, who had caused this trouble for him. Song Han, however, was very clear about Madam Jiang’s dowry. He might have inadvertently brought one or two items from Madam Jiang’s dowry, but certainly not this many.
Thinking about how Song Mo now viewed him as an enemy, he said, “Let me see that list!”
Songluo quickly handed over the list.
Song Han pointed to the item “Six sheep-fat jade lion-and-ball curtain weights” and said, “I have a copy of Mother’s dowry list, and I don’t remember seeing this.”
Songluo smiled and explained, “Second Young Master may not know, but these sheep-fat jade curtain weights were originally decorative items, displayed on a sandalwood tray on the kang table for appreciation. There were twelve in total. Do you remember, Second Young Master, that day when you went to pay respects to the Duchess? The wind was strong, and the curtain was swaying back and forth, almost hitting your foot.
The Duchess then had Zhujun use these sheep-fat jade lion-and-ball ornaments as curtain weights. Since then, the upper courtyard has been using these lion-and-ball ornaments as curtain weights. The storekeepers changed it to ‘curtain weights’ in the accounts. If you don’t believe me, I can go fetch the account books right now. We spent quite some time tracing the origin of these items. As for this glass lotus teacup, it was originally a pair.
They were sent by Madam Jiang’s eldest uncle that year. One was given to the Young Master and one to you. When yours broke, the Young Master gave you his. The Jiang family later supplemented the dowry list, and this glass lotus teacup was included… However, this is recorded in the accounts and can be clarified. If you’re particularly fond of that glass lotus teacup, you can keep it, but please make a note in the account book. That way, when the Young Master asks, we’ll know how to report it!”
Song Han laughed bitterly and said, “What account book? Bring it to me, I want to examine it carefully!”
What curtain almost hit his foot? Those twelve lion-and-ball curtain weights were a birthday gift given to him by the Commander of Miyun Guard on his eighth birthday!
And that glass teacup was bought by his mother from Guangdong when Old Madam Lu celebrated her birthday. There were ten in total, and he had insisted on keeping one because he liked it. The money for the glass teacups came from the public funds, so how did it become part of his mother’s dowry?
Had he become a toothless tiger that even a lowly servant like Songluo dared to speak so confidently in front of him?
Songluo, however, simply responded “Yes” and turned to leave.
His demeanor was not hesitant in the least.
Song Han was so angry he gritted his teeth.
Song Yichun, however, began to have doubts.
Regardless of whether this servant was telling the truth or not, how could he answer so readily without absolute certainty?
He recalled how Song Mo had grabbed Song Han by the throat, his eyes red with anger.
Song Mo was currently in a rage, looking for trouble even where there was none. If he dared to come after Song Han, he might have already dug a trap for Song Han to fall into!
It wouldn’t be the first time he had done such a thing.
Then he suddenly realized that letting Song Han move into Xixiang Court was a mistake.
If Song Mo was reclaiming even these small items of Madam Jiang’s, how could he have given the estates and shops to Song Han for free?
Without Madam Jiang’s dowry, Song Han would be left with nothing and would have to rely on him for support… He was already short on money himself, and now he had another mouth to feed…
Song Yichun began to develop a headache.
Song Han had also come to the same realization.
He had already hinted to his father that he was short on money, but his father seemed not to have heard, showing no reaction and allowing him to argue with Song Mo’s servant… How stingy could he be!
What if Song Mo reclaimed the dowry properties under his name as well? What would he eat and drink then?
No! He absolutely couldn’t give up the properties Madam Jiang had left him!
As he was fretting, Songluo walked in.
“Duke, Second Young Master, please take a look!” He placed a thick account book in front of Song Yichun. “See, this is the entry for those sheep-fat jade lion-and-ball ornaments. Look here, in September of the Dingsi year, they became curtain weights… That was when the summer items were being stored. And here, in May of the Wuwu year, twelve sheep-fat jade lion-and-ball curtain weights, for use in the upper rooms, handled by Zhujun, with her seal…”
Songluo flipped through the account book, but Song Yichun only saw rows of black characters, unable to distinguish truth from falsehood.
The light in the room gradually brightened as dawn approached. From the moment he learned that Song Han had been disciplined by Song Mo until now when Song Mo was reclaiming items from Song Han, Song Yichun had experienced panic, unease, anger, irritation, and frustration. This night felt like he had climbed from the foot of a mountain to its peak, only to tumble back down again. His entire body ached unbearably. He turned to Song Han and shouted, “However you brought these things out of the upper courtyard, that’s how you’ll take them back! You’re the Second Young Master of the Duke Ying’s mansion, not a beggar on the street. How can you drag whatever you see into your room? Can’t you have some self-respect? Stop being so undignified, like a piece of dog meat!”
He stormed out.
Songluo’s eyes gleamed as he looked at Song Han, thinking to himself how clever Mr. Liao was. Upon discovering the missing items, he had immediately called in the accountants to copy an account book overnight, which had indeed proved useful.
Should he urge the Second Young Master? The Young Master was waiting for their report!
As he was secretly rejoicing, Song Han grabbed the medicine bowl by the bed and threw it at Songluo.
Songluo cried out “Ouch!” and covered his forehead.
Qixia turned pale with fright.
Songluo, however, thought to himself that if he were bleeding, it would be even better. When he returned, the Young Master would see it and surely praise him for his dedication to the task…