“Hehehe…”
In the carriage, Feng Zhiyao was laughing so hard he was rocking back and forth, his elegant gentleman’s demeanor completely forgotten. Only after he had finally laughed his fill did he raise his head to address Mo Xiuyao beside him: “Xiuyao, your new Princess Consort is too interesting. Haha… it’s such a pity we couldn’t see Mo Jingli’s expression!”
A thoughtful gleam appeared in Mo Xiuyao’s gentle eyes, clearly showing that this future Princess Consort’s behavior was somewhat unexpected. Though he still didn’t know what she looked like, with a father as handsome as Minister Ye and a mother who had been one of the capital’s Four Great Beauties, Ye Li’s appearance, even if not outstanding, couldn’t be too lacking. What was even more surprising was that her way of handling matters was nothing like the reportedly talentless and virtueless lady of legend.
“But this Third Miss Ye is truly generous, just giving away a Guanyin statue worth over five thousand taels. Isn’t she afraid Prince Li won’t pay? He’s the Emperor’s brother – if he decides not to pay, Third Miss Ye would have no recourse.”
Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly and shook his head: “Mo Jingli cares most about his reputation. He would never let people say he takes things without paying his debts.”
Feng Zhiyao raised an eyebrow and smiled: “Then we’re in for quite a show. From what I know, last month Prince Li also took a genuine calligraphy piece from the previous dynasty from Shende Pavilion. The two items together would cost over ten thousand taels. This time… the Emperor is being quite kind to you – at least your new Princess Consort is wealthy. Speaking of which, this Mo Jingli is truly despicable, breaking off the engagement on one hand while taking things from her shop for free on the other. Despite his royal birth, he’s shameless.”
Mo Xiuyao glanced at him: “Speaking of wealth, who would dare compare with your Feng family?” The Feng family was one of the Great Ming’s four major merchant families, and the only one permanently residing in the capital, naturally giving them more advantages and influence than the other three families.
Feng Zhiyao waved his fan helplessly: “That’s the old man’s money, it has nothing to do with me. Everyone knows I’m just a good-for-nothing prodigal son living in poverty.”
As soon as Ye Li returned home, she was summoned by a maid from the Old Madame’s quarters. When she entered Rongle Hall, it was unusually crowded despite it not being the usual time for paying respects. Even the busy Minister Ye was present, sitting below the Old Madame and glaring darkly at Ye Li as she entered. Ye Ying was nestled in Lady Wang’s embrace, sobbing quietly, her watery eyes red from crying, appearing even more delicate and pitiful.
“Li’er pays respects to Grandmother, to Father. Greetings to Lady Wang and the other concubines…”
“Wicked girl, kneel!” Before Ye Li could finish, Minister Ye’s teacup crashed near her feet as he roared.
Ye Li paused briefly, then very calmly stepped aside: “I don’t know what wrong I have committed. Please, Father, enlighten me.”
Seeing she showed no sign of admitting fault, Minister Ye was about to explode again when the Old Madame coughed, interrupting his anger: “Li’er, today at Shende Pavilion you were disrespectful to Prince Li. If this gets out, people will say the Ye family doesn’t know how to raise daughters. When your Fourth Sister returns for her wedding visit, you will apologize to Prince Li. Until then, stay confined to your courtyard.”
Ye Li swept a glance at Lady Wang, who was holding Ye Ying with a trace of a smile on her lips, then raised her head to look at the Old Madame with confusion: “Please forgive me, Grandmother. Since Grandmother says I was wrong, then surely I must have acted inappropriately. However, I am too stupid to understand where I erred. Please instruct me.”
The Old Madame was startled, unable to speak as she looked at Ye Li’s genuinely confused expression.
Lady Wang settled Ye Ying in her seat, then rose and walked to Ye Li, smiling kindly: “Li’er, the Prince is the Emperor’s brother. You’ve upset him today, and if he takes offense, our family cannot afford such consequences. Just admit your mistake to the Old Madame and your father – we won’t blame you.”
Ye Li blinked, pursing her lips in thought for a moment, her confused expression deepening: “Upset the Prince? But I barely interacted with him. His Highness wanted to buy the jade Guanyin but hadn’t brought enough silver, and I even let him take it with him – I didn’t deliberately make things difficult. Why would he be angry? Unless… unless there was something wrong with the jade Guanyin?”
Everyone was speechless. From the side, Concubine Zhao burst into laughter, covering her mouth as she said quietly: “Third Miss, Lady Wang means… how could you charge the Prince money? Who would believe Prince Li went shopping without bringing money? He never intended to pay, but you trapped him with your words and even made him pay for everything he’d taken before – how could he not be angry?”
“What kind of talk is this from Concubine Zhao? Would the Prince care about such a small sum? Besides… Shende Pavilion is a business. Even if it were the Emperor himself, there’s no reason not to pay, is there?” Ye Li said in surprise.
Concubine Zhao remained unruffled, giggling: “Third Miss speaks truly. Even palace purchases require payment. If no one paid… who would stay in business?”
“Silence! What nonsense are you speaking!” Minister Ye snapped at his recently favored young concubine. Concubine Zhao batted her coquettish eyes and wisely said no more.
Ye Li’s face lit up with sudden understanding. She turned to Lady Wang: “Could it be the Prince is truly angry about this? Perhaps… all shops in the capital never charge His Highness? If so, then I truly was wrong. Grandmother and Father need not worry. I’ll have someone return the silver right away, and add another three thousand taels as an apology.”
Lady Wang hurriedly grabbed her, internally frustrated. If they let Ye Li do this, word would spread throughout the capital that Prince Li never paid for his purchases. Ye Li ignored Lady Wang’s expression and turned to the Old Madame with concern and a hint of grievance: “If that’s the case, perhaps it would be better to close Shende Pavilion and the other shops.”
Minister Ye said coldly: “Shende Pavilion is part of your dowry. Why close it? It wouldn’t look good when you marry into Prince Ding’s estate.”
Ye Li frowned: “But… Shende Pavilion’s monthly profit is less than a thousand taels, while each item the Prince favors costs over three thousand taels. If His Highness visits once a month…”
Hearing this, both the Old Madame and Minister Ye were startled, their gazes turning to Lady Wang. How could Shende Pavilion, one of the capital’s notable antique shops, earn less than a thousand taels monthly? And Prince Li – a prince repeatedly taking things from a shop without payment, how unseemly! Even the Emperor didn’t regularly take his subjects’ possessions without payment. Lady Wang froze, biting her lip speechlessly as her face began to pale.
The Old Madame fixed her gaze on Lady Wang and said gravely: “What exactly is going on? You should know that the income from Lady Ye’s dowry shops has been going into the household expenses all these years. If someone has been interfering, they’re essentially stealing from the Ye estate.” The previous Old Madame had managed the household for a time while Lady Ye was gravely ill and naturally knew that Shende Pavilion was one of the two most profitable shops in Lady Ye’s dowry, with monthly profits of at least three thousand taels.
Lady Wang bit her lip and said quietly: “In response to the Old Madame, these past two years… perhaps business hasn’t been so good…” She dared not mention that the money had gone into her private coffers.
Ye Li bowed to the Old Madame and said softly: “Lady Wang is busy with household affairs daily, how could she know about outside matters? Grandmother, you don’t know how the people below have been suffering our family. These past few days, I’ve carefully examined the accounts of all the shops. Take Shende Pavilion for example – its actual annual profit is at least thirty thousand taels, but starting three years ago, the amount submitted to the household has been less than ten thousand taels annually. More than half have been embezzled by the managers below. Originally, Mother specified before her death that these twelve shops should earn at least twenty-five thousand taels before my marriage. Besides household expenses, as the legitimate mother to the sisters and brother, she naturally wanted to provide dowries for the sisters. Who knew… Mother’s careful planning was wasted. These past few years, less than a hundred thousand taels have been submitted to the household. Here are the account books, please examine them, Grandmother.”
At this, not only Minister Ye and the Old Madame, but even the other young ladies and concubines changed expression. Over a hundred thousand taels had vanished into thin air, including their daughters’ dowries. The hall immediately erupted in chaos.
“Master, Old Madame, Lady Ye was so kind to think of us sisters and the secondary sons and daughters even on her deathbed. The master must punish those wretches!”
“Indeed, they’re truly black-hearted, daring to steal from our household!”