Chapter 386.2: Matters One After Another

This can be considered directly inspecting Rui Qinwang Manor’s accounts, and not just the outer courtyard’s, but also the inner courtyard’s as well.

However, with Rui Qinwang Manor’s current situation, the places to spend money were too many. One has to know, the inner manor won’t get allocated too much money, and normally, it was allocating once every half a year.

Rui Wangfei controlled the entire inner court’s power. That’s why, towards the inner court’s situation, she was very clear. And for such a place like a prince’s manor, especially a power holding wangye, no matter what, can’t be too shameful looking. All the expenses in the manor, in reality, can’t be completely kept from others. After all, not that many things can be provided by oneself. Once reduced, it will immediately be noticed. That’s why, the inner court actually was unable bring out anything. Although right now, there was still two months of silver left, but it just so happens that in two months, it’ll be the new year. Everyone all knows, when it comes to celebrating the new year, the money spent needed to at least double. And according to usual practice, when time comes, they also need to withdraw some money from the public funds. Right now, rather than depositing into the account, it was instead needing to withdraw from the account. It was fine this while, but when time comes, the public funds will also lack money, truly too unsightly.

The end of the year was also a time for wantonly accepting ‘filial presents’, and at present, the greatest source of money has been severed……………

In the past, although a lot of money was spent, the income was also quite bountiful. That’s why, Li Hong Ming simply never had money taken seriously. Towards the people below him, apart from Li Hong Yuan, he was probably the most generous. This was actually his first time experiencing such a predicament. What was even more hateful was that the outcome from sorting through was far from enough, being almost half short of the total.

Li Hong Ming nearly just overturned the table.

But overturning the table was also useless, still needing to continue thinking of a way. Rui Qinwang let Rui Wangfei carefully inspect the belongings in the manor once more, and afterwards, from those that can’t be used, deduct out a couple hundred thousand. The rest, it was just finding a useable method to trade-off, letting it ‘disappear’, but this was still far from enough.

Under the manor, there were also quite a few properties, but it still wasn’t time to collect yet, and those actually weren’t much either. Under normal circumstances, it was just two to three hundred thousand. Even if squeezing a little, it was still at most just five hundred thousand. And once they do this, the business certainly will be affected, even damaging the roots. But at this time, there was truly no other way. Li Hong Ming, in essence, was still someone that very much cared about his face, so he won’t easily extend his hand towards outsiders, thus deciding to ‘kill the chicken to get the egg’.

Rui Wangfei fell silent, in the end, taking out her own dowry. There was five hundred thousand taels.

Li Hong Ming at this time was rather gentle towards Rui Wangfei, promising her that once this was over, he will definitely pay her back in double.

Rui Wangfei just high-soundingly replied a few words. She kept feeling that this matter perhaps won’t be able to settle that easily.

Even so, they were still seven hundred thousand short.

Li Hong Ming, having no other choice, entered the palace to look for Noble Consort Su. On one hand, he wanted to let his consort mother see his sincerity, also letting her see that foster son of hers having her actual son forced into such a corner, and on the other hand, he naturally wanted Noble Consort Su to help him. In any case, his predicament, his true nature, his everything that wasn’t revealed before outsiders, he can all reveal before her. That’s why, in front of Noble Consort Su, Li Hong Ming was actually open to the point of shamelessness.

This time, Noble Consort Su momentarily fell silent. Afterwards, “Those things that old six helped you erase, that isn’t something that can be settled with five million taels either, and he indeed just asked for a bit of materialistic things.” In any case, in their eyes, Li Hong Yuan wanting money was definitely just for the sake of venting his anger, and won’t have other purposes, because he simply just didn’t lack money. And at this time, Noble Consort Su also didn’t think of letting her foster son not ask for this sum of money. Once she says this, that son’s misunderstanding might just deepen even further. That’s why, even if it will cause her actual son to fall into a predicament, she still won’t open her mouth. After all, it was just a matter of money. There were always ways to get ahold of it.

Towards Noble Consort Su’s attitude, Li Hong Ming didn’t say anything, just lowering his eyes. This kind of thing, en, he was also used to.

“Why don’t you come look for this consort again tomorrow.” For Noble Consort Su to have reached her current position, money and whatnot was completely unimportant. Her food and clothing were all the best, yet didn’t need for her to spend her own money. The places she used money was nothing more than just for rewarding people, and those worthy of her rewards weren’t many. That’s why, Noble Consort Su actually didn’t have any money, mostly just having ‘immovable assets[1]‘, much more ‘hard-pressed for money’ than Li Hong Yuan predicted.

In reality, if Noble Consort Su wants money, it also wasn’t difficult. The ones that wanted to ‘pay respect’ to her were also numerous, but she felt that she didn’t need it, because it wasn’t necessary for this sum of money to go through the palace before going out again. But, right now, needing eight hundred thousand all at once was still a bit troublesome.

Not long after Rui Qinwang left the palace, Noble Consort Su let someone invite her own mother into the palace.

The Su clan, speaking of which, was also considered illustrious. However, at present, the people serving in court, although the amount wasn’t small, no one sat onto a very high position. In the inner cabinet, there weren’t anyone that sat onto an elder position, and within the six ministries, there were three that had people from the Su clan, but the highest was also just an assistant minister. How was this not necessarily Le Cheng Emperor’s handiwork?

Noble Consort Su directly just asked her mother for money, but didn’t explain the reason. The Su clan was her maiden family, and although because of her, perhaps got suppressed a little, but the Su clan also because of her, developed in many directions. It can be said to be having many branches and thick leaves. As long as her son ascends the throne, the Su clan certainly will immediately turn into a powerful noble family in the capital. Even if not having military achievements, getting bestowed a noble title was also only natural. That’s why, Noble Consort Su wasn’t the least bit embarrassed.

However, her mother instead hesitated, her expression forlorn. Seeing that pair of eyes, she seemingly even cried before, and because she was elderly in age, her eyes were somewhat abnormal.

At first, she didn’t notice this bit, but at glance, there were just hidden troubles.

“Mother, what’s wrong? Did something happen in the family?” Noble Consort Su slightly frowned.

“Actually, even if your Highness didn’t summon, this old one would’ve passed on a plaque to enter the palace to meet your Highness. This time, afraid, no only won’t be able to help your Highness, but might even give your Highness trouble.” Su Old Madam’s face was full of guilt.

Su Old Madam, compared with Luo Old Madam, as well as the Ding Duke Manor’s Sun Old Madam, appeared relatively mediocre, but she gave birth to Noble Consort Su, so even if her son didn’t really make something of himself, others still felt that she has earned.

A flash of annoyance streaked through Noble Consort Su’s eyes, but in the end, this was her mother. Even if a little weak, a little useless, the respect and filial piety Noble Consort Su should give wasn’t lacking in the slightest, “Mother, don’t worry, slowly tell me. If it’s not that big of a problem, I’ll just let Ming’er go take care of.” Matters regarding her maiden family, Noble Consort Su usually first let them go through her, and not let them go look for her son.

Su Old Madam let out a sigh, like as if finding her backbone, “Ming Zhang, a few days ago, unknown as to why, just like as if possessed, became infatuated with a brothel girl, disregarding his own wife and children, even somewhat slacking on important matters. Whenever he has time, he will just go nestle in the brothel and not return. Clothes, accessories, rouge, and powder, those things, all specifically picking the best and the most expensive, sending into the brothel, spending money like running water. And further because of that prostitute’s first night, getting schemed by someone, wantonly raising the price, in the end, just throwing in five hundred thousand taels of silver. Originally, these things, your older brother and sister-in-law were all unaware, only noticing because of this sum of money. After investigating, he previously had actually already spent two to three hundred thousand taels. Getting discovered, Ming Zhang instead just ‘smashed the already broken jar’, becoming even more unbridled, and moreover threatened that if the family dares to touch a single hair on that prostitute, he will directly hang himself to death at home……………..” Speaking to here, Su Old Madam couldn’t help but wipe her tears.

Su Ming Zhang was Noble Consort Su’s older brother’s eldest di son, his age even a few years older than Li Hong Ming, and his eldest son was also already twelve years old. His character was steady, and in officialdom, he was also very skillful. Noble Consort Su regarded him rather highly. It was precisely him that occupied the post of an assistant minister, the Ministry of Revenue’s assistant minister, an official position even higher than his own father. He can be said to be the Su family’s pillar, so it wasn’t that surprising that he was able to move that much money, yet able to hide from his family.

However, the one that was most highly regarded in her maiden family caused such a matter?! One can imagine, how dark Noble Consort Su’s face grew. “Where’s Ming Zhang’s wife? This definitely can’t just be one or two days. It’s impossible for her to not detect anything, so why didn’t she say anything?”

“Speaking of this, it’s actually the most infuriating. Ming Zhang actually had long schemed against his father-in-law and two brother-in-laws, letting them be burdened with lawsuits. Using this, he was able to grasp his wife. When things got out, his wife nearly just cried to death recounting this matter.”

[1] Basically refers to items that can’t be sold or used for money, for instance, things bestowed by the emperor.