Transmigrated as the Villainess, She Made the General Blush - chapter 42

Chapter 42

Hearing Xiao Wangshu’s words, Shopkeeper Xiao, who was about to throw himself against the wall in grief and anger, froze on the spot.

The many craftsmen who had been trying to stop him also froze.

Yichun almost burst out laughing.

“Zhang Guanye, go and fetch Jiang Ji and Hu Tian. Have them bring what they need,” Xiao Wangshu continued to instruct.

Zhang Guanye immediately cupped his fists and replied, “Yes!”

Seeing Zhang Guanye stride away, Shopkeeper Xiao instinctively sensed something was wrong.

At this moment, Xiao Wangshu turned to glance at Ruan Fuxin. Ruan Fuxin was momentarily dazed, then quickly reacted and instructed the craftsmen, “Come with me downstairs to continue calculating the decoration expenses.”

The craftsmen looked at Ruan Fuxin, then at Xiao Wangshu, and decisively let go of the desperate Shopkeeper Xiao, responding in unison, “Yes, yes.”

“Shopkeeper Xiao, have you calmed down? If you have, then sit quietly and stop making a fuss. My temper hasn’t been good lately, and I can’t stand anyone making noise in my ear,” Xiao Wangshu said as she took the teacup handed over by Shuxia.

Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Xiao raised his hand to his chest, his chest heaving violently.

Xiao Wangshu glanced up and said, “Li Jun, help Shopkeeper Xiao sit down. Don’t let him fall and damage the floorboards.”

Li Jun immediately complied, walked over to Shopkeeper Xiao, and pressed him down onto a bench.

Shopkeeper Xiao struggled a couple of times, but couldn’t break free. He could only ask angrily-

“Fourth Miss, what do you mean by this! I have worked hard for Old Lady Fang and Madam for most of my life. Even if I have no achievements, I have put in the effort!

“If I have done something wrong, you can tell Old Lady Fang and Madam. Why humiliate me like this?”

Hearing this, Xiao Wangshu smiled and sighed, “What a fine ‘even if I have no achievements, I have put in the effort.'”

Then she put down her teacup and asked, “Shopkeeper Xiao, did my grandmother and mother not pay you wages? You take money for your work, as is only right. Why do you make it sound as if you’re working for us for free?”

Shopkeeper Xiao was momentarily speechless.

Xiao Wangshu chuckled softly and said in a faint voice, “Besides, Shopkeeper Xiao, it seems you’ve been taking a bit too much money for your work. My people spent several days investigating before finally coming up with a figure.”

The reason it took several days was indeed partly due to her guards’ lack of ability, but the fact that Shopkeeper Xiao had embezzled so much was also undeniable.

After hearing this, Shopkeeper Xiao sat on the bench, his legs trembling uncontrollably.

Xiao Wangshu said no more, picking up her teacup and continuing to drink tea.

—

During the better part of an hour that Zhang Guanye spent fetching Jiang Ji and Hu Tian, the craftsmen of Brocade Gate hurriedly finished calculating the decoration expenses and handed them to Ruan Fuxin to take upstairs for settlement.

At the same time, the servants brought by Shopkeeper Xiao, sensing things were going badly, quickly went to summon the other shopkeepers who were on good terms with him.

These shopkeepers had all served Old Lady Fang for many years, and most of them now followed Fang Qin’er.

As soon as they heard from Shopkeeper Xiao’s servant that Xiao Wangshu was about to purge the old servants of the Fang Family, the shopkeepers immediately rushed to the Chancellor’s Mansion to seek an explanation from Fang Qin’er.

Between her own daughter and the household servants, there was no doubt whom Fang Qin’er would choose.

Those shopkeepers didn’t even get to see Fang Qin’er, so naturally, they couldn’t make a scene.

Fang Qin’er’s Wet Nurse, Matron Du, accompanied them to Brocade Gate to check on the situation, explaining on the way, “Madam and the Prime Minister have important matters to discuss, and have ordered me to go with you to take a look.”

Matron Du was none other than Fang Qin’er’s Wet Nurse.

In her youth, she had served at Old Lady Fang’s side, and after Fang Qin’er was born, she cared for her ever since.

No matter how big the matter with the household servants, it was, after all, a matter of servants and not worth Fang Qin’er’s personal involvement. The fact that she sent Matron Du to have a look was already giving them enough face.
Upon hearing Matron Du’s explanation, the shopkeepers dared not say anything more and hurriedly agreed.

When everyone arrived at the Brocade Gate, Yichun seemed to have expected them, standing at the entrance with a cheerful smile.

“Matron Du, Sister Hui Qiu, Miss already guessed you would come, so she had me wait here for you.”

After speaking, Yichun looked at the shopkeepers behind Matron Du and Hui Qiu, and continued, “Shopkeepers, please come upstairs as well. Miss has been waiting for quite some time.”

The shopkeepers felt a chill in their hearts.

This was not at all like the scene of a stern inquiry they had imagined.

Matron Du maintained her usual smile and explained her purpose: “I heard from several shopkeepers that Miss is making major changes to the shop. Madam sent this old servant to come and have a look.”

Yichun immediately replied with a smile, “Miss anticipated this. She said the shopkeepers have been misled by Shopkeeper Xiao and would surely ask Madam to come and uphold justice for him. Madam has been busy lately, and there are few who can represent her. Matron, you are the most senior.”

Upon hearing this, Matron Du’s smile became even kinder.

“When Miss handles matters, she must have her reasons. I am just accompanying the shopkeepers to see what is going on with Shopkeeper Xiao.”

“I understand,” Yichun nodded, stepped aside, and gestured, “Matron, Sister Hui Qiu, shopkeepers, please go upstairs.”

Matron Du and Hui Qiu nodded to her and led the shopkeepers inside and upstairs.

When they reached the tea room on the second floor and pushed open the door, the atmosphere felt utterly frozen.

Shopkeeper Xiao was kneeling on the ground, trembling like a leaf, his earlier bravado completely gone.

“So it turns out I underestimated Shopkeeper Xiao by several thousand taels. Thirteen thousand taels of silver-almost two years’ worth of expenses for the entire Chancellor’s Mansion. Shopkeeper Xiao, you have quite the appetite.”

Xiao Wangshu closed the ledger in her hand and looked up at Matron Du and her group, her gentle smile carrying a chill.

“This old servant greets Miss.”

“This servant greets Miss.”

Matron Du and Hui Qiu bowed together.

The shopkeepers behind them hurriedly bent at the waist and greeted, “This old servant greets Miss.”

“Rise,” Xiao Wangshu gestured to them, then added, “Matron, please sit.”

Matron Du was both an elder and acting on behalf of Fang Qin’er, so how could she remain standing?

“Thank you, Miss.” Matron Du rose and sat on the stool brought by Li Jun.

Xiao Wangshu handed over the ledger in her hand. “Matron, see for yourself. The shopkeepers should also take a look later. Don’t say I’ve wronged anyone. The evidence is irrefutable-no one can use their merits or hardships as an excuse!”

Shuxia stepped forward to take the ledger from Xiao Wangshu and passed it to Matron Du.

Previously, Matron Du, like Fang Qin’er, had been half-convinced by the shopkeepers’ words, unsure of what exactly Xiao Wangshu had done in the shop today.

But after reading the ledger, everything became clear to her.

“Xiao Tu, oh Xiao Tu! You have wasted the trust of the Old Madam and Madam. You deserve to die!” Matron Du exclaimed angrily, breathing heavily with rage.

Hui Qiu, who stood nearby, quickly bent down and gently soothed Matron Du’s chest.

“Matron, calm down. Don’t harm your health,” Xiao Wangshu advised lightly, signaling to Shuxia.

Shuxia immediately understood, stepped forward, and took the ledger from Matron Du’s hands, passing it to the shopkeepers behind her for them to read.

After seeing the contents of the ledger, the shopkeepers immediately fell silent.

Now, even seeing Shopkeeper Xiao kneeling and trembling on the ground, they dared not say a word.

There was nothing left to say.