Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes

"Those from the countryside really are just that—country folk, ignorant of the rules."

Given Luo Yunqiao’s status, the accountant dared not provoke her directly, so he offered a perfunctory excuse: "I overstepped, but there really is no money in the accounts right now."

Yinxin, hearing this, immediately flared up. "How can there be no money? I just saw Luo Yunzhen’s personal maid come to the storehouse to collect her monthly allowance. Why is it that when it comes to my Eldest Miss, there’s suddenly nothing left?"

The accountant let out a cold snort, his expression implying, "And what are you going to do about it?" It was enough to make Yinxin half-dead with fury. It was blatant discrimination!

Luo Yunqiao, who had remained silent until now, curled the corners of her lips. "Are you implying that a Marquis’s estate as grand as this cannot scrape together ten taels of silver for a monthly stipend?"

Without waiting for the accountant to respond, Luo Yunqiao began to list the recent expenditures of the various courtyards in the estate with familiar ease. "If I recall correctly, the phoenix-dragon lantern added to Luo Yunzhen’s courtyard yesterday cost five taels. The golden cricket Luo Zefeng bought the other day was three taels, and the fine rice paper Luo Zeting bought a while back was five hundred coppers per sheet..."

"I am simply curious: there is plenty of money to furnish these trinkets for the other young masters and misses, yet when I come to collect my stipend, the coffers are empty. What kind of logic is this? Is there truly no money, or are you deliberately stalling me?"

Luo Yunqiao was smiling, but the expression did not reach her eyes. Her words left the accountant drenched in sweat. He had never expected this young lady from the countryside to be so difficult to handle. Despite being a peripheral figure who was clearly unwelcome, she knew exactly which items had been added to the other young masters' and misses' quarters and how much they cost. Her accusations were logical and grounded, leaving him with no room to argue.

By now, the accountant dared not look down on Luo Yunqiao. His attitude turned incredibly respectful, though he still insisted that the accounts were empty.

Luo Yunqiao smiled and said, "If there truly is no silver, then so be it. I am not an unreasonable person who would force you to conjure money out of thin air."

Just as the accountant began to breathe a sigh of relief, he heard Luo Yunqiao continue.

"However, I must inform my grandmother about this shortfall in the accounts. It will allow my father and mother to make arrangements early and replace you with someone more capable of managing the books. That would certainly be better than being unable to produce even ten taels of silver, wouldn't it?"

With that, Luo Yunqiao turned to leave, but the accountant’s anxious voice rang out from behind her.

"Eldest Miss, please stay!"

Luo Yunqiao stopped, though she did not turn around. A clattering sound followed, and moments later, the accountant hurried over, carrying a tray. On it sat exactly ten taels of silver—her monthly stipend.

"Forgive me, I’m getting on in years and my mind is growing foggy. Here is your monthly allowance."

The accountant hurriedly handed over the tray. Luo Yunqiao gave Yinxin a look, and the latter took it, making a face at the accountant as she did so.

Just moments ago, he had insisted there was no silver left in the accounts. Where had this money suddenly appeared from? Clearly, he had simply thought his mistress and her maid were easy to bully and had refused to pay.

It was the first time Yinxin had ever received silver. Since Luo Yunqiao had entered the estate, only silver had flowed out; there had never been any income. Although ten taels was not a vast sum, it was enough to make the little maid beam from ear to ear.

Luo Yunqiao curled her lips. "The money for this month is settled, but what about the previous months’ stipends and the holiday bonuses? Shall you pay those to me as well?"

The accountant’s eyes widened; he had not expected Luo Yunqiao to pursue the back pay. Between everything, it amounted to fifty or sixty taels—where was he supposed to find that kind of money?

With a miserable expression, the accountant stammered, "This... there really is no such money in the accounts."

Jinxin let out a cold hum. "A moment ago, Mr. Lin, you said the same thing, yet you managed to produce the silver, didn't you?" She covered her mouth in feigned shock, as if she had discovered a terrible secret. "Could it be that you’ve embezzled that money yourself?"

The accountant was on the verge of tears; he wouldn't dare embezzle such a large sum even if he had ten times the courage. Seeing that Luo Yunqiao was genuinely prepared to report him to the matriarch, he desperately tried to stall her.

"Look at my memory, I took the wrong ledger. The records for the previous months must be in the previous book. Why doesn't the Eldest Miss wait a moment and return tomorrow?"

Luo Yunqiao raised an eyebrow. "And if I return tomorrow, will I be able to collect the money?"

By now, the accountant had no choice but to nod. Luo Yunqiao did not press him further, leaving the office with a casual, "Then I shall return tomorrow."

As they stepped out, Yinxin was still smiling happily at the tray of silver. Jinxin, however, was quite indignant. "Are we really just going to let it go like this? In this servant's opinion, even if we return tomorrow, we won't get that money. We should just tell the Old Madam; with her intervention, this matter would be easily resolved."

Luo Yunqiao refused without a second thought. "If I cannot even handle a petty matter like this, what will my grandmother think of me?"

Currently, the Old Madam was her only support within the Marquis’s estate. If even she were disappointed in her, her life in the household would become increasingly difficult—stagnant at every turn. How then could she ever uncover the truth and clear her name?

Jinxin nodded thoughtfully but asked, still unwilling to let it go, "Then are we really just going to leave it at that?"

Luo Yunqiao shook her head and whispered something into Jinxin’s ear. Jinxin acknowledged the order and departed.

...

In less than an hour, Jinxin returned, her expression grave. Her first words to Luo Yunqiao confirmed her suspicions.

"Miss, you were right. After we left, the accountant hurried off to Luo Yunzhen’s courtyard. I don't know what they discussed, but he looked quite refreshed when he left."

Yinxin frowned in annoyance. "Why is the Second Miss involved in everything?"

Luo Yunqiao did not reply, lost in thought. When she had sought out the accountant earlier, she had found it strange; he was cowardly by nature and didn't seem the type to embezzle funds on his own. But if someone behind the scenes was pulling the strings, it all made sense.

Yinxin looked at Luo Yunqiao with worry. Truth be told, she did not want her mistress to clash with Luo Yunzhen again. After all, Luo Yunzhen had the Eldest Young Master, the Second Young Master, the Madam, and the Master on her side; they would always be at a disadvantage.

"Perhaps we should just let the old money go..."

"Let it go?" That was impossible.

Not only that money, but she would reclaim every single thing owed to her, one by one.