Xiao Yuan Cheng's face turned slightly unnatural. He softly coughed: "This servant who casually spoke his mind, it's better to beat him to death! Otherwise, he might ruin our prefecture's reputation!"
"Lord! This person had been loyal to you for so many years and done so many things for you. It's fine that something is wrong and you're not helping but you dare to think about killing me to keep the secret?!" Housekeeper lifted his head angrily.
"If you keep on talking nonsense, do you believe that I will kill you!"
Housekeeper Zhou: "Lord doesn't need to threaten me. Today, the matter had revealed itself and the Lord dared to pretend as though you didn't know this then I don't need to hide and keep it from everyone! All the precious treasures in the prefecture's storage room, if I didn't have the Lord's keys, then how am I able to take them out?"
The overbearing sentences made by housekeeper Zhou made Xiao Yuan Cheng flustered and exasperated. His eye sockets were on the verge of splitting: "You, you are framing me!"
"Humph! Framing? Lord is the Emperor's son-in-law and I am just a small housekeeper. Why would I find the need to frame you? The keys to the prefecture's storage room, you have been the one keeping them. Only you are able to open the storage room. Without you, how could these treasures be transferred out?"
"You—" Xiao Yuan Cheng was speechless.
Huang Bei Yue straightened her back and suddenly coldly announced: "Enough, all shut up."
Housekeeper Zhou closed his mouth. Xiao Yuan Cheng also guiltily closed his mouth. He thought about it before exclaiming: "Bei Yue, this father – I…"
"Enough, you don't need to explain. This matter, I will investigate thoroughly. Father, give me the keys to the storage room. I will open to see just how many items are missing."
"This key isn't on me…"
Huang Bei Yue suddenly turned her body around. In the clean pupils of the eyes, there was indeed a chilly ray of light: "Father, in front of everyone's faces, I am the daughter so I can't lose faces for you! But this matter involves the prefecture of Princess Zhang and I am the first daughter of the first lady. Mother isn't here so I am the one in charge of the prefecture. As the master of the prefecture, that storage room originally should be managed by me. Starting from today, the father doesn't need to worry about it!"
Every sentence was icy and cold, revealing anger that led people to feel chilly.
The master of the prefecture!
These four words were like thunder, striking on Xiao Yuan Cheng's head. He was infuriated and felt shameful. He was a seven feet man but he has no privilege within the prefecture to manage anything. On the other hand, a twelve-year-old girl dared to make sarcastic comments and gesticulate at him while talking!
If he gave the key to the prefecture's storage room then that is saying that he was giving away the power of about half the prefecture. How could he be willing to do so?
"You're young. What do you need that key for? If you end up meeting someone that is dangerous and is lied to by a couple of words then doesn't that mean…"
"Absurd!" Huang Bei Yue angrily shouted. Her hands pointed at the boxes outside: "Look at what those are? Human testimony and material evidence are both here. I just need to bring Ting Wei Si over to carefully check this. What things can't be investigated? You dared to cover this! I am young but my eyes are not blind! Father, you are so disappointing ah!"
"The family matters, do we really need to startle Ting Wei Si?" As soon as Xiao Yuan Cheng heard that she was going to ask for Ting Wei Si to investigate this, he started to be worried.
The laws of Nan Yi Country are strict and the punishments are even harsher. All the past emperors of Nan Yi Country all loathe frauds and greediness. No matter whether it was bureaucracy or affairs of the nation or family/prefecture matters, as long as they were caught and brought to Ting Wei Si, then they would be punished severely!
He was the Emperor's son-in-law and he was corrupting the financial affairs of the prefecture of Princess Zhang. The punishment is worse!
"If father is willing to admit the error and feel regretful about it, looking towards the relationship as father and daughter, how could I go and startle Ting Wei Si to come and catch the father? But today…"
"Lord!" Concubine Qin frightfully hollered from the back. She was trembling.
If this matter were to startle Ting Wei Si, then none of them could escape ah!
Xiao Yuan Cheng is also aware of the weight of the matter. The Huang Bei Yue right now is different from the trash in the past. If it was that trash from the past, he could have locked her up in the Floating Cloud Pavilion and never let her out!
But today, in Ling Yang College, he had personally witnessed her deal with Lin Wan Yi and Lin Zi Cheng. Furthermore, she had killed a servant at home. Even Xiao Qi Yuan had personally come to express his goodwill, so who would dare to touch her now?
This girl can't be offended right now. Just by making her slightly unhappy, she had actually invited people from the Commander of Justice to come here. With such a big matter, it would definitely alarm the emperor. The emperor had already suspected that Xiao Yuan Chen has been cruel to Huang Bei Yue. If the emperor catches his weakness, then his career as an official would be ruined.
After thinking it over and over again, Xiao Yuan Cheng decided to abandon the car to protect his honor. After all, the path of an official was more important. He had also hidden quite a sum of wealth over the years. It shouldn't be a problem for him if he leaves his relationships behind.
Honestly speaking, Princess Zhang's residence's treasury is basically an empty shell now. The treasures inside the treasury are mostly fakes. What's the use of a guard to guard those worthless things?
After thinking about it, Xiao Yuan Cheng sighed. He slowly took out the key from his chest, handing it to Huang Bei Yue.
Huang Bei Yue received it and slowly said: "Dong Ling, thoroughly interrogate Steward Zhou to report all the treasures that were smuggled out previously. Also, make sure to report all the correct tax revenue that Princess Zhang's residence had collected over the years."
Xiao Yuan Cheng said in dissatisfaction: "Bei Yue, are you really not trusting your father?"
"Father, you have a lot of maters to handle so you had overlooked a few things. How could I trust you? How could things have gotten to this point?" Huang Bei Yue said coldly.
Xiao Yuan Cheng's expression was unhappy. This girl has really rebelled. She actually dared to teach him a lesson!
However, the matter had already been cleared up. After the interrogation, Steward Zhou would reveal all the items he had kept hidden for so many years. Paper can't cover fire, nothing could be concealed.
"Humph! The reason I'm using the property in this house is for this family! Do you think it's easy for me, all these years? Your mother has been dead for many years and I don't have a high position in the military. If I didn't use this money to manage this residence, do you think that Princess Zhang's residence can remain peaceful until now?"
"Father is confused!" Huang Bei Yue tried her best to suppress her voice to prevent her anger from erupting, "If you want to manage the residence, you can give it out openly. For the sake of Princess Zhang's residence, would I say no? But now, it's like you've been caught like a thief. If this gets out, how many people will laugh at us?!"
Xiao Zhang's face and ear turned red as he said: "Since this matter has already passed, let it pass. No one is allowed to bring it up again, much less spread it out!"
Huang Bei Yue snorted coldly and instructed Dong Ling: "Take Steward Zhou to the Flowing Cloud Pavilion and interrogate him!"
After finishing her sentence, she turned to look at Concubine Xue: "I remember that for many years, it has always been Concubine Xue who manages the Princess Zhang's accounts, right?"
Concubine Xue's face stiffened. How come she's asking for the account books for the land deeds so quickly? She's so quick to cut through the mess and muddy waters, not wasting time at all!
This decisive and fierce character, why did it not resemble Princess Zhang's gentle character at all?
"Yes, I'm in charge of all of it." Concubine Xue said hoarsely. She was in charge of Miyang region's accounts and Concubine Qin was in charge of the Qinghe region's accounts. Everyone in the household knew about this matter. Hence, even if she wants to put the blame on someone else, she can't.
"I'm sure that Concubine Xue has managed Mi Yang region's account very well. Let Xia Chun go get it so I can have a look."