Chapter 1403
Jin Yue 4
Chapter 1403 Jin Yue 4
“My nephews, they have never harmed you. The grievances have their perpetrators, and the debtors have their debtors. If you have any grievances, come at me!”
“They really didn’t harm me, but what can we do? Their mother gave you a lot of advice.” Tan You stirred the pastries on her plate. “Why don’t you tell me, how should this debt be settled?”
As if grasping at a straw: "We'll compensate you with money. Just name your price, young lady, and we'll try our best to scrape together whatever it takes."
“Silver,” Tan You snapped her fingers, “Fine, then let’s use half of the Wei family’s assets to compensate. Let’s calculate the Wei family’s wealth, including shops, land, horse farms, etc., it’s about two million taels.”
"If one million taels arrive by tomorrow evening, I won't touch your nephews. If the money isn't there, then I can't guarantee anything."
Wei looked up at Tan You, never expecting that she would know so much about her own family's wealth. Was she even human? What kind of monster was she?
Gu Yu and Aunt Chang returned at this moment. Tan You looked at Gu Yu and said, "Three years ago, Lin Jinyue married into the Cheng family. After the marriage, Lin Jinyue was arranged to live in Yiran Residence."
"According to the Duke's mansion's monthly allowance, her monthly allowance should be two hundred taels."
Gu Yu hurriedly added, "But since the young mistress received a monthly allowance of two hundred taels in her first month after marrying in, she only received thirty taels in her second month, and later there was no monthly allowance at all. The young mistress had to use her own dowry to make up for it."
"The food delivered from the kitchen was also very perfunctory, with no meat at all."
"There's no ice in the summer, and no charcoal fire in the winter."
"There are no clothes made for all four seasons."
Tan You let Gu Yu do the accounting, then glanced at Wei Shi, who was slumped on the ground: "Before settling accounts with your family, you should settle the debts you owe me first?"
Wei lowered her head. She had done it herself, but after being pointed out like this, she felt utterly ashamed. The key was that she never imagined she would one day fall to this level, being manipulated and bullied by people she had always looked down upon.
“I will make up for all the monthly allowances I owed the girl over the past three years, and the rest will be converted into silver and sent to Yiran Residence.”
Tan You waved her hand: "Why go to such lengths? After all, the young master and I are husband and wife, so naturally I should live in Qinglanggan."
Just as Madam Wei was about to speak, a servant came from the front courtyard to report: "Madam, the eldest and second young masters of the Wei family have arrived at the front hall."
Wei suddenly looked up at Tan You, who was toying with her teacup: "Now, their lives are in my hands. If they perish, the Wei family... will be completely gone."
Madam Wei staggered to her feet: "Aunt Chang, prepare the car, I'm going back to the Wei family now."
As for whether returning to the Wei family will be for money or to call for reinforcements, that's hard to say.
Tan You, of course, would not let the Wei family out of her sight. She raised her hand and smiled, "No need for such trouble. Send them invitations to come to the mansion for a chat tomorrow. I remember tomorrow is a day off, so the Wei lords don't need to attend court."
"It's better to talk things out face to face."
"Mother Rong, go and make sure the two young masters of the Wei family are settled in properly. Don't mistreat them."
"Arrange for several more servants to keep watch tonight, and do not neglect them."
How could Madam Wei dare to refute? Mama Chang immediately wrote a visiting card and quickly went out to deliver it.
Madam Rong couldn't wait to leave; this young mistress was truly terrifying. Not only was Madam Wei afraid, but she was too. With her two trusted confidantes dispatched to handle some business, Madam Wei suddenly found herself with nothing to do. Tan You raised her chin: "Since there's nothing to do, let's settle the accounts. Calculate how much silver you've embezzled from me over the past three years."
After settling down behind the low table, Madam Wei could only begin calculating the accounts. Calculating the accounts did help calm her down a little, at least she didn't have to face Tan You's beautiful face.
It is beautiful, but it is too terrifying.
Time flew by and evening arrived, with various dishes being delivered from the main kitchen. News of Tan You's outburst against Wei Ruoyu had already spread throughout the mansion; who didn't know that the young mistress had risen to power?
She's still staying in the main courtyard, so the head kitchen staff naturally delivers dinner there. When the head kitchen staff brings the food, they're all meek and submissive, a far cry from their usual domineering manner.
Tan You chuckled, not dwelling on the matter of the main kitchen. It was just a matter of opportunism and favoritism; she couldn't possibly argue with everyone.
If they are obedient and useful, then they can remain in the Duke's mansion. If they don't work well and dare to disobey her, then they should be kicked out.
Tan You sat down at the dining table. Wei Shi, who was dizzy from calculating the accounts, didn't dare to sit down this time. She just stood quietly beside Tan You, seemingly wanting to serve her food.
If word got out that the mother-in-law was serving food to her daughter-in-law, Lin Jinyue would have no future in the capital. Tan You glanced at Madam Wei: "Sit down."
Wei immediately plopped down on the nearest stool. She wanted to trip up Tan You, but she didn't even know the other party's background. She had already suffered such a big setback. What could she do?
She could only tuck her tail between her legs and do whatever Tan You told her to do.
After dinner, the government delivered the missing monthly allowance. Looking at Tan You's expression, Madam Wei carefully explained, "According to the monthly allowance, you should be given 6970 taels of silver. In addition, for the mistreatment you have received over the past three years, I rounded it up to a total of 20,000 taels of silver, including interest."
Tan You looked up and met Wei Shi's gaze. Wei Shi seemed to be burned and immediately lowered her eyelids.
Tan You listlessly twirled her prayer beads: "When it comes to reading between the lines, you're really good. It's a pity that sometimes being too good at reading between the lines takes away a lot of the fun."
"Guyu, put the money away."
"From now on, all grudges between us will be wiped clean."
Madam Wei was very careful, not daring to think about what kind of fun Tan You was talking about. She looked at Tan You hopefully: "Then Qian'er..."
Tan You smiled and said, "That depends on whether he can return alive from the border. If he dies on the battlefield, I won't hold it against him. But if he returns safely..."
Tan You didn't say the rest, but Madam Wei understood. If her son didn't behave when he returned, his fate wouldn't be good. But what could she do? She really had no way to deal with Tan You.
Even the slightest thought of malice towards Tan You would cause her head to throb. Between her son's life and her own, Wei clearly chose herself first.
In the afternoon, Tan You announced that she wanted to stay at Qinglanggan, and after dinner, the servants had already tidied up the courtyard. Her personal maid, Gu Yu, even went so far as to move all the items that originally belonged to the young master Cheng Qian to a side room.
Tan You nodded as she entered: "Very good, from now on Gu Yu will be a first-class maid."
She really likes him because he's considerate, sensible, knows how to read people's minds, and is so good at reading between the lines.