Chapter 346
~ WE’RE STILL 80,000 TAELS SHORT ~
Shen Binghuai also looked at the official beside him. When he saw Eldest Madam’s assured expression just now, it seemed like he really thinks nothing can be found.
“Reporting to Lord Shen, these banknotes were found in a box. It were carefully hidden under the flannel cloth at the bottom of the box. When my subordinates were walking, they accidentally bumped the box. The contents were quite valuable. For fear of breaking something, they quickly checked carefully and found the silver banknotes under the flannel.”
An official carried the box over. Jin Lan, who was standing by the side, cried out in surprise, “This box....”
Shen Binghuai looked over and said, “Do you know this box?”
Jin Lan nodded: “Return to Lord Shen, this box is a gift to the Eldest Madam by our Miss after returning to the Su family’s residence. At that time, Miss repeatedly took it out for inspection.For fear of loss, this servant remembers clearly that the box contained a set of inlaid jade heads and a set of small ruby curtains, which bought with the cost of a few thousand taels of silver.”
The Eldest Madam abruptly turned her head to look at Mu Yunyao, her gaze sharp as if she’d been poisoned. “Mu Yunyao, it’s you who framed me. You must have printed these banknotes and hidden it beforehand to in order to slander me today!”
“Eldest Aunt, how can you think of me that way?” Mu Yunyao’s tears that had just stopped fell again. “Ever since my father passed away, Mother and I have been left alone and had no one to rely on. After we went to Jingling City, we were struggling. Fortunately, the heavens pitied us and allowed us to obtain the help of a noble person, which gradually developed Ni Yun Fang and Bu Xian Luo. Afterward, our life gradually became stable. When Mother and I found out that we still have relatives, we were so happy that we couldn’t sleep well for a few days. We personally picked out these gifts, so no matter how much silver we spent, we hoped you would like it … But you actually so suspicious of me?!”
The Eldest Madam did not believe Mu Yunyao’s words at all. She seemed young, and her personality was kind and harmless. But ever since they returned to the Su family, she has been steadily fighting every step and has never suffered a loss. Even now, she couldn’t suppress her emotions and was still acting pitiful?
“Mu Yunyao, if it wasn’t you who framing me, then why would silver banknotes appear in the box you sent over?”
Mu Yunyao looked at the Eldest Madam in disbelief, as if she hadn’t expected her to say such words. “Eldest Aunt, could it be that the banknotes were placed in the case I gave you a greeting gift because I deliberately placed them inside to frame you? So, according to your thoughts, could I said that the big fire in Baohua Temple was deliberately set by Sister Yuyi, who wanted to burn Mother and me to help you seek murder for fortune? After all, she was in the room when the fire started, but she managed to escape unharmed while my mother almost lost her life.”
“You’re talking nonsense!” the Eldest Madam retorted sharply.
Mu Yunyao seemed seems to have developed a complexion. With a touch of sadness and anger, she said, “Eldest Aunt, all these silver taels didn’t fall from the sky out of nowhere. It was actually earned it from selling my clothes and catty of tea. Every penny is hard to come. The account books in Ni Yun Fang and Bu Xian Luo are clearly recorded. You can find out how much silver taels I have earned and how much I have spent since the start of the operation.”
Mu Yunyao wiped away her tears, her expression becoming even more pitiful, “Before I came to the Capital, other than leaving a few taels of silver to buy the meeting gift, the rest were handed over to Lord Li, the envoy of Jingling City in order to give back to the people of Jingling City. Everyone knows that I didn’t have any silver in my hands at that time. How can I conjure up another 200,000 taels of silver bills out of thin air to frame you?”
“Who knows if your words are true or false. From the time you donated a hundred thousand silver taels back to the people of Jingling City, it hasn’t even been a month. If it wasn’t prepared in advance, could it be that you’ve earned two hundred thousand silver taels in a short period of time?”
“Currently, there are a total of twelve Ni Yun Fang and eight Bu Xian Luo in Jiangnan. It takes a long time for Ni Yun Fang to embroider because of its exquisite embroidery craftsmanship. However, each piece of clothing is sold very expensive, at least one thousand silver taels each, so it is profitable. In addition, in Bu Xian Luo, we've just harvested and baked the new tea for autumn. After the new tea leaves have been roasted, we’ve only managed to earn two hundred thousand taels of silver from a few place. I can mobilize the book accounts of Ni Yun Fang and Bu Xian Luo for you to check carefully.”
The Eldest Madam’s face was pale, and her heart was completely flustered. She knew that this was a trap that Mu Yunyao would not fall for, but no matter how she tried to explain it, no one believed her words. She opened her mouth a few times before weakly saying, “Who knows if what you said is true or false....”
Mu Yunyao became even more heartbroken. “Eldest Aunt, the most important thing is that when we sent these gifts, Zhou Mama and the rest were also present. Zhou Mama was an old man serving the Su family, and her entire family’s life dependent on the Su family. Will she also help me frame you?”
The Eldest Madam had always been good at scheming, but now it was the time for her to experience the feeling of being wronged and unable to argue.
The Eldest Madam tried her best to explain, but her words were incomparably pale, “Old Master, Lord Shen, please believe me. I really did not touch those two hundred thousand taels of silver. I really do not know why those silver banknotes appeared in the box in the warehouse!”
Mu Yunyao looked at the banknotes in Shen Binghuai’s hands, then looked at the Eldest Madam who was struggling in vain, and tears welled in her eyes. “If Eldest Aunt really lacks silver, then you can just tell me directly. Not to mention two hundred thousand taels of silver, I can still think of a way to raise it no matter how much silver it is … For a mere silver, your conscience would be obliterated and would turn a blind eye to the family affection … Is it really worth it?”
Shen Binghuai is hard-hearted, but when he hears this, he can’t help feeling sour. This Miss Mu’s mind is truly soft-hearted. It’s a pity that she treats the Eldest Madam as a relative, but the Eldest Madam wants her life for silver! Speaking of which, Ni Yun Fang and Bu Xian Luo could earn so much silver in just one month. Even if it were anyone else, they would be thrilled.
Shen Binghuai took the silver banknotes away and passed them to Mu Yunyao. “Miss Mu, please keep the silver banknotes properly. This isn’t a small amount.”
Mu Yunyao nodded her head, indicating to Jin Qiao on the side to help collect the banknotes. However, Jin Lan also took two steps forward to help Jin Qiao inspect the banknotes in her hands one by one.
Seeing their actions, Mu Yunyao hurriedly opened her mouth. “The two of you really have no rules. Just keep the silver banknotes properly.”
“But Miss, these silver banknotes are only one hundred and twenty thousand taels of silver....” As Jin Lan spoke, she carefully counted the silver banknotes again, “This servant did not make a mistake. It is indeed only one hundred and twenty thousand taels of silver! We’re still eighty thousand taels of silver short!”
Mu Yunyao bit her lower lip and turned to look at the Eldest Madam. “Eldest Aunt, I’m the one who brought the two hundred thousand taels of silver here. In order to open Ni Yun Fang and Bu Xian Luo in the Capita, I even don’t dare to carelessly spend the silver that’s given to me. Would it be possible for you to return the eighty thousand taels of silver to me, Eldest Aunt?”