"Truly, you mustn't go back on your word."
If this move could be mastered, it would be incredibly cool. Her hidden weapons could then appear and disappear unseen.
Feng Jin, envisioning herself invincible, gradually drifted into dreamland.
When she woke up in the morning, the man was long gone. Even the bedding had gone cold, indicating he had left much earlier.
"Young Madam, you're awake. Second Master Ling and the butler have been waiting for you outside for a long time."
Cai Qing handed the warmed towel to Feng Jin.
"Second Master Ling, why is he here?" Feng Jin felt a strong sense of resistance upon hearing Second Master Ling's name.
"He's here to hand over the matched keys and account books to you."
Feng Jin then remembered that Second Master Ling had been stripped of his position as patriarch and his authority over the household.
"Cai Qing, let's go and meet Second Master Ling."
She simply tied her hair into a bun, adorned it with a plum blossom hairpin, and went out. By the time Feng Jin arrived, Second Master Ling and the butler were already seated, waiting.
"Young Madam," the butler said respectfully as he stood up.
Second Master Ling naturally did not look favorably upon Feng Jin. With a sullen face, he took out a set of keys from his embrace and placed them on the table. "The matched keys are here. If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving!"
"Wait, Uncle," Feng Jin called out as Second Master Ling reached the door. "Uncle, I haven't finished reconciling the account books yet. If you leave like this, and something goes wrong, I won't be able to explain myself to Grandfather."
Second Master Ling suppressed his anger and said, as gently as possible, "Fine, let's start reconciling the accounts then!"
He didn't believe that a country girl like Feng Jin would know how to read account books.
He had already instructed people to tamper with the accounts. Even someone as experienced as the butler wouldn't be able to find any flaws. He eagerly awaited Feng Jin's embarrassment.
"Young Madam, this is this month's account book."
Feng Jin opened the book. The messy numbers formed a pattern in her mind, and she began to calculate the accounts bit by bit.
In less than a quarter of an hour, Feng Jin had finished reviewing a book of accounts.
There were quite a few discrepancies. The accounts had clearly been falsified beforehand.
"Uncle, you've used a considerable amount of charcoal in autumn. Two hundred catties of silver-thread charcoal were used. Only Grandfather, Young General, you, and Third Uncle's rooms in the manor can use silver-thread charcoal..."
"And this month, only Third Uncle's residence took one hundred catties of silver-thread charcoal. Where did the remaining silver-thread charcoal go?"
Second Master Ling's expression changed drastically. He had never expected Feng Jin to discover the flaw. He quickly glanced at the butler.
"Young Madam, it was taken by the Old Master's residence. Perhaps the subordinates were negligent and didn't record it."
Feng Jin sneered, "Grandfather's residence only took ten catties of silver-thread charcoal. Where did the remaining ninety catties go?"
"This..." The butler was momentarily speechless, unable to think of any countermeasure.
Second Master Ling's face turned ashen. His hands, hidden within his wide sleeves, clenched tightly, and a wave of unease swept over him.
This country girl could actually see the clues. It seemed he had to be cautious in his dealings with her.
"Perhaps the servants made a mistake. It's just a little charcoal. The Ling Manor is not lacking in these things. Why make such a fuss and dampen the spirits of the servants."
Second Master Ling put on an act of magnanimity, and it was this pretense that allowed him to gain the loyalty of many subordinates.
"A little charcoal, but one catty of silver-thread charcoal costs three taels of silver. Ninety catties amount to two hundred and seventy taels of silver, which could buy three thousand catties of rice, enough for the entire manor's grain for a month. Uncle, you actually disregard such a sum of money."
Feng Jin's mind raced, and with a simple calculation, the sum of money turned out to be so substantial.
"The bill for purchasing wild ginseng is also incorrect, missing one hundred taels. And bird's nest, deer antler..."
Feng Jin listed them one by one. "This year's drought has reduced the silk production. All the Shu brocade has been made into tribute. Who in the Ling Manor has such great capabilities to purchase one hundred bolts of Shu brocade?"
"This... this must be..."
Before Second Master Ling could finish speaking, Feng Jin interrupted him.
"Uncle, are you perhaps going to say that this was also a mistake in recording? I would really like to see who is so foolish as to misrecord even Shu brocade. Why not find this person and bring them before Grandfather for his judgment!"
Second Master Ling and the butler exchanged glances, both startled.
"Uncle, I know you look down on me for being a country girl, but Grandfather has entrusted me with managing the household affairs. I hope you can also set aside past grievances. This way, it will be easier for both of us."
"Naturally, naturally. We are family after all. It's unnecessary to say such things."
Second Master Ling quickly agreed with Feng Jin. Having lost his authority over the household, and with his past actions exposed, he would truly anger the Old Master and have no place left in the Ling family.
"Uncle, it's good that you understand. I won't look at these account books any further. I'll trouble you to make up for all these losses. I will naturally pretend that I know nothing, and everyone will be spared trouble."
If she wanted things to go smoothly for her, she naturally wouldn't make things difficult for others.
"I understand, I understand."
Second Master Ling gnashed his teeth in hatred but dared not act out. This girl was truly shrewd. His meager savings would be completely emptied.
After dealing with Second Master Ling, Feng Jin turned her attention to the butler.
"You have been by the Old Master's side since childhood and have spent more than half your life in the Ling family. There are some things I won't say out in the open. Now that I am in charge of the household, you just need to do your job diligently, and I will not make things difficult for you."
The butler had been in the Ling family for decades. As long as he remained honest and didn't deliberately oppose her, she would not trouble him.
"Young Madam is wise. With you managing the household, the Ling family will naturally be run in an orderly fashion. If you need my assistance in any way, please don't hesitate to command me."
The butler, having been in the Ling family for decades and deeply trusted by Old Master Ling, was indeed capable. Seeing that Feng Jin was not someone to be trifled with, he immediately softened his stance.
After reviewing this year's account books and tallying the remaining funds, she discovered that the Ling family was a bottomless pit. The money in the accounts was always insufficient.
It turned out she had picked up a hot potato. She would have to wait for Second Master Ling to make up for the embezzled money and manage for now.
With a general plan in mind, Feng Jin sat up from her chair and stretched lazily.
When Feng Jin returned to her room, the table was already laden with dishes. However, she had no appetite. She listlessly ate a couple of bites and, feeling annoyed, put down her chopsticks.
"What's wrong? Did Second Master Ling give you trouble?" Ling Mo Han asked in a low voice.
Feng Jin snorted, "With your uncle's meager skills, he's no match for me."
"Indeed, your family's accounts are in a mess. Every month, expenses exceed income." Feng Jin sighed and continued, "No wonder Old Master took away your uncle's authority to manage the household. If he had continued for a few more years, the Ling family would have become an empty shell sooner or later."
Feng Jin couldn't help but admire Old Master Ling's wisdom in seizing Second Master Ling's authority under the guise of an excuse.