Chapter 5

I brought Qingzhu to the busiest street in the capital. The entire street had formed part of my mother’s dowry, which meant every shop on it now belonged to me.

I visited them one by one. The seal proved my identity, and most of the shopkeepers treated me with great respect. There were exceptions.

Qingzhu asked cautiously,

“Miss, this servant has the feeling you’re looking for someone.”

“How clever of you.”

I narrowed my eyes at the man lounging on a recliner outside the restaurant, enjoying the cool air.

At last, I had found him. If I remembered correctly, his name was Zhu Er, Song Jinyu’s maternal uncle. In my last life, he had found the men who abused me in the Earth God temple.

This restaurant was the most profitable property under my mother’s name. Yet that fool Song Jinyu had placed it in the hands of a greedy, shameless man. She collected less than a tenth of its earnings each year and even congratulated herself that wealth should remain in the family.

I led my people inside, displayed the seal, and demanded the account books.

The waiter was quick-witted. He hurried outside to fetch Zhu Er.

The man’s well-fed, perfectly round body was wrapped in silk and satin. He still managed to work up a sweat crossing those few steps.

“Who are you? This shop belongs to the prime minister’s daughter. You can’t inspect the accounts simply because you say so!”

The idiot had been arrogant for so long that he even threatened to have Chancellor Song throw me in prison.

At a glance from me, one of the guards kicked him.

“Are you blind? This is the one and only young lady of the prime minister’s family. The former impostor is emptying chamber pots in the back courtyard!”

Zhu Er was stupefied. With his limited intelligence, the matter was probably too complicated for him to understand.

I had no patience to explain. I examined the account books carefully and nearly laughed from sheer fury.

The restaurant earned as much as three thousand taels of silver every month, yet only two hundred taels were delivered to the prime minister’s residence.

How stupid did Song Jinyu have to be not to notice anything?

This was my territory now. Naturally, I would not tolerate parasites.

“Break his legs and send him to the capital magistrate’s office with these account books.”

Before Zhu Er could beg for mercy, someone gagged him.

A person beside me offered a warning.

“Miss, this could be considered taking the law into your own hands. If word spreads, it may damage your reputation.”

I sneered.

“I want word to spread. What is a reputation? Can I eat it? I intend to show everyone exactly what happens to an embezzler!

“If anyone objects, they can take it up with my father.”

Everyone fell silent at once.

I appointed an old retainer who had served my mother as the new manager. I told him to act boldly. As long as he did not cross my limits, I was quite easy to get along with.

Trembling, the old manager agreed. Once I raised his wages, his speech became noticeably smoother.

I left with my people in high spirits, bought a great many things, and only then returned to the residence.

As for Zhu Er, I also sent the prefect a list of crimes I had gathered beforehand. His offenses—abducting women, seizing fertile fields, and countless others—were too numerous to list.

Without Song Jinyu’s status protecting him, he was worth less than a rotten fish.

Naturally, I was kind enough to tell Song Jinyu what had happened.

The person I sent reported that Song Jinyu flew into a towering rage. Another maid working beside her mocked her a few times, and the two of them actually started fighting.

No one restrained her anymore. The maid poured a bucket of night soil over her, and the battle became spectacularly fierce.

I was so delighted that I awarded the maid five taels of silver.

Once the others saw that, every servant began searching for opportunities to bully Song Jinyu and make trouble for her.

Money truly could make even ghosts turn millstones.

While Song Jinyu suffered, my days were wonderfully pleasant.

Apart from eating, drinking, shopping, and sleeping, I spent my time talking with Old Madam Song.

She was a remarkable woman. She listened to the tragedies of my past and grieved for me, but she was equally delighted by amusing tales from among the common people.

One day, as I was playing a board game with Old Madam Song, a maid rushed in in a panic.

“Old Madam! Miss! Something terrible has happened! The eldest young master has returned, and he’s coming toward this courtyard with a sword!”