Chapter 317 - 318: One Tael of Silver Each
Chapter 317: Chapter 318: One Tael of Silver Each
Jin Qianqian had just returned from outside the mansion when Qing Mei took out the day’s invitations. "Here’s an invitation from the Minister of War Mansion that arrived this morning. It’s for their child’s one-month celebration.
There’s also a flower viewing party hosted by General Deng’s wife, and the one-year-old birthday banquet for the first daughter of the Minister of the Ministry of Justice’s second wife..."
Jin Qianqian rubbed her head, a headache coming on. These banquets came one after another, each from a prominent family, making them difficult to refuse.
"Oh, right," Qing Mei added, pulling another card from her robes. "Xu Yapo sent a calling card. It seems she has news about the manor."
Jin Qianqian reached out and took the card. Finally, amidst the pile of banquet invitations, there was a different kind of news—and it was about something she’d been longing for.
"Send someone to reply. Have her come over in the late afternoon. That’s the only free time I have these days." Because of all these banquets, Jin Qianqian found her time with her children cut shorter and shorter.
Qing Mei nodded in agreement and turned to go discuss how to handle everything with Nanny Ou.
Jin Qianqian knew that Qing Mei had no desire to buy her freedom and return home, and she had also agreed to help manage the rear courtyard after she married. Qing Mei was already beginning to settle into the role.
But ever since arriving in Shangjing, there had been a constant stream of banquets and appointments, big and small, and Jin Qianqian still hadn’t found an opportunity to arrange the marriages for her maids.
She thought about the growing number of people in the mansion, and how the orphans Gu Wenheng had brought in before were also growing up. ’If I have to handle all these matters personally, I’ll surely wear myself out.’
When she met with Nanny Duan and Nanny Ou, Jin Qianqian told them her thoughts. "If you have a spare moment, please look into matchmaking for them. When the time comes, I, as the Madam, will provide them with a dowry."
The two nannies readily agreed, and then they began to discuss other miscellaneous matters in the mansion.
Gu Wenheng once again turned down a colleague’s invitation for drinks, packed his things, and prepared to head home.
As he reached the entrance, he was stopped by Gong Zhengping. "Wenheng, come with me to the palace for an audience with the Holy Emperor."
Gu Wenheng didn’t ask any questions. He turned, gave a few instructions to Ming Feng, and then quietly followed behind Master Gong.
"Aren’t you curious?" Gong Zhengping glanced at him from the side. ’This young man is far too calm. Anyone else would have excitement written all over their face by now.’
Gu Wenheng lowered his gaze. "You must have your reasons for calling me, my lord. Your subordinate has already formed a few guesses."
"Oh? And what have you guessed?"
Gu Wenheng looked up at him. "If your subordinate is not mistaken, it must be about the matter of mathematics."
During his time at the Hanlin Academy, he had followed the rules to the letter every day. Other than the mental calculation skills he had displayed that one time, he couldn’t think of any other reason why the Grand Scholar would specifically take him to the palace for an imperial audience.
Gong Zhengping didn’t hide it. "When court was dismissed today, I mentioned this matter to the Holy Emperor. He was very interested and asked me to bring you to the palace to give a demonstration.
This will only benefit you; there’s no downside. We still have some time on the way there, so you should prepare yourself."
Gu Wenheng knew this was the Grand Scholar’s way of giving him a helpful tip, and he hurriedly nodded in understanding.
Perhaps to give him that time, they didn’t speak again for the rest of the journey.
As soon as he stepped into the Southern Study Room, Gu Wenheng saw Bai Jinglie standing at the entrance, winking at him.
He walked in without looking aside and, after Hua Shunming called for them to rise, stood quietly behind Scholar Gong.
Hua Shunming said, "Editor Gu, the Grand Scholar tells me you are formidable at mathematics. We are a little curious. As it happens, here is a ledger from the palace for last month. Why don’t you help Us check the accounts?"
Gu Wenheng walked over with a calm expression. When he opened the first page, he was quite startled, but not a trace of it showed on his face.
After a brief pause, he began flipping through it, page by page. Everyone waited until he reached the final page, but they didn’t see him point out any problems.
Scholar Gong’s heart began to pound. ’Don’t tell me Gu Wenheng is losing his nerve now and can’t figure it out?’
Bai Jinglie slowly moved closer to his side, wanting to offer a few words of reminder, but he saw that Gu Wenheng had already closed the ledger.
"Did you not find any mistakes?"
Gu Wenheng glanced around the study. Besides the four of them, only Eunuch Le was in attendance.
Only then did he press his lips together and say, "The entire ledger is a problem."
Hua Shunming was a bit disappointed. "We have already had people check the accounts. There are no problems in it."
Gu Wenheng shook his head. "I’m not talking about calculation errors. The ledger itself is fundamentally flawed."
"Wenheng, just say what’s on your mind. The Holy Emperor won’t blame you." The moment Bai Jinglie heard there was a problem with the ledger, his mind immediately jumped to Ms. Kuang at home. Thinking of the recent troubles in his own household, the words tumbled out before he could stop them.
Hua Shunming cleared his throat. "Bai Shijie is right. Say what you will. We grant you immunity from punishment."
Gu Wenheng casually flipped open a page and pointed to a listed item. "This egg, for instance. In the markets of Shangjing, they cost only five cents each. A fresh, live chicken is no more than two hundred-some coins, and this mutton..."
The more Gu Wenheng spoke, the uglier Hua Shunming’s expression became. He was standing beside him, checking item after item. ’An egg for one tael of silver? Where did the other nine hundred-some copper coins go? A single chicken for five taels of silver? Are they treating Us like fools? Even if We are unfamiliar with the cost of such sundries, We know how much a commoner earns in a year. These ledgers are all managed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which only ever submits a general total each year. Now, having randomly pulled a single volume and found such a massive problem, We can only imagine how many fat rats We have been feeding all these years.’
Terrified, Scholar Gong quickly grabbed Gu Wenheng and pulled him to his knees beside the desk, cursing his luck internally. ’I only wanted to show off the treasure I had found, but I never expected to stir up such a massive storm. If word of this gets out, the entire Ministry of Internal Affairs will see me as the one who started it all.’
Hua Shunming threw the ledger in his hand to Le San. "Go and bring me everyone from the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
Gu Wenheng knew that since the hornet’s nest had been poked, he might as well add fuel to the fire. "Your Majesty, please quell your anger."
Bai Jinglie quickly tugged at the blockhead. Even with his good private relationship with the Holy Emperor, he wouldn’t dare step into the line of fire at a time like this. Wasn’t Gu Wenheng afraid of having the Emperor’s anger redirected at him for speaking up now?
"Editor Gu, are you trying to plead for them, or do you believe We should not punish them?"
For the first time, Gu Wenheng felt that formless, immense pressure. "Your servant wouldn’t dare. I merely wish to remind the Holy Emperor that this will startle the snake in the grass."
Hua Shunming looked at the back of the head of the man prostrated on the floor, and the fire that had just surged within him subsided a little. "All of you, rise."
Once they were steady on their feet, Hua Shunming continued, "Editor Gu, tell us your thoughts."
With all eyes on him, Gu Wenheng laid out the thoughts he had just organized. As Hua Shunming listened, he repeatedly exclaimed in approval.
Gong Zhengping and Bai Jinglie both stared at Gu Wenheng with complicated expressions, unsure whether to pity the officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs or to praise Gu Wenheng for devising such a counter-plan in such a short time.