You expect me to serve your mistress? The mistress is driving this scumbag and his entire family cra

Chapter 92 The imperial edict arrives

Qin Gui was full of resentment. He didn't even glance at the account book and stubbornly said, "I was invited by the Second Master. I only speak to the Second Master. You have no right to interrogate me."

Liang Jiang casually flipped through the account book in her hand: "I may not be qualified, but surely the yamen is? According to the Song law, what punishment would he be given based on the amount he embezzled?"

The Song Dynasty law stated without hesitation: "Confiscate all embezzled silver, punish with caning, imprisonment, or exile. If the Duke's mansion is also set on fire, he might lose his head."

Liang Jiang waved her hand: "I was originally thinking of settling this privately because we're practically relatives. But since that's the case, let's send him to the yamen and let them interrogate him."

Upon hearing this, Qin Gui realized there was still room for negotiation, and hurriedly begged for mercy: "Let's talk this out. I admit that I did embezzle some money from the manor, which was kept in my mistress's room. I am willing to hand it all over and atone to the princess."

"A little bit?" Liang Jiang sneered, "Ten or twenty thousand taels of silver is a huge sum of money, and you call it a little bit? What a big mouth you have."

Qin Gui was taken aback: "You're making baseless accusations! At most, I only withheld a little bit of my monthly salary and extorted some benefits from the suppliers. All my belongings are with my mistress!"

"So, where did all that silver go? Who ate it?"

Qin Gui's eyes darted around: "You want me to frame the Second Master? I'm afraid that will disappoint you, Princess. I know nothing."

"Did not say?"

"No! Don't try to scare me with the law or exaggerate. If I'm stingy with this little bit of money, at most I'll get a few lashes."

Liang Jiang smiled slightly: "Besides embezzlement, think again, have you done anything else that you have wronged me, this princess?"

"No, absolutely not!" Qin Gui denied it outright: "I have no grudge against you, Princess, how could I possibly harm you?"

"Are you sure?"

"Sure!"

“Alright,” Liang Jiang stood up and waved her hand: “Send him to the yamen and let him reflect on his actions for a few days. When he remembers, have lawyer Song tell me.”

Yu Tan and Yu Qi, listen to my command.

Qin Gui remained defiant: "I've confessed everything I was supposed to. I would never admit to anything I didn't do, even if you beat me to death. I would never betray my promise or frame Second Master. Forget about it!"

Liang Jiang put down the account book in her hand: "I know that Steward Qin must think that I am an orphan with no one to rely on, and that the jail in the yamen might not be able to hold me. That's why you are unwilling to tell me the truth."

I can only speak with facts. Once you've spent a few more days in the jail, I believe you'll be able to tell the truth.

Yu Tan and Yu Qi took Qin Gui away, but Liang Er Ye naturally refused. He led his men to block the courtyard and angrily berated Liang Jiang.

"Qin Gui is my man. Even if he has done something wrong, it is up to me to decide whether to pursue it. I want to see who can take him away from the manor today."

Qin Gui's wife no longer cared about his keeping a mistress. She grabbed Qin Gui and sat him on the ground, refusing to budge an inch.

"Anyone who dares to take him away today will have to step over my dead body."

With a powerful backer, Qin Gui immediately became arrogant: "The money I received was all secretly given to me by the Second Master. Why are you sending me to the authorities? I'm truly innocent!"

Liang Jiang knew that this matter was absolutely crucial to establishing her authority in the Duke's mansion and seizing control of the household.

Looking around, he said in a deep voice, enunciating each word clearly: "I am the master of the Duke's mansion. What you have embezzled is my money, and I have the right to pursue the matter. Anyone who obstructs me today is an accomplice."

The second wife said angrily, "If you want to arrest people, then arrest us all! Over the years, the Duke's mansion has benefited greatly from our support. Now that you're back, you want to discard us like a used millstone and wipe us out completely?"

Do you think we don't know what you're up to? Ungrateful, opportunistic, you've even abandoned family ties!

All the servants in the manor gathered around, whispering amongst themselves, naturally criticizing Liang Jiang quite a bit. Just as the situation reached a stalemate, a servant rushed in, stammering, "Second...Second Master, someone from the palace has arrived!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than someone asked in surprise, "What's going on here? Why is it so lively?"

Everyone turned their heads. The newcomer was dressed in a round-necked blue robe and a gauze hat. He held a yellow imperial edict in one hand and carried a whisk in the other. He walked in with measured steps, not in a hurry.

Master Liang hurriedly stepped forward, his face full of smiles: "Eunuch Lin, what fragrant breeze has brought you here?"

The person who came was none other than the chief eunuch, the most capable eunuch in the emperor's service. Usually, for trivial matters such as delivering imperial edicts and running errands, he would send his junior eunuchs out of the palace and rarely did it himself.

Eunuch Lin glanced around and said in a low voice, "I have come to deliver the imperial decree on His Majesty's orders."

Immediately, everyone knelt down on the ground.

Lord Liang was filled with trepidation: "Your subject Liang Shoucheng receives the imperial decree."

Eunuch Lin fixed his gaze on Liang Jiang.

Although there were many people, Liang Jiang stood out from the crowd with her elegant and refined demeanor, just like a crane among chickens.

Having seen countless people and experienced many things, Eunuch Lin recognized at a glance that she was undoubtedly Liang Jiang.

"Which one is Princess Heya? Please step forward to receive the imperial decree, Princess Heya."

Liang Jiang was somewhat surprised; she hadn't expected the imperial edict to be addressed to her. She didn't know whether it was a blessing or a curse.

She hurriedly stepped forward and knelt down again: "Your subject, Liang Jiang, receives the imperial decree."

Eunuch Lin solemnly read out the imperial edict: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees that Princess Heya, daughter of the Duke of Liang, be summoned to the palace in three days to celebrate the Empress Dowager's sixtieth birthday. This is the imperial decree."

Liang Jiang secretly breathed a sigh of relief and thanked the emperor for accepting the imperial decree.

Everyone rose, and Master Liang warmly invited Eunuch Lin inside for tea.

Eunuch Lin glanced at Qin Gui, who was bound hand and foot, and said, "It seems there is something that needs to be taken care of at your residence."

Master Liang smiled awkwardly and said, "It was just a minor mistake by the servant, but Princess Heya insisted on sending him to the authorities."

My family has always valued treating others with kindness and generosity. I wanted to resolve this matter peacefully, avoiding any further conflict. I apologize for any inconvenience caused, Eunuch Lin.

Eunuch Lin glanced at Liang Jiang and said unhappily, "No one is perfect, and we servants have it tough. It's truly remarkable that Second Master Liang has such a magnanimous heart."

Master Liang's face lit up with joy: "Thank you for your praise, sir."

"However!" Eunuch Lin changed the subject, "Without rules, there can be no order. If there is any disobedient servant who pretends to obey but disobeys, and abuses his power to bully his master, he should be severely punished as a warning to others. I wonder what crime he has committed?"

Liang Jiang raised her hand and pointed to the window that had been burned down: "During the two years this man worked as a steward in the Duke's mansion, he took advantage of his position to embezzle money and deduct the monthly wages of servants and shop assistants. There are account books to prove it all."

To destroy evidence, he just now took advantage of our checking the accounts to set fire to the accounting room, intending to burn us all to death inside.

Eunuch Lin's face immediately darkened: "Embezzlement is a small matter, but deliberately harming the princess is a serious crime of treason. How can this be settled privately?"

When did Master Liang become so muddle-headed? How could he tolerate such disrespect from his servants towards the Princess? If other servants follow suit, how will Princess Heya maintain her position in the Duke's mansion?

(End of this chapter)