Bixi finally understood the importance of this matter.
Just as she was about to dismount the carriage, Ye Qingcheng instructed her again, "When you return, check if Lin Xiao is there. If he is, inform him of everything here and have him bring some people along. Also, bring some of the estate's account books from home. We need to get a grasp of the situation here. Remember, don't rush over immediately. First, call all the farmers who are currently cultivating their land, and those at home who can't come. If some truly cannot make it, they should stay home, but they must meticulously prepare a graded roster. Do you understand?"
Bixi nodded, "Rest assured, Your Highness, I understand." She hurried to obey Ye Qingcheng's arrangements and return to the estate to find help.
Seeing her leave, Ye Qingcheng surveyed the surroundings, seemingly ensuring no one had noticed her.
She lowered the carriage curtain and instructed the driver, "Go."
As the carriage passed the farmhouses, Ye Qingcheng lifted a corner of the curtain to look. She saw dilapidated houses with even the front doors broken. The people inside were already suffering from hunger and cold. Ye Qingcheng lowered her gaze, concealing the emotions in her eyes.
Finally, the estate manager discovered Ye Qingcheng and quickly moved to block her carriage.
"Heh heh! Your Highness's visit is unexpected! Why didn't you inform us? That way, we could have made preparations!"
Ye Qingcheng lifted the curtain and stood in the carriage. The manager looked up at her, standing in the shade cast by the sun, looking down at him. The sense of oppression was somewhat intense.
Ye Qingcheng smiled slightly, "You've worked hard. Hmm... Before, Yu Jian used to handle things, so I didn't know much about the situation here. May I ask your name?"
The manager, with a smiling demeanor that appeared honest and simple, might have been deceptive if Ye Qingcheng hadn't just witnessed the scene.
"Heh heh! 'Great name' is too much to bear, I am Luo Pu, paying my respects to Your Highness."
Ye Qingcheng nodded, "Mm! You've worked hard, Steward Luo. I just suddenly wanted to take a look, so I didn't bring anything."
Steward Luo chuckled, a drop of cold sweat tracing a path down his forehead, "It's nothing, nothing, Your Highness. Did you not bring the account books? We have some prepared here."
Ye Qingcheng feigned understanding, "Oh? That's wonderful. In that case, I'll have to trouble you, Steward Luo."
Steward Luo quickly said it was no trouble at all.
Soon, Ye Qingcheng was led into a farmhouse courtyard. As she sat down and adjusted her sleeves, a young woman stepped forward to brew tea. The fragrant aroma of the tea filled the air, which Ye Qingcheng enjoyed. "Mm~ This young lady, you are very skilled at these things! The scent is so fragrant; I'm not good at it myself."
Steward Luo smiled and introduced her, "This is my daughter. Since childhood, she's been interested in delicate things like flower arranging and tea brewing."
Ye Qingcheng smiled and countered, "Ah~ How can you call them delicate things! I'm still not very good at these things even now! This tea, I don't brew it as well as your daughter!" Just then, the tea was ready. Ye Qingcheng accepted the teaware and took a sip, "Mm~ Very smooth and creamy. It's to my liking."
The young lady chuckled.
Bixi and the others hadn't arrived yet, so she could only stall for time.
"I heard your father say you are skilled at flower arranging. How about you prepare some and demonstrate your abilities on the spot?"
"This..." Steward Luo seemed troubled, not understanding the princess's intentions.
However, his daughter was quite interested and readily agreed.
"No problem."
The young lady's flower arranging was skillful and graceful, possessing a unique charm.
Steward Luo, however, wiped the sweat from his brow on the side.
Soon, a basket of flowers was arranged. Steward Luo seized the opportunity before the princess could speak, immediately interjecting, "Your Highness, I've ordered someone to bring the account books. Perhaps we should look at them first."
Ye Qingcheng, seated in the main position, heard this, put down her teaware, and nodded with a slight smile, "Certainly!"
This left Steward Luo unable to discern her thoughts. He didn't know what the princess was planning.
Just then, Bixi arrived, panting.
Ye Qingcheng looked at her, maintaining her composure. Yu Jian followed closely behind.
Steward Luo looked at Bixi, still pondering, but upon seeing Yu Jian, his heart trembled.
Yu Jian was a steward from the princess's estate. She was usually the one who collected debts and reviewed account books, so Steward Luo typically guarded against her. However, he had overlooked the presence of the princess, his master.
Now, it seemed, the princess likely knew what he had been up to.
Yu Jian immediately approached Ye Qingcheng and bowed, "Your Highness."
Ye Qingcheng, while flipping through the account books, looked up and nodded, "Yu Jian, are you aware of the situation here?"
Yu Jian had been informed of the situation by Bixi on the way. When she heard the princess's question, she was unsure if the princess was asking about the conditions of the farmers or the account books.
If they managed the farmers through such harsh methods, Steward Luo could not guarantee that he wouldn't falsify the accounts.
"Replying to Your Highness, regarding the management of the farmers, this servant truly does not know."
Ye Qingcheng nodded, "I imagine you wouldn't. All instructions were conveyed to this Steward Luo. Naturally, those who prepared to cover their tracks would have ensured everything was meticulously concealed." With that, she tossed the account book aside, "Yu Jian, thoroughly examine these account books again. If you find any suspicion of falsified accounts, dismiss them immediately and never rehire them."
Yu Jian saw that the princess wasn't blaming her and felt a wave of relief. She quickly stepped forward to review the account books.
Steward Luo, startled, fell to his knees with a thud.
His daughter, not understanding the cause of the situation, couldn't comprehend why things had suddenly escalated. When the princess grew angry, the common folk dared not act presumptuously. Seeing her father kneel, she also quickly knelt.
At this moment, Lin Xiao also arrived.
"Your Highness, all the farmers here have been summoned. For those who couldn't come, their situations have been recorded in books. Furthermore, they wish to accuse Steward Luo of disregarding human life, stating that he hasn't disbursed monthly wages for several months. Here are the petitions." With that, he handed over the petitions and then looked back at the kneeling Steward Luo, his tone filled with extreme anger, "Steward Luo, I promoted you to be a steward because I saw you as honest. I never expected... appearances can be deceiving! Look at those farmhouses, their dilapidated state, and those emaciated bodies. Who would have thought you would turn out like this!"
Steward Luo, still kneeling, hastily tried to defend himself, "I... I was forced to. They were disobedient and lacked discipline. I had to establish my authority to make them submit to me!"
Seeing his situation, Lin Xiao became furious, his body trembling.
"You... Even now, you are still making excuses for yourself? How was I so deceived by your honest and simple face back then?"
Ye Qingcheng heard this and chuckled, "Currently, the Kingdom of Cheng's finances are managed by the Prince. Grain harvests last year were quite secure. Although not exceptionally good, looking at Cheng Kingdom now, there are very few people starving. Yet, you, under the guise of working for the Prince, have become arrogant. Yu Jian, were there any discrepancies?"
Yu Jian put down her abacus, "Your Highness, there are over ten discrepancies. They indeed falsified the accounts."
Ye Qingcheng nodded, "Mm! Since falsified accounts have been discovered, deal with it!"
Ye Qingcheng looked at the people gathered outside the door. "Since they have all been invited, Lin Xiao, open Steward Luo's granary and distribute the grain. From now on, the monthly wages will be a fixed amount. Winter is only a few months away; let them have a warm winter."
Lin Xiao obeyed, "Yes."
Ye Qingcheng looked at Steward Luo, "Steward Luo falsified accounts and abused the farmers. Heaven and earth are not benevolent. You were given wealth, and now you are cast out."
Steward Luo tried to speak again but was immediately pulled away by Lin Xiao.