"Really, you can't go back on your word."
If she could master this move, it would be incredibly cool; her hidden weapons could appear and disappear without a trace.
Feng Jin, envisioning herself as invincible, gradually drifted off to sleep.
When she woke up the next morning, the man was long gone. Even the bedding had grown cold, indicating he had left early.
"Young Madam, you're awake. Second Master Ling and the butler have been waiting for you outside for a long time."
Cai Qing handed Feng Jin a heated towel.
"Second Master Ling, what is he doing here?" Feng Jin felt a strong sense of resistance upon hearing Second Master Ling's name.
"He's here to hand over the paired keys and the account books to you."
Only then did Feng Jin remember that Second Master Ling had been stripped of his position as family head and his authority over the household management.
"Cai Qing, let's go meet Second Master Ling."
After a simple coiffure and pinning a plum blossom hairpin, she 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 rose.
Second Master Ling, of course, did not have a pleasant expression for Feng Jin. With a darkened face, he took out a set of keys from his robe and placed them on the table. "The paired keys are here. If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving!"
"Wait, Uncle," Feng Jin called out as Second Master Ling reached the doorway. "Uncle, I haven't finished checking the account books yet. If there are any discrepancies, it will be difficult for me to explain to Grandfather."
Second Master Ling suppressed his anger and tried to maintain a gentle tone. "Alright, let's begin checking the accounts!"
He didn't believe that a country girl like Feng Jin could understand ledgers.
He had already arranged for the accounts to be smoothed over. Even the butler, who had been in service for many years, wouldn't be able to spot any irregularities. He was simply waiting to see Feng Jin embarrass herself.
"Young Madam, this is this month's account book."
Feng Jin opened the ledger, and the jumbled numbers formed a pattern in her mind as she began to meticulously tally the accounts.
Within a quarter of an hour, Feng Jin had finished reviewing one ledger.
There were quite a few discrepancies. The accounts had clearly been doctored beforehand.
"Uncle, in autumn, a considerable amount of charcoal was used. Two hundred jin of silver charcoal were consumed. The only ones in the manor who use silver charcoal are Grandfather, Young General, and your chambers and Third Uncle's chambers..."
"And in this month, only Third Uncle's residence took one hundred jin of silver charcoal. Where did the remaining silver charcoal go?"
Second Master Ling's expression changed drastically. He had never expected Feng Jin to spot the loophole and quickly looked at the butler.
"Young Madam, it was taken for Old Master's residence. Perhaps the subordinates were careless and did not record it."
Feng Jin let out a cold laugh. "Grandfather's residence only took ten jin of silver charcoal. Where did the remaining ninety jin go?"
"This..." The butler was momentarily speechless, unable to come up with any counter-argument.
Second Master Ling's face turned ashen. His hands, hidden within his wide sleeves, clenched tightly, and a sense of unease swept through him.
This country girl could actually see the irregularities. It seemed he needed to proceed with caution.
"Perhaps the servants miscounted. It's just a little charcoal. The Ling family is not lacking in these things. Why fuss over it so much? It would dampen the servants' spirits."
Second Master Ling put on a show of magnanimity, a facade that had allowed him to gain many followers.
"A mere bit of charcoal. One jin of silver charcoal costs three taels of silver. Ninety jin amounts to two hundred and seventy taels of silver, which could buy three thousand jin of rice, enough for the entire household's food supply for a month. To think that Uncle does not even consider this sum of money important."
Feng Jin's mind raced, and with a simple calculation, the silver amounted to such a large sum.
"The bill for the purchase of wild ginseng is also incorrect; one hundred taels are missing, as well as bird's nest, deer antler..."
Feng Jin listed them one by one. "This year's drought caused a decrease in silk production, and all Shu brocade was made into tribute. Who in the Ling family has such great capability to purchase one hundred bolts of Shu brocade?"
"This must be..."
Before Second Master Ling could finish his sentence, Feng Jin interrupted him.
"Uncle, are you perhaps going to say that this was also a mistake in recording? I would very much like to see who is so muddle-headed as to misrecord Shu brocade. Perhaps we should have this person brought forth and dealt with by Grandfather!"
Second Master Ling and the butler exchanged glances, both startled.
"Uncle, I know you look down on me as a country girl, but it is Grandfather who has asked me to manage the household affairs. I hope that Uncle can put aside past grievances. It will make things easier for both of us."
"Naturally, naturally. We are family after all, so speaking of such things makes us seem distant."
Second Master Ling quickly followed Feng Jin's lead. If he lost his authority over the household and his past actions were exposed, completely angering the Old Master, then there would truly be no place for him in the Ling family.
"It is good that Uncle understands. I will not scrutinize the account books further. I ask that Uncle be diligent in repaying all the losses. I will naturally act as if I know nothing, saving everyone trouble."
If they wanted her to work smoothly, she naturally wouldn't make things difficult for others.
"I understand, I understand."
Second Master Ling grit his teeth in hatred but dared not act out. This girl was truly shrewd; all the money he had would likely be drained.
After dealing with Second Master Ling, Feng Jin turned her attention to the butler.
"You have been by Old Master's side since childhood and have spent most of your life in the Ling family. There are some things I will not say openly. Now that I am in charge of the household, as long as you do your part, I will not make things difficult for you."
The butler had been in the Ling family for decades and was deeply entrenched. His duty was to be law-abiding, and if he didn't deliberately oppose her, she wouldn't make things difficult for him.
"Young Madam is wise. With you managing the household, the Ling family will surely be managed in an orderly fashion. If there is anything you need my help with, please do not hesitate to ask."
The butler, having served in the Ling family for decades and earning the trust of Old Master Ling, was certainly 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 vast deficit.
The accounts always showed more expenses than income.
It turned out she had inherited a hot potato.
She could only wait for Second Master Ling to replenish the embezzled money to cover the immediate needs.
With a rough plan in mind, Feng Jin finally sat up from the chair and stretched.
When Feng Jin returned to her room, the table was already laden with dishes. However, she had no appetite and listlessly ate a couple of bites before impatiently putting down her chopsticks.
"What's wrong? Did Second Master make things difficult for you?" Ling Mohan asked calmly.
Feng Jin snorted, "With your uncle's meager abilities, he's no match for me."
"Indeed. Your family's accounts are a mess, and every month the expenses exceed the income." Feng Jin sighed, continuing, "No wonder Old Master took away your uncle's authority over the household. If he had managed 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 using an excuse to strip Second Master Ling of his authority.