The Imperial Physician is no fool; when it cos to such household secrets, the farther he can stay away, the better.
Hear too much, and you never know when you might lose your life.
Seeing Housekeeper Lin coming to send him off, he imdiately made a quick escape.
Everyone left, and the door was closed.
Inside, there were only three people, two seated and one standing.
Both Pri Minister Lin and Princess Rongkang have been imrsed in power for many years; if they wish to emanate a threatening aura, it’s effortless.
But Mrs. Dong was not afraid at all.
She handed over the wooden box containing the account books.
"It’s been twenty-four years since I married into the Lin Family. In all this ti, I have never wronged my parents-in-law, been unfaithful to my husband, or failed to educate my children. Yet, over the years, the Second House repeatedly provoked us, using their power to oppress our First House. Not only that, but under various pretexts, they have fooled, cheated, and snatched countless things from my hands."
"So are items from my dowry, so are shops I was forced to give as tribute, and a vast amount of silver coins that have flowed from my pockets to the Second House. Today, it’s to support the Pri Minister’s Mansion, tomorrow it’s to pave the future for my husband and children, and the day after, it’s to manage personal relations in the Capital. There are always various excuses to demand from ."
"I co from a rchant family and know I’m not worthy of the Pri Minister’s eldest son, so I have long been tolerant. But swallowing these bitter fruits, people only see you as weak and push you around even more!"
"Xingzhi joined the Imperial Armor Army, Qianqian entered the palace, and now Mu Zhi has been beaten nearly to death. All the children of our First House have been struck down. Today, I boldly ask, for such a heavenly injustice and legal indignity, will Father-in-law do anything about it?"
Mrs. Dong spoke with strength, every word and sentence filled with loathing and hatred.
She didn’t imdiately accuse the Commandery Princess but instead directed all the problems to the Second House.
However, even so, Pri Minister Lin was no fool.
The Second House’s ability to throw its weight around in the inner court must surely be backed by Princess Rongkang.
He flipped through the account books page by page.
The paper in the earlier books was already sowhat yellowed, clearly records from many years past.
The Dong Family, reliant on comrce, had taught her well from a young age in bookkeeping and household managent.
It contained not only accurate tis and amounts but also the reasons for borrowing money, who delivered the ssages, who took the items, and even the final actual uses were recorded.
Each entry was as clear as could be.
With such docunts, if sent to Yingtian Prefecture, the evidence would be irrefutable.
The Second House would face severe consequences even if they didn’t perish.
The deeper Pri Minister Lin delved, the more astonished he beca.
Upon seeing the total, his pupils slightly dilated.
Three million eight hundred sixty thousand taels of silver...
Even if the Second House piled this money in the Pri Minister’s Mansion, it might not be enough to contain it.
anwhile, Princess Rongkang was seething with anger.
She never imagined that the seemingly ek and easily oppressed eldest daughter-in-law had such a backup!
She let out a cold snort and spoke.
"Truly you can know a face but not the heart. Keeping such account books for over twenty years must have been a real effort."
"You flatter , Mother-in-law; perhaps those spending the money had it tougher."
"You!"
Princess Rongkang had never been controlled by the eldest daughter-in-law, Mrs. Dong. Now, even in front of these account books, she felt sowhat guilty.
Not to ntion the Second House.
Exploiting Mrs. Dong for silver coins had beco a habit for them over the years.
No matter how much they demanded, she always managed to gather it sohow.
Gradually, they also adopted a lavish lifestyle.
Sotis, even the money ant for tributes to the Prince Zhan Mansion and the Wang Family was taken from Mrs. Dong.
In short, Mrs. Dong single-handedly supported the Pri Minister’s Mansion, fattened Ronghe Hall and the West Wing, and still had enough to embellish the Prince Zhan Mansion and the Wang Family.
And yet, this was the plight that befell the First House.
No one could endure such injustice any longer.
"Is there only one copy of this account book?"
Pri Minister Lin knew that since his eldest daughter-in-law dared to present it, she must have other plans.
"Rest assured, Father-in-law; there are naturally several identical copies, transcribed and placed in different locations."
"So, if you cannot leave this room today, these will be sent to Yingtian Prefecture tomorrow?"
Pri Minister Lin had served as an official for decades, having seen many storms.
His eldest daughter-in-law’s manner clearly intended to use it as a threat to achieve her goals.
"Father-in-law, you are wise. I do not wish to drag everyone down. However, if the First House continues to endure such humiliation, I cannot be blad."
Mrs. Dong spoke with a calm tone, yet the threat in her words did not diminish in the slightest.
"How dare you threaten the Pri Minister and this Commandery Princess! Do you believe I cannot make the Dong Family disappear from Shengjing City imdiately!"
Princess Rongkang would not tolerate being coerced!
She had always walked unchallenged, with no one daring to speak to her in such a manner.
Thinking she could intimidate Mrs. Dong, she received only a calm response in return.
"If Princess Rongkang isn’t afraid of the Capital buzzing tomorrow about you taking money by force and driving the innocent to death, then go ahead. Although the Dong Family is rely rchants, incomparable to those of imnse power like yours, I have known from a young age that water can carry a boat but also overturn it. I believe the current Holy Emperor is wise and virtuous; naturally, he would not ignore such rumors. By then, will it implicate the Pri Minister’s Mansion, or the Prince Zhan Mansion, or perhaps the Wang Family? I cannot say."
"You!"
It was the second ti Mrs. Dong silenced Princess Rongkang.
Fear of missteps!
She had grasped Princess Rongkang’s weaknesses.
In fact, the young Emperor was growing increasingly wary of these high-powered old ministers.
If the Dong Family case were indeed used as a pretext to stir up many issues, the implications would be severe.
Thus, Princess Rongkang forced herself to calm her anger and asked Mrs. Dong.
"You are truly unafraid of death, making sowhat admire you. Speak, besides sending Third Brother back to your family for treatnt, what else do you want!"
"Division of the household!"
Even Princess Rongkang, who had seen grand scenes, was stunned by this request.
She thought Mrs. Dong would demand a heavy price from the Second House.
Like perhaps demanding to return all the money, but it was just to divide the household?
She was naturally overjoyed inside.
Although the First House was of no great use in the Pri Minister’s Mansion, it did hold the status of the principal wife’s legitimate branch.
Every ti she saw their family, Princess Rongkang felt uncomfortable.
Because it constantly reminded her that she was the second wife.
And that it was obtained through dishonorable ans.
So, if the First House moved out, she might live a few more happy years.
She glanced at Pri Minister Lin, seeing his expression was extrely complicated, hesitating about whether to "speak up" for the First House.
Pri Minister Lin looked at his eldest daughter-in-law, Mrs. Dong, who also had injuries, poorly bandaged.
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