PFC Chapter 144: I Can't Take Care of My Family
Chapter 144: I Can't Take Care of My Family
Although Concubine Wang is the eldest daughter of the family, she has many sisters. Her father is a civil servant who is fair and rigorous in managing the family. If the already limited assets are divided equally among herself, there will not be much left. How can she compare with Qian, the world's number one imperial merchant, in terms of food, clothing and other expenses?
Seeing that Concubine Wang was speechless, Lu Lingxi said leisurely, "Speaking of slapping someone in the face, I think you are the one who is slapping me in the face. Every time I speak, you always have to refute me. Am I your puppet? If I don't agree with you, you will refute me endlessly. Do we have to follow your rules in the backyard of the Prince's Mansion?"
These words were a bit harsh. Concubine Wang was so frightened that her legs went limp. She knelt down and apologized, "I know I was wrong. It was all my fault. I have always been stupid and speak without thinking. I will never dare to do it again. I will remember your teachings in the future, be careful with my words and actions, and never dare to displease you again. I hope your majesty will show mercy and forgive me this time, considering that this is my first offense."
Lu Lingxi was annoyed. Why did this person ask for forgiveness in such a weird way? And he was talking in a very tight tone. She was afraid that if she said one more word, this person would have ten more words waiting for her. She didn't know how to deal with it for a while.
He glanced at the silent crowd below, and finally looked at Concubine Shang.
Since Concubine Wang wanted to alienate himself and Concubine Shang, he had to use Concubine Shang. Besides, Concubine Shang had been handling the affairs of the mansion for many years, so she should be able to handle such a small matter with no problem.
Then he said, "Concubine Shang, I have just arrived and am not familiar with these affairs. Can you give me some advice on how to punish her appropriately?"
Concubine Shang observed Lu Lingxi's expression and heard that her tone did not seem to be mocking her, so she said, "In my opinion, what happened today was just some harmless quarrels, and it is not easy to punish her too severely. Since Concubine Wang offended you with her words, she should be punished by not being allowed to speak for three months. During these three months, she should reflect on what she can and cannot say every day. I believe that after three months, she will be able to correct the problem of not only talking but also thinking."
This punishment is quite interesting. Lu Lingxi asked with interest: "What if she speaks within three months?"
Concubine Shang thought for a moment and said, "Say one word, and the ban will be extended by one month."
Lu Lingxi nodded and instructed: "Chunhong, appoint someone to follow Concubine Wang day and night and help her count."
Chunhong answered simply and neatly: "Yes!"
Although she was dissatisfied with the sudden punishment, she had to endure it because the two people who spoke were of higher status than her. Concubine Wang thought angrily in her heart: Just wait, you humiliate me like this today, sooner or later I will pay you back.
Then he accepted the punishment with an ugly expression and said, "Thank you for your grace, Madam!"
Lu Lingxi: "Four months."
Concubine Wang stared at Lu Lingxi with an even uglier expression. Is this considered true? But she didn't dare to say anything else and could only endure it.
Seeing that Concubine Wang had finally quieted down, Lu Lingxi said, "Get up!"
Concubine Wang was punished, and the others did not dare to say much. Lu Lingxi had nothing to say, so she said, "Concubine Shang, His Highness ordered me to learn accounting from you from today. I will go to your palace to find you in the afternoon. Now there is nothing to do, everyone can go home."
Lu Lingxi stood up, and everyone said, "Farewell, Her Majesty the Crown Princess!"
After lunch, Lu Lingxi took a half-hour nap before going to Changxin Hall.
When she arrived at Changxin Palace, Lu Lingxi did not ask anyone to inform them. She asked the palace maid who was cleaning the door, and she was told that Concubine Shang should be in the study room converted from a side hall to handle accounts, so she went straight over.
Lu Lingxi came to the study room of Changxinfang and saw the plaque on the door saying "Shang's Study Room", which was simple and clear, but if one word was missing, it would be the "Shang's Study Room" where the princes studied. Is there no need to be taboo?
Lu Lingxi just glanced at the furnishings in the room. It was simple and tidy. Apart from books, accounts, and things needed for reading and accounting, there were no other sundries.
At this moment, Concubine Shang was sitting at the table, moving the abacus beads with her right hand and flipping through the account books with her left hand, looking very focused.
The sun shone in from the right side, casting a halo on her. Although she was dealing with mundane things, she looked like a fairy who had strayed into the mortal world.
Before, she thought Sister Gu must be the most beautiful woman in Kyoto, but now she feels that Concubine Shang in front of her is not inferior to Sister Gu.
Lu Lingxi couldn't help but sigh: "Sister is so beautiful!"
Hearing the sound coming from the door, Concubine Shang looked up and saw Lu Lingxi standing at the door in a pink dress and simple hair accessories. At this moment, she looked like a delicate little girl next door who had not yet reached the age of marriage. She was completely different from the Crown Princess dressed elegantly in the morning. She even forgot to salute for a moment.
After Lu Lingxi crossed the threshold, Concubine Shang came back to her senses, stood up, walked around the desk, stepped forward and saluted, saying: "I am Shang, and I greet the Crown Princess. May your Majesty live a thousand years!"
Chunhong and Liulu behind Lu Lingxi also stepped forward and saluted Concubine Shang, saying, "This servant greets the Concubine. Long live the Concubine!"
Lu Lingxi helped Concubine Shang up and said, "No need to be so polite!"
After Concubine Shang stood up, she didn't waste any words and quickly got to work, saying, "Your Majesty, please take a seat. I'll go get the sorted account books."
Not long after, Concubine Shang came over holding a thick stack of account books.
Before Lu Lingxi could even sigh, "So many?"
Concubine Shang had already spread out the books one by one to introduce to Lu Lingxi, "Your Majesty, this is the monthly expense account of each concubine in the palace. The monthly allowance and overspending are all recorded in this account book. This is the record of the occasional rewards given by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to the concubines and palace maids. This is the monthly kitchen purchase account. This is the monthly garden expense account. This is the monthly bill for the monthly salary received by the palace maids. This is the dowry account of each palace concubine when they enter the palace. Although the dowry is the private property of each palace concubine, it will be recorded when they enter the palace, and a copy will be copied to the public account book. This is the monthly expense and income account of the cloth shop under the Crown Prince's Mansion. This is the monthly expense and income account of the hotel under the Crown Prince's Mansion;..."
After Concubine Shang briefly introduced the dozen or so account books, Lu Lingxi casually flipped through the account book closest to him and asked casually, "Can't so many account books be combined into one? This seems too troublesome."
Concubine Shang said, "Your Majesty is right! The management of the account books in the Central Palace is to check all the account books one by one, and then compile them into an annual general account book for His Royal Highness to review. However, these account books belonging to each department must be recorded in detail and in separate items to prevent mistakes and omissions, and to prevent the people below from deceiving their superiors and taking advantage of the situation."
Although Lu Lingxi felt that it was a bit too much, he still comforted himself: "Fortunately, there are only a dozen books of accounts a year. I can finish reading them slowly."
Concubine Shang chuckled and said, "Your Majesty, you have misunderstood. These are not the account books for a year, but only the account books for last month. I have been managing the Prince's Mansion for more than six years. There are about six boxes of account books, all in the inner room at the back, available for your inspection at any time."
"What? There are more than a dozen account books to be settled every month?" Lu Lingxi was so shocked that he stood up from his seat and was about to walk out.
She was still muttering to herself, "I can't manage this family! I can't manage it! It's better to let you, Concubine Shang, take care of it." She was so anxious that she forgot to call herself "this palace."