“Yes, Madam, you wouldn’t know, these materials are precious.” Cui Da’s face was filled with sincerity, a sly smile in his eyes that hid his cunning. He was a master of deceit, and even Lady Qin, an experienced old matriarch, wouldn’t be able to see through his tricks. How could Lu Lingyun, a sheltered young miss, know the price of bricks and walls? Low-level procurement and special funds were the easiest to embezzle. He would quote whatever price he wanted, and as long as there was an explanation, it would be approved. He laughed his way through the accusations, but the next second, the ledger slammed into his face. “You have a lot of nerve!” Lu Lingyun suddenly stood up, her gentle temper vanished, her eyes sharp as she stared at Cui Da who knelt before her. “I’ll give you one chance, how much did you embezzle last time you were fixing the wall?!” Seeing this, Cui Da became immediately flustered, but he still couldn’t fathom how much Lu Lingyun knew. “No, no, Madam, I didn’t…” “Bang,” several broken bricks were hurled at him. Lu Lingyun looked down at him, her gaze cold. “You tell me, is this the best blue and white brick? How come it looks like the cheapest clay brick?” “Madam…” Cui Da’s face turned pale.
Lu Lingyun continued, “These clay bricks cost one penny for two on the market, and even blue and white bricks are only three pennies each, let alone getting a bulk discount. Just how much did you pocket on those bricks?!” “And the labor costs, ten men working for a month is thirty taels, enough to build an entire courtyard, yet you only built a small wall of fifteen zhang!”
“You even dared to inflate the cost of mortar, thirty taels for labor costs, which foreman would ask for money for mortar?”
“A hundred taels of silver, and you built me this shoddy wall, Cui Da, you have such audacity! If you didn’t embezzle ninety taels, it must have been eighty!” He didn’t know that Lu Lingyun wasn’t just familiar with the prices of basic materials, but she had extensive life experiences. In her previous life, she followed Li Er in managing the affairs of the realm, striving to rise to the top, and her experiences involved personally handling various matters, being close to the people. She not only knew the prices of bricks and labor, but also the prices of every crop, and the flow of different industries.
To try and deceive her with these petty tricks was simply laughable.
When Cui Da heard Lu Lingyun list all his embezzlements during the wall repair, and even accurately calculated how much he had embezzled, he broke out in a cold sweat. “Madam, this servant, this servant truly did nothing!” “Nothing?” Lu Lingyun sneered. “Do you mean you didn’t embezzle, or you were tricked?”
“I was tricked! Those people deceived me! My family has served the Houfu for generations, how could I possibly deceive my master! They must be the ones who profited from this!” Cui Da sobbed and cried, feigning sincerity.
Lu Lingyun was not easily fooled. She looked at Cui Da. “Very well, go fetch the shopkeeper who sold you the bricks, and each worker who did the job! I’ll give you a chance to confront them. If there’s even the slightest discrepancy, don’t blame me for being merciless!”
If he was going to die, then let him die knowing the truth!
Hearing this, Cui Da could no longer maintain his facade. He knelt on the ground and confessed, “Madam, Cui Da was wrong, Cui Da will never do this again! Please, for the sake of my family who have all served the Houfu with all their hearts, forgive me this once! I will definitely return the money!”
Lu Lingyun looked at Cui Da with indifference. “Return the money? Not enough! Bring him out, give him twenty lashes, and dismiss him from all his duties! You have three days to return all the money you embezzled over the years. If you are short by even a single penny, then prepare yourself for the consequences!”
As soon as her words left her lips, Cui Da screamed and wailed in agony, the house servants rushed forward and dragged him away. Lu Lingyun swiftly dealt with Cui Da, sending a tremor through everyone in the courtyard.
Previously, she had always been gentle and mild-mannered, never causing trouble, but after this, everyone realized that their new mistress was no fragile and sheltered young lady. Anyone who tried to deceive her would be met with dire consequences! From then on, the servants were much more respectful towards Lu Lingyun.
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