roccoschili Chapter 10 The Mastermind
Chapter 10 The Mastermind
In this mansion of the Tenth Prince, there is only one person besides the Tenth Prince himself who can be called "master" by Yin De.
His primary consort was Abaga Borjigit.
Yin'e searched through the original owner's memories in his mind, and the fragments about this princess gradually pieced together a complete portrait.
Borjigit, daughter of Prince Urjingalap of Mongolia, was the primary consort of Emperor Kangxi, whom he formally married.
This Mongolian princess grew up on horseback and had a fiery temper, like strong liquor from the grasslands.
After marrying into the capital, her wild nature not only did not subside, but became even more flamboyant because of her noble status.
Her attitude towards her servants could be summed up in one word: fierce.
They would beat and scold people at the slightest provocation, punishing them by making them kneel or whipping them.
The servants in the mansion trembled whenever they mentioned this princess.
What's worse, she doesn't even respect Yin'e, her rightful master.
The original owner of this body was already short-tempered, but in front of this princess, he couldn't gain the slightest advantage.
The two would have a minor argument every three days and a major fight every five days, until finally they simply went their separate ways and ignored each other.
In the vast Prince's mansion, the couple acted like strangers, not even sharing a meal at the same table.
"Water and fire are incompatible."
Yin'e used these four words to summarize the relationship between the original owner and his wife, and couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Given Borjigit's status and personality, if she truly needed money, she could have simply asked for it openly.
She was the primary wife, the mistress of the household, and the head of the household's household affairs were her responsibility. Why would she engage in such despicable activities as stealing chickens and dogs and falsifying accounts?
unless……
Yin'e's brows gradually furrowed.
Unless something happened to her family.
Borjigit married far away to the capital, and her greatest concern was for her relatives on the grasslands.
If Prince Urjingalap encounters any difficulties and urgently needs money, and she, as a married daughter, doesn't have much personal savings, would she take the risk?
The reason she dared not speak openly was probably because this matter involved the face of the Mongolian princes, and might even involve the relationship between the court and Mongolia.
She feared that speaking out would bring trouble to her position in the household, and even more so that it would reach Emperor Kangxi's ears and cause even greater disaster.
"That should be it," Yin'e thought to himself.
He turned around and walked back to his desk, but instead of sitting down, he rested his hands on the edge of the table, lowered his head slightly, and looked at the open account book on the table.
The study was quiet, with only the occasional crackling sound of candle flames popping.
After a moment of silence, he finally raised his head and looked at Yin De, who was still kneeling on the ground.
His tone was unexpectedly gentle: "Uncle, for someone to put you in such a difficult position, to the point that you dare not even tell the truth, that person must hold a very high position in this household."
I have a pretty good idea who it is.
He paused, looked directly into Yin De's eyes, and said those three words slowly and deliberately.
"Is that the Tenth Prince's wife?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Yin De's body stiffened abruptly.
The feeling was like being struck by lightning.
He suddenly raised his head, stared wide-eyed at Yin'e, and his expression went from shock to fear, and from fear to bewilderment in less than a breath.
Looking at his expression, Yin'e smiled slightly and said, "Uncle, your expression tells me I guessed right."
Yin De suddenly woke up from his dream and lowered his head, his forehead almost touching the ground.
His shoulders were trembling slightly, and his back was soaked with cold sweat.
"Tenth Master..." his voice was hoarse, "This servant...this servant..."
"Don't worry," Yin'e interrupted him. "Since you didn't say it yourself, you can't be blamed for it."
Even if someone asks me about it later, I will only say that I found it out from the accounts.
No one will say that you "betrayed" your master.
These words were both a way to defuse the situation and a way to save face.
Yin De was extremely intelligent and immediately understood the deeper meaning behind the words.
His eyes were red-rimmed, and his forehead pounded against the floor tiles with a loud thud: "Thank you, Tenth Master! Thank you for your great kindness, Tenth Master!"
At this moment, his innermost thoughts, like a flood bursting its banks, surged into Yin'e's consciousness:
"What's wrong with Tenth Master today? He's like a completely different person. The old master would never have thought of checking the accounts, never considered these complicated matters."
"Sigh... I'm in a dilemma too. If it weren't for the Tenth Princess begging me and promising to pay back the money as soon as possible, I wouldn't dare to do this for her even if you beat me to death."
"But how can I say this to the Tenth Prince? If I say it, I'll offend the Princess Consort; if I don't say it, I'll offend the Tenth Prince. I'm like Pigsy looking in the mirror—I'm caught in the middle, disliked by both sides."
Fortunately, the Tenth Master was magnanimous and did not investigate further...
Yin'e heard every word of these thoughts, and his suspicions were confirmed.
Moreover, Yin De was "begged" for help by the Fujin (wife of the emperor), and did not participate voluntarily.
This explains why he felt guilty but dared not speak out. Being caught between his two masters would be difficult for anyone.
"but!"
Yin'e's voice suddenly turned somber.
Personally, you are my uncle, my elder, and I shouldn't be too harsh on you.
Yin'e walked up to Yin De and looked down at him.
"Sir, you are the chief clerk of the household, in charge of all affairs. Such a big mistake has occurred in the household, and you cannot escape responsibility."
Yin De kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Yes, yes, this servant knows his crime, this servant knows his crime."
"Then I'll deduct two months' salary from your pay." Yin'e's tone softened again. "Also, you need to carefully inventory the remaining timber, find a good buyer, and make sure to sell it for a good price."
Yin De suddenly raised his head, his face full of disbelief.
Two months' salary?
That's it?
Having served in the government for eight years, he knew all too well the significance of this matter.
The chief secretary of the Prince's residence embezzled funds from the project in collusion with the princess.
This matter can be big or small.
To put it mildly, it's dereliction of duty and lax discipline;
To put it more bluntly, it's about knowing something but not reporting it, deceiving one's master.
If Yin'e really wanted to pursue the matter, he could simply hand him over to the Imperial Clan Court, and then the Imperial Clan Court would report it to the Emperor.
By then, Yin De's political career would be over. At best, he would be dismissed from his post; at worst, he would be exiled to Lingnan, and whether he could return alive was another matter entirely.
But Yin'e only punished him by deducting two months' salary.
This is simply lifting it high and then putting it down gently.
It's obvious they're going to let him off the hook.
Yin De's tears welled up instantly; he could no longer hold them back.
He lay prostrate on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably, his forehead hitting the blue bricks harder with each strike.
"Tenth Master... Tenth Master's immense kindness... This servant... This servant will repay you with my life's work, even if it means serving you like a cow or a horse..."
This is the principle of combining kindness and severity.
First, use swift and decisive measures to intimidate, then use a lenient and compassionate approach to appease.
Give a beating, then give a sweet treat.
Make those who make mistakes both respect your authority and appreciate your kindness.
Yin'e had seen this tactic of winning people over quite often in his previous life in the workplace.
Back then, he was the one who was "bought off," but now it's his turn to use his influence.