Chapter 13

Shi Qingshan found it funny: Shi Mingyuan also had times where he would protect this daughter of his?

Jing Zhao Yin cupped his hands to Shi Qingshan and then ordered the others to bring in a tied-up prisoner.

That prisoner looked rather familiar. Shi Qingshan frowned slightly. Wasn’t this the manager of Moya Pavilion that she fired?

The madam’s heart sank, but she put up an indifferent expression.

Jing Zhao Yin gave the manager a look and ordered, “Come and explain what exactly is happening here!”

The manager hurriedly fell to his knees and stammered, “This lowly one was the manager of Moya Pavilion. These few years, all the accounts regarding the Moya Pavilion was reported by me to the madam until only recently, when ownership was changed to Fifth Young Miss. Fifth Young Miss swept us all out the door the moment she walked in…”

Hearing the manager’s smart reply, the madam felt smug and persuaded, “In the end, it’s just a matter of money. Qingshan, don’t allow others to say that our Prime Minister’s family are cheapskates!”

Shi Qingshan ignored her and stared directly at the manager, “The reason why I fired you all… Is it not clear in your hearts?”

In the moment when no one was paying attention, the madam gave an eye to the strong man in the crowd. He immediately shouted, “Even if Fifth Young Miss wanted to fire us, she must pay our deserved wages!”

The crowd was about to blow up again. Jing Zhao Yin hit the manager with the hilt of his sword, “Does Fifth Young Miss owe you wages?”

The beaten manager trembled continuously. With both hands on the ground, he hurriedly stated, “Fifth Young Miss has only taken over recently. We workers were all lazy and unmotivated during the time the madam was governing the stores. Now that the stores are all in the red, how could we blame Fifth Young Miss for it? We have no face to demand for our salaries!”

The workers’ faces immediately changed. Shi Qingshan frowned slightly. Even though the manager’s words were in her favor, it was very strange. After all, why would the manager speak up for her?

The madam’s compassionate face revealed a trace of sadness, “What do you mean by this? Are you blaming me for going bankrupt?”

“Then you want to blame it on Qingshan?!”

A stern voice sounded out. Everyone looked and saw the old madam walking out. Shi Chenghuan was also accompanying her.

When such a big disturbance occurred at the residence, how could it not reach the old madam?

Seeing the madam’s pale face, Shi Chenghuan immediately played the mediator, “Grandmother, this matter can’t be blamed on anyone. It’s just the lower class workers making a ruckus. We cannot damage the unity of the family over this!”

Hearing Shi Chenghuan’s words, the old madam restrained her temper slightly.

Shi Qingshan’s tears dampened her eyelashes and she softly said, “This matter is entirely my fault! It’s me that didn’t take good care of the shops! I am a young lady of the Prime Minister’s residence. It’s fine if I’m wronged a bit, but I cannot allow others to make fun of my Prime Minister’s family!

Seeing the farce up to here, the people all revealed a mocking expression. Everyone was laughing at the chaotic Prime Minister’s residence. The madam maliciously suppressed the illegitimate daughter while Fifth Young Miss was wronged but had no one to defend her.

As an official family, how could the Prime Minister’s residence stand these kinds of eyes?

Shi Mingyuan turned towards the madam and angrily spoke, “These shops all went bankrupt while you were managing them, and these rats were also raised by you. How could you allow Qingshan to carry this black pot?”

The madam was rendered speechless, “Master, this… I…”

“Father, this is my fault. It has nothing to do with Mother! Besides, these shops originally belonged to me and it is me that didn’t manage them properly…”

Shi Qingshan muttered with red eyes, “Mother is right, it’s just a matter of money in the end. I will take out the money right now and give it to the workers.”

“Qingshan, what does this have to do with you?” The old madam stopped her and glared at the madam, “The money should be given, but no matter how it is thought about, it should be you that gives it!”

This was not just a small amount.

The madam’s eyes widened clenched her handkerchief with a death grip, “Old Madam, this…”

“Hmm?” The old madam’s brows wrinkled and had a posture that was not to be disobeyed.

The atmosphere once again turned awkward and Shi Chenghuan pulled the madam’s arm, smiled and said, “This money should of course be given by our Prime Minister’s family. Mother, don’t you agree?”

With Shi Chenghuan’s words, she not only cleared the responsibilities but also gave the madam a nice hat to wear.

After receiving Shi Chenghuan’s warning stare, the madam suppressed her anger. She smiled, “Of course, Qingshan’s matters are this mother’s matters. It would be best for me to take out this money!”

“Hmph!”

The old madam snorted coldly, flipped her sleeves and walked in.

Even though the madam and Shi Chenghuan were changing black into white and threw the blame onto Shi Qingshan, everyone knew clearly that this was the mess the madam created and planted on Shi Qingshan’s head!

Hearing that someone would pay, the workers all let out a sigh of relief.

If Shi Qingshan had gritted her teeth and refused to pay up, the workers would’ve been arrested by Jing Zhao Yin and interrogated anyways. Before they could even have time to thank the heavens, they quickly dispersed.

The farce was thus concluded and everyone walked away.

Shi Qingshan was about to enter the residence when she inadvertently noticed Jing Zhao Yin who had walked quite a ways away stop by a teahouse and reply to a man.

That man’s brocade robe seemed quite familiar…

Shi Qingshan frowned slightly. Just when she was confused, that man turned his head slightly and offered the teacup in his hands to her.

It was that man!

Shi Qingshan’s heart tightened. This man actually had such ability! Even Jing Zhao Yin had to be respectful to him!

Seeing that her expression changed, Yang Ze smiled lightly and downed the cup of tea. Under the fawning of Jing Zhao Yin and others, he sauntered away.

Shi Qingshan calmed her heart and walked back into the residence.

The manager was sent to jail by Yang Ze, and the fact that Jing Zhao Yin could bring the manager along and appear at such a good timing must be Yang Ze’s machinations!

The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. She probably provoked… a person that must not be!

In her small courtyard, the masters and servants never had a moment to waste.

Shi Qingshan was lying on the beauty couch with a rose colored cream on her face.

Duan Xian continuously poured the contents of the jar out, “Fifth Young Miss, will this really make you beautiful?”

Shi Qingshan went to the doctor and had him prescribe many beauty and age-preventing recipes and herbs through both oral ingestion and external application.

Her eyes were closed as she whispered, “Who knows. At the least… I won’t be as ugly as I am now.”

After going through her past life, Shi Qingshan knew how much luck beauty could bring.

For example, her second sister Shi Chenghuan could have a footing in the residence based purely on her beauty. She even dared to covet the Empress’ position.

She was not delusional and had thought about it carefully. Her mother was a great beauty in Chu City, and Shi Mingyuan was also very handsome in his youth. There was no way they could give birth to an ugly child.

She could still remember when she was young, wherever Jiu Liu took her to, people would praise her as pretty. However, after she grew up, people no longer did so.