Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 231 I don't blame you for lying to me, but you shouldn't have taken my money.

"I want to open a bookstore?"

Wen He stared at Li Daozong in surprise.

How come he didn't know about this?

Li Daozong was even more puzzled. He blinked and asked, "Most of Chang'an knows about this, and didn't you already choose the location for the shop?"

"I've even chosen the shop?"

Wen He pointed to herself.

"I haven't even left the house these past few days, where am I supposed to choose a shop?"

Most of Chang'an knew about his plan to open a bookstore, except for him.

Li Daozong was taken aback.

After learning about this today, he came to find Wen He.

The legendary "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" that was once so widely circulated is now only available in the palace, and he has always wanted to read it.

So I came to Wen He to see if I could get a copy of the book in advance.

Surprisingly, Wen He didn't even know about this.

"So what exactly happened? The bookstore's name was already displayed, and it was even written by His Majesty himself, 'Jiahe Bookstore'."

After Li Daozong finished speaking, he picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked up at Wen He, only to see that he was staring wide-eyed in shock.

"What did you say your name is?"

"Jiahe."

"Hehe, why not call it the Shaw Brothers?"

"Your surname isn't Shao, so why do you have this name?" Li Daozong thought Wen He might be suffering from hysteria.

He didn't even know he was going to open a bookstore, and he even forgot his own surname.

Wen He naturally didn't explain the meaning of the two names to him.

Otherwise, I'd have to explain to him what a movie is.

He chuckled and changed the subject.

However, Li Daozong's words just now reminded Wen He.

"Go and call Wenzhong over."

Wen He said something to the servant beside her.

The servant nodded, bowed, and withdrew.

Seeing this, Li Daozong narrowed his eyes slightly and said with a meaningful smile, "You don't think His Majesty did this in private, do you?"

Wen He chuckled softly, picked up the bowl of honey water, and took a sip.

Before long, Wenzhong arrived in a hurry.

Upon seeing the two, he stepped forward and bowed.

"Greetings, Prince Rencheng, young master."

Wen He looked at him, put down the small bowl in her hand, and asked, "I've heard that everyone in Chang'an is talking about me opening a bookstore. Are you aware of that?"

“This old servant knows about this matter. His Majesty bought the shop in your name. The Imperial Workshop has already printed three thousand copies of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and they will be on sale tomorrow.”

Wenzhong replied with a smile.

Upon seeing this, Li Daozong opened his mouth in astonishment.

This matter was indeed decided by His Majesty the Emperor on his own initiative.

And surprisingly, he didn't tell Wen He about this.

"Did His Majesty send you to inform me?" Wen He's face was somewhat cold as she slowly traced the rim of the small bowl with her fingers.

Wen Zhong was taken aback, and a hint of guilt appeared on his face.

He quickly stepped forward to apologize, saying, "His Majesty did indeed instruct this old servant to convey the message to the young master, but this old servant was busy with matters in the front courtyard and thus forgot."

"Oh, I see. Well then, thank you for your hard work, Butler Wen."

He said he was busy with things in the front yard.

But this is Wen He's home, so how could he not know that unless guests come, there's nothing in the front yard that Wen Zhong needs to do?

"No, no, this is what this old servant should do."

Wen Zhong chuckled dryly, cold sweat already dripping from his forehead.

"I understand this matter. You may leave."

Wen He's tone was calm, but his expression revealed a hint of coldness.

Although Wen Zhong saw it, he didn't take it to heart. After bowing to Wen He and Li Daozong, he withdrew.

“This unruly servant, why don’t you go and ask His Majesty to replace him?” Li Daozong had experienced many such things since childhood, so how could he not know what had happened?

Wen He shook her head.

"No need. After all, he is His Majesty's man, and I can't afford to offend him." Wen He gave a wan smile.

Li Daozong, however, couldn't stand it and shouted, "What's there to worry about? I'll speak up for you."

“King Rencheng, there’s really no need for that. Hey, don’t go, King Rencheng.”

Wen He said no, but he simply stood up without even trying to stop him.

Wenzhong has been getting a bit restless lately.

He hadn't even looked at the household's account books for a long time.

He didn't even know how much soap and glass had been taken out of the manor's workshops during this period.

Li Er might not replace Wen Zhong, but he will at least teach him a lesson.

Inside the Li Zheng Hall.

Even after Li Daozong came to request an audience, Li Shimin still had some doubts.

Could it be that something has happened at the Court of State Ceremonial again?

Li Shimin frowned and then called him in.

"I pay my respects to Your Majesty."

"Seungbeom, what brings you to the palace today?"

As soon as Li Shimin looked up, he saw a hint of anger in Li Daozong's eyes.

His brows furrowed even deeper.

What's wrong with Lee Seung-beom today?
"Your Majesty, I went to Gaoyang County today and was actually bullied by a wicked servant," Li Daozong said resentfully.

Li Shimin was not surprised to hear that he had gone to Wen He's place, but he found it hard to believe that Li Daozong had been bullied.

Who in Chang'an would dare to bully Li Daozong?

Wen He, that brat, dared not do it again.

"Could it be that Wen He offended you?" Li Shimin chuckled.

Li Daozong and that brat Wen He are always bickering and fighting, and he's used to it all.

This is the first time I've ever had to appeal to the Emperor.

"It wasn't the magistrate of Gaoyang County, but his steward. He actually deceived his superiors and subordinates, and even the magistrate of Gaoyang County didn't dare to blame the steward."

Li Daozong spoke out in defense of Wen He.

"Wenzhong?"

In Li Shimin's memory, Wenzhong was a loyal man.

Moreover, they are reliable in handling affairs, so how could they possibly deceive their master?

Besides, given Wen He's personality, he probably wouldn't let a servant bully him.

He's the kind of person who dares to hit even Changsun Chong.

"You don't know yet, do you? Wen He only found out today that he was going to open a bookstore. If I hadn't gone to his house, Wen Zhong might not have mentioned it to Wen He."

Li Daozong said something in a low voice.

Li Shimin's face suddenly darkened.

No wonder he's been waiting all day and Wen He still hasn't entered the palace.

He said that with Wen He's personality, how could she possibly remain so calm after knowing about this?

It turns out he didn't know about this yet.

"Gao Yue!"

Li Shimin slammed the memorial in his hand heavily onto the table.

Upon seeing this, Gao Yue, who was standing nearby, quickly bowed and walked over.

"His Majesty."

“Go to Gao Yangzi’s residence yourself and investigate that scoundrel. If he really deceived his master, send him to the Yeting Palace and then send… never mind, let that brat find a broker himself.”

Li Shimin rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on.

He realized that Li Daozong's hasty arrival at the palace was most likely because that brat had taken advantage of him.

"Your Majesty, I still have a few servants at home, perhaps..."

"Go talk to that brat yourself. I have other matters to attend to. Get out of here." Li Shimin waved his hand impatiently.

Seeing this, Li Daozong smiled and took his leave.

After he left, Li Shimin sighed helplessly and sent someone to summon Huang Chun.

Soon after, Huang Chun rushed over.

"This servant greets Your Majesty."

Huang Chun performed a grand salute.

Li Shimin didn't wake him up. He kept his head down and dealt with government affairs while saying to him, "Wen He will probably recruit some people into the manor in the next few days. Find some clever people to go in and take care of him, but don't tell anyone about this."

"promise."

Huang Chun agreed and then left.

Inside Wenhe Mansion.

When Gao Yue arrived with her people, Wen Zhong was surprised that so many people had suddenly come.

"But His Majesty has decreed that I go and summon the magistrate of Gaoyang County."

After saying this, he was about to turn and leave.

Suddenly, Gao Yue turned cold, turned her back to the person behind her, and waved her hand: "Take him down!"

"what?"

Wen Zhong was immediately taken aback.

"Why, why are you taking me?"

"You insolent servant! The matter His Majesty instructed you to do yesterday, you actually concealed from the magistrate of Gaoyang County! I wonder how you used to abuse His Majesty's power and commit all sorts of evil deeds in this mansion!"

Gao Yue waits for Wen Zhong.

Upon hearing this, the latter's eyes widened in horror: "You've misunderstood, you've misunderstood! This old servant was just too busy and forgot for a moment."

"Alright, no need to put on this aggrieved act in front of me. I've seen this kind of thing many times before."

Gao Yue didn't care about his cries at all.

Having spent so many years in the palace, he had seen far too many cases like this, where people appeared honest and kind on the surface but secretly deceived their superiors and subordinates.

"Wait a minute."

Suddenly, a voice admonished them.

Gao Yue turned around with dissatisfaction, only to see Wen He walking towards him, and a smile immediately spread across his face.

“Wen County Magistrate, what brings you here? This unruly servant can be taken away by me.”

"Young master, save me! This old servant has not deceived anyone!" Upon seeing Wen He, Wen Zhong grasped at a straw.

Wen He glanced at him indifferently and chuckled, "I don't blame you for lying to me, but you shouldn't have coveted my money."

"Young master, you're innocent! This old servant didn't, absolutely not!" Wenzhong shook his head desperately.

If he is only punished for deceiving Wen He, he will at most spend the rest of his life in the Yeting Palace.

But if it's found out he really embezzled Wen He's money, then he won't have a second half of his life.

However, Wenzhong still had this confidence.

He didn't believe Wen He could uncover the tricks he had played.

This young man is indeed amazing and knows everything, but the ledger is so complicated that even a seasoned accountant might not be able to figure it out.

Back then, he became the steward of the Prince of Qin's mansion not just because he was capable in his work.

"Okay, stop howling."

Wen He impatiently picked at her ear and turned to look at Gao Yue.

"High-ranking official, please have your men go to the accounting office and bring out the ledgers, so that you won't accuse me of tampering with them later."

"Alright, don't worry. If this scoundrel really dares to embezzle the county magistrate's money, I will definitely report the truth to His Majesty and make sure he faces a life-or-death dilemma."

Gao Yue stared at Wenzhong.

But the latter, forcing himself to remain calm, said, "Young master, you have really misunderstood me."

Back then, he had done a lot of tricks in the Prince of Qin's mansion, and even the former Princess of Qin, now the Empress, never noticed anything amiss.

A mere Wen He... you probably can't tell the difference.

Not long after, the ledgers were delivered.

Wen He immediately had a table and writing brushes and ink prepared.

"Prince, shall I go and invite someone from the Ministry of Revenue over?"

Gao Yue suggested.

He was worried that Wen He wouldn't be able to understand the ledger.

The latter shook his head: "No need. If they can't even understand the account books, how can I teach the Crown Prince and the others?"

However, when he opened the first page of the ledger and saw the densely packed records, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

It has to be said that he underestimated the ancients.

With such a complicated bookkeeping method, it's no wonder Wenzhong was so confident that he could deceive himself.

Unfortunately, we were still more than a thousand years behind.

It just takes a little more time.

Gao Yue was skeptical, but after glancing at the things on the table, she added, "If the county magistrate wants to calculate the numbers, I'll have him prepare them."

"Thank you, Senior Officer, but it's not necessary. I have something better than counting rods."

After thanking Gao Yue, Wen He then spoke to the servant beside her.

"Go to the right courtyard and have them bring over the abacus I made earlier."

When Wen He realized that Wen Zhong might be embezzling, she began to make preparations.

"abacus?"

Gao Yue couldn't help but be curious.

This thing sounds like it's similar to counting rods.

He turned to look at Wenzhong: "You insolent servant, it's come to this point, why don't you confess honestly? Do you want the county to find out before you'll admit your guilt?"

“You’re a high-ranking official! This is clearly a case of the young master trying to get rid of me. He’s been dissatisfied with me for a long time. This is a false accusation.”

Wen Zhong knew that after today, he and Wen He had completely broken off relations.

But he was the steward when His Majesty was a prince, and he didn't come to Wenhe Mansion to be a servant, but to monitor him.

He refused to believe that His Majesty the Emperor would actually send him away without evidence.

As long as nothing is found, his words will reach His Majesty's ears.

His Majesty will surely become suspicious of Wen He.

From now on, he can do whatever he wants with us.

Gao Yue frowned immediately, stepped forward and slapped him twice.

Wen Zhong was immediately stunned.

Just then, Wen He suddenly clicked his tongue twice.

“Wenzhong, your method is too crude. Half a month ago, you ordered five hundred chickens. After deducting the losses on the way and the ones that died of disease at the mansion, only twenty were left.”

Wen He looked up at Wen Zhong.

The latter, however, calmly replied, "This is common; given the long journey, some damage is inevitable."

"Who is in charge of this batch of chickens in the mansion?" Wen He asked.

"Yes, I took over personally, as did Ershitou in the backyard. He was in charge of raising chickens, but because so many chickens died, I let him go."

This means there are no witnesses.

Wen He scoffed, "You said before that a hen in Chang'an costs ten coins, but why did it cost a full one hundred strings of cash for these five hundred chickens?"

"Food, the food that feeds these chickens."

"What do these chickens eat that costs so much money?"

Bran.

How much does a bushel of bran cost?

"consistent."

"And a bushel of wheat?"

Wen He looked at him calmly.

Wenzhong's voice was already trembling.

He didn't believe that Wen He could see through the details so quickly.

"Moreover, I remember that I have hardly ever eaten wheat or rice. If it were the servants in the manor, they could not possibly have eaten a whole hundred bushels of it!"

Wen He suddenly shouted.

With a "thump," Wen Zhong's legs went weak, and he knelt on the ground: "Young master, this old servant was wrong. This old servant took these wheat grains to help the disaster victims without permission."

(End of this chapter)