The most dissolute couple in the capital

A series of hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate.

Several guards from the Prince's residence, like wolves and tigers, strode into the courtyard, escorting two people. The guard in front clasped his hands in a fist and announced loudly, "Your Highness! Manager Qian of Baihe Fragrance Shop and Merchant Zhou who sells potting soil have been brought here! Their account books have also been confiscated!"

The two shopkeepers had never seen anything like this before. As soon as they entered the courtyard, their legs went weak, and they knelt down on the ground in unison.

"This humble subject pays respects to His Highness Prince Liang and His Highness the Princess!"

The guards presented two thick stacks of account books to Li Chengjing.

Li Chengjing casually flipped to the top of the Baihexiangfang account book, looked through seven or eight pages, and found that not a single page matched.

He sneered and asked the kneeling Zhou merchant, "The red sandy soil I bought from you a few days ago?"

Merchant Zhou kowtowed repeatedly: "Your Highness, Your Highness, when Steward Zhao came to purchase some time ago, I clearly stated that red sandy loam was thirty taels per cart. Steward Zhao thought it was too expensive and asked if there were any cheaper alternatives. I then mentioned a kind of reddish-brown clay that looked similar, but it couldn't support fine flowers. Later, when Steward Zhao came... he only wanted the cheaper clay..."

He spread out the account book and pushed it forward, trembling with fear and not daring to look up.

With witnesses and physical evidence, the evidence is irrefutable.

"The accounts are reconciled." Li Chengjing looked at Butler Sun. "Do you have anything else to say?"

The color drained from Steward Sun's face, and he collapsed to the ground, utterly exhausted. No longer caring about appearances, he scrambled forward, grabbed Li Chengjing's boots, and, tears and snot streaming down his face, wailed, "Your Highness! This old servant was foolish! This old servant was blinded by greed! I beg Your Highness, please forgive this old servant for the years I've served you, for my hard work and dedication, even if I haven't done anything particularly meritorious! This old servant will return all the money I've swallowed, please have mercy!"

He kowtowed seven or eight times, blood seeping from his forehead: "Your Highness, I have served you for almost twenty years. I didn't mean to be greedy, it's just that that good-for-nothing... that casino was pressing for repayment, and I acted rashly... I beg Your Highness to spare my life, for the sake of my diligent service over the years..."

"Your Highness, please allow me to say a few words," Cui Qingyi said gently.

Li Chengjing turned his head, his brows furrowing slightly: "He's been deceiving his superiors and subordinates like this, are you really going to plead for him?"

Cui Qingyi smiled slightly: "I am not trying to absolve him of his guilt. To be fair, Steward Sun has managed the Prince's residence for many years and has done his best. His Highness is naturally carefree and has never worried about worldly affairs. The food, clothing, and daily necessities of the hundreds of people in this residence, as well as the welcoming and sending off of various dignitaries and social interactions, all require real money to manage."

She paused, her tone becoming increasingly sincere: "Steward Sun, in his position, naturally incurs enormous expenses in order to win over the servants and maintain the dignity of the Prince's mansion. As the saying goes, 'If the water is too clear, there will be no fish.' Being in this situation, he may have momentarily lost his sense of propriety and embezzled some money."

Cui Qingyi's words were extremely clever. She didn't mention asking Li Chengjing to forgive Steward Sun at all, but instead found some more reasons for him.

The reason for dealing with Steward Sun is that he has committed many wrongdoings, and allowing him to grow unchecked would only lead to disaster.

However, if she were to kill Steward Sun with a single blow, it would make her, as the new mistress, appear too harsh and eager to seize power.

Li Chengjing stared intently at Cui Qingyi.

After hearing these words, the slight doubt in his heart vanished instantly. He had previously thought that Cui Qingyi had set up this scheme to suppress the elders in the mansion and seize power for herself.

In retrospect, it was entirely his own petty-mindedness that led him to judge others by his own standards!

Qingyi not only uncovered the huge discrepancy in the accounts, but also, faced with this insatiable servant, was able to empathize with the steward's difficulties. This magnanimity and kindness are truly moving!

"Qingyi, you're just too soft-hearted." Li Chengjing sighed, his eyes softening.

Then, he turned his head and looked at Butler Sun on the ground again, his eyes returning to their coldness.

"Your Highness is magnanimous and understanding of the difficulties you face in managing the household. Upon careful consideration, I realize I also bear responsibility for oversight." Li Chengjing straightened up. "I usually spend money like water and have never checked the accounts, which gave you the opportunity. I will report the details to my elder brother, the Emperor, and accept the blame for my negligence!"

Upon hearing this, Steward Sun trembled violently, as if he had seen a glimmer of hope, and immediately kowtowed again: "Your Highness's great kindness..."

"But," Lee Seung-kyung continued.

Butler Sun pressed his forehead firmly to the ground, not daring to lift it.

Li Chengjing glared coldly at Steward Sun, his voice ringing with conviction: "The embezzled silver can be considered a cut from your hard work, Steward. But you've been building mansions outside, secretly taking widows as concubines without the Prince's knowledge, and even allowing a stepson with no blood relation to you to gamble heavily and rack up debts under the name of the Liang Prince's Mansion! This is deceiving the Emperor! This is disgracing the royal family!"

"Turning one's back on one's master for personal gain, acting without any moral compass, is a grave crime, absolutely unforgivable! Guards! Strip Steward Sun of his managerial robes, remove his name tag, and confiscate all his private property. Take this entire family, along with the account books, directly to the Jingzhao Yin's office and punish them severely according to the laws of Da Ning!"

"As for Manager Zhao—" He glanced at Manager Zhao, who was still kneeling on the ground.

Steward Zhao shuddered, his head nearly burying itself in the floor tiles: "Your Highness! This servant must atone for his crimes! This servant has rendered meritorious service by reporting wrongdoing..."

"You did report it," Li Chengjing nodded, his tone nonchalant, "but you certainly skimmed a bit of profit when you bought the fake soil."

Manager Zhao's expression changed.

"Your Highness... this servant was merely..."

"Sell off all his associates."

The guards dragged the limp and distraught Steward Zhao away.

Manager Zhou and Manager Lü were led away trembling with fear. Before leaving, Manager Lü did not forget to express his loyalty: "If Your Highness ever needs our help in the future, everyone at Baihe Incense Shop will have no objections..."

"Alright, alright, let's go, let's go." Li Chengjing waved his hand, looking disgusted.

The courtyard finally quieted down.

"Yes!" The guards responded in unison, pounced on him like wolves, gagged Steward Sun, and dragged him away.

Manager Zhao and the two merchants were so frightened that they lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to breathe.

Cui Qingyi gained a completely new understanding of the "number one playboy" who was famous throughout Chang'an.

It's true that he's extravagant and has a unique way of thinking, but deep down he retains a rare simplicity and integrity.

When faced with a problem, he did not shirk responsibility; instead, he frankly admitted his oversight and even went to the emperor to confess his guilt.

He could tolerate human greed when it came to corruption, but he would never tolerate betrayal by deceiving superiors or the collapse of moral bottom lines.

Ordinary prominent families value their reputation and honor more than their own lives. When faced with such despicable acts, they would only resort to swift and secretive measures to try and quell the matter peacefully.

How many people can be as open and honest as him?