Chapter 31
“Your son, the last time I checked, was also quite exquisite. I trust he is thriving?”
“Young misstress, he is at that difficult age now, full of rebellious energy.”
“Oh,” I said, raising a brow in mild amusement but looking away from her and towards the antique vase in the corner. “Take a seat, we have limited time to discuss important matters,” I said, making an offhanded gesture towards the nearby plush, velvet-covered chairs. The two women sat, their postures attentive and professional, their backs straight and hands folded neatly in their laps. “I will bring up the holographic display now. Miss Si is already aware of the situation, but Head Housekeeper Si, you have a great deal of work ahead of you, and many things that require thorough explanation,” I said becoming serious. She is valued but somethings must be properly explained especially in times like this.
“Young misstress, this servant completely understands. I will do my utmost to provide clarity and resolve any issues.” Head housekeeper Si’s reply was humble, which pleased me. I spared her a smile before looking away. “Miss Mi is fine,” I said, my tone curt. “As long as you explain well, all will be fine.”
“Yes, Miss Mi,” Head Housekeeper Si replied, her head bowed slightly. I tapped the control panel and brought up a series of holographic images and data streams, the room flickering with light as the displays materialized in the air. “A disturbing number of valuable items have been sold off without authorization, and the livestock inventory have been mustered by the eldest son of the Pan patriarch for reasons that remain unclear. Additionally, some items within the house appear to have discrepancies in their reported condition, from minor scuffs to outright damage.”
Head housekeeper’s eyes flickered towards the screen, her expression shifting to one of concern as she scanned the inventory lists and discrepancy reports. She then took a deep breath, steeling her resolve, and replied in a soft, carefully controlled tone. “The gold and jade items appear to be missing from the smaller vault, along with some of the more expensive silks and cloths from the other storage areas. Also missing are several of the land deeds pertaining to properties in the south.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to suppress my mounting anger. I had been hoping to find a hidden spatial ring or some other form of convenient storage, but this damn family were actually blatant thieves, ugh, actually I wrote them as trash (inward table flip!). “What preventative measures were taken to address the previous discrepancies you uncovered, before my arrival?”
“We followed the explicit instructions of the elders who were present here at the time. Everything was meticulously documented and executed only after their thorough inspection and official confirmation, including seals affixed with their personal insignias. They had claimed that the missing items had been generously donated to various charities, so we did not feel authorized to question their decisions, especially seeing as all the surrounding villages had demonstrably benefited greatly from their largesse in the past,” she replied, her expression grim and unwavering.
“And what about the current discrepancies?” I asked, leaning forward slightly.
“This servant is uncertain as to the exact cause. We had initiated an investigation a few months before you were scheduled to assume control, but…”
“But,” I prodded, urging her to continue.
“The elders abruptly refused to allow the investigation to continue any further. They claimed that the records were too old, disorganized, and it would be too much of a hassle to properly investigate. They said it would be better to focus on more pressing matters.”
“Did you attempt to argue against their decision? You are a servant of the Mi family, and moreover, you are from the main branch! When I am absent, you serve as the head housekeeper, and your word should be final! Why was I not informed of this blatant obstruction before my arrival?” I asked, feeling a surge of annoyance. My heart was bleeding, I needed those goods! Money to purchase what is necessary!
The world will end, and I did not even bother to write when it will return to normal but simply said some bullshit in the book that those who survived continued to struggle living.
I felt like I wanted to cough blood in anger!
What the hell!
So when this head housekeeper simply continued to offer lame excuses, I wanted to simply rage, but I sucked in a breath and forced myself to remain calm. It is not really her fault, the system of governance within the Mi family and the surrounding villages is still somewhat archaic.
“This servant is deeply ashamed to admit that the main branch elders claimed that everything was in order and that it would be inappropriate, perhaps even impolite, to question their authority or cast suspicion upon their actions. I was also reminded repeatedly that I am merely a lowly servant from a branch family, with limited power and influence. They were quite stern in their reprimands. This servant did not wish to make things more difficult than they already were, nor did I want to burden your arrival and the care of the new young misstress.”
I was silent for a long moment, carefully considering her words. In order to preserve the facade of respect for those from a branch family, the elders were given some discretionary power, but the main courtyard, or rather main house, is still indisputably the domain of the Mi family main branch!
I laughed in anger, trying my best not to explode with rage. “The elders, huh…how many of them are there in total?”
Honestly, I had forgotten. There was no specific mention of them in the book, nor any detailed information about the original owner’s interactions with them.
Sigh, what a complete shit show. Well, I suppose I should call a meeting of everyone involved so I can accurately assess who should be further retained and who should be unceremoniously discarded.
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