Chapter 24

As night fell.

The mansion was lit up with lights everywhere.

Gu Chensha sat in a grand armchair, with Xiao Yizi standing beside him. Servants stood around with their hands hanging, some under the eaves, some by the corridors, some trimming the wicks of the lamps, and others sweeping the courtyard. They were all silent, harboring their own thoughts, and secretly watching the two people in the main hall.

"Master, here is the list. There were originally five hundred people in the entire mansion," Xiao Yizi handed over the list.

"Five hundred people, that's a lot?" Gu Chensha frowned. "I checked the mansion and the surrounding farmland and orchards. They can support at most two hundred people."

"Indeed, Master has keen eyesight," Xiao Yizi said. "The former steward of this estate was embezzling for personal gain, hiring many idle people, including all sorts of relatives. In fact, the mansion is already empty, with no savings. Moreover, there are several ten thousand in external debts. I have already gathered everyone and given a speech, dismissing four hundred people, and only keeping a hundred who work diligently. In the future, we will gradually replace them with our own people."

"Good, that's how it should be. Is there anyone who is不服 and causing trouble?" Gu Chensha knew that managing a household was like governing a country, and one must not be careless.

"Who dares? The law is strict. In the past, they might have dared to be disrespectful to Master, but now that Master has the Emperor's favor, anyone who doesn't know the times will only end up dead. Deceiving the master is a serious crime, and we can execute them directly in the mansion," Xiao Yizi said with a hint of ruthlessness. "However, the old man Xia, the steward of our estate, is difficult to deal with. He was directly sent by the Inner Affairs Department."

"Handle this matter as you see fit. I would rather have no one working than have outsiders infiltrate," Gu Chensha said.

"Of course, Master. In a few days, we will hold a grand banquet. After all, Master establishing a household is a big event. Officials and even princes and nobles will send gifts according to etiquette, and we must return the favor. We can't be too shabby, or it will damage our dignity," Xiao Yizi counted on his fingers. "In addition, Master has a quota of fifty soldiers, which we need to recruit and pay. This is a considerable amount of money. The operation of our mansion requires money in everything. Although the Emperor has granted us three hundred thousand, I think it will be used up in a year. The first thing to do now is to increase revenue and cut expenses. Master is not like other princes who have the support of their maternal clans."

Other princes, with powerful maternal clans, start building their power base from birth. They build their own mansions and gather talents early on. For example, Prince Eighteen, Gu Hongsha, does not live in the granted mansion but has his own, with thousands of servants and many experts, spending money like water. Such power allows them to dominate the court and handle affairs smoothly.

But Gu Chensha can only work hard to build his own power.

"Indeed, everything requires money, but I have a way to get it. You don't need to worry about that," Gu Chensha thought. At this moment, he could kill tigers and wolves to refine Tiger Wolf Pills and sell them through secret channels.

Tiger Wolf Pills are ancient and rare. Once they appear, they will attract many people, but they will also bring trouble. If Gu Chensha were an ordinary person, he would have many concerns, but as a prince, second only to the Emperor, he is not afraid of being investigated. As long as the Emperor does not oppose him, no one can take action against him legally.

If one Tiger Wolf Pill is sold, it could be worth tens of thousands, or even a hundred thousand. Selling a hundred or so would completely solve the financial crisis.

"Master, are you going to sell the pills I took?" Xiao Yizi asked. "But how will you explain their origin?"

"No problem. I'll just say I occasionally found a jar of ancient pills. Who dares to investigate me?" Gu Chensha remained calm.

"Indeed, if an ordinary wealthy family obtained such pills, they would have to offer them to the court, or face the destruction of their family. But Master's status is different," Xiao Yizi felt relieved. "However, Master has been in the limelight recently. I think you should lay low for a while. The pills should be sold to reliable people. If other princes get them, it would be like aiding the enemy."

"Indeed, I already have a buyer," Gu Chensha said.

"Long Yuyun?" Xiao Yizi understood immediately.

"Xiao Yizi, it seems you have truly grown. Long Yuyun is a good channel, but I actually want to sell to the Lou family. Father has the intention of bringing Lou Baiyue closer to me, so I naturally need to rely on the Lou family's power," Gu Chensha smiled. "Of course, the Lou family is deep and unpredictable, so we must be cautious."

"Of course, the Lou family has always been hostile to Master. Selling the Tiger Wolf Pills to them will force them to swallow them. Once they do, the Lou family's strength will increase significantly. They are already half the court, and if they expand further, their power will overshadow the Emperor, leading to a tragic end!" Xiao Yizi sneered. "Lou Baiyue once incited the Tenth Prince to beat Master. This debt must be settled. Besides, if the Lou family gets into trouble, Master can find a way to take over their power and achieve great things."

"That's not necessary," Gu Chensha looked at Xiao Yizi with surprise, not expecting such deep thoughts from him. "We must be cautious, but not malicious."

"Master is upright and noble. These dark and dirty matters and sins, I will handle them for you," Xiao Yizi remained calm.

"Ah..." Gu Chensha sighed. "Bring the estate steward, Old Man Xia, to see me."

An old man stood before Gu Chensha.

He was dressed in brocade, wearing a hat with a thumb-sized jade piece embedded in it, half emerald green and half flame-colored. He also wore a jade ring on his hand, which was white and faintly glowing with a holy light. His boots were made of fine leather and also inlaid with gems.

"Cold and Warm Jade?" Gu Chensha recognized it. The half-green, half-flame jade was rare Cold and Warm Jade, which could absorb heat in summer and release it in winter, and vice versa, balancing yin and yang, benefiting the body and enhancing martial arts practice.

The jade ring was also a valuable treasure.

A small estate steward was surprisingly so wealthy.

His attire alone was worth at least thirty to fifty thousand.

The Heavenly Talisman Dynasty was rich and prosperous, and the luxurious lifestyle was becoming common among the wealthy. However, as an estate steward, he should have been more modest to avoid suspicion. His lack of restraint suggested he had a powerful backer.

"This humble one, Xia Huang, greets the Nineteenth Prince," the old man bowed slightly but did not kneel.

"Ridiculous, kneel down!" Xiao Yizi shouted.

"No need," Gu Chensha stopped Xiao Yizi. "Xia Huang, are you the steward of this estate?"

"Yes, I manage the hundreds of acres of orchards and thousands of acres of farmland around this mansion, maintaining the expenses and repairs of the estate," Xia Huang said. "This mansion originally belonged to the Inner Affairs Department, and the Emperor granted it to the Nineteenth Prince. I will naturally manage the estate for the Nineteenth Prince from now on."

"I see." Gu Chensha remained calm. "Then tell me, why are there no savings in the estate's accounts? Why are there external debts? How have you been managing it?"

"The Nineteenth Prince, if you haven't managed a household, you don't know the difficulties. This mansion is so large, and the expenses for the staff are considerable. Repairs are also necessary to prevent decay over time. The income from the orchards and farmland is not enough to cover the expenses, so we are in deficit," Xia Huang said calmly.

"Xia Huang, I know you have been embezzling. Now, I give you a choice. Spit out the money you've taken, and you can leave quietly and save your life," Xiao Yizi said coldly.

"Lord Eunuch, what do you mean?" Xia Huang was not surprised. "Though I am humble, I am not easily slandered. The Nineteenth Prince, please investigate clearly."

"Is that so?" Xiao Yizi sneered and dragged out a half-dead man, covered in blood. "This is the accountant. After my severe interrogation, he confessed and provided many account books, which I have here. If I hand them over to the Clan Affairs Department, you will be stripped of your property and your family will be exiled to the border to build the Great Stone Wall. Think about it."

The accountant was splashed with water by Xiao Yizi and regained consciousness. "Lord Xia, I couldn't help it, I was beaten to near death..."

"Now, with both evidence and witnesses, Xia Huang, what do you have to say? I don't want much, just the two hundred thousand you embezzled. I won't make it difficult for you," Xiao Yizi said, with Gu Chensha watching.

"Nineteenth Prince, don't be too excessive," Xia Huang's eyes became sharp. "I am a man of Prince Fan, and the entire Inner Affairs Department is managed by Prince Fan. Touching me is opposing Prince Fan. I think we should keep our waters separate. Nineteenth Prince, let me continue managing the estate, and you can focus on being the Duke of Dust."

"Third Brother's man?"

Prince Fan was the third brother, Gu Fansha.

He controlled the entire Inner Affairs Department, a veteran prince who had long reached the Dao realm, leading a powerful army, fighting the barbarians at the border, and holding real power. The current head of the Inner Affairs Department, Fan Ruhai, was his cousin.

Although Gu Chensha was currently favored by the Emperor, his foundation was still shallow and far from matching the four major princes. This was why Xia Huang did not care.

Gu Chensha stood up and slowly walked to Xia Huang's side, suddenly striking with a lightning-fast slap.

Slap!

Xia Huang's face was struck, and he was thrown back, hitting a pillar and rolling down, groaning in pain.

"What are you, using Third Brother to pressure me?" Gu Chensha sneered. "Your martial arts are not bad, able to withstand my slap without fainting. Xiao Yizi, tie him up and notify his family to return the embezzled money to redeem him. If not, I will cut off his limbs and throw him out as a warning to other servants."

"Yes, Master." Xiao Yizi dragged Xia Huang out, stripping him of his gems and tying him up. He returned and reported, "Master, will this offend Third Prince? He is not someone to be trifled with."

"There's no choice. If we don't remove this thorn, the household cannot be properly managed. If we can't manage our household, how can we achieve great things? Keeping Xia Huang is like having a thief in the house. No matter how careful we are, our actions will be known by others the same day." Gu Chensha understood. "Removing this thorn will make things easier. Of course, there are still many such thorns in the mansion. We will remove them one by one and replace them with trustworthy people. I will leave the task of finding reliable people to you. In the meantime, I will seclude myself to further my cultivation."

Everything else is false; only strength is real.

If Gu Chensha reaches the Dao realm, everyone will give him respect.