After practicing with the staff for a while and working up a sweat, Li Xun headed inside to change his inner robes. Meanwhile, Shen Qian stayed under the eaves, laying down the rules to Zhao Pozi and the rest: “From now on, we’ll keep our own little kitchen in this courtyard. Every morning, I’ll have someone go pick up Ganlin Courtyard’s allotted rations. Chickens, ducks, fish—make sure those are properly butchered and cleaned. As for firewood, grain, oil, and salt, we’ll fetch those every ten days.

“Now that our Gongzi is managing the household accounts, we’ll follow Bofu Ren’s old rules. You all should still remember what the share is for each courtyard, yes?”

Zhao Pozi and the others wiped their foreheads, nodding frantically.

“If any other courtyard wants more than their share, either they pay with their own silver, or you mamas make up the difference yourselves. Don’t even think about stealing from Ganlin Courtyard anymore.”

Everything sent in from the manor estates was carefully counted and registered. Ganlin Courtyard had always had its share unfairly deducted—partly because of these servants skimming off the top, and partly because the missing goods had obviously been diverted somewhere else.

Everyone present knew the good days were over. If they followed the proper allotments, someone like Liu Yiniang was definitely not going to be pleased. And Third Young Master, Fourth Young Master—both spoiled to the bone—their servants were notoriously unruly too. The masters might be playing political games, but the servants were the ones getting squeezed in between. For now, though, all they could do was nod and comply. And who knew? With the eldest young master coming down this hard, maybe Liu Yiniang’s whole branch was really about to get suppressed.

After wrapping up the handover of the kitchen, Shen Qian brought out the silver notes and gold bricks and reported back to Li Xun, explaining everything: how he’d sealed the mansion gates, interrogated the drunk stewards, and said, “With the guts those two had, there’s no way they were the only ones. Since the rumors haven’t spread yet, we might as well take them all down in one sweep.”

Li Xun had just changed his inner robes and was fiddling with one of the decorative ties. The clothes of a ger were different from a man’s, and he found them a bit confusing. “Just do as you see fit. I’ve got your back.”

Back in court, even when dealing with corrupt officials, he’d had to bend over backwards to gather evidence—documents, letters, ledgers—just to get a conviction. Sometimes, even if he knew someone was corrupt, if he couldn’t prove it, he had to let it slide. After all, punishing people without solid evidence would chill the hearts of all the scholars in the empire.

Compared to that, Shen Qian’s methods were just so satisfying.

A bunch of household-born, contract-sold slaves—what was there to hesitate for? Servants weren’t even supposed to have personal assets in the first place. If their belongings got stripped and they were sold off in just their underclothes, that was still considered “benevolence” from the master. Hearing what Shen Qian was doing, Li Xun didn’t think he was being reckless—just refreshingly efficient.

Seeing Li Xun fumbling with the tie, Shen Qian couldn’t help stepping forward to help. “Since we just took over the accounts, I think we should focus on the big stuff first and let the small ones go. Anything under five hundred taels, we leave alone for now.”

Too clean a house leaves no fish to catch. If he really went after every minor embezzler, they might not have anyone left in the entire Bo‘s mansion. Li Xun nodded. “You handle it however you see fit.”

He really liked this style of leadership—high trust, high freedom. Shen Qian handed over the silver notes and gold bricks, finished tying his robe, and hurried back out to the outer courtyard.

By now, the interrogations had yielded results. When Shen Qian returned, Zhu Er and the others had already compiled a list. Zhang Jiuquan had even tied up two more households. Those who had been scared out of their wits were desperately trying to sell each other out for leniency. According to their confessions, nearly a third of the stewards in the mansion were pulling Liu Wang’er-level embezzlement.

Shen Qian clicked his tongue in amazement at the list. Thank heavens Fuchang Bo’s Mansion had deep foundations… Judging from Liu Wang’er’s style alone, the amount skimmed over the years could easily total a hundred thousand taels.

Was that why Liu Yufu had started eyeing the late Bofu Ren’s dowry—because the accounts were so empty she couldn’t manage anymore?

Shen Qian pondered but felt it probably wasn’t that simple. With how much Fuchang Bo favored her, even if the household accounts were a mess, he likely wouldn’t have blamed Liu Yufu. Knowing how whipped Shen Yi’an was, even a royal edict hadn’t made him abandon her. If it were just a financial issue, he’d probably have found someone to assist Liu Yufu in managing things.

Shaking his head, Shen Qian set those thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand. He led the team in raiding every name on the list.

That night, Fuchang Bo’s Mansion was ablaze with light. The area near the back gates where servants lived was utter chaos. Cries of injustice, shouts of disbelief, people demanding to see Liu Yiniang—but trailing behind Shen Qian was a whole squad of tough servants borrowed from Commander Hua’s estate. No matter how clever anyone thought they were, they were nothing but ants in front of that force.

Midway through the raids, Xiao Wan came running to report: “All the mansion gates are locked. Just now someone outside said Bi Tao, the girl from Liu Yiniang’s side, is locked out and raising a fuss trying to get in.”

Shen Qian had locked the gates to prevent the corrupt stewards from moving any wealth out—not to stop people from coming in. But hearing it was Bi Tao, he decided to go handle it himself.

Bi Tao stood outside a side gate, her face twisted with anger. She’d already heard from the gatekeeper what had happened inside. She knew her godmother’s whole family had been raided. The moment she saw Shen Qian, she snapped, “What do you think you’re doing? Who raids their own house? Gongzi just got control of the accounts yesterday, and today you’ve thrown the whole mansion into chaos!”

Shen Qian rolled his eyes. “Your master is getting scolded by the palace nobility and doesn’t even dare utter a word, yet you’re out here yelling like you’re someone important? Since Gongzi now controls the accounts, it’s up to him how things are handled. Liu Yiniang used to freely fire and exile people—why can’t our Gongzi?”

Others might’ve brushed it off, but Zhu Er was fuming. She glared daggers at Bi Tao. Back then, Liu Yiniang had tossed her out of the mansion with just one word, no evidence, accusing her of theft. It had ruined her reputation and humiliated her parents among the other servants.

“Or is it that since Liu Saozi is your godmother, and she stole all that silver, you’re worried your cut won’t come through?” Shen Qian jabbed straight at the heart of the matter. Liu Yufu didn’t know the household prices, but Bi Tao certainly did. Back at Yuxiang Tower, she’d often helped the girls buy makeup, oils, and snacks. There was no way she hadn’t helped cover up the inflated prices fed to Liu Yufu.

Bi Tao was feeling very guilty—but before she could defend herself, Shen Qian added, “But I didn’t come here today to talk about that. The silver will be accounted for once the books are checked. No one’s getting away.”

She bit her lip.

“I came to inform you that when Liu Yiniang was managing the accounts, she gave you a token for free access in and out of the mansion. But now that she’s no longer in charge, how can a maid of a concubine just go parading around town? What did the rejected heirship memorial say? ‘Child born outside the household, bloodline in doubt’… High-ranking families like this value modesty. Concubines’ maids shouldn’t be seen outside.”

Shen Qian stepped closer. “Liu Yiniang already messed up and nearly ruined Third Young Master. If you still care for her, you’d do well to act more cautiously.”

In this era, the whole “women shouldn’t leave the house” thing wasn’t just for appearances—it was about preserving bloodlines. Without DNA tests, the best they could do was make sure nobody even had the opportunity to cheat. You didn’t go out, you didn’t meet any other men—then no one could question your child’s legitimacy. The higher the family’s rank, the stricter the rules. It was feudal, but it made sense in context—there was real inheritance at stake.

Liu Yufu had grown up in a brothel. Even after becoming Shen Yi’an’s mistress, she still visited Yuxiang Tower. Her child was born outside the mansion. The rejected memorial hadn’t just insulted her—it had laid bare the problem.

And because of her background, she was idolized by poor scholars and fantasized about endlessly. Meanwhile, the maids and attendants around her were watched like hawks, to prevent them from corrupting the young masters and ladies.

Bi Tao was seething, ready to bite down on her silver teeth. But she had no way to refute him. She couldn’t out-argue Shen Qian, so she tried to stall. “That pass was given by Liu Yiniang. If Gongzi wants to take it back, he should talk to her directly. I wouldn’t dare refuse.”

But Shen Qian couldn’t be bothered to argue. He gave Zhu Er a look, and she lunged forward, snatching the token straight from Bi Tao’s waist.

Bi Tao was shocked—they actually dared to grab it by force?! She panicked.

She’d only gone out to Yuxiang Tower to get advice from Liu Mama. Liu Yufu had been rattled by the scolding, scared and overwhelmed. Losing control of the household and getting her son’s title application rejected—she didn’t know what to do. She’d gotten this far thanks to Liu Mama and the girls at the tower strategizing with her. Now she needed them more than ever.

And now the gate pass was gone. How was she supposed to send messages?

Bi Tao was desperate. But Shen Qian had a whole team behind him, and she couldn’t beat them. He ignored everything she said. The other servants nearby stood frozen like logs—none dared lift a finger to help.

Bi Tao was furious. These fair-weather traitors! Gongzi’s only been in charge one day, and already you’re all lining up to kiss his boots!

What she didn’t know was—they were all scared Shen Qian would come raid their homes next.

They had no choice. After taking her token, Shen Qian and the group left her behind.

Bi Tao stomped her foot and had no choice but to go back to Liu Yufu to report. She told her all about the raid on Liu Wang’er’s household. “Gongzi’s people are too much! Godmother was going to buy medicine for you. Not only did they not give her silver, they tied her up and raided the house! They’re stomping on your face!”

But Liu Yufu couldn’t care less right now. She was already drowning in her own mess, feeling unwell and overwhelmed. Tomorrow, palace messengers would return, and even sick, she’d have to get up and face them. She was a wreck and had no time to care about a few servants.

Hearing this, she barely reacted. Instead, she grabbed Bi Tao’s hand and asked urgently, “What did Liu Mama say? What should I do now?”

Bi Tao bit her lip. She knew Liu Yufu was likely no longer reliable. Her heart sank. She lowered her gaze and mumbled, “Liu Mama… doesn’t have experience dealing with palace people either. She’s panicked and doesn’t know what to do. Said she’d ask around with her old sisters and come up with a plan—but now that my gate pass is gone, even if she has advice, we won’t hear it.”

That hit Liu Yufu where it hurt.

She could ignore Liu Wang’er’s fate—but she absolutely couldn’t afford to lose contact with Yuxiang Tower.

After a long hesitation, she finally said, “I’ll speak to Boye about it…”

That night, as the folks at Ganlin Courtyard were tallying up all the seized silver, someone came running to report: “Boye’s here again.”

He’d visited more in these few days than in the entire past year.Before the words were even cold, Shen Yi’an stormed up to the doorway in a fury. “What are you doing? The whole mansion’s in chaos! Who are those people guarding the gates? You sealed your own house’s doors—what kind of household management is this?!”