Chapter 81

Chapter 81

These people were indeed efficient. They had thoroughly investigated the matter within just two days. The Cui family had been involved in usury for years. Although their interest rates were higher than conventional loans, they didn't exploit borrowers to the point of lifelong debt through compounding interest. As a result, many people borrowed from them, and their reputation was surprisingly good.

Meng Die heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing this: "It seems that being cautious can sometimes be an advantage."

Auntie Fan chuckled: "Indeed, with their method of lending at exorbitant interest rates, the authorities usually turn a blind eye. Madam De can now rest assured."

Meng Die rested her chin in her hand and pondered: "I still feel something's not quite right. Can the money they earn from such usurious practices really sustain their extravagant lifestyle?"

Nanny Fan pondered for a moment. "The Cui family does have some savings. If they were to invest a large sum of money in usury, the interest would indeed be substantial."

Meng Die replied, "But they're cautious. Do you really think they'd dare to invest such a significant amount? They say usury brings enormous profits, but one needs connections and support. Many families who dabbled in usury ended up losing their initial investment."

Nanny Fan also seemed uncertain. "Then I'll have them keep watching, for a longer time. We'll gather more information."

Meng Die nodded. "Yes, let's gather more intelligence. Something just doesn't feel right to me."

As it turned out, Meng Die's intuition was correct. Two days later, Nanny Fan rushed in from outside. "Second Lady, it's a terrible situation."

Meng Die's heart skipped a beat. "Has something happened to the Cui family?"

Granny Fan stamped her foot. "It's a huge disaster! Their matriarch and the head of the family have both been arrested by the apprehension office and thrown into the Ministry of Justice's prison."

Meng Die was utterly shocked. "Why were they suddenly arrested? Did lending usurious money lead to a loss of life?"

Granny Fan gasped. "If only it were usury. It's far worse than that. That damned family are traffickers. They abducted poor girls and sold them to brothels in the south."

"Ahh!" Meng Die was so astonished that she was momentarily speechless. It took her a long while to regain her composure. "They trafficked girls?"

Nanny Fan spat disdainfully. "When their family engages in usury, they personally visit to sign the contracts. They speak so sweetly that it's better than music. They claim their interest rates are low and that they worry borrowers might not be able to repay, so they need to ensure the debtors have the capability to pay back before lending. Many people believe their words, and when borrowing, they invite them into their homes to seal the agreement."

"When they visit a family to lend money, they take note of the number of people in the household and whether there are any young girls. Once they have their information, others swoop in to abduct them. They gather a dozen or so and sell them all together into brothels in the Jiangnan region. They've been doing this for several years now."

Meng Die pressed her hand to her forehead, her mind buzzing with confusion: "How was it exposed this time?"

Mistress Fan paused.

Meng Die suddenly realized: "Ah, so these scoundrels have known about the outrageous deeds of the Cui family all along, haven't they? They kept silent out of indifference, and now seeing that my grandfather has regained power, my third and fourth uncles have recently resumed their official positions, and my eldest brother has entered the Hanlin Academy, they can't find any faults with our family, so they're trying to strike at our in-laws to tarnish our family's reputation and hinder the development of my Meng family."

Nanny Fan dared not utter a sound.

Meng Die spat, "A bunch of heartless creatures. They know full well that the Cui family doesn't treat people properly, yet as officials of the imperial court, they turn a blind eye. Don't they fear those suffering girls coming to haunt them in the middle of the night? They'll all meet an unpleasant end someday."

Nanny Fan stepped forward to massage Meng Die's temples. "I didn't mention it before for fear of sullying Second Lady's ears. Recently, the 'Yangzhou Lean Mares' have become quite popular in the capital. These Lean Mares are trained from a young age. Think about it, Second Lady, which normal family would willingly send their daughter to such a place?"

Meng Die gradually calmed down. "They probably don't just reveal this to hinder our family's future. Has Grandfather taken action in the Ministry of Punishments?"

Nanny Fan replied, "Yes, I've heard that Elder Grandfather has been collaborating with Inspector General Fu to address the homeless problem in the capital."

Inspector of the Nine Gates? Meng Die couldn't help but chuckle. It seemed that the two families had forged a connection due to the investigation of the rumors targeting her last time. "No wonder! They're using this as an excuse to clean up the city's affairs, and it's becoming harder to hide the dirty secrets lurking in the shadows. By revealing our family's connections, they're not only obstructing our political advancement but also giving Grandfather a warning. Truly a clever move to kill two birds with one stone."

Nanny Fan: "Second Madam truly understands everything." Seeing Meng Die looking dispirited, Nanny Fan comforted, "Old Master won't let this matter slide so easily. Second Madam, there's no need to worry about it."

Meng Die sighed deeply. "Aunt Three will be in great distress for a long time."

Nanny Fan remained silent, sympathizing with the misfortune of being connected to such a family.

Meng Tingyi indeed proved to be a formidable figure. Those who thought he would hold back after receiving a warning were mistaken; Meng Tingyi showed no mercy, handing the case over to Inspector Fu Yanxiu of the Nine Gates for the sake of avoiding suspicion while simultaneously intensifying efforts to maintain law and order. Those involved in illicit activities suffered severe consequences.

Assuming that these people would have shown more restraint after witnessing Meng Tingyi's ruthless tactics, it was unexpected that they remained unrepentant. This time, they targeted Meng Die, implicating her in a scandal.

The censor who impeached Meng Die did not act on mere speculation or groundless rumors; instead, he was thoroughly prepared with concrete evidence.

"Your Majesty, in recent years, several provinces have suffered severe droughts, leaving countless citizens without sufficient food. You have issued a clear edict prohibiting the use of grain for brewing alcohol. Yet, this Lady Meng purchased hundreds of jars of wine within just half a month, displaying an extravagant and disdainful attitude toward imperial decrees. We request Your Majesty to launch a thorough investigation into this matter, demanding an explanation from her for the people of the realm," the censor stated, presenting his memorial to the emperor.

Lin Chu took the memorial and passed it to the emperor. Flipping through its pages, the emperor found detailed records of Meng Die's agents purchasing various wines at specific times and locations over the short span of two weeks. The evidence was indeed substantial.

Without much deliberation, the emperor said, "Let her defend herself in this matter."

Marquis Yongyi stepped forward abruptly, "Your Majesty, this subject knows about this matter."

The emperor blurted out, "You know?"

Not only the emperor but also the ministers in the Diligent Governance Hall were all taken aback. Some had expected Meng Tingyi to defend the Meng family, but none of them had imagined that Marquis Yongyi would intervene. In the past, whenever the Meng family was implicated, he always professed ignorance. Why did he suddenly claim knowledge now?

Marquis Yongyi replied, "If it's regarding this wine matter, this subject does have some understanding. It's because my granddaughter-in-law has been brewing it at home, filling the entire courtyard with smoke and fire. It's hard for this subject not to know about it."

The emperor, intrigued, asked, "Smoke and fire? What happened?"

Marquis Yongyi replied, "Your Majesty, my granddaughter-in-law learned from an ancient text that after being wounded by a sharp object, the wound can be cleansed with high-proof alcohol to reduce the chances of inflammation and infection."

"She took it seriously and attempted to distill white wine in her courtyard. She even named the distilled spirit 'alcohol,' signifying the essence of the wine," he continued.

"Your Majesty, she intended to send this alcohol to the frontlines for my grandson. For this reason, despite the smoke and chaos she caused in the yard, I did not interfere and even assisted her in purchasing wine on several occasions."

"I am aware of the imperial decree prohibiting the use of grains for brewing alcohol, but I was solely preoccupied with my grandson's welfare, overlooking the broader implications. Please, Your Majesty, mete out your punishment." The Marquis bowed in contrition.

The emperor chuckled. "My dear minister, rise. There is no crime in providing for your family or enjoying simple pleasures. It seems Lady Meng truly has a caring heart and sincere intentions towards your second son."

Marquis Yongyi rose to his feet. "Your Majesty speaks wisely. My granddaughter-in-law is candid and deeply devoted. Last year, the sweet potatoes harvested from her estate were refined into thousands upon thousands of pounds of sugar, all of which were sent to the front lines for my grandson's use. It is truly his good fortune to have such an excellent wife."

Speaking of the sugar beet and white sugar, the emperor's delight grew even more pronounced. "A loving wife and a righteous husband, truly a match made in heaven! It is true that this high-proof liquor can be used to cleanse wounds, reducing the risk of festering and pus formation. Moreover, it can swiftly lower the body temperature when applied to the skin of one suffering from a high fever."

The emperor's words effectively dismissed the matter. As an imperial censor, it would be inappropriate to push the issue further since Meng Die had merely purchased wine and not brewed it herself. Upon closer examination, she had not violated any royal decree. Even if the emperor were to pursue the matter, Meng Die would certainly not bear any blame.

Meng Die, residing within the Marquis's residence, found herself laughing out of spite upon learning that she had once again become the target of a malicious report. She had initially refrained from acting, confident that her grandfather could handle those individuals with ease. But it seemed her restraint had been mistaken for weakness; they dared to provoke her, behaving as foolishly as an old man seeking death by hanging—truly courting disaster. If they had a fondness for the delicate beauties of Yangzhou, then she would eagerly assist in spreading their taste far and wide, ensuring that all became intimately aware of their particular predilection.

Nanny Fan was summoned by Tao'er. Glimpsing Meng Die's displeased expression, she reprimanded the others in her heart before speaking up. "Second Lady, there's an update on the matter with the Cui family."

Meng Die: "How did they put it?"

Nanny Fan: "With both witnesses and evidence in place, Elder Master Cui can't escape conviction. Since he holds the title of a scholar, Inspector General Fu argued that it wouldn't be proper for his department to handle the case. The Ministry of Justice also wanted to avoid any appearance of bias, so they passed the case over to the Supreme Court."

Meng Die smiled. The Supreme Court was specifically responsible for investigating crimes committed by government officials and royal family members. A mere scholar like Elder Master Cui was far beneath their jurisdiction. It was clear that Inspector General Fu had ulterior motives in sending the case there. "Is Inspector General Fu forcing the Supreme Court to dig deeper?"

Nanny Fan chuckled. "I'm not sure about that. Once the Supreme Court took on the case, they discovered that an official named Zhao from the Ministry of Justice was involved in the kidnapping of the girls."

Meng Die: "Zhao? The same Zhao I'm thinking of?"

Nanny Fan nodded. "Two 'Zhao' characters can't be written with one stroke. That bachelor is Lady Zhao's own younger brother."

Meng Die curled her lips. "I knew it! How could an upright family allow their daughter to do such things? The corruption truly starts from the roots."

"Second Lady," Mei'er rushed in. "Madam's aide just sent word that Lady Chen has passed away."

Meng Die paused. "When did this happen?"

Mei'er lowered her voice. "She was discovered this early morning. The messenger sent by Miss Eldest said that they received news of trouble at the Zhao residence late last night. Lady Chen fainted upon hearing the news. They managed to revive her, but when she asked everyone to leave while she rested, those attending to her found her lifeless this morning when she didn't rise after the appropriate time had passed."

Meng Die lowered her gaze. It was possible that she had dismissed everyone during her rest time, but if her illness had indeed recurred at night, the servants should have checked on her more frequently. In the end, it was still their negligence, though she had brought this upon herself.

Meng Die waved her hand, indicating that this matter had nothing to do with her and that there was no need for her to send any condolences. Mei'er withdrew.

Meng Die continued, "Is this the only one they've found – this licentiate?"

Fan Mammy replied, "The Ministry of Justice has only identified this one licentiate. Young Master Fan sent a message through Eunuch Yue, saying that Elder Master and Lord Fu are still investigating. This matter is far from over."

Meng Die asked, "Did Brother mention anything about the situation at the Hanlin Academy?"

Nanny Fan paused, "Young Master mentioned that the Hanlin Academy has become a bit too feminine. I didn't understand what he meant at first and thought maybe Eunuch Yue had misunderstood. I asked him again, and he confirmed that it was Young Master's exact words."

Meng Die chuckled, "I understand. Keep searching for information from those involved in the pleasure districts. Find out which families' inner courtyards have those Yangzhou slender horses and how they entered. This time, don't just hire people for information; establish long-term connections with them."

Nanny Fan was greatly alarmed, "To continue dealing with those people... Lady Second's reputation..."

Meng Die dismissed her concerns, "Reputation? What use is such an empty title to me? Besides, I have no reputation to begin with. The whole capital knows I'm a shrew. What more can they say about me?"

Nanny Fan paced anxiously, "I'm not skilled with words and can't argue with Lady Second, but this is entirely different. Lu Wei, you speak to Lady Second. Being associated with the red-light district is not the same as being a shrew."

Lu Wei smiled and said, "Auntie Fan, don't worry about reputation for now. Can you recall a time when Second Aunt didn't handle something reliably? Hasn't she always taken care of everything perfectly?"

Auntie Fan glared at Lu Wei. "I asked you to help me persuade her, but instead, you're persuading me."

Lu Wei chuckled and coaxed Auntie Fan playfully. "Good auntie, I'm not talking nonsense. Aren't you confident in Second Aunt's ability to handle things? Right?"

Auntie Fan poked Lu Wei's forehead with her index finger. "Right, right you are."

Despite being scolded, Lu Wei remained cheerful and smiling.

Nanny Fan's patience was worn thin. "I understand that Second Lady always conducts herself with propriety, but this world of courtesans and pleasure districts is different. You must still consider things carefully."

Meng Die replied, "Nanny, rest assured, I have everything under control. I won't act recklessly. If you're truly worried, go see my elder brother and see what he has to say."

Nanny Fan finally relaxed. "In that case, I'll establish long-term connections with some reliable individuals. Not just in the pleasure district, but also in the gambling houses – they might have useful information as well. Should we also maintain regular contact with people there?"

Meng Die nodded vigorously. "Certainly, that would be even better. Right now, what I most want to know is about the Cui family's involvement in human trafficking. First, hire more people, and then choose the most credible and resourceful sources for long-term contact. For the finances, you can directly retrieve them from Manager Rong without hesitation."

Nanny Fan responded, "I understand."

With the stage set, Meng Die continued, "There's one more thing. In the capital, there are numerous brothels filled with courtesans. Some fortunate ones manage to find patrons who'll ransom them out for a peaceful life while they're still young. But many others spend their youth in those establishments without any hope of a better future."

Nanny Fan replied, "Second Lady is feeling compassion for them? Their plight is indeed pitiful, but after spending years in such places, their characters often become corrupted. Second Lady might not know this, but when a courtesan's age and value decline, they usually have the means to buy their freedom too. However, once they're out, most of them refuse to lead a settled life and instead continue to use their bodies to survive."

Meng Die waved her hand. "Nanny has forgotten, don't we have a courtesan on our estate who bought her own freedom? She's been here for almost two years now. Have you ever heard anything bad about her?"

Nanny Fan paused.

Xing Huang interjected, "I know her. At first, nobody on the estate would talk to her. But as more refugees came seeking shelter, with everyone coming from humble backgrounds, some started to engage with her. They all said she was actually a good person. It turns out that she was sold into the brothel solely because of her heartless father."

All eyes turned to Xing Huang.

Xing Huang spoke, "Her family was never wealthy to begin with. Her mother fell ill when she was around seven or eight. Instead of seeking medical help or medicine, her heartless father made her mother continue working until she eventually passed away. To remarry, he sold both her and her sister to a brothel. She contemplated suicide several times but persevered for the sake of her sister, planning to save enough money to find her."

Sobs echoed in the room. Meihong wiped tears away, cursing, "How utterly heartless. That's his own daughter he's mistreating."

Snow Qing dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. "In the village, so many women sell themselves willingly, all coerced by their own fathers or brothers. Some people are humane, while others simply aren't. That's why there's the saying 'dressed like a gentleman, but behaves like a beast.'"

The atmosphere in the room grew even more somber.

Meng Die: "Nanny Fan, I can understand a courtesan leaving her profession to continue her relationships. After all, even a family with few male members can be bullied, let alone an unmarried woman. People say that trouble often gathers at a widow's door, but do all widows wish to entangle themselves? It's just that without a man to protect them, others dare to take advantage."

Nanny Fan took a deep breath and sighed. "Madam Second, you want to protect them?"

Meng Die smiled. "It's not about protection, exactly. As long as they're willing to work diligently and live peacefully, the gates of my estate will always be open to them."

Nanny Fan pondered this before nodding. "Very well, I'll speak to our informants. They know most of these redeemed courtesans and where they reside. They can pass the message along."

Xing Huang: "Madam Second, your decision is truly like a second chance at life for them."

Meng Die felt a slight flush on her cheeks at Xing Huang's words, as if she couldn't bear the weight of being called their savior. Initially, her intention to protect them had stemmed from her own selfish motives, hoping that a courtesan's extensive network would provide valuable information. But now, she genuinely wished to shield those women from harm.

Lu Wei smiled and inquired, "Are you particularly close with that one from the estate?"

Xing Huang chuckled softly, "She's quite attractive and was quite popular before. To please others, she learned a few dishes to serve with wine. I learned them from her."

Nanny Fan also laughed, "Alright then, I'll make sure to arrange everything properly when I return."

Meng Die continued, "Didn't that woman from the estate mention searching for her sister? You should ask her if there are any clues or distinguishing features about her sister. While passing the message, it might be worth asking our informants; we might actually locate her."

"Hmm."

Meng Die had a hunch that the sudden rise of Yangzhou's slender mares was not merely due to people's growing fondness for luxury and pleasure after a long period of peace. There must have been a manipulator behind the scenes. The inner courtyard seemed insignificant with its 'inner' prefix, but little did one know how valuable the information it held was – something that even a great deal of silver might not be able to buy. Wouldn't it be easy to send a beauty into the inner courtyard to gather news?

Before Meng Die could obtain any information, trouble arose within the residence.

Not long after Jin Anyang's marriage, Mother Yue returned to Wu City and entrusted her to Madam Ning. Madam Ning was already busy, as the noble families' populations were expanding, leading to an increase in weddings, funerals, and other ceremonies. She had to attend to these social obligations. Li Ai's accomplishments on the battlefield had brought him more recognition, attracting many who sought to curry favor with him or collaborate in military affairs. Consequently, Madam Ning's social engagements multiplied, leaving her no time to personally teach Jin Anyang how to manage the household.

Jin Anyang found herself in a similar situation as Wen Shi and Meng Die before her. She didn't learn much from her mother-in-law or aunt-in-law and was hastily thrown into managing the household affairs. The only advantage she had was the guidance of her two elder sisters-in-law.

In the Jingyun Pavilion, Wen sat smiling at Jin. "It's fantastic that you're here to lend a hand. I'll have some extra support, otherwise, I'd be swamped with work until the end of the year."

Meng Die pretended to be offended. "Hey hey hey, don't forget your old friends just because you have new ones. It's not like I haven't been helping you."

Wen didn't spare Meng Die any face. "You? Help? You'd be doing me a favor if you didn't hinder me."

Meng Die threw up her hands. "Oh no, oh no, it seems I've truly fallen out of favor. How tragic for me~"

Wen laughed so hard that her shoulders shook, while Jin openly chuckled. "Second Sister-in-law, are you practicing your opera singing here?"

"Cough, cough!" Meng Die feigned a light cough. "Oh my, you've seen right through me."

Madame Jin laughed so hard she slapped the table. She reveled in the atmosphere of the Marquis's residence and held a fondness for her two sisters-in-law. Before she had married into the family, every female elder had warned her to be cautious around Meng Die, to neither provoke nor get too close to her, as if she were a man-eating tiger. But Madame Jin felt that Second Sister-in-law was quite amiable, clearly of good nature, and sincere in her dealings with others. Just yesterday, Meng Die had sent her a small booklet detailing the duties of the managing wives in the Marquis's household, saving her considerable effort.

The three sisters-in-law shared a few jests before the stewardesses began to filter in one after another to report. To Jinshi's considerable surprise, she and the matriarchs of her family had all guessed incorrectly; it was Wen Shi, not Meng Die, who truly presided over the domestic affairs of the Marquis's residence. The information she had previously gleaned proved to be true, not merely a facade upheld by the Marquis's household.