Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 231
Chapter 231 - Dividing the Account Books and Distributing Power
Quite a few women from the Yun family had arrived.
Although trouble had befallen the Yun family recently, it was merely an issue within the court; the Emperor had not truly touched the foundation of the Yun family, and their immense estate was still intact, requiring people to manage it.
Madam Lin was growing advanced in years, and Madam Liu was currently pregnant, leaving Yun Chu—a young, divorced woman—to step up and manage things at present.
Those women reasoned that Yun Chu had previously been a young lady confined to her inner chambers, and later the mistress of a humble household like the Xie family. Naturally, she would be unable to manage the vast estate of the Yun family on her own, making it entirely reasonable for them to come and offer a helping hand.
These women usually spent their days serving their husbands and educating their children, while occasionally managing a bit of their dowries, leaving them with plenty of spare time. Hearing that Yun Chu needed help here, they naturally came running.
A large group gathered together in the reception hall.
"Aunts and sisters-in-law, please take a seat."
Yun Chu smiled as she gestured for everyone to sit down, while the maidservants served them tea and refreshments one by one.
"I have just taken over the Yun family's business, and I am truly stretched too thin to handle everything, so I can only ask for everyone's help," she opened with a smile. "I know that members of your households are also responsible for the Yun family's business. For example, the nephew of Third Uncle is mainly in charge of the Yun family's lands in Jizhou; Seventh Granduncle's eldest grandson inspects all the Yun family's manors every year; and the Yun family's cloth business is run by..."
She laid out exactly who did what in every household with utmost clarity.
Yun Fourth Aunt, who had looked down on Yun Chu somewhat just a moment ago, couldn't help but straighten her back, her brows furrowing slightly.
"Currently, the Yun family is in event-filled, chaotic times. Business is somewhat harder than before, and it is inevitable that the people under us might stir up trouble. My strength alone is certainly insufficient to oversee everything. I am thinking of distributing these account books down so that each of us will be responsible for a few shops or manors, attending to every detail, and striving to prevent any chaos." Yun Chu had several trunks of account books brought up. "All of this year's accounts are here. Whatever anyone is skilled at, feel free to speak up."
Everyone present was stunned.
They had thought Yun Chu was merely going to assign some specific chores for them to do, never expecting that she would actually distribute the account books!
One must know that the account books were the most vital element of a shop. Holding the account books was equivalent to having a say in that shop.
Distributing the account books was equivalent to distributing power!
Everyone else sought to consolidate power, yet the moment power landed in Yun Chu's hands, she gave it away?
Yun Fourth Aunt couldn't help but sneer inwardly.
She had thought Yun Chu was someone capable, but as it turned out, she was just lazy. Handing over all the accounts to others, how could she still claim to manage the business? How laughable!
The people present temporarily remained silent.
Yun Fourth Aunt looked around the room before speaking up, "Since Chu'er needs our help, I won't decline. I happen to have a silk shop in my dowry, so I know this trade inside out. Why doesn't Chu'er let me keep an eye on the account books for the Yun family's cloth business?"
Yun Chu smiled and nodded: "I heard Fourth Uncle has a tea shop that Fourth Aunt helps manage. How about I leave the Yun family's tea estate to Fourth Aunt's oversight as well?"
Yun Fourth Aunt was overjoyed.
She had still cared about saving face, only daring to ask for the slightly inferior cloth business, never expecting that in the next breath Yun Chu would thrust the tea estate onto her as well.
Cloth and tea—the two added together accounted for sixty percent of the Yun family's profits, making them two massive pieces of fat meat!
It was a pie falling from the sky; only a fool would reject it.
Yun Fourth Aunt patted her chest: "Since Chu'er needs Fourth Aunt, Fourth Aunt will definitely not let your trust down!"
Yun Third Aunt instantly grew dissatisfied, speaking in disbelief, "Fourth Sister-in-law, that small tea shop of yours only earns a profit of a hundred taels of silver a year! The Yun family's tea estate makes over ten thousand in profit a year—can you really manage that properly?"
Yun Fourth Aunt replied with a beaming smile, "Could it be that Third Sister-in-law wants to manage it instead?"
Yun Third Aunt's words were instantly choked back.
Her son, Yun Run, was outstanding, so she was completely unbothered to manage business, spending every day drinking tea and socializing with ladies of her circle to pave the way for her son.
She didn't understand business matters anyway, and had merely come today to join in the excitement.
She was thoroughly speechless toward First Sister-in-law, Madam Lin, for actually handing the business over to Yun Chu, a daughter married out of the family, and for letting Yun Chu act so recklessly.
The Yun family ought to change its head of the household; they should let her son become the clan leader...
Yun Third Aunt stood up: "Chu'er, these businesses are the foundation of our Yun family. If they are ruined in your hands, you will be the sinner of our Yun family. I won't meddle in these matters; I'll take my leave first."
The family assets accumulated generation after generation were concentrated in the hands of the main family to support this vast clan.
If the family assets were gone, the Yun family would no longer be a family.
She set down her teacup and walked out directly.
Yun Chu's eyes narrowed slightly.
That Third Aunt did not meddle in these matters was somewhat beyond her expectations.
Based on the circumstances of each household, she distributed all the account books down. The women who had come all took their account books and left happily.
In Yun Chu's hands, only the general ledger remained.
Having finished with all this, the Imperial Academy finished its classes for the day. Before anyone could be seen, Chu Hongyu's voice resounded from the other side of the neighboring wall.
"Mother, I'm back!"
Yun Chu hurriedly went out, scooping up the little fellow who came rushing over.
The little fellow wrapped his arms around Yun Chu's neck and said, "Luckily I ran fast! Otherwise, if Uncle Crown Prince and Second Uncle came, I wouldn't have been able to sneak through the doorway!"
Yun Chu indeed saw that as soon as the little fellow came over, Chief Steward Cheng had someone screen off the doorway. As it turned out, the Crown Prince and Prince Gongxi had arrived.
The two courtyards were separated by only a single wall. Fearing the little fellow's noisy clamor would be overheard, she held the two children's hands and went to the front courtyard.
The Crown Prince and Prince Gongxi walked into the courtyard side by side, looking left and right.
This courtyard possessed plenty of elegance, but lacked grandiosity; it was truly unfitting as a dwelling for an imperial prince.
The two walked to Chu Yi's courtyard with furrowed brows, the disdain on their faces growing even stronger. The main residence was actually situated in a corner against the wall, utterly lacking symmetry and balance; they wondered which strange genius had designed it.
"Crown Prince Brother, Second Brother." Chu Yi lay on the bed without moving. "The imperial physician instructed that I must not sit up. Forgive my lack of courtesy."
The Crown Prince nodded: "Hearing from the imperial physician that your heart was almost pierced, you ought to lie down and rest properly. It's just that this courtyard of yours is far too cramped and unsuitable for recovering from an illness. You had best bow your head to Imperial Father earlier and move back to the Prince's Manor."
Prince Gongxi persuaded, "Third Brother, causing such a stir all for the sake of a woman is truly not worth it."
Chu Yi's voice was low and raspy: "So long as I feel it is worth it, that is enough."
"I truly didn't know Third Brother was such a romantic fool." The Crown Prince wore an expression of complete incomprehension. "You will understand in the future: women are like clothes. No matter how much you like one now, after a while, you will instantly fall for a new garment."
Chu Yi did not speak.
Prince Gongxi spoke in a slow voice: "If Third Brother insists on this, Imperial Father might arrange for someone to kill your sweetheart. Will Third Brother still refuse to bow his head even then?"
Chu Yi's expression finally shifted.
Prince Gongxi unfurled the paper fan in his hand and let out a light laugh.
He had thought Third Brother possessed no weaknesses whatsoever, making it impossible to find a breakthrough point.
Now, this weakness had presented itself right at his door.
He heard that Consort Yin had come several times without catching sight of that woman; he just didn't know where she was hidden...
If that woman were to fall into his hands, he would certainly use her to turn the Crown Prince and Third Brother into deadly enemies...