Chapter Five: Hidden Schemes

What kind of husband she would marry was something Wei Baofu had never truly considered; she believed that when the time came, fate would arrange everything as it should. Yet, at this moment, as she perused the account books, she discovered a grave problem. Her brows knitted unconsciously; even upon her second review, the discrepancies persisted. The ledger had been crafted with such cunning that any but the most meticulous reader would easily overlook the flaws.

“Princess, do have some snow fungus soup to soothe your throat,” said Nurse Qian, bringing the bowl to her with careful affection. “There may be much to do, but you must not exhaust yourself all at once. Your health is most important.”

Wei Baofu accepted the soup, took a sip, and then turned to Pearl and Linglong. “You two have had dealings with Manager Tang. How much do you know about him?”

The two exchanged glances, sensing trouble. They promptly set aside their account books and rose with solemn expressions.

Wei Baofu gestured for them to sit. “No need for formality; speak freely, there are no outsiders here.”

Obediently, they sat down. Bingxin and Yuhu also paused their tasks and listened intently.

Pearl spoke first, cautiously, “Manager Tang has always overseen the Phoenix Pavilion. He can be somewhat arrogant, but he performs his duties well enough. Since he manages the legitimate business, as long as nothing goes awry at Phoenix Pavilion, we haven’t paid him too much attention.”

Linglong continued, “He’s said to be quite concerned with appearances. Thanks to your jewelry designs, the Phoenix Pavilion has become very popular and profits have soared. Perhaps success has gone to his head. I’ve also heard he has a beautiful daughter who seems to have made a prestigious match.”

Wei Baofu felt more certain after hearing this. She finished her snow fungus soup calmly, set down the empty bowl, and said to Nurse Qian, “Nurse, please send word to Shunzi and have him come see me at the palace tomorrow.”

Nurse Qian nodded in agreement, though she disliked seeing her mistress busied by such matters. Still, she understood the importance of priorities.

“Princess,” Linglong added, “if Manager Tang dared tamper with the books, I fear others may be growing restless as well. I suspect many of the other visible managers are getting out of hand.”

Linglong was a careful young woman who had been entrusted with important responsibilities by Wei Baofu these past years. Her clear mind saw through much, but she had only just returned and hadn’t found the right opportunity to speak—until now, when her mistress uncovered the issue herself.

Pearl quickly added, “They probably think that, since the Princess is out of favor with His Majesty and only holds her title in name, they have little to fear. Those managers working in the shadows, however, are much more loyal; they have all benefited from your kindness and tend to be more reliable.”

Nurse Qian was incensed. “Such audacity! Do they even know their place? It is a great fortune to be employed by the Princess. If they dare harbor betrayal, they are courting death!”

Wei Baofu smiled calmly. “Indeed, they are courting death. They all think Grandmother and I will remain in obscurity forever. If I don’t make an example, future business will only be harder to conduct. It seems a little blood must be shed.”

Nurse Qian’s heart ached for her and said, “Princess, once we catch those seeking death, let the Empress Dowager deal with them. After all, you are still unmarried—if you gain a reputation for ruthless severity, it may not bode well for you.”

Wei Baofu shook her head in disagreement and spoke earnestly, “If I am not mistaken, many covet my visible assets. If I don’t handle this myself and rely on Grandmother, it might intimidate them for a time, but I would be seen as weak and easily bullied.”

Who would willingly take another’s life? The thought of blood on her hands unsettled Wei Baofu, but in this feudal era and under such circumstances, she had no choice.

“In the future, do not speak of having Grandmother shelter me. It is time I stand up and shield her instead. I want those lurking in the shadows to know that I, Princess Kangping, though a woman, am no soft-hearted fool. If they covet what is mine, they must first see if my blade will allow it.”

Though she still looked every bit the delicate young lady, the resolve and courage in Wei Baofu’s eyes gave everyone present a sense of reassurance and security. Who would not wish to serve a mistress with such mettle and capability?

Seeing their silence, Wei Baofu smiled nonchalantly, “You must get used to this side of me. Once we return to the palace, we must be even more cautious, but never leave the impression that we are easy to push around. Whoever offends me will not be easily forgiven.”

Pearl, both pleased and worried, said, “But Princess, word of this will surely reach His Majesty. Might it affect our return to the palace? We have yet to receive any definite summons.”

Wei Baofu shook her head. “We will return to the palace. If His Majesty does not issue an edict, I shall stir public opinion and force his hand. He does not wish to be known for mistreating his own stepmother and tormenting his niece. Moreover, the Royal Clan acknowledges my legitimate lineage. Even if we do not return to the palace, I must at least go back to the Prince Lian’s Manor.”

Now, Prince Lian’s Manor had become the Princess Kangping’s Manor, thanks to the Empress Dowager’s insistence on a decree from the Emperor. The Emperor could confine the Empress Dowager, but he had no grounds to prevent Wei Baofu from returning to her manor.

Still, such drastic measures were best avoided unless absolutely necessary. She could reveal a hint of her strength, but must not let the Emperor see her as too much of a threat.

Nurse Qian, aware of the gravity of the situation, said no more. Wei Baofu continued reviewing the account books. “Be thorough in your inspection—some love to play clever tricks, and there is much that is ambiguous. This time, we will deal with them all at once.”

The four maids responded in unison, and Nurse Qian, not wishing to waste time, quickly bowed and withdrew to deliver the message to Yu Shun.

Yu Shun was not only Wei Baofu’s most trusted confidant but also Nurse Qian’s foster son. When he first entered the palace as a eunuch, he was young and his wounds became infected, resulting in a high fever that nearly claimed his life. Fortunately, Nurse Qian secretly procured an imperial physician to save him.

From then on, he acknowledged Nurse Qian as his foster mother. When they were banished to the palace, he followed without hesitation, having endured hardship alongside them.

Wei Baofu often found it inconvenient to act directly, so she sent Yu Shun to handle external affairs. Clever and quick to learn, he had been instrumental in her business success over the years.

As a eunuch, he once thought his fate was to die old and forgotten in the palace. This opportunity changed everything; he was deeply grateful. With no attachments, neither greedy for wealth nor power, he cherished only the chance to stand in the world like an ordinary man—thus, he served Wei Baofu with unwavering loyalty.