Chapter 43: Wanting to Smash Her Dog Head

"This account has too many issues!" Nurse Qin said.

Xiaoyao was comforting Baby Ruo Xi and wasn't surprised by Nurse Qin's words at all.

She wasn't stupid; she had seen the actions within the General's Mansion.

However, material wealth was external, and in those years, she hadn't paid much attention.

Now, knowing the hardships of the border troops and the difficulties her imperial brother faced as emperor, not to mention the audacity of these parasites in the General's Mansion, she decided to start auditing the accounts and making donations.

"How much is missing?" Xiaoyao asked.

If it wasn't much, she would merely warn them and have them make up for it.

But if it was a significant amount...

"Twelve sets of gold headpieces, phoenix hairpins, jade earrings, and gold hairpins are missing, along with 380,000 silver taels, and..."

Nurse Qin reported the losses, which amounted to about one-third of the dowry.

"Ah, there must be quite a bit in the household of Minister Xu. I wonder if Mother can handle Minister Xu!" Baby Ruo Xi twisted her little hands, thinking. She smacked her lips and thought again, "That scumbag father of mine must have spent a lot of money on that white lotus. They should give it back!"

Beside her, Dong Ju was in shock. Clenching her fists, she said, "Princess, let me bring that Xu woman here so you can interrogate her properly. Previously, I saw her taking a bunch of hairpins out, but when I told you, you said a couple of hairpins were no big deal, and managing such a large General's Mansion must be tiring for her. Now, I think..."

I want to smash her dog head!

Nurse Qin sighed.

In the early days of the dynasty, the country was prosperous, but later, the princes' power struggles weakened the nation, leading to an empty treasury and suffering people within just a few years.

The Princess Royal's dowry had been accumulated since birth by the Empress Dowager. The princess had always been clever and received many rewards, which the Empress Dowager saved for her. Thus, over the years, her dowry became the most lavish in history.

Who knew that now, one-third of it had been squandered by the General's Mansion.

"It's time to act, Mother. Be a strong woman!" Baby Ruo Xi kicked her legs vigorously and waved her tiny fists.

Encouraged, Xiaoyao said coldly, "Bring Hu and Xu Ruzhen here!"

The next day, just as the morning dew had not yet dried under the sun, Hu was summoned to Mozhu Garden.

When Xu Ruzhen arrived, her face still bruised, she was kicked by Nurse Qin as soon as she entered Mozhu Garden.

"Kneel down!"

Xu Ruzhen was about to lash out but, seeing the cold expression on Xiaoyao's face and the menacing Nurse Qin, she shrank back and whispered, "What are you doing? Princess, what did Ruzhen do wrong?"

"Smack!" Xiaoyao threw the ledger at Xu Ruzhen's face, causing her to cry out in pain.

"What, what are you doing? Ouch, Xiao... Princess, what are you doing?" Xu Ruzhen didn't dare to be too defiant.

"Good job!" Baby Ruo Xi couldn't help but praise her mother.

As a great demon who loved gossip, she was a bit sleepy but refused to sleep, wanting to see how her mother would deal with Xu Ruzhen.

"Twelve sets of headpieces and hairpins were taken and made into jewelry. Who did you give them to? Confess everything," Xiaoyao said.

"Huh? I, I don't know, Princess. You're accusing me wrongly. I only manage the storeroom; I really don't know what's inside!" Xu Ruzhen's face turned pale, and she turned to Hu, saying, "Mother, say something! Mother, I didn't take anything!"

"The mother-in-law says she doesn't know!" Xiaoyao said coldly.

"Mother, how could you not know? My keys are..." Xu Ruzhen looked at Hu and immediately said.

"Shut up, traitorous thing! I thought the princess was busy and didn't want her to worry, so I let you manage the storeroom. Did you steal from it?" Hu shouted at Xu Ruzhen.

"Tsk, good job, Mother. This infighting is so entertaining!" Baby Ruo Xi perked up.

Xiaoyao walked to Dong Ju's side, pulling down the swaddling cloth to show Baby Ruo Xi the scene.

Look, daughter, how interesting this is! Your mother is so capable!

"Princess, Little County Princess might catch a chill!" Dong Ju hesitated to open the swaddling too much.

"Don't worry, the autumn breeze is refreshing. Ruo Xi is strong!" Xiaoyao said.

"Yes!" Dong Ju listened to the princess and held the baby, watching the scene unfold.

"I didn't steal anything, Princess. Please believe me, truly, believe me!" Xu Ruzhen knelt and crawled to Xiaoyao.

Xiaoyao looked down at the woman, lifted her foot, and kicked her hard.

Xiaoyao had trained in martial arts and even went to the border with her brother in her youth. Her archery skills were comparable to those of military officers.

But over the years, she had neglected herself for a scumbag man.

Xu Ruzhen rolled several times before stopping against the wall, angry and terrified but too afraid to speak.

This was the princess, now back in the favor of the emperor and empress dowager.

Not to mention, the emperor's personal guard Baiyu was standing nearby, arms crossed.

Xu Ruzhen knew Baiyu well. The emperor had several personal guards, all exceptionally skilled and beautiful, especially Baiyu, who was known for his cold demeanor and special privileges granted by the emperor.

"Princess, it's a misunderstanding. It was my mother-in-law who took everything, really!" Xu Ruzhen glanced at Baiyu, noticing his hand twitching on his sword hilt, and quickly added, "My mother-in-law has more secrets from you!"

"Oh?" Xiaoyao looked at Xu Ruzhen.

"Xu Ruzhen, shut up!" Hu shouted upon hearing Xu Ruzhen's words.

Xu Ruzhen was startled by Hu's outburst and trembled all over. Seeing the fierce look in Hu's eyes, she became frightened and whispered, "Mother-in-law, you speak for yourself. Admit... that you kept things from the princess!"

"Hmph, quite interesting. It seems Hu also has something Xu Ruzhen can hold over her!" Ruo Xi huffed softly. "Let's see how they manage to make up the missing third of the dowry!"

Xiaoyao looked down at the two people on the steps with cold, clear eyes.

In her heart, she was calculating that even if they did make up the shortfall, she would not let these people off.