Chapter 278

Chapter 278 – The Missing Account Books

Chapter 278 The Missing Account Books

As they spoke, Yu Dong and Mr. Wang had already moved over a few thick account books. These account books were hidden at the bottom of a huge pile of documents because Mr. Wang was afraid that people would see them. Now, he fetched them out.

Qu Moying glanced over a few account books that were not in the mansion. Then, she put them down and began to ponder.

Seeing that Qu Moying was silent and seemed to be deep in thought, Mr. Wang hurriedly asked, “Miss, what do you think is wrong?”

“Is the revenue of the shop this good these years?” Qu Moying looked at the annual revenue figures and asked in surprise. The income of Yue’s Clothing Pavilion was so high that it was almost comparable to Yue’s Gold Pavilion.

However, Yue’s Gold Pavilion was a gold shop. It appeared to be extraordinary, so its business was naturally better.

“Yes, it has been good these past few years. Second Madam purchased a batch of goods from somewhere and sold them in the shop. Some of them seem to be tributes to the royal family.”

Aunt Yang said, frowning.

How could tributes to the royal family be casually sold? Trading tributes without permission was a crime. Qu Moying flipped through the account books carefully again and found that the goods came from the South. She frowned and her eyes darkened. “Aunt Yang, are you sure there are some tributes to the royal family sold in the shop?”

“Yes, I once checked some goods carefully. Although they were said to be brought over from the South, they were not from the Yue Family in the South. I felt strange, so I specially asked some people from the South who were in charge of purchasing. They all said that there was no such a source of goods.”

Aunt Yang said with a serious face. This matter was hidden in her heart, which made her very uneasy. Now that Qu Moying asked, she directly said it out. Although she had only met Qu Moying for a short time, she had already admired Qu Moying, so she said what had been hidden in her heart.

Since the Yue Family did not send over the goods from the South, Yu must have obtained the goods from her own channels. However, Yu was not that capable to get goods like tributes to the royal family.

Qu Zhizhen was just a Vice Minister. His status was much lower than those high-ranking officials in the capital. Qu Mansion was not a noble family in the capital. Qu Mansion started to exist in the capital after Qu Zhizhen passed the imperial exam. Before that, Qu Family was just a normal wealthy family. It was impossible for Qu Mansion to know someone who had access to tributes.

Aunt Yang said that some of the materials were tributes. With her knowledge, she would not be wrong. Moreover, she had also checked the goods. They were not from the South, but they were recorded in the account books as goods from the South. Qu Moying thought about the situation and felt full of doubts.

Were the account books missing because of the tributes?

Was it Yu’s people’s doing?

“Are such tributes still on sale?” Qu Moying asked.

“No. They were not on sale since last year. There were only some ordinary goods.” Aunt Yang said. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. “Miss, there is still a batch of embroidery tents that has not been completely sold. They were not sold for some unknown reason, and then, they were piled up in the warehouse. But there aren’t many left.”

“Can they still be found?” Qu Moying asked.

“I think so. I’ll find them later.” Aunt Yang said. She had seen those goods before, and then, other goods piled up on them. Although it had been more than a year, they should still be there. However, a lot of things were piled there. It would not be easy to find them in a short time.

“Okay. You look for them later and let me know when you find them. As for this shop’s working capital, grandmother has given me some money. You can use it first, and if the shop needs anything, just purchase it. If you need hands, hire some people. Just get everything back on track first.” Qu Moying glanced at Yu Dong. Yu Dong took out a few pieces of check from his sleeve and pushed them over. They were all large checks. Old Lady Qu specially asked Granny Wu to send them over.

The shop indeed needed a large sum of money to start anew. The money in Yu Qian’s hands had long been used up.

“Miss, don’t worry. I will deal with everything as soon as possible.” Aunt Yang promised with red eyes.

Although Qu Moying had never been in charge of any shop before, she was clear about the matter of the shop. Originally, Aunt Yang was worried about how to ask for restart funds.

Although the shop had a lot of stock, they had to purchase some new goods.

Qu Moying pointed at Yu Dong and said, “Aunt Yang, if there is anything in the future, you can come directly to our mansion to find Yu Dong. She will tell me.”

Yu Dong smiled and bowed to Aunt Yang.

Knowing that Yu Dong was Qu Moying’s senior maid, Aunt Yang did not dare to neglect her. She hurriedly called her “Miss Yu Dong” and bowed to her.

While they were talking, Granny Miao, who had just gone outside, came in and said with a gloomy face, “Miss, Young Master Yongning is here. He wants to see you!”

Granny Miao did not have a good impression of Young Master Yongning because he wanted to earn a good reputation by using Qu Moying and he secretly hooked up with Yu’s niece.

He did not have the intention of marrying Qu Moying at that time. When Qu Moying first met him in the mansion, he was indifferent to her. He ignored Qu Moying but flirted with other women. Granny Miao really did not like him.

She had thought that he would not have any contact with Qu Moying anymore, but she didn’t expect him to come here. He didn’t seem to come here out of nothing but with a purpose.

Although she was unwilling to receive him, she had to report to Qu Moying because she was just a servant.

Qu Moying did not know why Xu Lipeng came to her. She frowned and said faintly, “Invite Young Master Xu over.”

Granny Miao had no choice but to go out and invite Xu Lipeng in.

Aunt Yang and Mr. Wang also left to clean up the shop.

Xu Lipeng slowly walked into the yard. His handsome face looked a little gloomy. He only brought a young servant with him. He followed Granny Miao into the shopkeeper’s room.

Seeing Qu Moying sitting in the room, he unconsciously frowned.

Qu Moying was the same as what he had remembered. Her face was covered with a long eye veil. Although she looked good, people would still think that she had an eye disease.

She seemed to be talking to the maid next to her. Unlike the first time they met, she was now gentle and elegant. Even if she had an eye disease, it did not seem to be a big deal. She was not as panicky and gloomy as when they first met. He even felt that she was like a pure jade.

Even though he couldn’t see her face clearly, he was sure that her face under the eye veil must be gorgeous. His thought had completely changed.

But he was facing the same person.

In the past, he had never thought highly of Qu Moying and he had thought that marrying Qu Moying was only for show. Yu Qingmeng was different from Qu Moying. Yu Qingmeng was the woman he appreciated. But now, Yu Qingmeng could not compare with Qu Moying at all.

If he hadn’t cancelled the engagement at that time, would he feel that marrying Qu Moying was actually not bad? Although Yu Qingmeng didn’t have an eye disease, she was still far inferior to Qu Moying. Whether it was in terms of bearing, posture, or words, all of them showed that Qu Moying had received a better education.

She was said to be neither beautiful nor talented, but it was not true.

“If I had known this earlier, should I go to find it out myself?” Xu Lipeng pursed his lips tightly, and his eyes darkened. His anger inexplicably subsided a little.

“Greetings, Young Master Xu.” Seeing that Xu Lipeng had come, Qu Moying stood up and bowed sideways.

“It’s very polite of you, Fourth Lady Qu.” Xu Lipeng said, and they both sat down.

Qu Moying did not bother to talk to him. After sitting down, she went straight to the point. “Young Master Xu, is there anything you want to talk to me about?”

“I do have something to ask you.” Staring at her, Xu Lipeng felt complicated. She was graceful and calm in front of him. Was she his ex-fiancee whom he had never paid attention to?

“What is it? Please tell me.” Qu Moying asked briefly. She raised her eyes and looked at Xu Lipeng. She didn’t expect him to come.

What on earth made Xu Lipeng specially come to her? Qu Moying was very curious, but she was sure that Xu Lipeng did not bring any good news.

After carefully sizing up Qu Moying, Xu Lipeng suddenly felt angry and sneered. “Fourth Lady Qu, you seem to have been plotting for a long time!”

Qu Moying put down the account book in her hand seriously and looked at Xu Lipeng coldly. “Young Master Xu, what do you mean?”

Xu Lipeng sneered and stared at Qu Moying angrily, “You were dissatisfied with Marquis Yongning’s Mansion, but you took a fancy to Earl Fengyang’s Mansion. How interesting! You seem to be delicate and obedient, but you are actually such a person.”

“Young Master Xu, your words are very strange. Do Marquis Yongning’s Mansion and Earl Fengyang’s Mansion have anything to do with me?” Qu Moying smiled slightly with a bit of contempt. Xu Lipeng really came with bad intentions.

“Do you mean they have nothing to do with you? What about Yan Yu?”

Xu Lipeng suppressed the anger in his heart and asked.

“Who is that?” Qu Moying asked indifferently. Her finger gently tapped on the account book and her eyes fell on Xu Lipeng’s face. “Young Master Xu, I don’t care what kind of rumors you have heard or who you believe, but please know things clearly before talking with me. Moreover, there is one thing that you need to know. I have nothing to do with you!”

She thought that they had nothing to do with each other since they had already broken off the engagement.

Although Qu Moying’s words were gentle, they carried her unique alienation. It seemed that Qu Moying had already been like this when the two of them started talking.

However, her words were not ceremonious at all, not giving Xu Lipeng any face.

Xu Lipeng did not expect that Qu Moying’s reply would be so harsh. He originally felt very angry, but her words were like a basin of cold water, making him cold all over, and they also made him realize that he was indeed not qualified to question her, so he fell silent for a moment.

He came here on impulse, an impulse which he had never had before.

Originally, he didn’t have to come…