Quick Wear: The first person to love the host

Chapter 412 The Substitute Bride Becomes a Reality (13)

Qi Jinyu took several account books and arranged for someone to secretly go outside the mansion to find someone who knew how to check the accounts.

He sent a complete stranger and even had someone make a copy of the ledger. The accountant glanced at it but didn't notice anything wrong.

It was only after the soldier reminded him to take a closer look that the accountant noticed something amiss.

"Wow, that's amazing! You're a genius!"

When the soldier returned, he repeated what the accountant had said. Qi Jinyu waved the soldier away and threw the account book on the table in a fit of anger.

A layer of dust was splashed up in the sunlight.

If even the butler in this world lies to him, then what in this world is real?

Qi Jinyu closed his eyes, still holding back his anger. He couldn't understand why the butler had done this. He wanted to call the butler over and ask him the truth, but he was afraid of alerting the culprit.

He stayed in his study the whole time.

A voice suddenly came from the doorway, "Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine invites you to dine with her at noon."

Qi Jinyu tucked the account book into her bosom, got up, opened the door, and went out.

Upon arriving at the main courtyard, Su Ziyu immediately noticed that Qi Jinyu seemed unhappy. Compared to her usual energetic self, she looked like a dog with droopy ears.

He gestured for Qi Jinyu to sit down, then dismissed the maids and servants serving in the room. "Your Highness, have the account books been finalized?"

Qi Jinyu slowly nodded and took out the ledger, his knuckles turning white as he clenched it, the edges of the ledger crumpled in his palm.

“Uncle Wang…” His voice was low and hoarse, each word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, “He watched me grow up, and I have never doubted him.”

Su Ziyu gently pried open his taut fingers one by one, took the distorted account book from his grasp, and placed it aside.

“That’s precisely why he’s more easily deceived.” Su Ziyu’s voice was calm, carrying a strange soothing power. “Your Highness, think about it carefully. If someone were to take advantage of the Prince’s affection for his son and his loyalty to Your Highness to frame him, wouldn’t that be even more difficult to guard against?”

Qi Jinyu suddenly looked up, his eyes churning with the pain of betrayal and an unventable rage. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the fine blood vessels in his eyes.

Su Ziyu said no more, but simply pushed a bowl of warm soup in front of him.

Then, he took out another plain handkerchief from his sleeve, inside which was wrapped a small piece of burnt dark brown incense stick and a thin piece of paper.

"These are the embers of 'Remnant Dream Incense' found in a hidden compartment in Wang Shuo's room."

He pointed to the broken piece of remains with his fingertip, his tone grave, “Doctor Jiang confirmed that this incense, when used alone, only has a calming effect. However, if it is mixed with the aroma of the ‘Da Hong Pao’ tea that His Highness drinks daily, the two will become a highly toxic trigger for headaches over time.”

His fingertip moved to the paper. "This is the receipt for the 'donation for education' money that the headmaster of Wanfang Academy privately collected. The amount is so large that it is far beyond what a steward's son could afford. And the account that was deposited into the bank... belongs to the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, who is the maternal uncle of the Second Prince."

Each word is like a cold dagger, dissecting the tender facade to reveal the sinister calculations hidden within.

Qi Jinyu's chest heaved violently a few times, and then the turbulent emotions gradually subsided, turning into an extreme coldness.

"What a traitor Wang Shuo is, and what a cunning second brother he is."

He chuckled softly, but there was no warmth in his laughter. "He gave me such a 'gift,' so naturally I have to think carefully about how... I can repay him in kind."

"As for this mansion, it's time for a thorough cleaning." Qi Jinyu's voice was soft, but carried an undeniable determination. "Starting today."

Outside the window, dark clouds had gathered without my noticing.

As darkness fell, a storm was brewing.

Soon, the Crown Prince's residence dismissed a bunch of servants on the grounds of inadequate service. As for Wang Shuo, considering the years of hard work of Steward Wang Bo, Qi Jinyu gave Steward Wang Bo the right to know.

Wang Bo initially didn't believe it, but the evidence was right in front of him, leaving him no choice but to believe it.

The thought of his son secretly colluding with the Second Prince, who was at odds with His Highness, made him unable to face his master, the First Prince, and he felt even more ashamed of the Empress's dying entrustment of him.

Steward Wang Bo respectfully kowtowed three times to Qi Jinyu, indicating that he would personally clean up the mess and not dirty His Highness's hands.

Not long after returning home, the steward, Uncle Wang, sent someone to bring his grandson back from the academy, claiming he missed him. Then, the three generations of the family, along with their daughter-in-law, all died at the dinner table.

On his deathbed, Wang Shuo, coughing up blood, still refused to give up, asking, "Father, why?"

Uncle Wang smiled bitterly, "Your father has been loyal for half his life, and you, this unfilial son, have ruined my reputation. And you actually ask me why? Fine, let's settle this in the afterlife!"

The next morning, the maids and servants went in to attend to the four people and found that they had already died. They immediately reported this to Qi Jinyu.

Qi Jinyu had actually been mentally prepared when the steward, Uncle Wang, kowtowed to express his gratitude, but when he heard the news of Uncle Wang's family's death, he still couldn't help but feel a little sad.

After a long silence, he spoke in a deep voice, "Give him a proper burial!"

The subordinates immediately responded and went to do it.

Li Mang was unaware of the reason behind it all. He even came to Qi Jinyu to find out about the mysterious deaths of the steward's family. When Qi Jinyu remained silent, he belatedly realized something was wrong and stopped bringing it up.

The new Prince's steward was arranged by Su Ziyu. Qi Jinyu had already planned to settle in the border region for a long time and not return to the capital, so she did not interfere.

There is less than a month left before the border war breaks out.

However, even faster than the border wars came the news of the Second Prince's return from disaster relief in the east.

Qi Jinyu looked down at the secret letter in her hand, her brows furrowing slightly.

Su Miaomiao was also in the Second Prince's returning procession.

Qi Jinyu immediately sensed something was wrong. He had specifically sent someone to help Su Miaomiao escape her arranged marriage, so how could she have run into that troublesome guy, his second brother?!

At almost the same time, Su Ziyu received the news at the main courtyard.

"Master, there's news!!"

Liu Ye dismissed the others in the room and quietly went over to tell them about finding Su Miaomiao.

Su Ziyu was initially very happy, but after hearing Liu Ye's words, he frowned immediately. It was true that good things always come true, just like bad things. He had been worried when he heard that his sister had gone to the east.

Unexpectedly, the two of them actually ran into each other.

Of course, he didn't believe it was a coincidence; it must have been the work of that second prince.

"Have the people you sent out managed to get in touch with your sister?"

Liu Ye nodded, her expression somewhat grave. "Miss has hinted that the Second Prince wants to see Master, otherwise he will use Miss to expose Master's identity."

"Ha, threatening me?!" Su Ziyu said with displeasure.

He could tell even with his toes that the Second Prince was up to no good; he must be after the enormous wealth of the Shen family behind him.

If you want to use this method to get him on the wrong side of the law, you have to see if he's willing to compromise.

It seems it's time to confront Qi Jinyu.