Chapter 135: Deal Reached

d said, "Good, I'll take them all."Having said that, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a 500-liang silver ingot, two 100-liang ones. Finding it still wasn't enough, he took out another 78 lian..."My dear, you're finally here! Come in quickly,"

Li Cheng saw Meng Jin Yao, as if seeing a life-saving straw, a ray of light in the darkness. His eyes lit up, and he hurriedly stepped aside to let Meng Jin Yao and her three servants enter.

Meng Jinyao nodded slightly and stepped into the elegant room.

Then came the frigid winter and crisp autumn.

Grandma Qiao saw Meng Jin Yao and her servants enter, smiled sheepishly, and poured tea for Meng Jin Yao: "Miss, please have some tea."

Before Meng Jin Yao was married, Qiao Mama was the mistress's confidante. She didn't need to pay attention to Meng Jin Yao, a neglected girl like her. Now she had something to ask of her, this feeling was both awkward and subtle.

Meng Jin Yao glanced at Qiao Mama, then got straight to the point: "Six thousand taels isn't a small sum. I need to see the value before I can help Li Guan Shi. Qiao Mama, why don't you tell me first what you have that's worth six thousand taels"

Li Cheng, upon hearing this, immediately became anxious and hurriedly asked, "Young Miss, didn't you say yesterday that you wanted my mother to do something for you"

Meng Jinyao's voice was calm and measured as she said, "After thinking about it last night, I realized this matter may not necessarily require Qiao Mama to handle. It would just be more convenient if she did. Besides, Qiao Mama has a deep bond with Mrs. Sun, both as master and servant, and is devoted to her. She might even turn against me, causing me more trouble than it's worth, and costing me six thousand taels."

Grandma Qiao and Li Cheng were stunned. They didn't expect a countess to be so cautious about six thousand taels of silver.

However, a county magistrate's monthly salary was only thirty taels of silver. Six thousand taels was indeed a huge sum. This young lady wasn't favored, and before her marriage, her monthly allowance was only one tael of silver. People who were used to poverty were naturally careful with money. But because of this caution, she wouldn't consider using them, mother and son

Li Cheng thought of how his wounds from yesterday were still aching, and he felt even more nervous. He immediately replied to Qiao's grandmother: "Young mistress, my mother would never do such a thing."

Grandma Qiao originally thought that Meng Jinyu would be more agreeable if she had something to ask her. Unexpectedly, this matter was not indispensable to her. She was also anxious and hurriedly said: "Miss, as long as you can save Cheng'er, the maidservant will listen to your orders at any time."

Meng Jin Yao seemed to have taken an interest, staring straight at Qiao Mama and asking, "Even if it's something I ask you to do that is detrimental to the Sun family, would you still be willing"

Grandma's eyes flickered with a hint of hesitation, she glanced at her son beside her, then her gaze hardened. Her voice, however, still held a slight tremor: "I don't know what the eldest lady wants me to do"

Meng Jin Yao curled her lips: "It's not like murder and arson. For Qiao Grandma, it wouldn't be difficult to accomplish this."

Hearing this, Qiao Mama secretly let out a sigh of relief. It wasn't murder or arson, so she could manage. She quickly agreed: "Don't worry, Miss, I will do my best to help you."

Meng Jin Yao remained dubious, asking, "Grandma Qiao, I'll ask you again. Between your son and Sun Shi, are you truly choosing your son I recall how you once risked your life to save Sun Shi, getting injured by a tree trunk and nearly dying."

Her indifference and distrust made Grandma Qiao and her son feel deeply tormented. Grandma Qiao still had a sliver of hesitation, but now her thoughts were completely firm. People are selfish; how can a master be more important than their own flesh and blood The kindness from the past has actually been repaid these years.

Grandmother Qiao's eyes grew even firmer. She knelt down before him: "Miss, when I risked my life to save Madam, I had already repaid my debt. All I ask is that Miss save Cheng'er. Even if it means serving you for the rest of my life, I am willing."

Seeing her sincerity, Meng Jinyao remained silent for a long time before nodding in agreement: "Since both of you are sincere, I'll leave this matter to you. I'm too lazy to find someone else. As for spending the rest of your lives like oxen and horses, that's unnecessary. Just do this one thing for me."

Hearing this, Li Cheng also knelt down and, together with Qiao Mama, thanked her: "Thank you, young lady."

Meng Jinyao gave Qingqiu a meaningful look.

As autumn deepened, Qing Qiu immediately took out an envelope from her sleeve. She opened it to reveal two pieces of paper inscribed with words. Then she took a round box from Ning Dong's hand and opened it. Inside was a box of crimson ink seals.

Meng Jinyao said again, “Grandma Qiao, Manager Li, please sign your names on the top.”

As soon as these words left his mouth, Grandma Qiao and Li Cheng were stunned. They both stood up and looked at the two letters on top, somewhat puzzled.

Grandma Qiao looked confused and asked, "Big girl, what is this"

Meng Jin Yao smiled faintly and said slowly, "I gave you six thousand taels of silver. If you turn your head and deny it, what will you do So it's better to leave some evidence for things like this. Sun is a petty person. If she knows that you have betrayed her once, even if you return to her again, when your use value is exhausted, there will be no good ending."

Grandma Qiao and Li Cheng were both taken aback. They hadn't expected her to be so guarded against them, mother and son, and had this move prepared.

However, it was not their turn to negotiate at this time. Besides Meng Jin Yao, no one could help them. Even the madam couldn't come up with that much money; her dowry had already been pawned. The Earl's Mansion was in such a dire situation, and with Li Cheng's embezzlement of the estate funds, it was even more impossible for them to help.

Li Cheng, who had been promoted to the position of manager by the Sun family, naturally knew how to read. After a quick glance at the contents on the two letters, his pupils suddenly constricted, and he looked at Meng Jin Yao with shock and astonishment.

These two letters, one is a confession of treason for him to embezzle 1,000 taels from the ancestral estate and use it for his own gain, the other is an IOU for 5,000 taels.

Li Cheng was puzzled: "Miss, I admit to the confession, but what about this promissory note Didn't you say that my mother doing a favor for you would be worth six thousand taels of silver"

Meng Jinyao replied softly, "Li Guan, don't be nervous. I'm just being prepared. As long as you complete what I asked, this promissory note will naturally be torn up, and I won't ask for five thousand taels from you. You are Sun's confidants, and suddenly pledging allegiance to me, I really don't feel safe. Since you want to sincerely pledge allegiance to me, you should also let me see your sincerity, what do you think, Li Guan"

She felt that Grandma Qiao and her son shouldn't dare to betray her, but what if

So she calculated all the possible consequences and made them, mother and son, leave something behind as leverage, so they wouldn't dare to defy her secretly.

When she was little, she knew it was Sun who killed Chengyu, but she had no evidence and suffered the consequences of having no proof. The perpetrator got away with it for so many years. Now, she understands that one must always leave evidence in everything they do.

Grandma Qiao and Li Guan shi looked at each other.

Meng Jingyao didn't pressure them, and said indifferently, "If you're unwilling, I won't force you. Rest assured, I won't tell the Sun family about this, including Li steward's embezzlement of the estate funds. Not a word will be revealed."

As soon as her voice fell, Li Cheng's firm voice rang out: "Miss, I am willing to serve you with all my heart."r."Meng Jin Yao replied: "Okay, I haven't been out in a while either."The capital city is a political center, where every inch of land is valuable. Streets are bustling with prosperity, and shops are...