Chapter 20: The Ledger of Yin and Yang, Mother’s Dilemma

On the other side, Cui Jin was in the accounting room examining the ledgers. With years of business experience, she casually flipped through a few pages and quickly confirmed that there were indeed discrepancies in the household accounts.

She furrowed her brow slightly and said in a low voice, "I haven’t checked the accounts for some time; how could there be so many errors?"

The accountant quickly replied, "Madam, I only noticed this recently when reconciling the books and hurried to inform you."

"Don't be nervous. I know this isn't your fault—someone is secretly tampering with the accounts," Cui Jin said, her frown deepening.

"At this moment, keep this quiet. I have my own plans."

There was a traitor within the general’s household, stealing from within! She was determined to root out the culprit.

Cui Jin continued poring over the ledgers.

“Mother, something’s wrong! There’s been an incident!”

Suddenly, Song Yan’er’s anxious voice came from outside the accounting room.

Cui Jin put down the ledger and saw Song Yan’er hurriedly stepping inside, her pregnant belly prominent.

Seeing her flustered state, Cui Jin set the ledger aside and steadied her.

“Child, walk slowly... you’re still carrying a baby; be careful not to trip or hurt yourself.”

Once calm, Cui Jin asked, “What’s the matter that has you so worried?”

Catching her breath, Song Yan’er said urgently, “Mother, a maid from Yuan’er’s courtyard came to tell me that Yuan’er and Mingzhu have started quarrelling. We need to go quickly.”

“What?” Cui Jin’s voice rose. “How could Yuan’er suddenly argue with Mingzhu? They have such a close bond!”

Suddenly, Cui Jin recalled something. “Wait, just now when I passed by the front yard, I saw Cui Mingzhu headed toward Yuan’er’s courtyard looking upset... something must have happened!”

Song Yan’er shook her head. “I don’t know the full details yet... Mother, we should go see for ourselves and stop them from fighting. Yuan’er recently suffered the loss of her husband and is physically weak. If Mingzhu hurts her, it will be terrible!”

“Yes, yes, let’s hurry...”

Cui Jin immediately reacted, pulling Song Yan’er along as they hurried outside.

Meanwhile, through a closed door, Shen Ningyuan was confronting Cui Mingzhu.

Seeing the astonished look in Cui Mingzhu’s eyes, Shen Ningyuan raised an eyebrow and smiled coldly, “Just because I’m your cousin, you think you can lecture me as you please?”

Cui Mingzhu wanted to retort, but Shen Ningyuan gave her no chance.

As she opened her mouth, Shen Ningyuan cut her off: “But cousin, the Shen family raised you not to have you teach me how to behave.”

Those words struck Cui Mingzhu like a slap, exposing her hidden shame.

Her heart pounded, eyes bloodshot, lips trembling.

She stared at Shen Ningyuan, unable to find a rebuttal.

“Cousin, do you understand what I mean? Recognizing your place will be better for everyone.”

Shen Ningyuan looked at Cui Mingzhu calmly and spoke gently.

Then she glanced at Cui Mingzhu’s swollen, red fingers and said lightly, “That hand is ruined, but it’s alright. The household has excellent medicine to ease the pain...”

With that, Shen Ningyuan turned her back on Cui Mingzhu’s humiliation and returned to her room.

She would not let Cui Mingzhu off, but now was not the time.

In her past life, the Shen family’s vast foundation was uprooted within three short years.

Ji Yunchuan and Cui Mingzhu alone could not have achieved that.

There must be others behind the scenes.

Her next step was to use these two to expose the real mastermind.

Cui Mingzhu watched Shen Ningyuan’s retreating figure, her anger reaching a boiling point.

She clenched her fists tightly, suppressing the impulse to tear Shen Ningyuan apart.

The round-faced maid saw the fierce look on Cui Mingzhu’s face and was startled.

At that moment, hurried footsteps sounded outside the courtyard.

“What’s going on? Why are Mingzhu and Yuan’er arguing?”

It was Cui Jin’s voice, clearly anxious.

Two maids ahead quickened their pace to open the courtyard gate.

Song Yan’er and Cui Jin stepped inside.

Hearing their mother and sister-in-law enter, Shen Ningyuan stopped and turned to leave.

After entering, Song Yan’er tried to reassure Cui Jin.

“Mother, don’t worry. Yuan’er and Mingzhu know their limits; they wouldn’t—”

Before she could finish, Song Yan’er froze.

Because when Cui Mingzhu turned around, Song Yan’er saw her hand, flesh mangled and bloody.

The shocking red made Song Yan’er step back two paces, incredulous. “Cousin, your hand... who did this to you?”

Cui Mingzhu’s eyes reddened as she opened her mouth to speak.

Behind her, Shen Ningyuan crossed the threshold and stepped onto the porch.

Meeting the stunned gazes of Cui Jin and Song Yan’er, Shen Ningyuan nodded calmly.

“I did it,” she said softly.

Cui Jin looked at Shen Ningyuan with a trace of confusion.

“Yuan’er, why did you hurt your cousin?” Cui Jin asked.

Shen Ningyuan was about to respond when Song Yan’er interrupted, “Mother, Yuan’er surely didn’t mean it. The two sisters have always been close. Yuan’er has treated Mingzhu like an elder sister since childhood. How could she purposely hurt her?”

Hearing this, Cui Jin breathed a sigh of relief.

But the next moment, Shen Ningyuan contradicted Song Yan’er.

“No, I meant to,” she said coldly, glancing at Cui Mingzhu. “I truly wanted to disable her hand.”

Song Yan’er looked at Shen Ningyuan with a strange expression.

Yet, Cui Jin did not scold Shen Ningyuan.

Instead, she approached Cui Mingzhu, carefully examining her injured hand.

“It’s so badly hurt; we must call the doctor immediately,” Cui Jin frowned.

She then looked at the maids nearby and ordered in a low voice, “Both of you, go fetch the household physician at once!”

After the maids left, Cui Mingzhu tried to speak first, intending to tell Cui Jin about Shen Ningyuan’s misdeeds.

But unexpectedly, Cui Jin bypassed her and turned to Shen Ningyuan.

With genuine concern, she asked, “Yuan’er, what really happened? Did your cousin say something to provoke you, causing you to lose control and hurt her hand?”

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