Chapter 5: Emptying the Minister's Residence

In her previous life, the Jiang Clan did not know that the original owner was not their own child, so they promised her that when she married she would be sent off in splendor, with plenty of treasures, and those treasures are now in this warehouse; later Meng Qinghe returned, and those fine items became Meng Qinghe's dowry, while she herself only took the matriarch's adornments. Throughout the Minister's Residence, the only person who had ever treated her well was the matriarch of the Minister's Residence, but the matriarch's birth was humble and she owned little private property. Meng Hui is the Minister, a first‑rank official, and always looks down on the matriarch's background.

"They say a child doesn't despise an ugly mother, a dog doesn't mind a poor home; Meng Hui is even worse than a dog!" Her gaze fell on the warehouse: "Anyway, the treasures in this warehouse won't end up with the matriarch; since we're here, how can we leave empty‑handed?"

She moved lightly toward the warehouse, watching the guards around it, and Chi Nan Yi curled her lip: "There must be a lot of good stuff hidden in this storehouse, otherwise they wouldn't have sent so many attendants."

All those good things will be cheap for her.

Her figure was like a charm, and she darted to the side of the warehouse; the main door was locked, and each wall had a small window, just large enough for a petite person to squeeze through, each window fitted with two locks. Chi Nan Yi took out a hairpin and was about to pry the inner lock when a chorus of footsteps arrived, and she hurriedly slipped into a space.

Patrolling attendants came around the corner; Chi Nan Yi felt a little tense inside the space, and only when those attendants passed her without a sideways glance did she finally relax.

"This space really is a good thing."

Chi Nan Yi used the hairpin to open the two locks beside the window and swiftly slipped into the warehouse.

The warehouse was somewhat dim, but it didn't stop Chi Nan Yi from being amazed by the abundance of good items inside.

"Meng Hui is truly greedy! So many fine things couldn't have been amassed from a prime minister's monthly silver." Chi Nan Yi opened several chests, gazing at the piles of gold, silver and jewels, and felt indescribably delighted.

With this silver, not only could she afford to buy twenty thousand dan, even two hundred thousand dan would be within reach.

And those priceless treasures—if they were all converted into cash silver, they could probably fill the entire warehouse.

"Since that's the case, I won't be polite."

Chi Nan Yi waved her arm and directly sucked all the items in the warehouse into the space; the warehouse also contained a small storage where the senior matriarch's dowry was kept.

"As the saying goes, since we're here, let's take everything together!"

Thus, Chi Nan Yi returned fully loaded; the Minister's Residence's storehouse was empty, even the antique shelves used for storage had been taken by Chi Nan Yi.

The entire warehouse was left as an empty shell.

"When Meng Hui and the Jiang Clan see this warehouse, their expressions will surely be spectacular."

She had just returned to her room when the door was knocked.

"Miss, are you awake?"

Chi Nan Yi recognized the voice as Cai Pin's as soon as she heard it.

She pretended to have just woken up, sounding sickly, and asked, "What is it?"

"Madam sent someone to ask if you're feeling better."

"I'm fine; I just need a few more days of recuperation, cough cough."

"I'll go report back to the madam right away."

Chi Nan Yi opened the door and said softly, "I'm feeling better; I'll go ask mother how she is!"

Jiang Mama, seeing her so frail, hurriedly said, "Miss, you should rest properly! The madam asked me to let you know that tomorrow, when you feel better, don't forget to practice the zither."

"Got it, cough cough cough…"

Jiang Mama returned to the senior matriarch's courtyard and reported faithfully what she had seen today to the Jiang Clan: "Madam, looking at the miss, she seems seriously ill."

"Yi'er's health has always been poor. In a moment, go to the storehouse and fetch that century‑old ginseng to stew a pot for her. The day after tomorrow, the master will host a banquet in the garden for this year's newly appointed top scholar; all the highly respected teachers from the academy will attend, and most importantly the Crown Prince and several other princes will be present. This is a perfect chance for Yi'er to make an appearance; with ginseng sustaining her, she can get through a few days."

"Madam, after the ginseng's medicinal effect wears off, the miss's body will become even weaker."

"What does it matter? We can just treat her again, right? How many chances are there to see the Crown Prince? If we miss this, it will be hard to find another opportunity later. For the sake of the Minister's Residence's prosperity, sacrificing her is nothing." Jiang Clan said with a smile, "If she can impress the Crown Prince and become his consort, even if only a side concubine, when the Crown Prince ascends the throne her rank will not be low. If she can become Empress, then the Minister's Residence's future wealth and honor will be secured, and Jue Er's future will be limitless."

Jiang Mama nodded: "Madam is right; I'll go to the storehouse fetch the ginseng and have the small kitchen stew it for the miss."

After a while, Jiang Mama rushed back in a hurry.

"It's bad! It's bad! Madam, something's happened, a big incident!"

Jiang Clan frowned: "What's wrong?"

"Madam, it's not good, it's empty! Empty! Completely empty!"

"Empty? What's empty?"

Jiang Mama gasped: "The storehouse is empty, there's nothing left."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Clan was greatly startled: "What did you say? Say it again!"

"I just went into the storehouse to get the ginseng; after the warehouse attendants opened the door, there was nothing inside, the whole storehouse was empty."

"What? How could that be?" Jiang Clan's body lurched, leaning backward.

Jiang Mama hurriedly steadied her; after a while Jiang Clan regained composure and, holding Jiang Mama's arm, asked, "Did you see wrong?"

"Impossible! The guards watching the storehouse have already gone to inform the master."

Jiang Clan's body trembled as she moved outward: "Quick! Go quickly! Help me get there!"

When Jiang Clan arrived before the storehouse, Meng Hui was already there.

From afar, Meng Hui's hysterical roar could be heard.

"What's going on? How could this happen? How did you guard the storehouse? So many items vanished right under your eyes; are you blind?"

The attendants knelt on the ground; how could they possibly know what really happened?

"Master, it's false! We've been standing guard here, not daring to blink, and no one stole anything!"

"Indeed, master, we never left our posts, and even the patrol attendants, no one has come in; today only Jiang Mama came to fetch something, and aside from that the main gate was never opened."

"Where is Jiang Mama? Jiang Mama?"

Hearing this, Jiang Mama hurried forward: "I am here."

"What's happening?" Meng Hui asked Jiang Clan, "You manage the back garden; tell me, what exactly is going on? Where are the items? Where are the Meng Family's belongings?" These are the treasures he's hoarded for most of his life!