Young Master Shen came to the Earl's bedroom door.
The Earl and his wife had already gone to bed.
"Mother-in-Law, Father-in-Law!" Young Master Shen called out in a pleasant voice.
"Hmph!" That was Father-in-Law.
"Eh, what is it, Lang'er?" That was Mother-in-Law, her voice exceedingly gentle.
See? That was the result of putting Mother-in-Law before Father-in-Law.
Young Master Shen said, "Mr. Xu was angered into leaving, and he probably will not show himself for the next few days. But the Earl's Manor accounts must continue as usual. These days, large amounts of gold, silver, and property are constantly moving in and out of the manor. If the accounts are delayed for several days, I fear it will become difficult to disburse the funds afterward. Your son-in-law happens to have some skill in arithmetic. How about letting me fill in for these few days, and handing it back to Mr. Xu once he returns?"
The Earl said, "Couldn't this wait until tomorrow?"
Damn it, you were a dignified Earl and you had morning grumpiness when getting up? More importantly, it was only around nine at night. Why were you going to bed so early?
The Earl's Wife said, "Lang'er means well. Can't you speak properly?"
Then the Earl's Wife's voice came from inside.
"Lang'er, come in."
Young Master Shen still waited outside for a moment before entering, lest he see something he ought not to see.
The Earl looked thoroughly displeased, while the Earl's Wife gazed at Young Master Shen with a smile.
"Tell me the truth. What mischief are you plotting?" the Earl asked.
What was most important when dealing with family? Speaking from the heart!
While being clever, do not treat others as fools.
Young Master Shen said, "I suspect Mr. Xu Wenzhao has embezzled the Earl's Manor's money,