an Gong, maidservants knelt in two rows to greet me. Bai Wu Chang was grinning and leaning against the palace entrance."Welcome back to the palace, Little Empress~," he said with his trademark smile,...My brother poked my forehead and said, "This is a living person, not something you can just pick up and take home. Don't even think about taking it back to raise. It's better off right here."

"I didn't think so! Don't make me sound like a human trafficker, okay" I whispered to my brother. "This kid is unstable, don't you feel it"

My brother was taken aback and shook his head, saying, “I don’t cultivate with male gods like you every day, so how would I know what it feels like”

Pooh! What did you say!

Lin Yanqin heard and covered her mouth to giggle. I glared fiercely at my brother.

My brother whistled with his hands in his pockets, tilting his head upwards at a 45-degree angle, giving off an expression of "I'm just telling the truth."

"This child is so small, letting him run around here It's dangerous, there's a lake near the Shen family." I said to the two disciples, "Isn't anyone looking after him"

"He is... The manager asked Qi Shu and his wife from the doorman to take care of him, maybe they didn't look after him well for a moment, so he came here to play ball by himself." Kun said.

We brought the shrimp to the main hall. The deputy manager came looking for me with the account book, so I could only duck into the side room to hear his report. My brother and the others were in the main hall drinking tea and playing with the children.

“Master, we've had a lot of work on the official front these past six months.” The deputy manager said with a smile, “You being a special advisor and having met with the ‘Grand Elder’, there are many who come to us actively through these layers of officials. While the income from official positions isn’t much, those private commissions from powerful figures and wealthy individuals are quite high-priced.”

I chuckled, looking at the single seven-figure deposit. "Are these all from Shen Qingrui's deals How are they all so high"

"Well, Qingrui's the type who wouldn't budge an inch. Either she accepts or rejects outright, causing quite a few disgruntled people. It was the Chief Steward who finally negotiated with her. Though Qingrui does her job well, she lacks tact in dealing with others." The Deputy Steward said with a chuckle.

"Do you really think so, or are you just saying that to me" I looked up at him.

It seems that the entire Shen family knows that Shen Qingrui and I don't get along. Before, Shen Qingrui was also very impolite to me. I estimate that during my temporary time as the acting head of the household, there are still many people waiting to see how I get revenge.

Unfortunately, I'm quite the pushover. Taming her is enough, there's no need to attack or seek revenge. After Mrs. Shen stopped interfering in family matters, no one supported Shen Qingrui anymore. She had a hard time in the Shen family as well.

"Hee hee... This one, Qingrui knows she has a bad temper, so she's being very low-key now," the deputy director chuckled.

"Where is she" I asked.

There's a rather tricky commission, the client was very straightforward, offering seven figures to find someone capable from the Shen family. Ordinary disciples wouldn't do, so the manager could only send her. The deputy manager explained.

I looked at my income over the past six months, which was more than last year. Society is so realistic; once you get a taste of fame and fortune, people will come out of the woodwork to build relationships and send money.

The Shen family's expenses for purchasing goods at the Ghost Market were considerable, but with such good business, they made millions in profit within half a year. This was too much of a windfall! I told the deputy manager: "Don't just focus on repairing our temple on the mountain; it's already majestic and imposing. Go around and inquire about which temples are in need of repair due to hardship, and contact them proactively. Don't let people within our circle say that the Shen family is hoarding wealth and forgetting their roots."

"Yes, yes..." the deputy manager nodded.

He whispered, "Who are the two ladies Madam Mu brought here"

I glared at him. "Who do you think it is"

He widened his eyes and lowered his voice, saying, “A distinguished guest I'll have the kitchen prepare something special at once...”

"Don't rush off, I want to ask you something. What's with that little shrimp I just bumped into him and felt something was off. Didn't the head manager notice anything unusual" I called after him, frowning.

"That's right," the deputy manager nodded. "The head manager said this child is extraordinary. Seeing him sleeping at the mountain gate and unable to explain his origins, there was no choice but to bring him in and take care of him. Three meals a day is no problem, right Let's keep him and see if anyone comes looking for him."

I frowned. It's been half a year now. If it were a lost child from around here, they would have gone crazy looking for it by now.

There has been no sound at all, it's most likely that he was deliberately abandoned here.

How could such a young child possibly know his own origins Xiao Xi might also be a nickname, it's already good that he remembers his own nickname.

"Deputy Manager, I will be going somewhere to cultivate after this. If the Shen family has any urgent matters, please have Madam Mu pass them on to me."

"Yes."

"If Shen Qingrui has gotten into something, remember to tell me."

"Okay, okay."

"And about this little shrimp, use some connections to check his background. If you can't find anything, go through the proper channels and get a half-adoption certificate. Don't let anyone catch us, saying I'm buying and selling people," I reminded him.

“Yes, yes, yes…” The deputy manager nodded vigorously, bowing his head and sweating a little.

I couldn't help but chuckle and say, "What After half a year I finally give you something to do, are you this nervous Are you guilty"

"No, no, Master. You rarely give orders, so I'm very nervous and afraid to disappoint you."

I watched him smile, he was sweating cold.

This guy must be hiding something from me.

When it was time to lay down the law, I laid it down. I closed my ledger and said nothing, just stared him down.

Not half a minute had passed before his forehead was covered in beads of sweat.

Who wouldn't stay silent I'll just sit here and keep quiet, see who can outlast the other.

"Home... Lord Master... Madam..." he swallowed, his voice trembling slightly.

The Empress is even calling everyone out… what exactly is this fellow hiding

"My subordinate, my subordinate... Yesterday I saw the chief steward leave before he went to the secret storeroom and took some things..."

"Humph..." So there's something you're hiding from me!

The manager is a shrewd man, he knows I came back today, how could he have suddenly left yesterday

"It seems to be related to Shen Qingrui. The steward left his phone at home, and I had a clansman reset it today. Last night, he received a call from Shen Qingrui, they talked for quite a while, and then he rushed to the confidential room... Then he left in the middle of the night."

"You all can, I know you all look out for each other. You protect the chief steward, and the chief steward protects Shen Qingrui. After all, you all share the surname Shen, to me, an outsider, I'll always be an outsider." I said unpleasantly.

"No, no! It's just that it concerns the Shen family, we must stick together...Master, Madam, please don't be angry..."

"I wouldn't say I was angry. You all know where I ultimately belong. The Shen family business doesn't benefit me in any way, and it just adds unnecessary worldly concerns... If you feel you can handle it, I'm too lazy to bother." I said calmly.

The Deputy Manager bowed his head and mumbled, "Yes, yes..."

It seems that the Head Butler is going to help Shen Qingru, using family matters as an excuse for everything.

I brought Lin Yanqin here to recuperate. Since they dare not let me know what trouble they've caused and intend to handle it themselves, I am happy to be left out of it.

Back in the main hall, Lin Yanqin hurriedly greeted me and said, "Xiao Qiao, this child speaks foreign languages."

What, what What's a foreign languageurant. My older sister is also a female boss, she interacts with dignitaries and celebrities all day long, her aura is very strong."Master Yan Qin quickly said to me, 'That's right, you see, I'm so fo...