"Watch closely and learn how masters build empires." He turned toward his father-in-law. "Is the one million gold secured?"
"Not yet," the man replied cautiously. "We thought you'll need that for our future plans." "That is for survival," Luo He cut in. "Not expansion."
Then his gaze hardened. "Our accounts are a mess." Silence fell again. "I know who is responsible." His eyes shifted toward the Jin women. "Which of you can handle a whip better?"
Jin Mulan and Jin Su raised their hands at the same time. A faint smirk touched Luo He's lips. "Good." He picked up an apple from the fruit basket on the table.
The room tensed. "Let's make it a contest then." Luo he said. Even the air felt tighter now. "The first to strike the apple wins." He tossed it upward. For a split second it hung in the air. Then CRACK.
The apple exploded mid-air. Pieces scattered across the floor. Jin Su lowered her arm slowly but victoriously. A distant thunderclap shook the windows. Luo He didn't even flinch.
"Father-in-law," he said calmly, "start digging." "We don't have much time so start burning the gold."
Luo He as if saying from now on he owned the women left with both Jin Mulan and Jin Su at his sides leaving the men behind. Jin Quan was the most jealous as in the past he owned the women's attention.
He went to bury the gold as he can't upset his wife again. He desperately need her to join with him in bed tonight because he can't live without it for two nights in a row.
Luo He arrived at the accountant's chamber with Jin Mulan and her mother Jin Su. The room was unnaturally bright lit by dozens of candles arranged in careful rows.
Their flames flickered restlessly casting long shifting shadows across the walls lined with scroll cabinets. The air smelled of melted wax and old paper.
At the center stood the accountant a man in his forties thin, sharp-eyed and dressed in neat robes. He was known as the best scholar in the mansion even teaching Jin Yang basic mathematics. But beneath that polished image rumours of dishonesty had always lingered.
Tonight, those rumours had finally caught up to him. Luo He stepped forward his voice calm but cold. "You have been stealing from this family." The man stiffened. "Do you admit," Luo He continued locking eyes with him, "that you have taken nearly fifty thousand gold coins from the Jin family?"
The accountant immediately dropped to his knees. "No! Never!" he cried crawling forward and clutching at Jin Su's robes. "I am a loyal servant! I would never betray this family!" His voice trembled but his eyes darted calculating searching for escape.
Then he shifted tactics. "This man," he pointed at Luo He his tone suddenly sharp, "he has no proper education no official qualifications so how could he possibly understand accounts? He is the one trying to deceive you!"
For a brief moment silence filled the room. In the past such words would have worked. The accountant had survived many audits using the same strategy deflect, accuse, confuse. But not today.
Jin Su didn't move. She didn't defend him. The accountant's confidence faltered. Luo He smiled faintly. He had expected this. Before coming here he had already warned Jin Su.
Do not let him slip through my fingers this time. And she hadn't. Luo He gave a small signal. In an instant Jin Mulan stepped forward grabbing the man by his collar and forcing him upright. She dragged him toward a cabinet of scrolls his feet scraping helplessly against the floor.
Luo He moved closer his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Will you speak or must I make you?" The man shook his head desperately tears forming. "I'm innocent! I swear it!" Luo He sighed softly almost disappointed.
"Then it seems you've chosen the harder path." He glanced at Jin Su. "Mother I believe it's time." Jin Su didn't hesitate. She took up the whip. The sharp crack echoed through the room louder than the thunder rolling faintly outside.
The candles flickered violently as if reacting to the sound. The man screamed collapsing to the ground.
Another strike. And another. After a few lashes Luo He raised his hand "Enough."
Jin Mulan pulled the man up again holding him firmly in place. Luo He observed him quietly then spoke with a faint almost amused tone. "I am fortunate," he said. Glancing at the two women, "to be surrounded by such capable allies."
Both Jin Mulan and Jin Su stiffened slightly caught off guard by the praise. Even in this tense moment a faint blush touched their faces.
Luo He turned back to the accountant.
This time his eyes were sharper. Without warning he reached forward and pulled a small hidden key from the man's hair. The carefully arranged bun fell apart instantly. The man's face went pale.
Jin Mulan grabbed him by the hair forcing his head back. "Now" she said coldly, "will you tell us where the gold is?" The man hesitated. The whip cracked again. The storm outside seemed to answer thunder rumbling closer now.
Strike after strike followed until his resistance finally broke. "Stop! Please stop!" he cried. "I'll tell you! I'll tell you everything!" The room fell silent. Luo He gave a small nod. "See."
Guards were called and the broken man was dragged away to a cell. As the doors shut behind him the tension in the room slowly faded. Jin Su looked at Luo He differently now not just with approval but with a growing sense of respect and caution.
The accountant was dragged away his cries fading into the distance as the heavy doors shut behind him. For a moment no one spoke.
The candles burned lower now their flames unsteady after the storm. Melted wax pooled at their bases and the once bright room felt heavier quieter. Jin Su slowly set the whip aside. Her gaze lingered on the door where the accountant had been taken then shifted to Luo He.
There was something new in her eyes.
Not just approval. Calculation. "You handled that well," she said at last her tone measured. Luo He inclined his head slightly. "We did what was necessary."
Jin Mulan stood beside him her posture straight but her fingers were still tense from the commotion. Jin Su noticed. "And you," she added turning to her daughter, "have become quite decisive."
It sounded like praise. But it didn't feel like it. Jin Mulan met her mother's gaze.
"I only did what had to be done."
A pause.
Then Jin Su smiled faintly. "Yes just as he advised." The words were light. The meaning was not. The air shifted.
Luo He didn't interrupt. He simply watched. Jin Mulan's brows furrowed slightly. "Mother what are you implying?"
"Nothing," Jin Su replied smoothly walking past her. "Only that you seem to trust your husband's judgment very quickly."
The soft echo of her footsteps filled the room. Jin Mulan turned. "He was right." "Was he?" Jin Su stopped glancing back over her shoulder. "Or did he simply say what you wanted to hear?" Silence.
The candles flickered again. "He exposed a traitor," Jin Mulan said. Her voice firmer now. "Recovered our losses. Strengthened our position. What more proof do you need?"
Jin Su's expression didn't change.
"Proof?" she repeated softly. "My dear, I am not questioning his ability." Her eyes moved to Luo He again. "I am questioning his influence."
That landed. Jin Mulan's jaw tightened. "He is my husband." Jin Mulan said. "And you are my daughter." Said Jin Su The response was immediate. Sharp. Unyielding.
For a brief moment neither woman spoke. The tension between them was no longer hidden. It stood in the room as real as the candlelight.
Luo He finally stepped forward. "Lady Jin," he said calmly, "your concern is understandable."
Jin Su's gaze shifted to him curious.
"I consider this my family now so I will do all what I can to strengthen it's position."
A small pause.
Jin Su studied him carefully. "You speak well," she said. "Better than most scholars." There was no compliment in her tone. "Words are easy," she continued. "Loyalty is proven over time."
Jin Mulan stepped slightly in front of Luo He. A subtle movement. But deliberate.
"I trust him." This time there was no hesitation.
Jin Su's eyes softened just slightly. But not with agreement. With recognition.
"You always were stubborn," she said quietly. Then she turned away. "See that your trust is not misplaced."
The doors opened. Cool night air drifted in carrying the faint scent of rain-washed earth. Jin Su paused at the threshold. Without turning she added "Power changes people faster than you think." Then she left.
Silence settled again. Jin Mulan stood still for a moment her thoughts unsettled. Then she exhaled slowly. "She's wrong," she said though her voice carried a trace of doubt now. Luo He stepped beside her.
"No," he said quietly. "She's not."
Jin Mulan looked at him surprised.
"Power does change people," he continued. "That's why she was watching me." A faint smile touched his lips. "And now so should you."