The Xingyuan Marquis Mansion receives income in spring and autumn every year. Now that spring has arrived, as the income from the various farms of the Xingyuan Marquis Mansion gradually arrives, Jiang Shuxiu is busy all day long.

These days, she has been busy taking inventory of the warehouse, counting one by one the furniture, utensils, antiques, calligraphy and paintings accumulated over the years.

Among them are many precious items that were temporarily loaned to other prominent official families in the capital last year.

These must be carefully reviewed and registered one by one. After confirmation that there is no damage, they can be properly placed back into storage.

The large number of gold and silver utensils and antique calligraphy and paintings made the inventory work particularly arduous.

The managers in the warehouse and the maids who were responsible for the maintenance and cleaning of the utensils were all busy.

Especially after the old marquis’ funeral, some incense burners and other utensils used for sacrifices now need to be returned to the warehouse.

In the inner courtyard of the warehouse, the manager loudly announced the number of precious artifacts one by one, while the registration officer stared at the booklet, checking each item with extremely focused and careful expressions.

Jiang Shuxiu glanced over the boxes of precious vessels and asked doubtfully, "Last Mid-Autumn Festival, the Yong'an Earl's Mansion borrowed a pair of azure-glazed plum vases carved with ruyi patterns. Haven't they returned them yet?"

Steward Xue Zhong replied respectfully, "Young Madam, last December, the Crown Prince went to the Yong'an Marquis's residence for a winter banquet, where he drank and played cards with the Marquis's son. He lost several rounds at the card game, and not wanting to trouble you with this, he happened to see the plum vase on the table, which had been borrowed from his family, so he suggested using it to pay off the debt. The pair of plum vases would then be counted as the money lost playing mahjong."

After listening to Xue Zhong's explanation, Jiang Shuxiu was silent for a moment and asked no more questions. He then signaled the accountant to make a record in the warehouse account book.

Then, she instructed, "Find the golden bat agate necklace and wrap it carefully. The month end will be the hundredth day banquet for the young grandson of Duke Kangguo. Send this gift as a congratulatory gift from the Marquis' Mansion."

"Yes, young madam." After hearing this, the housekeeper took action and went to look for her immediately.

After Jiang Shuxiu finished busying herself with the affairs of the warehouse in the morning, she devoted herself to the tedious task of checking the incoming silver and money.

She flipped through the account books in her hands, feeling secretly emotional.

Since this year, in addition to the old lady being promoted from the second-rank imperial edict to the first-rank Lady of Langya County, she herself was also awarded the title of the third-rank Lady of Qinghe County.

In the Zhou Dynasty, consorts received a fixed annual salary.

The old lady received eight hundred taels of silver every year, while she received six hundred taels.

The two younger sisters-in-law in the family were also granted the title of county lady, each receiving an annual salary of 500 taels of silver.

These are their personal shares and do not need to be included in the accounts of the Marquis' Mansion.

The entire Xingyuan Marquis Mansion, including two manors in the suburbs of the capital and the mountain manor of the Xue family's ancestral property in the north, had an income of 10,000 taels in the spring alone.

In the autumn, although the manors in the north were unable to grow crops due to the early arrival of winter, the furs and prey obtained from hunting alone brought the marquisate an income of nearly 17,000 to 18,000 taels in a year.

Not to mention, Old Lady Hong Yingrong also has her own dowry farm and shops, which are additional sources of income.

Jiang Shuxiu sorted out the account book and prepared to go to the front hall to reconcile the accounts with the manager of Zhuangzi.

Accompanied by her personal maid Rui'er and the housekeeper, she walked into the front hall.

In order to distinguish the inside and outside, a four-fold screen with a landscape pattern in green ink was specially placed in front of the seat.

Butler Xue Zhong stood respectfully by, ready to be summoned at any time.

"Young Madam," he reported softly, "Xue Qiang, the steward of the ancestral estate in the north, has completed the affairs and account handover in the capital and is preparing to return north. He wanted to come over and kowtow and say goodbye."

"Let him in." Jiang Shuxiu ordered softly.

Xue Qiang came to the main hall. He was short, fat and sturdy, wearing a short cotton-padded jacket. He was different from the stewards in the marquis' mansion who wore long robes, and he spoke with a northern accent.

He kowtowed with his hands on the ground, but did not stand up.

"Xue Qiang, the head of the ancestral mansion, wishes the old lady, the prince, the young lady, and all the young men and women good health and happiness." He said loudly, "May everyone in the mansion be promoted, prosperous, safe, and have everything they wish for."

Although his words were straightforward, Jiang Shuxiu found them amusing and picked up the embroidered handkerchief to hide the smile on her lips.

Xue Zhong interrupted, saying, "The young lady has carefully reviewed the account books you handed over and praised your excellent work in the north. This year's spring revenue in the north is one thousand taels more than in previous years."

Hearing his work being praised, Xue Qiang kowtowed three times in gratitude. "Last winter, it rained and snowed for two months straight in the north, and eight or nine places in our village were affected."

"But thanks to the good deeds of the old marquis, the manor has taken in several soldiers who were injured and retired from the border. They are all first-rate hunters."

"Over the winter, we've gotten a lot of game, furs, and mattresses. The converted income is actually more than in previous years."

"This time when I came to the capital, I specially selected some large deer, roe deer, black rabbits, and golden pheasants and brought them here. They are now being kept in captivity on a farm outside the capital. Once they are tamed, they will be brought into the mansion for the young masters and young ladies to watch and entertain them."

Jiang Shuxiu also knew that the ancestral home in the north took in injured and retired soldiers.

She nodded slightly, expressing her agreement: "With your branch in the Marquis' Mansion, all affairs in the north will naturally be in good order. The old lady is also very relieved about this."

"You have a smart and sensible child in your family. He doesn't need to be confined to the ancestral home to serve as a servant. It would be a good idea to send him to the Marquis' Mansion to gain experience."

Xue Qiang was filled with gratitude when he heard this.

However, he was well aware of the century-old heritage of the Marquis' Mansion. Whether it was the ancestral home in the north or the current Marquis' Mansion in the capital, each branch had its own management scope. He did not want to be greedy and want more to get involved in the Marquis' Mansion in the capital.

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