Madam Lu left Madam Tu and the old lady speechless.

Xie Xiangxiang immediately retorted: "According to what Second Aunt said, if a child doesn't have milk when he's young, does that mean he'll have to find his mother to feed him when he grows up?"

For a lady from a prominent family to use this as a metaphor, Lady Lu was truly amazed.

"Is what you're saying the same thing as betrothal? Now that the Crown Prince's wife has received the betrothal gifts, does she not want others to live well? Don't forget, the Third Madam is still your own sister!"

Seeing Lu Shi's fury, Xie Zhaozhao gently tugged at Lu Shi's sleeve, smiled, and continued the conversation.

“I am new to the Marquis’s mansion and know nothing. Moreover, I have two sisters-in-law. It is not my place to manage the household in the third branch.”

"In addition, the Grand Secretary is very busy with official duties every day, and the meals in the mansion are often not served on time. I have already discussed with the Grand Secretary that the third branch of the family will open a separate small kitchen, and we will pay for it ourselves."

Xie Xiangxiang immediately turned her attention to her: "If you're in the manor, all your income must be handed over. Otherwise, if everyone is hiding money like this, what's the point of having a central administration department?"

"The money the Grand Secretary handed over won't change!" This younger sister is really something, Xie Zhaozhao said, "Can't I spend my own money to eat a little? Surely my dowry won't have to be handed over to the Marquis's mansion too?"

"Even if any of you try to take a piece of my dowry, I will not give you a single penny, because that would damage your reputation."

She laid her words on the table, and everyone was speechless.

There are indeed shameless people who covet their wives' dowries, but that person is definitely not Gu Shaoyu.

If word gets out, and it's revealed which household or which man embezzled his wife's dowry, they'll lose all face in the world.

"I won't manage the household affairs, I won't give away my dowry, and I'm determined to keep the small kitchen open. If the main kitchen is willing to help with bringing groceries, great; if not, I'll have the maids buy them separately."

She was able to speak so confidently for two reasons: firstly, the reputation of Grand Secretary Gu was impeccable, and secondly, she had her own money and didn't need to beg the mansion for anything.

She cannot lose either of these.

After she finished speaking, she didn't stop for a moment, bid farewell to the old lady, and went back.

No sooner had she left than Madam Lu also left happily, not letting her manage the household, and running away as soon as she finished causing trouble.

The old lady, Madam Tu, and Xie Xiangxiang looked at each other in bewilderment.

The old lady's face turned pale. She said to Tu Shi, "See? Not only is she well-mannered, but she is also good at studying. She is becoming more and more like the third son. You should not provoke her in the future. You should manage the Marquis's mansion well. If you really don't want to manage it, then give it to Lu Shi. Lu Shi has wanted to manage the household for many years."

Xie Xiangxiang almost said that if Madam Lu wanted it, she could have it, but Madam Tu immediately chimed in, "Yes, Mother is right."

Tu Shi left in a huff, and Xie Xiangxiang followed suit.

As the old lady watched Xie Xiangxiang leave, she frowned and asked Taxue, "Taxue, secretly find out when the young master's wife's period is? Don't disturb anyone."

Ta Xue nodded: "Don't worry, Madam."

The old lady pinched her brow and sighed, "This eldest son's family is really a worry."

Xie Zhaozhao made her point clear today, saying to Yuan Yuanman, "Open the small kitchen. Starting tomorrow, if the government doesn't want to bring us groceries, then you'll have to buy them yourselves."

Manman said, "Miss, if it's up to me, we shouldn't bring food from the main kitchen. They won't bring it for nothing; they'll definitely skim off a layer."

Xie Zhaozhao said, "You guys figure it out."

Full of anger, she thought about how Xie Xiangxiang had been trying to frame her young lady at the old lady's place.

"Has the second young lady gone mad? They're sisters, after all. I think she's only thinking about swindling the young lady out of her dowry."

"really."

"I think she's just idle. She doesn't think about how to live a good life all day long, but only about harming people. The Fifth Young Master has just recovered a little, and she's already jumping out again."

Xie Zhaozhao thought, "I'm too bored. If all else fails, I'll find Guan Yingying to annoy her a bit."

Xie Zhaozhao asked Yuanyuan, "What is Guan Yingying doing?"

Yuanyuan said, "Last time, she couldn't keep the three shops under the overpass running, so she sold them to Dongqin. She bought them for 4,500 taels and sold them to Dongqin for 4,000 taels."

The shop went bankrupt, and Guan Yingying has been staying at home doing nothing these days.

“Miss, Xiaoxin said she’s been going out every day lately, and Xiaoxin can’t keep up with her, so I want to follow her myself.”

"Did she go out by carriage?"

"Xiaoxin said it was a horse-drawn carriage, and the driver was a tall man who looked like a general."

Xie Zhaozhao thought of a possibility and said to Yuanyuan, "Don't follow them, and tell Xiaoxin not to follow them either. Just squat at the alley entrance and listen to what they have to say each time. Don't follow them."

Yuanyuan immediately realized that Guan Yingying was likely dealing with important figures.

After court that day, Gu Shaoyu returned to his courtyard, immediately took off his court robes, swam a few laps in the pond, and sat down at the table to eat the fruit milk made by Xie Zhaozhao.

Xie Zhaozhao shaved the ice she made, added milk, fresh fruit, peach chunks, and grapes. It tasted fragrant, sweet, and refreshingly cool.

He ate most of the bowl in one go.

Xie Zhaozhao asked, "Last time you said the Crown Prince wanted to open the Silk Road, has that been decided?"

"The Crown Prince has been ill lately and has requested leave several times, but the Duke of Cheng'en has not given up and has asked for leave a few more times, only to be rejected by His Majesty. Why are you asking about this?"

"I heard a rumor today, but I'm not sure if it's true. Do you know anyone who's really good at tracking things down?"

"You're going to follow the Crown Prince?"

“It wasn’t him. I didn’t think it was related to him at first, but when you said the Crown Prince was ill and asked for leave, I became a little suspicious.”

"So you're saying the Crown Prince is faking illness while actually doing something else with someone else?"

Xie Zhaozhao said she was just guessing, so she had to follow another person to confirm whether it was true.

Gu Shaoyu called out "Bei Chen," and a young man of medium height with somewhat effeminate features appeared out of thin air, standing at the door.

He bowed his head and greeted the Grand Secretary.

Xie Zhaozhao: Could this be a secret guard from the manor?

Gu Shaoyu: "Bei Chen, from today onwards, you shall obey Madam's orders."

"Yes." Bei Chen bowed to Xie Zhaozhao. "Please give your orders, Madam."

Xie Zhaozhao asked, "Bei Chen, if you encounter the Crown Prince's secret guards, can you avoid being discovered?"

Bei Chen answered confidently, "Yes!"

Okay then!

After Bei Chen left, Grand Secretary Gu looked at the busy Yuan Yuanman and immediately understood: withdraw!

Only Grand Secretary Gu and Xie Zhaozhao remained in the room.

Grand Secretary Gu took the fruit from the plate, used a fruit fork to cut it, and put it into Xie Zhaozhao's mouth. When he fed her, a little water got on the corner of her mouth, and before Xie Zhaozhao could wipe it off, he quickly wiped it away with his finger.

His movements were natural and fluid; Xie Zhaozhao didn't even have time to react before he did it so casually.

Looking at his fingers, he put them back in her mouth and said, "This juice is so sweet, don't waste it, suck on it."

Xie Zhaozhao's face instantly turned as red as a boiled shrimp.