Chapter 41 My Wife Decides Whether It Works or Not: He Yi hadn't actually planned to give the money; he just intended to make a show for his nephew. After all, he…

He Yi hadn't really intended to give the money; he just wanted to make a show for his nephew. After all, he had said that this was all the money the West Courtyard could currently offer, so he didn't believe that his seventeen or eighteen-year-old nephew would be so shameless as to take out his most treasured money.

Who knew that Yu Lang was really so shameless? His wife had spent all his savings on gifts for his colleagues during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Now that a box of banknotes was right in front of him, it was probably a pipe dream for Yu Lang to pretend to be generous.

Besides, Yu Lang knew from the West Courtyard that they had summoned him that they needed something from him. Shumulu was a woman, and unless His Majesty intended to completely destroy the Eight Banners, he wouldn't send people to the inner quarters to arrest her. As long as no one was arrested, Shumulu wouldn't need to ask him for anything.

As for his second uncle, being a favorite of the Emperor wasn't easy. Even though He Yi wasn't exactly a big shot right now, there were still many eyes watching him from the shadows. When things were peaceful, they flattered each other, but as soon as he showed the slightest weakness, those people would pounce like hyenas smelling blood, mercilessly devouring him.

The best, yet most dangerous, path is to remain obedient for a few years, waiting for the matter to fade from the Emperor's attention before making a move. To take this path, one must either be as tough as iron, unyielding to any adversity, or have a family that provides ample protection, ensuring the family's support even if the sky falls.

Unfortunately, He Yi lacked the ability, and the Hesheli family didn't have the confidence either. The longer he stayed in front of the emperor, the more precarious his situation became.

Let alone the fact that He Yi couldn't possibly have been completely clean and without any flaws over the years, even if he truly had none, someone would quickly fabricate something about him. When he falls, a position will be vacant in the Emperor's court. That's how it is when you serve the Emperor: either you rise to great heights or you become a spendthrift; there's no other way.

He Yi has been defeated. He can no longer stay where he is, hoping that others will show him mercy and spare his life. He will never let his fate be in the hands of others.

He needed to plan his escape route before this matter was over. As long as he survived this usury scandal, he could leave the capital and make a clean getaway. And right now, the safest option for him was the Shen family, who were related by marriage and held real power.

Yu Lang guessed He Yi's scheme, so he took the three thousand five hundred taels of silver with a clear conscience. Even if he didn't take the silver, he would still help with the matter. After all, when the West Courtyard returned back then, it was seen by the world as helping the East Courtyard. Otherwise, the orphans and widows would have had untold suffering.

When He Yi saw that Yu Lang had taken his three thousand five hundred taels of silver, his heart ached as if it had been cut by a knife. He spoke more frankly, since he had already taken the silver and it was easier to say something, even if the silver should have been kept in the public treasury or belonged to the East Courtyard.

“I still want the position of the Fuzhou Grain Transport Commissioner. The current Commissioner, Lord Qian, should return to the capital to report for duty before the end of the year. Lord Shen has been operating in Fuzhou for many years and is now serving as the Director of the Fujian Provincial Department of the Ministry of Revenue. He is in charge of the grain and grain transport. If he is willing to put in some effort, becoming a Commissioner should not be difficult.”

The Grain Commissioner was responsible for the grain rations of the soldiers under his command in a certain area, the collection, storage and expenditure of grain, as well as the collection and escort of grain transport, the inspection of warehouses in the prefectures and states under his jurisdiction, and all other matters related to grain. It was a powerful and lucrative position.

There were many people eyeing this position, and He Yi, who had just opened his mouth to ask for the position of the official in charge of grain transport, really didn't stand on ceremony with Yu Lang at all.

"Second Uncle, this amount of silver might not be enough for this position."

“Our family and the Shen family are related by marriage. Lord Shen has been able to rise steadily from Fuzhou to the Ministry of Revenue all these years, and even His Majesty summons him every now and then. Is it because of money?”

The Shen family was so wealthy that He Yi dared not even try to fathom it. Old Master Shen had worked in the Imperial Workshops for many years and had amassed a fortune that allowed Shen Hongshi to never touch money he shouldn't have in Fuzhou for so long. He wouldn't say he was completely incorruptible, but at least he never reached into the pockets of ordinary people.

“Shen Hongshi is not young. If he doesn’t get promoted in a couple of years, he will be stuck as a minor official in the Ministry of Revenue. His Majesty values ​​your father-in-law’s competence and sense of propriety. He can’t just be clean himself; he also has to keep his subordinates and his faction in check.”

"I know you feel that the West Courtyard has benefited in the past few years, but no matter what your family thinks, people outside still say good things about me."

You and your sister-in-law think I'm scheming, but no matter what, I've never done anything heinous that would leave your East Courtyard with no way out. I value my future more than Shen Hongshi does; I'm more suitable for this position than anyone else.”

"Yes, yes, yes, Uncle's words come from the bottom of his heart. Uncle values ​​face and reputation most. It's good to gain advantages and benefits, but if these things have to come at the cost of your reputation and dignity, you'd be willing to give up any advantage, big or small, even including..."

Yu Lang didn't finish his sentence, only glancing sideways at the pale-faced Shumulu. It was only because He Yi still wanted the reputation of marital harmony at this point that His Majesty would definitely not target the women; otherwise, he might have really sacrificed his second aunt.

"I won't!"

He Yi knew perfectly well what Yu Lang meant by what he didn't say. He instinctively retorted, but Shumulu, already weakened by He Yi's anger, was simply sitting there without uttering a word, which was the best evidence of his inaction. He said he wouldn't, but he did everything.

However, such a person is as ruthless as he is clever. He has great ambitions and cherishes his reputation very much. Therefore, putting him in the position of grain transport commissioner can indeed save Shen Hongshi a lot of trouble. Not only will he not have to worry about Shen Hongshi causing trouble, but for the sake of his official reputation and the possibility of returning to the capital one day, he may have to grit his teeth and act as an upright official.

"Whether it will happen or not is not up to me as your nephew. Let's take it one step at a time. I can't agree to go see my father-in-law right now. I have to go back and ask Shen Shi what she thinks."

"Why ask her about things outside?" Upon hearing Yu Lang say he needed to go back and discuss it with Shen Wanqing, He Yi's first reaction was that the kid was just making excuses for him. But then he thought that shouldn't be the case; if he really wasn't willing to lend a hand, he wouldn't have come tonight.

"Second Uncle, you've really gotten used to being a hands-off manager. You're going to take up a post outside the capital, haven't you thought about how to arrange things for the entire West Courtyard?"

The two families that separated years ago now live under the same roof again because the eldest son's family has lost its pillar. If they want to separate again, they will have to wait until the old lady passes away. Otherwise, if the west courtyard wants to move out, the east courtyard will have to desperately try to keep them, or they will lose their backbone.

"My second aunt is pregnant. If it were a few days ago, when she was in good spirits and health, this wouldn't be a big deal. Most of the journey from Beijing to Fuzhou is by water, and even in the coldest winter, it's not that cold in the south."

"But now, Second Uncle, look at Second Aunt. I'm afraid something might happen to her just as she's sitting here. How can she follow you all the way to your post like this?"

"If I don't go to my post and stay at home, who will take care of me from pregnancy to childbirth and postpartum confinement? Not to mention that for a year or two after the baby is born, my second aunt will be preoccupied with the child. At that time, besides my wife, who else can manage the affairs of the west courtyard?"

“Your wife doesn’t need to worry about me. I can go to my post. Your second uncle has never left the capital. It’s not that easy to be an official in a foreign place. You men have a tough time outside. Do you think we wives are just supposed to sit around doing nothing? If I don’t go, how will your second uncle socialize with people in his post?”

When asked about her usefulness, Shumulu's previously slumped back straightened up again. She was right; officials and ministers often did things that couldn't be openly discussed, and that's when their so-called protégés, former subordinates, and wives had to play a significant role.

The dirty and sordid matters were left to the servants and lackeys below, while the secretive and unspeakable matters were left to the retainers and subordinates. As for the matters that needed to be addressed to build relationships and advance progress, they were mostly left to the women in the inner quarters. The two ladies would meet once and understand what needed to be said and what needed to be conveyed.

Even now, Shumulu Shi had no intention of leaving He Yi to live her own life. She still had two sons, and she couldn't be a second wife in name only.

“That’s my second uncle and aunt’s business. I don’t care how you two rise to prominence in the officialdom.” Yu Lang waved his hand. “What I mean is, if my second uncle leaves and my second aunt follows, what about Tu Nan and Hui Zhong? Will they leave too?”

"The two children will naturally stay with us..."

"They can't leave, neither of them can leave."

He Yi answered confidently, but was interrupted by Shumulu before he could finish. Whether it was due to emotional agitation or something else, his already sallow complexion was now flushed red, making him look even more strange.

In all the years of their marriage, He Yi had never been interrupted by his wife in front of outsiders. A surge of anger welled up inside him, but before he could lash out, or rather, Shumulu Shi didn't care whether he was angry or not at all.

She turned to look at Yulang and said, "I have to keep the two children in the manor. I may not have done anything great these past few years, but I have worked hard. Don't hold a grudge against me for taking public funds. You are destined not to keep this money."

Shumulu's words were harsh, but they were true. With the second branch of the family not returning, given the first branch's situation at the time, a huge financial disaster could have struck at any moment, wiping out the entire family fortune. Relying solely on servants to manage the household? Leaving aside whether that was feasible, even if it were, wouldn't those servants embezzle the family's money?

"It's just that I'm the one who takes the money, so you and your mother still have someone to hate. If it were someone else, you wouldn't even have anyone to hate them for."

"Yes, Auntie is right, so I came today because Uncle asked me to."

“Tu Nan and Hui Zhong cannot leave the capital.” Shu Mulu carefully observed Yu Lang’s expression, and only continued speaking after confirming that he was not being sarcastic.

“Tu Nan is thirteen this year. He should be ready to get married in two years at most. If he goes to Fuzhou now, he'll be lucky to even establish himself in two years. How can he possibly find a good family to marry into? We should keep him in the capital. We should find him a job in the Commander's Office, the Imperial Guard, or the Imperial Guard. That's the right thing to do.”

"Huizhong is good at studying, so let him stay in the capital and study in peace. It would be best if his father could return to the capital in a few years. If he can't, he can take the Manchu civil service exam on his own. If he passes, great. If he doesn't, we'll find a way to get him a job."

The future of her two sons was something that Shumulu had been concerned about since their birth, more important than anything else.

To put it bluntly, this trip out of the capital was a desperate attempt to escape the city. I didn't care what happened to myself; it was just that I was so unlucky. For years, things that the people didn't complain about and the officials didn't investigate had become a matter of life and death for me.

But she couldn't let her two children be implicated. If anyone dared to jeopardize her two sons' future, Shumulu would devour them alive.

"Second Aunt, it's not just Tu Nan and Hui Zhong, there are also two aunts and two younger sisters, we can't just ignore them."

"If the master is willing, he can take the two concubines with him to his post. If not, they can stay in the manor. The manor cannot be without food."

Perhaps it was because Shumulu's words were too confident that Yulang stammered several times before he could finally say them.

“There are two younger sisters, they are still very young. Raising girls requires more care than raising boys. Besides, our girls will be selected for a beauty pageant when they grow up. Second Aunt, you mustn’t do anything reckless. If you really ignore them, the old lady will be the first to object.”

"Leave"—a simple word. Securing an official post outside the capital is difficult, but not that difficult. What's truly worrisome is this large family; it's not something you can just abandon so easily.

Yu Lang didn't even need to guess to know that if his second uncle succeeded in this matter, he would definitely abandon the whole family. It would be better if Shumulu didn't go with him, but if she went to Fuzhou, who else but Jiyun would take care of the rest of the family?

As early as the night before the Mid-Autumn Festival, Yu Lang understood his wife's intentions. She wanted the rights she deserved as the eldest mistress of the East Courtyard, but she had no desire to get involved in the affairs of the West Courtyard.

He also knew that she had already taken care of the accounts of the private property in Pandong Courtyard. Once she got the household accounts and sorted out the affairs of the family, she would start working on the shops and land outside.

When the family divided the property, in addition to this large house and cash, my father also received 300 mu of land in the suburbs of Beijing, 100 mu of land outside the pass (outside the pass) as needed, the rent from two shops, and a share in the salt merchant's business.

This share went from the old nobleman's mansion to the old master separating it from the mansion, then to his father, and finally to himself.

The number of shares naturally decreased, but even with the decrease, there was still a profit of 1,200 taels of silver every year. These silver, land, shops, and businesses all awaited her allocation and arrangement. Where would she have time to deal with the mess in the West Courtyard?

"They're not leaving; they're all staying at home."

He Yi was somewhat surprised. When Yu Lang said he was going back to discuss it with Madam Shen, he thought it was just his nephew making excuses.

It wasn't until he patiently listened to his wife and nephew's back-and-forth conversation that he believed Yulang was truly unwilling to let Shen take charge of the West Courtyard. Even if letting her manage the West Courtyard could make up for the humiliation she had suffered over the past few years, she probably wouldn't be willing.

"Back then, when Shumulu managed the household for her sister-in-law, the two families had different priorities when it came to contributing money to the public treasury. If your wife is willing to lend a hand now, we can renegotiate the amount."

Besides, the old lady is getting on in years, and it's uncertain when I, her son, will return. If she's willing to agree, starting at the end of this year, the second branch of the family will contribute 2,500 taels to the public treasury as a token of my respect for her. What do you think?"

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Black Monday, you know what I mean.

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