"Why……"

After watching all the episodes, Jin Shu's brows furrowed in pain. Not a single part of her body felt comfortable. Lying on the soft couch, even her bones felt weak and limp, and it was difficult to even turn over.

He's ruined himself like this, yet his mind is still filled with all the messy, unresolved issues of the Duke's mansion.

"Mission details: First, the original owner's maternal family, the Qingyang Jin clan, has declined. You must help the original owner fulfill her wish and revive the Qingyang Jin clan."

Secondly, the original owner had many regrets in her life, too numerous to count. You should help her resolve all her regrets; you should be able to sense what they are.

Arno's voice faded away, and Jin Shu slowly opened her eyes and exhaled.

"Okay, I understand."

The original owner's regrets? There were quite a few.

If you count them all, each and every one of them could fill a booklet.

The most regrettable thing is probably not being able to personally kill Lu Mingqian and his family of beasts.

The old beast is currently living a peaceful and harmonious life in the mountains with his beloved woman, while the little beast is still by his side.

Thinking about it this way, Lu Zhao is now eight or nine years old, which means that he got involved with another woman the year Lu Mingqian went out to fight.

The reason they only sent him back when he was eight or nine years old was probably because they saw that the Marquis's mansion had been successfully maintained by the original owner. Sending a son over to inherit the family business would save them the trouble and ensure that the family business would not fall into the hands of others.

Damn it, they really are a bunch of beasts.

Thinking of this, Jin Shu felt a sharp pain in her heart, like being pricked by needles. She struggled to sit up and asked her maid to pour her a cup of hot water. When she lifted the curtain, a chill swept in from outside.

"Madam, it's snowing outside. Don't you love watching snow? Shall I help you go out and have a look?"

Ayu was the original owner's dowry maid, who diligently followed by the original owner and helped manage the entire Duke's mansion. Ten years later, Lu Mingqian returned with that woman, and the first thing he did was to kick Ayu out.

It was euphemistically called "eradicating all feudal remnants from the Marquis's mansion."

Thinking of this, Jin Shu could feel the overwhelming hatred surging within the original owner's body. She hadn't felt such intense emotions in a long time, leaving her speechless for a moment. She could only silently calm herself down for a while, and after her emotions subsided, she looked at A Yu in front of her.

"You've been with me in this manor for almost ten years, why are you still wearing this same outfit?"

Ayu was wearing a faded pink floral-patterned jacket, which she had only worn for the past five years every winter.

"Madam, you're one to criticize me. Look at yourself! This satin jacket is one you had made at your parents' home, and you haven't changed it in five years."

The old lady gets three new outfits a year, and the eldest and second young ladies, when don't they wear new clothes every year? Even the young master is still wearing a new mink coat.

You should take better care of yourself, then you won't need to worry about me.

Although Ayu and the original owner were mistress and servant, they are now as close as sisters and can talk about anything.

Ayu knew that Jinshu was in a difficult situation and felt sorry for her having to shoulder such a heavy burden at such a young age, so she never talked about it in front of her, even if she suffered grievances.

Jin Shu took a sip of tea, then pulled out a drawer from under a small cabinet and handed two melon seeds to A Yu.

"Madam, what's wrong...?"

Ayu looked puzzled, but still respectfully accepted the golden melon seeds.

Jin Shu coughed weakly.

"The New Year is coming soon. I'll use this to make myself a new set of clothes and buy some things for my parents to send back home."

“Madam, I don’t need it. My parents have land to cultivate and they don’t have to worry about food and drink.”

Jin Shu frowned, her voice still soft and indifferent.

"Take this. Use the rest to buy some cakes for your younger siblings. Don't come back if you don't spend it all."

"Miss……"

When Ayu choked up, she couldn't help but call out "Miss." With red eyes, she clenched the gold melon seeds in her hand, knelt down, and kowtowed to Jin Shu.

Jin Shu waved her hand and said in a low voice.

"I'll give you a prescription later. You can get the medicine for me according to the prescription, and then have Granny Li brew it and give it to me to drink with my meals three times a day."

Ayu nodded, her eyes still red. Jin Shu frowned helplessly.

"Go ahead, you don't need to serve me tomorrow. When you come back, bring me some dumplings your mother made."

"Yes, thank you, Miss."

After Ayu left, Jin Shu coughed for a while, then lay down to rest. Her mind was spinning and she couldn't fall asleep.

With no other option, she could only sit up again, looking at the wind and snow outside with a haggard expression.

Since she had nothing better to do, Jin Shu called over the steward and had all the account books from the past ten years since she entered the manor delivered to her room.

The person in charge kept muttering complaints.

"It's been ten years. I don't know how many of these things have been damaged. You really know how to make things difficult for us. We have to dig these things out and hand them to you late at night."

Jin Shu changed into a light blue embroidered shawl, glanced coldly at the accountant, and exuded an imposing aura without being angry.

"Can't the rice and flour from the Duke's mansion shut you up? Or have you already had enough and want to change masters?"

Upon hearing this, the manager looked up and was startled to see Jin Shu's icy eyes. He couldn't help but tremble in his heart and subconsciously backed down.

"That's not what I meant. Madam, what's wrong with you today? Why are you so angry? Who offended you?"

"A treacherous servant has defied his superiors; do you think I should be furious?"

The person in charge dared not say another word.

In the past, because of his good relationship with the old lady, Jin Shu, as the mistress of the house, would give him some face and wouldn't hold it against him even if he was lazy.

But today, Jin Shu showed him no respect whatsoever, clearly implying in her words that he was a treacherous servant and even threatened to kick him out. Now, what could he possibly say? He slunk away with his head down.

Ten years' worth of account books were piled up, filling almost half a room.

This 48-hour system took effect around 7 p.m., just as Ayu came in carrying the brewed medicine. Time stood still at that moment, and the wind stopped abruptly.

Jin Shu calmly withdrew her gaze, found the first ledger, and began to flip through it one by one.

The candlelight flickered, casting a dim light, and amidst coughs, Jin Shu finished reading the account books from the past ten years.

After reading it, time seemed to flow by. Ayu came in carrying a bowl of medicine and immediately saw Jin Shu, who was buried under the account book.

"Why are you bringing up these old, messy accounts again? These are accounts from so many years ago. Even if you found the best accountant in the world, they wouldn't be able to sort them out. Please stop making a fuss."

Here, I've brought the medicine as you instructed. Drink it quickly.

Jin Shu took the medicine bowl and drank it all in one gulp, even eating the dregs.

The bitterness spread in her mouth, but Jin Shu didn't even flinch. She ate another piece of pastry to suppress the bitterness. (End of Chapter)