As the late spring wind blew willow catkins through the hanging flower gate, the old housekeeper was sitting in the accounting office, sighing over a thick stack of account books.

Ever since the last warehouse lock-picking incident, Liu had been like a punctured ball, nestling in the yard to rest her eyes and remaining quiet for the time being. But the old housekeeper knew that the old hag would never let it go and might be up to something sinister.

"Old housekeeper," there was a gentle knock on the door. Shen Weiwan poked her head in, holding a bowl of iced mung bean soup. "I saw that you looked worried these days, so I asked the kitchen to cook something to relieve your greasiness."

The old housekeeper looked up at the graceful young woman before him. In just a few months, this young lady seemed to have been completely transformed, no longer the silly girl who would only follow Liu and giggle.

"Young lady, you are so thoughtful." The old housekeeper put down his wolf-hair brush and watched her place the celadon bowl on the table. A few fresh mint leaves were floating on the mung bean paste. "But this account..."

Shen Weiwan pretended to be curious and leaned over, looking at the dense numbers on the account book: "What's wrong, old housekeeper? Is there something wrong?"

The old housekeeper sighed and pointed at a few lines of writing. "Look at these. The expenses for purchasing rouge and powder are more than three times higher than in previous years. And here, they say they're renovating the garden, but I've seen it, and it's just replanting a few roses. How could they possibly spend so much money?"

Shen Weiwan understood in her heart, but showed a surprised expression on her face: "Ah! So much? Could it be that the accountant made a mistake?"

"Missed?" The old housekeeper shook his head. "Liu has been in charge of the household affairs for so many years that she has probably regarded the General's Mansion as her own money bag. Before, I had no evidence and could only turn a blind eye, but now..."

He paused, looking at Shen Weiwan with a complicated look: "Miss, last time in the warehouse, the old slave..."

"Old housekeeper, please don't say that," Shen Weiwan waved her hand quickly, "I know you are doing this for the good of the General's Mansion. In fact, the chili powder in the keyhole that day..."

"I know you did it," the old housekeeper suddenly interrupted her, a smile on his face. "Well done! If it were the old young lady, I'm afraid Liu would have tricked her into handing over the key long ago."

Shen Weiwan blinked, not expecting the old housekeeper to suddenly praise her.

The old housekeeper looked at her, his eyes gradually becoming serious. "Miss, to be honest, ever since the general's death, I have been worried that this general's mansion would fall into the hands of others. The Liu mother and daughter are eyeing it covetously, and you..."

He didn't say anything more, but Shen Weiwan understood what he meant. In the past, she was indeed a hopeless person.

"Old housekeeper," Shen Weiwan straightened her back, her eyes firm, "I know I was ignorant before and made you worry. But now I understand that this general's mansion was bought by my father with his life, and I will never let it fall into the hands of people like Liu!"

Looking at the light in her eyes, the old housekeeper's heart moved. He had lived for most of his life, what kind of people had he not seen? But it was the first time he had seen such a big transformation from naive and foolish to smart and courageous like Shen Weiwan.

"Good, good!" the old butler said twice, and the wrinkles on his face smoothed out. "General, if you are in heaven, you must have chosen the right person!"

He stood up, walked into the inner room, and took out a bunch of heavy keys from a locked wooden box, with a piece of worn mutton-fat jade hanging on it.

"My lady," the old butler held the key in both hands and handed it to her solemnly, "this is the key to the general's storehouse. I have guarded it for the general for ten years. Now... it's time to hand it over to you."

Shen Weiwan looked at the familiar bunch of keys, and her nose felt sore. In her previous life, she had given this bunch of keys to Liu, which led to the tragedy that followed. She never expected that in this life, the old housekeeper would actually hand it to her personally.

"Old butler, this..." She hesitated.

"Here," the old butler pressed the key into her hand. "You are brave and resourceful, and you are willing to consider the general's mansion. I am relieved that this key is in your hands."

The cold touch of the key came from her fingertips. Shen Weiwan clenched her fists and nodded heavily: "Don't worry, old housekeeper, I will definitely guard the general's mansion and never let my father's efforts go to waste!"

At this moment, Chun Tao rushed in with excitement on her face: "Miss! Old housekeeper! There's something going on over there at the Liu family!"

"What's wrong?" Shen Weiwan and the old housekeeper asked at the same time.

"I just passed by Liu's yard and heard her yelling at Shen Ruorou in the house, saying things like 'I can't wait any longer' and 'I have to get the key!'" Chuntao panted, "and she also said...she said she would find a chance to get you out of here!"

The old housekeeper's face darkened: "As expected, the thief is still determined!"

Shen Weiwan raised the corner of her mouth and revealed a sly smile: "Get rid of me? That's perfect, I want to see what tricks she can play."

She turned to the old housekeeper and said, "Old housekeeper, since Liu is so anxious, why don't we take advantage of her?"

The old housekeeper's eyes lit up: "What ideas does the young lady have?"

"Look at this..." Shen Weiwan moved closer to the old housekeeper and whispered a few words.

The old butler's eyes lit up as he listened, and he couldn't help but clap his hands and laugh: "Excellent! What a great way to turn the tables! Miss, your brain is even more powerful than Zhuge Kongming's!"

Shen Weiwan waved her hands embarrassedly: "Old housekeeper, you are too kind. I learned this from you."

Seeing the two people singing the same tune, Chun Tao couldn't help but interrupt: "Miss, please don't be so modest. The old housekeeper just praised you and said that you are the lucky star of the general's mansion!"

Shen Weiwan's cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked at the key in her hand, her heart full of strength. With the support of the old housekeeper, she was more confident in winning this battle.

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