Tao Yao smiled and said, "A new concubine? Her name is Qi Jing, Concubine Qi, and she is waiting outside."
Qin Wan was quite satisfied with her tact: "Call the people in."
Taoyao didn't know what her young lady was up to, but she still called the person in.
Qi Jing stepped forward respectfully and saluted: "My concubine pays her respects to the Madam."
"Get up," Qin Wan looked carefully at the wound on her face. After applying the ointment, the slap marks disappeared. The wound on her forehead looked serious yesterday, but now it seems not to be serious, only leaving a few red marks. "Will it leave scars?"
Qi Jing shook her head: "The court doctor said it's nothing serious."
Qin Wan was relieved and asked with a smile, "Have you had breakfast?"
Qi Jing lowered her head and said obediently: "Not yet."
Qin Wan pointed to her side and said, "Let's use it together. And by the way, follow me and learn how to manage the household."
"Ah?" Qi Jing was stunned. Before she could react, Zhenzhen had already pressed her down on the table.
Taoyao has already called in all the housekeepers.
Qin Wan was eating while handling things. She put off the withdrawals that needed to be made and dealt with the rest as she pleased.
After the meal, the work was not finished. They were busy for half an hour before everyone dispersed.
Qin Wan looked at Qi Jing and asked with a smile, "Can you read?"
Qi Jing nodded: "Thanks to the old lady, all the girls and boys in the mansion can read."
The late old marquis' wife, Lu Yan's mother, was a very far-sighted and knowledgeable woman, but she married such a thing and wasted her time and energy in this inner palace.
Qin Wan sighed and asked, "Can you check the accounts?"
Qi Jing nodded again and smiled shyly, "My mother is also a small manager in the other courtyard and needs to do accounting. I learned a little from her."
Qin Wan handed the account book to Qi Jing and said, "You will be the manager of this house from now on."
"Ah?" Qi Jing was stunned. The pie fell too fast and was too big. She could hardly catch it. What should she do?
She was in disbelief and panic, and quickly knelt on the ground to express her sincerity: "Madam, I am only afraid of losing my virginity and having difficulty getting married, so I came to you to beg you. I will definitely behave myself from now on. Managing the household expenses is a big deal, and I dare not overstep my bounds!"
Qin Wan really didn't want to deal with this mess anymore. She bent down and helped Qi Jing up, put the account books and cards in her arms, and held her hands tightly. "The Marquis has brought back the Bai family. Do you understand what I mean?"
Qi Jing understood immediately!
The lady is the mistress of the house. It is difficult for her to take action, let alone stop the marquis from taking a concubine. Although the lady publicly refused Bai's offer to take the concubine yesterday, there has never been a concept of a concubine in the Zhou Dynasty. This is a challenge to her status, which the lady naturally cannot tolerate.
But it was only a matter of time before Bai came into the family. The mistress had no children, but Bai gave birth to the eldest son. The lady wanted me to be a knife in her hand!
Moreover, Bai Shi humiliated her so much last night, Qi Jing must seek justice no matter what! She was the concubine personally raised by the Madam, so what was Bai Shi, a mistress?
Qi Jing nodded vigorously: "I understand what Madam means! Don't worry!"
Qin Wan nodded with satisfaction and let her go.
Zhenzhen closed the door and asked curiously, "Miss, why did you let her take charge of the household chores?"
Qin Wan gestured for Tao Yao to bring over all the account books from these years. "Since I'm planning on getting a divorce, there's no need for me to keep the household funds. I was thinking of handing them over when I left, but now it's great that someone else is taking over."
Qin Wan looked at Tao Yao after she finished speaking: "Have you settled all the accounts?"
Tao Yao held up another account book. "We've reviewed everything. Over the past eight years, the young lady has deposited a total of 73,600 taels of silver into the mansion. Last year, we withdrew 20,000 taels of silver from the Marquis's account. Currently, there are only 30,000 taels of silver in the mansion's account."
When Qin Wan got married, the Marquis's Mansion was not making ends meet. It was she who reorganized the shops and farms everywhere, which made the Marquis' Mansion profitable and saved tens of thousands of taels of silver.
Qin Wan said, "Withdraw 23,600 taels of silver from the Marquis's account."
Tao Yao wondered, "Miss, why didn't you mention everything? The Marquis' Mansion would only owe us a little over 20,000 taels of silver. If you do this, they'll still owe us 30,000 taels."
Qin Wan fiddled with the abacus beads and chuckled, "Only when you have money can you make plans, right?"
Tao Yao understood instantly: "Are you trying to get Concubine Qi to fight against Mrs. Bai? But Mrs. Bai has military merits. Can Concubine Qi win?"
Qin Wan asked, "Military merit? Aren't they used to exchange for a concubine?"
Tao Yao didn't go with them yesterday and didn't know the details. She only knew that the Marquis asked for Bai Wanyi's second wife and even offered her military merits in exchange!
Taoyao immediately grabbed Zhenzhen and asked for details.
Zhenzhen sighed, "After the Bai family rescued the Marquis at the border, they presented a gunpowder recipe. Initially, it wasn't very powerful and unstable. After several years of research, they finally created explosives, which determined the outcome."
Tao Yao gasped, "With such merits, he deserves to be made a marquis or a prime minister!"
Zhenzhen nodded. "So when the Marquis and Bai knelt before the emperor and offered to exchange their military merit for a co-wife position, His Majesty asked for Miss's opinion."
Qin Wan sneered, "Your Majesty has thrown the difficult problem to me, so I took a step back and divorced and returned home. How can I be just a concubine after such great military achievements? It's still more appropriate to be the principal wife, isn't it?"
The four maids could hear the gnashing of teeth in her words, and they were clearly filled with hatred, but on the surface they all appeared calm and composed.
Zigui was extremely worried: "Miss, are you okay?"
"It's alright, let's check the accounts. Zigui, go gather all the things and take my dowry list." Qin Wan paused and said, "Send a letter to the Censor-in-Chief's Mansion. Let's see when it's a good time to have tea."
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