Upon hearing this, Song Ruoan's pupils constricted sharply, and she involuntarily fell off the soft couch.
With a thud, she fell and her whole body ached.
"Miss! Miss!"
Granny Hu and the other stewards all shuddered and quickly helped Song Ruoan up from the ground.
But Song Ruoan refused to get up. She tightly gripped the steward's sleeve, her eyes turning bloodshot from her loss of composure.
"So, Old Madam He put me in charge of the household so that I could use my dowry to cover up the Marquis's deficit?"
Song Ruoan spoke each word carefully, almost grinding her teeth to powder.
Upon hearing this, Manager Qian, who was in charge, hurriedly waved his hand.
"How could that be! You took on the housekeeping duties yourself! The old lady initially didn't want to give them to you!"
"After all, in times like these, if there isn't someone with the courage to manage things, the Marquis's mansion is likely to fall into chaos."
"As for the renovation of the Marquis's residence and the increase in the servants' monthly allowances, those were all your own ideas, which even the old lady didn't expect! Now everyone praises you for your decisiveness and ability to manage the household!"
Upon hearing this, Song Ruoan felt a lump in her throat, as if a salty, metallic taste was rising in her throat.
Yes, it was her own fault for taking the stewardship from Song Xizhi and even spending half of her dowry to bribe the manager!
No wonder Song Xizhi said those things in front of his servants; it was all a trap set by Song Xizhi!
"Besides, the old lady finally relented and agreed to let you handle it, which means she trusts you and has revealed her shortcomings to you. You are capable, and once you handle this matter well, your position will be secure, won't it?"
Upon hearing this, Song Ruoan took a deep breath and, with Hu Mama's help, returned to the soft couch.
That makes sense.
She seized control of the household management not only to make some extra money, but also to solidify her own position.
Her position in the Marquis's mansion indirectly affected whether He Yunce could inherit the position of heir.
She held the power of managing the household, and the old lady of the He family doted on her, all because she wanted to completely trample Song Xizhi under her feet.
Song Xizhi deliberately set a trap for her in front of everyone because he had used up all his dowry and was holding a grudge, wanting to drag her down with him!
Thinking of this, she raised her eyebrows: "Since the Marquis's mansion is like this, then since you've been managing the household for so long, did you use up all your dowry?"
The thought that Song Xizhi's meager dowry had been completely used up, while she still had a way out, made Song Ruoan feel much better.
But the steward shook his head with a gloomy expression: "No, the old lady used to keep some money in the public accounts to keep the Marquis's mansion running smoothly."
“But when the eldest young mistress was in charge of the household, she not only failed to fill the hole, but even spent the reserved silver first, which led to the Marquis’s account being empty, so that you have to pay money today, now, immediately.”
Manager Li, feeling somewhat embarrassed at this point, offered a few words of comfort: "You two are very close, so using your dowry to fill the gap is the same thing."
Upon hearing this, Song Ruoan's chest heaved violently, and her face turned ashen in an instant.
She understood! She finally understood!
When she took away Song Xizhi's power as housekeeper today, Song Xizhi's attitude was so strange! So indifferent!
So Song Xizhi did it on purpose! She deliberately wanted to spend all the money and then leave this mess to herself!
Song Xizhi, that bitch!
Her fierce gaze startled the managers, making them jump.
The stewards huddled together, trembling, and the one in the lead could only speak cautiously:
"What trouble has the Second Young Mistress encountered?"
Seeing this, Granny Hu quickly helped Song Ruoan up and then politely addressed the stewards:
"The Second Young Mistress is already aware of the current situation of the Marquis's Mansion. Although she is capable of managing it, she never expected the Marquis's Mansion to have reached such a state. Whether it is through dowry or other methods, she still needs to think it over carefully."
Upon hearing this, the managers nodded hastily as well:
"Very well! Let the young mistress think it over! I believe you can handle it, but time is of the essence. You must give the money tonight, as tomorrow is the time for the servants to receive their monthly allowances."
Song Ruoan listened stiffly, biting her lip tightly.
After Granny Hu saw the stewards off, Song Ruoan could no longer hold back her tears.
"Granny! I never knew the Marquis's mansion was in such a state! What are we going to do? This is a complete hot potato!"
Who would have thought that He Jingyan, with his outstanding military achievements and numerous rewards and honors, would end up in such a state of financial ruin?
She gripped Hu Mama's hand tightly: "I spent so much money to get this management position, this mess can't be left in my hands!"
Granny Hu gritted her teeth. "Miss, it's too late. You made a promise to Old Madam He this morning, even issuing a pledge. How can you possibly back out now?"
Song Ruoan trembled with anger as she recalled Song Xizhi's words:
"It was Song Xizhi who did it on purpose! She knew the Marquis's mansion was like this, and deliberately forced me to sign a pledge, putting me in a dilemma!"
Granny Hu comforted Song Ruoan a couple of times, then told her to sit on the soft couch and poured her a cup of hot tea.
Her eyes were deep: "Miss, the Marquis's mansion is large and powerful, and those shops and estates are also valuable. The biggest problem now is the issue of cash. The old lady's hint just now was also meant to make you establish your authority and deal with the manager."
Since Madam He herself couldn't do it, she wanted her granddaughter-in-law to do it.
Once the shopkeeper is dealt with, the losses are healed, and the shops are reopened, money can start making money again.
Song Ruoan angrily flung her hand away: "Song Xizhi has been turned against us by the shopkeeper and his associates. They are on guard now. If I do it again, not only will I not be able to find any evidence, but I will also become a laughing stock!"
As soon as Song Ruoan finished speaking, the room fell silent, except for the sound of Granny Hu repeatedly flipping through the account books.
At that moment, Ah Lian knocked on the door: "Miss, the servants outside are all waiting. They said the monthly allowance will be paid tomorrow. They're asking how much the allowance will be increased this time!"
Upon hearing this, Song Ruoan became so angry that her nose twitched. She gritted her teeth and said, "Add, add, add! Where does the Marquis's mansion have any money right now?"
"I only regret that I can deduct their money to fill this gap!"
Upon hearing this, Granny Hu stopped flipping through the account books and suddenly looked up: "Your method is quite effective."
"First, halve the servants' monthly allowances to fill the gap. There are so many servants in the Marquis's mansion; halving their monthly allowances will provide enough money. As for the managers, we'll deal with that gradually."
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