Chapter 38 Using Gu Qingning’s dowry?
"When the people in southern Xinjiang and northern Taiwan learned that I was killed, they began to stir."
He turned around and burned the secret letter.
His existence will shock southern Xinjiang and northern Xinjiang.
So His Majesty made arrangements for him in the secret letter, and he must come back to life as soon as possible.
As for the spies in the capital and the spy in the Duke's Mansion, they can only be watched secretly.
"Go tell my wife that I will be returning to Beijing in a month."
**
Songtao Pavilion of the Duke's Mansion.
Not long after Gu Qingning returned, she saw Chen Fenfang come in cautiously and whispered the young master's decision in her ear.
"There's still more than a month left, which means it's almost the end of the year." Gu Qingning smiled lightly, "Then I'm afraid the Duke's Mansion will have a very lively New Year this year."
Chen Fenfang smiled and said, "Anyway, our Songtao Pavilion will definitely be very lively."
Gu Qingning just smiled and said nothing.
Ten days later, Feng announced to the public that she had recovered from her illness and asked Gu Qingning and Shen Ruoying to come and pay their respects.
But Gu Qingning heard from Banxia that Feng and Shen Ruoying would go to the ancestral hall of the Duke's Mansion every night these few days and kneel down to apologize to the tablet of the young master.
The voice is full of emotion, which makes people cry when they hear it, and it is full of pity.
It seems that they were really scared by the ghost.
Coming to pay respects to Mrs. Feng today, Gu Qingning felt that Mrs. Feng had become much kinder.
But after paying respects, Feng spoke up, "By the way, Qing Ning, how is the winter clothing project going? I heard from the accountant that the money you withdrew was the same as last year, so please don't make fewer pieces."
According to the standards of the Duke's Mansion, each master is provided with three complete sets of new winter clothes. This year, two more masters were added, Gu Qingning from the first wife and Chen Ruoying from the second wife, as well as the concubine Biyue who is also from the second wife, can also receive two sets of new winter clothes.
In addition, there are the Duke’s two concubines.
Then came the stewards of the Duke's Mansion, each of whom could receive a complete set of winter clothes, and the other servants could each receive a winter coat and a pair of cotton shoes.
There are not many masters in the Duke's Mansion, but there are as many as 120 servants. All the masters, big and small, added together, is indeed a considerable number.
Feng had heard a long time ago that the price of cotton had increased by two times, which meant that if Gu Qingning wanted to make these cotton-padded clothes, she would have to pay twice the amount of money out of her own pocket!
Shen Ruoying has not been in a good mood these days, but after hearing this, she gloated in her heart, but her face was full of worry:
"But hasn't the price of cotton cloth increased a lot this year? Ah, did you use your dowry to make up for it?"
Just at this moment, the Duke came in from outside. He frowned and asked, "What did you say about the dowry subsidy?"
Feng said quickly, "It's like this. Qing Ning was asked to take care of the winter clothes for the family this year. When she saw that the price of cotton cloth had gone up, she used her dowry to make up for it."
Duke Qin frowned, "How can you use your dowry to subsidize the Duke's Mansion? If outsiders knew about this, what would they say about our Duke's Mansion? The price of cloth and cotton has increased, and there is not enough silver. Why didn't you report this to your mother?"
Shen Ruoying raised the corners of her lips beside her.
If Gu Qingning said that she had mentioned it to her mother but her mother refused, then Feng would deny it on the spot, since there would be no witnesses anyway.
Oh, she can be Feng’s witness and prove that Gu Qingning didn’t say that.
If Gu Qingning swallowed this loss, Duke Qin would not allow her to continue to manage the household affairs with Feng.
Duke Qin is very concerned about his reputation, so how could he accept a dowry from his daughter-in-law to supplement the household income?
I have to say that Feng's move was really brilliant.
Shen Ruoying, who had been frightened by the young master's ghost and hadn't slept well for several days, finally felt relieved.
Gu Qingning glanced at the smug Feng and Shen Ruoying, and finally bowed to the furious Duke.
"Father, my daughter-in-law did not use her dowry to help buy winter clothes."
Duke Qin was stunned.
Feng immediately said, "Impossible. I checked the account office and you don't have any extra money. Moreover, that day, Steward Lu saw you taking out the dowry money from your own storehouse. Do you dare to deny it?"
Gu Qingning: "Mother, the owner of the cloth shop, Wang, owes me a favor, so he gave me a much lower price for the winter clothes I bought this time. It's exactly the same price as the winter clothes I bought in previous years."
"I did take out the dowry money from my private treasury and donated it in my own name to the cotton farmers in the southwest who were affected by the disaster this year. These are all registered in the government register and can be checked."
Feng was stunned.
Duke Qin's face was full of praise. "Qing Ning is indeed capable and sensible. Feng, you just happen to be unwell recently. Since the end of the year is coming soon, let Qing Ning take care of the New Year's Eve dinner and other social activities."
Feng's face suddenly changed, and she laughed dryly, "My Lord, I'm much better now. Besides, Qing Ning is young, and she doesn't know which families our Duke's Mansion interacts with, how to send gifts, and what kind of gifts to accept. There are many rules for these. It's better not to use her, right?"
"As for the New Year's Eve dinner, the tastes of all the courtyard masters, as well as some taboos, are even more complicated. I'm afraid Qing Ning won't be able to handle it."
Feng insisted on not letting go.
Because if these two things were let go, it would prove that at least half of the entire Duke's Mansion's finances were in Gu Qingning's hands.
How can she take back what she has given?
Shen Ruoying was also very nervous, worried that Duke Qin would really hand all these matters over to Gu Qingning!
Duke Qin looked at Gu Qingning and asked, "Qingning, can you accomplish these two tasks?"
Gu Qingning: "Father, there is no problem with the New Year's Eve dinner. My grandfather's family used to run a restaurant in Jiangnan, so I have been exposed to these things since I was a child. I have learned a lot and asked a lot, so it is no problem."
"As for giving gifts to relatives, there is indeed a lot to learn. How about this, let mother arrange the gifts for the in-laws this year. As for the rest, I will make arrangements based on the visits in previous years?"
Feng rejected it outright, "No! Those other dignitaries, how could they give face to a widow like you?"
Gu Qingning said with a sad face, "In a few months, it will be a year since the young master passed away. I am worried that they will forget him, so I want to go out with them. If mother thinks this is inappropriate, then forget it."
What a good move of retreating to advance!
Feng looked at Duke Qin worriedly, and found that the corners of his eyes began to moisten.
Duke Qin sighed, "Time flies. It's been a year since Jingyu left. Qingning is right. We shouldn't let them forget Jingyu. Just do as Qingning said, but remember, if you don't understand something, ask your mother more."
Gu Qingning bowed and said, "Yes, father."
Feng glared at Gu Qingning fiercely, and her expression was almost unbearable.
Gu Qingning said with concern, "Mother, why do you look so bad? The female doctor I invited to my clinic is very skilled. How about I ask someone to ask her to come and check on you?"
Feng's mouth twitched. "I'm fine. I'm just worried that you can't do this job well. Remember, if you don't understand something, you must come and ask me. Don't act recklessly on your own."
Gu Qingning said obediently: "Yes, I always listen to my mother."
Feng: “…”
No matter what others thought, Duke Qin left very satisfied, and Feng Shi no longer wanted to take care of Qing Ning, so she waved her hand and asked them to leave.
Gu Qingning hadn't taken a few steps when Shen Ruoying's voice came from behind her.
"Sister-in-law, I heard that the female doctor in your clinic is very good at medicine. Can you let her come and see me?"
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