Chapter 121: Managing Finances Is Not Easy
Gu Yangui's invaluable letter home, like a warm stone thrown into a still lake in winter, created ripples of warmth throughout the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion before eventually returning to calm. Life, after all, must go on, one day at a time.
The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival. The capital should have been brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the imperial guards would not have restricted access. However, due to the ongoing war in the north, the palace ordered everything to be simplified, and even the usually bustling lantern market was much quieter. The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion couldn't afford to hang any colorful lanterns; only two plain white lanterns were symbolically hung under the porch, making the atmosphere inside even more somber than during the New Year celebrations.
Su Wanrou was in her eighth month of pregnancy, and her body was becoming increasingly cumbersome. Her ankles were swollen, and the doctor advised her to rest absolutely and not to overexert herself. Most of the time, she could only lean on the soft couch in the warm pavilion, and even when she went for a walk in the courtyard, she needed Qingdai and two maids to carefully help her.
However, the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease. With the Duke away on a distant expedition and his wife pregnant and needing rest, the vast estate of this mansion became an opportunity for some to exploit.
That morning, Su Wanrou had just finished a bowl of light bird's nest porridge when the old accountant, led by Uncle Fu, asked to see her with a solemn expression.
“Madam,” the accountant bowed and presented a thick ledger, his brow furrowed, “this is the annual general ledger sent from the estate last year. I have checked it several times, but I feel that something is… not right.”
Su Wanrou gestured for Qingdai to take the account book and place it on the low table in front of her. She didn't immediately look at it, but gently asked, "Sir, is there anything you find amiss?"
"Madam, everything else is fine, but the estate in Xishan that manages the orchards and charcoal kilns has reported a profit that's a full 30% lower than in previous years. The estate manager, Liu An, said it's because last autumn's heavy rains resulted in a poor fruit harvest, and the heavy snow in winter caused several minor accidents at the charcoal kilns, hence the deficit." The accountant paused, lowering his voice, "But I've inquired privately, and while the harvests at several similar estates nearby have been slightly affected, it's nowhere near as bad as this. And that Liu An, his second son got married before the New Year, and it was quite a grand affair..."
The meaning was clear even though the words were not fully spoken. They were taking advantage of their master's preoccupation to line their own pockets.
Su Wanrou understood. She had been in charge of the household affairs for some time and had a general understanding of the temperaments of the various estate managers and stewards. This Liu An was an old hand in the household, and relying on his seniority, he was usually quite slick. Now that the Duke was away and she was bedridden, he thought he could get away with it.
Normally, Su Wanrou could either summon and question them personally or send someone to investigate secretly; there would always be a way to deal with it. But now she could barely get out of bed. Was she just going to let these petty people bully her like this?
She hesitated for a moment, then said to the accountant, "Thank you for your trouble. Leave the account books with me for now. I am aware of the matter and have my own plan. You may go back now and proceed as usual. Do not alert the enemy."
Seeing that the lady's expression was calm, the accountant felt somewhat relieved, bowed, and withdrew.
Uncle Fu, however, looked worried: "Madam, that Liu An is a cunning and treacherous man. Now that you are unwell, perhaps we should wait..."
“We can’t wait.” Su Wanrou gently shook her head, interrupting him. “My husband is fighting bloody battles on the front lines, while we are in the rear. We must not lose our composure. If we indulge Liu An today, Zhang An and Li An will follow suit tomorrow. We cannot let our family traditions be ruined.”
She stroked her high, protruding belly, feeling the vitality of the little life inside, but her eyes gradually sharpened. She was no longer the delicate young girl who needed to completely depend on her husband; she was the mistress of this Duke's mansion, and she had to hold up the sky.
“Uncle Fu,” she said in a low voice, but with an undeniable determination, “go and do a few things.”
"First, immediately send someone with my token to the Jingzhao Yin Yamen to find Chen, the registrar, and retrieve the grain and fruit tax records from several official estates near Xishan last year. There is no need to explain the reason; just say that the government is checking old files."
"Secondly, have Zhao, the capable steward of the outer courtyard, find a pretext to go to Xishan Manor tomorrow. There's no need to check the accounts; just say that you're on my orders to check if the charcoal kiln is doing well in the winter, and also... to see Liu An's new grandson."
"Third, go to the storeroom and bring out the cane that my husband set up five years ago when he punished the corrupt steward. Place it in a conspicuous place in the passageway inside the second gate."
Upon hearing this, Uncle Fu was first taken aback, then his eyes revealed admiration. Madam's move was a masterful combination of kindness and severity, a powerful warning. Checking the tax records was to verify evidence; sending someone to visit was to exert pressure and give Liu An an opportunity to confess; and bringing out the cane was a clear warning—the Duke's family rules never failed due to the absence of the male head of the household!
"This old servant understands, I'll go do it right away!" Uncle Fu perked up and took the order.
Su Wanrou then turned to Qingdai: "Go and invite Granny Zhou here."
Granny Zhou was the younger sister of Gu Yangui's wet nurse. She held a prominent position in the household and was known for her integrity and keen intelligence. Su Wanrou always treated her with great respect.
Before long, Granny Zhou arrived. Su Wanrou invited her to sit down and briefly explained the matter of Liu An. At the end, she sighed and said, "Granny, I am young, and at this time, it is inevitable that some people in the manor will become lazy or even have unrealistic thoughts. I need you to keep a close eye on things for me on a regular basis. If there are any slackers, gossips, or those who embezzle from servants or line their own pockets, no matter how small the offense, please tell me directly."
Looking at the haggard yet bright-eyed lady on the bed, Granny Zhou was filled with mixed emotions. She patted Su Wanrou's hand and said solemnly, "Don't worry, Madam, I know what's important. This house belongs to the Duke and Madam, and it's where I've spent my whole life. I won't tolerate those parasites causing trouble. You can focus on your pregnancy. I and Uncle Fu will keep an eye on things for you outside."
With Zhou Mama's words, Su Wanrou felt more at ease.
Things turned out exactly as she had predicted. Steward Zhao went to the West Mountain Manor and returned to report that Liu An initially tried to remain calm, but when Steward Zhao mentioned, seemingly casually, the grandeur of his son's wedding, and when he saw the accompanying servants curiously examining his newly built courtyard wall, his face turned pale. No sooner had Steward Zhao left than Liu An became restless.
The next afternoon, Liu An knelt outside the second gate of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, looking disheveled and tearfully confessing his crimes of falsely reporting losses and embezzling silver. He made up for the missing silver in full, begging the madam to forgive him this time because he was a senior member of the household.
Su Wanrou did not see him, but only had Uncle Fu deliver a message: "The Duke hates treacherous and embezzling people the most. Considering that this is your first offense and the amount is not large, and that you voluntarily returned the money, he has relieved you of your position as head of the estate, given you twenty strokes of the cane, and sent your whole family to do hard labor on a remote estate. If there is a next time, you will be severely punished according to the family rules and handed over to the authorities for investigation!"
After dealing with Liu An, Su Wanrou used this incident as an excuse to have Uncle Fu and Granny Zhou secretly review the other properties, ostensibly to "check the accounts and reorganize the household affairs after the New Year holidays." Sure enough, they uncovered two more corrupt stewards and punished them severely.
This swift yet measured approach completely stunned everyone in the household. Those who had initially been hesitant or even somewhat dismissive now truly realized that this young and seemingly gentle lady was no less capable and shrewd. Even with the Duke absent, the lady remained uncompromising.
From then on, the atmosphere in the mansion became more disciplined, and all affairs were handled in an orderly manner. No one dared to slack off in the slightest because Su Wanrou was bedridden.
However, external threats are easy to eliminate, but internal troubles are difficult to prevent.
That day, Su Wanrou felt a tightness in her chest and a loss of appetite, so Qingdai specially asked the kitchen to prepare a refreshing chicken porridge and a few side dishes. She had just taken a couple of bites when she suddenly heard a maid outside announce in a flustered tone, "Madam, Miss Cousin has arrived and says she insists on seeing you."
Su Wanrou paused slightly, her hand holding the spoon still. The "cousin" referred to Liu Yiyi, the niece of Gu Yangui's deceased first wife, Liu. After the Liu family's decline, this cousin frequently visited the Duke's mansion under the pretext of visiting her aunt's old residence, her intentions obvious. While Gu Yangui was alive, she was somewhat more restrained, but after the Duke went on campaign, she visited even more often, frequently acting as if she were half the hostess and bossing the servants around. Su Wanrou, being pregnant, didn't bother arguing with her and mostly feigned illness to avoid her.
Today, she actually barged into the inner courtyard.
Su Wanrou put down her spoon, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and said calmly, "Please come in, Miss."
As the curtain was lifted, a rich fragrance wafted in. Liu Yiyi, dressed in a vibrant peach-pink brocade jacket and skirt, adorned with jewels, entered with a perfectly measured worried smile on her face.
"Greetings to my cousin-in-law." She gave a perfunctory curtsy, and before Su Wanrou could speak, she sat down on the embroidered stool by the couch. Her gaze swept over Su Wanrou's pale face, and her tone was exaggeratedly concerned, "Oh dear, why does my cousin-in-law still look so unwell? Is it because the servants in this mansion are not serving you properly? Or... is the feng shui of this courtyard bad, affecting your pregnancy?"
These words were extremely rude and malicious. Qingdai, standing to the side, turned pale with anger and was about to speak when Su Wanrou stopped her with a look.
Su Wanrou leaned against the pillows, her expression calm and composed. She only slightly raised her eyes: "Thank you for your concern, cousin. I'm perfectly fine, just experiencing normal pregnancy symptoms. By the way, cousin, is there something you need today?"
Seeing that she remained expressionless, Liu Yiyi felt a little disappointed, but then feigned friendliness and said, "It's nothing serious, but I heard that my cousin-in-law is not feeling well, and I'm really worried. With my cousin away and my cousin-in-law ill, the household can't be left without someone in charge. Although I'm an outsider, we're still relatives, and it would be good if I could help my cousin-in-law in any way. For example… the keys to the storeroom, or the account books—if you find it troublesome, you can let me take a look at them for you…"
The true intentions are revealed when the map is unrolled. They're directly trying to seize power.
Su Wanrou sneered inwardly, but her expression remained calm: "I appreciate your kindness, cousin. However, the management of the Duke's mansion has its own rules. My husband arranged everything before leaving home, so I dare not trouble you. Besides," she changed her tone, her gaze turning sharply to Liu Yiyi, "it would be bad for your reputation if you, an unmarried young lady, interfered in the management of another mansion. You should stay at home and do needlework, preparing for your future marriage."
These words were veiled in barbs, both pointing out that she was the rightful mistress of the house and subtly criticizing Liu Yiyi for disregarding her reputation and overstepping her bounds.
Liu Yiyi's face flushed instantly. She hadn't expected Su Wanrou to so directly embarrass her and even imply that she was desperate to get married. She stood up abruptly, her voice sharpening: "What are you saying, sister-in-law! I meant well! You're so sick you can't get out of bed. What if something happens to the household? How can you face your cousin who's away on a distant expedition!"
Su Wanrou's face finally darkened. She could tolerate Liu Yiyi's sarcastic remarks, but she couldn't tolerate her cursing the family, much less her using Gu Yangui to pressure her.
"Qingdai." Su Wanrou's voice was not loud, but it carried a coldness.
"This servant is here."
"Miss is tired, see the guest out." She didn't look at Liu Yiyi again, picked up the bowl of chicken porridge that had cooled slightly, and said indifferently, "Also, pass on my message: I need to recuperate. From today onwards, without my token, no one is allowed to enter the inner courtyard and disturb the peace. Those who violate this rule will be punished according to family law!"
"Yes!" Qingdai responded loudly, walked up to Liu Yiyi, whose face was ashen, and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Miss, please."
Liu Yiyi was so angry that she trembled all over. She pointed at Su Wanrou and said "you" for a long time, but in the end she didn't dare to really make a scene in the inner courtyard of the Duke's mansion. She could only stomp her foot and leave in a sorry state.
Through this incident, Su Wanrou realized that merely punishing the servants was not enough; she had to thoroughly establish her inviolable authority. Although bedridden, she began to summon the stewards, both internal and external, more frequently to hear reports and issue instructions. She handled affairs with clarity and fairness, being neither overly harsh nor lenient. She also deliberately arranged for Mingxuan to frequently meet with the stewards, ensuring everyone in the manor saw the close relationship between the young master and his stepmother, and that the future of the Duke's mansion was bright and promising.
Gradually, those who might have harbored ulterior motives completely abandoned their plans. This young Duchess, with her wisdom, decisiveness, and unquestionable maternal authority, truly grasped the vast Zhenguo Duke's Mansion firmly in her hands. Like a seemingly fragile vine with deep roots, she tenaciously protected the foundation of her home amidst the storms, awaiting the return of those who had gone on expeditions.
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