"What do you mean by 'disrespectful'?" The Duchess was displeased. "Even if Jiaojiao comes from a poor background... she's different. I'm not going to send someone to propose marriage directly, but rather let her make an appearance. Maybe Old Madam Shen will like her! Anyway, it won't hurt to give it a try."
Granny Yu choked and couldn't utter a sound.
Madam is insulting people just by having the idea of arranging for Li Jiaojiao to marry the young master of the Shen family!
What kind of family is the Shen family?
Although their Duke's Mansion is a rank higher than the Marquis's Mansion in terms of nobility, it sounds very nice.
However, since the old Duke passed away, the family has been experiencing financial difficulties.
The current Duke was a playboy in his youth, but now that he's old, he no longer causes trouble outside, but instead immerses himself in women and ignores all worldly affairs.
The young masters below are all good for eating, drinking, and having fun, spending money like water. They are neither literate nor skilled in martial arts.
Even if they had mountains of gold and silver at home, it wouldn't be enough for them to squander like this.
However, in just a few years, the family began to struggle financially.
Moreover, no one in their family has ever served as an official in the imperial court.
The Marquis of Dingguo's family wields real power.
Marquis Dingguo, Shen Zhiqiong, has a distinguished military record and is now serving as the Minister of War.
Master Shen is also a man of great talent in the capital, a great scholar at a young age.
Most importantly, the current Empress Dowager is a member of the Shen family, and the Emperor is the direct grandson of the Shen family.
That status was incomparable to that of their Duke's mansion.
......
The Duchess led Granny Yu to the outer hall.
Two middle-aged men were waiting there. One was the head of all the estates under the Duke's mansion, and the other was the general manager of all the shops under the Duke's mansion.
The Duke's Mansion's income was received once half a year ago.
After the Duchess sat down, the head of the estate handed over more than 21,000 taels of silver notes.
The shopkeeper paid four thousand taels.
The Duchess flew into a rage as soon as she saw the accounts: "The estate is one thing, but what about the shops? A dozen shops made four thousand taels in just six months?"
The shopkeeper looked troubled: "We've done our best. But this year is bad, and several shops are losing money. Some are doing well just to break even."
The Duchess was furious and scolded them for a quarter of an hour before the manager and the head steward finally left.
At this moment, another maid came in: "Madam, some merchants have come to collect their debts."
The Duke's mansion kept detailed accounts of all its spending outside the home, with merchants coming to settle accounts monthly. This was a common practice among most noble families.
"Come in!"
Before long, a row of merchants or shopkeepers arrived.
The pimp at Yichun Courtyard: "The day before yesterday, the Duke redeemed our courtesan for a total of eight thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine taels."
The matchmaker said, "Half a month ago, the young master bought a prostitute from me for a total of 1,263 taels."
Jewelry shop: "A few days ago, Madam brought the Third Miss to my shop to buy jewelry, which cost a total of 1,100 taels. There was also jewelry for several young mistresses, which cost 780 taels."
Dried Goods Shop: "Last month's shark fin, bird's nest, and ginseng... totaling 1,360 taels."
Clothing and Clothing Shop: "Last month, all of you gentlemen must have bought a thousand..."
Then there are some other miscellaneous accounts.
The Duchess's eyelids twitched as she looked at it, and in the end, she paid out more than 15,000 taels.
Watching the merchants' departing figures, the Duchess nearly coughed up blood, clutching her chest.
"Damn it... I'm so old, why am I still buying courtesans!"
Granny Yu was also furious: "And the eldest young master, he has so many concubines and maids in the backyard that they can't all be accommodated, and he still spends more than a thousand taels to buy prostitutes."
“That’s different.” The Duchess was displeased when she heard about her eldest son. “Although the eldest son has many wives and concubines, he has only given birth to one son. He buys a prostitute just so he can have more pleasing women. If he can have pleasing women, he can naturally have more sons.”
Granny Yu: "......"
The Duchess rubbed her temples: "For the past year or two, I don't know why, but those shops have been losing more money than they've made. And the estates aren't producing much either."
Granny Yu sighed softly, "But the household expenses are more than the income. What should we do... Perhaps we should reduce the expenditure?"
"No way!" The Duchess's face changed. "We are the Duke's mansion, how can our food, clothing and daily necessities be meager? If outsiders find out, they will laugh at us to death."
The Duchess was extremely anxious. Why was it so hard to make money these days?
I wish I could have a stroke of good luck and make millions.
......
The next morning.
Li Jiaojiao changed into coarse clothes and quietly went to the most famous Taoist temple in the capital to have her fortune told by the abbot.
After examining her birth date and the fortune stick she had drawn, the abbot raised an eyebrow:
"The believer suffered hardship in his youth, but encountered a very important turning point, and his fortunes turned around. You are a person with great luck and should have great opportunities. Unfortunately... your luck was blocked, and you have been plagued by bad luck ever since."
"So accurate!" Li Jiaojiao was both surprised and gritting her teeth. She must have been cursed by Li Zhiyuan!
He asked urgently, "And now?"
The abbot smiled and said, "After you left your old home, did you have smooth sailing and meet many helpful people along the way?"
"Yes, yes!"
"Congratulations, benefactor. After you distanced yourself from that person, your luck has returned."
Li Jiaojiao was full of excitement and said, "Right now... I have someone who is going to the capital with me. Will he implicate me or drag me down?"
The abbot said, "I have calculated that this person has a very deep connection with you, but if you want to live peacefully, you shouldn't get entangled with him any longer. Just send him out of the capital."
Li Jiaojiao breathed a sigh of relief: "What about my future luck?"
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