Chapter 7 Butler's Power
She put on a heartbroken expression.
“Our General’s Mansion looks impressive, but the expenses are huge! Your father is away from home all year round, and we have to support a hundred people in the mansion. Social obligations, gifts, and entertainment all cost money. As your second aunt, I manage this household and I wish I could stretch every copper coin in half!”
"You've just returned to the manor and you're already so extravagant and wasteful! Those who know you might say it's the style of our Xie family's eldest daughter, but those who don't might think our General's Mansion is full of nouveau riche who don't know how to restrain themselves and are just making a laughing stock! I'm even more afraid that someone with ulterior motives might submit a memorial saying that your father indulges his daughter's extravagance and damages the General's reputation!"
Xie Wuyou chimed in at the opportune moment, pouting, "Exactly! Eldest sister, you're so inconsiderate! Is that shimmering brocade something you can just wear however you want? Why not save the money and buy more practical things for the household, or..."
Faced with this barrage of accusations and moral blackmail, Xie Sangning showed no panic or remorse whatsoever; instead, she seemed to find it a joke.
She slowly sat up straight.
"Heh... Second Aunt, are you teaching me how to do things? Or are you just complaining about being poor?"
She tilted her head slightly: "The money I spent was my own, Xie Sangning's. Aren't the rewards and stipends from Father all in the hands of your second branch of the family? You should know this better than I do."
"What, do I need to report to you, Second Aunt, to spend my own money? Do I need you to teach me how to spend it without being wasteful? Do I need to be sensible?"
Wang was taken aback by her question, her face flushing red: "You...you're talking nonsense! What do you mean by 'yours' and 'mine'! We're all family! Your money is the General's mansion's money, isn't it?"
"Family? Didn't you laugh to yourself when you said that? Search your conscience. Over the years, your second branch of the family has been eating my father's food, living in my father's house, and using my father's things. Even these old gold hairpins on your head probably came from the public funds, didn't they?"
"I've been supporting this whole family of idlers, and you're not even grateful. Now that I'm spending some of my own money, it makes you, the head of the family, feel so bad that you come here to boss me around?"
Her gaze swept over Xie Wuyou, her disdain undisguised: "What? Are you jealous because I'm wearing gold and silver? Do you feel wronged? Do you think I should save my money to buy your second wife some presentable clothes so you wouldn't have to dress so shabbily to attend the princess's banquet?"
"You...!" Madam Wang trembled with rage, pointing at Xie Sangning, "How dare you speak to your elders like that! You have no respect for your elders!"
"Elder?" Xie Sangning scoffed and slowly stood up. She was tall and looked down at the furious Wang Shi with such a commanding presence that Wang Shi involuntarily took a half step back.
"Someone who only has a foothold in the general's mansion because of his elder brother's charity dares to talk about respect for elders in front of me?"
"Second Aunt, let me give you a piece of advice: your attire reflects your status. Don't think that just because the Second Princess gave you an invitation, you've become someone important."
Xie Wuyou screamed: "Xie Sangning!"
Wang was furious. Before Xie Sangning returned, she had never suffered such humiliation.
"You...I'm going to tell the old lady! I'm going to..."
"Go ahead!" Xie Sangning interrupted her without any politeness. "Speaking of household expenses, you've reminded me. By the way, please also have your household management accounts from all these years organized and take them to Grandmother for review!"
“My niece overheard some gossip on the street today, saying that our General’s Mansion is all show and no substance. It looks glamorous on the outside, but inside it’s been mismanaged, the accounts are a mess, and the shops are losing money! I’m new to the mansion and didn’t want to get involved, but since my second aunt mentioned how difficult it is to manage a household, that’s perfect!”
She stepped forward, her demeanor imposing: "Since Second Aunt thinks the housekeeper is so burdened, and even hesitates to spend her niece's own money, then why not..."
Xie Sangning's tone suddenly softened, tinged with amusement: "Although I grew up in Xihan, I am somewhat knowledgeable in household affairs, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to accumulate a family fortune that makes my second aunt envious."
"How about I take over the management of the General's Mansion and share the burden with my second aunt? That way, my second aunt won't have to work so hard all day and end up with a reputation for not managing the household well and embezzling money. What do you think?"
The words "housekeeper's power" struck Wang Shi like a bolt from the blue!
Indeed, if Xie Sangning finds out his mistake and goes to the old lady to ask for the right to manage the household, given the old lady's personality of valuing the honor and interests of the General's Mansion more than her own life, not only will she lose the right to manage the household, but she will also be kicked out of the General's Mansion!
Wang's lips trembled, and she couldn't utter a single word.
The power to manage the household was the foundation of her survival in the General's Mansion! It was the only thing that allowed her, the second wife, to maintain her dignity in this mansion!
Once she loses her power as steward, she will completely lose control over the household's finances, lose her authority over the stewards and servants, and even... she might even lose the right to continue living in the General's Mansion!
The General's Mansion is the residence of General Xie, and its design was personally bestowed by the Emperor.
Their second branch was merely a collateral branch dependent on their elder brother.
Mother has ordered that they live in the mansion.
But once the power of housekeeping is lost, it is perfectly legitimate and reasonable for the new head of the household to find a reason to ask them to move out and find another place to live!
By then, what will their second wife have left?
An idle, unemployed second master? Two obscure children?
Without the protection of the General's Mansion, they would immediately be reduced to their original state and become ordinary citizens of Jinling City!
Wang felt a chill run from her feet to the top of her head. She looked at Xie Sangning's shocking face and saw the undisguised calculation and threat in her eyes.
This niece who returned from Xihan was not the ignorant wild girl she imagined at all, but a wolf cub with fur and sharp claws!
Her extravagant spending today shows she's not afraid of coming after her! It's a demonstration! It's a provocation!
"No...no..."
Wang's voice was hoarse: "Steward... Steward's affairs are complicated and trivial. Sang Ning, you have just returned to the manor and are not familiar with many things. How can I trouble you?"
At this moment, how could she dare to mention spending too much money? How could she dare to mention accepting her personal use?
Seeing her like this, Xie Sangning lazily sat back on the couch, her tone returning to its previous indifference: "Oh? Second Aunt can still handle it? That would be best. Sangning was just mentioning it casually, worried that Second Aunt might be overworked."
She paused for a moment, then said, "As for Sang Ning's expenses, there's no need for Second Aunt to worry about that. Where and how I spend my own money has nothing to do with your second branch of the family. Second Aunt had better understand that. I hope Second Aunt will make up the deficit as soon as possible to shut up the gossips outside."
"Yes...yes...Sang Ning is right..."
Wang's face was ashen, and she was drenched in cold sweat. She just wanted to end the conversation as quickly as possible: "Second Aunt, you can go back now. The accounts will be thoroughly reviewed..."
She finished speaking incoherently and practically fled, not even bothering to greet her own daughter.
Xie Wuyou didn't understand why her mother suddenly backed down. She glared at Xie Sangning resentfully and left with Madam Wang.
Ru Chun and Ru Xia exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with admiration for their young mistress.
Miss's move not only silenced the Second Madam's attempt to cause trouble, but also severely intimidated the Second Branch of the family.
Now, the power of stewardship hangs like a sword over Wang's head!
This will make her never dare to boss her around again!
Ru Dong, however, seemed puzzled and asked, "Miss, why not just take back the power to manage the household?"
Xie Sangning chuckled and rubbed Ru Dong's head: "The General's Mansion is indeed dilapidated now. If we take it back, we'll have to fix it ourselves. Why not force Wang Shi to fix it herself first, and then find a way to take it away? Wouldn't that be more satisfying?"
After listening, Ru Dong realized that she was still too young.
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