Chapter 17: A Love for Wealth

With Meinang pressed closely against him, Xu Jun Ying felt quite uncomfortable. As they walked along the stone-paved path between flowering vines, turned past a rockery, and entered a corridor, he had already managed to escape Zheng Mei Yu’s watchful gaze. Xu Jun Ying glanced back at the maids Cui Xi and Cui Jian trailing behind them and said coolly, “You should let go, your maids are watching.”

Meinang held on. “They’re my maids what’s it to them?”

Xu Jun Ying let out a cold snort. Meinang said, “Isn’t this nice? It’s warm!”

“Walking properly means following decorum. Besides, it’s not that cold today.”

“Why didn’t you object earlier then? Did you want me to hold on like this?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Hehe, nothing! I know Cousin Yu likes you. Do you like her too?”

Xu Jun Ying abruptly pulled his arm back, causing Meinang to grab at empty air, leaving her quite embarrassed. Using the cover of night to hide her blush, she tried to flirt with him as she would in her past life. “What’s wrong, husband? We’re nearly home… I’m cold!”

But Xu Jun Ying’s resistance to her charms was surprisingly strong. His body remained tense, and he spoke in an unusually calm tone, “If you’re truly cold, stay here, and I’ll send for someone to bring you a coat. Or if you can’t walk, those two maids can come and help. I’ll go on ahead!”

With that, he strode off quickly, putting a significant distance between them.

Even with the thickest skin, this was pushing the limit. Her face flushed, Meinang bit her lip, then followed quickly without trying to cling to him again. Feigning calm, she asked, “Why won’t you let me help manage the household?”

“You don’t have the ability.”

“But I do!”

“Stay with Heng Ge’er, enjoy the wealth and peace, and don’t worry about anything. Managing the household isn’t easy work; you’d wear yourself out!”

Meinang was moved by his last sentence, thinking he was concerned for her health. She said softly, “You worked hard to earn your military merits, bringing wealth and titles to our family, which a wife should cherish. But you’re often at war, unable to look after us. As the marquis’ wife in name only, I don’t get many of the same benefits as the others… Your salary goes to the family funds, and I only receive a small monthly allowance. Since Heng Ge’er and I are unwell, we have to buy our own medicines and supplements. Now that Jing Yu manages the household, she is strict with us in the Qing Hua Courtyard, giving others more while keeping us short. Outwardly, we can’t say anything, but it feels as if we lack the resources of even common folk… I asked to manage the household not only to help Rulan but to see for myself how your salary is used. As the eldest daughter in law, it’s my duty to help manage affairs and lessen the elders’ burden, don’t you think?”

Xu Jun Ying stopped and looked at Meinang. “Though I have military achievements, I inherited the marquis title, which comes with responsibilities. With so many family members, my salary naturally goes to the public fund, to be used for everyone. Besides, there are many properties and shops under the household, with account books filling several rooms and numerous managers to oversee everything. How could you handle it all? Every woman in the family has an allowance, including you, who has a title equal to that of a first-ranked official’s wife. That should be enough, shouldn’t it? If you stay out of household management, I’ll even add a bit to your monthly allowance.”

Feeling wronged, Meinang replied, “My allowance might seem adequate, but since recovering, I can’t find a spare coin anywhere. Others have new winter clothes, even Cousin Yu, but I’m wearing last year’s clothes. What kind of official’s wife lives like this? As a husband, you should entrust the family funds to me instead of just giving me an extra allowance. I’ll be sure to handle things responsibly!”

Xu Jun Ying’s gaze shifted. “I didn’t realize you love money so much!”

Meinang chuckled. “What’s wrong with loving money? Even virtuous people love wealth, let alone a woman like me!”

Xu Jun Ying let out a snort. “I didn’t know how you managed your money before, but last month, Cousin Yu looked after it for you and locked it in a small box in the East Garden. She likely wanted to return it to you earlier. As for new winter clothes, you’ll certainly get yours. Jing Yu mentioned that since you were unwell, it wasn’t convenient to take your measurements, so she decided to wait until you recovered to make yours.” He paused and added, “I didn’t want you involved in household matters because your nature is calm, but not as shrewd or calculative as Jing Yu’s. I also prefer not to have too many people know you as the eldest wife.”

Meinang was surprised. “Not to let people know me? Why?”

Xu Jun Ying gave an indirect answer: “If the elders insist you help with household management, fine. But if there’s any embezzlement, there will be a severe penalty, including losing the right to manage the household and never being allowed to leave the residence to meet people.”

Meinang was stunned. “That’s a harsh punishment never allowed to leave? What if the palace summons me?”

Xu Jun Ying replied as he walked on, “You’re a patient, the palace wouldn’t summon you.”

After a moment, Meinang hurried to catch up, but as she turned, she ran into Xu Jun Ying, his elbow striking her in the chest. She winced in pain and bent over, catching her breath.

Xu Jun Ying asked, “Are you all right?”

His tone was calm, lacking urgency. Meinang, feeling upset, took a moment to breathe before replying in a low voice, “Are you made of iron? That hurt! If you hit me any harder, you’d kill me!”

Xu Jun Ying said nothing for a moment, then added, “Shall I call the maids to help you?”

“No need! What did you want to say when you turned around?”

“What did you want to say by catching up?”

“I forgot after you bumped me!”

Xu Jun Ying couldn’t help but laugh a bit, then said, “From now on, call me ‘Lord Marquis’ don’t call me ‘husband.’”

What kind of couple was this? He wouldn’t even let her call him husband now!

A faint chill rose in Meinang’s heart, and the spot where she’d been hit ached. She said, “Lord Marquis, please go ahead, I’m tired and need the maids to help me walk.”

Xu Jun Ying nodded. “Just around the corridor is the courtyard gate, you’ll be fine from here… I’ll go on ahead.”

Watching as he walked away, his figure and the light disappearing at the end of the corridor, Meinang clutched her chest and crouched down.