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Lu Man smiled and reassured, “Don’t worry, Mama. Even after the separation, I am still the Princess’s granddaughter-in-law, and she will continue to look out for me. And from what I gather, they won’t keep us too far away…”
Not long after their arrival, meals were promptly delivered from the kitchen.
After dinner, with the evening drawing near, Lu Man instructed Jiang Zhankui and Jiang Jiu to rest in the East Cross Courtyard.
Having bathed and changed into a half-worn blue satin jacket, a green cotton skirt, Lu Man sat cross-legged on the heated brick bed, awaiting Jiang Zhanwei. Despite holding a medical book, she couldn’t focus, anxious about their discussion. Although she perceived Jiang Zhanwei as cunning and not one to be at a disadvantage, she still felt uneasy as their future quality of life was at stake.
As the night grew deeper, Lu Man began feeling drowsy, yawning repeatedly, yet reluctant to go inside and sleep. She wanted to know the outcome of their conversation as soon as possible.
Close to midnight, Sweet Pea returned, leaping from Qingqing’s arms into Lu Man’s embrace, meowing affectionately towards her.
Lu Man lifted Sweet Pea, kissed it gently, and whispered, “Humans are unpredictable. You’re the best. If only I had brought you along today, things wouldn’t have been so chaotic.” She contemplated, deciding to keep Sweet Pea close as a personal guard for added security.
Feeling increasingly sleepy, Lu Man yawned, hesitant to retire indoors, eager to learn about their future plans.
Around midnight, the courtyard gate finally creaked open, followed by the gatekeeper’s voice and Jiang Zhanwei’s footsteps. At some point, Lu Man had learned to distinguish Jiang Zhanwei’s steps among the others.
Entering the room, Jiang Zhanwei brought in a chill with him, removed his cloak, and handed it to Lu Man before settling on the heated brick bed.
Liu Ya handed him a warm cloth to wipe his hands. Lu Man personally poured a bowl of hot tea, passing it to him.
Sensing the seriousness of their discussion, Liu Ya and Mama Wang discreetly left the side room.
Jiang Zhanwei took a sip of hot tea and got straight to the point, “In this separation, Grandmother, Grandfather, Eldest Uncle, and Third Uncle ensured that the three of us siblings weren’t disadvantaged. Due to our exceptional filial devotion to Grandfather and the responsibility of caring for our two younger siblings until they reach adulthood, we were allocated a larger share of the family estate. I received 60,000 taels of silver, a large mansion, 1,000 acres of land, a farmstead, six shops, and various furniture and decorations. Zhankui’s portion includes 40,000 taels of silver, two shops, with the rest similar to ours. Additionally, the future dowry for little Jiu has also been allocated early, consisting of 20,000 taels of silver, 1,000 acres of land, along with jewelry and other items. As Zhankui and little Jiu are still young, their properties will be managed by our branch for now, with Second Master keeping detailed records. When I’m not around, you’ll need to oversee these matters more closely.”
Lu Man gasped, astonished by the vast amount allocated. The Princess’s estate truly exuded boundless wealth, even granting substantial assets to illegitimate children. She couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed – had she become a wealthy woman of considerable means?
Contemplating the extensive family wealth, including Zhankui and Jiu’s shares, totaling tens of thousands of taels of silver, equivalent to billions in modern assets, Lu Man felt immense pressure. With no business acumen, managing such vast estates would be a significant challenge.
She humbly admitted, “I’m not very clever, I’m afraid I won’t manage the estate well.”
Jiang Zhanwei reassured her, “Don’t worry, there are experienced individuals overseeing the estates. Grandma has appointed someone to assist Zhankui, and they will introduce themselves to you. Your role will be to review the accounts periodically. Apart from Zhankui and little Jiu’s estates, you are free to manage the rest as you see fit. Even if you exhaust the resources, I have military achievements and personal assets. A good man won’t rely solely on the family wealth, and if I’m alive, I’ll continue to provide for you. In case of my passing, the pension may not be substantial, so be prudent with your expenses.”
Lu Man wasn’t one to squander wealth recklessly, how could she deplete such vast assets?
Nevertheless, despite her reservations, Lu Man couldn’t help but be moved by his words. Uncertain about his true feelings towards her, his actions demonstrated a sense of responsibility. With the backing of the Princess and the substantial wealth now at her disposal, her future was secure. In less than a year, all her initial fears, worries, and confusion upon arriving had vanished, paving the way for a clear and promising future.
Jiang Zhanwei took out a stack of banknotes from his pocket and counted out a dozen or so notes, saying, “This is our combined 60,000 taels of silver. Keep them, use them as you please. The annual income from the fields and shops amounts to around 6,000 to 7,000 taels of silver, which covers the household expenses for the year, with a surplus. When the formal separation occurs, I will provide 2,000 taels of silver, covering the household expenses for the next year.” He handed Lu Man the remaining notes, explaining, “These are Zhankui’s 40,000 taels of silver and little Jiu’s 20,000 taels of silver. Second Master has the records for these transactions.”
“Keep all of them? That’s too much. I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep with such a large sum, and what if they get lost?” Lu Man hesitated.
Jiang Zhanwei smiled warmly, reassuring her, “The substantial savings are under the Jiang family’s name, even if someone steals them, they wouldn’t dare use them.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Man counted the banknotes and found the exact amount. She retrieved two brocade boxes from the bedroom, placing her 60,000 taels of silver in a purple box and Zhankui and little Jiu’s 60,000 taels in a magenta box. After securing the boxes in the drawer and locking it, she felt at ease.
Seated on the heated brick bed, Lu Man listened as Jiang Zhanwei continued, “Once the furniture, decorations, and jewelry are sorted by the estate, they will be handed over to you. When I’m away, you need to be vigilant, especially with Zhankui and little Jiu’s belongings. Keep accurate records.” Seeing Lu Man nod solemnly, he added, “Until Grandfather is independent from you and I’m away, you can’t leave the estate. We will allocate the easternmost Donghui Courtyard to you. It consists of five courtyards with a cross-courtyard, around sixty rooms, and a small gate in the northeast for easy access to the outside world. This way, you’ll be safe and have convenient access…”
Lu Man was pleased. Separating and living in the estate, with freedom, multiple properties, security, and convenience, was an ideal situation. Jiang Zhanwei had cunningly leveraged Madam Hong’s actions to secure the best outcome for them, including herself.
With a smile on her face, Lu Man remarked, “Third Young Master is truly efficient, dividing the family before the patriarch. It’s quite rare.”
Jiang Zhanwei shook his head, a wry smile playing on his lips, “In reality, Grandfather was eager to separate me earlier. If he had been lucid, he might have done it on his own without my prompting. I merely gave them a good excuse… Perhaps I’ve said too much. When I’m away, take care of your younger siblings, show filial respect to Grandmother and Grandfather daily. Also, Second Master has surprisingly come around and helped us significantly this time.”