◎If you want to manage the household well, you must know exactly what’s going on!◎

After everyone left, the house returned to silence, broken only by the crackling of the burning charcoal.

Once Chu Yufu was certain no one was outside, she lifted the bed curtain, quickly pulled back the quilt, and jumped down, shivering as she made her way to the window. She retrieved the crumpled paper stuck in the window gap, firmly closed the drafty window, and let out a long breath. She had left the window open all morning—she was freezing to death!

The previous night, she had forced herself to stay awake the entire night. By morning, she felt utterly drained, her face as pale as paper, and the dark circles under her eyes were especially striking. Passing by the brass mirror, she bent over, took a handkerchief, and wiped away the cold water that had dripped onto her forehead.

As the charcoal burned, the room gradually warmed. She crawled back under the covers and quietly hummed the tune of The Cold Kiln. When the melody reached a climax, she switched it to Striking the Golden Branch. After a while, sleepiness overcame her, and she yawned widely. She wondered how her cousin and Yang Mama would explain things to Grandmother, but the fact remained—she had indeed been shorted her charcoal. If anyone doubted it, they could check the storehouse themselves.

Whether legitimate or not, she was still Chu family blood. Having recently earned favor with Grandmother, both reason and sentiment dictated that Grandmother would not ignore this. Once she woke from this nap, she probably wouldn’t have to worry about surviving the cold winter anymore.

As she drifted toward sleep, Chu Yufu’s last thought was: We agreed it was just a pretense, so why did Lan Zhu kowtow so hard? I hope she didn’t hurt herself.

…

Stepping out of Zhu Yu Courtyard, Lu Jia’an’s feet seemed to fly. Her crimson cloak billowed behind her. If she had a sword in hand, she would have looked exactly like the chivalrous heroine from the storybooks. Returning to Cishou Hall, she immediately recounted everything she had seen and heard—without embellishment, though her tone could not help but brim with indignation.

Old Madam Wei turned the sandalwood prayer beads in her hand, then looked at Yang Mama. Seeing her nod, her brows gradually furrowed. “Did anyone go to the storehouse to check?”

Lu Jia’an froze at the question. Yang Mama stepped forward: “They should have. Second Miss had already taken her medicine when we arrived.”

The old madam hummed softly, then pondered: “Send someone to double-check the storehouse.”

Yang Mama acknowledged this and left. Lu Jia’an wanted to stay, but knowing it was a family matter, she knew she had no business being present. She returned to the west wing with Sang Lu. Once inside, Sang Lu helped her remove her cloak and worriedly said, “Miss, you’re not a Chu. Getting involved in this…”

Lu Jia’an snorted, rolling her eyes and muttering under her breath: “I didn’t do anything. I only said what I saw. Even if I didn’t say it, wouldn’t Yang Mama have said something anyway?”

Half an hour later, Yang Mama returned to the main hall and reported to the old madam:

“Recently, Madam has cut costs for Zhu Yu Courtyard. The writing materials and candles have been replaced with lower-grade items. Even the variety of dishes has decreased. But the most important thing is the charcoal. Only two baskets are allocated to Zhu Yu Courtyard per month. Second Miss once asked the housekeeper about it but was sent away under the pretext of ‘saving for her dowry.’ Since then, she hasn’t said anything more.”

“Is the information reliable?” Old Madam Wei’s gaze darkened.

“Little Miss Zhang, who is on duty in the storehouse, heard it all herself,” Yang Mama explained.

A flash of cold anger appeared in the old madam’s eyes. She slammed the prayer beads onto the table. “Saving for a dowry! When did the Chu family’s century-old reputation fall to the point of rationing a daughter’s necessities to save a dowry? If word gets out, the whole capital will laugh at us!”

Yang Mama hurriedly placed her hand on her chest: “Please calm your anger, Old Madam.”

“Ruthlessly treating a child as if nothing!” Wei Laotai slammed the table in fury. “I just said she had made some progress, but it turns out it’s only superficial! Order it immediately—give Second Miss the same provisions as Eldest Miss!”

“Yes,” Yang Mama replied, then hesitated. “But what about Madam?”

“Bring her to me!”

Earlier, when Madam Wu had just entered the household, the old madam had been tactful in speaking to maintain appearances between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, hinting rather than speaking directly. Now, after ten years of Buddhist practice, her temperament had grown more straightforward—she spoke plainly when she had something to say.

“Mother.”

Madam Wu stood in Cishou Hall, respectfully kneeling and greeting her. Meeting Old Madam Wei’s stern, ink-dark gaze, her heart fluttered. What urgent matter could have brought her here before lunch?

Today she wore a red lantern-patterned brocade jacket with a white-and-gold silk skirt. In her hair, she wore a gilded pearl hairpin, the pearls round and full, glistening in the sunlight like morning dew, worth far more than dozens of baskets of silver-thread charcoal. Old Madam Wei closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and sipped her tea.

“The craftsmanship from Fu Jin Pavilion is still excellent. This gilded pearl hairpin—surely it cost more than forty taels of silver?” the old madam said coolly.

Madam Wu did not understand. What housewife didn’t have some jewelry and clothing to maintain appearances? Why was this old madam picking at every detail? Could it be because she had purchased two sets of hair ornaments recently? She had carefully dressed to enhance the family’s prestige.

Thinking this, Madam Wu straightened her back slightly and replied: “Yes. I intended to attend a banquet at the Luo residence soon, so I added some new clothing and hairpieces. At the banquet, everyone’s attention will naturally be on her. One mustn’t be underestimated.”

Hearing her defense, the old madam almost smiled. Could anyone’s reputation truly be swayed by just two sets of jewelry? She remembered telling her the same thing ten years ago when she first spent extravagantly, and had reminded her several times since. Clearly, Wu still hadn’t taken her words to heart.

In the past, she would have been willing to reason carefully with Wu, but now, she only wanted to resolve matters quickly.

She set down her teacup, forcing back her anger. “Whether you want to add clothing or jewelry, I have no objection. But if you yourself cannot practice thrift and manage the household diligently, how can you demand it of others? From now on, I do not want to hear any more news of you shorting Second Miss’s provisions—especially regarding the charcoal. The Chu family is not ruined yet; we cannot let a daughter have to save her own dowry!”

“Shorting the charcoal?” Madam Wu’s face changed dramatically. She suddenly remembered her recent instructions regarding the storehouse and hastily avoided mentioning “saving for the dowry,” scrambling to defend herself. “Mother, what you said… your daughter-in-law does not understand. Some days ago, I did indeed speak of thrift in all the courtyards, but I had no knowledge of shorting the charcoal! Could it be the housemaids under me—”

“Enough!” Old Madam Wei’s sharp voice cut her off.

Thrift in all the courtyards? She had just sent someone to check the storehouse again—Eldest Miss and Third Young Master’s provisions had not been reduced by a single measure. How could Madam Wu dare to say “all the courtyards”? But what needed to be said had been said; there was no need to tear away the last layer of shame.

She grasped Yang Mama’s hand and slowly rose, walking toward the inner room. “If you want to manage the household well, you must know exactly what is happening! If you cannot even properly supervise your subordinates, then first learn how to manage them, and only then can you run the household!”

Madam Wu trembled all over, standing behind the old madam, her lips tightly pressed together. She murmured softly, “…Your daughter-in-law will heed your teaching.”

Old Madam Wei rarely lost her temper. The newly arrived young maids, curious at the sight, huddled behind the screen to eavesdrop. When they saw Madam Wu leave, they quickly dispersed like birds and beasts. Madam Wu’s face was ashen, but she could not afford to lose her temper; she clenched the handkerchief in her hand and strode out of the main room without looking aside.

Returning to Yunxi Hall, the untouched dishes on the table had already cooled. A wave of frustration surged in Madam Wu’s chest, turning her eyes red. She grabbed a nearby celadon bowl to smash it but was stopped by Mother Meng, who gave a signal for the maids to leave and closed the doors and windows before lowering her voice to advise: “Madam, you mustn’t! You’ve just come from the old madam’s room after being scolded—you cannot act on impulse. If the old madam hears about this, it will be worse!”

Madam Wu ground her teeth, setting the bowl down. Her chest heaved. After a few moments, she picked up the bamboo chopsticks and slammed them onto the soft blue silk couch, hissing in a low voice with rage: “What does that old hypocrite understand? She has a good life! Born into the Wei family, a distinguished household—her father and brothers are capable, and even the private accounts in their hands cannot be fully counted—how could she understand my difficulties?!”

“Money, money, money! So many mouths in the household, dozens or hundreds, and they want silver the moment they open their eyes! He’er is to marry, Junze will enter the Imperial Academy next year, my husband needs to manage his official duties, and when I go out to meet guests, don’t I have to maintain appearances? Don’t think I don’t know—the people outside constantly gossip about my birth. If I don’t dress properly, how can I silence them? The moment they open their mouths, they say I’m not thrifty. Well then, tell me, how should I be thrifty?!”

She tore at her handkerchief, pacing back and forth in the room, while two strands of her meticulously arranged hair slipped from her bun.

“And how did the old madam find out that I reduced Zhu Yu Courtyard’s expenses? Could it be that Second Miss went to report it? That wretched girl! I knew she wasn’t a respectful child, ungrateful to boot. That little brat born to Wan Yuli—she had the gall to drag the old madam in against me!”

Madam Wu felt as if she were about to go mad. She had always valued appearances, and today the old madam’s words had been severe, spoken openly in front of the servants, making her utterly lose face!

She gulped down a cup of icy tea and slammed the teacup onto the table. “Yunsui? Bring that wretch here!”

When Yunsui was fetched, Madam Wu did not say a word and struck her across the face. The slap rang sharply, and Madam Wu’s own hand stung from the recoil. Still unsatisfied, she struck again. The young maid, both pained and fearful, fell to her knees with a thud, her eyes red, repeatedly kowtowing: “Madam, please forgive me, Madam, please forgive me!”

“Do you spend all your time here doing nothing? Second Miss already reported everything to the old madam, and you didn’t go back to inform me? Are you deaf or blind?” Madam Wu’s eyes were sharp and piercing.

Yunsui lifted her head, trembling, her swollen face streaming with tears, shaking her head violently: “No, it wasn’t, it wasn’t Second Miss, Madam, it really wasn’t Second Miss!”

“Second Miss was sick last night. Coincidentally, today the old madam had something to ask her, so she sent someone to report. When Cousin found out, she came to check and noticed the room was cold, realizing that Second Miss didn’t have enough charcoal—she had been sparing it during the day!”

Mother Meng and Madam Wu exchanged a glance. Mother Meng stepped forward and kicked Yunsui harshly. “You little wretch, why don’t you tell the truth?”

Yunsui cried, trying to kneel properly: “Everything I said is true. Second Miss treats Madam respectfully and would never be disobedient. I personally heard Second Miss tell Cousin that Mother only acts for her good, and she has never spoken a word of dissatisfaction!”

Madam Wu’s expression was complex. She stared at her for a long moment before saying, “Then regarding Cousin’s matter, why didn’t you report earlier?”

“Second Miss was sick and couldn’t leave. When I finally found a chance, it just so happened I ran into Mother Meng,” Yunsui said, bowing her head, hands tightly clasped at her knees. On this point, she had not told the whole truth—if she had wanted to inform immediately, she could have. Second Miss had treated her well, and at the thought of reporting her affairs to Madam, she felt an odd sense of guilt. But afraid of being scolded, she hesitated for a long time and finally decided to come to Yunxi Hall—only to run into Mother Meng and be delayed.

After venting her anger, Madam Wu’s temper cooled slightly. She sat back at the table and said coldly: “Be more alert in the future. Keep watching Second Miss’s side. If anything happens, report it immediately. You may go now.”

“Yes,” Yunsui kowtowed heavily, then got up and retreated out the door.