Bai Ruzhu wore a stern expression all the way.

Back at the Marquis’s residence, she looked at the items taken back from Madam Zhen’s place, feeling as if a fishbone was stuck in her chest.

She said coldly, “Madam Zhou, take these downstairs and divide them among you all.”

She was angry at herself for misjudging people.

Angry that her husband had been schemed against.

“Madam, please don’t be angry,” Li Suifeng pleaded, “Think about it—I can barely understand the Four Books and Five Classics, how would I know the imperial regulations and laws? Luckily you discovered this in time, otherwise it would have implicated sister-in-law for sure.”

Bai Ruzhu’s anger surged straight to her head: “I don’t think you even know what I’m angry about!”

Li Suifeng looked utterly confused.

He scratched his chin, rubbed the back of his head, but still couldn’t figure out what his wife was upset about.

Bai Ruzhu pulled the pear blossom hairpin from her head and slammed it onto the table. “Take it away, I don’t want it!”

“What’s wrong with me?” Li Suifeng frowned. “If you have something to say, just say it. Why make me guess?”

Bai Ruzhu gritted her teeth.

How could she just say it outright?

Originally, the Marquis probably had no such intentions.

If the truth was exposed, maybe the two women would have gotten along.

If the widow entered the Marquis’s residence as a concubine, Bai Ruzhu would surely become the biggest joke in the capital!

Li Zhiyue was speechless.

These two were over sixty years old combined, yet argued like children.

She sighed, “I can understand, but why can’t father see it clearly? Aunt Zhen’s husband died because of the Marquis’s residence. It’s understandable for father to take care of her a bit, but we must understand one thing: widows always attract trouble. Father visits now and then, bringing gifts and even gave her a hairpin exactly like mother’s. If outsiders saw that, wouldn’t they think father wants Aunt Zhen to replace mother?”

“Nonsense!” Li Suifeng’s eyes nearly popped out. “Who the hell dares to slander me behind my back like that?”

“I know father has no such intention, but outsiders won’t think so,” Li Zhiyue said calmly. “If rumors get out of hand one day, father being a man is no big deal, but Aunt Zhen is a widow. Would she prove her innocence by death, or quietly move into the Marquis’s residence? So father, to avoid suspicion, just send someone to handle any matters involving Aunt Zhen from now on.”

Li Suifeng stood there speechless.

Bai Ruzhu looked at her daughter in disbelief.

This child usually didn’t worry about anything, only knew how to spend money, yet now she had explained things so clearly.

She felt moved: “Yue’er, you’ve grown up.”

“Yes, I’m fifteen now,” Li Zhiyue said with a coquettish smile. “I’ve been of age for a while now, shouldn’t mother teach me how to manage the household?”

Bai Ruzhu coughed awkwardly.

Before marriage, she had tried to learn household management from her mother but never mastered it.

Therefore, her mother carefully arranged for her to marry into the sparsely populated Marquis’s residence in Xiangyang.

There was only the old Marquis, her and her husband—so the affairs were simple and easy to handle. Later, with the birth of a son and daughter, only a few more servants were added, nothing too complicated.

Though not many troubles, she had to check accounts every day—household, shops, estates—which stressed her out.

She had long wanted to quit.

Unexpectedly, Yue’er now volunteered to take on this work.

Bai Ruzhu smiled faintly, “The family affairs are simple, nothing much to learn. Just look through the ledgers yourself and you’ll understand.”

Li Suifeng nodded, “If you don’t understand, ask your brother. He’s studied at the Imperial Academy for so many years, it should be useful.”

Li Zhiyue covered her face with her hand.

Her brother was a playboy, always indulging in brothels, only knowing how to write poetry and flirt, probably couldn’t even handle basic arithmetic under a hundred.

“Madam Zhou, assist Yue’er with managing the household.”

Bai Ruzhu dropped this sentence and entered the inner room quickly, as if afraid Li Zhiyue would change her mind.

Madam Zhou soon sent a thick stack of ledgers and placed them in front of Li Zhiyue.

Having studied for over ten years in her past life, reading accounts wasn’t difficult for her.

Though the bookkeeping methods differed slightly between eras, the core was the same, so with a glance, she could understand.

The more she looked, the grimmer Li Zhiyue’s expression became.

For example, last month alone, the ice expenses consumed two blocks a day, about 200 jin (roughly 100 kg).

Ice cost around 200 wen per jin in the capital, meaning daily ice expenses reached 40 taels of silver.

Forty taels didn’t sound like much, but converted to modern currency based on current rice prices, it was over 20,000 yuan.

Luxurious, far too luxurious!

Li Zhiyue continued examining.

After reviewing the last month’s accounts, her face darkened.

All sorts of chaotic expenses!

The old Marquis liked buying horses, the Marquis loved collecting antiques, the Marchioness frequently hired opera troupes, the heir loved visiting brothels, and the former mistress bought all kinds of gold, silver, and jade jewelry!

She remembered the book said that after spending all their cash, the Marquis’s residence started selling shops, estates, and treasures in the warehouse.

It took more than half a year to sell everything, and the Marquis’s residence was completely ruined.

Li Zhiyue sighed toward the sky.

What a… useless grandfather, father, confused mother, prodigal older brother, and a broken self.

“Miss, it’s time for dinner.”

Madam Zhou stood quietly nearby to remind her.

All afternoon, Miss had been sighing with a bad expression, barely breathing.

She felt Miss had suddenly become serious.

Whether Miss understood the accounts or not, she didn’t know, but to sit quietly here all afternoon—that was a skill.

Li Zhiyue stretched and walked toward the flower hall.

There were few people in the Marquis’s residence, only five including the masters, and they dined together every evening.

At the door, she ran into her grandfather, the old Marquis of Xiangyang.

The old Marquis had passed his title to his son Li Suifeng at age thirty-six and since then lived a leisurely retired life.

Every day was filled with cockfighting, dog chasing, horse racing, and listening to music—life was carefree and joyful.

“Yue-niang, grandfather bought you a pony,” the old Marquis said excitedly. “A purebred Akhal-Teke, snow white all over, one of a kind in the capital. If I hadn’t reserved it three months in advance, Prince Ren would have snatched it away. After dinner, grandfather will take you to tame it!”

Li Zhiyue’s eyelid twitched. “How much is the pony?”

The old Marquis waved his big hand, “Five hundred taels.”

Li Zhiyue’s eyes widened.

Five hundred taels!

About 300,000 yuan in today’s money!

But looking at it another way, a wealthy family spending 300,000 yuan on a car didn’t seem so outrageous.

“Oh right, haven’t paid yet,” the old Marquis added. “I’ll have someone send the silver to the stables later.”

Li Zhiyue: “…”