Chapter 149: The Vindictive Little Wife

Hong Ye paused and said, "There’s no need to be this urgent. You can take your time to investigate, Miss."

With that, she picked up a pen and paper, sat aside, and selected a ledger to peruse.

Cui Ming slowly tidied up the needlework in her hands.

Outside the room, in the courtyard, Gu Jinghui, just stepping onto the covered bridge, halted his steps, hiding his figure in the shadows to avoid being seen by the young maids standing under the corridor.

He also wanted to hear Qin Yuan’s response.

Inside the room, Qin Yuan said, "How can I not be anxious? The ledgers are all here now. If I carefully examine them, I can definitely find the errors. The things I want won’t just land in my hands."

Gu Jinghui plucked a leaf from a tree, fiddling with it in his hand, his narrow eyes firmly fixed on the window of the main room.

The window screen faintly showed the silhouette of a person moving inside.

Hong Ye asked, "Could it be that even at this stage, Sixth Lady still has the face to manage the household affairs?"

Qin Yuan snorted lightly and said, "You all saw the behavior of the Xu family today while following me, didn’t you?"

The Xu family’s daughters were raised by the Xu family.

If the Xu family could act that way, why couldn’t Sixth Madam?

It’s indeed a problem.

Hong Ye seemed puzzled, and the room fell into a short silence.

Just as Gu Jinghui was about to step out from the shadows, he heard Qin Yuan speak again, "I had initially planned to take it slowly, first to show my skills to Mother, so she would gradually trust me with the household affairs. But I’ve changed my mind now. I can’t wait any longer. This outbreak of smallpox in the mansion is my opportunity. Once I find her mistakes, no matter who causes trouble or pleads for her, the household management will undoubtedly fall into my hands."

Gu Jinghui was stunned.

Cui Ming got up as well, walked over to the table, obviously to help look at the ledgers too.

Hong Ye asked, "Is it because the Xu family caused trouble today, Miss?"

Qin Yuan said, "Yes and no."

Cui Ming asked, "Is it because you’re angry with Sixth Madam for sending Miss Zhen to Yu Yuantang?"

Qin Yuan said, "A little bit."

Hong Ye clapped her hands and said, "I knew it. Our miss is always one to repay an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. They messed with her, they’re just asking for trouble before nightfall."

Cui Ming couldn’t help but laugh, followed by Hong Ye’s pleading cries, "Miss, Miss, I was wrong. I won’t speak carelessly anymore, okay?"

Gu Jinghui tossed the crushed leaves in his hand to the ground, shaking his head with a bitter smile.

He had forgotten that his young wife was inherently the type to return every grievance. Gu Baoshu had offended her, and she was bound to think of ways to deal with it. How could she endure silently for so long?

It was apparent that Sixth Lady Gu and Zhenzhen had bothered her greatly. Learning today that Zhenzhen had gone to Yu Yuantang after her cousin, and with the Xu family causing a commotion, she couldn’t hold back anymore.

Gu Jinghui thought, though his young wife seemed gentle and soft like a cat daily, her claws and teeth were sharp, capable of inflicting real pain.

He heard Qin Yuan say again, "Though I sympathize with Zhenzhen’s situation, I cannot tolerate any speck of dust in my eyes. These troubles were all brought upon by them, the aunt and niece. If I don’t seize the opportunity to solidify my control over the household management, it would be a waste of divine providence."

Cui Ming said, "Miss is right. The Xu family caused such a scene, and today there are still five or six housekeepers asking me to return their contributions."

Hong Ye said discontentedly, "She’s sealed in the courtyard and still won’t give up. Let’s quickly settle the accounts."

Soon, the sound of abacus calculations echoed out.

Marquis Gu stood blankly for a moment, then slowly walked out of Wutong Garden to the outer courtyard, summoning Gu Shiliu, and said, "Hurry and count the number of people in the mansion, assign people to guard the Marquis Mansion. Tomorrow, I will submit a memorial to request sealing the mansion. Daily purchases will proceed as usual, and no idlers are allowed in or out. Once done, hand one copy to the lady, letting her manage the mansion. If anyone acts improperly, leave it to the lady to handle."

Gu Shiliu was taken aback, "Is this to hand over all authority of the whole family to the lady?"

Marquis Gu’s expression was cold and fierce, "Hmm," he affirmed, "Seeing the lady is like seeing me."

Gu Shiliu quickly glanced at Marquis Gu’s expression, hesitantly said, "Is even the outer courtyard under the lady’s control?"

Marquis Gu thought for a moment and said, "These are extraordinary times; extraordinary measures need to be taken. Just follow my instructions. Tell Housekeeper Cao and Housekeeper Han, let them know too, do not disobey."

Upon hearing these words, Gu Shiliu immediately said, "Yes."

Even though he knew Qin Yuan held Gu Jinghui’s affection deeply, he didn’t realize just how deeply.

Gu Shiliu secretly wondered if during his absence, things between Marquis Gu and the lady had progressed further.

After giving his orders, Marquis Gu, regardless of the turbulent emotions in Gu Shiliu’s heart, opened a letter as if wanting to write something but found himself unable to put pen to paper.

Ultimately, he put down the pen, sighing, and on his cold face appeared an inexplicable bewilderment.

When he lifted his gaze, he realized Gu Shiliu was still standing by the desk. Annoyed, Marquis Gu said, "Why haven’t you left yet? What are you standing here for?"

Gu Shiliu chuckled and said, "I’m going now. Is it that the marquis doesn’t know how to start writing?"

Gu Jinghui angrily crumpled the letter into a ball, tossed it aside, and said impatiently, "What are you laughing at? Do you think this is easy to write? A mistake and those civil servants will seize upon it. This issue with smallpox is so significant..."

Gu Shiliu took two steps closer, like someone genuinely trying to solve problems for the marquis and whispered, "Did the marquis perhaps forget, the lady has remarkable talent, capable of composing poetry and strategies effortlessly. Why not ask the lady for help?"

Marquis Gu glared, face full of impatience: "..."

Gu Shiliu chuckled and took a step back, leaning back, and said fawningly, "The lady, they say, should follow her husband’s lead. Having married into the Marquis Mansion, she’s bound to the marquis. For something as crucial as the future of the Marquis Mansion, how could the lady not lend a hand? The marquis knows well that her heart is full of the marquis..."

These words immediately brought a smile to the marquis’s face. He touched the corner of his lips and laughed, "Right, you’re very right. When you’re done, go get fifty taels of reward silver from the accountant."

Gu Shiliu beamed with joy.

Despite these turbulent times, obtaining a reward brought delight.

His face almost broke from smiling as he walked over to the two housekeepers and conveyed Marquis Gu’s orders, then said to Sun Accountant, "Sun Accountant, the marquis said I’ve done my job well, so I’m here to collect fifty taels of reward silver. Note it down and give me a silver banknote."

Housekeeper Cao chuckled and looked over, seeing Sun Accountant lost in thought, then lightly coughed and called out, "Sun Accountant, hurry up. Brother Sixteen is busy with important matters. Don’t delay."

Sun Accountant reluctantly collected his thoughts and recorded the transaction for Gu Shiliu.

Housekeeper Cao asked, "What will Sixteen do with the reward silver?"

Gu Shiliu answered without hesitation, "Naturally, I’ll put it towards buying pepper as the lady’s contribution, it’s all part of my dowry."

The pen in Sun Accountant’s hand trembled involuntarily, ruining a line as he wrote.