Chapter 28: Trying to take my money? Not a chance!…

Chapter 28: Trying to take my money? Not a chance!...

He was like a ready-made heater, his scorching heat driving away the chill from her body. Her pale feet nestled against his calves. A tall, strong man had his perks; he could shield her completely. The human heater wasn't so bad either, and Cheng Yian finally closed her eyes in peace.

But after just a short nap, something seemed wrong.

Cheng Yian turned her face away.

Lu Xusheng felt awkward and quickly lay back.

"I'm hurt," she said, smiling.

"I know..." Lu Xusheng closed his eyes.

Cheng Yian turned back and nestled against his arm, muttering softly,

"The human heater has its drawbacks too. Look, I accidentally burned myself."

Lu Xusheng turned over again, pulling her into his chest. "If you didn't get burned, that would be strange."

Cheng Yian suddenly thought of Fan Yulin, who, despite his youthful looks, had weakened in just a few years.

She coughed lightly, "That makes sense. I wonder how long General Lu will hold up?"

Lu Xusheng laughed in exasperation, "You're so sharp-tongued, it seems your injury isn't serious."

A man should never be doubted in such matters.

Hearing the dangerous edge in his voice, Cheng Yian regretted her words and quickly tried to smooth things over,

"Not at all, I have full confidence in you." After all, his physique was unyielding to wind and rain. "After all, you're known as the top general in the Great Jin Dynasty's army. If you can't handle it, no man in the world can..."

The more she tried to calm him, the more his gaze seemed to change, determined to prove himself.

His thick lashes lowered heavily, the dim night light casting a cold, sharp outline of his face. "Who knows..."

His rough hand grabbed her injured finger and pressed it aside, his solid chest looming over her like a shadow.

"Let's enjoy the moment while we can."

He suddenly leaned down, his scorching breath like a spider's web, now at her nose, now at her cheek, or her ear and neck. Cheng Yian's breath grew erratic, and she couldn't help closing her eyes.

Lu Xusheng looked at the face so close to his, like a ripe peach, enticing.

"Next time, don't stay away so long."

"Who says? I'm going out again tomorrow," Cheng Yian deliberately defied him.

Lu Xusheng, angered, grabbed her, nearly pulling her heart out. Embarrassed and angry, she raised her knee to push him away. Lu Xusheng seemed to enjoy playing with her, dragging her into his arms, stroking her beautiful shoulder blades inch by inch, his hands wandering mischievously. His wet kisses fell on her neck and spine, hot and damp, with a compelling force that gradually smoothed out the shivers running through her body.

At first, Cheng Yian was annoyed with him, but gradually she gave in. A short separation felt like a new marriage; after several days apart, she missed him too. After all, who knew how long these men could last.

The bed creaked all night.

Fortunately, Nanny Li, being experienced, had prepared everything in advance—hot water and clothes were ready. She dismissed the maids and personally attended to them.

The next morning, Cheng Yian woke up lazily, already missing Lu Xusheng's presence. Her mind filled with images of their intimacy the night before, she looked at the empty bed and shook her head, realizing that expecting him to be gentle and considerate was futile.

Rubbing her sore body, she got up and called for the maids to help her wash and dress.

Noticing Rulan's listless expression, "What's the matter with you?"

Rulan covered her mouth and yawned, while cleaning her hands to comb her hair,

"I just haven't fully woken up yet."

Cheng Yian understood; it wasn't just Rulan who felt this way. She herself felt a bit unsteady when she got up and faced the small dressing table. Suddenly, she felt somewhat envious of Cheng Yiqiao, who wasn't being pressured by their father to marry and could choose when to get married.

Upon returning to Lu Mansion, she naturally went to pay respects to the elders.

Moreover, she prepared some silk for each household.

It was proper to bring gifts after staying at her mother's house for a while.

Sending something too poor would be beneath the Cheng family's dignity, but sending something too extravagant would draw unwanted attention. Cheng Yian gave each lady, grandmother, and younger sister-in-law a bolt of cloud brocade. Cloud brocade comes in different qualities, ranging from ordinary to renowned. For example, the back wrap she was wearing was made of cloud brocade from the Youyunlong family, also known as Floating Light Brocade, which is said to be worth an inch of gold per inch. Cheng Yian sent everyone ordinary cloud brocade, which would suffice for making two sets of everyday clothes.

She sent the gifts via her maidservants and then went to the Mingxi Hall to pay respects to Second Lady. On the way, she met Second Lady leaving, so they both headed to the Old Lady's courtyard.

After several days, everyone found Cheng Yian radiant, and recalling the grandeur of the Cheng family's New Year's Eve banquet, they couldn't help but feel envious.

Fifth Miss Lu Shuzhi, who always spoke her mind, seeing Cheng Yian's appearance, asked the First Lady,

"Aunt, shouldn't our family's rent be collected by now? I remember we have two mountains in Jinzhou, so the furs should be arriving soon, right?" With the weather getting colder and signs of snow, who wouldn't want to make a few new robes?

The First Lady felt a surge of frustration. The Master had instructed that this year's furs be sold in the capital to raise money for his use. While the First Lady knew she wouldn't be shortchanged, he didn't share any of it, making her seem incompetent as the head of the household,

"They're on the way, but it will take a few more days. If you're in a hurry, come to my room later and find some old furs to make do with."

Lu Shuzhi was not pleased upon hearing this. If she took the First Lady's old furs, she would have to return them when the new ones arrived, and old furs couldn't compare to fresh ones.

The Second Mistress also thought of this and refused without hesitation, "Thank you for your thoughtfulness, sister-in-law. I still have some at my residence, so I'll make some for the children first."

Lu Shuzhi also smiled and said, "I have old ones too, but I just want to make a couple of new outfits to wear."

The two girls from the third mistress's branch, Lu Shuyin and Lu Shuling, also had bright eyes, clearly looking forward to it.

The mistress understood and grew even more anxious.

Cheng Yian sat quietly, observing the mistress's expression. She recalled that in her past life, the furs had already arrived at the Lu family's warehouse on Drum Tower Street by then. The Lu family owned a row of shops on Lower Street, a legacy from their forebears, which had always been in the hands of the main branch. The elder master clearly had no business acumen, and the shops' profits were declining.

The furs should rightfully be distributed to the women of the household, but the elder master had evidently already shipped these furs to the warehouse for sale, and the funds had been embezzled. Later, when the matter came to light, both the Second Mistress and the third mistress made a fuss, throwing the household into chaos and bringing great disgrace.

From Lu Xusheng's demeanor, it appeared he intended to reclaim the family business, but he couldn't reclaim a hollow shell, could he?

Cheng Yian hadn't planned to concern herself with living with Lu Xusheng, but since they had agreed to live together properly, she had to take an interest.

She didn't want a disaster.

Just then, the steward at the door reported, "Old Madam, mistresses, Old Matron Hao has come to pay her respects to you, Old Madam."

The Old Madam, reclining in her seat, brightened at the news. "Let her in."

Elderly people enjoy conversing with old companions about the past, recalling the glory days, and it makes them feel younger. This Matron Hao had been the elder master's wet nurse, a venerable old matron in the household. Her son had grown up alongside the elder master and had now become the family's chief steward, a trusted aide of the elder master.

Soon, an old matron entered, dressed in a thick brocade jacket with a Fu Shou pattern, a gold hairpin in her hair, and jade bracelets on her wrists. She was thin but looked very capable and spirited. Before even entering, she greeted the Old Madam.

"Old Ancestor, I've come to pay my respects to you."

After all, she was the old matron of the household who had raised the elder master, so even the main mistress stood up.

Old Matron Hao then bowed to each of the masters, and everyone took their seats.

The old mistress looked at her and said, "You're a great-grandmother now; how can you still call yourself a servant? Come sit by me."

Old Matron Hao, with great dignity, sat on the brocade stool at the old mistress's feet, saying, "No matter my age, in your presence, I am still a servant."

The old mistress, pleased, asked her why she had come today and how things were at home.

Although Old Matron Hao had served others in the past, her family had now prospered. They had bought a house in the alley across from the Lu family, living quite comfortably. While she was a servant in the Lu household, outside she was quite respected, especially since her son was the chief steward of the Lu mansion, managing both internal and external affairs of the Duke's residence. Even minor officials had to bow to him.

As the saying goes, even the gatekeeper of a prime minister holds the rank of a seventh-grade official.

Though the old matron spoke respectfully, Cheng Yian glanced at her boots. At first glance, they looked like ordinary cotton boots, but upon closer inspection, she noticed the boot surface was leather with a layer of embroidery to conceal it, much like her own sea otter fur coat.

How interesting.

With the old mistress deep in conversation, the mistresses and ladies dispersed.

Cheng Yian excused herself to pack and went back to her room, while the main mistress headed to the accounts office.

Old Matron Hao's son, Steward Hao, was going over the accounts in the office. Seeing the main mistress enter with a stern look, he quickly stood up to greet her,

"Mistress, what brings you here?"

The main mistress glanced at him, sat down at the table, and scanned the accounts,

"What is your master thinking? The year is almost over, and each household is preparing to distribute goods and furs. The Cheng family distributes to the entire clan, and our Lu family, as a Duke's residence, should do the same."

Steward Hao bent over and quickly replied, "Yes, yes," then turned to a shelf, fetched a list, and handed it to the main mistress,

"Recently, some annual rent goods have arrived, and I've just compiled a list for your review."

The main mistress, who had managed the household for many years, frowned as she flipped through the list,

"Why is there so much less this year? What does this say about my role as the household manager? Hao Ren, these matters are your responsibility; you must explain."

Steward Hao immediately knelt down, his face mournful, "Mistress, having served you for so many years, you know my character. I've been bringing things into the household one by one, but the master won't allow it. He's preoccupied with grand ambitions and has neglected household affairs. Even with all my skills, I can't make something out of nothing."

"Not to mention, the furs arrived the day before yesterday and were sold to the warehouse. Yesterday, the batch of timber from the southwest arrived and was sold to the Marquis of Gongsu for the old mistress's coffin, fetching two thousand taels of silver. I meant to give it to you for household expenses, but the master took it all."

The main mistress angrily exclaimed, "What is he trying to do!"

Seeing the main mistress's anger barely contained, Steward Hao had no choice but to tell the truth, "I dare not hide it from you; the master has taken on a private task from the palace,"

"What private task?"

"The residence of Eunuch You, the superintendent of the Imperial Household Department."

The main mistress's vision darkened, and she collapsed to the ground, her face pale, "He just won't listen."

Steward Hao said, "It's not entirely bad. Eunuch You is quite generous and has given our master a contract, granting us the salt tickets for the eastern region for the first half of next year."

The mistress's expression softened. During the Great Jin Dynasty, the state held monopolies on salt and iron. To sell official salt, one had to transport military provisions to the border in exchange for salt permits. Occasionally, the court would issue some salt permits as rewards or incentives to certain officials.

The Superintendent of the Imperial Household, a top eunuch in the Directorate of Ceremonial and a trusted confidant of Empress Chen, had played a key role in the past. Back then, thanks to Empress Chen's influence, the elder master had persuaded the emperor to grant him the title of Duke. The elder master's maternal family was connected to the Chen Marquis's household, and Empress Chen regarded the elder master's mother as one of her own. As long as it involved someone close to Empress Chen, the mistress felt reassured.

"But how are we going to get through this year?"

Steward Hao seemed to have anticipated her question and immediately leaned in to whisper,

"Mistress, I have an idea, but I'm not sure if I should mention it."

"Speak," the mistress urged impatiently.

Steward Hao pointed in the direction of Ningji Hall.

"Mistress, our young mistress hails from the main branch of the Cheng family. I heard that Cheng Mingyu dotes on her. This year, at the Cheng family's winter solstice banquet, she must have received a substantial amount of silver."

The mistress narrowed her eyes and scoffed, "Of course I know. I saw those trunks yesterday—five or six carts, dozens of boxes, enough to fill a small storeroom. But," she paused, glancing at Steward Hao, "do you think she's naive enough to follow our commands? Or do you think she'd be willing to lend money to the household?"

Steward Hao smiled enigmatically.

"Mistress, you can't catch a wolf without risking a lamb. She and the Second Mistress don't see eye to eye. We can offer her some benefits first and draw her in. She's gentle by nature and married to the Lu family's heir. She naturally believes that the Duke's estate will belong to her and her husband in the future. How could she not care?"

The mistress looked at him suspiciously, "What do you mean?"

Steward Hao chuckled, "Where are the biggest expenses at year's end? The kitchen. In two weeks, it will be the elder master's mother's birthday, and preparations must begin immediately."

"There are year-end banquets to cover, and each branch of the family needs to receive their share, which also requires funds. At the beginning of the year, from the first to the fifteenth day of the lunar month, there will be banquets for relatives, which will also require funds. Why not pass the kitchen's duties to her? The Second Mistress believes she runs the household and will be eager to take it on. She's young, soft-hearted, and has money. We can persuade her to cover the expenses upfront and repay her later. How could she refuse?"

The mistress pondered, "That's a good plan, but I fear it might be easier to invite the Buddha than to bid him farewell."

Steward Hao replied, "I've already considered that for you. Think about it—she's been married for several months now, and it won't be long before she becomes pregnant. By then, she won't have the energy to manage this."

Hearing this, the mistress's brow finally relaxed. She thought to herself that the entire Duke's estate was under her command. Even if Cheng Yian wanted to seize power, it would be impossible since the servants wouldn't obey her. "Let's move forward with this plan for now. We'll manage this year first."

The mistress was clever and knew that approaching Cheng Yian directly would raise suspicions. A few days later, she quietly feigned illness. The mistress of the main branch was in charge of external purchases and household hospitality, but she couldn't handle the kitchen affairs. What to do? Finally, the elder master's mother spoke up.

"Xusheng's wife, you've been married for a while now. It's time for you to take over the kitchen."

Cheng Yian naturally saw through their scheme. In her previous life, around this time of year, the mistress had tried to force her to cover the household's deficits, promising to repay her in the spring when the rents came in. Lu Xusheng had refused.

But she didn't outright reject the request either.

"Grandmother, you've entrusted me with a great responsibility. In principle, I shouldn't decline, but at the moment, I'm still quite inexperienced. Could you give me a few more days to learn from my sister-in-law before taking over?"

The elder master's mother looked at her. With her delicate and innocent appearance, it was uncertain whether she could handle the unruly servants.

"Very well, I'll give you ten days. After that, you'll take over." Ten days later would be the elder master's mother's birthday.

You can't force a deal.

The Second Mistress found the situation suspicious and later summoned Cheng Yian to Mingxi Hall. Once inside, she said to Cheng Yian,

"Don't take over hastily."

Cheng Yian was slightly surprised. This didn't seem like the Second Mistress's usual behavior.

The Second Mistress analyzed, "The household accounts must be in bad shape. They see that you've returned from the Cheng family and want to trick you into being their scapegoat."

Cheng Yian was nearly brought to tears. It was truly a rare occurrence that her mother-in-law was finally considering her well-being, unlike in her past life when she had always been pushed to the front lines.

"What do you suggest we do then?" Cheng Yian asked.

Second Mistress massaged her temples, "Let me think it over and come up with a foolproof plan."

After all, it was an opportunity for Second Mistress to get involved in household management but also didn't want Cheng Yian to suffer any losses.

Cheng Yian understood the situation. In her past life, Second Mistress had never acknowledged her status and never treated her as one of their own, using her as a shield instead. But now, recognized by the main branch of the Cheng family, Second Mistress acknowledged her as a daughter-in-law, which was a completely different situation. Cheng Yian wondered how Second Mistress would react once her cousin from the Wang family arrived in the capital from Qingzhou.

Cheng Yian left Second Mistress to ponder while she made her way from Mingxi Hall to Ningji Hall. The snow from the previous night had weighed down the garden branches, and the servants hadn't yet cleared the paths. Cheng Yian had to detour near Chuihua Gate to get to Ningji Hall. By chance, she encountered someone inside Chuihua Gate.

Steward Hao spotted her, approached with a smile, and bowed respectfully, "Greetings, Young Mistress."

Indeed, he was a clever man. While others called her Second Mistress, he addressed her as "Young Mistress," which implied that he saw her as the future lady of the house.

Cheng Yian responded calmly, "Steward Hao, what brings you here?"

Steward Hao smiled ingratiatingly, "Young Mistress, the young master and lady from Marquis Chen's household have come to pay their respects to the old lady. The elder master asked me to wait here to escort the young master out later."

Cheng Yian understood and smiled, "Then you must be quite busy, Steward Hao."

As she turned to leave, Steward Hao quickly added, "Young Mistress, it's been some time since your marriage. You may not realize it, but all of us stewards are relying on you. They say you're from the main branch of the Cheng family, and Cheng Mingyu, the head of the Censorate, is renowned for his household management skills. You must have inherited his expertise, and our household could really use your guidance to set things straight."

Anyone else might have been flattered and asked how to fix things, thus falling into his trap.

But Cheng Yian played innocent, "I believe our Lu family is doing just fine. My uncle and aunt are capable, and you and the other stewards are diligent. There's no need for me to intervene."

With that, Cheng Yian gracefully walked away.

She was wearing a goose-yellow brocade robe lined with camel wool, paired with a cloud-fox cloak recently sent by the Cheng family. With her clear, jade-like face, she looked like a fairy stepped out of a painting.

Steward Hao watched her graceful figure disappear, his throat tightening.

No wonder the Young Master, a man of steel, had turned into a soft-hearted fool, lingering daily at the gates of the Cheng residence. If it were him, with such a woman in his house, he wouldn't want to leave either. He couldn't think about it; the thought was unbearable.

When Cheng Yian returned to her room, her face turned cold.

They all thought she was a fool.

Finally, when Lu Xusheng returned to the residence that night, she angrily complained, "Your grandmother and aunt have a clever plan. They want to trick me into filling their financial gaps."

Lu Xusheng didn't seem surprised and waved his hand to calm her, "Don't worry, let me look into it."

He then instructed his attendant, Xu Yi, to investigate.

Soon, Xu Yi returned with the news, "Master, it was Steward Hao who suggested this to the main mistress."

Lu Xusheng sneered, holding a bead in his hand, slowly crushing it into powder, "A mere servant dares to scheme against his master. How bold."

Cheng Yian asked him, "What are you going to do?"

"Just wait," Lu Xusheng said before heading out.

During this period, the elder master was busy with the year-end settlement of various projects at the Ministry of Works, while Lu Xusheng was also occupied with arranging winter clothing for the troops and investigating corruption in some military warehouses. The uncle and nephew had not seen each other in several days.

Today, Lu Xusheng was sitting in the main hall drinking tea when he saw the elder master striding in with a radiant face. He stood up and greeted him with a smile, saying,

"Uncle, today after court, I ran into Cheng Yiyan, and he asked me to pass on a message to you."

Upon hearing Cheng Yiyan's name, the elder master immediately perked up and hurried over, asking,

"What did he say?"

At the end of each year, all ministries are busy with year-end settlements. On one hand, they need to pay out the funds promised for the year, and on the other, they need to prepare projects for the next year to submit the financial budget to the Ministry of Revenue.

And the end of the year is when the Ministry of Revenue settles accounts.

From whose hands does the Ministry of Revenue's money come?

Cheng Yiyan.

Cheng Yiyan holds the key to the national treasury.

After the three senior officials of the Ministry of Revenue sign off, the final step is Cheng Yiyan's approval. If Cheng Yiyan finds any issues with the accounts, he can send them back for re-evaluation.

Currently, the elder master has more than ten items that need the Ministry of Revenue's approval. A large number of royal and official merchants under the Ministry of Works are waiting for their payments to be settled. Once the payments are settled, he can also take his commission. So at this critical moment, he would even be willing to call Cheng Yiyan his benefactor.

Lu Xusheng welcomed him in and dampened his enthusiasm, "Cheng Yiyan said that several of your approval slips haven't been signed by the senior officials of the Ministry of Revenue, and the three that reached him mostly have issues. He asked you to go to the Ministry of Revenue tomorrow when you have time."

This news was like a bolt out of the blue. Those waiting for payments fear nothing more than issues with the accounts.

Steward Hao was also by his side, and upon hearing this, his expression darkened.

The three of them entered the warm pavilion on the west side of the main hall, where Steward Hao personally served tea to both of them and couldn't wait to say,

"Young Master, you and Cheng Mingyu are brothers-in-law, the closest of kin. You must speak on behalf of our elder master, Cheng Mingyu."

The elder master also wiped off cold sweat and said gravely, "Xusheng, you must handle this matter properly for your uncle, Cheng Mingyu. Whatever Cheng Yiyan's demands are, just bring them up to him."

Lu Xusheng sneered and sat down in the secondary seat with an air of authority, "What do you take him for? Who is he? The eldest son of Cheng Mingyu, the future head of the Cheng family. Do you think he cares about your petty bribes? Just sweeping the cracks in the Cheng family's floors would yield enough for our Lu family to live on for a year. Otherwise, do you think the Emperor would have entrusted him with such a crucial position?"

Cheng Yiyan, a top scholar, entered the Hanlin Academy after passing the imperial exams. Within just two years, the Emperor transferred him to the Ministry of Revenue, appointing him as the head of the treasury. Logically, Cheng Yiyan should have gained some experience outside before being appointed as the head of the treasury in the Ministry of Revenue, but the Emperor overruled all objections to appoint him.

There are two reasons for this. First, the Cheng family is wealthy, and every year Cheng Mingyu voluntarily contributes a significant amount of gold and silver to the national treasury, making it easier for the Emperor and the court to extract money from the Cheng family.

Second, precisely because the Cheng family is wealthy, Cheng Yiyan would never accept bribes, ensuring the clarity of the national treasury's accounts and preventing collusion to embezzle funds.

The elder master looked as if he had lost his parents, asking, "What should we do then?"

Lu Xusheng said seriously, "Make the accounts solid, and there will be no problem."

The elder master glanced at Steward Hao and fell silent.

Steward Hao's expression was inscrutable.

Just then, someone outside asked a question, and Steward Hao went out. Lu Xusheng watched Steward Hao's retreating figure and suddenly asked in a low voice,

"Uncle, who helped you find these timber and material suppliers under you?"

The elder master said, "Some were recommended by officials from various ministries, and some were found by Hao Ren for me..."

At this point, the elder master suddenly frowned and looked at Lu Xusheng with suspicion, "Why are you asking this, Xusheng?"

Lu Xusheng, however, said nothing, his gaze fixed on Steward Hao.

Steward Hao was standing at the door, talking to the steward outside. He was about the same age as the elder master, of medium build but a bit stockier, dressed in a dark green robe. The light from the corridor lanterns shone on his back, casting a faint shimmer from the fabric. This material was a type of "floating light brocade," which appeared dull at first glance, but when illuminated, the hidden patterns would come to life.

As the saying goes, an inch of floating brocade is worth an inch of gold.

The elder master suddenly stopped speaking.

As Lu Xusheng stood up, he dusted the snow from the elder master's shoulder. "You mustn't let yourself be taken advantage of while still counting the money for others."

A moment later, he returned to the backyard, where Cheng Yian asked him, "Where have you been?"

Lu Xusheng replied casually, "What could I be doing? The family fortune must be reclaimed, but not as an empty shell."

Cheng Yian smiled, "Great minds think alike."

For the next two days, Cheng Yian shadowed the mistress of the main branch, Liu Shi, observing how she managed the kitchen. On the third day, a commotion broke out outside, as it was reported that a valuable antique had gone missing from the storeroom.

"What antique?" the mistress asked the messenger maid.

The maid replied, "A calligraphy piece by Master Gu Yunlin from the previous dynasty, which belonged to the late master. In a few days, it will be the old lady's birthday, and the master wanted to display it in the study to entertain guests. But when someone went to the storeroom to fetch it today, it was gone."

Cheng Yian had also heard of Gu Yunlin, who had tutored two emperors. After the Northern Qi cavalry conquered the previous dynasty, Gu Yunlin, filled with grief and indignation, jumped off a cliff to his death. Although his political skills were unremarkable, he was a renowned literary figure and a master of calligraphy and painting. Cheng Yian knew that Gu Yunlin was also her father Cheng Mingyu's mentor, as Cheng Mingyu had studied under one of Gu Yunlin's disciples, learning his painting techniques.

After the establishment of the Great Jin Dynasty, Gu Yunlin was highly revered, and his works were once worth a fortune.

Unfortunately, before his death, he burned most of his works, leaving only a handful of surviving works.

Thus, the late master had regarded that painting as a priceless treasure.

The mistress was immediately distressed. "This is a grave matter."

The two sisters-in-law hurried to the meeting hall, where they found the elder master in a furious rage, calling all the stewards to account.

"Investigate this! If it's not found, none of you will be spared."

The four chief stewards, seeing the elder master's anger, did not dare to delay. They immediately dispatched servants and maids to search everywhere and questioned the servants on duty.

After nearly two hours of commotion, a lead finally surfaced.

It was said that someone had been seen carrying a long box stealthily toward the Hao residence across the street.

A cold glint flashed in the elder master's eyes as he glanced at Steward Hao.

Steward Hao's face turned pale, and he immediately knelt down.

"Master, this is not true. I have served you for so many years. How could I be so blind? I would never dare to covet your treasures."

Steward Hao had long been domineering in the Duke's residence, offending many people. Some of the stewards under him, who disliked him, seized the opportunity to throw stones at him.

"You might not take the master's treasures, but since they are valuable, it's possible you took them out to pawn for some quick cash, planning to redeem them later."

Steward Hao's face turned pale.

He had indeed done such things before, and so had the elder master himself.

The elder master, now desperate for money and blinded by greed, cared nothing for loyalty or past favors. Anyone who crossed his interests would be dealt with mercilessly.

He immediately ordered the Duke's servants to raid the neighboring Hao residence.

The Hao family was originally the household retainers of the Lu Duke's mansion. Gradually, as the elder master took charge of the household, their influence grew as well. Initially, they managed the internal affairs for the elder master. Later, when the elder master was promoted to the position of Vice Minister of Works, he took on many construction projects. Steward Hao mostly acted as his intermediary outside, serving as a middleman. For example, he introduced a timber merchant to the elder master. The elder master received tributes, and Steward Hao also pocketed a share, sometimes even more than the elder master. Otherwise, how could he afford to wear such fine brocade?

The servants of the Lu family descended upon the Hao residence, surrounding it completely and conducting a thorough search. Much to their surprise, they found a chest of silver, three chests of gold, silver, and jewels, and even two pieces of black fox fur from the Lu family's mountain estate hidden in the Hao family's cellar. Genuine black fox fur, at that!

It must be noted that such black fox fur was even used by the emperor.

The raid lasted from noon until midnight.

In total, they uncovered thirty thousand taels of silver notes, twelve chests of gold, silver, antiques, calligraphy, paintings, and ornaments, and countless rolls of silk. The courtyard in front of the flower hall was almost overflowing with loot.

Members of the Lu family sat in the flower hall, gazing in amazement.

The main mistress's eyes lit up at the sight of the treasures.

"Good heavens, with such wealth, how could we not have a prosperous New Year?" she thought.

That night, the couple retired to their chambers to discuss. The main mistress was thrilled, gently holding her husband's arm and asking, "What made you suddenly decide to raid the Hao family?"

The elder master's face clouded with fury. With the newfound wealth, he radiated the authority of the head of the household. "The approval from the Ministry of Revenue has been held up for far too long. I checked the accounts and found discrepancies. The subordinates have been inflating the numbers too much. Upon investigation, it all pointed to Hao Ren. He had been secretly cooking the books behind my back. For example, timber that cost ten taels was reported to me as thirty taels, and to the Ministry of Revenue as fifty taels. Just look at how much he pocketed! After all these years of trusting him, he betrayed me and quietly built a fortune."

"Now that you mention it, I recall that the annual rent collection has been shrinking annually. He must have embezzled a lot of public funds. It's good that we've caught this major leech. It will help cover the household's shortfall, and we might even have a surplus by the end of the year."

With the treasury replenished, the main mistress's "illness" vanished overnight. Managing the household became a breeze.

Naturally, there was no need for Cheng Yian to assume control of the kitchen. To politely turn her down, the main mistress personally called her to the meeting hall and gave her one of the black fox furs found in the Hao residence.

"An An, keep this to make a cloak for Xusheng," she said.

Cheng Yian accepted it.

Upon hearing the news, the Second Mistress was furious.

"If only it had been a little later, just a few more days until Xusheng's wife took over the kitchen, everything would have been perfect."

Not only would they not have to cover the deficit, but they could also have taken control of the household management. What a missed opportunity!

The Second Mistress fell ill from anger.

The main mistress, on the other hand, was in high spirits, feeling more at ease than ever. The elder master immediately promoted new personnel to the position of steward. Steward Hao had many secrets, and the elder master found an excuse to execute him. The rest of the Hao family was sent back to the Lu family's old estate to serve as guards.

The couple's smiles were as radiant as could be.

However, the good times did not last. One evening, while the women of the Lu family were gathered in the old lady's room discussing the next day's birthday banquet, a long-time servant of the elder master rushed in, disregarding the presence of the women, and knelt before the old lady.

"Old Madam, Mistress, something terrible has happened! A section of the river embankment at Tongzhou Wharf has collapsed, destroying many grain ships. That embankment was supervised by our elder master. After the incident, the Censorate came and detained our elder master. He is now held in the Censorate's inspection room and cannot return."

The old lady nearly fainted upon hearing this.

The main mistress also swayed heavily but managed to steady herself. Trembling, she asked, "When did this happen? How severe is the collapse? Were there any casualties?"

The servant shook like a sieve. "We don't know yet, but those grain ships were prepared for the palace's winter supplies from the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau. The silk that fell into the water is now useless. Both His Majesty and the Empress Dowager are furious and have vowed to hold someone accountable."

At this moment, the mistress of the main branch remained calm and suddenly turned to Cheng Yian, speaking to her.

"Mother, since he is under the jurisdiction of the Censorate, it means he is in the hands of Cheng Mingyu, the head of the Censorate. Why not ask Second Mistress to help inquire at the Cheng family for some news?"

Only then did the mistress snap out of her daze. She turned to look at the quiet Cheng Yian, feeling immensely relieved that she had not offended this precious girl in the past. She rushed to her side, took her hand, and said,

"Dear child, considering how much your aunt has always cared for you, please make a trip to the Cheng family for me. At least ask your father to keep an eye on him."

Cheng Yian also stood up with her, reassuring her,

"Aunt, it's no trouble for me to go, but you know my father's temper; he won't show any favoritism."

Remembering Cheng Mingyu's style, the mistress felt her heart sink.

At this moment, the old lady cut in decisively,

"Someone, go to the government office and bring Lu Xusheng back. This matter still needs his careful attention."

With Lu Xusheng's influence in front of the emperor, even if the sky were to fall, he could handle it.

The mistress regained some composure and quickly ordered someone to go.

While waiting for Lu Xusheng, all eyes turned to Cheng Yian.

You see, in critical moments, it's essential to have connections at the top.

Her father is the head of the Censorate, the foremost in the court, and her husband is the commander of the border army, a highly favored figure in front of the emperor. Just a word from either of them could secure a solution for the elder master.

At this moment, the mistress was beyond caring about appearances. Pointing at her sister-in-law, she said,

"See how delicate your sister-in-law is. Go and order someone to prepare some bird's nest soup to warm her up."

Second Mistress sat aside, smirking contemptuously.