Chapter 35: Gaining Stewardship

The old matriarch frowned. “Naturally, Mistress Han should manage the household affairs.”

Shen Qingyun replied, “But Mother has been confined by Father!”

“…Even so, the household must still be managed.”

“That won’t do. Grandmother, haven’t you always taught Mother that once a woman marries, her husband becomes her heaven? If that’s the case, how could she defy Father’s order of confinement?”

…

The old matriarch’s eyes blazed as she stared at Shen Qingyun; the two locked eyes, deadlocked.

Han looked at them, sighed softly, and spoke in a detached tone, “Old Matriarch, you needn’t worry. I’ve already decided—let Qingyun take full charge of the household. She’s learned well these past few days.”

“How can that be? She’s still so young!” The old matriarch struck the floor hard with her cane.

Han gazed gently at Shen Qingyun. “Why not? When I was her age, I was already managing the General’s household. Qingyun is my daughter; I trust she can do well. Besides, I and the nanny will be watching over things.”

Hearing this, the old matriarch’s expression darkened, as if something occurred to her, and she ceased to object.

Well, whether Shen Qingyun or Han managed the household, it was essentially the same. After all, Shen Qingyun was Han’s daughter, and whatever subsidies were due, she would certainly receive them.

Shen Zhifeng returned home that evening, only to discover that all the household authority had been handed over to Shen Qingyun, and Han still refused to leave her quarters. He was quite surprised.

He felt a slight unease, but then thought it was a relief not to have to run to the Warm Jade Pavilion to deal with Han. So he made no objection.

The only one truly dissatisfied was Shen Sisi.

She was the eldest daughter of the Duke’s manor—how could the management of household affairs fall to Shen Qingyun?

That day, she angrily smashed a set of teaware and several vases.

Well, such fools could be set aside for now. Half reclining on the beauty couch, Shen Qingyun pondered over the keys to the storeroom. The first thing she intended to do was to thoroughly inventory Han’s dowry.

When the time came, the mess of the Duke’s manor—anyone who wanted to manage it could do so.

She acted at once, and upon organizing everything, Shen Qingyun found that Han’s dowry was truly astonishing.

The main part, of course, was real estate and farmland. Several estates outside the city supplied fresh produce every year. The shops were in the best locations in the capital—tailor shops, wineries, rice stores, and more. The annual income was considerable. With just these, an ordinary family would never want for food or clothing.

When a woman marries, she naturally brings plenty of gold and silver jewelry. Shen Qingyun looked over the dowry list: trays of coral and amber beads, two ruyi hair crowns (each adorned with various gems), jade belt hooks, white jade belt hooks, red gold filigree belt hooks inlaid with gems, triple gem-inlaid belt hooks, four jade pendants, four biyao pendants, red gold filigree gem-inlaid belt rings and bundles (each with matching handkerchief-sized purses)…

All kinds of hairpins, jade pendants, bracelets, and more dazzled Shen Qingyun’s eyes.

Many pieces looked familiar—weren’t they worn by Shen Zhifeng, the old matriarch, and Shen Sisi? She even recalled seeing the pink jade bracelet on Yueniang’s wrist during their first meeting, and it seemed to be listed among the dowry items.

As for furniture, it was even more telling.

The old matriarch’s room housed that huanghuali wood bed with cotoneaster carving, Shen Sisi’s room had a rosewood screen with three panels, and Shen Zhifeng’s study boasted a zitan wood desk and nanmu bookcase—all listed in the dowry inventory.

Upon checking the storeroom, she found many utensils and supplies missing.

From silk fabrics to Yixing teapots, even the ladies’ zitan wood dressing cases had been appropriated.

Yet despite all this, Han’s dowry remained astonishingly plentiful.

Shen Qingyun fell silent.

General Han had truly cherished Han, sparing no effort to prepare every possible necessity for her life.

Han, in turn, deeply loved Shen Qingyun. In her previous life, she had gone to great lengths to transfer the bulk of these assets openly, then gifted them all as Qingyun’s dowry.

No wonder.

Shen Qingyun murmured, “No wonder Shen Zhifeng and Shen Sisi are so intent on controlling my marriage. I suspect that the Marquis of Jiang’s family colluded with the Duke’s manor in my past life, waiting to divide up this enormous dowry.”

“Miss, are you all right?” Pearl watched Shen Qingyun, whose thoughts had drifted far, worried that seeing the dowry so misappropriated had left her dazed. “Miss, the Duke and his family are too much. How could they secretly take so much of Madam’s dowry?”

“I’m fine.” Shen Qingyun smiled radiantly. “Don’t worry. If they’ve taken from us, I’ll make sure every single one of them returns it. I’ll have them begging to make up for what they’ve taken!”

“Miss, do you have a plan?”

“Yes, but we’ll have to wait. We’re still not strong enough.”

She still lived in this manor; even a single word about filial duty could leave her and her mother at the mercy of others.

Han was willing to subsidize the Duke’s manor, but Shen Qingyun refused to swallow this indignity!

Since she was unhappy, how could the lords of this house expect to live in peace? Impossible!

“Pearl, send word: have all the stewards come see me tomorrow.”

Hanyu watched all this from the shadows. She had assumed that noble ladies only needed to compose poetry, admire flowers, chase butterflies, and amuse themselves. Yet Shen Qingyun’s life was full of intrigue and calculation.

The next day, the stewards arrived as expected. Ever since the previous incident with the accounts room, none dared underestimate the young Second Miss.

Especially now, with Shen Qingyun truly holding the reins of household management. If she found any discrepancies, she could deal with them directly, without consulting Han.

“What instructions does Second Miss have today?” the chief steward asked first.

“After reviewing the accounts, I’ve found that the Duke’s manor consistently spends more than it earns each month. Adjustments are necessary,” Shen Qingyun said bluntly. “Household expenses must be reduced!”

The stewards exchanged uneasy glances.

After all this time, who didn’t know about the deficit in the accounts? But with Madam’s subsidies, expenditures only ever increased. Now Second Miss wanted to change things, but no one knew where to begin.

“Miss, please give us your guidance.”

Shen Qingyun toyed with the lid of her teacup, glancing at Tian Nanny, who managed the main kitchen—a position with plenty of opportunities for profit!

“Tian Nanny has served the manor for years. Do you think the kitchen’s expenses are unreasonable?”

“Miss, you flatter your servant. But there are so many people in the manor—never mind the servants, the masters all eat fresh vegetables, rare fruits, and monthly-changing pastries. Madam and the young ladies require bird’s nest for beauty and nourishment, and every expense is clearly accounted for. There’s simply nothing left to cut!”

“Yes, it’s very difficult for me as well…”

“Where can you save money…”

Everyone chimed in, insisting their lives were already quite frugal.

Shen Qingyun set down her teacup and smiled gently. “Tian Nanny, you’ve worked tirelessly for the Duke’s manor. Since it’s so difficult, you may retire and enjoy your old age in peace.”