Demoted from wife to concubine? Reborn, the mistress of a noble family plots another high-status mar

Chapter 17

"If you have any objections, you can change the housekeeper."

Shen Yue was stunned, not expecting that she would not ask her for help and would not even ask for the power to manage the household. "Do you think our Marquis's mansion can't do without you?"

"Shut up!" Li scolded her daughter. "Xiaoyue, if you keep doing this, I'm going to punish you."

Shen Yue was unconvinced, but didn't dare to say anything more.

"Xiaoyue is ignorant, don't take it to heart. You are the Marquis's legal wife, the matriarch of the Shen family." Madam Li hurriedly comforted Yun Xiyue. If she really abandoned the family, it would fall into Yun Xiyue's hands, and she would have to use her dowry to make up for it. She couldn't do that.

Yun Xiyue said, "Mother, I know you are not used to this sudden tightening of belts, but there is no other way because there is no money in the public account."

"If the debt continues to rise like this, I won't be able to make ends meet, and I won't be able to continue managing this household."

Watching the person leave, Shen Yue said angrily, "Mother, look at her! If this continues, everyone in the Marquis's mansion will have to be subservient to her."

"She is, after all, your sister-in-law. Be more polite to her in the future." Madam Li hoped that her daughter could be more shrewd. Saying whatever comes to mind and offending people will not do her any good.

"Hmph, I don't want to. I'm going to a banquet at the princess's residence in a few days, and I need to buy a headdress and clothes."

“Yun Xiyue won’t give me money to buy new jewelry and clothes. What should I do? If I go to the princess’s banquet dressed like this, I will definitely be laughed at and I will lose face for the Marquis’s mansion.”

She's already fifteen. When it's time to arrange a marriage, she'll have to perform well in front of those powerful ladies at the banquet. If she loses face because of it, it will be difficult for her to find a good husband, let alone get married.

Li held her hand and said, "Don't worry, I will find a way to get you jewelry and clothes."

Yunxi had no choice but to pay this money, even if she didn't offer it herself.

"Yes, thank you, Mother." Shen Yue was immediately happy.

......

"Madam, the Marquis just sent someone to ask why the food at Baohua Garden has deteriorated. We need to prepare abalone and bird's nest from now on."

"The young master likes to eat abalone, the young lady likes to eat crab roe buns, and Madam Lin is not in good health and needs to eat bird's nest to nourish her body. These are all essential in the future."

Yun Xiyue remained silent, but Qingmei couldn't help but scold, "She wants to eat abalone and bird's nest without money? What a load of crap! If she wants to eat it, let her buy it herself."

"Either have the Marquis send silver over, and with silver, I guarantee she'll eat ginseng, abalone, and bird's nest every day."

Qingmei was so angry that she put her hands on her hips, wishing she could pick up a broom and beat the person out.

The person who came was Zhui Feng, a guard by Shen Yue's side. Even though he had seen a lot, he was startled by Qing Mei's fierce appearance. No wonder the Marquis was unwilling to come to Zizhu Garden.

“Madam…” Zhui Feng was secretly annoyed and didn’t want to argue with the little girl, so he looked at Yun Xiyue.

Lord Hou is, after all, the head of the family, and he doesn't believe Yun Xiyue would dare to disobey.

"Your Excellency can simply order the main kitchen to prepare whatever you wish to eat; there is no need to tell me."

That would require the main kitchen to have the money to purchase the ingredients!

Zhui Feng said, "Now that Madam is in charge, the main kitchen needs to go to the accounting office to get money to buy ingredients. Madam doesn't allow it, so the accounting office doesn't dare to give us money casually."

"Are you implying that I forbid the Marquis from eating bird's nest and abalone?" Yun Xiyue asked with a smile.

"That's not what I meant."

Yun Xiyue said, "Go and invite the accountant over here."

Qingmei couldn't help but sneer, and ordered an old woman to run errands. Soon the accountant arrived.

The accountant approached, carrying an abacus and ledgers. "Madam..."

“Mr. Qiu, there’s no need for such formalities. This is Zhuifeng, the Marquis’s personal bodyguard. From now on, any orders he gives will be considered orders from the Marquis, so just do as he says.”

Mr. Qiu glanced at Zhui Feng and looked troubled. “Madam, the Marquis wants to purchase more abalone, ginseng, and bird’s nest. These ingredients are very expensive, and the money in the account is simply not enough to buy them.”

"These are the ledgers, please take a look."

Yunxi Yue knew there was no money in the ledger without even looking at it.

Mr. Qiu only showed it to Shen Yue's people.

He worked for the Marquis's household, not as a servant; he had a contract with no fixed terms.

"There is one more thing to report to you, Madam."

“Yes, sir, please speak.” Yun Xiyue said, taking the ledger.

"I would like to resign. My contract with the Marquis's Mansion has expired, and my elderly mother needs my care. I can no longer continue to work for the Marquis's Mansion."

Yun Xiyue stopped contributing money for expenses. It was too difficult for him to be the accountant, so it was better for him to leave sooner rather than later.

"You can tell the Marquis about this as well!"

As she spoke, Yun Xiyue handed the account book to Zhuifeng, "If the Marquis wants to eat abalone and bird's nest, he can buy it himself from now on. Also, please have the Marquis arrange for a new accountant to come in."

Zhui Feng had taken on a hot potato and wished he could turn around and leave, but unfortunately Yun Xiyue didn't send him anything. She handed him the things and then turned and went into the house.

She spoke softly and gently throughout.

He thought Yun Xiyue was an easy person to manipulate, but little did he know that wasn't the case at all.

"My lord... Madam says the accounts are empty, so the expenses for food, clothing and other necessities at the manor will have to be reduced from now on."

"Mr. Qiu, the accountant, is resigning. This is the account book that Madam wants you to review."

Shen Yue didn't want to look at the ledgers; he had already looked at them, and every entry was correct. The only problem was that the accounting office couldn't produce the money.

His salary was far from enough to cover the expenses of the Marquis's mansion. Originally, the Marquis's mansion had many prime shops and farmland, which allowed them to live quite comfortably.

However, the Shen family had fallen on hard times when he was young. They lost their power and their wealth was squandered by his good-for-nothing father. They didn't have much left, and they didn't make much money. Every month, they couldn't make ends meet.

The vast Marquis's mansion not only needed to maintain a respectable appearance, but everyone also needed to live a life of luxury. Without money, it was absolutely impossible.

"My lord," Lin Bao'er said as she entered, "is my sister angry and no longer taking care of the family?"

"Ah."

"Actually, we don't need to beg her." Lin Bao'er was annoyed. She didn't believe that such a large Marquis's mansion wouldn't need Yun Xiyue's dowry to support it.

"Doesn't the Marquis's manor still have estates, shops, and fields? We can find ways to make money ourselves."

Shen Yue's eyes lit up slightly. "You have a way to make money?"

"Hmm, I've thought of a good idea."

"any solution?"

Lin Bao'er smiled and said, "Leave this to me. It's getting late, let's rest first."

"Leave this matter to me. Otherwise, the Grand Madam and Mother will find a way. You just need to focus on the court."

With such comforting presence, Shen Yue quickly relaxed, saying, "Baby, you're so good to me."

Yunxi Yue, that woman, is truly unworthy of being a wife.

The two spent a tender night together.

after a few days.

"Madam, the Grand Madam is going to Wanxiang Temple to offer incense. She would like you and Madam Lin to go with her."

How could someone be in the mood to offer incense at a time like this?

Yunxi Yue found it strange, so she sent someone to inquire. It turned out that the Grand Madam had summoned the second and third branches of the family to contribute some money. The second branch had previously only contributed one hundred taels of silver per month, while the second and third masters were both officials appointed by the imperial court, and their monthly salaries were at least five hundred taels of silver.

In addition, both the second and third wives had their own dowry shops, but they were unwilling to give them up, and they all thought Yun Xiyue was a sucker.

"Madam, they are nothing but bloodsuckers, they are terrifying!"

“The Marquis’s mansion isn’t short of money. The Dowager Madam definitely has money, she just kept it from us.” Granny Cao went to find out herself and returned with a face full of anger.