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

Chapter 47

Thinking of the IOU for 180,000 taels of silver, Shen Yue rubbed his temples. When the others brought in Steward Cao, he couldn't help but kick him in the chest. "Tell me, where did the money go!"

The old lady and Madam Li were so frightened that their faces turned pale and they stood up in shock.

Shen Yue was a martial artist, and that kick almost killed Steward Cao.

"My lord, stop!"

Butler Cao collapsed to the ground, spitting out blood. He looked at the Grand Madam and cried, "Grand Madam...save me..."

Seeing that the matter could no longer be concealed, the old lady signaled for someone to take Steward Cao away and told Shen Yue everything.

Shen Yue had already guessed what was going on, but he still couldn't accept it when his grandmother and mother said it themselves.

His face was ashen, and he closed his eyes. “If Grandmother doesn’t want to lose more than she gains, take 60,000 taels of silver tomorrow and put it into the public account. Also, inform the second and third branches of the family to hand over the public account according to regulations, not a single copper coin less.”

"Otherwise, they will have to take care of their own food, clothing, and daily necessities in the future, and they cannot be deducted from the public account."

The old lady said angrily, "Aren't you cutting off my flesh?"

She put a lot of effort into getting this money back; it's impossible to get it back in one go!

“Yue’er, we’re doing this for the sake of the Marquis.” Madam Li was also unwilling. This money would be more than enough for Yue’er’s dowry in the future, so why should it be taken out?

"Otherwise, we can tell Yun Xiyue that Steward Cao embezzled the money, and then we can send Steward Cao away."

Shen Yue asked, "Will Mother take over the management of the household starting tomorrow?"

Lady Li had been managing the household affairs of the Marquis's mansion for over a decade and was long tired of it. If she were younger, she would still have the energy for it, but now she didn't.

Besides, managing the household finances isn't that easy. Sometimes there are lucrative jobs, but if something goes wrong, or if there's a shortage of money, you have to cover it yourself.

The Marquis's mansion has always had this rule: whoever is in charge of the household affairs can use any extra money in the public accounts as they see fit, and will receive an extra monthly salary compared to others. However, the amount of money is fixed each month, and if there is any overspending or shortage, the person in charge will have to make up the difference.

Sometimes, clinging to money can easily offend people.

If Madam Li really didn't want to do it, she'd rather be the old lady of the Marquis's mansion and enjoy a peaceful retirement.

Since Yun Xiyue arrived, she has lived a very comfortable life for the past five years and doesn't want to worry about this anymore.

Thinking of this, she fell silent.

The Dowager Lady had even less energy for it.

"Call the Southern Qiang Duke to be in charge."

Shen Yue disagreed, “Now the Emperor has objections to my taking a concubine. At the full moon banquet at the Prince of Qin’s mansion, the Emperor publicly humiliated and reprimanded me, making me lose face.”

“If the Marquis’s mansion has a principal wife, but Bao’er is in charge of the household, and someone seizes this opportunity to impeach me, I will surely be disliked by the Emperor and my career will be hindered.”

A man's future and reputation are very important.

Those who favor concubines over their wives will be looked down upon.

Which family doesn't deeply respect their legal wife? Even without affection, the wife is still respected. The legal wife manages the household, while the man manages the external affairs.

Shen Yue only now understood this principle. If he had known earlier that Lin Bao'er's arrival in the capital would arouse the emperor's suspicion, he would not have brought her to the capital. He would have preferred to endure the pain of separation and wait until everything was clear before bringing them back.

Li returned early and didn't witness it firsthand, but the Grand Madam did. She immediately calmed down and said, "Yue'er is right. We can't let a small matter cause us to lose a big one. As long as Yun Xiyue is still Yue'er's legal wife, there's plenty of time. In the future, the Yun family will belong to us."

"Let's wait until the Marquis's mansion has military power before making any plans."

......

"Madam, do you think the old lady will send this money?"

Yun Xiyue smiled, sitting upright on the daybed, toying with a beauty fan between her fingers. "Won't we know tomorrow?"

She couldn't guess either.

She didn't know anything about Shen Yue.

In her previous life, she had only met him once when he came to propose marriage, and the other time was on the day he brought Lin Bao'er back from the border.

On their wedding night, he left without even lifting her veil. Afterwards, without asking any questions, he had her legs broken, demoted her to a concubine, and imprisoned her in a dark room.

I never saw him again after that.

In her memory, he was just a hypocrite with a sanctimonious air.

But now it seems that his methods are completely different from those of the women in the inner quarters, such as Madam Li and the Dowager.

The Li family was short-sighted and only cared about immediate gains.

Shen Yue, being a man in the imperial court and ambitious, had a different perspective and different ideas.

If it were just the Li family handling this matter, they certainly wouldn't have come up with this money. But with Shen Yue involved... the outcome might be different.

Granny Cao said, "This old servant does not wish for them to take out any money."