May this scumbag husband, who favored his concubine over his wife, rest in peace.

That bitch Bai Tong really does have some skills...

“Qianjiao,” the old lady said, “this maid has betrayed her master. It’s not worth you being sad for her. Don’t worry, your aunt will definitely arrange another capable one for you.”

Xie Qianjiao forced a smile and said, "Yes, thank you, Aunt."

After the winter solstice, it gets colder day by day, and charcoal and winter clothes become the most important things at this time.

The charcoal was fine; Xie Qianjiao had already arranged for it to be the same silver frost charcoal as in previous years. However, the winter clothes were of much worse quality than in previous years, both in terms of materials and embroidery.

When the winter clothes were presented to her, the old lady didn't even want to touch them: "Qianjiao, where did you order these clothes?"

Xie Qianjiao blinked: "It's still the same shop that used to make clothes at the Marquis's residence."

The old lady frowned.

Madam Zhang stepped forward to serve tea and said, "Madam, you've forgotten that in previous years, your clothes were all made in batches by the manor, and Madam would also send over a separate batch."

The clothes that Wen Yuanshu sent out of her own pocket were all made by Fushan Embroidery Workshop. The materials and embroidery were the most exquisite and meticulous, far superior to those made by the Hou Mansion's shops. Therefore, Zhang Mama had previously sent the clothes sent by the Hou Mansion's shops directly to the bottom of her trunk, and only presented the clothes sent by Wen Yuanshu to the old lady.

Unexpectedly, as time went by, the old lady forgot about this matter and even thought that all the clothes in the Marquis's mansion were made by Fushan Embroidery Building.

Upon hearing what Zhang's mother said, the old lady finally realized what was happening, but her expression became even more unpleasant.

"The New Year's banquet is just around the corner, how can you wear such clothes out?" the old lady sighed.

If she dressed shabbily, people would probably say that the Marquis's mansion had fallen on hard times.

Xie Qianjiao pondered for a moment and said, "If Madam always sends clothes over in previous years, she must have forgotten this year. Why don't we call Madam over and ask her?"

The old lady frowned even more deeply: "Yuan Shu... this is not appropriate."

She glanced at Xie Qianjiao, somewhat helplessly.

She had planned it all out perfectly. Once Wen Yuanshu took over the ledger, these expenses would naturally be attributed to Wen Yuanshu. But how did the ledger end up in Xie Qianjiao's hands so inexplicably?

Now she's in a bind; she can't even begin to speak.

The old lady sighed again: "No matter what, the New Year's banquet is the most important thing. Qianjiao, go back and find a shop to sell, and then find Fushan Embroidery Building to make a couple of decent clothes."

Xie Qianjiao was puzzled by her gaze, and without thinking too much, she quickly nodded: "Don't worry, Aunt, I'll make arrangements as soon as I get back."

The old lady hummed in agreement: "Selling the shop is a big deal. If you can't make up your mind, go and discuss it with Yuan Shu."

Xie Qianjiao gritted her teeth secretly: "...Yes."

-

Xie Qianjiao returned to the courtyard and looked around, but couldn't find Pei Zeyu.

It's obvious without even guessing that Pei Zeyu must have gone to Bai Tong's place.

Xie Qianjiao was extremely annoyed.

"Madam, something terrible has happened!" One of her trusted maids suddenly rushed in, looking flustered. "Madam, a lot of people have arrived outside!"

Xie Qianjiao's anger, which she had just suppressed, was on the verge of erupting again: "Who is it!"

"Yes, yes..." Caiwei stammered for a long time, "...a servant who came to ask for charcoal..."

Xie Qianjiao raised her hand and pressed it against her brow.

The Marquis's mansion was deserted, and with so many things happening one after another, there was no spare money left in the accounts.

The masters in the mansion always used silver frost charcoal. Xie Qianjiao dared not cut back on the charcoal allowance for the old lady and Pei Zeyu, nor did she want to wrong herself. In addition, Pei Zeyu went to that wretched woman Baitong's room every few days, and they dared not use inferior charcoal there either. Therefore, she could only squeeze money out of the servants' charcoal allowance.

However, she did try to find a solution for those people.

"Didn't we already say we'd combine the two rooms into one and squeeze in? It'll only be cold for a few months anyway, can't we even endure that?" Xie Qianjiao was quite angry. "Money, money, everything costs money! Does money grow on trees?!"