Lady Hou is reborn and, by pampering her illegitimate son, reclaims her life of wealth and privilege

Since its opening, Han Yi Fang has enjoyed booming business, with a monthly net profit of up to three thousand taels. Yi Pin Lou's net profit is even higher, reaching five thousand taels. In addition, the ten shops on Xiaoxiang Street bring in twenty-one thousand six hundred taels of rental income annually.

The Princess's Xiaoxiang Pavilion also receives a monthly dividend of three thousand taels. In addition, the seven shops that originally belonged to the Marquis's mansion can earn seven thousand taels a year.

With all these incomes combined, Jiang Huaiyu could earn 160,000 taels of silver a year. After deducting the Marquis's household expenses for the year, Jiang Huaiyu could save 150,000 taels of silver a year.

Looking back on the days when she had to sell her dowry to make ends meet, she can now save 150,000 taels of silver a year in just half a year. This transformation is truly astonishing.

The sense of comfort that wealth brings is indeed intoxicating; having substantial financial resources gives one exceptional confidence in whatever they do.

Jiang Huaiyu happily closed the ledger and returned to the Duke of Wei's mansion with Cuiying.

On the way home, the streets were crowded with people, which hindered Jiang Huaiyu's carriage from moving forward.

Jiang Huaiyu gently pulled back the curtain of the carriage and peered out. He saw a tent covered with black cloth surrounded by a crowd that had formed a long, serpentine queue.

A surge of curiosity welled up in Jiang Huaiyu's heart. "Cuiying, go and find out what's going on."

Cuiying jumped off the carriage, squeezed into the crowd with difficulty, and soon returned.

"Madam, there is a tofu pudding stall ahead. The stall owner is named Du Shiliu. Her younger brother is a strong wrestler with superb skills. Anyone who can enter the black tent and defeat her brother can enjoy a bowl of tofu pudding for free. If you lose, you will have to buy ten bowls."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Huaiyu raised her eyebrows, intrigued. She was considering strengthening the Duke's mansion's security, and if Du Shiliu's younger brother was truly as outstanding as the rumors suggested, perhaps she could recruit him into the mansion as a guard.

"What does her younger brother look like, and what is his name?"

Cuiying shook her head regretfully, "I just asked the others, but everyone who came out of the black tent kept their mouths shut. No one revealed the truth about her brother, as if they had made a prior agreement."

Jiang Huaiyu became even more curious, so she sat down comfortably in the carriage, drew back the curtains, and began to watch with great interest.

She witnessed that at the very front of the queue was Zhang Dada, the renowned strongman of Beijing. After entering the tent, Zhang Dada soon emerged, looking embarrassed and flushed, having been forced to buy ten bowls of tofu pudding. Curious about his ordeal, the crowd inquired about his appearance and why he was so powerful. But Zhang Dada remained silent, refusing to reveal any information.

At this moment, the curiosity of the onlookers grew stronger, and a nosy woman couldn't resist rushing into the tent, wanting to catch a glimpse of Du Shiliu's younger brother.

Zhang Dada was caught off guard and failed to stop it in time. All he heard was a woman's scream coming from inside the tent.

"It's a woman?"

The woman stormed out, shouting, "What kind of business are you doing?"

Zhang Dada's face turned even redder. "No, that's not it."

The woman turned around and ripped off the black cloth from the tent, revealing five female wrestlers. The surrounding audience gasped in astonishment.

Du Shiliu snorted coldly and said, "We concealed our gender because of the prejudice of people like you. Identity can be faked, but the battle record is real. These past few days, it has been the girls competing inside."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dada was struck dumb, utterly shocked. The fact that the capital's renowned strongman was no match for these women would undoubtedly cause a huge uproar in the city.

The onlookers asked in bewilderment, "Then why do you conceal your gender?"

"For fair competition."

Du Shiliu calmly recounted, "We have been practicing wrestling since we were young. We are exceptionally talented. When we were young, no man could beat us, regardless of gender, in our competitions."

However, as adults, women's wrestling is relegated to a supporting role in men's events. Clad in simple clothing, even with exceptional skill, they are merely watched by lecherous spectators. How can we willingly endure such humiliation?

The onlookers were even more puzzled. "Those dozens of strong men would rather buy ten bowls of tofu pudding than reveal your secret?"

Du Shiliu sneered, "Which of those men, with their towering, mountain-like physiques, would be willing to admit that they have never defeated a woman? I never expected that they would be so secretive for the sake of vanity."

Sitting in the carriage, Jiang Huaiyu exclaimed repeatedly, "Truly a woman who is just as capable as any man."

“Cuiying, go and ask them if they are willing to join our government.”

Yesterday, Cuiying led Du Shiliu and the others back to the Duke's mansion. Jiang Huaiyu paid each of them five taels of silver a month to serve as female guards in the inner courtyard of the Duke's mansion, personally protecting Jiang Huaiyu. They no longer needed to set up stages to sell tofu pudding.

……

Jiang Huaiyu stood by the window. Outside, everything was a vast expanse of white. A few pale purple plum blossoms bloomed on the bare branches, adding a touch of life and color to this pure white world.

Last night, the first light snow of the year quietly fell, coinciding with the day of the Apricot Blossom Banquet.

"Miss, are you ready?"

Jiang Huaiyu closed the window, tightened the ink-wash landscape brocade cloak that Cuiying had handed him, and asked.

While helping Jiang Huaiyu adjust her dress, Cuiying replied, "Just now, Miss Biao's personal maid, Lüyou, came to report that Miss Biao is already ready at the gate."

Jiang Huaiyu responded, "Then let's set off too."

Jiang Huaiyu led Cuiying and Du Shiliu outside. In the past few days, she had specially arranged for people to train Du Shiliu and Du Banli in court etiquette so that they could accompany her to the palace to participate in the Apricot Blossom Banquet. Du Shiliu was responsible for protecting Jiang Huaiyu, while Du Banli was responsible for protecting Jiang Xinrui.

Three carriages were parked outside the gate of the Duke's mansion. Wei Fengyun, Wei Fenghui, and Jiang Xinrui stood on the steps waiting for Jiang Huaiyu.

Upon seeing Jiang Huaiyu appear, the three of them bowed respectfully.

"Mother."

"aunt."

Jiang Huaiyu nodded slightly. "Let's go."

Jiang Huaiyu and Jiang Xinrui rode in one carriage, Wei Fengyun and Wei Fenghui rode in another, and the remaining carriage was for several maids. Wei Fengyao was on duty in the palace and was unable to travel with the others.

In the warm spring breeze, Jiang Xinrui wore a light blue, dreamlike, pleated long dress with scattered floral patterns, over which she wore a pearlescent brocade cape embroidered with delicate silver plum blossoms, looking like a fairy descending to earth. Her hair was adorned with a set of exquisite pearl hairpins, and a light blue hairpin inlaid with gold and jade sparkled in the sunlight, perfectly complementing her dress and exuding a noble temperament.

Jiang Huaiyu's gaze swept over Jiang Xinrui, whose skin was as smooth as jade, whose eyebrows were like willow leaves, whose eyes were like stars, and whose demeanor was graceful and elegant. His heart was filled with satisfaction and pride.

"Xinrui, do you remember at your cousin's celebration of becoming the top scholar in the imperial examination, did you ever fall for any handsome young man?"