The mistress has no feelings, why do you provoke her?

Song Wenjun obediently went to the ancestral hall to reflect on her mistakes, but this time she was neither cold nor hungry.

That ingot of gold played a huge role.

Li's mother prepared a thick cushion and a charcoal brazier for her in the ancestral hall early in the morning, and served her three meals a day with vegetables and meat, taking great care of her.

As for the scriptures, she also had someone copy them for Song Wenjun and send them over.

Song Wenjun claimed she was reflecting on her mistakes while facing the wall, but in reality, she was living a life better than any immortal.

Once she was locked up, she had to consult Zhou Shi on all matters, big and small, in the mansion.

What dishes need to be prepared in the kitchen today? The backyard wall has collapsed and needs money to repair.

The old women got into a fight over the errand, and the matter reached Zhou Shi's door, where they demanded a fair judgment from her.

One trivial matter after another caused Zhou a headache from all the arguing.

After finishing dealing with these miscellaneous matters, Zhou was so exhausted that she collapsed onto the bed and couldn't get up.

She wanted to release Song Wenjun, but then she thought that releasing her now would prove that she had given in.

No, we can't put it there.

She needed to let Song Wenjun know who was in charge of this family.

The second wife, Madam Min, was quick-witted. Knowing that Madam Zhou was frightened, she took the initiative to go to her side and serve her.

She smiled and tried to get information out of Zhou: "Mother, I heard that the Marquis has rendered meritorious service and the Emperor wants to reward him, is that right?"

Zhou's heart skipped a beat. The matter was still in its early stages, so how could there be any reward?

But they couldn't bring themselves to deny it, and besides, wasn't it a done deal?

It was only a matter of time, so Zhou admitted: "Mother originally didn't want to talk about such a big thing, but Huaizhou's meritorious service is beyond doubt. I reckon there should be news after he returns."

"That's wonderful!" Madam Min raised her voice, excitedly saying, "Our Marquis's mansion can finally hold its head high! We must celebrate properly."

Madam Zhou frowned. The household was almost starving, so where would they find the money to celebrate?

But Min's words reminded her that if a celebration banquet were held, those daughters and wives of officials would take the opportunity to curry favor with the Marquis's family.

At that time, a congratulatory gift will definitely be indispensable.

The more she thought about it, the more she realized it made sense, and she immediately lost her sleepiness: "What you said makes some sense. If we don't make a fuss, people will think that our Marquis's mansion has declined. But we should take this opportunity to show off our power."

Madam Min's face beamed with joy: "Mother is right. Let's join in the fun thanks to the Marquis's contribution."

“Yes, let’s make it lively.” After making her decision, Zhou clenched her fist and said to Min, “Go and get the dressing case from my table.”

As if knowing what Zhou was going to do, Madam Min happily responded and took the box over.

Zhou opened the box and took out a key from the bottom, which made Min's eyes widen in surprise.

The old woman has finally decided to part with her dowry.

Sure enough, Zhou got up, and Min hurriedly helped her up.

In the corner of the room, there was a large red lacquered box, which was locked.

This is Zhou's only remaining possession; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it his coffin money.

She unlocked the box.

Above, besides some cloth and porcelain, there were lots of silver ingots below.

Min swallowed hard, her eyes filled with greed.

Zhou took out a cloth bag from inside, opened it three layers deep, and found a silver note for five hundred taels.

She said to Madam Min, "I'll leave the celebration banquet to you. Here are five hundred taels of silver. Make sure it's a grand and lavish affair."

Five hundred taels of silver—that's a huge sum!

When Madam Min took the money, her hands were trembling. She had never touched so much money in her life. She was overjoyed: "Mother, don't worry, your daughter-in-law will definitely make the banquet a grand success."

Mrs. Zhou nodded with satisfaction: "Do a good job. If you can manage this household well, I will let you be the head of the family from now on."

Ever since Song Wenjun gave birth, she has become a completely different person.

He no longer treated her with the same deference as before, nor did he provide any financial support to the Marquis's mansion.

Adding to the matter of Jiang Miaoyin and Gu Huaizhou, Zhou felt more and more that she needed to cultivate a new daughter-in-law who could manage the household affairs.

Min was her choice.

Although she was shrewd, she was not very bold and only wanted to survive in the mansion and find a good marriage for her daughter.

Such people are easy to control and won't cause much trouble.

Unlike Song Wenjun, who appeared gentle but was actually very stubborn.

Madam Min was so happy she could hardly stop smiling. Her husband wasn't Madam Zhou's biological son, and their second branch of the family had always had a very awkward life in the mansion.

They were all the Marquis's children, yet the second branch of the family was constantly hampered and had to be subservient to others.

If she were to take charge of the household affairs, things would be different.

"Mother, rest assured, your daughter-in-law will certainly live up to your expectations." Madam Min felt that her good days were about to begin, and perhaps in the future, the people in the mansion would have to live at her mercy.

Song Wenjun, you've really ruined a perfectly good game of chess.

Madam Min happily took the silver notes and went to make the arrangements. Although she had been married into the Marquis's mansion for many years, she knew nothing about its management.

She didn't even know what the standard or what dishes should be served at this banquet.

She summoned the kitchen manager to the courtyard for questioning. The manager cautiously inquired, "What kind of dishes does the Second Madam wish to order? How many plates and bowls? How much meat and how much vegetables? Do you want cold dishes and snacks? What grade of tea do you prefer? And whose wine will you use?"

A barrage of questions left Mrs. Min completely bewildered.

Wealthy families had strict rules for banquets because they were for entertaining dignitaries and officials, so they couldn't be careless.

Madam Min had no idea about the intricacies of the situation, and besides, she wanted to make a profit from it.

Five hundred taels of silver, half of which is enough.

"Let's follow the same standards as the ladies' birthday celebrations. There's nothing new at this time of year, so beef, mutton, chicken, duck, and fish are essential. Oh, and let's add a pig's head to each table."

Pig's head is a rare delicacy, and serving it at a banquet makes one appear extravagant.

Ordinary people wouldn't dare to serve a pig's head unless they had some power or influence.

The steward felt a cold sweat break out all over his body. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and kindly reminded Madam Min, "Second Madam, pig's head is expensive. One pig's head costs one tael of silver. Isn't that a bit too extravagant?"

Not to mention the costs of chicken, duck, and fish, which are even higher.

“What are you afraid of? Just do it when I tell you to.” Madam Min was full of confidence: “If our Marquis’s Mansion is going to do something, we should be the first. The Marquis’s meritorious service is a great joy. We must make it a big and lively event.”

Seeing her say that, the person in charge stopped arguing: "Then I'll finish settling the accounts and report back to the Second Madam."

"Alright, go ahead." Madam Min waved her hand, leaned back slightly in her chair, and seemed a little smug.

So this is how easy it is to give orders; no wonder Song Wenjun held onto power in the mansion so tightly.