Chapter 24

Chapter 24: More than Just a Little Benefit

“Ridiculous!” Qi Shu Xian felt his cheeks burn hot.

He hadn’t imagined that while he was thinking about teaching Sheng Zhi Wan a lesson, his elder sister planned to use Sheng Zhi Wan’s silver ingots to support Duke Qi’s household!

He couldn’t believe that the Duke’s mansion had fallen so low.

“Come with me to see Mother,” Qi Shu Xian ordered, turning swiftly as he walked out. The elderly steward hurriedly followed behind.

Evening Tide Courtyard.

Madam Cui was listening to her maidservant’s report about Qi Shu Xian spending the previous night at Endless Courtyard.

Qi Fei Yan sat to one side, sneering repeatedly as she listened.

“It should’ve been this way long ago. Sheng Zhi Wan has been spoiled rotten; she dares to interfere even when a man wants to take a concubine. What if she’s a princess? Once she married into our Duke Qi’s mansion, she became a person of Duke Qi’s household!”

“Shu Xian is her heaven. Whatever heaven wishes to do, how can she dare to meddle?”

Madam Cui nodded with a pleased smile, “Shu Xian handled things well this time. He’s usually so tenderhearted—I was worried he might soften again and fail to control his wife, making us a laughingstock.”

“Madam is truly kind. If it were any other mother-in-law, who would even consider a daughter-in-law’s feelings?” Concubine Ping complimented smoothly.

Madam Cui felt gratified by her praise, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly, but she soon broke into a cough.

Strangely, her chest had felt tight again lately, even though it had improved before.

She was still taking her medicine regularly. Could there be something wrong with the medicinal herbs?

Or was it because Sheng Zhi Wan hadn’t applied her Pressure Technique these past few days? But how much effect could those casual presses really have?

Perhaps she’d better call Imperial Physician Song to examine her again soon…

“Mother!” Qi Shu Xian strode in at that moment.

Madam Cui saw his serious expression and felt a jolt of panic.

Seeing him send all the servants out, her anxiety grew, her chest tightening even more.

“Has something happened?”

Qi Shu Xian hesitated on how to explain. The lack of silver in the household was difficult to speak of gracefully, so he decided to be straightforward. “The steward says we have only two hundred silver ingots left. Does Mother know of this?”

Madam Cui paused, then relaxed inwardly.

She thought it had been a great disaster, but it was only about silver?

Sheng Zhi Wan had brought such a generous dowry that even if the Duke Qi household spent it recklessly for decades, it would never run out. Why worry over something like this?

But if she told Shu Xian outright, he might start appreciating Sheng Zhi Wan, and her carefully arranged lesson would collapse before it began.

She thus laughed lightly, teasing, “Why is a grown man suddenly concerned about household finances?”

Seeing her expression, Qi Shu Xian relaxed as well.

Indeed, he had worried needlessly. Duke Qi’s house had been a noble lineage for three generations with nearly a century of wealth; it couldn’t possibly dwindle to a mere two hundred silver ingots.

“It’s just that today, my comrades learned I received a reward and want to drink with me. Mother knows they’re true men from the battlefield, brave but without noble birth.”

“I can’t let them pay. Also, I wanted to buy some wine to bring back to the barracks, to share my joy. That’s why I went to the accounts room and heard the steward’s words…”

“If Mother has it at hand, lend me a thousand silver ingots first,” Qi Shu Xian continued. “By the way, the steward also mentioned that the servants’ monthly payments are due soon, Mother must not forget.”

Madam Cui’s expression froze slightly.

“And Sheng Zhi Wan? Won’t she give you silver?” Qi Fei Yan interrupted.

Qi Shu Xian paused, confused. “My monthly salary is placed in the public account. How could I ask her for money?”

“What’s hers is yours! If not for her, Mother wouldn’t have fainted from anger. Knowing Mother is ill, she refuses to handle household matters or pay her respects. You won’t find another daughter-in-law as shameless as her in the whole Capital City!” Qi Fei Yan snapped angrily.

Madam Cui sighed deeply, “It’s all my fault. My health demands costly medicine every day, burdening the entire Duke’s mansion. Forget it. Wait a moment, I’ll fetch the dowry I’d saved for your younger sister.”

“Why must we use younger sister’s dowry?” Qi Shu Xian asked, bewildered, then realized abruptly. “Mother, are you saying we truly have no silver left?”

Madam Cui’s expression turned mournful. “The herbs I need are expensive. Duke Qi’s house has long been spending more than it earns, which is why we’ve had to rely on Zhi Wan’s dowry since she married…”

Qi Shu Xian stood dumbfounded, suddenly recalling Sheng Zhi Wan’s words from before.

That Duke Qi’s people were eating and using her wealth…

He hadn’t believed her, yet now it seemed all too true.

Now that Sheng Zhi Wan was no longer managing the household, only two hundred silver ingots remained.

“Shu Xian, as your wife, it’s natural she shares in the prosperity and hardship of our Duke Qi household. Mother never planned to rely on her dowry. Now that you’ve achieved military merit, won’t all future rewards and income benefit her?”

“Between husband and wife, why keep accounts so strictly? It only weakens affection. When your father first became an official, I gave him my entire dowry to help him along…”

Madam Cui’s reminiscing stirred complicated feelings in Qi Shu Xian.

Indeed, Mother had willingly used her own dowry to help Father. Compared to that, Sheng Zhi Wan providing for daily expenses and Mother’s medicines was nothing significant.

In the future, when he earned more honors, wouldn’t she gain far more than these small benefits from him?