Yun Chu laughed self-mockingly.

In her previous life, she had thought the Xie family was impoverished, so she had voluntarily supplemented them with her dowry. Fearing it would hurt the Xie family’s dignity, she never mentioned this matter.

But Old Madam being able to produce twenty thousand taels of silver in one breath was sufficient proof that the Xie family had considerable assets.

Looking back now, her father-in-law was the only scholar who had passed the provincial examination within a hundred miles, and Xie Jingyu was the youngest top scholar. The Xie family might not be much in the capital, but in their local area, they had tremendous prestige. So many landlords and local gentry registered their properties under the Xie family name—the annual income must be no small sum.

Nanny Zhou presented the banknotes.

Yun Chu took a step back and curtsied. “If you give me this silver, it will also be used for the entire household’s daily expenses. Old Madam should take it back.”

Old Madam always felt that her grandson’s wife seemed different somewhere.

Ever since the child in her grandson’s wife’s womb had died prematurely, she had become particularly compliant, submissive and respectful toward her as an elder.

This was the first time she had used the tactic of advancing by retreating to manipulate her.

Manipulate?

After this word appeared in her mind, Old Madam immediately shook her head.

Yun Chu had no offspring and could never have her own children in this lifetime. Therefore, it could only be the Xie family manipulating her!

“Chu’er, those words make me look bad.” Old Madam spoke. “I didn’t know before. If I had known earlier, today’s matter would never have happened. Add this money back to your dowry list. Later, I’ll have Nanny Zhou put all the income from your father-in-law’s estate into the public accounts. From now on, if you need money, come find me. Don’t use your own private funds again. Do you hear me?”

Yun Chu grasped Old Madam’s hand in return, her face full of emotion. “Indeed, Old Madam still dotes on me. Earlier, when my mother asked about a hundred-mile peony screen from my dowry, I was still thinking of what excuse to use to brush it off. Now it’s good—with this silver, I can buy another similar one…”

Hearing this, Old Madam broke out in a cold sweat.

Fortunately, she had been generous and returned the silver. If Madam Yun became suspicious and personally came to the Xie family, it couldn’t be concealed.

“Good child…” Old Madam patted Yun Chu’s hand. “With the Xie family in your hands, I’m at ease. You’ve worked hard.”

Yun Chu paused, then spoke. “Usually, I manage the household affairs alone. Old Madam having some doubts is actually quite reasonable. How about this—Ping sister is grown now and will soon be viewing matches and getting married. Let her follow me in managing the household.”

Old Madam Xie didn’t express her position. If she nodded immediately, it would seem as if she didn’t trust Yun Chu.

Nanny Zhou, who was attending at the side, spoke on her behalf. “The eldest miss will surely be the mistress of some household in the future. She must learn these things.”

Only after drinking some tea did Old Madam say, “Ping sister, what are your own thoughts?”

Xie Ping’s face was full of smiles. “I’m willing to learn!”

If Mother managed the Xie household in such perfect order, learning Mother’s skills would make marrying into a high-ranking family much easier.

Yun Chu smiled. “Tomorrow morning after you pay your respects, stay at Yusheng Residence and follow me.”

After the matter was concluded, she rose to take her leave.

Tingshuang held the household management tokens and a large stack of banknotes in her hands, following behind.

Old Madam sighed. She had summoned Yun Chu intending to call her to account, but in the end, she herself had bled heavily, losing over twenty thousand taels of silver.

Xie Shi’an’s eyes were dark and obscure. He truly felt that Mother was different now…

Yun Chu slowly walked back to Yusheng Residence.

Arriving at the courtyard gate, she saw several maids gathered there.

It turned out that in the three characters on the plaque at the courtyard entrance, the character for jade was missing a stroke. The maids and servants were trying to figure out how to remedy it.

“Madam, a perfectly good Yusheng Residence has become Wangsheng Residence. It’s truly strange.” Tingxue spoke. “Why not ask the master to write a new plaque?”

Yun Chu raised her head to look at those three characters.

This courtyard had existed before she married in. Originally, Xie Jingyu lived here alone. After she moved in, Xie Jingyu moved to the adjacent courtyard.

She spoke. “We don’t need the jade character. From now on, call it Sheng Residence.”

The maids and servants looked at each other, all seeing disbelief in one another’s eyes.

The jade in Yusheng Residence was one of the characters from the master’s name. Was it really appropriate to just remove it like this?

Tingshuang said coldly, “Didn’t you hear Madam’s words? What are you standing there for?”

The group hurriedly busied themselves with ladders and tools.

Yun Chu had just sat down in a chair when someone from her mother-in-law Yuan Shi’s courtyard who attended her brought over two thousand taels of silver. “Madam manages everything inside and outside for the Xie family. The mistress knows this in her heart and specially had this old servant bring silver. Madam can have some hair ornaments made that she likes and buy some fine fabric.”

She pressed her lips together.

After she married in, her mother-in-law, who had been bedridden for over ten years, suddenly recovered from her illness.

So her mother-in-law had always believed she brought good fortune.

This mother-in-law of hers treated her with at least a tiny bit of sincerity.

It was just that this bit of sincerity vanished completely after the Yun family met with disaster…

Yun Chu gathered all the silver together and handed it to Tingshuang. “Send it to Uncle Chen. Have him buy as much ice as there is available. If the silver isn’t enough, he can borrow from the money house.”

Tingshuang left under cover of night.

This night, Yun Chu slept fairly well.

When she opened her eyes in the morning, the sky hadn’t yet fully brightened. After dressing, she went out to find Xie Shi’an sitting in the side hall waiting to pay his respects.

Seeing her come out, he quickly stood up. “Mother.”

Yun Chu asked him warmly, “Have you eaten?”

Xie Shi’an shook his head. “After coming out from the ancestral hall, I came directly to Mother’s place. These past two days, I’ve understood many things. Thank you for Mother’s teachings and punishment.”

“It’s good that you understand.” Yun Chu smiled. “Sit down and dine with me.”

Xie Shi’an imperceptibly relaxed.

Mother was still treating him as warmly as before. It seemed he had been overthinking.

Halfway through the meal, Yun Chu set down her chopsticks and spoke. “Yesterday I was reading and came across a story. Would you like to hear it?”

Xie Shi’an also set down his chopsticks and assumed an attitude of listening attentively.

Previously, Yun Chu would occasionally chat with him about interesting matters from the court and battlefields. Her suddenly wanting to tell a story now didn’t strike him as unusual.

Yun Chu spoke slowly. “The story goes that there was a woman who raised three children. But after the children grew up, over a small conflict, they killed her. Do you think the children did right?”

“Of course not!” Xie Shi’an looked indignant. “These three people were utterly devoid of conscience and unworthy of being called children!”

Yun Chu asked, “What if these three children were not the woman’s biological offspring?”

Xie Shi’an spoke. “The grace of raising is greater than the grace of birth. If the woman raised them, she was their mother. No matter what, they shouldn’t have killed their own mother!”

Yun Chu nodded. “Then what if this woman might have been involved in treason, and the three children killed the woman only to protect themselves and the entire family? In that case, would you still think they did wrong?”

Xie Shi’an didn’t give an answer so quickly.

He pondered for a while before raising his head and saying slowly, “The lives of an entire family compared to one woman—naturally the family is more important. If the woman knew the children killed her for the sake of the family’s prosperity, I think she would willingly go to her death.”

Yun Chu smiled. “Thank you.”

Xie Shi’an suddenly realized something wasn’t quite right. “Mother, what are you thanking me for?”

Yun Chu curved her lips.

Of course, she was thanking him for making the same choice as in her previous life.

Thanking him for still being the same as in her previous life. So when she moved against him, she would no longer have any hesitation.