Daiyu only noticed when she heard Tan Chun say the family’s silver wasn’t readily available.

Every year, the Jia family’s gifts were not light, and Grandmother gave most of them directly to her.

So she had always thought that although the Jia family didn’t have great achievements at court, they weren’t short of silver. Otherwise, how could they be so generous?

But then she heard Tan Chun say that the clothes being made for them used last year’s fashionable fabrics and styles.

There wasn’t much difference in quality, but this concerned propriety. Each year, clothes were made following the trends in the capital.

When Lin Daiyu heard her say this, she took it to heart. Then she found an opportunity to ask Second Sister-in-law about it privately.

At first, Second Sister-in-law didn’t want to say anything, but as the questions continued, she admitted, “The family’s income isn’t very ideal.”

Daiyu frowned. “Why would this be?”

Wang Xifeng revealed part of the situation.

When Lin Daiyu first heard her say this, she was shocked. She was nine years old this year and had been by Grandmother’s side learning about household affairs, large and small. She knew this situation was abnormal.

If income couldn’t cover expenses and still leave a portion in reserve to handle various weddings, funerals, and social obligations that might arise, then expenses should be controlled.

But from Second Sister-in-law’s words, it seemed the Jia family’s expenditures remained the same while income kept decreasing. That she had managed to hold on this long was already quite surprising.

Daiyu’s expression became grave.

Wang Xifeng sighed. “Good sister, fortunately I still have you who can understand me. Managing this household isn’t easy.”

“I’ve also thought about increasing income, doing some business, but unfortunately it’s too slow—the profits can’t keep up. To rapidly accumulate wealth requires sufficient supply sources and connections. Someone said I could try lending money to others. That at least doesn’t require supply sources.”

Daiyu’s face changed. “Who said that? Second Sister-in-law, are you talking about usurious loans? That’s criminal! If a life is lost, the situation becomes even worse. Once someone beats the drum to appeal for justice, you’d have to make a trip to the yamen.”

There were people who did this and got it covered up, but this was not good and not the proper path.

If it became a big issue, you’d very likely end up in prison. At that time, what would the Jia family do? What would happen to her?

And her daughter would also be affected.

Wang Xifeng: “…”

She found it amusing. “Good sister, I’m neither stealing nor robbing. They need money, I lend it first, then they return it to me and everything’s fine. How could it be so frightening? Even if trouble arises, our family can suppress it.”

Daiyu saw her indifference and gave several examples.

“Second Sister-in-law, lest you say I’m scaring you, these are things that happened a few years ago. Have someone go investigate.”

After Wang Xifeng returned, she had someone investigate. The results were exactly as Lin Daiyu had said.

One case involved a marquis household’s young master who was reported for a death from lending money, then sentenced to exile. This family could now be said to be untraceable in the capital—they had already declined.

Wang Xifeng: “…”

What Daiyu said was true?

If something really happened… Wang Xifeng frowned deeply. She had no confidence in that husband of hers. She even worried that if she entered prison, as soon as it was confirmed she couldn’t get out, he would arrange to take a new wife.

Wang Xifeng’s face immediately darkened. She dismissed the thought of high-interest lending.

If no one reported her, she could earn a bit of money. But this money wasn’t even for her own use—it was for the whole extended family. Yet if something happened, she would be the one entering prison. Such a terrible deal—she wouldn’t do it.

Plus, later when she obliquely mentioned the family’s expenses to Madam and the Old Ancestress, they all took her problems seriously but just told her to find a solution. What solution could she find?

Only then did Wang Xifeng make up her mind to expose this matter. Enduring the heartache, she balanced the accounts, then told Jia Lian about it and pulled him in as an ally.

Daiyu was right. They would inherit the title in the future. They had to take a long-term view. If they kept ignoring it and drained the Jia estate dry, what would be given to them as a couple in the future would just be an empty framework. This wasn’t what Wang Xifeng wanted to see.

That’s why they made this matter public and reported it to the Old Ancestress.

Wang Xifeng was truly somewhat disheartened. If she was given an empty framework, managing the household would be meaningless.

After she gave that ledger to the Old Ancestress, for several consecutive days, no matter how she and Jia Lian tried to please and flatter, the Old Ancestress remained indifferent.

Wang Xifeng knew the Old Ancestress was angry—angry that they had made this matter public and made her lose face. But she had no other choice!

Besides increasing income, expenses could also be reduced. But they were juniors—whose expenses could they reduce?

With the Old Ancestress not giving a good face, Wang Xifeng had no solution. She waited anxiously for the Old Ancestress’s attitude.

Her attitude was crucial.

After waiting several days, the Old Ancestress finally spoke—

Then Wang Xifeng was disappointed, yet felt it was within reason.

The Old Ancestress didn’t plan to dispose of those old people. Instead, she planned to summon them back, give them a chance to admit their mistakes, make up what they had swallowed, and atone for their sins through future service.

Wang Xifeng was disappointed. Jia Lian was even more disappointed.

He had been thinking about installing his own people on those estates, but now… how could he install anyone with things this way?

And they said to make up the difference—how much would they actually make up?

If they cried a few times before the Old Ancestress, this might be discounted again.

Both husband and wife were somewhat dissatisfied but didn’t dare say anything more. The Old Ancestress didn’t want to hear anything else.

Lin Daiyu entrusted her father to help her pay attention to the Jia family’s situation. She wanted to know the outcome. She knew that neither Grandmother nor her cousin-in-law would want her to interfere, and she didn’t want to interfere either. But she wanted to know how they would handle it.

As a result, she heard her father say this.

From this, she learned that Grandmother had taken the conciliatory route.

Lin Daiyu was somewhat disappointed. “Father, if our family’s estate managers used disasters as an excuse and embezzled, what would you do?”

Lin Ruhai replied, “I would replace these people. If they truly had prior merit, I’d retire them honorably. For those who genuinely repented, I’d give their descendants a chance. Those without merit who relied on seniority to bully others—after recovering the silver, I’d dismiss them and send them to work the fields, promoting those who had been suppressed by the previous managers.”

“Daiyu, you know the difference between silver I reward and silver they privately swallow without the master’s permission.”

Lin Daiyu fell silent. She indeed knew. “Grandmother… is soft-hearted. Perhaps it’s because she’s getting older.”

Lin Ruhai suddenly thought of the current Emperor. The current Emperor was long-lived—even now, young princes and princesses were still being born.

He didn’t know if in a few more years, the Emperor would also hold a lenient heart toward some old people from the past.

Lin Ruhai pulled his thoughts back again. “In the next few years, it should be effective. They were caught in wrongdoing and forgiven by their masters—they’ll be grateful. But in a few more years, if the Jia family remains like this, the possibility of them repeating their old tricks is very high.”

Ultimately, that they dared to do this had another reason—the Jia family had weakened.

Those who manage households should employ both kindness and authority, but they bestowed mostly kindness, causing them to lose their sense of awe.

The Jia family’s current state was self-inflicted.

Yun Shuyao devoted most of her attention to Luo Yu, with a small part concerned about her son in Gusu. Learning of the changes in the Jia family, she thought of the treasure she had previously discovered on the table leg they had moved out to sell. She felt somewhat regretful—looking at the situation, she probably wouldn’t be able to buy these old items coming out of the Jia family anymore.

Regardless of what happened in the future, they should be happy now. Receiving that silver could resolve their current predicament. However, afterward, Yun Shuyao discovered that although the Jia family had received the silver the estate managers made up and the accounts temporarily weren’t short of money, the trips to the pawnshop hadn’t ceased.

She could still successively buy old items flowing out from the Jia family’s storeroom. Yun Shuyao: “…”

Had they gotten a taste for it and were unwilling to give it up?

Yun Shuyao went frequently to the Fourth Prince’s estate.

Now Luo Yu’s belly was already very large. And twins had always tended to come early. The midwives, wet nurses, and birthing room arrangements in the estate were all already prepared. Once she went into labor, they could be deployed at any time.

Because of the previous incident, the Fourth Prince felt guilty toward Luo Yu. Not only did he not object to Yun Shuyao coming frequently, if too much time passed without a visit, he would even inquire about it.

Authority unused expires.

Yun Shuyao, regardless of how others looked or what they said, would still come when she should.

When she came, she would just talk with her daughter—nothing else.

Recently, the Fourth Prince’s estate was very peaceful. Since Fujin recovered from her illness, she had been diligently managing household affairs large and small, handling everything properly. She also frequently copied sutras in her small Buddhist hall for the deceased First Prince Hong Hui, praying for his blessings.

Needless to say, Li Gege was still under confinement, unable to leave. No matter how angry she was inside or how much she made a fuss, the Fourth Prince hadn’t stepped into her courtyard once.

Then there were her three children.

Gege Ya Hui was the oldest and already quite sensible. After going to Song Gege’s place, she didn’t show any rejection. She politely lived under the same roof as Song Gege. Comparatively, the Second and Third Princes, both younger, were more attached to their birth mother. They had cried and made a fuss, but under their father’s cold face, they ultimately held back their tears.

Even though they both fell ill, it couldn’t make their father soften his heart and let them return to their birth mother’s side. Apart from drinking much bitter medicine, there was no other result. This way, they had also settled down now.

Song Gege was actively trying to draw closer to Ya Hui. She wanted to truly turn this young gege into her own daughter. Her attention was all on Ya Hui.

As for the other geges and concubines, they were more straightforward—they only wanted the Fourth Prince to come for a few more nights during this period. If they could become pregnant soon, that would be even better.

Luo Yu touched her belly. “Such peaceful days can probably last until I give birth.”

When she gave birth, things would probably become lively again.

She didn’t know whether the two in her belly were male or female.

If they were two daughters, there would most likely be no trouble. But if there was a son, storms were destined to rise again.

Yun Shuyao agreed. The Fourth Prince was still a beile now, not yet enfeoffed as a prince. The back residence didn’t have many people, yet there were already so many incidents. In the future, who knew how lively this estate would become.

Who told them they were too close to the center of power?

For power, for position, even if you didn’t want to compete, you had to compete.

“You know the initial signs. When you feel something, don’t panic. As long as it’s not very urgent, you can prepare first. First births aren’t that fast. Remember to have someone immediately inform me. I’ll come accompany you.”

Childbirth was the easiest time for foul play. Both mother and children were very vulnerable. Although after the previous incident, one could imagine the Fourth Prince would definitely impose heavy security, still—just in case.

If someone truly was that bold and something happened, regrets would come too late.

Luo Yu nodded solemnly. “I will.”

Without Auntie present, she wouldn’t be able to give birth with peace of mind.

On this day, Yun Shuyao received word that Luo Yu had gone into labor.

Luo Yu had been eating her morning meal when she felt a reaction. At first, she thought it was the babies moving, but later discovered something was wrong. She immediately had someone send word to Auntie to come over.

She herself accidentally knocked over a tea bowl, splashing tea on herself. “Someone come! I need to bathe and change clothes.”

Having just started labor, the actual birth wouldn’t be that fast. She would first tidy herself up.

And prepare the birthing room properly too.

Yun Shuyao didn’t delay. Upon receiving the news, she immediately brought the delivery bundle she had prepared long ago and set out. Because she came frequently, Fujin didn’t see her every time. This time was the same—she was told to go directly to Ce Fujin’s courtyard. Fujin continued busily handling household affairs. At noon, she heard someone report, “Ce Fujin has gone into labor!”

Fujin’s heartbeat quickened by half a beat. Going into labor?!

She looked up at the sky. How long had Madam Yun been here? What a coincidence—she went into labor when her birth mother was at the estate?

Then hearing about her earlier bathing, hair washing, and series of operations, Fujin was amazed. Could it be that she had actually gone into labor earlier, summoned her birth mother, finished all these things, and only then announced she was giving birth?

She was so bold—wasn’t she afraid something would happen?

Fujin hurriedly stood up. “Someone come! Go report to Master. We’ll go to Ce Fujin’s place.”

Hong Hui, if your spirit is in heaven, reincarnate soon and return to Mother’s side. This time, also bless Mother—let Lin Shi give birth to two younger sisters for you this time!