Zhao Dian lowered his head, “Previously, income from the mansion’s shops, estates and caravans all entered our public accounts here. Plus you could supplement from time to time, so even if income and expenses didn’t balance, we could make it up. But since we followed His Majesty to Yuncheng, you stopped putting money into the public accounts.”

That portion was the inheritance Zhao Changyu left him. When leaving Luoyang, he felt he had prepared to die, so naturally he couldn’t take the family fortune with him and gave all the money to Zhao Hanzhang.

“A year ago, you instructed the stewards to divide the property. Aside from residences, shops and estates you personally acquired, all other assets were handed over to Fifth Uncle to manage. You even sent back the account books and seals.”

Oh, Zhao Zhongyu remembered now. A year ago, he had been furious over Zhao Ji’s stupidity, knowing from his heart that the clan could never be handed over to Zhao Ji.

So to prevent the clan from developing resentment over property disputes in the future, he specifically had people separate out his family’s private property, temporarily handing over the portion that should go to the clan head to Zhao Song to manage.

In the future, whether Zhao Yi became clan head or Zhao Erlang’s son became clan head, they could directly take that portion of assets from Zhao Song’s hands.

That was the Zhao clan’s accumulated wealth over many years. The legitimate eldest son could receive seventy percent, with the remaining thirty percent inherited by other descendants. This way, seventy percent of seventy percent, passed down from son to son, created the current family fortune.

Thus the family could endure, with one strong legitimate branch able to shelter the clan.

This was why Zhao Changyu gave most of his property to Zhao Zhongyu to inherit. And Zhao Zhongyu, even unwillingly, after witnessing his son’s stupidity and shortsightedness, could only painfully return it to the clan to await a more competent clan head from the legitimate branch in the future.

“So… after losing that portion of assets, I have no money?”

Zhao Zhongyu couldn’t believe it.

Zhao Dian lowered his head and said quietly, “Great Uncle, most of the residences, shops and estates you previously bought were in Luoyang. Luoyang has only had sporadic income this past year. We’ve been relying on two estates and farmland in Xiping.”

“How do I only have two estates in Xiping? I remember there were several shops and quite a bit of farmland.”

Zhao Dian’s voice grew even quieter. “This servant checked the account books. You exchanged that portion four years ago to Sanniang, trading for shops and estates in Luoyang.”

Zhao Zhongyu fell completely silent. Only now, in a daze, did he react. “Tell me, when she traded Luoyang shops and estates to me four years ago, was she certain Luoyang would face war?”

Zhao Dian lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Zhao Zhongyu’s heart was extremely complex. By now his anger had mostly dissipated, replaced somewhat by pride, but more by bitterness. Why did his elder brother always have better luck than him?

Born to the same parents, his brother was smarter than him. His brother had a clever son, but weak in body; his son, though not as smart as Zhao Zhi, was strong and healthy.

On this point, they were even.

But he had a relatively clever and healthy grandson!

Zhao Changyu chose Zhao Ji to inherit the title because of Zhao Yi, didn’t he?

So Zhao Zhongyu felt Heaven was fair to them brothers. At least comparing grandsons, he had won!

But going in circles, he still lost. His granddaughter was far stronger than his grandson, even stronger than him.

If four years ago she could foresee Luoyang’s decline, this foresight was no less than her grandfather’s.

“Great Uncle, what about this money?” Zhao Dian’s question pulled Zhao Zhongyu back from his thoughts.

Zhao Zhongyu returned to his senses and asked, “Have you checked everything? Can’t squeeze out any money?”

“This servant only kept daily necessities, calculating everything else, but it’s still not enough.”

Zhao Zhongyu reached for the account book, flipping through it before pointing to one item. “Remove this. With the household in such difficulty, what sheep spine are we eating?”

“This is for the young master. He’s recovering from injury and says it’s to supplement with like forms…”

“What supplement with like forms? That’s all nonsense. He’s not a sheep—what form is he supplementing?” Zhao Zhongyu paused before continuing, “If he really wants to eat it, have someone check the market for cleaned sheep bones. Bring back two pieces to make soup.”

Zhao Dian agreed.

Zhao Zhongyu flipped through the pages, his frown deepening. “How are his expenses so high? He’s injured yet still drinking? Go confiscate all his wine and ask the tavern if they’ll take it back. If not, find someone to sell it all.”

“And these medicines,” Zhao Zhongyu paused but still held back, not depriving his son of his medicine. “Next time don’t call the physician to the house. Have someone carry him to the medicine shop for consultation—it’ll also give him some fresh air.”

Physicians making house calls required travel fees. They could save a bit.

Zhao Zhongyu was worthy of being Zhao Changyu’s brother. Previously inattentive, but once paying attention, he was quite frugal in his brother’s style.

Flipping through the account book, he periodically crossed out one or two unnecessary expenses or replaced them with cheaper alternatives.

Even for vegetables, he no longer allowed household servants to go to East Market, instead requiring South Market, ideally the small market near the city gate. There, farmers from outside the city occasionally brought things to sell. Since it wasn’t organized, prices were flexible and could be bargained down.

Zhao Zhongyu even lowered his own living standards. This way he could squeeze out quite a bit from the remaining money, but it still wasn’t enough.

Zhao Zhongyu furrowed his brow and asked, “Does Jizi have anything that can be quickly converted to cash? Some gold and silver ornaments, or jade would work.”

Zhao Dian didn’t know much about Zhao Ji’s possessions, but Zhao Zhongyu had some. “Great Uncle has a gold-inlaid crown in his storeroom.”

That was what Zhao Zhongyu wore when young. He loved it very much, but because of his age, he no longer wore gold-inlaid ones, switching to jade instead.

Zhao Zhongyu acted as if he hadn’t heard, thinking seriously before saying, “I remember he has a saddle inlaid with jade pieces, warm in winter and cool in summer. Go find it tomorrow. With many generals arriving now, that item should sell well.”

Zhao Dian agreed and silently withdrew.

Zhao Ji hadn’t ridden a horse in ages. Plus he was currently confined while recovering, completely unaware of this matter. Zhao Dian went to search his courtyard’s storeroom, found the saddle and took it away.

He only went out for half a morning, then returned carrying a bag of gold beans.

Zhao Zhongyu handed these gold beans and the previously scraped-together money to Zhao Hanzhang, his expression calm. “If it’s not enough, tell me again.”

Zhao Hanzhang accepted them, happily agreeing, completely unaware how difficult obtaining this money had been. After all, in her memory, all her elders were quite wealthy. Currently in the Zhao clan, there probably wasn’t anyone poorer than her, right?