“You!”
Shen Yi was momentarily speechless with anger, then heard Shen Sangning ask—
“Is it because I entered the residence first that Father thinks Pei Ruyan would be displeased?”
The young woman’s voice remained gentle, not sounding deliberately defiant.
Yet the faint indifference in her expression and the unintentional air of superiority she exuded greatly irritated Shen Yi.
Especially since she increasingly resembled his deceased first wife, which troubled him deeply.
This mother and daughter were cut from the same cloth—though carrying merchant blood in their veins, they comfortably enjoyed the status of the Bo Mansion while appearing more composed and intelligent than anyone else in the household.
Shen Yi looked down on this daughter from the bottom of his heart, yet she had the most promising future among all his children. He could only soften his tone as he told her—
“Although you are the legitimate wife of the Heir, our Bo Mansion’s status and connections are inferior to the Guogong Manor in every aspect. That he married you is your good fortune. No matter what means you use, you must secure the Heir’s affection.”
After speaking, he added: “When he rises through the ranks in the future, he can help your brother.”
“Brother?” Shen Sangning’s brows furrowed briefly before quickly smoothing out. “Is Father referring to Guanyu? He’s only six years old and barely knows any characters. Who knows if he’ll prove as incompetent as my other brothers.”
Shen Sangning had more than just Shen Guanyu as a brother.
With four or five concubines in the residence, there were many illegitimate sons and daughters, yet each had inherited Shen Yi’s mediocrity and foolishness.
Among Shen Yi’s illegitimate sons, only one barely managed to pass the imperial examination at the county level.
As for Shen Guanyu… in her previous life he hadn’t achieved any scholarly fame either, though he did possess handsome features and was taken in as a live-in son-in-law by a powerful official.
“Preparing for the future—you’re just a woman, naturally you wouldn’t understand such matters,” Shen Yi failed to detect Shen Sangning’s sarcasm. “You only need to please your husband.”
Growing weary of the conversation, Shen Sangning said, “Father, yesterday I reviewed my dowry list. Aside from jewelry and furniture, there’s only five thousand taels in silver.”
Her sudden change of topic made Shen Yi’s eyelids twitch. “Only five thousand taels? Don’t tell me you think it’s too little?”
Of course it was too little!
Shen Sangning laughed scornfully in her heart.
The vast Chengan Earl’s Residence swallowed at least one hundred thousand taels from the Weisheng Family annually, and no one knew where all that silver was being squandered.
Shen Yi both looked down on Shen Sangning’s mother for her background while continuously extracting silver from her family.
Yet he only gave her five thousand taels in silver for her dowry?
If she hadn’t married Pei Ruyan, she probably wouldn’t have even received five thousand taels!
“Of course it’s too little,” Shen Sangning pretended to be concerned. “I know Father treats me and my sister equally, but now that I’m the Heir Apparent’s Wife, I have many social obligations and numerous matters in the residence that require financial lubrication.”
Seeing Shen Yi adopt a thoughtful expression, Shen Sangning paused before continuing her fabrication, “My husband enjoys dishes from Eternal Peace Pavilion and tea from He Ming Restaurant—none of which come cheap. I can’t very well use my husband’s money to cater to his preferences, can I? Then there are the errand boys and attendants around him—I need to win their loyalties too. And also…”
“Enough,” Shen Yi fell silent for a moment. “How much do you need?”
Hearing this, Shen Sangning raised her hand and showed two fingers.
“Two thousand taels, you may withdraw it from the accounts office yourself.” Shen Yi breathed a sigh of relief.
“Twenty thousand taels,” Shen Sangning said quietly. “Next month is my mother-in-law’s birthday. She comes from a noble family and probably wouldn’t appreciate ordinary gifts.”
Shen Yi was astonished. “What kind of birthday gift costs twenty thousand taels! You must be trying to fool me!”
“Father,” Shen Sangning said with a troubled expression, “after all, it’s Mother-in-law who manages the Guogong Manor. When I can take charge of Zhongkui still depends on her… If it’s difficult for you, just forget I mentioned it.”
With that, Shen Sangning turned to leave.
Shen Yi frowned, pondered for a long while, and spoke gravely just as she reached the door: “Ten thousand taels, that’s all I can spare.”
Shen Sangning re-entered the room, “Never mind, the Bo Mansion has many expenses too.”
Shen Yi waved his hand. Though it pained him, he convinced himself to consider the bigger picture—
“I’ll have the steward issue you fifteen thousand taels. The Bo Mansion can simply reduce expenses recently. As long as you can establish yourself firmly, spending some silver isn’t a big deal. Anyway, your maternal uncle will be coming to the capital in a few days.”
“Uncle is coming to the capital?” Shen Sangning seized on the key point.
In her previous life, after she severed ties with the Bo Mansion, no one informed her about household matters, so she naturally hadn’t known about this.
No wonder Shen Yi was willing to bleed money today—it turned out Uncle, the money bag, was coming.
“Hmm,” Shen Yi didn’t elaborate, “Go accompany the Heir.”
Shen Sangning nodded. The moment she turned to leave, the smile vanished completely from her face.
Sometimes she didn’t understand what the Weisheng Family was thinking, investing so heavily in the bottomless pit that was the Bo Mansion.
They should understand this relationship was unequal, and might even yield no returns. Yet, suffering from having no other connections to cling to, they could only pin their hopes on Shen Yi.
Willingly allowing themselves to be bled dry.
When she returned to the main hall, Liu Shi and Shen Miaoyi were nowhere to be seen, probably off somewhere sharing private words.
Pei Ruyan sat in the guest seat, calmly chatting with Pei Che.
In contrast, Pei Che looked stifled, like a junior who wanted to escape after just a few words with an elder.
Pei Ruyan looked up just as Shen Sangning approached. Seeing joy coloring her delicate features, he unconsciously pursed his lips and said, “Madam.”
Shen Sangning, feeling the large banknotes at her waist, was in rather good spirits and was about to walk toward Pei Ruyan.
Just then, Shen Yi entered from behind, coincidentally interrupting the conversation, “My esteemed sons-in-law, there’s still half an hour until lunch. How about we play a few games of chess?”
Chess?
Shen Sangning could only think Shen Yi was quite brave.
Though she had never seen Pei Ruyan play chess, she was certain his skills wouldn’t be poor.
No matter how much he went easy, he couldn’t possibly lose to Shen Yi.
Pei Ruyan showed no extra expression, calmly saying to Pei Che, “A-Che, you play a couple of games with Father-in-law.”
“Me?” Pei Che very much wanted to refuse—he wasn’t good at it either.
Pei Ruyan ignored Pei Che’s reluctance. As he stood, his robes swayed lightly, and he asked Shen Yi with steady composure—
“Father-in-law, may Madam and I pay our respects to Mother?”
Pay respects? Mother?
Shen Yi was baffled, “Didn’t you just see her? You’ll see her again at mealtime. There’s no need for a formal visit, is there?”
Moreover, the term “pay respects” was too formal.
“The one I refer to is not Madam Liu.” Pei Ruyan smiled faintly, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.
Shen Sangning looked at him in shock. Even from his sharply defined profile, she could tell he was serious.
She stared blankly at Pei Ruyan.
Pei Ruyan said solemnly, “On the day of returning to her maiden home, it is proper to visit Madam’s birth mother. Since Madam Weisheng has passed away, Madam and I should offer incense to Mother.”
His voice was calm but brooked no argument, “Where is the Ancestral Hall?”
This last sentence was directed at Shen Sangning.
Shen Sangning’s heart was filled with mixed emotions. Yesterday, she would never have imagined that Pei Ruyan would be willing to accompany her back to her maiden home.
Even more unimaginable was that he could actually remember her mother.
In this household, no one had ever taken Shen Sangning’s mother seriously.
She suddenly felt like crying.
If marriage were a business transaction, then Pei Ruyan would undoubtedly be an excellent partner.
At least that was how it seemed for now.
Shen Sangning forcibly held back the tears welling up in her eyes. “Mother isn’t in the Ancestral Hall. She’s in my room.”