While He Fangting slept soundly, Songrong Hall blazed with lamplight as the household accounts were handed over through the night.
Jiang Chengzong had never wanted Li Xixiang to manage the household. He had always looked down on this daughter‑in‑law. But He Fangting’s refusal was absolute, and he did not wish to be held hostage by her decision.
Entrusting the accounts to his wife, Madam Pan, was impossible—he had never considered it. So Li Xixiang was the only option, though he resolved to keep a close watch.
Distrusting Bai Wei and the accountants Chen and Wang, Li Xixiang abandoned her quarrel with Jiang Linxiu and brought her own dowry servants to tally the books. Her mother had been a merchant, teaching her accounting from childhood; her abacus clattered swiftly.
By midnight, she cried out in shock: “Only six hundred and twenty‑one taels of silver? Impossible! I don’t believe it!”
Such a sum—what could it cover? The household’s monthly expenses exceeded that alone.
Jiang Chengzong, Jiang Linxiu, and Jiang Furong all looked equally stunned. As for Madam Pan, who had never handled money, six hundred taels seemed enormous.
Li Xixiang’s first thought was that He Fangting had embezzled public funds. She glared at Bai Wei: “Fetch your mistress! These accounts are not clean!”
Bai Wei replied evenly: “At this hour, the County Princess has retired. Speak to me instead.”
Though usually quiet, she could be sharp‑tongued when needed.
Knowing He Fangting would not come, Li Xixiang fumed: “Fine, then tell me—where is the family wealth? Why only six hundred taels?”
Bai Wei answered calmly: “Not six hundred twenty‑one. Tomorrow several shops will settle accounts. Afterward, about one hundred taels will remain.”
Li Xixiang demanded: “…What shops?”
Bai Wei glanced at the ledger: “The wine shop, the silk emporium, and the pastry shop.”
At the mention of silk, Li Xixiang immediately thought of He Fangting’s endless gowns and finery. Her face twisted: “Wine and pastries are trifles. Silk is the real expense. The family’s wealth is all worn on your mistress’s back!”
Bai Wei said firmly: “Second Madam, mind your words. The County Princess owns her own cloth shops. She has never used household funds for her clothing.”
Li Xixiang’s eyes lit up: “Ah, so she sells her own fabrics to the household at high prices, profiting twice over!”
Bai Wei gave her a cold look: “No. The County Princess’s businesses never trade with the household.”
Li Xixiang sneered as if she had found proof: “You’re lying with your eyes wide open! The jewelry delivered at the start of the month came from Fubao Pavilion. If I recall correctly, that’s Fangting’s dowry shop!”
She pulled the golden hairpin from her head, its twin butterflies marked with Fubao Pavilion’s seal.
Jiang Furong raised her hand too, showing a delicate bracelet of red gold beads: “Yes, yes—that’s from Fubao Pavilion as well!”
Madam Pan hesitantly removed her five‑blessing gold hairpin and handed it to Jiang Chengzong. Examining it closely, he too saw the engraved *fu* character, as though he had caught incriminating evidence. His face hardened: “What is the meaning of this?”
Bai Wei, exasperated, replied: “Old Master, this was a gift from the County Princess to the women of the household. It was not business; no money was taken. And not only these—through the years, everything sent from her enterprises has always been given freely.”
Her words stunned the Jiang family, as if they had been slapped.
After a pause, Li Xixiang shrieked again: “Impossible! I don’t believe it!”
Giving away her own dowry goods to sisters‑in‑law, mother‑in‑law, and younger sisters without explanation? No one could be so foolish!
Bai Wei said calmly: “Then check the accounts. See if there is any record.”
The County Princess was generous by nature. When in good spirits, she loved to give gifts. When in poor spirits, she bought and gave even more. Even the servants had received plenty.
Li Xixiang did indeed begin flipping through the ledgers, questioning the two accountants as she went.
Jiang Linxiu steadied himself and said gravely: “Even so, the accounts should not show only a few hundred taels.”
He knew the family had once been poor. But his elder brother had served in the court for many years, even as prefect in wealthy Jiangnan. As the saying went: *three years as a clean prefect, ten thousand taels of silver.* His brother had served three terms, nine years—surely thirty thousand taels at least!
Add to that the family’s lands and shops, and the sum should be far greater.
Now, as Deputy Minister of Revenue, a third‑rank official in one of the most lucrative posts, how could the household have only a few hundred taels? Who would believe it?
His elder brother often claimed to be incorruptible, never taking a coin he should not. Outwardly, Jiang Linxiu praised him, but inwardly, he thought his brother sly, even deceiving his kin.
An uncorrupt official was as rare as a three‑legged toad. The only difference was in how much they took. If his brother wanted to call himself clean, let him—but Jiang Linxiu did not believe it.
Bai Wei answered bluntly: “Second Master, how much do you think there should be? When the Eldest Master first entered the Hanlin Academy, he was a seventh‑rank official, with a monthly stipend of seven *shi*. Household expenses were covered by the County Princess’s dowry. Later posts paid little. Only as prefect, a fourth‑rank official, did he receive twenty‑four *shi* monthly, plus 2,800 taels of ‘honesty silver’ each year. But expenses were heavy—he had to hire secretaries, retain attendants, and support the household. Now, as Deputy Minister of Revenue, he earns thirty‑five *shi* monthly, plus 4,500 taels of honesty silver yearly. That has only just begun to offset the County Princess’s losses.”
Jiang Linxiu was stunned: “…Losses?”
Bai Wei looked at him in surprise: “Has Second Master forgotten? This grand mansion you live in was purchased by the County Princess! Should that money not be repaid? Or do you mean to brazenly seize another’s dowry?”
Jiang Linxiu wanted to say it need not be repaid, but feared his elder brother’s rebuke. His brother valued appearances and would never utter the words “seize a wife’s dowry.”