By now, Bai Wei was truly impatient with the endless accounting. She fired off words like a volley of arrows: “Without these sixteen thousand taels of expenses, how could the Deputy Minister of Revenue maintain his dignity? To name just one item—the blood‑nest bird’s nest from the southern tribute that the ladies drink daily. Each bowl costs at least ten taels of silver. Fortunately, in past years we earned some profit in Jiangnan, or else disaster would have struck long ago.”
Madam Pan was stunned, incredulous: “Such a small bowl costs ten taels?!”
Had she known it was so expensive, she would never have dared to eat it. How could a mere woman be worthy of such luxury?
Jiang Chengzong was equally shocked, his anger flaring: “Madam He is so extravagant—no wonder the household is ruined!”
Before she married in, the Jiang family had never indulged in such corrupt habits.
Bai Wei, angered at his slander of her mistress, retorted directly: “Old Master, the ginseng tonic you drink regularly is far more costly than bird’s nest. Just the medicinal ingredients alone cost over a thousand taels.”
Jiang Chengzong insisted stubbornly: “Impossible! Madam He must have been deceived.”
Bai Wei no longer wished to argue. She said coldly: “If you don’t believe me, the ledgers are here. Read them yourselves. And if you cannot, the two accountants will explain.”
Except for Madam Pan, the Jiang family members were literate. Each picked up a ledger. By dawn, they had finally finished calculating—and had to admit the household expenses truly were that high.
Bai Wei sat nearby, nodding off. Madam Pan was also exhausted but dared not sleep, busy pouring tea for her husband and children.
At the crow of the rooster, Bai Wei stretched and said to Li Xixiang: “Second Madam, the general and detailed accounts have all been handed over. Please write a receipt, sign, and seal it.”
Li Xixiang recoiled as if from a snake, shaking her head repeatedly: “No, no, I won’t sign. This household is too large—I don’t have the ability to manage it!”
She wanted to keep her own dowry for her children, not subsidize the public accounts.
Bai Wei did not press her. She turned to Madam Pan: “Then let Madam take it?”
Madam Pan quickly hid behind Jiang Chengzong in fright. To make her manage affairs would be her death.
Jiang Chengzong, worn out after the sleepless night, his eyes sunken, snapped irritably at Jiang Linxiu: “Your mother and I raised you with hardship. Must we now serve you even in old age?”
Jiang Linxiu, convinced his elder brother had hidden wealth, signaled Li Xixiang to accept the accounts.
Following Bai Wei’s instructions, she wrote the receipt, signed and sealed it, and noted Jiang Chengzong, Madam Pan, Jiang Linxiu, and Jiang Furong as witnesses, each of whom pressed their handprint.
Bai Wei stored the receipt safely. But the matter was not yet finished. She ordered Accountant Chen to open the last chest and bring out another stack of ledgers.
“There is still one more account.”
Jiang Linxiu grew wary: “What account?”
Bai Wei asked calmly: “Second Master, how long has it been since you returned to your native village of Sanya?”
Jiang Linxiu froze. In the first few years after arriving in the capital, he often returned to his hometown. Among his old playmates, he was quite the figure of prestige. Later, he found it dull and stopped going back. His parents had grown old and frail, his elder brother was busy with official duties, and neither had returned for a long time.
Bai Wei said: “Sanya Village is no longer the same. County Princess built an ancestral home and clan shrine, purchased sacrificial fields, established a clan school, repaired waterways, and expanded roads. She even bought several orchards for the clan. Last year, the fruit was sold all the way to Jiangnan. Altogether, this cost twenty-four thousand taels!”
The hall fell silent. One could hear a needle drop.
After a while, Jiang Linxiu nervously said, “It wasn’t us who asked Sister-in-law to do this. We shouldn’t be the ones to repay that money!”
Poor relatives coming to beg for a few dozen taels could be considered benevolence. But to spend such a vast sum?
She didn’t feel the pain, but he did on her behalf. Truly, it was money thrown recklessly into the water!
A faint trace of contempt flickered in Bai Wei’s eyes. “Rest assured, this account won’t be handed to you. It’s only for your awareness. The Master knows of it, and he will repay it.”
She paused, then offered a formal bow. “The accounts are settled. This maid takes her leave.”
The two accountants, Chen and Wang, followed her out.
Li Xixiang stared at the pile of account books on the floor, her head pounding. “Quick, call for Elder Brother!”
Jiang Linxiu agreed—only Elder Brother could clean up this mess. He hurriedly sent someone to fetch him.
Soon, a servant returned to report that the Master was not at home but had gone to Yunshan Academy.
Jiang Linxiu regretted it. He should have called his brother during last night’s accounting. But he had avoided it, thinking some words were better left unsaid in his brother’s presence. Had he known the accounts would be so dire, he wouldn’t have hesitated. Now, exhausted and helpless, he could only retire to his room to rest.
Before her marriage, Jiang Furong lived at Tinghe Cottage. He Fangting had kept it for her, with servants regularly cleaning it so she could move in at any time. Even Jiang Chengzong and Madam Pan could no longer endure and returned to their chamber together.
Only Li Xixiang was denied rest. The household stewards, knowing she now managed affairs, came one after another to summon her to the council hall for domestic arrangements.
The day had only begun, and matters were already piling up.
Li Xixiang felt as though she had swallowed a fly—unable to spit it out, unable to swallow it down. With a bitter face, she went.
Meanwhile, at Chunming Court, He Fangting reclined lazily on a soft couch beneath the veranda. Her slender hands rested on golden silk pillows, while two young maids dyed her nails with balsam petals.
She had chosen a pale pink shade, not too red, giving a gentle, refined look. The flower paste was mixed with alum to fix the color, adding luster and beauty.
Another pair of maids applied a secret oil of ganoderma and angelica to her long, black, silky hair. Its fragrance was light, refreshing, and soothing.