“Miss, you’re awake?” Qingli lifted the bed curtains and smiled at Lin Youyou, who had just sat up still a bit dazed.
“Mm.” Lin Youyou nodded. The sky outside was already bright. Since there was nothing urgent, Madam Xu didn’t require her to get up early, so Lin Youyou usually slept until close to lunchtime.
“Miss, you wouldn’t believe it,” Qingli said excitedly. “This morning, Second Madam left the estate with a swollen, red face. The servants in her courtyard said she went out to raise money.”
“That’s good. The sooner she pays it back, the fewer problems there’ll be. She really is bold—how dare she touch anything at all? Her sister-in-law’s dowry isn’t something a younger sister-in-law can take.”
“Yes! I heard Second Master even beat her this morning. First Master also said she must repay everything, or she’ll be divorced,” Qingli said, clearly pleased.
“Heh…” Lin Youyou let out a mocking laugh.
“Miss, what are you laughing at?” Qingli asked in confusion.
Before she could answer, Qinghe, standing nearby, spoke with disdain. “Sounds nice, but as if Second Master didn’t also spend Madam’s dowry money. When trouble comes, they just push everything onto their own wife. Coward.”
Lin Youyou widened her eyes in surprise and looked at Qinghe’s usually cheerful round face. “Not bad, Qinghe. I didn’t expect you to see through this so clearly.”
Qinghe’s chubby face turned a little shy. “It’s not that I see through it, Miss. I grew up in the countryside. I’ve seen people like this a lot and heard others talk about it, so I understand.”
“Good. As long as you understand, you won’t be tricked by men’s so-called ‘righteous talk’ in the future. Qingli, you should learn from this too—don’t just believe whatever others say. Always think it through yourself.”
“Yes, Miss. This servant will remember,” Qingli quickly replied, realizing she had been too superficial in her judgment this time. She would not let it happen again, or she might bring trouble to the Miss.
While talking, Qingli and Qinghe helped dress her and wash up.
“Today I won’t go out. I have things to do. Qinghe, go get some food.”
“Yes.” Qinghe left.
After Lin Youyou finished washing up and sat at the table, Qinghe returned with breakfast—and also placed a post in front of her.
“Miss, the gatekeeper says this is from the Eldest Prince’s Consort.”
Lin Youyou opened it and raised an eyebrow after reading. “Why would the Eldest Prince’s Consort suddenly send me an invitation? I’ve never even met her. Qingli, go ask Mother if I can go.”
“Yes.” Qingli left.
Lin Youyou continued eating. Before she even finished breakfast, Qinghe returned.
“Madam said you may go. The Eldest Prince’s Consort is from the Xu family—she is your cousin.”
“My cousin?” Lin Youyou was genuinely surprised. She had left the capital at six years old, and her memories were vague. She barely remembered her cousins. She didn’t expect the first invitation she received after returning to the capital would be from one of them.
After breakfast, she stood up.
“I’m going to the small study. Since the banquet is in three days, help me prepare clothes and accessories. As for gifts, I’ll prepare them myself.”
“Yes,” Qingli and Qinghe replied respectfully.
After she left, they immediately got busy. Although the Master had prepared some clothes for the Miss, there were too few, and some were not suitable. They needed to select better fabrics and rush new outfits.
In the study, Lin Youyou wasn’t there for leisure. She was drawing renovation plans.
There were many failing shops under Madam Xu’s name—she needed to help her mother revive them.
Her first target was the “Noble Guest Pavilion.” Food was her specialty, so she would start with that.
After thinking it through, she decided not to reopen it as a traditional restaurant, but instead turn it into a hotpot and barbecue shop.
For safety reasons, the barbecue would be pre-grilled by chefs and served ready-made, while the hotpot would be cooked at the table.
This meant the design plan was crucial.
She had already observed a restaurant in the capital before, so she didn’t need another visit.
So that morning, she stayed in the study, carefully drafting everything—from tables, cookware, and grills, to menus, drinks, condiments, staffing, and even recruitment numbers.
Time passed quickly when one was busy.
Before she knew it, the three days agreed upon with Madam Zhang had arrived.
Early that morning, Madam Xu brought Lin Youyou to the old madam’s courtyard.
If the old madam liked to interfere so much, then they would settle everything in front of her and let her “interfere” properly.
Inside the room, the old madam and Madam Zhang were already waiting, fully prepared.
This time, Lin Feifei had learned her lesson and did not come. She knew this matter was her mother’s fault and that showing up would only make things worse for her reputation.
In the room, Madam Zhang had a small box on the table, several large chests on the floor, and even more outside.
After Madam Xu greeted the old madam, Madam Zhang stood up with a very unpleasant expression.
“Sister-in-law, you’re here.”
“Mm. Let’s begin,” Madam Xu said bluntly.
Madam Zhang’s face was swollen and red as she said unwillingly, “These are the account books from these years. Outside are your dowry items. The box on the table contains the silver notes I’ve made up. Please check them.”
Her expression couldn’t have been uglier—handing all this over had nearly cost her everything. She had emptied her entire savings and even borrowed money. She truly had nothing left.
The old madam’s face was equally dark. To preserve her son’s and granddaughter’s reputations, she had even used her private savings to cover the hole Madam Zhang had created.
Thinking of all those boxes of valuables being carried away made her heart ache unbearably. She cursed Madam Zhang and Madam Xu inwardly, vowing to settle accounts with them later.
One woman was greedy and foolish enough to embezzle everything; the other showed no respect for her mother-in-law. Neither of them was easy to deal with.
But Madam Xu didn’t care about their expressions at all.
“Steward Liu, check whether the dowry matches.”
“Yoyo, count the silver notes.”
Madam Zhang’s expression turned cold. “Sister-in-law, do you really think I would short you?”
“Heh…” Madam Xu gave a faint smile. “It’s not that I think so. After all, even brothers settle accounts clearly.”