After Xiao Zhen read through the list, his expression turned grim. "Lu Yuan, what do you think?"
"Reporting to the General, the Third Concubine is indeed quite adept at managing household affairs," the steward, Lu Guanjia, said with a serious tone.
Xiao Zhen glanced at the steward and tossed the list to him. "I'm asking you, what do you think is going on?"
The steward caught the list and skimmed it. "This is probably something you'll need to ask the Fourth Concubine."
"The Fourth Concubine wouldn't know how to manage the household. With the account books and keys in her hands, it's only been a few days. Do you think she has the ability to move so many things in such a short time?"
"Give me one day, and I can empty out the General's mansion's storeroom," the steward said confidently.
Xiao Zhen picked up a book from the table and hurled it at the steward. "Do you think everyone is like you, a bandit at heart, skilled at emptying storerooms?"
The steward caught the book and placed it back neatly. "Give the Eldest Miss one day, and she can also empty the storeroom."
Xiao Zhen choked slightly. "Man'er isn't that ruthless."
"Yes, yes, yes, our Eldest Miss is the most gentle," the steward quickly agreed. "General, if you're going to investigate this matter, you can only blame the Fourth Concubine. After all, the Fourth Concubine didn't conduct a proper inventory at the time, and the Madam would absolutely not acknowledge this."
"I had no idea she possessed such skills!" Xiao Zhen sneered. "It seems changing the household manager was the right decision. We'll wait and see. By the way, tell the Third Concubine that the Third Miss's coming-of-age ceremony doesn't need to be a grand affair. Reduce the originally planned scale by half."
The Third Miss's coming-of-age ceremony was what Yan Shi looked forward to the most. She was counting on it as an opportunity to leave her courtyard. After all, she was not only the primary wife but also the Third Miss's birth mother. How could she not attend her daughter's coming-of-age ceremony? Su Dan Novel Network.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Zhen directly sent word that the Third Miss's coming-of-age ceremony should not be a grand event. It should only involve a few tables for close friends and family, and a wet nurse to help the Third Miss with her hair, completely adhering to the standards of a concubine's daughter. Yan Shi's composure shattered!
"Why!" Yan Shi violently smashed the white jade pillow onto the ground, shattering it to pieces. The fragments scattered across the floor, much like her heart. "We are both legitimate daughters, so why should my daughter only be treated with the standards of a concubine's daughter!"
Granny Luo stood silently to the side. She had thought victory was within their grasp, only to find it was a fleeting dream. To their surprise, the loopholes they had designed had become the very pits that would bury them.
"Madam, please calm yourself."
"How can I calm down? It's one thing for him to strip me of my authority in managing the household, but why should he rob Ling'er of the honor she deserves?! Isn't Ling'er his daughter too?" Yan Shi was both angry and furious. After more than a decade of marriage, she held no standing in his heart!
"For this matter, I fear the Third Concubine must be blamed," Granny Luo said calmly. "We had planned a scheme to eliminate the women in the mansion, but who knew it would become a tool in someone else's hands."
Yan Shi's eyes blazed with intense hatred at these words. The reason she had been so unguarded was simply that she believed the Fourth Concubine was incapable of managing the household, and the Third Concubine was mere mud from a humble background, utterly useless. She never expected that this very mud would smear her entire life.
"She wouldn't have the brains for it. I fear it's our cunning Eldest Miss orchestrating things behind the scenes!" Yan Shi said fiercely. "These past years, I truly underestimated her!"
Granny Luo frowned. "That can't be right. The Eldest Miss has been recuperating in her courtyard all day, even skipping her morning and evening greetings to the Old Madam. Where would she find the time and energy to scheme for the Third Concubine?"
"Otherwise, why do you think Xiao Xiang runs to Shui Yue Xiao Zhu every day?" Yan Shi, after a fit of temper, finally calmed down. It seemed the Eldest Miss wasn't that foolish; she knew how to find allies for herself. However, what she hadn't expected was that Xiao Man would choose the Second Miss as her ally!
"The Second Miss has sided with the Eldest Miss?"
"The bond between these two isn't unbreakable," Yan Shi said with a cold laugh. "Don't forget why the Second Miss lost her purity. Others might not know, but this Madam knows very well! This was all the Eldest Miss's scheme. The Second Miss has always been proud. How could she genuinely align with the Eldest Miss after having her purity ruined by her scheme?"
"Madam's meaning is that we can win over the Second Miss?"
"She will come to me on her own," Yan Shi said slowly. "After all, her marriage is still in my hands. How is the matter you were asked to handle progressing?"
"The news has already been leaked to the Bai family. Old Master Bai is a reckless man, and he'll be at our door demanding her back any day now."
"I want to see how long those mother and daughter can enjoy their freedom!"
On the Dragon Boat Festival, the outside world was bustling with activity. The moat had dragon boat races, and many people were waiting by the river to watch. Xiao Man, due to her injuries, could not go out. The Old Madam and Yan Shi had already taken the Third Miss and Fourth Miss to the palace for the Dragon Boat Festival banquet. The Third Concubine and the Third Miss were in Xiao Man's courtyard, accompanying her in making zongzi.
Old Master Bai, reeking of alcohol, knocked on the General's mansion's gate. The gatekeeper, upon seeing him, showed clear disdain and rebuked him. "Coming here for handouts again today, don't you find it inauspicious!"
Old Master Bai, having dealt with all sorts of people while guarding the city gates, knew that the people at the General's mansion were not to be trifled with. He smiled apologetically. "Please inform the Third Concubine."
The gatekeeper let him in to wait, but Old Master Bai refused. He stood by the entrance. "I won't come in. Please tell the Third Concubine I'm waiting at the gate and ask her to come out quickly."
When the old woman came in to deliver the message, the Third Concubine was teaching everyone how to make zongzi. "Greetings to the Eldest Miss and Second Miss. Third Concubine, there's a message from the outer courtyard saying Old Master Bai has arrived and is waiting at the main gate, asking you to go out and see him."
A flicker of displeasure crossed the Third Concubine's face. She immediately put down what she was doing and prepared to go out.
"Third Concubine," Xiao Man called out to her. "Today is the Dragon Boat Festival. Please invite him into the mansion. There are many people coming and going outside, and it won't look good if people see it."
The Third Concubine listened and sat down again. "Bi Yue, go and bring Old Master Bai in. Have him wait in the reception hall."
"Yes, Concubine," Bi Yue immediately went out.
Xiao Man's expression remained unchanged as she continued to learn how to make zongzi. Soon, a delicate zongzi was finished.
"Eldest Sister's hands are truly skillful. I can't seem to tie mine properly."
The Third Concubine saw it and taught her hand-in-hand. "This string must be tied securely, otherwise, it will easily unravel when cooking, and it won't hold its shape."
Speaking of which, Bi Yue had been out for a long time and hadn't returned. The Third Concubine glanced towards the gate. "What's wrong with this girl? Why is she taking so long?"
Xiao Xiang furrowed her brows slightly. Her maternal grandfather always came to beg for money or ask for financial assistance. If the family was starving, it would be understandable for them to help. But that was not the case. It was only because her cousin was a gambler and her maternal grandfather loved to drink, that no matter how much money the family had, it couldn't withstand the reckless spending of these two. Therefore, when Bai Shun died, she actually felt a sense of relief.