Chapter 122: Is Third Sister-in-Law Dissatisfied with Me?

Housekeeper Cao heard the commotion and walked over, seeing a little maid gesturing angrily and scolding, yet Sun Accountant’s face was flushed red, his Adam’s apple moving up and down but unable to speak a single word.

The little maid spoke for a while and seeing Sun Accountant’s lifeless demeanor, she said, "You are refusing to record this account, aren’t you? Then I will take this back and tell the Madam."

Saying this, she reached to take back the slip.

Upon hearing the word "Madam," Housekeeper Cao coughed twice and asked, "What is going on here? Why is there a commotion in the accounting room?"

Sun Accountant hurriedly handed the slip to Manager Cao, saying aggrievedly, "Please take a look, the Madam sent this slip through a maid to be recorded."

Housekeeper Cao glanced at it and laughed, "The Madam’s expenses for consultation and medicine should be charged publicly, why won’t you record it?"

"But... but the Madam asked for 600 taels of silver in one go... I thought it’s best to consult with the Sixth Madam..."

Housekeeper Cao looked at the little maid full of indignation, then at Sun Accountant, and laughed, "What kind of medicine did the Madam take?"

The little maid had to endure and explain again.

Housekeeper Cao nodded and then said, "Go ahead and record it, just annotate it on the side."

He casually resolved the matter.

The little maid snorted while Sun Accountant, with trembling hands, issued a receipt to her, watching her leave with a long stride, and angrily asked Housekeeper Cao, "If something happens after recording this, who will be responsible?"

Housekeeper Cao looked at him mockingly and said, "Don’t you know, the coachmen and grooms were detained by Gu Shiba for inquiry yesterday. Gu Shiba received whose information, don’t you know?"

"... Marquis?"

"The Marquis is still at Dazao Temple yet sent word for Gu Shiba to stand up for the Madam, although the Sixth Madam manages the inner accounts of the Marquis Mansion, ultimately, who do you think this Marquis Mansion belongs to?"

Sun Accountant fell silent.

The little maid, holding the receipt angrily, returned to Wutong Garden just in time to see Hong Ye also returning from outside.

Seeing her puffed-up appearance, Hong Ye asked, "Oh, what’s happened?"

The little maid exaggeratedly repeated the story.

Hong Ye said, "You scolded well, Madam was worried she might have given too little. In our households, even a concubine requires ginseng when sick, top-quality ginseng also costs several hundred taels of silver. Do you mean that Renhe Hall’s treasure worth less than a few sticks of ginseng eaten by a concubine?"

The little maid nodded, saying, "That’s the reasoning, I’ve asked him, is the Madam’s face not precious?"

Hong Ye snorted and said, "You’re right, Sun Accountant, I’ve remembered him."

The little maid said, "If it weren’t for Housekeeper Cao, he would’ve made me take the slip to consult the Sixth Madam, Sister Hong Ye, do you have any ideas to deal with him?"

Hong Ye replied, "I don’t know."

The two spoke heatedly, their voices growing louder and louder, and inside the room Qin Yuan found it increasingly outrageous, so he called, "Hong Ye, come in, later help send these flowers back to Sixth Master."

Hong Ye replied, entered the room, and saw Xu Zhen and Sixth Lady Gu sitting inside, their faces somewhat displeased.

Hong Ye: "..."

Qin Yuan glanced at her and smiled at Sixth Lady Gu, saying, "The flowers sent by Sixth Master, I have kept them for two days now. Sixth Sister may not know, but I truly don’t have the knack for gardening, if such precious flowers are spoiled under my care, it would waste Sixth Master’s goodwill. I’ve painted the flowers as though they’re here."

Sixth Lady Gu smiled and said, "Our Zhenzhen originally intended to come to cheer up Third Sister-in-law, didn’t anticipate causing trouble instead."

Xu Zhen flushed with tears in her eyes as if she was about to cry.

Hong Ye impatiently curled her lips.

Qin Yuan seriously remarked, "Sixth Sister-in-law said that, but I don’t know what to say. Your visit shows your thoughtfulness, and Zhenzhen’s gift of flowers is her good intention. But if I keep the flowers and they die, that truly lets down Zhenzhen’s goodwill."

Sixth Lady Gu stared straight at Qin Yuan and asked directly, "Did Third Sister-in-law hear what the maids said just now, and was displeased with me?"

Hong Ye’s face tensed.

She and the little maid were speaking freely outside without realizing they were sitting inside.

Qin Yuan laughed, saying, "Why be displeased, now it’s Sixth Sister-in-law who oversees the household, the accountant being cautious asking you first before recording is his proper diligence, and the maids feeling upset is only natural, everyone is fulfilling their duties. If a day comes when the accountant needs to ask my opinion before recording for Sixth Sister-in-law, I believe Sixth Sister-in-law would not be displeased either."

Xu Zhen shivered slightly.

Hong Ye peeked at Sixth Lady’s expression, and saw Sixth Lady Gu’s smile on the surface, but her eyes clearly betrayed anger and gloom, yet laughed, "That’s natural, Third Sister-in-law is absolutely right."

Qin Yuan also laughed, "I knew Sixth Sister-in-law is a discerning person."

Hong Ye dared not speak, quietly serving on the side, until Sixth Lady and Xu Zhen took their leave, she quickly called a nanny to pick up the pot of Peony, following behind Sixth Lady Gu and the others.

Sixth Master Gu summoned someone to make clothing, measuring his size, and saw the flowers returned by Xu Zhen again, curiously asking, "What, does Third Sister-in-law find the flowers unsuitable?"

Xu Zhen angrily said, "Uncle, the Madam despises the person who sent the flowers."

Sixth Master Gu stayed silent.

After the measurement, Sixth Master Gu went to Sixth Lady’s courtyard and asked what was happening.

Sixth Lady Gu angrily said, "I’m merely helping manage the household affairs, yet I’m treated as a thorn in the eye, Sun Accountant said the silver for the Madam’s consultation was excessive and needed my approval before recording, as if your good Third Sister-in-law has attributed all the accounts to me, even returning the flowers saying if they died, it would disappoint Zhenzhen’s kindness."

Qin Yuan’s words were deeply unsettling.

Initially thought that confronting directly would compel Qin Yuan to show modesty.

Yet Qin Yuan did not yield an inch.

Sixth Lady Gu, filled with suppressed frustration, encountered Sixth Master Gu, feeling even more embittered.

If only she hadn’t married such an idle son, would she need to heed the face of a teenage wife’s judgment.

Sixth Master Gu not siding with her, coldly laughed and said, "I wondered what it was, Third Sister-in-law took the Jade Beauty Cream from someone, gave several hundred taels of silver, and still you begrudge. Not to mention, this mansion’s money is strictly for you to seize, not for the rightful owner to spend. I’m about to redeem a Pipa girl for merely two or three thousand taels but you’re relentless. What are you doing with all that silver, surely you haven’t moved it all back to your maiden family?"

Everything good belongs to the Xu family.

Even people too.

Wanting something without considering if it fits.

Sixth Master’s mocking demeanor fueled her anger, she attempted a motion to scratch Sixth Master, scaring him to take two steps back, warning, "Soon I’ll go with Young Master Qin to Yu Yuantang, you best not throw a tantrum stopping me from going out."

Sixth Master fled in haste, Sixth Lady summoned Xu Zhen, saying, "Don’t go disgracing yourself at Wutong Garden these days, aunt will arrange a place for you to lie in ambush and you’ll surely catch someone."