After marrying a sickly and powerful official, Jiaojiao cries every day

The hall was extremely bright, with windows clad in sky-blue gauze that was almost transparent like cicada wings. The branches of flowers swayed in the wind, casting mottled shadows on the ground through the thin gauze.

The large hollow gold-inlaid cauldron on the ground was filled with concentration incense. Wen Ranyan stood in the curling green smoke, her figure slender and her face brighter than snow. Perhaps she guessed that Zhou Huizhi would come, so she responded without even raising her head.

"Send her in."

Sijin immediately went to pass on the message.

In a moment, Zhou Xuzhi stepped over the threshold and entered the hall.

She was wearing a light green dress. The light color was so fresh that it made her complexion look even more beautiful and gentle, like a drop of dew on a green leaf after the rain.

"Your servant greets the Madam."

She walked towards them gracefully, the long tasseled hairpin in her hair swaying gently like green waves. When she stood still, she bowed and saluted, looking dignified and elegant like a lady from a noble family.

Wen Ranyan was still pruning the branches and seemed not to hear her greeting.

For a moment, the only sound in the hall seemed to be the clicking of scissors. Although the sound was not loud, after hearing it for a long time, Zhou Huizhi felt an unconcealable frivolity and uneasiness in his heart.

I don’t know how long it was after, but when the last trimmed branch fell to the ground, Wen Ranyan raised her eyes. There was a smile in her charming eyes, which was very gentle and affectionate.

She opened her red lips and spoke slowly, her emotions unclear, "Let's skip the formalities and get straight to the point."

Zhou Xuzhi was a little unsure of her thoughts, but when he heard her speak so bluntly, he was inevitably startled for a few seconds, "Madam, have you guessed my intention?"

Wen Ranyan smiled and stretched out her hand, motioning her to hand over the things. "A few days ago, the Duke's Mansion went into the mountains to worship their ancestors. It was a big event. The worship process is complicated, so of course we have to prepare some paper money and gold ingots to burn for our ancestors. But if there are some other things mixed in, that's fine."

Her last few words were spoken tactfully and with a hint of deep meaning, and Zhou Xuzhi understood them immediately.

Faced with such a sensitive woman, Zhou Huizhi's throat inevitably felt a little dry and his back felt a little cold.

After being stunned for a long while, she took out an account book from her sleeve, handed it to Wen Ranyan and said, "Madam is really sharp. She guessed everything without leaving the palace. The Duke's Mansion did burn some things when they went into the mountains to worship their ancestors a few days ago. I also secretly hid a book when no one was around."

She looked at Wen Ranyan's expression, paused for a moment, and then continued, "The situation was tense a few days ago, and Prince Yongqing came to the palace more frequently. I was afraid of alerting the enemy, so I took advantage of their laxity these days and went to the palace to report this matter."

"If the Duke's Mansion were as sensible and reasonable as you, it would be like ivy, standing tall and flourishing."

Wen Ranyan took the account book while chatting and laughing. She flipped it open and saw the densely written income items, so dense that she felt dizzy at just one glance.

After hearing her teasing, Zhou Xuzhi could only twist his fingers and smile bitterly.

The Duke's Mansion in the future might be like fireworks, whose glory is fleeting and will collapse in the blink of an eye, buried in the earth, leaving only a speck of dust like her, obliterated by everyone.

Wen Ranyan was just concentrating on the account book in his hand and didn't notice her expression.

This is an account book of a jewel shop. What is recorded on it is only one day's income. The sales of gold and silver jewelry can earn more than ten thousand taels of silver in one day. It is really a huge fortune, which makes people jealous.

Wen Ranyan flipped through a few more pages. Although the income was not as high as ten thousand taels every day, it was never less than five thousand taels. Such income was just for one shop. If the income from all the shops was added together, how astonishing would the number be?

But even so, the Duke's Mansion still looks so dilapidated, which is really ridiculous.

Wen Ranyan twisted a piece of paper and looked at Zhou Weizhi. Her tone was lazy, and it was unclear whether she was praising or criticizing. "Miss Zhou, your Duke's Mansion is really good at doing business."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuzhi smiled bitterly again, "If I hadn't secretly hidden these account books, I really wouldn't have known that there was such a business in the mansion, and it was so prosperous."

After a bitter smile, she said with a hint of mockery, "But no matter how much money they make, the Duke's Mansion is still in such a state. Those heartless people are still using my mother's dowry to fill the void. I guess in the end, the Duke's Mansion is just a name, just a few minnows and generals. How much money does it really belong to them?"

"It is said that it is good to lean on a big tree for shade. They are the only ones who are so poor. Prince Yongqing seems to be unable to handle the important task. They are sincere."

At the end, her words were full of contempt and a bit harsh, but she also hit the point.

Wen Ranyan glanced at her again, her eyes were frank and showed a kind of penetrating color: "Besides this one, does Miss Zhou have any other account books?"

Hearing this, Zhou Xuzhi tightened his hands slightly in his sleeves, and there was a strange flash in his eyes.

"The one I just saw is for incoming accounts. I also have one for outgoing accounts. However, the other account book was secretly delivered to me by an old maid who lives on the farm—"

She paused abruptly, as if she had something else to say.