Chapter 28: Following the Husband's Lead

"You wouldn't understand even if I explained it. Xiaodao, read it to your master."

Sheng Xingye fell silent after listening.

"No, really, there’s free food in the main kitchen, so why are you insisting on going through the trouble of paying for your own?"

"I’m not interested in eating food served with a side of resentment. Understand?"

"You're being dramatic!" Sheng Xingye muttered. "Then... if you aren't going to eat there, why drag me into paying for your meals?"

"A wife follows her husband’s lead, but a husband provides for his wife. Since I’ve married into your family, it’s only natural for you to support me!" Yun Zhaozhao declared with righteous indignation.

"Hey, you remember you’re my wife now? Why don't you try following the tradition of a wife echoing her husband's lead..."

"Follow you in what? Eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling?"

"Yun—Zhao—Zhao!"

"Enough. I’ve said what needed to be said. If you can’t stand the food, go eat at the main courtyard or pay for something better yourself."

"I refuse! I’ll eat right here with you. If you can eat it, so can I."

Sheng Xingye had said it out of spite, but to his surprise, the food didn't taste half bad.

Once they had finished eating, Sheng Xingye suddenly asked, "Aren't you curious where all the banknotes I have on me came from?"

Yun Zhaozhao, who was just about to rise and leave, sat back down instantly.

"Do tell."

She was actually quite curious. This guy was better at hiding things than a squirrel, pulling them out whenever he pleased.

"I won these yesterday from a bet at the palace," Sheng Xingye said proudly. "When I took the Fourth Prince to the Imperial Hospital yesterday, the head physician personally checked my pulse and declared that I am in robust health and full of vigor."

"And?"

"And so, everyone now knows that it isn't 'me' who is incapable of consummating the marriage—it’s your problem." Sheng Xingye wore a look of gloating schadenfreude.

Yun Zhaozhao rolled her eyes at him and set off for the General's Mansion with Jin Chui and Xiaodao. However, they were stopped as soon as they reached the main gate.

"Apologies, Sixth Mistress, but without a pass, you cannot leave the estate."

"What in the world?" Forbidden to leave in broad daylight.

Xiaodao hurried forward and whispered, "Mistress, it is indeed a rule among the noble families in the capital that female relatives require the mistress of the house’s permission to go out."

"Then why didn't I need one before?"

"Before, you were always accompanied by the young master."

"And what about you and Jin Chui? Do you have to get a pass every time?"

Jin Chui lowered her head. She always just climbed over the wall.

"So, you mean to say that from now on, every time I go out, I need the Duchess’s permission?" Yun Zhaozhao asked through gritted teeth.

"Yes."

Yun Zhaozhao: ...To hell with that!

"Mistress, why don't you wait here? I'll go find the Duchess and get a pass."

"No need." Yun Zhaozhao looked toward the Duke of Sheng, who was walking toward the gate. "Greetings, Father-in-law."

"Hmm." The Duke nodded solemnly and continued walking.

"Father-in-law, wait a moment."

"Is something the matter?"

"Please tell them to waive my curfew from now on."

The Duke refused outright. "Speak to your mother-in-law about household matters. I don't concern myself with such things."

"Xiaodao, go tell Mother-in-law that Father-in-law has agreed to lift my curfew and allow me to come and go as I please."

"Insolent!" The Duke roared. "Sixth daughter-in-law, when did I ever say I agreed to let you come and go freely? Spouting nonsense in front of your elder—do you have no manners at all?"

Yun Zhaozhao didn't flinch. "Didn't you say you don't concern yourself with it? Since you don't care, then I shall do as I please."

"Or perhaps, Father-in-law, you would actually prefer that I just fight my way out every time!"

"You... you are truly something!"

Seeing Yun Zhaozhao’s impervious attitude, the Duke was so angry he flicked his sleeves and stormed off!

Yun Zhaozhao: "..."

Now she knew who Sheng Xingye took after when he couldn't win an argument and walked away in a huff.

"See? The Duke doesn't object to me leaving the estate freely. If you dare stop me again, don't blame me for being ruthless."

The gatekeepers looked at each other, and in the end, they could only let her strut out of the estate.

"Sister, as you requested, I have brought everyone from the estate and the neighboring farms who is skilled in arithmetic and management." Yun Chuchu greeted her happily the moment she saw her.

"Are they all reliable?"

"Yes, they have all been with our family for years."

"Good. Let me see how much property the General's Mansion actually has."

Yun Zhaozhao was shocked by what she found. The General's Mansion’s foundations were truly thin. Currently, they only possessed three farms, two shops, and the mansion itself. They originally had two better farms and a shop in a prime location, but they had been given to her as part of her dowry.

Over the years, besides her father’s salary, the mansion had relied primarily on war spoils and imperial rewards. But with the borders relatively peaceful in recent years, those had dwindled, and they had long since begun eating through their savings. Coupled with the increasing number of disabled veterans who had retired and needed support, the mansion’s expenses were growing.

Making money was an urgent priority.

"I need to find time to visit the farms and shops. For now, let’s brainstorm projects. First, food. I have exclusive recipes, pastry techniques, and nut-processing methods. We could open a restaurant, an eatery, or a snack stall. Second, clothing and jewelry..."

After some discussion, the General's Mansion decided to start with a cake shop and a cosmetics boutique. Both were easy to manage, required low initial investment, and offered quick returns.

Next, they discussed the farms. Yun Zhaozhao felt that they needed to conduct on-site inspections to determine what each farm was best suited for.

She left the rest of the time to Xiaodao, instructing her to teach the others mental arithmetic and a new bookkeeping method. Yun Chuchu found it fascinating and joined in to learn.

Yun Zhaozhao had to go find her mother and the little one to play. Children grew fast; after only a few days, the little one looked even chubbier.

"Goo-goo!" The little one giggled at her antics.

"If you love children so much, why haven't you and your husband consummated the marriage?" Yun Liu asked, casting a reproachful glance at her.

"Mother, how do you know about that?"

Nanny Xu smiled from the side. "The old lady from next door came by yesterday."

"Tsk, I suppose she came to stir up trouble and squeeze some more goods out of us?"

"It was just some fabric and jewelry. If she likes them, let her have them. After all, she is your father’s stepmother. If we go too far, the General's Mansion will be the one criticized," Yun Liu said indifferently.

Yun Zhaozhao bared her teeth. It was true that one didn't know the cost of firewood and oil until they were the ones managing the household. "Mother, you all spoil them too much."

Indeed, the fact that the General's Mansion was so poor was partly due to the Jing'an Earl's Mansion next door.

Busy until mid-afternoon, Yun Zhaozhao finally headed home with Jin Chui and Xiaodao.

"Help! My mistress has fallen into the water!"

Hearing the cries for help, Yun Zhaozhao sprinted toward the scene.

"Please, I beg you, save my mistress!"

Yun Zhaozhao looked at the crying maid, then at the woman struggling in the water—she looked somewhat familiar.

She leaped into action, her soft whip springing from her waist and flying toward the woman in the water. The whip coiled precisely around the woman's waist. In the next instant, she was pulled from the water and flung onto the bank.