Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot-Chapter 40 The Duties of a Wife

The Second Madam really went.

Meng Qianqian smiled faintly: "Second Aunt, the one who broke the vase is my younger sister. Father and Mother are still here—how can I, as the Eldest Sister-in-law, overstep my bounds and act in their stead?"

The Second Madam chuckled awkwardly: "The Eldest Brother is like a father, and the Eldest Sister-in-law is like a mother. Besides, since there’s trouble with the Zhao family and you’ve already loaned out ten thousand taels of silver, why not consider this: that ten thousand taels could count as a loan from you to your Second Aunt instead!"

No matter what, it’s just not repaid—what could this little girl possibly do to her?

Meng Qianqian could see her little schemes clearly and chuckled, saying, "Second Aunt truly doesn’t have any silver? What a coincidence! I happened to review the estate accounts the other day, and there’s quite a discrepancy in the Second Branch’s numbers. Why not summon Steward Yang to ask about it?"

As soon as these words fell, the Second Madam’s expression changed dramatically.

The Old Madam was aware that the Second Branch had embezzled some silver, but she didn’t know the exact amount.

This was because one of the three trusted stewards under the Old Madam’s control, a man with the surname Yang, had been bought off by the Second Madam. She always thought she had hidden it well, but unexpectedly, Meng Qianqian had uncovered it!

The Second Madam felt a pang of guilt.

She raised her hand to touch the jeweled hairpin on her head, laughing dryly: "What accounts and sums? Your Second Aunt doesn’t manage the estate... Perhaps some servant just made a mistake in the bookkeeping. Second Aunt will ask your Second Uncle about it later!"

Meng Qianqian looked innocent as she asked, "Then, about the silver... does Second Aunt still want to borrow it?"

Flustered, the Second Madam waved her hands desperately, saying, "I won’t borrow it, won’t borrow it! You have it tough enough as it is, Second Aunt will think of another way."

Leaving Haitang Courtyard, the Second Madam ground her teeth viciously: "Wretched girl, why does it seem like she’s become a totally different person? No wonder even her mother got defeated by her!"

The Second Madam then went to look for Lu Mother, but Lu Mother claimed illness and refused to see her. Frustrated, she made her way to the Old Matriarch’s courtyard.

The Old Matriarch promptly picked up a wooden mallet and chased her out.

Lu Second Master couldn’t stand it anymore and said, "Just take it out yourself! It’s not like you don’t have it! These past few years, you’ve concealed so much silver from Qianqian, and now you can’t even come up with ten thousand taels?"

The Second Madam muttered dejectedly, "What do you know? That ten thousand taels... is meant for Linglong’s dowry!"

Lu Second Master replied, "What good is a dowry if you lose your life?"

The Second Madam muttered under her breath, "Isn’t she back alive?" Her eyes darted slyly, "It’s Xiao Jie’s IOU..."

Lu Second Master impatiently retorted, "What you’ve swindled from Qianqian, Mother and Big Brother turned a blind eye and let it slide. But now you want to target Xiao Jie? Aren’t you afraid Mother and Big Brother will kill you?"

The Second Madam nearly tore her handkerchief to shreds: "All right, all right! I believe it—Mother might kill me, but Big Brother would never! Big Brother is too kind-hearted!"

Lu Second Master opened his mouth as if to speak, hesitated, then merely gestured dismissively and said, "Enough talking about this. Hurry up and go to the Governor Mansion to repay the silver!"

Unwillingly, the Second Madam went.

She repaid in silver notes.

One hand handed over the notes, the other retrieved the IOU.

Steward Cen cheerfully carried the silver notes over to Lu Yuan.

"Grand Commander."

"Mm."

Lu Yuan gave a distracted response, not even lifting his eyelids.

Steward Cen placed the silver notes on the desk, bowed, and receded.

Bao Shu clambered forward eagerly, using both her hands and feet, snatched up the silver notes on the desk, and stuffed them into her little pocket.

Lu Yuan gave a cold snort, "Who allowed you to take those?"

Bao Shu let out a fierce cry: "Wah!"

It sounded as if she were arguing: these are my earnings!

The Lu Family.

Today, Lu Mother stayed in the courtyard claiming illness for rest, though it wasn’t entirely feigned; her health indeed hadn’t been well lately.

"Madam..."

Jade Lotus lifted the curtain and entered, hesitating to speak.

Lu Mother sighed: "She’s come again?"

Jade Lotus hesitated further and said, "It’s not the Second Madam, it’s... Nanny Wu. Should this servant tell Nanny Wu you’ve gone to sleep?"

Lu Mother shook her head: "Let her in."

"Yes."

Jade Lotus led Nanny Wu into the room.

Nanny Wu first paid her respects to Lu Mother, then pulled out a medicine bottle from her bosom and placed it on the table, saying loftily, "The Eldest Young Master can now walk, and he will likely recover fully soon. Madam should pick a date for the Eldest Young Madam to take the medicine, so she can give the Lu family a legitimate heir."

Seeing Lu Mother remain silent, Nanny Wu laughed lightly and said, "This servant understands you cherish the Eldest Young Madam dearly. The Old Madam is also doing this for her benefit. The Eldest Young Madam isn’t as favored by the Eldest Young Master as Miss Lin. If she doesn’t have a son to lean on, what will she do for the rest of her life? With an heir, it’ll be different. No matter how much trouble Miss Lin stirs up, the future inheritance will ultimately belong to the legitimate son!"

Lu Mother replied, "Qianqian is still young; childbirth is not urgent for now."

Nanny Wu responded, "When you were this age, Madam, you were already expecting the Eldest Young Master!"

Lu Mother answered coldly, "But she doesn’t need to take medicine!"

Nanny Wu retorted, "She was injured after falling into the water. If she doesn’t take the medicine, she might never conceive in her lifetime! Besides, this medicine is expensive; if it were someone else, they might not even be willing to buy such luxurious medicine for their granddaughter-in-law! The Eldest Young Master’s reputation has been damaged, and if the Eldest Young Madam can give birth to a legitimate heir, it might restore part of his honor. Madam, the Eldest Young Master is your own son—surely you wouldn’t disregard his career prospects either?"

Lu Mother clenched her handkerchief tightly: "You keep circling around the same points. Has anyone even asked her if she’s willing?"

Nanny Wu responded, "Continuing the Lu family lineage is her duty as a wife and daughter-in-law! Does she have the luxury to be willful? This servant has said all I need to say. Madam, hurry and see to it!"

After Nanny Wu left, Jade Lotus looked at Lu Mother with concern: "Madam..."

Lu Mother covered her mouth with the handkerchief, coughing violently.

When she removed the handkerchief, Jade Lotus’s expression changed drastically: "Madam, you’re coughing up blood again. Let me summon the doctor!"

Lu Mother shook her head, stopping her, her gaze falling upon the medicine bottle as she chuckled bitterly: "The Old Madam thinks I don’t know—back then, she fed me this very same medicine."

Haitang Courtyard.

Tan’er now had her own new clothes.

She was small, so in recent days, she had been wearing Ban Xia’s old clothes from years ago. Though they just barely fit, they were made of worn cotton and weren’t very warm.

Meng Qianqian had asked Nanny Li to make her a new set.

"Do you like it?"

Meng Qianqian asked.

Tan’er admired her clothes, her eyes sparkling: "I love it!"

"The sleeves need to be adjusted a bit," Nanny Li said, folding Tan’er’s cuffs.

Tan’er replied, "Let’s adjust them tonight!"

She wanted to wear them for at least a day first!

Tan’er clung to Meng Qianqian’s arm, saying, "Sister, sister! Is N going out today?"

Meng Qianqian asked, "Do you want to go out?"

Tan’er pouted, "Since I have new clothes, of course, I want to go out and show them off!"

Nanny Li chuckled, both amused and exasperated: "You tired yourself out climbing the mountain yesterday. Can’t you let the young lady rest for a few days? Not everyone has boundless energy like you!"

Tan’er frowned dramatically, then suddenly brightened, saying, "Sister! Isn’t N looking for the accountant? I’ll go take a look for you! See if he’s been found!"

Meng Qianqian considered for a moment and found it reasonable: "Alright, I’ll have Brother Wu take you to the brokerage."

"I’m going! I’m going!"

Tan’er dashed out of the courtyard, brimming with excitement.

Meng Qianqian chuckled and withdrew her gaze.

Nanny Li said warmly, "Young Madam truly has affection for Tan’er."

Meng Qianqian glanced at the embroidery basket: "Doesn’t Nanny Li care for her as well?"

She had only asked Nanny Li to make one set for Tan’er to avoid overworking her.

Yet the second set was already halfway done.

Nanny Li replied sheepishly, "That little girl, aside from being a heavy eater, is quite diligent in her chores."

Ban Xia remarked sourly, "Oh, indeed, including breaking seven plates, ten bowls, scorching one pot, and burning up one kettle?"

Nanny Li cleared her throat: "Ahem ahem!"

Meng Qianqian couldn’t help but laugh.

Ban Xia exclaimed, "Young Madam!"

Meng Qianqian smiled lightly: "I also have affection for Ban Xia."

Ban Xia blushed shyly.

As the group chatted, a servant reported that messengers had arrived from the Imperial Palace summoning Meng Qianqian and Lin Wan’er to the palace.