Eunuch Wei didn't dare to respond. After serving by Emperor Chengping's side for so many years, he understood that Emperor Chengping didn't really want him to give any suggestions.

In reality, he had already made up his mind.

Asking him like this was just for show.

As expected, after a few minutes, Emperor Chengping said, "Go and call Yang Yanfeng over."

"Yes, Your Majesty, this servant will go immediately."

After Miaozhen's incident, whether it was the eldest son, He Changqi, Matriarch He, or Countess Jing 'an, they all agreed to the first branch's divorce.

The next day, Count Jing 'an's estate sent someone to notify Marquis Dingyuan's estate.

The divorce papers were also processed at the government office on the same day. All that was left was for Madam Zou to count her dowry and move out of the estate.

Madam Zou was the eldest daughter of Marquis Dingyuan's second son. Although she was an unmarried daughter of a noble family, the old Marquis Dingyuan was getting on in years and the estate was under the control of the first branch.

Once the old Marquis Dingyuan passed away and the first branch inherited the title, the second branch would be separated. At that time, the second branch would become even weaker.

Now that He Changdi was valued by the emperor and had the title of Marquis Anyuan, the second branch of Marquis Dingyuan's estate could no longer compare to Count Jing 'an's estate.

Even though Madam Zou wanted to divorce, the second branch of Marquis Dingyuan's estate didn't dare to make any sarcastic remarks. Moreover, this matter was Madam Zou's fault.

Even if Madam Zou's mother wanted to blame her daughter, she had already divorced, so what could she say?

Madam Zou's own mother and Marquis Dingyuan's second madam could only go to Count Jing 'an's estate to personally help her daughter count her dowry.

Fortunately, her daughter wasn't completely stupid. After so many years, not only did her dowry not decrease, but it was even more than before.

Madam Zou had been in charge of the family for so many years, so how could she not embezzle some of Count Jing 'an's public assets?

When Madam Zou's dowry was counted, the money in Count Jing 'an's estate's treasury and the property in the steward's hands were actually halved!

In the end, Madam Zou still held the divorce papers and the "full" dowry list and was brought home by Marquis Dingyuan's second madam.

This result was originally good for everyone in the estate, but Matriarch He didn't smile at all.

In the warm room of Qingwen Hall.

Matriarch He sat cross-legged on the warm pit. Although it was early spring, Shengjing was still chilly. Matriarch He's body was weak, and she couldn't live without warmth. Thus, the warm kang and walls of Qingwen Hall had never been broken.

The warm room was as warm as spring. He Ying brought her daughter Pan Nianzhen to accompany Old Matriarch He to sit on the kang.

Pan Nianzhen was squatting beside Old Mistress, massaging her legs while He Ying was flipping through the account book.

The Matriarch closed her eyes and sighed comfortably. After a while, she opened her eyes. "Sister Zhen's skills are getting better and better. My body feels much more comfortable now that you've loosened it up."

Pan Nianzhen blinked and smiled shyly. "Grandmother, as long as you're healthy, I'm willing to serve you like this."

Old Madam stretched out her hand and stroked Pan Nianzhen's soft hair. "I can't bear to tire you out. Alright, your hands must be tired from massaging me for so long. Go to the side and rest. The kitchen made some new snacks this morning on the small table. Go and have a taste."

"It's fine. I'll massage Grandmother for a while more."

Pan Nianzhen's actions and words successfully won Old Matriarch He's favor.

He Ying secretly gave her daughter a look, praising her for doing well.

Old Madam was touched. They were her own daughter and granddaughter after all. Their hearts were always on her side. Unlike those wives who had married into the He family, they'd still grown up in someone else's home.

"Now that I think about it, I really regret not bringing you and your daughter to the capital earlier. Otherwise, Sister Zhen's marriage wouldn't have been delayed."

Pan Nianzhen and Chu Lian were of the same age and would be sixteen after the New Year. But they still hadn't gotten engaged. It was indeed too late.

He Ying smiled. "Mother, you don't have to blame yourself. It's fine as long as you still have us in your heart."

Old Madam pretended to rebuke and glared at her. "You girl, you're already so old. What nonsense are you spouting!

You're the flesh that fell from my body. As a mother, how can I not remember you? "

He Ying smiled. When she lowered her head, a gleam of success flashed across her eyes.

A moment later, He Ying frowned and handed the account book to Old Madam He. "Mother, take a look at this account book."

Old Madam He's energy wasn't good and her health wasn't as good as before. Although she was in charge of the household, she didn't really manage it. Part of the work was given to the head maidservant, Mu Xiang, and part of it was handed over to Senior Servant Liu. Most of the account books were managed by He Ying.

Her eyes had gotten very bad in the past two years and she couldn't read the account books clearly.

"What's wrong?" Old Madam took the account book and held it far away. It took a lot of effort before she could see the words on it clearly.

When she saw it, her eyes widened in shock. "This Zou madam!

I shouldn't have let her manage the household in the first place! "

According to the account book submitted by the estate's accountant, half of the estate's silver deposits and land deeds were missing!

This was half of Duke Jing 'an's estate's assets!

Because the Zou madam wasn't good at business, Old Madam He had invested a lot of her private assets into the public. Now, Old Madam He's private assets were almost depleted.

Even if she wanted to subsidize it now, she didn't have enough private assets to do so.

In such a large estate, money was needed everywhere. He Erlang wasn't married yet, and now her daughter and granddaughter were by her side. Old Madam He was extremely worried.

In the past, the surface was still calm, but when this calm surface was mercilessly torn apart, she saw that the inside was full of holes and potholes. Now, she had no choice but to face it.

He Ying was also very shocked. If she hadn't seen the account books for herself, she wouldn't have known that the estate, which looked so glamorous on the surface, was actually so empty on the inside. The public accounts were already unable to make ends meet …

"Mother, what do we do now?"

Eldest Grandaunt He Ying couldn't produce any silver. Although she had some assets, she had never thought of using them to help Duke Jing 'an's estate in an emergency.

Old Madam He was really having a headache. When she was young, she was good at managing the household and was good at business, so she had accumulated quite a bit of private assets. She never had to worry about money, but who knew that when she was old, she would have to worry about money.

It was really sad and lamentable.

The originally lively and harmonious warm room instantly fell into silence.

Whether it was the arrogant He Ying, the weak and timid Pan Nianzhen, or Old Madam He's trusted aide, Senior Servant Liu, none of them said anything.

All of them lowered their heads and pursed their lips in silence.

Old Madam He was also very depressed because she couldn't think of a solution at this time.

Silver was really a blockage. When it was a lot, it wasn't that noticeable, but when it was too little, it made it difficult for people to move forward.

"Do you have any ideas?" Old Madam He was desperate and actually asked the senior servant girls who were serving at the side in the warm room.

Mu Xiang was originally standing quietly at the side. She was silent, like a non-existent statue.

At this moment, Old Madam He looked at her with hopeful eyes. Mu Xiang's expression softened and became docile. She thought for a moment, then said, "Old Madam, the estate is in need of silver. Why don't you ask for Guilin Restaurant back?"

Originally, she had only planned on using the profits from Guilin Restaurant's accounts. After all, she was the one who had personally given Guilin Restaurant to them. However, times had changed. Now that Count Jing 'an's estate was in need of silver, and the Old Madam's personal treasury had shrunk, how could they care so much?

At that time, she was considering for the sake of the third branch because the third branch was weak and she liked Chu Lian. Now, everything had changed.

Putting aside the fact that He Sanlang had been conferred a noble title and received a large amount of rewards, Chu Lian was on good terms with Princess Wei and Royal Princess Duanjia. Every season, the prince's estate would send over "countless" good things.

Guilin Restaurant might not be much in the eyes of the third branch, but in the public accounts, it could provide for the entire Count Jing 'an estate's expenses.

In the end, the Old Madam was convinced.

She nodded. "Alright, this is a critical moment. Let's do this. San Lang's wife isn't an unreasonable person. When they come to pay their respects in the evening, I will explain things clearly to San Lang's wife."

Mu Xiang nodded and took a step back. At this time, no one noticed the strange expression on her face.

Actually, no matter how bad Count Jing 'an's business was, they shouldn't be running out of money so quickly. Madam Zou had embezzled some money and put it into her personal treasury, but it wasn't a lot. It wasn't enough to cause the entire Count Jing' an's estate to run out of money.

Mu Xiang played an indispensable role in the reason why the money was running out so quickly.

A while ago, Matriarch He had handed the account books and other items to her for safekeeping.

Eldest Grandaunt He, He Ying, felt a surge of joy in her heart. That day, she had unintentionally walked into the small study where Mu Xiang handled the accounts and saw the accounts of Guilin Restaurant. At that time, she had been thinking about it.

As long as Matriarch He could get Guilin Restaurant back this time, she would have a way to coax Matriarch He into handing Guilin Restaurant over to her.

When that time came, she would be a little more lenient and would be able to leave behind a few thousand taels of silver for herself.

When she thought of this, He Ying's eyes couldn't help but reveal a greedy look.

It should be known that when she got married, she only had ten thousand taels of silver as her dowry.

Actually, this was already a large sum of money. As long as she managed it properly, she wouldn't have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of her life.

However, sometimes, people were too greedy. When she found out that Guilin Restaurant's monthly profit was a few thousand taels of silver, she became greedy and couldn't shrink back anymore.

Nanny Liu, who was serving at the side, did not expect that the last few people would think of such a way to quench their thirst with poison. She wanted to remind them, but the Old Lady had already made the decision. If she said it at this time, it would only be annoying.

Senior Servant Liu glared unhappily at Mu Xiang, who had come up with such a bad idea.

She frowned slightly. She didn't know why, but she felt that something was wrong with Mu Xiang these days. However, after careful observation, she couldn't find any clues.

Senior Servant Liu sighed in her heart and decided to find a chance to have a good talk with Mu Xiang.

He Changdi and He Changqi finished their work at the estate and went out after returning to Songtao Court.

Because his official position was the director of the Martial Selection Department, even though he hadn't officially taken over the position, there were many things he had to gradually take over. Even though it was a holiday specially granted by His Majesty, he still had to take some time out to work.

(He Sanlang's title had been changed to the Marquis of Anyuan ~)