The Moonlit Pavilion.
Jiang Chan's face grew increasingly grim as she listened to the report from her maid, Xiang Yun.
Especially when Xiang Yun mentioned that the woman was pregnant and already about seven months along, Jiang Chan swept her favorite teacup off the table.
"I never thought that cousin would keep a woman outside. How could he treat me like this? He clearly promised to marry me!"
Xiang Yun tentatively asked, "Then, miss, shall we still marry the marquis?"
"Marry! Of course, I will!" Jiang Chan glared at her. "Cousin has always been the only one in my heart. Who else could I marry if not him?"
"But the marquis dotes on that woman so much that even the madam can do nothing. What can you do, miss?"
Xiang Yun was deeply worried. She didn't think the marquis was a good match for her miss...
"That's because Shen Qing is too stupid! She was forced into a corner by a mistress. If it were me, that slut would never have dared to seduce my man right under my nose!"
A fierce glint flashed across Jiang Chan's eyes. "No, I must get into the mansion first. Only then can I win cousin's heart back quickly..."
Jiang Chan's words seemed to be addressed to Xiang Yun but also like a self - soliloquy.
Xiang Yun couldn't help but sigh silently. It was obvious that the marquis didn't have feelings for her miss. Wasn't it asking for trouble for her miss to marry into such a family?
But she would never dare to say such words out loud.
Having made up her mind, Jiang Chan went to the Zhuoying Courtyard to find Shen Qing.
Inside the room, Shen Qing was holding a book in one hand and a pen in the other, making occasional annotations. When she heard Ying Xiu say that Jiang Chan had come, she didn't even lift her head. "Let her in."
Jiang Chan came in and sat down opposite Shen Qing. Ying Xiu served tea.
"What are you doing, cousin - in - law?"
Shen Qing rubbed her temples and said wearily, "It's nothing much. Just some accounts of the mansion. The marquis has had some extra expenses recently, and it's a bit troublesome to reconcile them."
Jiang Chan was puzzled. "Why do you have to do such things yourself? You can just assign them to the servants."
She had also learned how to manage a household at home. Usually, the master would assign the tasks to trustworthy people and only needed to check the results. She had never seen someone like Shen Qing who did everything personally.
"You don't understand," Shen Qing lowered her voice. "The marquis has had quite a few extra expenses in the past year. The servants and stewards are too afraid to record them directly. I have to find and reconcile them one by one. Sigh..."
Shen Qing smiled. "Since you're not the mistress of the family, you naturally don't know the hardships."
Jiang Chan forced a smile. "Cousin - in - law, you really work hard. I've also learned a bit about household management from my mother at home. How about I help you?"
Jiang Chan had her own agenda. The extra expenses of Xu Yanchi that the servants were afraid to record must not be for proper purposes. Where else could they be used...
Humph!
She was determined to see how much her cousin favored that woman!
Shen Qing hesitated for a moment. "Well... all right. Then I'll have to trouble you, cousin."
Shen Qing asked Ying Xiu to bring the other account books and place them in front of Jiang Chan.
The account books piled up in front of Jiang Chan, and she was quite shocked.
"So many!"
Shen Qing smiled slightly. "That's right. The Marquis Mansion is a large and prosperous family, so there are naturally more account books. But cousin, don't stay too long. The marquis will come tonight. It's not very appropriate for an unmarried girl like you to be here..."
Jiang Chan was burning with jealousy, but she still forced a smile on her face.
"I understand, cousin - in - law."
In fact, she was already making plans in her mind. It was well - known in the Marquis Mansion that Xu Yanchi didn't like Shen Qing. But there was another thing that few people knew, which was that he and Shen Qing had not consummated their marriage yet!
She had accidentally learned this from the old madam. Judging from her cousin's expression this morning, it was obvious what he wanted to do when he came to Shen Qing's place tonight.
No! If Shen Qing also gained the marquis's favor, she would have even less of a chance!
Shen Qing didn't have as many schemes as Jiang Chan. Thinking that Xu Yanchi would come tonight, she wanted to close the door directly.
But since Jiang Chan had come, how could she let her leave without achieving anything?
Jiang Chan looked at the account books in her hand and was increasingly shocked. The Marquis Mansion had so much money!
It was much richer than her natal family.
Jiang Chan unconsciously regarded the silver of the Marquis Mansion as her own property. So when she saw the money Xu Yanchi gave to Lu Mianhua, she was so angry that she almost crumpled the paper in her hand.
A slut from God - knows - where. What right did she have!
It wasn't until the sun was setting that Ying Xiu came to remind her that Xu Yanchi was almost at the Zhuoying Courtyard. Shen Qing then said to Jiang Chan somewhat apologetically:
"Thank you so much for helping me today, cousin. I didn't expect you to be so good at managing accounts. If you don't mind in the future, please come and help me more often."
Jiang Chan's face lit up. Was Shen Qing about to give in?
Jiang Chan didn't expect that the problem that had troubled her for a long time would be solved just by looking at the account books for an afternoon. She immediately agreed with a smile.
"As long as cousin - in - law doesn't mind, Chan'er will come to help you every day."
"Good." Shen Qing smiled. "Yuzhen, see Miss Jiang out."
"Ying Xiu, go and prepare. The marquis will be here soon."
A proper blush appeared on Shen Qing's face, which in Jiang Chan's eyes meant that she and Xu Yanchi were going to consummate their marriage tonight!
Jiang Chan immediately felt like she was facing a great enemy, and the little joy in her heart disappeared without a trace.
"Then, cousin - in - law, I'll go back first."
After bowing, Jiang Chan left. But when she reached the corner, she suddenly winked at Xiang Yun beside her.
Xiang Yun immediately understood. "Miss, where's your silk ribbon? It was the birthday gift the old madam gave you last year. What if it's lost?"
Jiang Chan thought for a moment. "Could it be that I left it at cousin - in - law's place just now?"
"Sister Yuzhen, the silk ribbon that aunt gave me was blessed in the Great Xiangguo Temple. It might be bad luck if I lose it. Can I go back and look for it?"
Yuzhen looked a bit embarrassed. "But the marquis has already come..."
"I'll be very quick. Xiang Yun is in conflict with that silk ribbon and can't touch it. Please take me in quietly through the back door. It won't disturb cousin and cousin - in - law..."
Yuzhen thought for a while. "All right. But Miss Jiang, you have to be quick. It won't be good if the marquis sees you."
"Thank you."
On the other side, Zhuxing whispered something in Shen Qing's ear.
Shen Qing twitched the corner of her mouth. "Keep an eye on her. Let her do whatever she wants."
"What do you mean by 'let her do whatever she wants'?"
As he spoke, Xu Yanchi came in. Hearing Shen Qing's words, he casually replied.
"Nothing."
Shen Qing resumed her usual demeanor in front of Xu Yanchi. Xu Yanchi immediately felt that something was missing.
He wanted to sit next to Shen Qing, but she avoided him directly.
Xu Yanchi frowned. "What do you mean? I've been here for a while, and you don't even serve me a cup of tea. Why do you have this expression?"
Shen Qing sneered. "The marquis has used all the silver in the mansion to support his mistress. Where is there any good tea?"