She was thinking about how to deprive the Marquis of Huai'en of his title. For a moment, she had no idea. Suddenly, a thought struck her.
Just as she had finished giving instructions to Jushuang, someone came from the palace. The Queen summoned her to the palace tomorrow. It was really like having a pillow just when she felt sleepy. Why not deprive the Marquis of Huai'en of his title? Should she let him keep it for the New Year?
Xiao Jinghan watched Yi Qing busy from morning till night. He had thought that since they were both at home, they could enjoy some time alone. But instead, he was being ignored.
"General?" Lu Tianzuo called out when he saw the general looking so eager.
"What is it?" Xiao Jinghan asked, a bit displeased.
This time, he had been ordered to stay at home and reflect on his mistakes. But Lu Tianzuo and Chang Zhiyuan had received rewards and accumulated military merits. Only their official positions remained unchanged.
"Previously, there were few people in the General's Mansion, and the New Year was just ordinary. This year, the brothers asked how you'd like to celebrate it," Lu Tianzuo said with a smile.
"Celebrate it on your own. Don't bother me," Xiao Jinghan replied indifferently.
Lu Tianzuo sighed inwardly that the general had married a wife and forgotten his brothers. "What about the reward for the military households..."
Hearing this, Xiao Jinghan's expression froze for a moment.
The reward for the military households that Lu Tianzuo mentioned was for those who had died in battles following Xiao Jinghan. Every year, Xiao Jinghan would use his own silver to subsidize them. But this year, due to many things, he had forgotten about it.
"Do it as usual," Xiao Jinghan sighed slightly.
"But the general has no money," Lu Tianzuo reminded him in a low voice.
Only then did Xiao Jinghan remember that his family property now belonged to Yi Qing. He had to discuss this matter with her. "You can go back first. I'll make the arrangements."
"Yes," Lu Tianzuo saluted and left.
In the evening, Yi Qing and Jushuang were checking the accounts. The income of the mansion mainly came from salaries and rewards. This year, the salary hadn't decreased, but there were few rewards. After calculation, the income was even not enough to cover the expenses of the mansion.
"Why are the expenses of the mansion so high?" Yi Qing looked at the various items of expenditure. Just the monthly pay for the servants and the repair of the mansion cost so much.
"This is when the mansion doesn't interact much with outsiders, and we've saved on the expense of giving gifts," Jushuang sighed. "I've heard that in other families, the cost of giving New - Year gifts can even make them poor."
Yi Qing thought of the New - Year gifts her mother had mentioned. Truly, one didn't know how expensive daily necessities were until one managed a household. "Why is there no income from these manors?"
Jushuang looked around and lowered her voice. "I heard that most of the people on these manors are military households. The general has ordered not to collect rent from them."
Yi Qing's first reaction was that Xiao Jinghan was a fool. "You organize the information about these manors and the properties. I'll go and talk to the general."
"Yes."
Jushuang continued to sort out the accounts. Yi Qing thought for a while and then went to find Xiao Jinghan.
Xiao Jinghan was pacing outside the accounting room. When he saw Yi Qing coming out, he gave a dry smile.
Looking at Xiao Jinghan's expression, Yi Qing said, "I feel like you have something on your mind."
"I do have something to discuss with you, madam," Xiao Jinghan said, pulling Yi Qing's hand and leading her into the room.
Xiao Jinghan told Yi Qing about his plan to reward the military households. Yi Qing looked at him half - smiling. She had thought Xiao Jinghan was a fool, but it turned out he was an even bigger one.
"I don't have much silver, only a few thousand taels," Xiao Jinghan felt Yi Qing's expression was strange.
"Only a few thousand taels. Do you know how much a family of four in a village spends in a year, general?" Yi Qing asked directly.
Xiao Jinghan thought for a while and shook his head.
"Two taels," Yi Qing looked at Xiao Jinghan. "I've asked Jushuang to check the accounts. The general doesn't collect rent from those military households every year. I know the general's intention is good. He doesn't want the families of the soldiers to suffer. But giving out too much kindness can lead to resentment. If the general is so kind to them without a bottom line, he may end up raising a group of ungrateful people."
Yi Qing had lived in a village for a long time. The villagers were simple and honest if they lived an honest life.
Once they saw someone getting something for free or making money through improper means, their so - called simplicity would instantly turn into greed.
They had little knowledge and didn't know how to restrain themselves. They only knew that once they got something, they wanted more.
"I don't think so..." Xiao Jinghan was not very sure.
"Have you ever met them? How do you know they won't? How about I make a bet with you, general?" Yi Qing raised her eyebrows.
"What shall we bet on?"
"Let's bet that if the general doesn't give them the reward this year, they will come to the mansion to ask for it. If the general refuses, they will slander him. And their lives on the manor are already quite good," Yi Qing looked at Xiao Jinghan.
"Why should we, husband and wife, make a bet?" Xiao Jinghan thought Yi Qing was being too serious.
"If we don't make a bet, the general won't see the truth clearly. If I don't give the silver today, the general will think of other ways rather than getting angry with me. Eventually, it will become a rift between us."
Xiao Jinghan didn't think it was that serious. But if Yi Qing didn't give the silver, he would surely think of other ways.
"If the general wins, I'll distribute the reward exactly as before every year. If I win, I'll decide what to do with the manors and properties outside the city."
Xiao Jinghan thought for a while. He also wanted to know whether these people were still worth his kindness. "Okay."
For a couple, they could overcome many difficulties, but they might not be able to withstand the trivialities of daily life. Yi Qing wanted to nip this problem in the bud.
Early in the morning, Jushuang brought the property records of the Wen family.
Yi Qing flipped through them. "The Wen family actually has merchant ships that sail overseas."
"The Wen family is a second - rate noble family in the south of the Yangtze River, but they can still get a share of the profits from the sea - going ships."
Yi Qing nodded and gave the booklet back to Jushuang. "I'm going to the palace later. I may not be back for lunch. You keep an eye on the mansion. If anyone from the manor comes to ask for the reward, try to calm them down first."
Jushuang was a bit incredulous. "The manor doesn't even collect rent from them, and they still come to ask for a reward?"
"Some people are just so shameless," Yi Qing said. Still feeling a bit worried, she decided to take Xiao Jinghan to the palace with her.
It couldn't be said that it was Xiao Jinghan's fault. From his position, he might not care about these things at all.
"Okay," Jushuang remembered.
After giving instructions about the household matters, Yi Qing pulled Xiao Jinghan into the palace. Xiao Jinghan was also happy that Yi Qing was clinging to him.
When they got off the carriage at the palace gate, they happened to see Xie Hongyi coming out of the palace. Seeing Xiao Jinghan, Xie Hongyi didn't show any intention of saluting.
"The emperor has ordered General Xiao to stay at home and reflect on his mistakes. Is General Xiao defying the imperial order and leaving the mansion without permission?" Xie Hongyi said, glancing at Yi Qing.
Yi Qing thought this man looked decent, but what was the meaning of that look in his eyes?
"The matters of this general don't need you, Lord Xie, to interfere," Xiao Jinghan looked at Xie Hongyi coldly.
"Then General Xiao's performance evaluation may not look good," Xie Hongyi said with a bit of threat. He was the vice - minister of the Ministry of Personnel, responsible for the assessment of all officials. Any promotion or change of official positions had to be sorted out by them and submitted to the emperor for approval.
"The emperor said that my general should stay at home and reflect. My general thinks this is not enough. He should also reflect when he goes out, especially when he meets the emperor. Is there any problem?" Yi Qing looked at Xie Hongyi.
"Madam Xiao is really sharp - tongued. No wonder even Lord Deng likes to talk to Madam Xiao," Xie Hongyi said with a hint of mockery in his eyes.
Xiao Jinghan suddenly stepped to one side and was about to attack Xie Hongyi. Yi Qing quickly grabbed his wrist.