Being a second wife is difficult: I'm busy raising children in the Earl's mansion.

The lamps in the tents remained lit all night.

The next morning, Uncle Xu issued an order that all the servants, purchasing assistants, and warehouse helpers on duty in the outer courtyard should stand in the open space of the outer courtyard without exception.

A large crowd stood there, but the atmosphere was tense and oppressive.

Everyone in the mansion has heard that the newly arrived head steward of the outer courtyard is an old friend that the madam invited from Nanjing. He has deep roots and strong skills.

The commotion from clearing out the tents last night had already suppressed most of the lingering hope in many people's hearts.

But some people still disagreed.

During the years Wang Fu was in office, the old hands in the foreign language department had long been used to a relaxed lifestyle.

He's been involved in everything from falsifying purchase records to cutting corners on losses.

When Granny Liu was in charge of the outer courtyard, she mainly focused on admonition and discipline, and never actually used a knife, so they thought they could continue to get by like this.

The crowd split into two groups, each with their own thoughts.

Uncle Xu stood on the steps, leaning on his cane. The fatigue from days of travel had long since vanished. His brows were furrowed and his expression solemn, his aura steadily dominating the entire scene.

Without uttering a single wasted word, he directly promulgated a brand-new three-tiered procurement review system.

From now on, all material procurement, warehousing registration, and distribution within the government will be separated into three tasks, each with its own responsibilities and personnel, and cross-checked at each level, thus completely separating authority and responsibility.

Purchasing servants are only responsible for purchasing and pricing in the market and are not allowed to handle the storage; the warehouse guards are dedicated to inspecting, weighing, and checking the quality of goods and do not interfere with purchasing and price negotiation; the ledgers issued in the courtyard are checked by a designated person and the difference between the entries and exits is compared monthly.

Each of the three parties' accounts is compiled into a separate book, and a unified summary and third review are conducted at the end of the month. Any discrepancies in the accounts, unreasonable losses, or inflated pricing will be investigated and those responsible will be held accountable immediately.

Those vague loss accounts from the old system are also abolished.

A fixed percentage is set for the normal loss of all firewood, rice, oil, salt, cloth, and charcoal. Any excess is to be compensated by the person in charge, thus eliminating any loopholes for false reporting or fraudulent claims.

The new regulations are being implemented one by one, with clear logic and sharp cuts, effectively blocking all avenues for personal gain.

Many of the older servants in the audience began to turn pale.

Having amassed idle funds through shoddy accounting for years, all the loopholes have now been plugged in at once, leaving no room for even a needle to be inserted in the future.

After a moment of silence, a few disdainful whispers suddenly rose from the back of the crowd.

The three former stewards of Wang Fu exchanged glances. Relying on their seniority in the manor and considering themselves old acquaintances of the Earl's Mansion, they disregarded the new stewards and stepped forward.

The middle-aged man at the head of the group had an arrogant expression and spoke with a deliberate tone of defiance and provocation: "Steward Xu is an old hand from Jinling. We understand the strict rules, but the outer courtyard of the Earl's Mansion has been operating according to this procedure for decades, generation after generation. So how come there are so many problems?"

"You overturned everything the moment you arrived; isn't that making a mountain out of a molehill and deliberately tormenting the servants?"

Another person chimed in, becoming increasingly audacious: "Exactly! In previous years, although there were occasional oversights, the procedures were smooth and efficient. Never before have we had to report at every turn and impose so many restrictions."

"Now that the rules have changed, they feel restricted everywhere. Could it be that they don't trust us hereditary servants?"

The three of them spoke one after another, publicly questioning the new rules and showing contempt for regulations, clearly trying to incite the entire audience to oppose Uncle Xu and force him to back down.

The atmosphere in the room instantly became tense, and all eyes fell on Uncle Xu on the steps.

Uncle Xu's expression remained unchanged; he didn't even flinch.

He had been in charge of the Jiang family's affairs for twenty-eight years, and had punished countless corrupt servants. He had seen many such acts of ganging up and causing trouble.

He gestured to the servant beside him, who handed him a thick stack of papers. The stack was filled with details of every purchase, fraudulent reporting, embezzlement, and withholding of materials in recent years, including the date, accounts, number of people involved, and amount of silver.

Everything was crystal clear; it was all irrefutable evidence that he and Granny Liu had dug out from the old accounts after going over the accounts all night.

"A system that has been in place for decades is not necessarily a correct one."

Uncle Xu's voice was not loud, but every word was clear: "The three of you have been falsely reporting grain prices and raising cloth prices under the guise of purchasing for the past three years, embezzling public funds, and privately dividing up the losses. Every time, there are accounts to check and evidence to support your claims."

He casually pointed out several large embezzlement accounts, with the dates and amounts exactly as described.

The arrogance on their faces froze instantly, all color drained from their faces, leaving them as pale as paper.

They always thought their operations were discreet and that Wang Fu had protected and condoned them, so no one ever investigated. They never expected that overnight, all their old malpractices would be exposed.

Before they could even offer their explanations, Xu Bo had already decided on the punishment: "As hereditary servants, instead of repaying kindness and fulfilling their duties, they have been embezzling public funds and forming cliques for personal gain for years. They even dared to defy orders in public and incite unrest. Such unruly servants cannot be tolerated by the Earl's household."

He said no more and went straight to the East Courtyard Hall to present the evidence to Jiang Wan in person.

After reviewing the details, Jiang Wan made a decision without hesitation: expel them all from the manor and never employ them again.

When the news reached the outer courtyard, the three troublemaking old servants instantly collapsed to the ground, their arrogance completely gone.

The entire process was handled swiftly and decisively, without delay or leniency, leaving all the servants instantly realizing the reality—

The outer courtyard has been transformed, leaving no room for opportunistic behavior.

The cleanup of the outer courtyard was carried out swiftly and decisively, and the renovation of the old courtyard also started simultaneously.

The craftsmen chose an auspicious day to begin work, and following the previous instructions, they meticulously dismantled the old floor tiles in the courtyard and checked the foundation gaps one by one.

The moment the surface layer of old bricks was pried off, the anomaly immediately became apparent.

The mud bricks that have been laid underground for many years have long lost the hardness of normal materials. They are brittle and easily cracked, and can be broken into small pieces with the slightest pressure from a fingertip.

From deep within the cracks of the bricks, a faint, cool, and exotic fragrance slowly wafted out. The scent was subtle yet lingered, unlike the typical aroma of mud and brick.

The lead craftsman was alarmed and dared not delve any deeper. He immediately stopped all work and rushed to Anhetang to report the incident.

After hearing the report, Jiang Wan had a general idea of ​​what was going on.

I had previously instructed the craftsmen to thoroughly investigate the soil with its unusual fragrance, precisely because I was after a secret that had been hidden for many years—

Gu died suddenly and mysteriously from a chronic illness, and the renovation of the old house revealed something.

With a calm expression, she whispered her orders: "Stop construction immediately and seal the courtyard. Do not move a single brick or tile. Do not utter a word about the strangely fragrant and crispy bricks we saw today. Anyone who dares to spread the word will be expelled from the mansion immediately."

The craftsman quickly bowed and agreed, keeping his mouth shut.

After calming the craftsmen and keeping the news under wraps, Jiang Wan did not delay and immediately went to Songhetang to report the anomalies discovered during the renovation of the old courtyard to the old lady in person.

The old lady's face darkened upon hearing this, and she remained silent for a long time.

The strange fragrance in the courtyard had been hidden for several years and was related to Mrs. Gu's old case. It was a matter of great importance, so she immediately agreed to all of Jiang Wan's arrangements and ordered the old courtyard to be completely sealed off. No one was allowed to enter without authorization, and she would wait for further investigation.

The sun was shining brightly as we left Songhe Hall.

Jiang Wan was about to turn towards the outer courtyard when, just as she stepped out of the moon gate, Granny Liu was already standing under the eaves holding a sandalwood box, seemingly having waited for a while.

"Madam." Granny Liu stepped forward to greet her and handed over the box. "During these past few days while I was managing the outer courtyard, I secretly made some notes on personnel interactions and old accounts."

"Last night, Steward Xu checked the official accounts, but some people changed their names and passed money through the accounts, which is not clear from the official accounts. I was afraid that Steward Xu was new to the mansion and was not familiar with the ways of the mansion, so I made a separate list for those who handed over money in private and those who were used to playing on the edge."

"If it's convenient for you, Madam, please give it to Steward Xu as well, so he won't have to start from scratch again."

She stopped talking after saying those few words. Jiang Wan took the box, her fingertips resting on the surface of the box, but she didn't open it right away.

She glanced at Granny Liu, whose expression was calm and composed. She showed no intention of boasting or currying favor, treating it like an ordinary exchange of objects.

It would be a lie to say that Granny Liu couldn't do anything during the few days she was temporarily in charge of the outer courtyard.

But she didn't move.

Thinking about it more deeply, it's not that Granny Liu couldn't change, but that she deliberately didn't.

This mess has been rife with problems for years. Making drastic changes rashly would only alert the enemy and give them reason to be on guard. More importantly, this position of "establishing authority" must be reserved for her own people to ensure its stability.

Jiang Wan carefully put away the box: "Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Granny. I'll accept this and give it to Uncle Xu later. You've worked hard these past few days, Granny."

Granny Liu smiled, didn't linger any longer, took two steps back, and turned to leave.

Jiang Wan stood under the corridor watching her walk away, then tucked the box into her arms and turned to walk towards the outer courtyard, her steps more steady than before.

After taking a few steps, she looked down at the wooden box in her arms. Granny Liu's words were spoken lightly, but every word meant "I did it for you, but I'm not taking credit."

Having served in the mansion for so many years, Granny Liu was more adept at handling matters than Uncle Xu.

Although Uncle Xu was capable, he had only just returned to the manor and didn't know whose people, whose connections, or whose secret routes he was following. This document from Granny Liu saved him the most time-consuming task of gathering information.

When they arrived at the gate of the side courtyard, the door was half-closed, and it was quiet inside.

Jiang Wan pushed open the door and went in. Uncle Xu was sitting under the window rubbing his knees, with an old cotton cloth draped over his knees and a half-cold cup of tea next to him.

Hearing the noise, he quickly stood up: "Why is Madam here?"

Jiang Wan waved her hand, signaling him to sit still.

She placed the box given to her by Granny Liu on the corner of the table, and then took out a box of ointment from her sleeve and placed it next to the account book.

"This is a blood-activating and stasis-removing ointment treasured in the manor, which is specially used to treat old cold and dampness injuries. It was given to you by the old lady before. Your knees have been a problem for a long time, so don't try to tough it out."

Uncle Xu glanced down at the plaster box, then looked up at her, his lips moving as if he wanted to refuse.

Jiang Wan didn't give him a chance to speak, and sat down on the stool at the table: "Uncle Xu has worked hard for the Jiang family for half his life, and guarded the shop for me for six years. All his injuries and illnesses are the result of his hard work. What is a box of plasters? Don't be so polite with me."

Uncle Xu was silent for a moment, then made no further refusal. He reached out and put the plaster box into the drawer very gently.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling on the old account books on the edge of the table.

The two chatted casually about their youth, and then Jiang Wan got up and left after sitting for a while.

As I reached the door, I glanced back and saw that Uncle Xu had already reopened the account book, and the box lay beside him, unopened.

In just three days, the rules of the outer courtyard were established.

The staff below were shocked by the new regulations, and the three-tiered procurement system began to operate. Procurement, warehousing, and reconciliation were no longer interfering with each other, leaving no room for shirking responsibility or passing the buck.

The accounts are still being sorted out, but the chaos in the outer courtyard has visibly subsided. Everyone is doing their job, and the atmosphere is much cleaner than before.

Just as everything in the manor was progressing steadily, an uninvited guest suddenly arrived in the second branch's courtyard.

—She is the wife of the main branch of the Fang family.

The Fang family was originally a declining clan, and its foundation had long since crumbled. Only Fang's father had managed to obtain a sinecure in one of the Six Ministries during the power struggle between the two factions a few years ago. It looked respectable, but in reality, he had no real power.

In recent years, the main branch has relied on attaching itself to various high-ranking families to maintain its reputation. Since Fang married into the Earl's Mansion nine years ago and connected with a noble family, this line has become the most lucrative channel for the Fang family to climb the social ladder.

Every few months, the Fang family would send someone over, ostensibly to "visit relatives," but in reality, they would openly and secretly try to take advantage of the family and ask for benefits, each time going further than the last.

This time, the old woman sat down and barely drank any tea before she started to stab Fang in the heart with her words.

"Second Madam has been married into the Earl's Mansion for many years, but she still has no children to rely on. This is not a long-term solution. Men's minds are the most unpredictable. The mansion is surrounded by beauties, and without an heir, she has no confidence."

She held her teacup, her tone carrying an air of superiority and instruction.

His words were harsh and blunt, showing no regard for Fang's feelings.

Fang's fingers tightened around the teacup, but her expression remained unchanged.

Seeing that she didn't speak, the old woman simply revealed the real purpose of her trip.

"The elders in the clan have already discussed it and decided to keep several young girls of marriageable age in the family. They are gentle and beautiful."

"Since Second Mistress is having difficulty conceiving, why not select one to be sent to the second branch as a concubine, so that she can have children as soon as possible, continue the family line, and also fulfill the bond of the clan."

Sending concubines.

To put it nicely, it's about expanding the family line; in reality, it's about planting people in the second wife's household to control Fang, the first wife's matriarch, through the offspring.

Fang knew exactly what was going on.

When her branch was in trouble, none of the people in the main branch were willing to lend a hand. Now that she has married into a wealthy family, they are all flocking to her, trying to squeeze every last drop of oil out of her.

She suppressed her surging anger and replied calmly, "The fate of having children is determined by heaven, and forcing it is useless. This matter is of great importance and cannot be decided by me alone. I need to consult with the old lady and the second master for further discussion."

She used the rules of elders to deflect the attack, neither agreeing nor turning hostile, and dealt with the situation in the usual neither-soft-nor-hard manner.

The old woman, seeing that she didn't dare to refuse on the spot, assumed that her attitude had softened because she hadn't had children for a long time and was easy to manipulate, and became even more smug.

After exchanging a few more casual remarks, each sentence revolving around "the Fang family's kindness" and "the Fang family's responsibility," they ate several plates of pastries and drank several cups of tea, lingering for almost half an hour before finally bidding a satisfied farewell.

After seeing off Granny Fang, it was already dark.

Fang dismissed all the servants and sat alone by the window. The night wind blew in through the cracks in the window, making the candlelight flicker.

The deliberate gentleness and composure she had maintained on her face vanished completely, replaced by intense resentment and suppressed anger surging in her eyes.

Nine years of being left without the title of matriarch, the fear of having no children to rely on, the constant pressure and oppression from her clansmen, and the secret contempt and scrutiny from others.

All the things that had been bottled up inside me over the years came flooding back tonight.

She tapped her fingertips lightly on the windowsill, her mind already racing with calculations.

The Fang family is aggressively forcing her into becoming a concubine and gradually eroding her resources; she will never sit idly by and wait for her doom.

However, how to maintain her position as the second wife, withstand pressure from the clan, and completely escape the situation of being at the mercy of others has become a difficult problem for her to consider.