After being forced into a marriage with a wealthy family, the virtuous wife caused a huge uproar.

If the couple moved out, she could visit Mrs. Gu more often, without the constraints of elders, and play however she wanted.

"I'll listen to my husband." Rong Yingluo glanced at Gu Ce, who had walked away, wondering what he was thinking.

No, she can't move out. They signed an agreement, and one of the provisions was that she obtained the management rights of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. If she moves out, she won't be able to fulfill the terms of the agreement, and how will she leave the Gu family mansion then?

The Gu residence was bustling all day, only returning to quiet around dusk.

Just after seeing off the last guest, a carriage drove up from the end of the road and stopped in front of the Gu residence.

Gu Ce and Rong Yingluo found it strange; what kind of guests would come at this hour?

"Who is this? Coming so late?" Rong Yingluo asked.

"It's the Gu family's carriage." Gu Ce had already noticed the logo on the carriage.

"But no one in the family goes out?" Rong Yingluo asked, puzzled.

The carriage had stopped, and a woman in her thirties dressed in plain clothes got off.

She wasn't particularly beautiful, but she had delicate features and got out of the car with a nimble movement, indicating that she wasn't pretentious.

When she saw Gu Ce standing at the door, she quickly walked a few steps to him, squatted down and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness."

Why would the Crown Prince greet her at the door? That's so illogical.

"So it's Aunt Feng who's back," Gu Ce said casually.

Rong Yingluo then realized who this woman was; she was another concubine of the Duke of Zhenguo. She had left the manor to return to her parents' home for a funeral before Rong Yingluo's marriage to Gu Ce. Her parents' home was quite far, and she hadn't returned for over two months.

"This must be the Crown Prince's wife, right?" Aunt Feng guessed, noticing a beautiful, unfamiliar woman standing next to Gu Ce.

The Crown Prince's wife has actually lived for a month, no, it's been two months.

"Hmm." Gu Ce simply hummed in response, which was considered an introduction.

"This humble servant greets the Lady of the Heir Apparent." Aunt Feng bowed again.

Rong Yingluo noticed that her bowing was very generous and she didn't act cautiously at all, which was completely different from Aunt Miao.

Aunt Miao was a maidservant of the former Duchess of the State, and her status was low.

This Aunt Feng was said to be the younger sister of one of the Duke's subordinates, and a concubine.

Rong Yingluo habitually looked at her face, but why did she feel that she was exuding an aura of death?

She's so young, could she have a serious illness?

"Aunt Feng, no need for formalities. You must be tired after such a long journey. Please come inside." Rong Yingluo smiled and gestured with her hand.

The group headed towards the old lady's Shousong Courtyard.

Aunt Feng had been away for many days. Although she had corresponded with the household, she was not very clear about many things.

Gu Ce led them to the old lady's Shousong Courtyard.

Aunt Feng was a little puzzled. The old lady hadn't left Shousong Courtyard for several years, so why was she going there?

"Young Master, I have just returned to the manor. I will first pay my respects to the Duchess, and then to the Old Madam," said Concubine Feng.

"Mother is currently in the old lady's courtyard," Rong Yingluo explained.

Aunt Feng then continued to follow, but when she saw servants along the way, they were all beaming with joy and consciously stopped to bow to Gu Ce and the young mistress before stepping away.

Aunt Feng was puzzled. She had been away for more than two months. When did such a big change occur in the mansion?

Previously, these servants had respected the young master, but it was all in vain. In reality, they all looked down on him and few of them truly respected him. Even though he was already the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, he was still far inferior to the Duke. But today, their attitude was completely different.

Suppressing her doubts, Aunt Feng went to the old lady's Shousong Courtyard.

Before even entering the door, I heard the old lady's voice: "We should discuss this matter with A-Ce before making a decision."

Upon entering the main hall, Rong Yingluo quickly walked a few steps to the old lady's side: "Grandmother, what are you talking about?"

"Your mother just mentioned how to handle the shops and land bestowed by the Emperor. Your mother's idea is that since A-Ce is the heir of the main branch, the rewards he receives should be placed in the public treasury and managed by your mother," the old lady said truthfully.

She wanted to see what A-Ce and Liu-Li's attitude was.

She had seen A-Ce's efforts over the years, and she knew that A-Ce was a good kid.

She wanted to be more affectionate towards him, but when she thought about how her own grandson hadn't returned home for twenty-one years because of him, and whether she would even be able to wait for her grandson to come back, she couldn't bring herself to be affectionate towards A-Ce.

But now that he has become the Prime Minister and the Duke is not in the capital, she still has to rely on him to uphold the reputation of the Duke's Mansion in the capital. She then suppressed her longing for her grandson.

Now that Liuli has saved her life again, she wants to give her more care and make up for the years she has neglected Ace.

"So that's what it was about." Rong Yingluo truly admired Su Jingyi's thick skin; she was incredibly shameless.

The lesson from the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet wasn't enough; she didn't believe that Madam Su hadn't suspected it was her and Gu Ce who were behind it.

They still dare to provoke them now.

"Mother, now that my husband is the prime minister and in charge of all officials, there will definitely be more places where he needs to spend money than before."

"If the Duke's mansion's public accounts can meet my husband's needs for funds at any time, then there's no problem putting the Emperor's reward into the public accounts today, and even my dowry shops and estates can be put into the public accounts." Rong Yingluo showed no displeasure, but rather a smile on her face.

She's not good at making money, but when it comes to spending it, she can not only empty the Duke's mansion but also rack up a mountain of debt.

There are still many medicinal herbs that she hasn't bought yet.

Gu Ce smiled after hearing this.

The two hadn't discussed it before the lady of the house refused on his behalf.

They are of one mind.

"Liuli is right. Mother, the five shops and one estate that the Emperor bestowed upon me are not enough to cover my expenses."

But now the Emperor has entrusted me with an important task, and I cannot let him down. I ask my mother to increase my monthly allowance, as it is far too little.

"I may no longer be able to contribute my salary to the public treasury." Gu Ce went even further, making more demands.

"A-Ce, our Duke's Mansion may seem large and prosperous, but the estates and shops under our name are not doing well. Your father is not in the capital, so it all depends on your second and third uncles to manage them."

Your second uncle was just a minor captain, and your third uncle was born out of wedlock and didn't even have an official position.

"With such high monthly expenses, where would we get the money to raise your salary?" Su Jingyi was surprised that Gu Ce not only disagreed but also wanted to take control of her salary. How could that be allowed?

"Grandmother, since Mother says Second Uncle isn't good at managing things, then let me take over. I'll ask my father-in-law for help, and I'm sure the shops and estates of our Duke's manor will thrive," Gu Ce said with a faint smile.

Did he think he didn't know? The Su family and his second uncle had colluded to falsify accounts for the Duke's mansion's properties, and he had also found some clues as to where the embezzled money had gone.

"How can this be? A-Ce, how can you hand over our Duke's Mansion's property to outsiders?" Gu Jingcheng immediately retorted.

If it's given to Gu Ce, how will he benefit from it?

"Second Uncle, I am only asking my father-in-law for guidance on business management. I am not handing over the assets of our Duke's Mansion to him to manage. I will arrange for someone to manage them myself."

My second uncle has a job and leaves early and returns late every day, so he doesn't have much time to manage the Duke's mansion's properties, which is why I can't even get a little more monthly pay.

Now that I am the Prime Minister, I can handle government affairs in my residence and do not need to go to the yamen every day. I am planning to find a few more talented and learned advisors, and I will have the spare capacity to manage the properties of our Duke's Mansion properly." Gu Ce rarely spoke so much.