TSWRLM -Chapter 124 A Husband Should Take Good Care of His Wife

On his first day at the Censorate, though there wasn’t much work, going through the handover documents and familiarizing himself with the office and colleagues took up a lot of time. By the time Shen Qingyuan returned home, it was already late at night.

He had assumed Chun Xi was asleep and had merely left a lamp and some food for him. But as he approached Wenxin Courtyard, he heard a noisy commotion before even stepping inside.

Frowning, he quickened his pace. The group of people, previously noisy, immediately changed their expressions and greeted him respectfully.

Shen Qingyuan ignored them, passing through the crowd straight into the room.

Inside, there were still quite a few people—Nanny Jia and several of the Hou residence’s key managers were all present. Surrounded by them, Chun Xi sat at the desk, seriously reviewing accounts.

Although it didn’t seem like much work at first glance, Shen Qingyuan immediately went over and asked, “What’s happening?”

As he spoke, his gaze swept over everyone in the room—sharp and warning, as if to prevent anyone from taking advantage of Chun Xi.

Everyone: “…”

(Master, don’t look at us like that! The Young Mistress has already shaken the entire Hou residence—who dares bully her now?)

“Husband, you’re back,” Chun Xi looked up from the account books and smiled at him. “I was busy today, so I only had the kitchen stew some food. You must be hungry. I’ll have them bring it to you right away.”

Standing, she gave a few instructions to someone outside, then turned back: “Mother handed over household control to me today. I’m reviewing the accounts. There’s very little silver left in the public funds, so everyone in the residence will need to reduce expenses. That’s why I gathered everyone here—to return some of the servants’ contracts.”

Previously, Shen Qingyuan had taught Chun Xi how to handle simple accounts. Reviewing the Hou residence’s ledgers was a bit more challenging; she had only gone through about half of them.

Shen Qingyuan sat down at her place and began reviewing the accounts as well.

He immediately realized that the account staff had intentionally given Chun Xi outdated, meaningless ledgers to make things harder. Reading quickly, he finished scanning a whole stack, and then circled the irregularities in the ledgers from the past two years.

The majority of the Hou residence’s expenses in recent years had been under Shen Qingyue and Shen Qingyu.

Both were studying at the Yun family clan school, where tuition alone cost one hundred taels. Monthly, there were also high-quality writing materials, stationery, and miscellaneous allowances for socializing. Adding it all up, each child’s annual expenses were nearly ten thousand taels.

Even Shen Qingyuan, after starting his position at the Jingzhao Prefecture, mostly spent from his own salary—but the public account still listed several thousand taels in expenses under his name each year.

He didn’t handle the matter himself, merely pointing out the discrepancies to Chun Xi before sitting aside to eat.

Chun Xi’s eyes shone with admiration.

“Husband, you’re amazing! If I had to go through all these ledgers, I’d probably still be at it until morning. But you just glance at them and it’s done—like the Eyes of Fire, truly incredible.”

She didn’t rush to chastise the staff but instead eagerly gave Shen Qingyuan a shoulder massage.

He leaned down to enjoy it, smiling: “Since you want to manage the household, I’ll teach you more accounting tricks in the future.”

“Don’t worry, Husband. I’ll study hard and won’t let you down.”

After Shen Qingyuan finished eating and went to bathe in the adjacent room, Chun Xi carried the account ledgers into the courtyard.

Madam Mo had handed over household control so suddenly that the household staff initially hadn’t taken Chun Xi seriously.

The young mistress is so young, she wouldn’t know how to manage the household.

But when Chun Xi pointed out the errors in the ledgers, everyone’s expressions changed. They had no choice but to kneel and plead: “Young Mistress, we won’t dare again. Please forgive us. We have elders above and children below. If we’re kicked out of the Hou residence, our whole families will starve!”

Chun Xi remained firm, not allowing them to confuse her. She asked clearly whose pockets the money had gone into. With sums so large, recovering the funds was her top priority, whether by dismissal or official complaint.

Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, and no one dared speak.

Initially, the expenses listed under Shen Qingyuan’s name were real. Later, discovering his poor relationship with the Xiao family, Madam Mo secretly diverted some of the funds. When Shen Qingyuan had his salary, these funds were then used as proof that Madam Mo, the stepmother, hadn’t mistreated her stepson.

Lower-level staff saw an opportunity, began falsifying records, and profiting. By now, no one could account for everything clearly.

Moreover, Chun Xi had just gained control of the household and didn’t know how long her authority would last—they dared not implicate Madam Mo.

Everyone decided to feign ignorance and pitifulness. Chun Xi didn’t talk much either; she ordered the courtyard guards to bind several managers hand and foot and have them beaten with wooden paddles.

Their wails echoed through Wenxin Courtyard. The remaining staff trembled, astonished that the newly appointed young mistress could act with such decisiveness.

Unable to endure the beating and too afraid to expose Madam Mo, the managers confessed only their own embezzlement and promised to return the money.

Since they agreed to repay, Chun Xi didn’t make things harder. After the managers wrote IOUs and stamped them with their handprints, she said: “It’s late. I shouldn’t disturb Mother’s rest, but the public accounts are seriously short. Please have Nanny Jia inform Mother. She can decide whether to report the matter to recover the household’s funds.”

There were no real household thieves. The money had either gone into Madam Mo’s private treasury or back to her family for appearances.

Nanny Jia, sweating nervously, whispered: “Madam is still recovering. It may be better to wait before telling her. Master Qingyuan has just been promoted, so it’s not the best time to air household scandals.”

“Nanny is right. Then please tell Mother that the public funds are nearly gone. Starting tomorrow, each courtyard must reduce expenses. I’ll also send someone to speak to Second and Third Young Masters.”

Nanny Jia dared not object and quickly replied in agreement.

After everyone left, Chun Xi returned inside, gathered the IOUs, and relaxed. Her shoulders were sore, and her eyes dry from hours of reviewing ledgers. She leaned back and massaged herself.

Just as she gave herself a couple of rubs, Shen Qingyuan’s large hand pressed onto her shoulder. The faint scent of water and soap reached her nose.

“Madam, you don’t need to overexert yourself. We can always live in a separate residence if you wish.”

Chun Xi closed her eyes, enjoying it lazily: “We can live separately, but first we must recover what you’ve lost over the years. Others mustn’t profit at our expense.”

Not by blood ties, why let them take advantage for free?

Chun Xi’s stance was firm. Shen Qingyuan no longer persuaded her. He kissed her lips and said, “Very well, everything is as Madam wishes.”

With that, he lifted her up.

Instinctively, Chun Xi wrapped her arms around his neck, hearing him say: “Today, Madam has been burdened because of me. A husband should properly take care of his wife.”

“Ah? Husband, there’s no need for such formality. I just reviewed some accounts; bathing myself is no problem.”

Chun Xi instinctively refused—but soon realized her idea of “taking care of him” was entirely different from what Shen Qingyuan meant!

Ahhh! Where did he even learn these things? It was so…embarrassing!

Meanwhile, in the main courtyard:

After hearing Nanny Jia’s report, Madam Mo was furious, throwing her pillow to the ground.

“I never realized she had such methods. Nanny Jia, find a trustworthy doctor. Get a colorless, tasteless potion and secretly put it in Cao Chun Xi’s food after reclaiming household control. This shameless girl cannot be allowed to stay!”