Money Worked Wonders

Xu Weibei saw that Gu Wanning, who had been at loggerheads with him last night, had become calm and even concerned about whether he had eaten after receiving the gift. He immediately realized that Gao Lan might be right.

He realized that women actually liked these kinds of tactics.

Then I'll just send her lots of things from now on, and see if she still wants a divorce.

Xu Weibei tried hard to find topics to talk about—this was also part of Master Gao's lessons.

"Is your Corn almost ripe? How's the Estate doing? Do you want to go check on it?"

"Soon, about another month." Gu Wanning's eyes sparkled as she spoke of the Corn. "I haven't gone to check on the corn at the Estate, but the estate manager sends someone to write to me every few days. They're taking very good care of it."

"That's good. If you want to go see it, just let me know, and I'll take time off to go with you."

"No need."

The other person spoke politely, and Gu Wanning reciprocated with appropriate courtesy.

"Your Marquis has just joined the Ministry of Revenue and hasn't gotten started yet; you must be very busy."

Speaking of this, Xu Weibei really had a headache.

He had previously thought that the Emperor would not appoint him as the head of the Ministry of Revenue —the Minister of Ministry of Revenue.

But to my surprise, the Emperor made that decision so easily; indeed, the mind of the Emperor is unfathomable.

Xu Weibei looked at the silver deposits in the Ministry of Revenue today and almost doubted that he had read it wrong.

--How come such a vast Central Plains has such a small amount of wealth?

I knew we weren't well-off, but I never imagined it was this bad.

How can we possibly get through this?

He even suspected that the emperor was deliberately giving him false accounts to emphasize the importance of promoting the reforms.

"I can't sort out the accounts right now, but I've already sent people to do it as quickly as possible," Xu Weibei said. "Let's not talk about that."

Gu Wanning translated it: Not going smoothly, not going well.

But that had nothing to do with her.

She should take better care of herself.

Gu Wanning didn't say anything more.

After lying down, Xu Weibei began to feel a sense of loss.

Although Gu Wanning stopped arguing with him, which made him happy, today she was noticeably distant, as if there was a layer of distance between them, unlike before... her genuine self.

Almost, almost.

Could it be improved further?

What else could make Gu Wanning unhappy?

Xu Weibei quickly "squeezed dry" Gao Lan's limited knowledge reserves, and then began to turn his attention to the people around Gu Wanning.

Because Gu Wanning always cared about her First Concubine, Xu Weibei felt that her First Concubine was probably the person who understood Gu Wanning's inner thoughts the most.

Perhaps Gu Wanning has something on her mind that she's discussing with her First Concubine in private.

So Xu Weibei thought about it and decided to subtly inquire with his First Concubine, also to ask if she had changed her mind about Qin Lie.

Xu Weibei returned home late that night.

The maidservant of the First Concubine came out to open the door. Seeing him, she acted as if she'd seen a ghost. Not only did she not invite him in, but she turned and ran inside, shouting, "Concubine, concubine, the Marquis is here! The Marquis is here!"

Why did Xu Weibei feel as if he had become a monster?

Then the First Concubine hurried out to pay her respects.

Her hair was down, and she was wearing a nightgown, clearly having just crawled out of bed.

"My Marquis, the lady is still waiting for you," the First Concubine said hastily. "Jiaoniang is still sleeping in my room."

Xu Weibei: "..."

Even if he were stupid, he would understand that his First Concubine's words meant she didn't welcome him and was pushing him away.

"I knew she was waiting for me, so I came to ask you a question."

The First Concubine visibly breathed a sigh of relief and said respectfully, "Please speak, Your Marquis— "

"You and your wife are quite close. Has she recently told you about her troubles?"

The First Concubine paused for a moment, then said, "Madam didn't mention anything to me."

She had only one principle: even if she couldn't help the lady, she couldn't cause her any trouble.

"You seem to be wandering around like a ghost every day, completely out of it," Xu Weibei couldn't help but snap. "What could you possibly know!"

What a piece of trash!

I have no idea what Qin Lie likes about her; it's all so inexplicable.

This was originally just Xu Weibei's complaint, but the First Concubine, who had a guilty conscience, knelt down with a thud upon hearing it. "My Marquis, I didn't, I..."

"My Marquis?" came Er Ya's voice from behind, "Why are you here in the middle of the night to frighten my First Concubine?"

Er Ya was holding colorful threads in her hand. She had been ordered to deliver something to her First Concubine, but unexpectedly saw Xu Weibei bullying people here, and couldn't help but speak up for justice.

Er Ya felt that her First Concubine was acting strangely every day, like a frightened bird, but she was also quite pitiful.

It's unethical for the Marquis to bully people.

Did he get a bad attitude from the lady and then come out to vent his anger on someone else?

Xu Weibei felt inexplicably guilty, and even a little anxious to explain, "I'm just here to ask her a few questions. Don't gossip with the madam, or I'll cut out your tongue and kick you out!"

Er Ya: "You're so amazing..."

Why don't you just go to heaven?

"Auntie, Auntie..." Jiaoniang's cries came from inside the room.

The First Concubine immediately became anxious.

Xu Weibei, grasping at a straw, exclaimed, "I came to see Jiaoniang! Madam, you haven't rested yet? I'm going back now."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Er Ya couldn't help but mutter, "Men are really something. They say they'll come see the baby, but as soon as they hear the baby crying, they complain. They're completely unreliable."

She handed the colorful thread to her First Concubine, saying, "Go and appease Jiaoniang. I'm leaving. Don't let them start arguing again. Madam will suffer while I'm gone."

"Madam won't do that, she knows what she's doing. I'll go check on Jiaoniang first, so I won't see you off."

"Why not? Fourth Concubine, that troublemaker, is here too. Let's go, let's go."

Chapter 82 Spending money is useful

"Madam, please, I beg you." Fourth Concubine grabbed Gu Wanning's sleeve and pleaded shamelessly.