Marquis Estate Changes

Marquis Yong'an's Estate, Inner Courtyard Flower Hall.

As the lamps were lit, the exquisite rosewood round table was set with a meal that seemed slightly out of place in the opulent surroundings.

Although the dishes were prepared to perfection, with appealing colors and aromas, featuring chicken, duck, fish, and meat, they clearly lacked the usual spiritual energy.

Qin Xuehua, Zhang Wanning, and Zhang Qingyue, a mother and her two daughters, sat around the table, chatting and laughing. Their conversation naturally revolved around Zhang Heng, whom they cherished the most and who was now "shouldering great responsibility."

"Heng'er must have worked so hard."

Qin Xuehua picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks, her face a mixture of concern and pride.

"To take over the family business, he was busy at Dingsheng Workshop until late last night and didn't come back.

He went again early this morning, saying he needed to resolve some Formation issue.

This child is just too driven and too responsible."

Zhang Wanning immediately chimed in with exaggerated agreement.

"Exactly! Xiao Heng is so much better than some waste who only knows how to betray the family and scheme against his own people.

He's dedicated to the Marquis Estate and our family; he's the true pillar of the family."

Although Zhang Qingyue didn't join in the praise, she nodded slightly, thinking it was always good for her brother to put his heart into his work.

During their conversation, they inevitably compared and belittled Zhang Yu, as if this would better highlight Zhang Heng's "excellence."

When their gazes finally fell upon the dishes on the table, their laughter gradually ceased.

Zhang Wanning was the first to frown.

"What's going on?"

She slammed down her chopsticks with displeasure.

"Steward Wang, who arranged today's meal?

Didn't we usually have 'Snow Jade Ginseng Stewed Spirit Crane', 'Steamed Dragon Scale Fish', 'Stir-fried Fire Rhinoceros Meat', and other Spirit Materials derived from Demon Beasts that contained spiritual energy?

Even if not, we should at least have some Spirit Fruit or Spirit Rice, shouldn't we?

What are these today?

Just ordinary meat?

Do they think we're some kind of impoverished family?"

She was accustomed to eating these expensive Spirit Foods daily, which were highly beneficial for martial artists and cultivators.

The sudden switch to ordinary dishes today made them taste like ash and made her feel her status had been diminished.

Zhang Qingyue also frowned slightly.

While she wasn't as picky about her palate as Zhang Wanning, she also sensed something was amiss. Her clear, cool voice rang out.

"Also, the 'Azure Cloud Ink' I usually use for practicing calligraphy hasn't been replenished for two days.

That ink is made by mixing Azure Spirit Stone powder with the juices of several Spirit Grasses. It helps to calm the mind and assist in comprehension when writing, so it's indispensable.

Why are the servants so negligent?"

Zhang Wanning, reminded by her sister, immediately recalled.

"Right, the 'Ice Silkworm Spirit Silk' and special canvases I use for painting are also running out.

Those are woven from hundred-year-old Ice Silkworm Silk mixed with Snow Spider Silk, which can best carry Spiritual Power and manifest the divine charm of the Painting Spirit.

Why weren't they delivered in time?"

The gazes of the mother and daughters simultaneously fell upon Nanny Wang, the head steward of the Marquis Estate's inner courtyard, who stood by with sweat beading on her forehead.

This was, of course, all part of Zhang Yu's prior calculations. The Marquis Estate's various extravagant supplies were only stocked for three days' worth of use, just like Jiang Luohan's situation.

Nanny Wang felt miserable, but she forced a smile and bowed.

"Madam, Second Young Lady, please calm your anger.

It's not that this old servant was negligent, it's just... it's just that the estate's accounts currently have no surplus funds to purchase these items."

"No surplus funds?"

Qin Xuehua blinked in surprise, finding it somewhat absurd.

"How could the Marquis Estate have no surplus funds?

Didn't we just withdraw silver from all the shops a few days ago?"

Nanny Wang explained with a pained expression.

"Madam, the silver withdrawn a few days ago was mostly used... used to repay the debt to the Wang Family and to cover some previous expenses.

The remainder... the Fifth Young Master sent someone back yesterday, saying that Dingsheng Workshop urgently needed money to repair some critical Formation. He said that this month's revenue from all the shops and all available silver in the storerooms were... were temporarily transferred away.

So... so the expenses for purchasing Spirit Food, Spirit Ink, and painting supplies... will have to be... postponed for now."

"What?"

Zhang Wanning shot to her feet, her voice sharp.

"Xiao Heng took all the money from the shops?

Then what about our expenses?

Are we supposed to eat bran and vegetables too, and use those shoddy things?"

She absolutely could not accept it.

In her opinion, the Marquis Estate's money should prioritize ensuring the luxurious and refined lives of her and her daughter. Zhang Heng taking over the business was meant to earn more money to support them, not to siphon their funds to fill the business's deficits.

Zhang Qingyue wasn't greedy for enjoyment, but cultivation resources and some necessary elegant hobbies (like Azure Cloud Ink) were part of her daily needs.

Suddenly cutting off supply would indeed have a significant impact.

She hadn't expected the problems at Dingsheng Workshop to be so severe that they needed to transfer working capital from the various shops.

Qin Xuehua's expression also turned somewhat grim.

Although she felt sorry for her son and supported his endeavors, she also felt uncomfortable and lost face at the sudden reduction in her living standards.

Especially when she thought that the source of all this "tightness" seemed to be the huge debt incurred because of Zhang Yu, and the "problems" that arose after Zhang Heng took over, she felt even worse.

"This Heng'er, he's too inconsiderate in his actions."

Qin Xuehua couldn't help but complain, "Even if he needed money, he should have informed the family first and set aside the necessary expenses."