Fierce Consort

Chapter 83.2

Yan Yan, Yan Ru and Yan Ling went to Nana Chang every day to learn etiquette. However, Yan Qian and Yan Chan, as well as the misses from the third branch were left out.

Concubine Wu and Chen-shi didn't understand Shen Yi Yao's thoughts, and didn't dare say anything right away.

On this morning when they went to pay respects at the Rongan Hall, the old madam's expression was rather unpleasant.

"Old second daughter-in-law, what you're doing isn't right. You've invited a nana over to teach three, but not the others. Let's not mention the second and fifth lass since they are concubine born. Why not bring the sixth and seventh lass along?"

Shen Yi Yao who was sitting below slightly froze. Yan Yan gave Xue-shi a glance and Xue-shi didn't let her down. She twisted her mouth and started speaking.
"Mom, this matter cannot be blamed on second sis-in-law. Didn't your daughter-in-law mention it several times before? You said the nanas from the palace are all servants and won't be able to teach anything. But your daughter-in-law kept thinking about it and felt there had to be a reason everyone invites them to teach. Thus I asked second sis-in-law to invite one over. This person is actually paid for by your daughter-in-in-law. The price isn't cheap. It costs two hundred taels of silver for two months."

After she spoke to the old madam, she then turned to Chen-shi: "Third sis-in-law, you also know the eldest miss and third miss aren't young anymore. They are about to discuss marriage. This is why they are prioritized. As for Yan Ling, she happened to tag along. That nana can't teach too many people at once or everyone won't get the individual attention that's needed. If your third branch really needs it, how about we discuss with that nana and have her stay a few more months?"

Xue-shi's words were ambiguous but her tone was very clear. For the sake of the estate's misses, I suggested inviting one over. But the old madam doesn't want to spend the money and refused. Now that I've used my own money, why are you all interested?

The old madam normally didn't care about these things. Xue-shi was willing to bet Chen-shi had said a few things to her.

Especially since this involved a few things that happened previously. When Xue-shi had wanted to invite a nana over, she had wanted to pull Chen-shi along for help. Chen-shi was afraid of angering the old madam and thus passed on it. Chen-shi had always been like this. Xue-shi was also clear about it. If it didn't concern her, she would leave others hanging.

But Xue-shi was angry now. Why did she let her take the brunt of things and now try to enjoy the benefits of her success? I've expended a great deal of effort and my own silver for the sake of my own miss to finally invite a nana over. Why are you jumping out now?!

Chen-shi was stuffed up by these words. She was definitely not willing to spend her own silver. In her mind, no matter how much silver she had, she wouldn't be willing to waste two hundred taels for two months.

"Eldest daughter-in-law, I'm not willing to hear these words. We're all one family, why do we have to divide things so clearly?"

If we aren't dividing things up, then why don't I see you picking up the cost?! Something like this which benefitted all the estate's misses was supposed to use the estate's funds to begin with.

Regardless, Xue-shi was disliking the old madam more and more. As the old madam of a grand marquis estate, why is she being miserly with small amounts of silver? She didn't realize the old madam was also living frugally. The money taken from Concubine Pei had already been spent long ago. They were now spending without any income.

The old madam also didn't want to deal with the household income, and wished she could hand it off to someone else. But the problem was she didn't dare take out the income statements. Otherwise, everything would be revealed. At that time, if someone in the household asked where all their promising businesses and manors went, how was she supposed to answer!?