Early the next morning, Old Madame Li sent Nanny Cao to Qingyou Courtyard with sixteen thousand taels in banknotes.
"Young Madam," Nanny Cao said, "Old Madame says that it is simply not the way of our General's Manor to use a daughter-in-law's dowry. For the past two years, Old Madame was unaware that you had been quietly using your own dowry to subsidize the manor's expenses. Had she known, she certainly would have put a stop to it."
Nanny Cao glanced at Shen Yiru, who was reclining against the bedstead, and continued, "Old Madame has sent this—sixteen thousand taels in banknotes. Please check that the amount is correct."
Shen Yiru raised her eyes and signaled for Qingyao, who was standing to the side, to accept the money. Qingyao stepped forward, took the banknotes from Nanny Cao, and carefully counted them. Once she was certain the amount was correct, she spoke up.
"Nanny Cao, the amount is correct. However, there is still the matter of the antiques, calligraphy, paintings, and rare books from Young Madam's dowry that were used as gifts on behalf of the General's Manor over the last two years. Those should be returned as well."
Nanny Cao stared at Qingyao and curled her lip. "You must be joking, girl. How can items that have already been given away be returned? Young Madam doesn't lack such trifles; it shouldn't matter if a few pieces were given away."
Qingyao did not back down. "Since Old Madame herself said that it is not the way of the General's Manor to use a daughter-in-law's dowry, then if it has been used, it ought to be returned. Whether our Young Madam lacks these things or not is one matter; whether they should be returned is quite another, is it not? Otherwise, if word of this gets out, the reputation of the General's Manor will be ruined."
Nanny Cao rolled her eyes at Qingyao and turned to Shen Yiru. "Young Madam, when Lady Xie went to see Old Madame yesterday, she only mentioned the sixteen thousand taels you spent on the manor's behalf—she said nothing of these items. Why are you suddenly demanding more? To act this way is to go back on your word before your elders and show them no respect. To put it bluntly, it is highly unfilial."
Shen Yiru’s voice remained calm. "Qingyao, slap her."
"Yes, Mistress."
Qingyao obeyed, rolled up her sleeves, and landed six sharp slaps across Nanny Cao’s face.
"Ah, ah, ah..." Nanny Cao shrieked in pain. But she was merely a servant and Shen Yiru was her mistress. Even with the Old Madame backing her, she dared not act out further. She covered her mouth, bowing her head and not daring to look Shen Yiru in the eye.
Shen Yiru continued with an air of composure. "Yesterday, when Lady Xie came, the ledger I handed her clearly recorded both the money and the items I had spent for the General's Manor over these two years. At that time, I explicitly told her that both the money and the items must be returned in full. I do not know how she relayed this to Old Madame, but those items must be returned. Otherwise, I will not let the matter rest."
Shen Yiru gave Qingyao a look. Qingyao immediately produced a ledger from her sleeve and thrust it into Nanny Cao's hands.
"I am a reasonable person," Shen Yiru added. "I understand that getting the original items back might be difficult, so I have calculated their value in silver—ten thousand taels in total. Take this ledger back to Old Madame. She need only provide the equivalent amount in silver."
Nanny Cao was furious, but fearing another beating, she didn't dare say a word. She kowtowed to Shen Yiru with the ledger in hand and said, "This servant will certainly convey Young Madam's words."
"Very well. You may withdraw." Shen Yiru waved her hand lazily.
Nanny Cao rose and retreated slowly. As soon as she was out of the room, she turned and fled as if escaping. Qiuyan and Wenchany, who were guarding the door, could not help but cover their mouths and giggle. Their mistress was truly formidable. For two years, she had catered to every whim of Lady Xie and Old Madame, only to be drained of money and effort without ever gaining their genuine regard. Now, at last, she had grown a backbone—let's see who dared to bully her now.
Back at Shouqing Courtyard, Nanny Cao knelt on the floor, lifting her chin to show Old Madame Li her swollen mouth. With tears and snot, she embellished the story of what Shen Yiru had said.
"Cough, cough, cough..." Old Madame Li was so angry she nearly lost her breath. After a long while, she finally stopped coughing. She pointed a trembling finger, hissing, "How dare she! She knows you are my confidante, yet she allowed that wretched maid to strike you? Very well... very well indeed! It seems she has no respect for an old woman like me. If that is the case, she can hardly blame me for what comes next."
Nanny Cao wiped her nose with a handkerchief and asked with a sob, "Old Madame, shall we give her the ten thousand taels?"
Old Madame Li gritted her teeth. "Give it to her. Pay her in full. Once I’ve paid her, the General's Manor will owe her nothing. Then, it will be time for this old woman to collect her own debts."
Nanny Cao received the order and delivered the ten thousand taels in banknotes to Qingyou Courtyard. This time, having delivered the money, she did not dare to say a single word. After kowtowing to Shen Yiru, she slunk away.
Shen Yiru handed the banknotes to Qingyao. "Put these away."
Qingyao took them, remarking, "I never realized the Old Madame had so much money at her disposal."
Shen Yiru smiled faintly. "I have always known the Old Madame had some wealth. I simply thought that since she was elderly, it was only right for her to keep some for her later years. That is why, whenever the manor needed support, I always took the initiative to contribute my own money."
Qiuyan, having just entered the room, heard this and said indignantly, "The Old Madame is just selfish. She clearly had money, yet she kept insisting that Mistress subsidize the manor. And when the General brought a mistress home, she kept taking that woman's side. It’s infuriating."
"Qiuyan, hush—don't distress our Mistress," said Miaoqin, who walked in carrying a tray of food. "Mealtimes should be pleasant, or it will be bad for one's digestion."
Seeing this, Qiuyan immediately fell silent and joined Qingyao in helping Shen Yiru change her clothes and serving her meal. With the money recovered, Shen Yiru’s mood was excellent, and she had a hearty appetite. "Miaoqin, your cooking is getting better and better. You shall be rewarded."
Miaoqin, standing to the side, bowed with a smile. "Thank you, Mistress."
Ever since Lady Xie had taken over managing the household, she had cut expenses, including lowering the standards for the household's meals. Naturally, the standards for Shen Yiru's courtyard had been lowered as well. However, Shen Yiru was not short of money. Her meals were prepared by Miaoqin, who personally bought the ingredients and cooked them in a small kitchen, so her standard of living remained high.