Chapter 2

"So her hurt feelings must be soothed with my shops."

Chu Chu gave a sob, clutched her belly, and doubled over.

Chu Xing caught her in alarm and roared at me.

"If anything happens to her, can you answer for it?"

I told Chunxiu to fetch a physician.

He blocked the door.

"What use is a physician? One word from you would put her at ease!"

I looked at his hand.

Then at Chu Chu.

She raised her eyes from his embrace. The instant they met mine, she looked away.

I rose and walked over.

"Must she be acknowledged today?"

Chu Xing said coldly,

"My own flesh and blood? Of course I'll acknowledge the child! However much you dislike her, you can't let our household's bloodline be left outside!"

I ignored him and looked only into Chu Chu's eyes.

"Chu Chu, are you certain the child you're carrying is of this household's blood?"

4

Every trace of color drained from her face.

The next moment, she covered it and burst into tears.

"Your Lordship, listen to her! I can't go on living!"

Chu Xing shoved me hard.

Chunxiu caught me, but my lower back struck the corner of the table. Pain throbbed deep inside.

The son I'd raised didn't even glance at me.

"I know what kind of person she is better than you do! Don't think you can force me to drive her away with that!"

"Very well."

I steadied myself and brushed tea from my sleeve.

"I'll investigate the people and the accounts, one by one. Today, I'll hand over the property first."

The clan elder breathed easier and hurried to smooth things over.

"That's better. A mother and son can't stay enemies overnight."

Before he'd finished, the gatekeeper entered.

"Madam, the Ministry of Revenue officials are here."

Even the crying stopped.

I went to greet them. Principal Clerk Zheng, whom I'd met a few days earlier, had come with a county-office clerk responsible for checking deeds. Two empty chests were carried in behind them.

Chu Xing stared at Zheng's official robes, his voice strained.

"Mother, why invite them to a family division of property?"

"Who told you today's business was a division of property?"

I handed Zheng the detailed ledger.

"The undisputed commercial properties and half my recorded dowry have passed deed verification. Please accept them under the approval."

He unfolded the document and read out the authorization. The land and shops would pass into state holdings, their profits going to the treasury for disaster relief. Once the silver was counted, a separate treasury receipt would be issued.

Chu Xing rushed forward. An accompanying runner stopped him.

"That's my family's property!"

The clerk spread the red-sealed deeds across the table.

"Which one belongs to you, Your Lordship?"

He looked down. His face changed.

I pointed to the name.

"Bai Yahan. Can you read it?"

The clan elder's cane struck the floor sharply.

"You made that money in our household's name! How can you call it yours?"

"Third Uncle, you manage the ancestral ritual fields. In recent years, has the household's grain come from those fields, or has my shop revenue paid for it?"

His lips moved.

"Since you've raised the subject of obligation, this is convenient. The court is still accepting relief donations. You should make one too."

His grip on the cane whitened.

"That property came from our ancestors!"

"Your ancestral property is precious, but what my father gave me is dirt?"

I handed his division list back.

"'Money is only an earthly possession.' Very well said, Third Uncle. Why so reluctant today?"

Chu Chu had stopped crying. Pale-lipped, she watched the clerk count the deeds.

With each property read out, her hands tightened.

I handed over the keys myself and received the first acceptance receipt. The remaining estates and shops would be transferred individually, with further handover accounts required. Carrying away these two chests wouldn't finish everything.

Chu Xing's eyes burned red.

"You'd rather benefit outsiders than your own son?"

"Starving refugees are eating bark. You spent my money buying a woman, then came home to complain that I was in your way."

"Chu Xing, must I make your choices for you as well?"

He reached toward the empty key box.

There was nothing to grasp.

I invited Zheng into the side hall to check the remaining accounts. The physician arrived just then. Chunxiu took him to examine Chu Chu, who was no longer complaining of pain.

As everyone in the main hall began to disperse, Xu Cheng brought in a man dripping with sweat.

The moment he saw me, he held out a document.

"Madam Bai, if you never authorized the sale of the South Warehouse, what exactly did my eight thousand taels buy?"

5

The warehouse buyer's surname was Qian.

His approval letter bore my personal seal. It stated that I authorized Chu Xing to sell the warehouse and temporarily collect the payment.

One look at it, and Chu Xing lunged to snatch it.

Xu Cheng moved faster, pressing it flat on the table.

"Your Lordship, the ink won't stand that sort of crumpling."

I didn't touch the paper. I only asked Manager Qian who had given it to him.

"This young woman."

He pointed at Chu Chu, who had just returned to the hall.