Chapter 30: Losing Face

"How can this be!" Mother Li exclaimed, anxious. "Yun'er is a country girl; how could she possibly have any money to spare? Xirui, have you lost your mind?"

Luo Yun'er also feigned helplessness, "Cousin-in-law, all the silver I had has already been poured into the Su family. How could I have any left? I am not like you, Cousin-in-law, born into a prestigious family and raised with your parents' teachings. How could I dare to take on such a heavy responsibility?"

Song Xirui realized that Song Xirui was trying to dump the Su family's mess onto her.

Dream on. Absolutely not!

Song Xirui’s gaze swept over the two of them. It seemed they would not rest until the management of the Su household was firmly in her hands.

Very well. You have your strategies, and I have mine. Since you insist on forcing this burden upon me, don't come crying to me later.

She nodded slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Since neither Mother nor Cousin wish to manage the household, then as the daughter-in-law, I shall not decline."

Luo Yun'er blinked, surprised. Had Song Xirui accepted the management duties so easily?

Mother Li, however, cared little for the details. Her face immediately broke into a joyful smile. "Good, good, good! Xirui, I knew you were a sensible girl!" Having shed this burden, she felt her shoulders grow light.

Having achieved their goal, the two turned and left. A moment later, Hongdou closed the door.

"Madam, what should we do now?" Hongdou’s small face was wrinkled with worry. The Su family had treated her mistress with such cruelty that she hated the idea of her mistress working herself to the bone for the Young Master, only to receive no thanks and end up falling ill!

"Do not worry. I have already thought of a solution," Song Xirui said with a gentle smile. She continued, "Although the household is struggling, fortunately, my husband still has some calligraphy and antiques. They should fetch a decent price."

"But the Young Master is so stingy; he would never give them to us!" Hongdou pouted.

Song Xirui raised a brow. "We are husband and wife, one body; what difference does it make whether we tell him or not?"

Hongdou’s eyes widened. "Madam, do you mean we should secretly sell the Young Master’s treasures..." This was too thrilling!

"Secretly?" Song Xirui frowned slightly, her eyes filled with playfulness. She shook her head. "The Su family is in difficulty, and everyone knows the state of the household. My husband is using these items to support the family. Of course, we must publicize it well so that everyone knows of the Scholar’s integrity and incorruptibility."

"Tomorrow, my husband has court, and Mother and Luo Yun'er are going out. It is the perfect opportunity," Song Xirui told Hongdou. "You go and coordinate with your brother. Tomorrow, we will exchange money for goods, closing the deal cleanly so that Luo Yun'er doesn't find out and cause trouble."

Hongdou’s expression shifted from surprise to admiration. She nodded vigorously. "Madam is truly brilliant! Hongdou will go do it right away!"

---

The next day, someone shouted in the busy marketplace.

"Take a look, everyone! These are fine goods from the Scholar’s mansion! Rare treasures!"

"If you don't trust the judgment of a rough fellow like me, you should at least trust Scholar Su!"

People were intrigued and gathered around to ask questions. The man immediately produced a list as proof. Just like that, word spread quickly. The news that the Scholar’s mansion was so poor that they had to sell their belongings spread like wildfire!

---

After Su Yun returned from court, he was still unaware of what had transpired. He was stunned when someone greeted him with, "Scholar Su, is your family so poor that you can't even afford a meal?"

He grabbed the man to ask for details, only to discover that the items in his own home had been taken out and sold! Su Yun walked out of the palace gates, pointed at by passersby, and dove into his carriage in shame.

"What is going on? Wasn't the household management given to the Madam? Why did my mother go and sell my calligraphy and paintings?!" Su Yun asked, furious, through the carriage curtain to Shi Jiu, who was driving.

Shi Jiu stuttered, "I-it wasn't the Old Madam."

"Could it be that there is a thief in the Su mansion again?" Su Yun snarled.

"Young Master, it was the Young Madam who sold them," Shi Jiu whispered.

There was silence in the carriage for a moment. Finally, Su Yun’s rage erupted. "Drive! Back to the mansion, now!"

---

At the Su mansion, Su Yun stormed toward the Begonia Courtyard and collided with a maid carrying a bowl of soup. The liquid splashed all over him.

"Damn it!"

"You useless servant, are you blind?!" Su Yun shouted.

The maid knelt immediately. "Young Master, please forgive me! I was blind and bumped into you!"

"Hmph!" Su Yun was already fuming, and this only made his mood worse. He growled, "You will kneel right here! If you move before two hours are up, you will regret it!"

The maid looked up in shock. The Young Master had always been gentle and kind to his servants; how had he turned into a different person today? The rumors must be true! Su Yun walked away toward the Begonia Courtyard.

As he walked, his foot slipped, and he fell flat on his face! The servant boy beside him cried out, "Young Master!"

Shi Jiu quickly helped him up, only to see that Su Yun had cut his nose, and it was bright red! The maid didn't dare to laugh, but she thought to herself, *Serves him right!*

---

Inside the Begonia Courtyard, Su Yun immediately accused Song Xirui, "Madam, you have deceived me terribly!"

"Husband, what do you mean? I don't understand," Song Xirui said, blinking innocently.

"Are you still pretending?" Su Yun was furious. "Was it not you who secretly sold my calligraphy and antiques? You’ve made the whole capital know that while my Scholar’s mansion looks respectable, it is actually dirt poor!"

"So that's it," Song Xirui said softly. "Husband, I did it for the sake of your future. The household was truly short of silver, and I even wrote to my father for help, but he said he wanted to see how you performed. I thought and thought, and I couldn't let you lose face, so I came up with this plan."

"Besides, people are going to talk regardless. What matters is that we live well!"

Seeing her sincerity, Su Yun trembled with rage. "You woman of limited vision! An official prizes his reputation above all else. With this, how am I supposed to find time for my career?"

Song Xirui immediately replied, "The money I earned from selling the items is all saved for you. Since you feel it is inappropriate, I will take the money and redeem those paintings and antiques right now." As she spoke, she started to head for the door.

"Wait!" Su Yun blocked her. He had been trying to curry favor with the Third Prince recently and was desperate for money. "How much did you sell them for?"

Song Xirui said mournfully, "Three thousand five hundred taels in total."

"Hmm..." Su Yun nodded. "Give it to me. I have an urgent need for it. And remember, don't do this again!"

Song Xirui handed him the bank notes. "Yes, it is all here. Please, Husband, write me a receipt so that Mother doesn't make trouble for me."

Su Yun took the money and, without making things difficult, wrote the receipt for her.

Her eyes curved into crescents, though her gaze held a trace of coldness. To lure a snake out of its hole, one must offer some bait.

Su Yun scolded her a few more times before leaving.

---

The next day, Mother Li came to make trouble again.

"You heartless wretch! You even sold the teapot I drink from!" Mother Li plopped down in Song Xirui’s room, eyes wide with accusation!