With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

"Qiuyu," Shen Nannan called out as she turned around.

"Miss!" Qiu Yu immediately walked in from outside, carrying a tray in her hands, looking very energetic.

"Collect all the keys to the storeroom, the account books, and the household tokens. Count them carefully, not a single item can be missing."

"Yes, Miss!"

Qiu Yu responded and stepped forward with several maids.

The old woman next to Madam Tong tried to stop her, but Shen Run tapped the table with his whip, and the old woman immediately shrank back and obediently handed over all the things.

Keys, tags, ledgers—each item was carefully counted and put into the tray by Qiu Yu, her movements quick and efficient.

Shen Nannan stood in the center of the flower hall, watching as the items were taken away one by one, her expression remaining indifferent.

"besides."

She looked down at the Tong family member lying on the ground, speaking each word clearly.

"I remember everything Second Aunt has done over the years. From today onwards, all expenses for the second branch of the family will be drawn from the public funds. If Second Aunt has any further ideas—"

She didn't finish her sentence; she just smiled.

The smile seemed no different from usual, but looking at it, Tong felt a chill run down her spine.

This niece has always been spoiled and not very bright. When did she become like this?

"Let's go." Shen Nannan turned around and walked out without looking back.

Shen Run followed behind her, took two steps, then stopped and looked back at Madam Tong:

"Second Aunt, take good care of yourself. Don't go out unnecessarily. It's dangerous outside; if something happens, I won't be able to help."

After he finished speaking, he picked up his riding whip and left.

Ah Chao was the last to leave.

He walked to the door, paused, and glanced back at Lin Wan'er, who was huddled in the corner.

Just one glance,

Lin Wan'er inexplicably felt that her neck was... very cold.

The lights stayed on all night in the study of Wutong Courtyard.

Shen Nannan sat at the table, a thick ledger spread out in front of her, her brows furrowed.

Qiu Yu stood aside, barely daring to breathe, her face grim.

"Miss, I've calculated it all."

The autumn rain whispered.

"The government's public accounts only have less than 20,000 taels of silver in cash, and the antiques and paintings in the storerooms that can be sold are not many either. All together, we can only raise a maximum of 100,000 taels. That's still far from enough."

The provisions for an army of 100,000

These are simply a drop in the ocean.

Shen Nannan rubbed her throbbing temples; her fingertips were icy cold.

She had long expected that the Tong family would empty their accounts, but she hadn't anticipated that the deficit would be this severe.

In her past life, she had tried to borrow money from well-known ladies of noble families, but they all made excuses to refuse, and wouldn't even meet with her.

Indeed, how could a mere Vice Minister of Revenue have the audacity to withhold the distribution of grain rations?

However, the Crown Prince has just had an incident and should still be imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court.

Who exactly has such a deep grudge against the Shen family?

They were determined to destroy the Shen family!

A face flashed through her mind.

If it's that person, then it might make sense...

"Miss, what should we do?"

Qiu Yu was so anxious she almost cried.

"There are only two days left. If we can't raise enough money to buy food, what will happen to Master and Madam...?"

"I know."

Shen Nannan closed her eyes briefly, her voice tinged with weariness.

"You can go now, I'll think of something else."

Qiu Yu looked at the dark circles under her eyes and felt heartbroken, but she didn't dare to say anything. She could only bow and leave, gently closing the door behind her.

She was left alone in the study, the candlelight flickering and illuminating her pale face.

She leaned back in her chair, her mind a jumbled mess.

Are we really going to repeat the same mistakes?

Just when she was about to give up, the door was gently pushed open.

"elder sister……"

Shen Nian's voice came from the doorway, small and timid.

Shen Nannan looked up. Shen Nian stood outside the threshold, holding a bulging bundle in her hands.

"Why are you here?" Shen Nannan rubbed her temples, her voice a little hoarse. "Didn't I tell you to rest in the yard?"

Shen Nian walked in, placed the bundle on the table, and opened it.

Inside were several account books and a stack of letters.

The cover of the ledger was crumpled, with the corners curled up, as if it had been flipped through many times.

The letters were old, the paper was yellowed, and some of them had torn corners.

"What is this?"

Shen Nannan picked up an account book and flipped through it, her brows furrowing.

"It's Mother's...her private account."

Shen Nian lowered her head and spoke softly.

"I... I secretly kept track of it when I was the second wife. I remembered how much she embezzled from the public funds each month, where she hid it, and who she associated with."

Shen Nannan paused as she flipped through the account books.

She looked at Shen Nian.

The little girl stood there, thin and small, head down, her fingers twisting the hem of her clothes, her face flushed with nervousness.

"When did you start memorizing?"

Shen Nian's voice became even softer:

"From...from when I was eight years old. My older sister gave me a piece of osmanthus cake, it was so, so sweet, and she...she said I stole it...she wanted to beat me to death..."

Her voice trembled slightly.

"Later, I heard it was my older sister who gave it to me, and she even... she even scolded my older sister... My older sister is so good, she's the only person who's ever been kind to me. Later I thought, I'll remember what she did, so that in the future... in the future I can help my older sister..."

Looking at this thin, small girl, Shen Nannan suddenly felt a pang of sadness in her heart.

"You've kept this up for five years?"

"Mmm." Shen Nian nodded, raising her head. Her eyes were dark and bright, showing a hint of timidity, but even more so, a firm resolve.

"Sister, these account books and those letters... I was young, and she didn't take me seriously, but I remembered all of these things. I'd wanted to give them to you for a while. But you're so busy, and I was afraid of causing you trouble..."

Shen Nannan's eyes lit up when she saw these things.

This Tong family really knows how to keep things hidden!

If it weren't for Shen Nian, no one would have known that she had secretly hidden so much money!

Saved!

"Shen Nian," she called out.

"exist."

"You have done a great job."

Shen Nian's face flushed instantly, turning a rosy red like a ripe apple. She twisted the hem of her clothes and whispered:

"I...I just want to help my sister. She's good to me, and I want to be good to her too."

Shen Nannan reached out, pulled her over, and hugged her.

Although the little girl had been cared for by her for a while, she was still very thin, like a bamboo pole, and it was hard to hold her.

Shen Nian nestled in her arms.

Her sister felt warm and smelled nice; her heart pounded and her face flushed.

"Don't be afraid anymore." Shen Nannan released her and pinched her cheek. "With your older sister here, no one can bully you."

Shen Nian's eyes reddened, and she nodded vigorously, tears streaming down her face, but her lips were upturned.

"Alright, stop crying." Shen Nannan took a handkerchief to wipe her tears.

"Go wash your face, then come with me to the accounting room to check the accounts."

Shen Nian vigorously wiped her face and nodded, "Mmm!"

She turned and ran out, but stopped at the door, looked back at Shen Nannan, hesitated for a moment, and whispered:

"Sister, there's one more thing."

"What is it?"

"Mother, no, Tong Shi... she... she cheated on me..."