Chapter 18: The General's Residence Expenses Astonish Chu Mu

“From now on, without my approval, not a single tael of silver is to be disbursed to the Western Court.”
The steward looked at Chu Mu in distress. “Madam, I’m afraid the General won’t agree to this. I’m merely a servant—why trouble me so?”
Chu Mu shot the steward a cold glance. “I will speak to the General myself. You need only follow my instructions.”
A Zhao would be more than happy to see Lin Jiaojiao’s expenses cut.
The thought that Lin Jiaojiao had withdrawn a hundred taels of silver just to satisfy her gluttony made the irritation in his heart grow.
This was a far cry from the Lin Jiaojiao he thought he knew.
In his mind, Lin Jiaojiao had always been a frugal, plain, and unassuming young woman.
From now on, if anyone dared call Lin Jiaojiao plain and unassuming in front of him, he would slap their mouth.
“Also, all the household expenses for each court must be kept under twenty taels of silver.”
The steward didn’t say much to that; apart from the Western Court, the daily expenses of the other courts hovered around thirty taels—a reduction would still cover the necessities.
But Madam’s next words nearly made him doubt his own ears:
“I mean twenty taels per month, not per day. Any unnecessary expense is to be denied, without exception.”
The steward staggered—was she joking?
She had to be joking!
But Chu Mu had no time for the steward’s bewilderment.
He had just reviewed the accounts; apart from Lin Jiaojiao’s Western Court’s shocking expenditures,
everyone else’s expenses were also alarmingly high.
His mother’s court alone required forty taels a day.
Second Brother and his wife each demanded twenty taels daily.
Even the concubine in Second Brother’s rooms needed a tael a day.
Second Brother’s two legitimate sons and illegitimate sons each received two taels.
Second Brother’s entire household alone spent forty-nine taels a day.
Just these few legitimate masters in the residence cost nearly two hundred taels daily.
What kind of household dared to squander money like this?
The steward stammered, “Madam… I dare not.”
If it were only about cutting expenses in Miss Lin’s court, perhaps he could risk it.
After all, Miss Lin was merely a guest in the General’s estate, and though many believed she would soon replace the Madam as the next Lady General,
he did not think so.
Two years had passed—if she were to rise, she would have by now. Why the delay?
The answer: money makes the world go round.
No matter how much the old lady favored Miss Lin, if she truly intended to make her the Lady General,
the position would have changed hands long ago.
“Just do as I say. If anyone has a complaint, let them come to me. Why are you still standing here? Go and notify all the courts,” Chu Mu ordered, his tone sharp.
The steward, on the verge of tears, withdrew in silence. He was only a steward, after all.

He dared not go from court to court delivering the news; he would simply refuse to approve any further requests for silver. If there were complaints, they could find the Madam—that was what she said.
Just as he sent the steward away, Chu Mu had no time to breathe before seeing the butler rush in, flustered, clutching a gilded invitation.
“Madam, someone from the Pang residence has come to stir up trouble. Scholars are indeed different—they even know how to issue a challenge. The General is not at home, Madam. Will you accept the challenge, or shall Second Master handle it?”
The Pang residence? A challenge?
What nonsense was this?
On the surface, he and Pang Qingyun had always maintained a non-interference truce.
What scheme was Pang Qingyun plotting, sending a challenge letter?
Chu Mu had no idea of Shen Zhao’s bold actions at court that morning.
So the butler’s mention of a “challenge” left him utterly puzzled.
“Let me see the invitation.”
He wanted to see what tricks Pang Qingyun was up to now.
The butler handed over the invitation, which was indeed from the Pang family.
Chu Mu opened it, and a look of bewilderment flitted across his face, quickly replaced by anger.
The invitation was from the Pang family, true, but it was not Pang Qingyun himself who would be coming—
It was that cold, elegant nobleman, Pang Yunjin, who wished to visit his residence.
And not to visit him, but A Zhao.
Wait—that was himself now! He was A Zhao.
A man shameless enough to call on another man’s wife—how could he live up to his reputation as an untainted nobleman?
He was determined to meet this so-called gentleman and see what he was really after.
The butler, noticing the darkening storm on Madam’s brow, assumed it was the old fox Pang Qingyun himself who was coming.
He immediately said,
“Madam, shall I send someone to the barracks to fetch the General? At court this morning, the General rendered Pang Qingyun speechless and was even forced by His Majesty to apologize.
I suspect this visit is to save face—only the General can deal with such a villain. Madam, I’ll go fetch the General at once.”
Chu Mu shot to his feet.
“Butler, what did you say? My—my husband and Pang Qingyun, what happened at court?”
The butler grinned and recounted Shen Zhao’s heroic deeds at court that morning,
adding that, thanks to certain busybodies, the entire city now knew of it.
The storytellers at the teahouses in the capital were all recounting the events.
That busybody Xie Yuheng was even now weeping in a corner, feeling wronged that he’d helped Chu Mu out of goodwill, yet Chu Mu failed to appreciate it.
Chu Mu pressed his forehead and sat down again.
A Zhao, you’ve ruined my careful plans.
He had been secretly collecting evidence of the Crown Prince’s faction’s treasonous intentions,
never contending, never protesting—not because he was dull,
but to mislead others,
so their attention would not fall on him,
giving him space to work in secret.
Now, things being as they were, he could only mobilize his hidden forces to strengthen A Zhao’s protection.
After this uproar, the Crown Prince’s faction might not turn all their firepower on A Zhao,
but she would certainly become a target of interest.
Yet this wasn’t the most pressing matter—the real question was what Pang Yunjin wanted with A Zhao. That was what mattered!

“Madam? Madam?” The butler called several times, seeing Chu Mu lost in thought.
Jolted by the butler’s voice, Chu Mu replied,
“I heard you. No need to trouble the General at the barracks—see to it that our guest is received in the front hall.”
He was determined to see for himself what intentions Pang Yunjin harbored for A Zhao.
As soon as the butler left, Chu Mu tidied his gown and face before heading toward the front court,
muttering as he went, “Later I must fetch a few long robes from the chambers. These women’s gowns are truly cumbersome.”
But as soon as he stepped out the Gongyue Gate, Chu Mu’s gaze turned sharp.
A sense of vigilance rose within him—he felt someone stealthily approaching.
Chu Mu slowed his pace,
curious to see who would dare tail A Zhao in broad daylight within the General’s residence.
The stalker’s technique was hardly expert.
Seeing him slow down, instead of adjusting his own pace, the stalker sped up, his footsteps hurried and disordered.
Who dared be so brazen?
The person drew closer and closer. Chu Mu’s hand gathered up his cumbersome skirts, lifting them slightly as he poised on tiptoe.
As a greasy hand reached out, not yet making contact,
he sprang forward and kicked hard at the owner of that hand.
When he saw who it was, Chu Mu’s face changed dramatically.
There was no time to pull back his foot before it landed square on the man’s face.
A cry of “Aiyo—” rang out,
punctuated by a heavy thud.
The stalker was sent flying a meter away, crashing to the ground.
A woman’s shoeprint instantly appeared on his face, the bridge of his nose scraped raw.
Clutching his face, he writhed on the ground like a grub, howling in pain and cursing,
“You little tramp! Have you grown so bold as to kick me? If you don’t come help me up right now and serve me properly, I’ll see you thrown out of the General’s residence! My face—damn it, it hurts! Hurry up and get over here, or you’ll regret it—my face, it hurts!”
Listening to his curses, Chu Mu called out in disbelief—