For the next few days, Zheng Qian stayed almost entirely in the West Courtyard.
The gates remained tightly shut. No one in the Marquis' residence knew what she was doing inside, nor how things were progressing.
But to them, it didn't matter.
There was no suspense in this matter—they were simply waiting for the fourth day to collect their silver notes.
Third Young Master Zheng Hao was in excellent spirits.
"With Prince Ancheng as witness, no one can accuse us of stealing her money," he said to his mother, Third Madam, a satisfied smile on his face. "Mother, once I get the silver, I want to buy the hot spring estate at Little Hu Mountain."
He had wanted it for a long time, but Third Madam had always refused—after all, the Marquis' household already owned one hot spring estate. Buying another would be excessive.
But Little Hu Mountain was newly developed. Many young nobles had already bought estates there. Zheng Hao felt embarrassed being left out.
"It's only two thousand taels," Third Madam finally relented. "If you want it, then buy it."
After all, it was money gained for free—why not spend it happily?
"Mother, I also want to give Second Sister one thousand taels," Zheng Hao added. "A young lady should have some money of her own."
Third Madam's expression turned cold.
There were two daughters in the third branch—Third Miss Zheng Xi and Fourth Miss Zheng Qin. Yet Zheng Hao wasn't particularly close to either of them. Instead, he treated Second Miss Zheng Yutan as if she were his real sister.
And yet, Zheng Qin was his actual younger sister.
"So should you also give Xi'er and Qin'er one thousand taels each?" Third Madam asked coolly.
Zheng Hao laughed. "Why would I? They're just little girls—what would they need so much money for?"
Third Madam was instantly angered. "You—"
"Mother, why are you like this?" Zheng Hao interrupted. "Yutan is just my sister, not my wife. Why are you acting like a jealous mother-in-law? Don't I even have the right to choose which sister I like?"
That left Third Madam momentarily stunned.
Perhaps she had been too controlling. If she restrained him too much, it might affect his future.
"Do as you wish," she finally said.
Zheng Hao then shifted the topic back to Zheng Qian.
"That woman is quite amusing now—like she's become a different person. Before, she'd rush to my side the moment she saw me. Yutan loved teasing her. Once, I even told her to eat a bug—and she actually did it…"
He burst into loud laughter.
"Elder Sister Zheng Qian is even more entertaining than a dog."
Third Madam chuckled as well. "You're always causing trouble."
"That's not my fault. She's just shameless—shameless to the bone," Zheng Hao said disdainfully. "I don't even have enough affection for my real sisters. Treating Yutan well is already extra kindness. And yet she dared to push herself forward—doesn't she know her place?"
Third Madam had never liked Zheng Qian either.
Now that she had changed, it only made her more wary.
"She's changed a lot lately," Third Madam remarked.
Zheng Hao scoffed. "Just a different way of begging for our attention. Deep down, she's still the same pathetic stray, hoping we'll take pity on her."
Third Madam laughed.
Her dislike toward Zheng Qian had deeper roots.
Much of the wealth she now controlled had originally belonged to Madam Pan—the legal wife of Marquis Jing'an.
By law, a woman's dowry remained her own property. It could not be interfered with by her husband's family.
After Zheng Chi's accident, Madam Pan lost all interest in managing her affairs. Under the Marquis' tacit approval, Third Madam began systematically taking control of those assets.
Through manipulation—raising wages here, lowering them there, inciting internal conflict—she orchestrated accusations, replaced staff, and eventually forced profitable shops into debt.
Those debts were conveniently owed to her own distant relatives.
Step by step, the businesses were transferred, until they quietly became part of the Marquis' private holdings—managed, of course, by Third Madam herself.
Some properties were even gifted to her outright.
Over time, Madam Pan's entire dowry had been hollowed out.
Naturally, this made Third Madam extremely wary of Zheng Qian.
She wished nothing more than for Zheng Qian to marry out of the family as soon as possible—and disappear.
Meanwhile, Zheng Hao went to visit Zheng Yutan again.
The siblings chatted cheerfully about the hot spring estate.
"Third Brother, you must take me with you when you go," Zheng Yutan said with a smile. "I'll help you choose the best courtyard."
"Of course," Zheng Hao replied warmly.
They were both in high spirits.
Elsewhere, the Marquis and Old Madam were equally pleased.
They didn't even bother asking what Zheng Qian had been doing.
In their minds, there was no possible way she could defy fate and make a cripple like Zheng Chi walk again.
Only Fifth Young Master Zheng Run was restless.
He kept sending people to the West Courtyard—but no one could get in.
"Forty thousand taels… she's really gone mad," he muttered, running his hands through his hair in frustration.
It was the first time in his life he had worried like this.
The second branch also kept a close eye on things.
They were afraid that if Zheng Qian lost everything, she might attempt suicide again.
Back at Huining Courtyard, Zheng Qian's residence, the atmosphere was bleak.
The maids were listless. Nanny Dai could neither eat nor sleep. Even the lower servants, who had benefited from Zheng Qian's generosity, were unwilling to see her lose.
But everyone believed the same thing:
She was going to lose.
Some of the maids secretly wiped away tears.
Even the senior maids cried—especially Hongluan.
"Do you know how hard it is to earn money?" she sobbed. "Four thousand taels would already be a fortune—let alone forty thousand! That's enough to buy four marquis households!"
Xiuzhu's eyes were red as well.
Only Caiyuan hesitated.
She remembered how Zheng Qian had seemingly conjured things out of thin air before… and the strange long object she had carried yesterday.
"…The Young Miss isn't crazy," Caiyuan said quietly. "She might not lose."
But since she couldn't reveal the truth, her words brought no comfort.
The others only cried harder.
These past few days, Zheng Qian only returned to her courtyard to sleep.
She ate all her meals in the West Courtyard.
And when she did return, she slept soundly—completely unbothered.
That only made the maids more anxious.
In the blink of an eye, the fourth day arrived.
Everyone in the Marquis' residence woke early, eager to watch the outcome.
Masters and servants alike were excited.
"Second Miss will surely reward us once she wins."
"Of course—there will definitely be rewards."
"Poor Eldest Miss…"
"Poor? She never should've had that money in the first place. Once she marries out, none of it would benefit us anyway."
Even Prince Ancheng arrived early that morning.
The stage was set.