Chapter Seventeen Three Hundred Gold Coins

  When the sky brightened, old butler Hill personally pushed a breakfast cart into the study. As he entered, he saw the young master of the family standing on the stairs in front of the bookshelf, holding a thick astronomy book and reading intently.

  It seems that this young master has not slept all night, although his face is slightly tired, but his spirit seems to be good. It's just that his body seems to be a bit too dirty... Did he roll around in those account books all last night?

  Moreover, a short sword on the wall was also taken down by him and placed on the desk... Alas, that's an antique used by our ancestors.

  The old steward sighed and immediately summoned someone to help the young master wash up.

  After finishing breakfast, Du Wei stretched and asked, "Have those people from the Imperial City settled in for the night?"

  "Of course, they are staying right behind the castle. Your guard knights, as per family management, have been incorporated into the castle's guard unit... Forgive my impertinence, young master, but it seems you've picked up a knight on the road, and what's more, a female knight. I had originally thought to arrange for that knight to rest in the castle, but she refused... because you also brought back a prisoner from the road. That prisoner must have offended you somehow, I've already arranged for him to be locked in the dungeon beneath the castle. Last night, the female knight and her attendant stayed in the rooms above the dungeon."

  "Alright." Du Wei sighed, "So, what do I need to do during the day... continue looking at these accounts? I think if I finish looking at these, it'll take at least three or four days... that's too boring, Hill, I've got to find something to do."

  Three or four days? You'd be lucky if you can finish it in ten days.

  "Yes. You are the master of this place. Everyone in the castle is your servant, and your will shall be carried out to the fullest extent. As for these accounts, you don't need to rush through them immediately. After all, they're just last year's accounts. I think that if you have some free time in the future, it would be more useful to take a little of your precious time to inspect one or two places in the family's estate. Perhaps that would be more effective than reading these dry ledgers."

  Du Wei smiled and raised an eyebrow: "Not bad advice, Xi Er, not bad advice! So what do I do today? Is there... anything on the agenda here?"

  "Hmm..." The old steward looked embarrassed: "You know, this place can't be compared to the imperial capital in terms of prosperity. The nearest town is a day's ride from the castle, even on horseback. As for things to do in the castle, there isn't much to pass the time, but the scenery around here is quite good. If you're interested, you can take your knights and go hunting in the woods on horseback. Although it's probably not a good season for hunting, going out for a stroll is also a decent option."

  Du Wei nodded, picked up the red tea in front of him and took a sip, then suddenly had an idea: "The guy I caught... won't have any problems, right? I mean, I have the power to..."

  "You're talking about jurisdiction? My heavens... Young master, this is the Rolin Plains! The entire plains belong to the Rolin family! Here, as long as you don't do anything treasonous against the empire, then apart from that, the will of the Rolin household is law! And you, are currently the highest-ranking member of the Rolin family in this castle."

  "Alright." Du Wei stood up, and a maid beside him immediately came over with a long fur coat, wanting to help Du Wei put it on. Du Wei took a look at the coat made of unknown animal skin and shook his head: "The weather is still so warm, no need to wear these... Oh, right, Hill, I need one or two attendants by my side, I prefer to use people I'm familiar with, hmm... Let Maude come over, I still like him following me. As for the others, did you assign those twenty knights I brought from the Imperial City to the castle guard? That's good, I'll also take some time today to go see them and inspect the warriors of the castle guard. Uh... One last thing, my childhood mentor was a famous astrologer, the renowned scholar Mr. Rosia, under his guidance, I'm very interested in astrology. During my stay in the castle, I want to use that room on the top floor of the White Tower."

  "The White Tower... the top floor..." The old steward opened his mouth, and a look of difficulty appeared on his face: "This... young master, I'm afraid you don't know, in our family there has always been a ban, except for the head of the family, no one else is allowed to climb up the White Tower."

  "Oh?" Du Wei's eyes lit up: "Is that so?"

  He didn't feel discouraged at all, but rather had some expectations in his heart... Hmm, since it's a forbidden place, I wonder if there are any remnants of Semel left inside? Maybe we can even make some discoveries.

  As for... not letting me in? Obviously it won't work if I do it openly, but can't I just sneak up there quietly?

  "Alright. So, I have a few things that I need you to send someone to procure for me." Du Wei said, picking up a goose feather pen from the table and quickly scribbling down several items on a piece of paper.

  These were some of the things he came up with last night for his astrology research.

  Studying astronomy requires at least a telescope, and it's best to have an astronomical telescope. However, this thing doesn't exist in this world, so it seems I'll have to make one myself.

  Glass is something that exists in this world, and the craftsmanship of mirrors here is quite high. If I study it a bit myself, I should be able to make a crude telescope.

  Actually... sigh, in this world, the use of telescopes is actually very small, because such things are mainly used for military combat purposes. But in this world, there is magic! A magician with a "Hawk Eye" technique is far more effective than a telescope.

  Alas, magic, magic! It seems I still have to think of a way to learn magic after all.

  Thinking of this, Du Wei immediately stood up: "It seems that today I need to take some time out to go to the dungeon and take a look at my captive."

  Du Wei came out of the study and soon the old steward summoned Madeleine according to Du Wei's instructions.

  This former groom looked somewhat depressed. Because he had been a "general manager" all the way, commanding twenty cavalrymen on the road, which was still very cool. But once they arrived at the castle, those guard cavalrymen were immediately incorporated into the castle guard team and stationed in a small military camp outside the left side of the castle. And this "general manager" immediately became a commander without troops.

  He has taken on the title of a high-ranking official, but doesn't even have one subordinate.

  The old butler here seems to be a veteran of the Roline family, who dares to share his power? After sleeping in the room for a night, Made still had some worries about her future... The young master didn't let me serve him last night, will he forget me?

  So, as soon as she heard Duvie's summons early in the morning, Madel immediately rushed over. Her hasty appearance made Hill, the old butler who paid attention to etiquette, somewhat dissatisfied, but Madel didn't care. She ran into the castle hall and saw Duvie standing there, so she hurriedly went up to him, almost as if she wanted to throw her arms around him.

  "Oh, my master, I am your loyal servant Madeleine. Do you have any orders?"

  Du Wei saw that Madeleine looked a bit flustered. After all, at this time and in this place, only Madeleine could be considered her confidante; as for the others... well, Yolaine was barely half of one.

  Du Wei did not rush to see Guan in the dungeon of the magician, but instead gave an order: from today on, without his command, no one is allowed to enter the study!

  The old steward did as he was told without saying a word about this strange order.

  Then Du Wei led his men to the military camp outside the castle, where 300 private soldiers of the Luo Lin family were stationed. Among them, 100 were cavalrymen, divided into five teams of 20 each, patrolling around the castle every day. The 20 guards Du Wei brought from the Imperial Capital were formed into the sixth team. These men changed their equipment in the military camp and immediately welcomed Du Wei.

  Du Wei had already spoken with Madam on the way, and then let Madam take the lead in selecting six people as his personal entourage. These six people were all observed by Madam along the way, who felt that they were relatively loyal and diligent in their work. The six cavalrymen immediately changed out of their armor into light clothing, bid farewell to the military camp on horseback.

  Their colleagues looked at them with envy as they left... Alas, after all, it's being by the master's side, who knows, maybe one day the master will take a liking to them and there will be opportunities for promotion.

  Have to say, leaving the oppressive Earl's mansion in the Imperial City and coming to this castle in the Rowling family's territory is quite refreshing.

  At least here, Du Wei is the highest-ranking person, and this noble life is also quite comfortable. When going out, there are servants who immediately lead a gentle steed, with saddles and bridles being the finest goods. It's said that in order to please Du Wei, this horse was personally selected by Madam herself. This former stablehand has a pretty good eye for horses.

  One morning, Du Wei took six attendants and strolled around the forest outside the castle twice, and finally chose a place.

  On the edge of the forest, a little farther away from the castle, there was a small stream that was a tributary of the Emerald River (the Roling River). The water flowed gently, and after checking around, no signs of large wild beasts were found. Du Wei immediately made up his mind to build a wooden house here.

  This would be his first magical laboratory - although he was not a magician now, and had been determined to have no talent for learning magic, but Du Wei did not worry about this.

  There will always be a way.

  After recording the location, Du Wei took people around again.

  This young master's behavior is indeed quite strange.

  In the afternoon, he either strolled around the surrounding woods or chatted with the servants in the castle. And the first person he met was actually the gardener and florist of the castle!

  The young master then produced a list, which he handed to the gardener and florist with instructions to prepare some unusual flowers, grasses, and plants according to its contents. The list soon found its way into the hands of old housekeeper Hill, who said nothing but immediately set about carrying out its instructions.

  It wasn't until evening that Du Wei finally had some free time to go down to the dungeon and see the captive.

  I suppose after two days and two nights of torment, the magician should have had his fill of suffering. Let's see if he is willing to yield now?

  Duvall confidently led people back into the castle, but the first person to come looking for him was the old steward Hill.

  "Young master, the several lists you made out today, all the things that need to be purchased, I have arranged for people to prepare them fully."

  "So soon?" Du Wei was satisfied and a little delighted.

  "Of course, this is the territory of the Rolin family, and your orders are our duty. Those lists, after you handed them over to me, I immediately sent someone to purchase in the surrounding towns, and now things are being transported back on the way. However, there is a small problem..."

  "What?"

  "Your money is probably not enough." The butler replied calmly.

  "... Du Wei was somewhat surprised: "Money?"

  "It's like that." The old steward's face was calm, but this calm expression and tone of voice made Du Wei involuntarily feel a bit annoyed. Because in the eyes of this old steward, there was clearly some hidden schadenfreude: "Young Master, because you are not yet an adult, so the rules set by the clan head, apart from your daily food and clothing expenses, you can only take 300 gold coins from the family every month as your spending money. Only 300 gold coins per month is the amount of money you can use. If it exceeds that, then it must be deducted from next month's money."

  Du Wei was already speechless.

  Money? But Du Wei did not think that as a proud earl's eldest son, he would actually have trouble with such a small amount of money.

  The old steward quickly pulled out a monocle from his pocket and put it on his left eye, then took out the list opened by Du Wei today and read: "Four pieces of top-grade crystal, twenty pieces of glass mirrors, one refining furnace, half a cart of stone coal. At the florist's, you purchased seeds for a generation of golden scale flowers, a generation of arrow orchids, and a large bottle of black rose powder... In addition, there is a set of the best flower arrangement tools. At the gardener's, you purchased two tiger skin broadleaf trees, one hundred three-leaf grasses, and..."

  The old steward quickly read through the list, then slowly said: "Purchasing these items has cost you approximately 420 gold coins. That means not only have you spent this month's allowance, but you've also withdrawn next month's money in advance... and I heard that you plan to build a wooden house by the creek outside the forest. I've done some calculations, if we're building a two-story small wooden house that's not too complicated, it'll probably cost around 300 gold coins. And then there are the decorations and furniture you requested for the wooden house... that'll be another 200 gold coins. Calculating this way, it seems like you've already spent all your money for the next four months."

  Du Wei was speechless.

  He realized he might have miscalculated!

  Money!

  The eldest son of the proud earl is actually penniless!

  Those flowers and grasses are all necessary. They are some of the most basic raw materials that Du Wei must have to study magic medicine.

  Du Wei looked at the old steward, his face sinking: "Is that so? You're saying that I, the eldest son of my father, the one responsible for guarding the family's territory and assets, can only use a paltry 300 gold coins per month? Did I hear that wrong?"

  The old steward's attitude was still very respectful: "Yes, this is the rule, it was said in the letter written by the patriarch himself. Although the family business has a profit of tens of thousands of gold coins every month, you should know... those are public funds. You are not yet an adult, have not received your own title, and do not yet have your own territory, so..."

  "So, I only have 300 gold coins for pocket money every month, right?" Du Wei's tone was very cold, and then he waved his hand: "Alright, I know that in the next few months, I'm afraid I won't be able to buy things casually, right?"

  "I'm terribly sorry, but this is an order from Earl-sama. You can only withdraw up to three months' worth of money in advance."

  The old steward saw that his young master was unhappy and immediately took his leave.

  After Old Guan retired, Du Wei looked at Madeleine beside him. Madeleine immediately spoke carefully: "Young Master... I still have the one thousand gold coins you asked me to keep for you here. These were given to you by the Countess before leaving the Imperial City."

  Du Wei sighed: "Alas, I was also puzzled at first, why my mother would secretly give me such a large sum of money... Now I understand... Hehe, it seems that Father is also worried that this idiot will cause trouble in the family's territory and ruin the ancestral business, so he only gave me a nominal title as guardian, but didn't let me use the money here."

  "This... we can save some expenses. Actually, three hundred gold coins a month is not a small amount..." Made said up to here and very consciously shut her mouth because the young master was thinking.

  "…Alright, since that's the case, we'll just have to think of a way to get some money out ourselves." After a brief moment of displeasure, Du Wei immediately brightened up...After all, wasn't there still quite a bit of treasure in the secret passageway that Saimel had left behind for himself, hidden behind that fake door? If worst came to worst, they could just use the money from there.

  It seems... the day of distribution is probably not as comfortable and free as I imagined.

  "Go and take a look in the dungeon." Du Wei waved his hand and said lightly, "I hope that magician won't refuse me again today. My mood is really bad now!"

  (Throwing away votes~)

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