Over the next two days, thanks to Zhenniang’s arrangements, everything in the Wang household ran smoothly. After two busy days, Zhenniang finally had some free time. Having just finished inspecting various matters, she took Hua’er to cool off by the well platform in the back courtyard. However, just as they passed through the round doorway to the back courtyard, they heard women’s chatter by the well.
“I must say, this Miss Li truly has skill. In just two days, the household has become so much more peaceful,” said a woman wearing a blue headscarf by the well.
“Indeed! Just think about what Miss Li usually does—she manages hundreds of people at the Li Ink Estate and handles it all perfectly. The Li Ink Estate’s business is booming now,” added another woman with a simple bun.
Riding on the reputation of Li Ink as the world’s finest, the Li family business has reached historical heights. Recently, the Emperor had even commissioned Li Ink to produce a batch of imperial ink, pushing their reputation to new heights.
“That’s right! Looking at how efficiently she handles things, no wonder Old Lady Aunt insisted on inviting her here. She’s skilled at managing households,” the woman in the blue headscarf continued.
“Miss Li was willing to come only because of our Young Master’s connection. Otherwise, who would want to do such a thankless job?” A maid who had joined them chimed in.
As soon as the maid’s words fell, both women’s faces took on meaningful smiles. The woman in the blue headscarf nudged the one with the simple bun and said, “By the way, have you heard the recent rumor? It seems the family wants to arrange a match between Miss Wan’er and the Young Master.”
“That’s not true. It’s just someone’s wishful thinking,” replied the woman with the simple bun, who served in Madam Hu Jiang’s quarters and knew something of these matters.
“Oh? What do you mean? Sounds like something is going on?” The woman in the blue headscarf’s interest was immediately piqued by this response.
“Let me tell you, it’s Madam Hu Jiang. These past few days, she’s been constantly talking to Sister Hu Qing about our Young Master’s affairs in her room. I’ve overheard quite a bit. Isn’t her intention obvious?” The woman with the simple bun said disdainfully.
“Someone dares to have such thoughts? How presumptuous!” The maid remarked dismissively.
“Alright, whether they dare or not, I’m only telling you this today. Don’t spread it around,” the woman with the simple bun cautioned. After all, such rumors were taboo in the inner courtyard. If Madam Jiang became angry and investigated, she wouldn’t be able to clear herself.
“We understand, we understand,” the other two nodded repeatedly.
The conversation then ceased.
Zhenniang hadn’t expected to overhear such a scene. At this point, it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to appear, so she quietly turned to leave. However, she spotted Ma Sao, Madam Jiang’s servant, sneaking suspiciously toward the back door in the distance.
Zhenniang’s first thought was that Ma Sao had stolen something, but after a glance, she realized the summer clothes were too thin to hide anything. Still, Ma Sao’s expression and her furtive manner of sneaking through the back door raised suspicions. Recalling the women’s conversation by the well, Zhenniang became concerned and asked Hua’er to quietly follow Ma Sao to see whether she had stolen something or if there was something else going on.
Hua’er nodded and followed Ma Sao out the back door. After several streets, she saw Ma Sao enter an herb shop. Shortly after, Ma Sao emerged clutching a package, her face tense with anxiety.
“What did she just buy?” Curious, Hua’er entered the shop and pulled an assistant aside to ask.
“Miss, it’s not proper to ask about such things,” the assistant replied with an odd expression.
“Just tell me, proper or not,” Hua’er glared and slipped a tael of silver into the assistant’s hand.
“Yuan Yang San,” the assistant replied with a sly look.
“Pah!” Hua’er spat upon hearing this and hurried back.
Yuan Yang San, despite its romantic-sounding name suggesting a connection to love between husband and wife, was an aphrodisiac. Hua’er, who enjoyed gossip, had heard about such things from the neighborhood women.
Returning to the Wang residence, she found Li Zhenniang and reported everything.
Li Zhenniang frowned as she listened. Combining this with the earlier conversation she’d overheard by the well, she formed a bold theory. She took Hua’er to the front courtyard to find Luo Wenqian.
She related everything just as she had heard it. Though she had a bold suspicion that Ma Sao’s actions were aimed at Luo Wenqian, she couldn’t be certain. However, one thing was clear: such drugs weren’t meant for use by just one party—there would have to be a male participant. While she couldn’t guard against that aspect directly, she needed to warn Wenqian to be wary of the men in the front hall. Regardless, if such a matter came to light, it would shame both her and Wenqian, as they were currently managing the Wang household.
“I know. I’ve already sent Luo Ping’an to invite the Hu family matriarch,” Wenqian replied matter-of-factly, seemingly amused by Zhenniang’s concern.
“How did you know?” Zhenniang was surprised, as she had only discovered this by chance.
“You jest. With the Wang household in such chaos lately, I’ve had people carefully guarding the gates. How could my men not notice Ma Sao acting so suspiciously, with Hua’er following behind?” Wenqian said with a smile.
“Oh…” Zhenniang nodded, realizing this was a case of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
Then, recalling Wenqian’s mention of inviting the Hu family matriarch, she narrowed her eyes. “You’ve invited Old Lady Hu?”
Wenqian nodded and whispered a few more words. Zhenniang understood and thought to herself that this person was quite clever—inviting Old Lady Hu was a brilliant move. When the time came, the Wang and Hu families would lose face and have to leave the Wang President’s household, thus restoring peace.
After chatting a bit more, Zhenniang returned to the inner courtyard.
…
At noon, the scorching sun beat down directly overhead. The leaves in the back courtyard were curling, and cicadas were crying themselves hoarse.
Madam Wang Yan led her fourteen-year-old son, Wang Ping, along with a maid and a servant, out of the kitchen. Each carried a bowl of sour plum soup as they walked to the shade behind the rockery. Cooling off while drinking sour plum soup was most refreshing in this heat.
As they were drinking, they heard movement on the other side of the rockery. Through a hole in the rocks, Yan saw Madam Hu Jiang pacing anxiously under a willow tree on the other side. Just as Wang Yan was about to call out to her, she saw Ma Sao, Hu Jiang’s servant, approach nervously and hand her a package.
Then came the sound of rustling as Hu Jiang opened the paper package.
A breeze carried a fragrant scent to Wang Yan’s side of the rockery. The scent seemed to have a subtle aphrodisiac quality.
“Go to the kitchen and brew a pot of tea, then bring it to me,” Hu Jiang instructed.
“Yes, madam,” Ma Sao responded and left. Shortly after, Hu Jiang hurriedly departed as well.
“Mama Cai, follow them quietly and see what they’re up to. I’ll take Ping’er to visit his aunt. Come find me there afterward,” Wang Yan instructed her servant Mama Cai with an odd expression after Hu Jiang left.
Upon smelling that fragrance earlier, Wang Yan had a good idea of what Hu Jiang was planning. Though Jiang had rejected her earlier suggestion to her face, Wang Yan knew her well. With many daughters to worry about dowries for, and Hu Qing being a concubine’s daughter, how could Jiang not be tempted by potential benefits? Wang Yan had deliberately planted the idea, and clearly, Hu Jiang had not only been tempted but had taken action.
This would make for quite a show, Wang Yan thought, sending Mama Cai to follow them just to learn more details.
Mama Cai nodded and followed, while Wang Yan took young Ping to visit Madam Hu.
Zhenniang was also in Madam Hu’s room at the time, speaking with her briefly. Seeing that Madam Hu wasn’t feeling well, she took her leave, coincidentally meeting Wang Yan, who usually ignored her but now gave her a smile with an odd underlying meaning.
Zhenniang paid her no mind and left to hear reports from various managers in the outer room.
Soon after, there was a commotion outside Madam Hu’s door. Looking out, she saw Chunni, Madam Hu’s maid, arguing with Wang Ping.
“No, Young Master Ping, you cannot take this coral,” Chunni stood firmly in front of Wang Ping, her face tense.
Chunni was Madam Hu’s maid, and according to Zhenniang’s management rules, she was responsible for watching over Madam Hu’s belongings. She would be held accountable if anything went missing.
Earlier, when Wang Yan brought Wang Ping into the room, he had somehow taken a fancy to a coral piece displayed there and tried to take it directly.
“Why can’t I take it? Fourth Uncle has lost all the family’s investment money. This is for debt repayment—we should take what we can get,” Wang Ping said irritably.
“No means no. Miss Li said the money house matters will be settled by the money house. These are household items, and no one can take them,” Chunni insisted stubbornly.
“What if I insist on taking it?” Wang Ping started throwing his weight around. If his mother told him to take it, then he would.
“You can insist if you want, but as a junior member of the family, it’s inappropriate to take things from your elders’ quarters. Moreover, you can’t make these decisions. If you want to take this coral, please ask your mother to come sign the registry. Later, the value can be deducted from the money house shares,” Zhenniang approached and spoke deliberately, her tone neutral.
Concerned about Wenqian’s situation, though she trusted his handling of matters, Zhenniang was genuinely angry about Hu Jiang’s behavior. Additionally, this young master of the Wang family had been causing trouble constantly, so her tone wasn’t particularly pleasant.
“Oh, so I just need to get it registered and signed? Then I’ll ask my mother to come to register and sign,” Wang Ping, being young and spoiled, couldn’t understand certain things. Hearing Zhenniang say he could take it after registration, he was pleased and intended to call his mother to sign.
“You foolish child! Whatever you see, you want, and whatever you want, you try to take. Don’t you know where you are? Is this your home? Just wait until we get home—I’ll deal with you properly,” Wang Yan emerged from the room, snatched the coral from Wang Ping’s hands, and tossed it to Chunni.
Investment always involves gains and losses. Though she was unhappy about the losses and wanted to seek some compensation from Wang Sifang’s side privately, that had to remain private. If she actually signed and registered officially, she would lose all face, as everyone knew the real situation. Family members taking advantage of each other was always shameful.
Li Zhenniang had truly made her lose face this time.
Wang Yan felt quite displeased, but in this situation, she couldn’t express it. She thought to herself, wondering if Jiang’s plan would succeed. If it did, Li Zhenniang would have no recourse even for tears.
Thinking of this gave Wang Yan some satisfaction. Just as she was about to leave with Wang Ping, Mama Cai hurried over and whispered something in her ear.
Wang Yan’s expression became even stranger, and she smiled at Zhenniang, saying, “Miss Li, let me tell you something—when you can’t even manage your affairs, yet try to manage others’ business, be careful not to drop the stone on your foot.”
“What does Aunt Wang mean by that?” Zhenniang remained calm.
“Hehe, someone saw Hu family’s Qing’er bringing tea to Luo Jiu, and she went in but hasn’t come out. A man and woman alone together—who knows what to make of that?” Wang Yan said with a smile.
“Hearsay is false, seeing is believing. Aunt Wang, don’t spread rumors carelessly. Luo Jiu doesn’t matter, but you’re damaging Young Miss Hu’s reputation,” Zhenniang remained calm, fully aware of Luo Jiu’s arrangements.
“Then let’s go see for ourselves.” Wang Yan challenged Zhenniang.
“Very well…” Zhenniang continued to smile.