Laughter drifted from outside.
Yining came back to her senses, looking at the bamboo curtain. She recognized her third brother’s voice.
He rarely laughed. When she was young and kind to him, his gaze always held a hint of sharpness. He seemed to be talking to Yang Ling: “…Minister Jiang of the Ministry of Personnel values him. Last time he didn’t pass the assessment, it was Minister Jiang who spoke up for him. Why did you have to make things difficult for him then?”
“I just can’t stand his attitude,” Yang Ling replied. “Meng Zhangshuren lost sleep for days over the tax silver issue, and in the blink of an eye, the credit became his. You don’t need to persuade me, I know right from wrong.”
Yang Ling was known for his strong sense of justice, Luo Yining recalled. When Xu Wei was near death, he knelt outside the palace gates for two days for Xu Wei’s sake.
“…Miss, may I put the master’s things here?” A maid entered carrying a book box.
Since he wanted to take her out, he thought to handle some official business along the way, so he brought it along.
Yining nodded, “Put it there.” She pointed to a small table. The maid set it down and curtsied before leaving. Yining moved the box in front of her. The copper lock had just been opened by the maid. Since it was Luo Shen Yuan’s things, she didn’t avoid looking, curious about what her third brother was busy with every day. Opening it, she found various official documents and case files, presumably to be dealt with soon.
Some files were sealed with red wax, and stamped with a small confidential mark. She naturally didn’t touch those. She took one without a red wax seal and opened it to find the stamp of the Court of Judicial Review. A death penalty case from Huaihua, Hunan had been sent for review. He had meticulously noted places where the evidence was unclear or contradictory during the trial process, with the annotation “Rejected for retrial”. His handwriting was very distinctive – thin, lonely, and proud, with sharp strokes. Yining could recognize it at a glance.
Yining read through this document, which described a case of an Assistant Minister being poisoned and murdered by his nephew for money. The scribe who wrote the case had quite a flair for writing, making it surprisingly engaging to read. Wherever there were inconsistencies, there were Luo Shen Yuan’s annotations. Such as: “How was the sky at night when the crime occurred? How could the poisoner be seen clearly?” Or: “Judging a case like a child’s play is unacceptable!”
Yining couldn’t help but smile at his annotations. She put that one down and reached for others. After flipping through a few, she saw a letter tucked among the case files.
The envelope was addressed to “The Ying Ducal Mansion at Yujing.”
Why would he have a letter from the Ying Ducal Mansion here? Yining felt the handwriting looked familiar. She was very sensitive to others’ handwriting, remembering it once seen. Thinking carefully, her back went cold…
Wasn’t this Songzhi’s handwriting?
She hesitated only for a moment before slowly opening the letter. For some reason, her hands trembled as she unfolded it. The graceful feminine handwriting leaped off the page:
“August 5th, the Duke’s title is in jeopardy. The Young Miss had a private conversation with Vice Envoy Guo. Afterward, she bid farewell and went to the Ningyuan Marquis’s mansion. Did not follow. Returned late at night after a lengthy private talk.”
It continued: “August 6th, met with the steward in the morning, finalizing the transfer of the silk shop and estates. At noon, Vice Envoy Guo came again. The Young Miss spoke with him in detail for a quarter-hour.”
Signed: Songzhi.
Yining stared at the characters on the paper, as if suddenly unable to recognize what was written. She could recognize each character individually, but together they made no sense.
Was Luo Shen Yuan monitoring her?
Why was he monitoring her? And through Songzhi no less. When did this start? How had she not noticed at all?
Luo Shen Yuan finally finished his conversation. He lifted the curtain and entered: “Did you wait long? Yang Ling is quite difficult to deal with, but an interesting fellow nonetheless. I’ll take you to the docks later. There’s a place that makes excellent fish soup, better than anywhere else. You’ll surely like it.”
She heard him enter but didn’t look up.
Luo Shen Yuan sensed something was off. He frowned and walked closer, asking, “What’s wrong? Are you unhappy…”
Before he could finish, he saw the letter in her hand.
He froze, then was struck with shock. He quickly reached out to snatch it away.
How did this letter get mixed in with the official documents?!
Yining reacted swiftly, immediately dodging his hand. She stood up and backed away several steps, her hand trembling slightly as she looked at him with an unfamiliar gaze: “Third Brother, what exactly are you thinking? You had Songzhi monitor me?”
“Meimei!” Luo Shen Yuan said urgently, taking a few steps forward, “Give me the letter. Let me explain clearly.”
She rarely saw him like this. Luo Shen Yuan was always her calm and composed third brother, seldom losing his composure. His handsome profile was reflected in the rippling lake water, his deep pupils unable to hide his anxiety.
There must be a reason, of course. Who would do something without cause? Yining nodded and smiled, “Tell me what reason you have. I’m listening.”
“…I was worried you weren’t being treated well at the Ying Ducal Mansion, so I had Songzhi send letters. Don’t misunderstand. Your third brother had no other intentions.” He paused. “Third Brother had no other meaning.”
Yining looked at him for a long while. Suddenly she remembered, “…When I was about to leave the Luo family, you told me to take Songzhi with me.” Realizing this, she suddenly understood, “Before that, you had already bought Songzhi’s loyalty. From the moment I arrived at the Ying Ducal Mansion, my every move has been under your control?”
She suddenly didn’t know what Luo Shen Yuan was doing, what he was thinking! He was monitoring her! Even if Luo Shen Yuan wanted to care for her, who would monitor someone’s every move out of concern? This reason was far too forced.
Luo Shen Yuan held back, reaching out to grab her hand: “Meimei, I have no intention of harming you…”
But Yining avoided his hand.
“You won’t harm me.” Yining nodded, a bitter smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. “Of course, I believe you won’t harm me. Then tell me, why exactly did you have Songzhi monitor me?”
Luo Shen Yuan wanted to explain, but every word of explanation led to a dead end. He remained silent, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. He feared that if he truly lost control, it would end in mutual destruction.
Seeing him not speak, Yining’s suspicions slowly took shape. Even knowing the words would hurt, she slowly said: “Through me, you can control every move of the Ying Ducal Mansion, right? If you were concerned about me, couldn’t you have written to ask? Wouldn’t I have told you? I knew nothing, but Songzhi’s letters to you detailed everything I did each day, who I met… By controlling the Ying Ducal Mansion, you control the movements of half the noble families…”
Don’t blame her for suspecting. This was truly too suspicious! After the incident with Sun Congwan, with Luo Shen Yuan’s calculating nature, and now discovering this… With the Ying Ducal Mansion facing such a crisis, she dared not trust anyone now. Only trusting herself was right. She would never deceive herself. Yining threw the letter on the table: “Here’s your letter back.”
She turned to leave, but Luo Shen Yuan immediately followed, grasping her arm: “You can’t leave! I… did not intend this! I never schemed against you.”
Yining said coldly: “Let go.”
She tried to shake him off, but his grip was like an iron vise. Yining’s eyes reddened with anger as she pushed him recklessly. The pleasure boat was narrow, and fearing she might lose her balance and fall, he pulled her towards him. But she took the opportunity to push him away. Yining stood by the edge of the boat and said: “Third Brother… I want to go back now!”
The fish soup place by the docks – he had tried it with colleagues before and thought it was good. He had wanted to bring her to try it.
Seeing her standing just a foot from the edge, Luo Shen Yuan feared she might accidentally fall in. The situation had been too shocking; he had lost his composure in his urgency. Now he just closed his eyes briefly and said: “Alright, alright. Don’t move, I’ll take you back.”
“I don’t want you to take me!” Yining suddenly said. “Call Qingqu over.”
Qingqu was waiting on shore, drinking tea.
Qingqu was trying a pot of Liu’an Guapian tea, two silver coins per pot. She couldn’t taste any flavor and felt it was a waste of money. She was very surprised to hear Yining suddenly wanted to return. When she walked over, she saw the young miss with a cold expression, surrounded by their guards. Yining told her: “Get in the carriage. We’re going back.”
Qingqu responded and called for the coachman. Yining quickly got into the carriage.
Qingqu didn’t dare ask what happened. As the carriage started moving, she lifted the curtain to look back and saw Young Master Luo chasing after them. A group of subordinates followed him. He was chasing urgently, nearly tripping. Someone pulled him back and he stopped, watching their carriage depart with an unpleasant expression. Qingqu turned back to speak but saw Yining staring blankly at the carriage curtain, her face wet with tears.
“Young Miss, please tell me what’s wrong.” Qingqu was straightforward, unlike Zhenzhu’s roundabout ways. Confused, she grabbed Yining’s hand and asked, “Why are you crying?”
Weren’t you happy when you left with your Third Brother earlier?
Yining shook her head. How could she explain to Qingqu? That she discovered Luo Shen Yuan was monitoring her? Through her closest maid no less. Why monitor her? His reason didn’t hold up at all. Luo Shen Yuan was known for his debating skills, able to defeat a group of Hanlin Academy scholars in verbal sparring. Isn’t it laughable that he couldn’t even make up a reason?
If he couldn’t make up a reason, it could only mean what she said was true.
After returning to the Ying Ducal Mansion, she had just gotten out of the carriage when Zhenzhu hurried over.
Though surprised to see Yining had been crying, considering what had happened, she didn’t ask further. Instead, she said: “Young Miss… Shortly after you left, Steward Li came.”
Yining entered the room, took a sip of tea to calm her emotions, and nodded for Zhenzhu to continue.
Zhenzhu said, “The Old Madam asked Tang Taitai to help manage the household in your absence. Tang Taitai met with Steward Li and approved his request to raise rents. Steward Li was extremely grateful and obedient to her…”
Yining rubbed her temples and sighed, wondering why there was never a moment of peace around her. Her rest had been disrupted, and anger welled up inside her. “Where is Steward Li now?” she asked.
Zhenzhu, aware of the situation’s gravity, quickly replied, “I thought it was inappropriate, so I didn’t let Steward Li leave. I managed to keep him in the front courtyard, having tea.”
“Summon the guards,” Yining stood up, her face cold as ice. “Also, invite Tang Shen and all the stewards from the Wei family.”
If she didn’t take decisive action, would they all think she was easy to bully?
She had her reasons for not raising rent. Raising rents might bring immediate profits, but during these years of famine, anyone who took advantage of the situation would be a hundred times worse than usual. The Ying Guo Gong Manor couldn’t withstand such turmoil! Moreover, she understood Steward Li’s intentions all too well. Wasn’t he just trying to profit from the rent increase because this year’s harvest was poor? The manor was at a critical juncture, yet they wanted to bleed it dry. Letting them have their way would be like pretending she didn’t exist.
As for Zheng Shi, the affairs of Ying Guo Gong Manor didn’t need outsiders’ interference.
Zhenzhu bowed in acknowledgment. Soon after, guards, maids, and older servants escorted Yining to the front courtyard. Wei Yi had just returned from outside when he saw her walking along the corridor, her face cold, surrounded by respectful guards, exuding an imposing aura. He frowned, wondering what was happening.
He sent his servant to investigate.
In the front courtyard, Steward Li was drinking tea and waiting, with a plate of sesame cakes on the sandalwood table beside him. He was crumbling the cakes into his tea when he heard the announcement and stood up.
Yining walked into the front hall and sat directly in the main seat. Qingqu and other maids stood behind her. She spoke coolly, “Steward Li, I hear you have something to report. Now that I’m back, what exactly do you want to say?”
Steward Li thought to himself that with Tang Taitai’s backing, he needn’t worry about this girl who hadn’t even come of age. He cupped his hands and smiled, “Miss, I’m here on Tang Taitai’s orders. You don’t understand farming matters, so you should listen to Tang Taitai. Raising rents is necessary, otherwise, how will the estate feed itself after so many years? You don’t know the hardships of the estate… Tang Taitai’s words are more reasonable. You should listen to her. We farmers respect her!”
“If Steward Li is here to report, he should do so kneeling. Though I may not know the hardships of the estate, I do know that in Ying Guo Gong Manor, rules cannot be neglected,” Yining continued.
Steward Li’s face changed slightly upon hearing this. Which respectable steward ever knelt to report? Kneeling before the Guo Ye was one thing but before a concubine-born young miss?
He adjusted his sleeves and said slowly, “Miss! I’ve served Ying Guo Gong Manor for many years. Even when Guo Ye was here, I never had to kneel to report.” His tone was respectful, but his words were not. “With you sitting there, I couldn’t kneel even if I wanted to.”
Yining’s face still bore a faint smile. “So many words! If you won’t kneel, so be it.”
Steward Li thought she was just a child, a paper tiger, and paid her no mind. However, Yining then called out, “Come! Steward Li won’t kneel, force him down!”
Steward Li turned around to see several guards entering with sticks. “Steward Li, we’re following the young miss’s orders. Forgive us!”
Steward Li shouted angrily, but a blow to his knees made them buckle. Several sticks immediately pinned him to the ground. He strained his neck defiantly, his face and neck red like a rooster’s, too pained to care about anything else. “What kind of young miss are you? You’re just someone the Guo Ye brought in from outside. Who knows what your background is? Are you some bastard from a fallen family, trying to show off your power to me? Let me go!”
Yining raised her teacup and sipped slowly. Qingqu sneered and stepped forward, slapping Steward Li hard across the face. “The young miss is your master! How dare you speak to her like that!”
Qingqu’s strength was no joke. The slap sent Steward Li reeling, his mouth filling with the taste of blood. Feeling dizzy and his face numb, Steward Li exploded in rage. “Who do you think you are to hit me? I was working for this manor when you were still playing in the mud!”
If it had been another maid with a thinner skin, she might not have been able to take it. But Qingqu had grown up on the estate and had heard all kinds of vulgar talk since childhood. She calmly rolled up her sleeves and delivered two more hard slaps. “That’s for your foul mouth in front of the young miss! I’ll hit you again if you dare say another word. Try it and see!”
Steward Li could taste blood with every breath and finally dared not speak again.
Yining set down her teacup and said, “Steward Li, let me ask you this. Was it your idea to raise the rents, or Tang Taitai’s?”
When Steward Li didn’t respond, Yining smiled again. “Raising rents is just a way to line your own pockets. Don’t think you can take advantage of me because I’m young. If it was your idea, I’ll have the guards throw you out immediately, and you’ll never set foot in Ying Guo Gong Manor again. Your property will serve as your redemption fee. If someone else suggested raising the rents, you can keep your position as steward. What do you think?”
Steward Li listened in a daze, suddenly realizing that the young miss of Ying Guo Gong Manor was truly formidable, not a pushover at all. He glanced at the surrounding guards and swallowed hard. The pain from Qingqu’s slaps was just starting to register, his face swelling and burning.
If the young miss of Ying Guo Gong Manor made good on her threat and cast him out penniless, what would he do? From a respectable chief steward to possibly hauling cargo at the docks to make ends meet?
Wei Yi’s servant, who had been listening outside, hurried back to report the commotion to his master.
Wei Yi knew about his mother’s meeting with Steward Li that morning. With the vast wealth of the Wei Ling family, he understood how it could tempt people. He was pleased to see his mother getting involved in Wei’s family affairs. But for Yining to beat the steward right after his mother had met with him was like slapping his mother in the face! After some thought, he immediately said, “Go invite Mother to see what’s happening!”
The servant replied, “Second Young Master, the young miss has already invited Madam. I saw Madam heading there on my way back.”
Wei Yi was taken aback to hear that Xu Shi had already gone, thinking this young miss truly wasn’t afraid of causing trouble. He sneered, “Mother’s help in managing the household was well-intentioned. How unreasonable! Go inform the Old Madam! I want to see if she’ll side with reason or family.”
He then headed towards the front hall himself.
When he arrived, he saw Xu Shi standing outside, along with stewards from various households who had rushed over. The sun was blazing hot, and Xu Shi, having left in a hurry, didn’t even have a parasol. She was sweating profusely. The guards blocked them outside, saying, “The young miss ordered that no one is to enter until she’s finished talking with Steward Li. Tang Taitai, please wait a moment. Our young miss will summon you once she’s done questioning.”
Xu Shi’s hands trembled with anger. What did they take her for, making her wait to be summoned?
The other stewards and servants stood with lowered heads. Seeing the guards strictly guarding the front hall, Steward Li being punished inside, and Tang Taitai, who had sided with Steward Li against the young miss, unable to enter and having to wait to be summoned, they understood who was really in charge. They lowered their eyes even further, pretending not to notice Tang Taitai’s arrival, not wanting to invite trouble.
At this moment, Wei Yi arrived with several servants. Seeing his mother standing in the sun, he angrily kicked a guard. “You dare to block even Tang Taitai? You dogs, move aside immediately!”
The guards didn’t budge, as if they hadn’t heard him speak.
Wei Yi grew even angrier, but seeing the embroidered sabers in the guards’ hands, he dared not truly fight them.
Yining felt the sun had shone long enough. Steward Li’s cheeks were now swollen high. She said, “How can we let Tang Shen and my cousin stand in the sun? That’s no way to treat guests. Shen Lian let them in.” Her voice was clear and calm, barely audible from outside.
Shen Lian, the head of the guards blocking them, respectfully stepped aside upon hearing Yining’s voice.
Xu Shi’s maid wiped her sweat with a handkerchief as she entered with a dark face. As soon as she entered, she saw Steward Li pinned to the ground by sticks. Steward Li’s eyes lit up upon seeing her as if he’d seen a savior, and he whimpered excitedly, “Tang Taitai, you’ve finally come!”
Xu Shi sat down, full of anger from being left in the sun. She looked coldly at Yining and said, “I didn’t know this was how the young miss shows respect to her elders.”
“What are you saying? I was busy questioning him and didn’t hear that you had arrived,” Yining just smiled and comforted her, her words carrying no weight, clearly not taking Xu Shi seriously.
Xu Shi was parched, and no one had even offered her tea. She gripped the armrests of her chair, too angry to speak.
At this moment, a voice sounded from the doorway: “Yining, what are you doing?”
The Old Madam Wei was unwell and had been brought out by Wei Yi. Fang Song and Mother Song supported her as she walked straight in, still panting as they helped her sit down.
Only then did Yining walk to her and curtsy, “A household steward was misbehaving, and I was disciplining him. I’m sorry to have disturbed Grandmother’s peace.”
“What misbehavior!” Xu Shi stood up, slamming the table and sneering, “Everything Steward Li said was reasonable. You’re just trying to discredit me, that’s why you beat him like this. What does a young girl like you know about managing a household? Today, we must have Steward Li clarify everything. Tell us, how did she treat you?”
Steward Li saw the long sticks in the guards’ hands. He thought of Qingqu’s slaps and the young miss’s words… She would drive him out of the manor! He immediately kowtowed to Old Madam Wei, “Old Madam, it was Tang Taitai who wanted to raise the rents and called me over to instruct me! Tang Taitai… please explain clearly to the young miss and the Old Madam. It has nothing to do with me!”
Xu Shi was dumbfounded, “You lying scoundrel, raising the rents was clearly… your idea! How can you say it was my words!”
Steward Li kowtowed again, “Madam Tang, it was truly your own words. You must admit it!”
Old Madam Wei looked at Xu Shi with some exasperation, wondering how she could handle things so chaotically. “Yining, what exactly is going on here?”
Finally, Yining stood up.