After much consideration, Duke Song decided to assign the task of gathering information from Lady Dou’s maids and servants to Lu Zheng.
Since Madam Jiang’s death and the subsequent purge of Duke Ying’s household staff, Lu Zheng’s wife had taken charge of the upper courtyard under his arrangement. Not only was she intelligent and capable, but she also handled matters smoothly. Within days, she had sorted out the affairs of the upper courtyard. Pleased with her performance, Duke Song had also entrusted her with managing Viscount Song Han’s quarters, requiring the housekeeper there to report to Lu Zheng’s wife first.
Thanks to her, he hadn’t needed to worry about the upper courtyard’s affairs for years.
This made Duke Song both gratified and slightly proud.
Who said the household would fall into chaos without Madam Jiang?
It was simply because when Madam Jiang was in charge, those she disliked never had a chance.
Now that he had entrusted everything to Lu Zheng’s wife, wasn’t the upper courtyard just as orderly?
Since they needed to start with Lady Dou’s inner circle, a woman would have to take the lead. Lu Zheng’s wife was loyal to him and knew some details of past events. Entrusting this task to her was the most appropriate choice.
Duke Song displayed a self-satisfied expression.
Lu Zheng respectfully agreed and went home to discuss the matter with his wife.
Upon hearing this, Lu Zheng’s wife immediately became angry: “How could you agree to such a thing?” She pointed at the whip mark on his face, red like a centipede. “Isn’t this lesson enough?”
After her husband was injured by the Young Master, the Duke had only rewarded them with fifty taels of silver upon his return, without saying anything else. Meanwhile, the guards who were injured during the fire and the fight with thieves in Yizhi Hall not only received fifty taels each from the Young Master but also had him visit to check on them. The uninjured guards were so envious that they regretted not getting slightly hurt to have the Young Master visit their homes.
That was true prestige!
Lu Zheng’s face turned purple as he muttered, “How could I dare say ‘no’?”
“I’m not asking you to contradict the Duke!” his wife said disapprovingly. “I’m telling you to be more cautious! Duke Ying’s household has Master Tao for scholarly matters and Guard Chang for military affairs. How is it our place to seek the spotlight?”
Even if the whip mark on his face healed, it would leave an unsightly scar.
As someone who served closely at the Duke’s side, accompanying him on various occasions, if he were to frighten any important person because of this, it would be troublesome. The Duke would surely no longer allow him to serve by his side.
Lu Zheng was already secretly regretting his actions.
Had he been possessed that day? Knowing the Young Master’s temperament, how did he dare to intervene?
He sat on the kang bed, holding his head in his hands.
His wife understood his concerns and consoled him gently: “Although the Lady only managed the household for a few days, it’s clear she has everything under control. Her two favorite maids, Suxin and Sulan, one quiet and one lively, are both difficult to approach. It’s impossible to extract any information from those around her. Rather than alerting her by probing, it’s better to turn a blind eye. If the Duke asks, we can simply say we couldn’t find out anything. Wouldn’t it be better if someone else investigates because of this?”
Lu Zheng hesitated.
His wife assured him, “Don’t worry, I won’t let the Duke become suspicious.”
The next day, she had a young maid pick some camellia flowers from the garden and personally deliver them to Yizhi Hall.
“The camellias in the back garden are blooming beautifully. I’ve brought some for the ladies attending to the Mistress to wear!” she explained to the servants at Yizhi Hall, handing out a few flowers to them as well.
The Lady didn’t forbid maids and servants from visiting, but she didn’t allow them to enter or move about Yizhi Hall freely.
The servants accepted the flowers from Lu Zheng’s wife and led her towards the main quarters: “The flowers and plants the Lady nurtured in Zhending have arrived. The young ladies are helping the Lady tend to them in the small garden!”
Lu Zheng’s wife was surprised: “The Lady’s flowers from her maiden home?”
“Yes!” the servant smiled, “There are so many! Seven or eight large carts full, of all kinds of flowers. They’ve filled up the small garden. Fortunately, they moved some winter-transplantable plants, and the Young Master had people set up shelters overnight. Otherwise, it would have been troublesome.”
Lu Zheng’s wife’s heart skipped a beat. She smiled and asked, “The Young Master manages such affairs?”
She remembered that Viscount Song had never cared about these things before.
“If it’s the Lady’s business, how could the Young Master not care?” The servant smiled as they turned past the side room of the main house. Lu Zheng’s wife immediately saw Viscount Song standing shoulder to shoulder with Lady Dou in the covered corridor, talking.
Viscount Song gazed at Lady Dou with smiling eyes, listening intently as if there was nothing more important in the world than hearing her speak.
Lu Zheng’s wife’s eyelid twitched.
A maid had already pointed out Lu Zheng’s wife to Lady Dou.
Lady Dou looked over, her gaze clear and expression gentle.
Lu Zheng’s wife hurried forward and bowed respectfully, addressing them as “Young Master” and “Lady.”
Lady Dou smiled, glancing at the flowers in her hand, and said, “How thoughtful of you. Ganlu, give Lu Zheng’s wife a red envelope as a reward.”
Lu Zheng’s wife thanked her profusely.
Viscount Song reached out to support Lady Dou: “It’s too cold outside. Let’s go inside. If you’re worried, I can watch over things here.”
“Let’s go in together,” Lady Dou smiled. Her hand warmer had already cooled down. “With Suxin here, I’m at ease.”
Viscount Song then asked, “Have all the items for Aunt been prepared? I’m worried it might snow soon. You shouldn’t run around anymore. If you need anything, have the shopkeepers bring things to the house for you to choose from.”
Lady Dou smiled and agreed, walking side by side with Viscount Song out of the small garden.
Ganlu smiled as she took the camellia flowers from Lu Zheng’s wife and warmly invited her: “Madam, why don’t you come to my room for a cup of hot tea?”
Lu Zheng’s wife thanked her repeatedly, but as she looked up, she saw a cluster of camellia trees in the corner of the garden. Various flowers, some alluringly beautiful, some intricately gorgeous, some elegantly noble. Looking at the few she had brought, with their simple red double petals and yellow centers, they seemed somewhat plain in comparison.
She felt her face flush, silently blaming the young maids who had picked the flowers for not being thorough.
Ganlu, however, seemed not to notice and enthusiastically entertained her, introducing this and that, even personally escorting her out of Yizhi Hall.
Sujuan covered her mouth and laughed, asking, “What did she come for?”
“I don’t know!” Ganlu sighed heavily, “Dealing with people like her is exhausting!” Then she asked, “Is the Young Master still in the Lady’s room?”
Sujuan nodded.
Ganlu smiled, “Then I’ll report to the Lady later about what Lu Zheng’s wife said to me.”
Sujuan laughed, “That’s good. Come help us move the flowers first.”
Ganlu groaned, making a pained face, “Can I not go?”
“You can!” Sujuan said, “Then you can wash all our clothes today!”
Ganlu quickly said, “I’d better go move the flowers then!”
Sujuan giggled.
The two bantered as they went to the small garden.
In the inner room of the main house, Viscount Song’s face showed displeasure as he said, “You don’t need to consider my feelings. If these people come again, just have the guards throw them out.” He added, “Without rules, there can be no square. Father’s elevation of these servants is why the household is in such disarray.”
“How can it be as bad as you say?” Lady Dou smiled, “You know my temper has never been good. Are you worried I’ll be bullied? Isn’t Lu Zheng’s wife in charge of the upper courtyard? I thought, that if she came to Yizhi Hall often, I could ask her about Young Master Han’s daily life. After all, he’s just a child. If there’s any neglect in his care, we could help look after him. If she wants to come, let her come.”
In the end, Lady Dou was doing all this for him.
Viscount Song’s expression became serious as he said, “Why don’t I speak to Old Lady Lu and ask her to intervene, having Father officially hand over the management of the household to you…” This way, Lady Dou could legitimately inquire about Song Han’s affairs without having to deal with insolent servants.
“Let’s handle internal affairs with internal methods,” Lady Dou smiled confidently. “Isn’t the New Year approaching? In previous years, there was no mistress of the house. Surely the Duke won’t have an Elder Sister-in-law host the spring banquet this year? Even if he wanted to, would she dare?” This was her responsibility, and she couldn’t push it onto Viscount Song, making him stand up for her. Viscount Song had his responsibilities and obligations, but his attitude still warmed her heart.
A young maid came in to report, “Young Master, Lady, Master Zhong has arrived!”
“So quickly?” Lady Dou was surprised.
Viscount Song teased her with a smile, “When you asked me for someone, you urged them to come quickly. Now that he’s here, do you think he’s too fast? You’re hard to please!”
Lady Dou smiled, pressing her lips together.
Viscount Song then said, “We should invite Mr. Chen over. It’s not appropriate for you to handle this matter directly. It’s best to leave it to Mr. Chen.”
Lady Dou agreed.
Viscount Song arranged for Zhong Bingxiang and Chen Qushui to meet.
Zhong Bingxiang had been summoned from Guangdong by Viscount Song’s urgent message, just to meet the newly married Lady. He already understood Lady Dou’s importance to Viscount Song. When Viscount Song asked him to help manage Lady Dou’s dowry for a while, although he felt it was somewhat excessive, he accepted the arrangement with the characteristic spirit of a merchant. He smiled and asked Viscount Song for instructions: “Should I help the Lady organize the accounts first, or should I reconcile accounts with Mr. Yan?”
“Reconcile accounts first!” Viscount Song said, “For the Lady’s side, the people you need to assist haven’t arrived in the capital yet.”
If the people had arrived in the capital, would he have helped the Lady organize the accounts first?
Zhong Bingxiang smiled and agreed, quietly pondering to himself.
Over the next few days, Viscount Song was busy reconciling accounts with Zhong Bingxiang.
Some of Duke Ying’s household managers also began to reconcile accounts with Duke Song.
Although Duke Ying’s household income this year wasn’t as good as in previous years, it wasn’t too bad.
However, when Duke Song thought about the thirteen businesses in Viscount Song’s hands, he felt as if something was blocking his chest, making it hard to breathe.
Without these thirteen businesses, would he have the capital to oppose me?
Duke Song suddenly became agitated and shouted at his newly promoted personal attendant, Zeng Wu: “Go! See what the Young Master is doing!”
Zeng Wu scrambled out of the main room of Qixiang Court and sent a servant to investigate.