In the room, Luo Shenyuan set down his teacup and raised an eyebrow, asking, “You want me to manage it for you?”
Yi Ning nodded. She opened the box and examined it carefully, noting the thin sheets of documents inside. It wasn’t that she couldn’t manage it herself, but given her current situation, it was inconvenient. Normally, she’d prefer to keep such things in her own hands for peace of mind. Of course, she trusted Luo Shenyuan to manage it as well.
She quickly added, “Third Brother, you can help me manage it, and I’ll watch and learn. But when I come of age, you’ll have to return it to me…”
Luo Shenyuan chuckled. What was this little girl thinking? Did she believe he’d try to keep her money?
Seeing his ambiguous smile, Yi Ning worried her words might be misunderstood. She hastily clarified, “Don’t misunderstand. I’m not concerned about you keeping my money. It’s just that once you pass the imperial examinations, you’ll be too busy. It wouldn’t be right to burden you with these matters then.”
She continued, “As for the income from these shops and estates, I’ll give you 30 percent.”
Luo Shenyuan responded, “I can manage it for you, but we can’t calculate the income that way. All the profits from these shops and estates should stay with me. When you need money, you can ask me for it. I’ll give everything back to you when you’re older, but not now.”
Remembering Yi Ning’s previously extravagant lifestyle, he worried she might not appreciate the value of money and spend carelessly. Luo Shenyuan felt it was better not to give it to her directly.
Yi Ning was both amused and exasperated. This was the downside of being a child.
However, she realized he had a point. Keeping such large sums of money with her might not be safe. After all, as the saying goes, “The innocent may be harmed for the treasure they possess.”
Xu Mama, who was standing nearby, chimed in, “Miss Seven, I think the Third Young Master is right. You can ask him for money when you need it.”
Yi Ning eventually agreed. She handed the box to Xu Mama, asking her to store it safely. The brass key was given to Xuezhi, as Yi Ning planned to examine her grandmother’s belongings later.
Xu Mama then addressed Luo Shenyuan, “With the Old Madam’s passing, the estate managers and farm overseers will be coming for the funeral. I’ll bring them to meet you, as they’ll be under your management from now on. Shall we arrange for them to meet you in the side hall tomorrow?”
Luo Shenyuan glanced at Yi Ning, noticing her round, bright eyes fixed on him expectantly.
“Tomorrow afternoon, after I’ve received guests with Father, I’ll come over,” Luo Shenyuan told Xu Mama.
Hearing his agreement, Yi Ning immediately tugged on Luo Shenyuan’s sleeve, smiling, “Thank you, Third Brother!”
She always had a unique trust in him.
Luo Shenyuan silently contemplated her small hand holding onto his sleeve.
After Third Brother left, a maid brought in hot water for Yi Ning to wash her feet.
As Yi Ning watched Xu Mama preparing her bedding, she found the scene both strange and familiar.
Though her grandmother was gone, Yi Ning felt her protection lingering. Lying in bed, she stared at the ceiling, realizing she could no longer simply be a child.
She closed her eyes quietly, her heart settling into calmness.
The next morning, Xuezhi helped Yi Ning with her toilette. Still in mourning attire, her hair was styled in a young girl’s bun. She then went to Lin Hairu’s quarters for breakfast.
The maids set out white porridge, sweet crispy pastries, pickled radish, and other dishes. Fearing Yi Ning might not be accustomed to her food, Lin Hairu had prepared many snacks for her, including crystal shrimp dumplings and soft red bean buns. Yi Ning’s bowl was piled high like a small mountain.
“You’ve lost some weight recently. Eat more,” Lin Hairu said with a smile, instructing the maid to bring out the freshly steamed red date milk cake, which Yi Ning loved. This dessert was rarely made due to its complexity, but Lin Hairu wanted to ensure Yi Ning ate well on her first day dining with her.
Luo Yiling arrived with young Xuan’er to pay respects to Lin Hairu.
She too wore mourning clothes and seemed to have grown slightly taller in the past few months, her small face delicate and pretty.
She and Xuan’er bowed to Lin Hairu, who responded with a faint “Mm.”
Yi Ning looked up, noticing Concubine Qiao’s absence. It seemed improper for a concubine not to pay respects to the main wife. She asked Luo Yiling, “Sixth Sister, didn’t Aunt Qiao come?”
Luo Yiling sighed, “Father was heartbroken yesterday, and Aunt was busy taking care of him. This morning, she wasn’t feeling well.” She then smiled and added, “With Grandmother’s passing and you moving to Mother’s quarters, we’ll surely see more of each other. We should welcome you properly. I’m familiar with the west wing, so if you need anything or want to play, just come find me.”
Yi Ning thanked her. Just then, a maid brought in the freshly steamed red date milk cake. Xuan’er, standing beside Luo Yiling, saw it and tugged at his sister’s clothes, demanding, “Xuan’er wants cake! Xuan’er wants cake!”
Lin Hairu, who generally disliked the two siblings, had prepared the cake, especially for Yi Ning, and was reluctant to share.
However, as Xuan’er was still young, Lin Hairu had a servant bring out a plate and give him a piece. Yi Ning didn’t mind, being mature enough not to quibble with a child over food.
But Xuan’er wasn’t satisfied with just one piece. In Concubine Qiao’s quarters, he was used to getting whatever he wanted, with even Luo Yiling giving up everything for him. He loudly proclaimed, “Xuan’er wants it all!” and stepped forward to hug the plate to his chest.
Luo Yiling watched her brother’s behavior with a helpless smile. “Mother, please don’t be offended. My brother is still young.”
Lin Hairu nearly slammed her chopsticks on the table. She had specifically instructed the kitchen to prepare this for Yi Ning early in the morning, and Yi Ning hadn’t even had a chance to eat any. Yet Xuan’er, the treasure of the second household, was pampered by everyone and becoming increasingly spoiled.
A maid announced from outside that the Second Master had arrived.
Hearing this, Yi Ning put down her bowl and smiled, saying, “Xuan’er, if you like it so much, you can have it all. But don’t snatch. Come sit down nicely, and I’ll share some white porridge with you. How about that?”
Xuan’er, disliking this unfamiliar seventh sister, shook his head, “I don’t like porridge! I don’t like you, and I don’t want to sit next to you!”
Luo Chengzhang walked in just then, and the children greeted him. He glanced at Xuan’er hugging the plate and frowned, saying, “Xuan’er, what are you doing? If you don’t want the porridge your seventh sister offered, you can decline, but how can you speak like that?”
Yi Ning had just lost her grandmother and moved here. He had overheard her speaking politely and showing concern for her brother outside, which had pleased him. He hadn’t expected Xuan’er, young as he was, to speak so hurtfully.
Yi Ning seemed unaffected, saying softly, “Father, please don’t blame my brother. He’s still young and just being frank.”
With Old Madam Luo’s recent death, Luo Chengzhang was still grieving. Seeing Yi Ning looking so alone, he felt even more sympathetic. He sat down and said to Xuan’er, “Has your nanny taught you how to politely refuse? Apologize to your seventh sister.”
Seeing his usually doting father angry, Xuan’er felt wronged but reluctantly said, “Thank you, Seventh Sister. Xuan’er ate before coming here, so I won’t have your porridge. I’m sorry for what I said earlier, Seventh Sister.”
Luo Yiling, seeing her brother like this, felt a pang of sympathy. She and Concubine Qiao both doted on Xuan’er. She said gently, “Father, Xuan’er has been very sad about Grandmother’s passing. I’ll make sure to teach him better manners when we return.”
Seeing Xuan’er apologize and the usually well-behaved Yiling speak up, Luo Chengzhang’s expression softened. He dismissed the two siblings.
As Luo Yiling left, she glanced at Yi Ning, who was calmly eating a crystal dumpling, not even looking her way.
With Xuan’er behaving so imperiously and none of Lin Hairu’s maids or servants saying anything, it was clear they were accustomed to this.
No wonder people said Concubine Qiao was favored.
Luo Chengzhang sat beside Yi Ning. A maid set out bowls and chopsticks for him, and he gently asked how she was faring with Lin Hairu.
Yi Ning nodded, “Mother treats me well. She even made my favorite red date milk cake. I like Mother.”
A child’s praise is the sincerest.
Seeing Yi Ning in good spirits, Luo Chengzhang sighed and patted her head.
“With your grandmother gone, you should stay close to your mother from now on. Your Third Brother has told me about what Grandmother left for you,” Luo Chengzhang said, noticing her little face and looking up at him attentively. He smiled and continued, “Father knows everything. Since Grandmother left it to you, I won’t touch it. It will all be your dowry when you marry in the future.”
Knowing that Old Madam Luo had left everything to Yi Ning, Luo Chengzhang wasn’t particularly concerned. After all, whether in her hands or not, the property would remain within the second branch of the family. So when Luo Shenyuan went to handle matters overnight, he was supportive.
“Though your eldest aunt might be unhappy,” Luo Chengzhang put down his hand and said to Lin Hairu, “You should try to appease her. We’ll discuss everything when your eldest uncle returns. As for dividing the family property, we’ll have to wait…” He pondered for a moment.
Dividing the family immediately after the Old lady’s death would be disrespectful.
It’s better to wait and see. By his calculations, they should be returning from the capital soon.
Lin Hairu didn’t get along with Chen Shi and was eager to divide the family. But since Luo Chengzhang hadn’t expressed his intentions, she felt a bit disappointed.
After finishing breakfast, Luo Chengzhang left for the mourning hall. Yi Ning put down her chopsticks and asked Lin Hairu, “Mother, does Concubine Qiao often not come to pay her respects to you?”
Lin Hairu snorted, “She’s always putting on airs like a vixen, and your father dotes on her… She shouldn’t come. I don’t want to see her!”
Yi Ning thought to herself that Lin Hairu was quite obtuse in these matters. Whether Concubine Qiao paid her respects wasn’t about Lin Hairu’s desire to see her, but about Concubine Qiao’s attitude and how others in the household viewed her.
She whispered in Lin Hairu’s ear, “Mother, next time if you’re displeased with her, how about I speak up for you?”
Lin Hairu looked at Yi Ning, not understanding her intention.
Yi Ning smiled, “I can say some things more easily than you can. Just trust me.”
Although Lin Hairu didn’t know what Yi Ning planned to do, she knew the child was clever.
Her maid, Ruixiang, who was sharper, nodded in agreement, “I think Miss Seven has a point, Second Madam. You won’t go wrong listening to her.”
Lin Hairu agreed though she didn’t take it too seriously. She continued to put food in Yi Ning’s bowl, urging her to eat more.
Yi Ning was both amused and exasperated. She was already full.
It seemed Lin Hairu truly thought she had lost weight.
Suddenly, a maid’s urgent voice came from outside, calling for the Second Madam. Lin Hairu put down her chopsticks, annoyed at the constant interruptions during meals.
She was about to scold the maid upon entering, but the girl, catching her breath, said, “Second Madam, Miss Seven, it’s… it’s the Eldest Miss… She’s returned from the capital! She sent a message ahead, asking you to meet her at the Chuihua Gate! The Eldest Master has just arrived, and the First Madam is on her way to the gate! I rushed back to inform you.”
Lin Hairu was stunned.
Yi Ning’s eldest sister, Luo Yihui, had returned.
Yi Ning saw Lin Hairu’s expression become complex, neither happy nor unhappy. Upon closer inspection, she seemed almost afraid.
She turned to Yi Ning hesitantly and said, “Yi Ning, your eldest sister has returned… Do you want to go see her?”
Yi Ning certainly wanted to go.
She had long admired this eldest sister of hers, Luo Yihui!
Having only heard about her from others’ conversations, she wondered what kind of person she truly was.