Chapter 296 Year-End Review

Chapter 296 Year-End Review

"What a petty mind to judge a noble heart! I've never seen such a sneaky and narrow-minded person!"

"Exactly! Our Madam has been in the mansion for so long, who couldn't tolerate her! Only she thinks our Madam can't tolerate the unworthy child in her belly!" Little Wei said indignantly.

At this moment, Cheng Yunshuo's voice came from outside, "Who are you saying has an unworthy child in their belly!"

Hearing Cheng Yunshuo's voice, the maids in the courtyard were startled, all falling silent and curtsying.

"Young Master."

Cheng Yunshuo walked straight towards Little Wei, "I'm asking you, who did you just say has an unworthy child!"

Hearing this, Little Wei was so frightened that she knelt down with a thud.

At this time, Lu Lingyun came out, "Young Master."

Cheng Yunshuo glanced at Lu Lingyun, "You've always been sensible; how did you end up with such a servant?"

"Young Master, I will deal with her later."

Cheng Yunshuo withdrew his gaze, glanced at Little Wei kneeling on the ground, "No wonder Bishuo feels that way, there really are people in this mansion who can't stand her good fortune."

Lu Lingyun: "..."

Well, Li Bihan's pregnancy didn't bother her, stirring up trouble didn't bother her, but instigating Cheng Yunshuo to bully her people really did provoke her.

She looked at Cheng Yunshuo's foolish back, mentally rolling her eyes.

"Madam, it was my fault, I will go and explain, I can't let the Young Master and you have a rift!"

"Enough," Lu Lingyun stopped Little Wei, "You need to watch what you say, if I hear you spouting nonsense again, I really won't protect you!"

Little Wei and others looked at Lu Lingyun, "Yes, Madam!"

The next day, after Cheng Yunshuo returned, Lu Lingyun called a doctor in front of him to re-examine Bishuo's pulse. After the doctor checked Bishuo's pulse, he immediately noted that Bishuo's pulse was unstable, she needed to rest in bed, should not move around, and should avoid sexual activity.

After listening, Cheng Yunshuo agreed without hesitation, and later he would not come to Bishui Pavilion, or just come to see her, ensuring not to stay overnight.

Li Bihan: "..."

"Young Master, I think after three months it should stabilize, I'm not that fragile, it shouldn't be like this."

"Concubine Li, your body may not be delicate, but the Marquis's Mansion's descendants are delicate, you must take good care of yourself; you can't afford to be careless." Lu Lingyun said.

Isn't she trying to safeguard the pregnancy?

She will let her safeguard the pregnancy well! Cheng Yunshuo said her courtyard is off-limits without invitation, then she herself should not come out easily!

"Starting today, you will stay in bed, don't come out unless necessary, if anything comes up, have the servants inform me first, to prevent any mishaps, right, Young Master?" Lu Lingyun looked at Cheng Yunshuo.

After listening, Cheng Yunshuo nodded seriously, "Lingyun is right, didn't you say you have bad luck? You need to be more careful."

Bishuo: "..."

Bishuo was left speechless by Cheng Yunshuo, on the verge of tears but unable to cry, she really didn't expect Cheng Yunshuo to be so straightforward, he doesn't think things through at all, he takes everything she says at face value! And uses her own words against her!

This man, Cheng Yunshuo, is just...

This man really made her seethe silently. She glared at Cheng Yunshuo as he earnestly instructed the servants, her heart filled with resentment.

Lu Lingyun noted all of Bishuo's reactions. She never fought over men or got caught up in petty squabbles. If anyone provoked her, she would turn their own arrogance against them and make them regret it.

Cheng Yunshuo was not the ideal, flawless man they imagined him to be.

He was the one who could really drive people up the wall.

After handling her with ease, Lu Lingyun began to busy herself with the preparations for the New Year.

She was swamped!

This was the second year since Lu Lingyun married into the Ningyang Marquisate.

She started the annual accounting and inventory.

A few days before the New Year, people from various households visited relatives and friends, and this year she had several new relatives, with a constant stream of visitors, making the Ningyang Marquisate more lively than in previous years.

The ledgers, rents, local produce, and grains from the rural estates were submitted by various stewards, all recorded and stored in the warehouse, with a slight increase in yield compared to previous years.

The shops managed by the Ningyang Marquisate, after Lu Lingyun's adjustments, saw a nearly 30% boost in revenue compared to last year.

The merchant caravans saw the biggest profit surge. At Lu Lingyun's strong request before the New Year, the caravans changed their routes and selected the highly profitable silk, which resulted in the caravans' revenue more than tripling compared to previous years!

Captains Qian and Qin returned from Jiangnan, bringing boxes of silver and local products to the Ningyang Marquisate, filling the storerooms to the brim.

In addition to the increase in household assets and revenue, the Ningyang Marquisate also added three new members this year, with another one in Concubine Li's belly.

The household was flourishing.

She ran the entire Ningyang Marquisate like a well-oiled machine.

This year, the inner courtyard saw several concubines come and go, but no matter how much turmoil occurred, Lu Lingyun steadily controlled the situation without affecting the Ningyang Marquisate in the slightest.

Even Cheng Yunshuo, the troublemaker, turned over a new leaf this year. He earned a fifth-rank Imperial Guard title on his own, without relying on his family, and obtained a fifth-rank title for Lu Lingyun.

All of this was thanks to Lu Lingyun's efforts this year.

Lady Qin and the old Marquis couldn't help but notice Lu Lingyun's accomplishments. Since she married into the Ningyang Marquisate, under her management, there had been no mistakes, and the household was thriving and improving day by day, which was truly impressive.

They hit the jackpot with such a capable daughter-in-law!

At first, they praised Lu Lingyun out of courtesy, to show her respect, but they didn't expect that they had truly found a treasure, a good mistress for the Ningyang Marquisate. Seeing Lu Lingyun's achievements, they sincerely praised her.

Sometimes Lady Qin wondered if she, in Lu Lingyun's shoes, could have managed such a seemingly glamorous but chaotic household.

Not to mention her son's blatant favoritism toward his concubines—that alone would have driven her up the wall.

But Lu Lingyun not only kept the concubines in line but also earned their genuine respect. This daughter-in-law truly made her admire her a bit!

At the New Year's Eve feast, Lady Qin and the old Marquis heaped praise on Lu Lingyun, and Lady Qin even directly handed over all the household management rights to Lu Lingyun at the dinner table.

She told her directly that she would no longer worry about the miscellaneous affairs of the Ningyang Marquisate and would start enjoying being a grandmother surrounded by grandchildren.

Lu Lingyun took over all the account books and servants from Lady Qin, with a smile on her face.

From this year on, she was officially the lady of the Ningyang Marquisate.

After the New Year, on the third day of the first lunar month, Cheng Yunshuo accompanied Lu Lingyun back to her parents' home.

"The young lady has returned to the mansion!"

Madam Liu, aware of Lu Lingyun's return to her maternal home today, led a group to greet her at the entrance.

"Yun'er and the young master have arrived!" Madam Liu greeted them with a warm smile.

"Mother, you didn't have to come out and greet us personally," Lu Lingyun said as she stepped down from the carriage.

"I just missed you, that's why!" Madam Liu said with a bright smile, eagerly approaching her.

Cheng Yunshuo greeted his mother-in-law with a nod as servants presented box after box of New Year gifts.

Madam Liu felt a mix of emotions seeing the more lavish gifts compared to last year.

Lu Lingyun's life at the Marquis's Mansion improved each year, while her own daughter now...

"Mother, what's the matter?" Lu Lingyun noticed the hidden thoughts in Madam Liu's expression.

"It's your sister, Hanyi—she's back."