Chapter 320: Fighting Fire with Fire

Chapter 320: Fighting Fire with Fire

After the gathering at Lady Qin's ended, Lu Lingyun left, and so did Qin Shaojing and Li Bihan.

Upon returning to Caitang Pavilion, Qin Shaojing was so angry that she stomped her foot in frustration.

"Lu Lingyun is really hard to deal with! She's completely untouchable and doesn't give an inch!" Qin Shaojing fumed.

"The young mistress has always been scheming. She's deeply entrenched in the Marquis's Mansion, so she's naturally not easy to handle," Li Bihan observed Qin Shaojing carefully and slowly said, "Today was just a probe."

Lu Lingyun had been managing the Marquis's Mansion for seven years, and her foundation was unshakable. Not to mention, she was naturally very composed, never giving anyone a chance to find a weakness. Bringing Lu Lingyun down wasn't something that could be done with just a few words!

"I don't care, I have to make her pay!" Qin Shaojing couldn't bear to listen anymore.

The more she looked at Lu Lingyun, the more she resented her.

At first, it was because Lu Lingyun came from a lower background but married up, which made Qin Shaojing view her with contempt. She treated her sister-in-law with disdain.

But as the days went by, she couldn't accept that Lu Lingyun was thriving in the Marquis's Mansion while she struggled in the Duke's Mansion.

Her resentment and jealousy grew more and more intense.

She couldn't stand that Lu Lingyun had a better life than her!

"Cousin, the young mistress wields a lot of power in the Marquis's Mansion. The old lady is really pleased with her, and the heir follows her every command. The servants and maids below treat her with utmost respect. It's definitely hard to make a move against her," Li Bihan said, "However, there are ways to make her pay."

"What do you suggest?" Qin Shaojing looked up at her.

"I used to be in the imperial palace and know some folk remedies involving incompatible foods. On their own, they're harmless, but together, they can cause headaches, fever, and blocked qi, and the cause can't be traced! It's not poison, but it works like poison! If Lu Lingyun falls ill, she won’t have the heart or strength to manage the Marquis's Mansion," A sly look flashed in Li Bihan's eyes.

Qin Shaojing's interest was immediately piqued.

Yes, that's a good plan!

All their scheming would be pointless if they could directly make Lu Lingyun collapse. Once she was down, no matter how impenetrable or deeply scheming she was, it would be useless!

Moreover, using food incompatibility wasn't the same as direct poisoning, so others wouldn't suspect them!

"However, there's a difficult point," Li Bihan continued.

"What is it?"

"Lu Lingyun's meals are all delivered from her own kitchen in her courtyard, so it's hard for us to arrange the incompatible foods."

Upon hearing this, Qin Shaojing thought for a moment and then smiled, "That's easy. I'll take care of it."

Seeing her smile, Li Bihan also smiled in return. She immediately jotted down a list of incompatible foods, knowledge she had accumulated from her time in the palace.

Ordinary people wouldn't know about this!

Just as she finished writing the list, a maid's voice came from outside the door.

"Cousin, the young mistress has summoned Li Yiniang to her courtyard to assign her tasks!"

Hearing this, Li Bihan set down her writing tools, and Qin Shaojing looked at her, "Go to her place first and stabilize the situation. Don't let her notice anything suspicious."

"I understand," Li Bihan nodded.

After a short while, she arrived at Lu Lingyun's courtyard.

At this moment, both Qiu Ling and Ling Long were inside.

The two of them chattered excitedly, saying, "Young Mistress, are you really putting me in charge of the garden arrangements for the estate?"

"Young Mistress, are you putting me in charge of the needlework and female workers for the entire estate?"

"I'm overwhelmed with work right now and can't manage everything. It's time to find some assistants. You two are free anyway, so help me with some tasks," said Lu Lingyun.

Hearing this, both Qiu Ling and Ling Long looked at her with bright eyes and said, "Yes! Young Mistress! We will do a great job!"

As they were agreeing, they saw Li Bihan approaching.

Lu Lingyun looked at her and said, "Concubine Li, you're here as well. Coincidentally, I have an important responsibility for you."

Li Bihan stepped forward and said, "Young Mistress, this servant is not up to the task."

"Don't be silly, Shaojing has been recommending you to Mother. Surely you must have exceptional skills," said Lu Lingyun, calling her closer. "From now on, Concubine Li, you will help me review the account books."

Lu Lingyun smiled lightly as she made this arrangement.

At that moment, everyone in the courtyard was astonished.

Reviewing account books!

This was the core of household management!

Household management involved two key areas: finance and personnel. Both were fundamentally unshakable. Yet Lu Lingyun had casually asked Concubine Li to help her review the account books!

Qiu Ling and Ling Long were instantly filled with hostility as they glared at her. Lu Lingyun had only assigned them small managerial roles, but she had given Concubine Li a key responsibility!

Upon hearing this, Li Bihan was startled and immediately fell to her knees, "Young Mistress, this servant does not dare!"

"Concubine Li, what are you doing now?" Lu Lingyun looked at her leisurely. "I'm just asking you to help me with the account books. Are you unhappy?"

Li Bihan looked up and hurriedly said, "Young Mistress, no, no, no. This responsibility is too great. This servant does not dare to take it on. This servant is not capable!"

Despite her words, the hostile gazes of Qiu Ling and Ling Long remained unchanged. If anything, they were even more hostile.

Ha! They knew it. This Concubine Li was up to no good, secretly eyeing the household management power of the mistress.

She must be plotting something sinister behind the scenes. How detestable!

Hearing Li Bihan's response, Lu Lingyun couldn't help but sigh, "Alas, Concubine Li, you're putting me in a tough spot. Shaojing even praised you in front of Mother, thinking you could help me a lot."

Li Bihan thought to herself, managing accounts and household affairs, she could certainly handle it! But for Lu Lingyun to say it publicly and to have already given such power to the other two concubines, how could she dare agree!

She quietly clenched her fists and said to Lu Lingyun, "Young Mistress, this servant's abilities are limited. If you're willing to let me help you with some minor tasks, like what Qiu Yi and Ling Yi are doing, that would be fine. Anything more, this servant is not capable of."

Lu Lingyun was waiting for her to say exactly that.

Looking at Li Bihan, she smiled slightly, "Since Concubine Li puts it that way, there is actually a small task I need someone to do. That is procurement. The procurement for the gardens and needlework will be handed over to you, Concubine Li. I remember you used to handle procurement when you were in the palace. You certainly can't claim you don't know how to do this job."

Li Bihan was startled again upon hearing the task Lu Lingyun had assigned her.

Regular procurement was usually a desirable task, but what Lu Lingyun had assigned her was procurement for the gardens and needlework.

This meant she would be assisting Qiu Ling and Ling Long!

They would be her superiors. Whatever they wanted to purchase would have to be arranged by her, and the items bought would need their approval, both on price and quality.

This was far from an easy job! It was purely hard labor!

Lu Lingyun was using Qiu Ling and Ling Long to manage her!