Chapter 59: Chapter 59 (Two Chapters Combined)

Chapter 59: Two Chapters Combined

Wang Zhenzhu had observed a year of mourning. After the Wang family brought her back, they immediately began seeking a marriage arrangement for her. Madame Wang had originally placed her hopes on the Princess of Qing, but seeing how busy the Princess of Qing was now—first with her daughter-in-law giving birth, and now with her daughter’s wedding—she had little time or energy to arrange a match for her daughter.

Madame Wang had no choice but to handle it herself.

Coincidentally, a new opportunity arose. The principal consort of the Prince of Jin, who had just arrived in the capital, had died, giving the Wang family a glimmer of hope.

Although Wang Zhenzhu was unwilling to become a concubine and had previously felt stifled at the Prince of Qing’s residence, that did not mean she was unwilling to become a principal consort. Moreover, the Prince of Jin was the emperor’s own brother, so it was only natural to hope that the Prince of Qing’s household would help arrange this.

Madame Wang soon paid a visit.

When she arrived, She Niang had just begun assisting the Princess of Qing and was listening to her instructions. At that moment, news came that the Princess of Jin had passed away, and the Princess of Qing had to leave. Before departing, she instructed She Niang, "For household matters, follow the standing rules. If there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask Nanny Gong."

Unfortunately, when Madame Wang arrived, the Princess of Qing was just leaving, and She Niang was overseeing the household. Feeling awkward, Madame Wang soon left.

Running even a small household like the sixth branch of the Pei family was not easy, let alone an entire princely residence. As the deputy, her most important task was to first clarify the duties of the household staff and what needed to be done each day.

The first to arrive was Min’er, serving the Dowager Consort. She came and said, "Consort, Ling Hua from the theater troupe wishes to go home. Who do you think should accompany her?"

At that moment, who could know who should accompany her?

She Niang asked Nanny Gong, "How was it handled when the girls from the theater troupe went home in the past?"

"A few days ago, when Miss Mei returned, Her Highness specifically sent two older female attendants, two maids, and four footmen," Nanny Gong replied.

She Niang, however, thought that Miss Mei had already been made a concubine by her father-in-law, so how could others compare? Thus, she smiled and said, "And before that? How were those who returned earlier handled?"

Hearing this, Nanny Gong said, "Before that, Cui Da drove the carriage, with one older female attendant accompanying."

"Then follow that arrangement. Have the carriage driver and one older female attendant accompany her," She Niang instructed, handing the token to Min’er.

Such matters all had existing protocols. She Niang was known for her excellent memory. For any matter, she would refer to previous cases first, following the rules set by her predecessors.

Earlier, Li Ju had heard She Niang’s complaints and thought she was truly afraid, so he returned early and secretly sent someone to check on the main household.

Xue Ji and Huan’er returned and reported, "Rest assured, My Lord. Our Consort has Nanny Gong by her side. She consults her on everything and follows established practices. No one dares to say anything."

Li Ju felt tricked by She Niang—she had tricked him into thinking she couldn’t handle it, prompting him to rush back to support her. Yet, she was actually very steady, following all the rules and handling matters calmly.

This was exactly the impression She Niang wanted to convey. Those in power most feared impulsiveness—either leaving in a huff or pushing for reforms before even starting.

The emergence of any system certainly had its reasons.

For now, the priority was to manage affairs properly before considering anything else.

Apart from some minor tasks in the morning, it was only by noon that she had a moment to catch her breath. Unexpectedly, Li Ju had already returned. She happily ran to his side, "When did you return? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?"

"I came back right after court, specifically to support you. I didn’t expect you to handle things so well. You tricked me again," Li Ju said, scrunching his nose.

She Niang smiled and spoke gently, "It’s only because no one is making trouble that things are going smoothly. I’m very glad you’re back."

How could Li Ju truly be angry? Seeing his wife like this, he was already eager to embrace her. He held her hand, placing it on his leg, and pretended to be interested as he asked, "How did it go? Were there many matters to handle?"

"Her Highness is very capable. She has already managed most things, and everyone below knows their duties. I’m just there as a symbolic presence. If any major issues arise, I can’t make decisions—Her Highness will have to handle them when she returns," She Niang genuinely felt that the Princess of Qing was indeed very skilled at managing the household.

Especially since she designated funds specifically for each purpose, ensuring that money for one matter was used only for that matter. Moreover, for every task, she assigned responsibility to specific individuals, requiring them to provide verification, avoiding any confusion.

But if she was so capable, why didn’t she teach all this to the Princess?

Hearing her speak like this, Li Ju felt a stir in his heart. He leaned in and kissed her, murmuring, "You smell so good."

"It’s not even dark yet. What nonsense are you talking?" She Niang pushed him lightly.

Li Ju could no longer restrain himself. He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, where the two were intimate. When they emerged, dinner was already served. Li Ju personally served her soup. She Niang had only taken a few bites when another servant arrived.

"What is it?" She Niang asked while eating.

"Replying to the Consort, the seamstresses have delivered twenty fur-lined jackets for the Princess."

She Niang had no choice but to put down her bowl and chopsticks. "Understood. I’ll go take a look."

These fur-lined jackets needed to be inspected first. If there were any issues, they had to be fixed quickly.

Otherwise, if problems were discovered when packing, she would be blamed. For now, she aimed not for merit but to avoid mistakes.

Thus, she went to the main hall and inspected them herself. Indeed, she found one with a loose needle on the chest. Without reprimanding the seamstresses, she simply asked them to take it back and fix it.

By the time she returned to eat, the food had cooled considerably. Li Ju asked for it to be reheated, but She Niang stopped him, "It’s fine. We’re almost done eating. Reheating it now wouldn’t be good."

She was truly not pretentious at all. After finishing the meal, she walked with him in the bamboo grove before returning to handle more matters.

In the afternoon, several accountants brought requests to withdraw money from the accounts. She Niang first reviewed the requests. One was for funds previously allocated for building the theater pavilion. After examining it, she pointed out, "The calculation here is wrong. The length and width must be multiplied to get the area."

Nanny Gong, watching from the side, was astonished, "Consort, you even know about such matters?"

"This is from the 'Nine Chapters on Mathematical Art.' It’s not difficult—just multiply the width and length," She Niang found it quite simple, as this was the most basic calculation.

Another request was for the wages of painters, totaling thirty-seven people, requesting twenty taels, two mace of silver. She Niang frowned, "Last year, when I was married, my family had the walls repainted. It only cost two taels, two mace, and eight fen. How has it increased tenfold?"

The steward argued, "There are differences between painters."

"Xia Mama, send Lai Fu to ask the workers how much their wages are," She Niang said, turning to the steward and directly sending her own servant to investigate.

The steward immediately broke into a sweat. She Niang smiled coldly. When Lai Fu returned and reported, it turned out the workers’ wages were exactly two taels, two mace, and eight fen, matching what She Niang had said perfectly.

Nanny Gong said to the steward, "You’re a seasoned steward, yet you can’t even calculate a simple account correctly."

"It was my mistake. I miscalculated," the steward dared not admit to embezzlement.

She Niang smiled, "To know one’s fault and correct it is a great virtue. Since you miscalculated, be more careful next time."

With that, she asked him to rewrite the request and submit it again before approving the funds.

Nanny Gong thought to herself that the Consort was truly subtle. In the morning, she appeared to follow the Princess of Qing’s instructions in everything, but when it came to matters involving money, she became exceptionally shrewd. Yet, she did not expose others, showing her adaptability.

After disbursing the funds, there were no major matters left, but she remained seated, reviewing account books and sipping tea, the room filled with silence.

She only put down her work when the Princess of Qing returned, hurrying to greet her.

The Princess of Qing said upon returning, "I never expected the Prince of Jin to be such a devoted man. He cried until he fainted."

She Niang found this rather skeptical. While the Prince of Jin had feelings for his wife, when she was alive, he showed preference to Consort Liu more. What could be said about that?

However, she had forgotten that the Prince of Jin had a consort who was actually her third sister.

By then, it was almost dusk. She Niang was about to report the day’s events, but seeing how tired the Princess of Qing was, she helped her settle before retiring to her own quarters.

That evening, Li Ju went out for a social event. She Niang was exhausted too. After finishing her meal and washing up, she didn't even get to check on A Heng before going to bed.

At the Jin Prince's estate, Yi Niang couldn't sleep. With the Princess Consort having passed away, they had to spend all day paying their respects and weeping, leaving no time for rest. Being a sincere person, her legs were swollen from all the kneeling by the time she returned to her room.

Sui Sui was putting ointment on her and couldn't help saying, "Why so serious about it? In my opinion, Concubine Liu is just faking it. She and the Princess Consort were as close as actual sisters before."

"I don't care about others; I just do what feels right to me." Her time she was most in favor was only the first few days after she came into the household. Later, when his attention faded, it was the Princess Consort of Chu who took care of her, ensuring she never wanted for food or clothes.

Sui Sui sighed, "Second Miss is whatever, Fourth Miss married into a Marquis' family, Fifth Miss is a Prince's official wife, Sixth Miss is also a Marquis' wife. But you..."

She wanted to say that it's just how things work out; our lady deserved the best.

Yi Niang smiled and shook her head. Back when she discovered the thing going on between Mo Yun and Pei Lingrong, she had been on edge. Later, Pei Lingrong was indeed caught cheating, making the Pei family lose face. Her own marriage options weren't great; if she hadn't married the Prince of Jin, Cao Shi might have married her off as a second wife or something to someone. It was lucky it worked out this way.

After all, the Prince of Jin was young, handsome, and romantic.

Although he didn't pay her much attention, having her own little space wasn't bad.

Sui Sui added, "Young lady, with so many relatives in our family, perhaps out of respect for the Pei family, you might be given the title of secondary consort someday?"

"I dare not hope for that, and you shouldn't either. It's just that my belly can't seem to get pregnant," Yi Niang said somewhat sadly.

She did get down about it sometimes; she was human, not a deity, with her own emotions and desires. But she was trying to be patient. However, opportunities don't come from waiting. Like She Niang, who never just waited idly; she would surely make something happen.

The next day, when the Princess of Qing got up, She Niang came to greet her. She quickly ran through what happened yesterday: what was decided where, where things went wrong, and who was responsible. She didn't subjectively assign blame but simply laid it all out.

She expected the Princess of Qing to give her a hard time, but instead, the Princess was stunned for a moment before saying, "You did great."

"Your daughter-in-law merely followed the way you've always done it," She Niang felt she hadn't done much.

However, the Princess of Qing thought that her daughter-in-law was not yet twenty, had never managed a household before coming here, yet was so sharp and capable. She glanced at She Niang and said, "Being able to follow established practices is already very good."

The Princess of Qing then focused on preparing her daughter's dowry, handing almost all the trivial household matters over to She Niang. She Niang had the main hall in the courtyard cleared out for this purpose.

Xia Mama, Qiu Ju, and her maids suddenly got more respect.

But She Niang also warned them, "Although I'm helping the Princess manage the household, I am not the real boss. If any of my people make mistakes, I won't go easy. Let's be clear upfront, so no one ends up being kicked out crying—I'm not having any of that."

The urgent matter at hand was the Princess's wedding festivities. Such events were handled by the Princess of Qing, with She Niang only keeping an eye on things. But many minor tasks now passed through her hands. After ten days to half a month, she finally sorted things out and wasn't so swamped.

Soon, it was October. A Heng was already four months old. In the morning, after She Niang and Li Ju finished breakfast, they each went about their tasks. As soon as she was free, she would play with her son.

A Heng wore a tiger hat and a bright red outfit. He didn't like being held upright, so She Niang cradled him and asked the nurse about his condition.

"The young master sleeps after he eats and can sit by himself sometimes without us holding him," the nurse quickly replied.

She Niang nodded, "Sleeping after eating is a good habit. You've worked hard. Xia Mama, I remember there's some new cotton in the storeroom. Take some to make extra clothes for A Heng's nurses."

Xia Mama promptly agreed. They had already discussed this beforehand, so she also took some flannel and cotton to give to the four nurses.

She Niang reasoned that if the nurses caught a cold or fell ill, they might be unable to nurse, and the child could also catch a chill. After all, infants are fragile and have weak immunity.

After seeing her son, she intended to let the nurse take him away, but A Heng suddenly grabbed her hand with his tiny one. She Niang felt an inexplicable surge of emotion.

Reborn into this life, she not only experienced maternal love but also had a son closely connected to her.

"Let me play with him for a while," She Niang said with a smile.

Meanwhile, the Princess of Qing was speaking with her daughter. She said to the Princess, "Look at your sister-in-law. In just half a month, she handles affairs quickly and well without grasping for power. She's much better than those stewards before."

"She doesn't grasp power because it will eventually be hers anyway," the Princess said.

The Princess of Qing smiled, "It's not that simple. Some people can't even pretend properly. Given authority, they immediately want to make a show of it, punishing people before even starting. There are plenty like that. Isn't Yang Shi from your fourth uncle's household like that? But your sister-in-law isn't that way. She acts with restraint, patiently reporting to me daily—not everyone can do that."

Being the wife of the Imperial Clan Superintendent for so many years wasn't for nothing.

The Princess sighed, "Sister-in-law married into our family from a lower status, so of course she strives to prove herself. But I'm marrying down into the Wu family."

At this thought, she stood up and sulked, "Mother, I don't like hearing this. Please don't talk to me about these things."

The Princess of Qing had always doted on her youngest daughter and could only say, "Alright, alright, I won't say anymore."

She was helpless against her daughter.

In the evening, everyone dined at the Dowager Consort's place. She Niang stood up to help serve soup and dishes. Only when the Dowager Consort waved her off did she sit down to eat.

After the meal, the Dowager Consort kept everyone for conversation. First, she asked She Niang, "How is A Heng?"

The child's formal name hadn't been chosen yet, so everyone used his nickname. Fortunately, no one objected to the name She Niang had given.

"This noon, I held A Heng and played with him for quite a while. Somehow, it seemed like he understood me. When I said I would hand him to the nurse, he suddenly grabbed my sleeve with his little hand, so I played with him a bit longer," She Niang said, still thinking of her son.

The Dowager Consort smiled, "A child's eyes are the clearest; they know who is good to them. You're his birth mother, no wonder he can't bear to leave you."

She Niang felt comforted hearing this. Then, she heard the Dowager Consort ask the Princess of Qing about the Princess's dowry. The Princess of Qing replied, "It's almost ready, just need to add some small items. Children grow quickly, so clothes can only be made recently."

"Good, I've always trusted your handling of affairs, especially since Bao Ying is your daughter. But I have a few fur garments here, all excellent, though the colors are too bright. Today is a good time to distribute them," the Dowager Consort said with a smile.

She Niang knew clearly that if she hadn't given birth to A Heng, she would only watch the Dowager Consort giving things to the Princess while receiving nothing herself. Now, for A Heng's sake, everyone treated her differently.

The Dowager Consort's items were, of course, exquisite. She Niang received a silver-red white fox fur cloak embroidered with golden butterflies, a purple satin fox-underarm women's fur coat, and a lotus-root-colored cotton jacket embroidered with antique patterns.

The feathered satin could ward off wind and snow, and the antique-patterned cotton jacket was perfect for late autumn or early spring. She Niang happily took them back and tried each on in front of the dressing mirror.

She modeled each for Li Ju, asking, "Which one looks better?"

Li Ju took a handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped her sweat, "It's only October, and you're wearing such thick clothes, already sweating." He thought his wife was just like a young girl.

"First tell me which one looks better?" She Niang pouted.

Li Ju didn't try to appease her, simply saying, "The purple satin one suits you."

She Niang liked people who told the truth, not those who beat around the bush, especially her husband. He was genuinely earnest, sometimes too masculine.

Like early in the morning, he actually practiced swordplay in the courtyard wearing only thin clothes, his movements fluid and seamless.

She Niang yawned. Although she also liked to move around, she wasn't to that extent. She remembered how he wiped her sweat yesterday, so she waited nearby this time. After he finished, she handed him a handkerchief, since they were in public.

Unexpectedly, Li Ju leaned his head over, indicating for She Niang to wipe his sweat. She Niang looked around, saw everyone turning away, and blushed as she wiped his sweat.

"I need to go to the main courtyard to handle affairs," She Niang said. She didn't think being affectionate with her husband was shameful; instead, it brought a bit of sweetness and lifted her mood.

Meanwhile, the Princess of Qing asked Li Ju to investigate if Wu Ting had any beloved women around him. If so, he should hint to him to send them away.

To inquire about such matters, Li Ju went directly to Yuan Tao, who had grown up in the capital and had many connections. After a few drinks, they indeed found out. Yuan Tao didn't specify if it was a beloved woman, only saying, "I heard there's a stunningly beautiful cousin in their household, whom Wu Ting protects closely, but it's said he only sees her as a sister."

If it were an ordinary woman, it might be manageable, but being a relative made it difficult.

Moreover, Li Ju had never handled such matters before. Upon returning, he complained to She Niang, "How am I supposed to do something like this? Besides, you can’t just go to someone’s house and ask who they have feelings for without any evidence, can you?"

She Niang replied, "It’s not that difficult. If you happen to run into him, just throw out a few casual remarks. He’s clever and will naturally understand what you mean."

"What do you mean by 'careless words'?" Li Ju genuinely sought advice.

She Niang poked his forehead and said, "You’re usually so smart—how come you don’t get this? Just mention that you’ve recently heard some rumors about him and emphasize that this marriage was arranged by the emperor and no one can interfere. See how he reacts. If he looks wronged and immediately swears an oath, then there’s no problem. But if he calmly asks who said it, you should give him a subtle warning."

Rumors? That meant people were talking about this matter, and it had even reached the ears of the Prince of Qing’s household, so they were asking him to reflect on it himself.

"That makes sense. She Niang, you really are my brilliant strategist," Li Ju said, relieved as he had been unsure how to bring it up.

"You’re too caught up in it," She Niang shook her head.

In truth, even someone as noble as the princess had no autonomy in her marriage and had to rely on her elders to intervene. This was only possible because of the Prince of Qing’s high status; other families wouldn’t have such influence.

Nevertheless, the princess was truly born into fortune, with her mother and brother both looking out for her.

Following She Niang’s advice, Li Ju "coincidentally" ran into Wu Ting. After hearing what Li Ju said, Wu Ting frowned and asked, "I wonder who has been spreading rumors to you, Prince?"

He did have a distant cousin, a stunning beauty, and they really clicked. However, the emperor’s arranged marriage had shattered his plans.

Seeing his expression, Li Ju realized he indeed had someone in his heart and said, "Don’t worry about who told me. This marriage between our families was arranged by the emperor, and remember, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. If there really is someone, you know what to do."

With that, Li Ju left.

Although the Marquis of Shouning’s family held a hereditary title backed by an ironclad decree, the Prince of Qing’s household was even more formidable. The Prince of Qing and his son were in the emperor’s good graces, and the Prince’s heir was also the Crown Prince’s Study Companion. If the Crown Prince were to ascend the throne in the future, his future would be bright.

Originally, Wu Ting had planned to take his cousin as a concubine after marrying the princess, which was quite common among noble families—main wives were often picked for the family’s sake, while concubines were usually personal preferences.

He didn’t have any particular dissatisfaction with the princess, but Li Ju’s words left him uneasy. Being a decisive person, he quickly made up his mind. After discussing it with his family, he shipped his cousin off just like that.

Li Ju was pleased to hear this, but She Niang remarked, "If he sent her away like this, he’s probably not really on board. I have a feeling he won’t play by the rules in the future."

Judging by the Princess of Qing’s attitude, it was clear that if anything happened after the princess married, Li Ju or She Niang would have to handle it. It was truly a real headache.