Eldest Madam continued, “As long as you behave yourself and stay quietly in Yilan Courtyard, that’s enough. Don’t go stirring up trouble over the next few days. The courtyard was already renovated once for the wedding, so there’s no need to think about renovating it again.”
So she was clearly against the renovation.
Jiang Lingyuan had genuinely not expected Eldest Madam to have so little trust in her.
But Jiang Lingyuan had no intention of becoming someone who blindly obeyed everything she was told.
“Mother,” she said, “the craftsmen have already been hired. It wouldn’t look good to cancel the project now. After all, everyone in the manor is watching.”
Eldest Madam pressed her lips together. She disliked being contradicted by Jiang Lingyuan, but it was indeed awkward to call off the renovation at this point. With an unhappy expression, she said, “In that case, just make a show of it. And in the future, don’t be so high-profile in the manor.”
“Yes.”
Jiang Lingyuan lowered her head, though she paid little heed to Eldest Madam’s words. She still intended to renovate the courtyard according to her own plans. As for whether she would keep a low profile in the future, that would depend on the situation.
The visit had accomplished nothing, but Jiang Lingyuan was not particularly disappointed.
What she couldn’t understand was that Eldest Madam herself had come from the Marquis of Changping’s household. How had she become so stubborn and narrow-minded?
Nor could she understand how the Duke of Yu’s household had ever chosen someone like Eldest Madam to be its eldest daughter-in-law.
After returning to Yilan Courtyard, Jiang Lingyuan instructed, “Follow Tanqiu’s list. Once the clothes are finished, send them over.”
She could not change Eldest Madam’s attitude, but at the very least, she wanted Lu Yun to learn just how many underhanded things Nanny Jin had been doing over the years.
Michun understood exactly what her mistress intended and could not help feeling worried.
“But what if Fourth Young Master doesn’t take it seriously either?”
“He won’t.”
Jiang Lingyuan shook her head.
“I haven’t known him for long, but I don’t think he’s the sort of person who refuses to listen to reason.”
In fact, Lu Yun hardly seemed like someone who had been raised by Eldest Madam.
Shaking her head, she added, “Have Xunxia investigate how the marriage between the Eldest Master and Eldest Madam came about.”
Michun nodded.
“Xunxia has already started looking into it. Suodong has the bath ready. Miss, would you like to go now?”
A faint fragrance of roses filled the bathing room.
Before Suodong stood an assortment of bottles and jars, while two young maids skilled in massage and skincare assisted her.
Jiang Lingyuan removed her clothes and stepped into the bath, frowning slightly.
“It still can’t compare to soaking in a proper bathing.”
Suodong smiled.
“Please bear with it for another couple of days, Miss. Steward Liu is always reliable. The new bath should be finished very soon.”
“Mmm. My neck’s been bothering me. Spend a little extra time working on it later.”
After speaking, Jiang Lingyuan closed her eyes and sank into thought.
Suodong knew her mistress’s habits. Whenever Jiang Lingyuan was thinking, she disliked conversation, so Suodong remained silent, gently washing and massaging her hair.
By the time the entire treatment was finished, it was already time for dinner.
Jiang Lingyuan felt refreshed from head to toe, though she was also quite hungry.
Surrounded only by familiar attendants, she dressed casually, her hair gathered into a loose knot.
Turning to Michun, she said, “Tomorrow, bring me all the account books from the past few months. You and Tanqiu can help me organize them.”
Thinking about it, ever since entering the Jiang household and then marrying into the Duke of Yu’s manor, she had never seriously gone through the ledgers. There were probably several chests full of them by now.
It would be troublesome to review them all, but it had to be done.
Michun asked, “Shall I bring over two young maids who are quick with the abacus to help?”
After a moment’s thought, Jiang Lingyuan nodded.
“There really are too many. Bring two. Let them handle the less important accounts.”
Fortunately, she had plenty of capable people around her. Otherwise, she didn’t know how she would manage everything.
Meanwhile, Nanny Jin had already learned exactly what Jiang Lingyuan had said during her visit to Eldest Madam.
She had always been close friends with Nanny Shang. Over the years, much of her smooth control over Yilan Courtyard had been thanks to Nanny Shang putting in good words for her before Eldest Madam. Naturally, Nanny Shang had also received no small amount of benefits in return.
At this moment, Nanny Jin felt every bit of those favors had been worthwhile.
Hearing that Jiang Lingyuan had been rebuffed by Eldest Madam filled her with satisfaction.
With a smug laugh, she said, “That should teach her to stay in her place.”
Xiangxue was equally delighted.
“Madam trusts you the most. I don’t know how she even had the nerve to go running to Madam. A penniless country bumpkin!”
Nanny Jin was in such a good mood that she didn’t mind Xiangxue’s harsh words.
“She can forget about taking control of Yilan Courtyard’s household affairs.”
Xiangxue couldn’t help asking, “What about the things we’re sending to Fourth Young Master this time?”
She knew perfectly well how many tricks were hidden in those arrangements.
“We’ll do exactly what we’ve always done,” Nanny Jin replied. “Fourth Young Master is destined for great things. He won’t concern himself with such trivial matters. By the way, have we collected that money yet?”
In her eyes, Jiang Lingyuan’s only advantage was that she had money. Otherwise, her experience was sorely lacking. If she had any real understanding, she wouldn’t have overestimated herself like this.
“Not yet,” Xiangxue answered, “but it should be collected within the next few days.”
Nanny Jin nodded.
“Get it back as soon as possible. In a couple of days, send out the silver we’ve accumulated. And as for Fourth Young Madam, keep sending a few young maids around the manor to spread the rumor that the dowry delivered yesterday was all fake, that she only did it for appearances’ sake. Be careful not to let anyone trace it back to us.”
Xiangxue loved nothing more than tarnishing Jiang Lingyuan’s reputation.
Grinning, she said, “Just wait and see, Nanny.”
Jiang Lingyuan knew nothing of Nanny Jin’s schemes.
She had planned to retire early, but Nanny Rong returned.
The two went together to the eastern warm chamber. The windows were open, while Michun stood guard outside.
Nanny Rong reported, “Su Min and Shen You have already begun their investigation. The merchant caravan from the northwest has also returned. As for those shops…?”
“I’ve already decided,” Jiang Lingyuan replied. “Leave the shops operating as usual. Over the years, the people there have dealt only with our merchant caravans. They don’t even know which shops belong to us. We still need to keep people stationed there to gather information.”
Nanny Rong nodded.
“That makes sense.”
“I’ve been thinking,” Jiang Lingyuan continued. “Having Xunxia gather gossip inside the women’s quarters is a waste of her talents. I’d rather have her work with you.”
Among her four senior maids, each had her own strengths.
Xunxia’s real gift wasn’t simply collecting information, it was sorting through countless reports to extract what truly mattered and judging the reliability of what she learned. Those talents were far better suited to work outside the inner household.
Nanny Rong smiled.
“I was just about to suggest the same thing. Lan Ying and Jasmine, whom Xunxia has trained, are now capable of handling things on their own. It’s the perfect time for Xunxia to come work with me.”
The matter was settled.
With the outside world becoming increasingly unstable and Jiang Lingyuan’s business interests growing ever larger, they could not afford the slightest carelessness.
Jiang Lingyuan sighed and shook her head.
“I went to see mother-in-law today, but I never imagined she wouldn’t listen to a single word I said. I truly don’t know what to make of it.”
Nanny Rong had already heard the story from Michun and the others and could only shake her head as well.
“Exactly. I really don’t know how the Duke of Yu’s manor chose its eldest daughter-in-law back then.”
The eldest daughter-in-law of a great family was an extraordinarily important position. Just look at the eldest young madam, they had chosen her exceptionally well. Yet no one could understand how Eldest Madam had been selected in the first place.