After Steward Lin left, Xiangxue anxiously said, “Nanny, we absolutely cannot give in!”
With a crash, Nanny Jin swept the teacup from the table onto the floor.
“Cannot give in? How exactly are we supposed to refuse? She is only following the household rules!”
Lin Feng had even brought up Nanny Cui, the personal attendant beside Old Madam Lu. What else could she do?
She could afford to offend Jiang Lingyuan, but could she afford to offend Old Madam Lu?
She had underestimated Jiang Lingyuan.
This time, she had completely lost the confrontation.
But there would not be a next time.
Xiangxue immediately fell silent, too frightened to say another word.
Nanny Jin quickly calmed herself down.
“Clean this place up. We need to move out quickly.”
The news that Nanny Jin had voluntarily moved to the rear rooms of the side courtyard spread throughout Yilan Courtyard immediately.
The servants privately discussed it among themselves, but outwardly, their respect toward Jiang Lingyuan increased even more.
This change was first reflected in lunch.
Breakfast had only been ordinary, but lunch consisted of six dishes and two soups.
One of the soups was sour radish stewed old duck soup, a dish that depended heavily on cooking time and heat control. It would have been impossible to prepare unless the simmering had begun early in the morning.
Xunxia served Jiang Lingyuan a bowl.
“I wonder who this was originally prepared for.”
Jiang Lingyuan accepted the bowl and took a sip.
“Who cares who it was prepared for? Isn’t it in our stomachs now?”
The soup was sour without being sharp, fragrant without being greasy. Although it was a rich broth, it carried a refreshing clarity and was genuinely delicious.
It was obvious that even the small kitchen had skilled cooks.
They simply hadn’t wanted to put effort into serving her during the previous days.
Not long after lunch, the people who usually served Jiang Lingyuan at her estate outside the capital arrived.
More than ten people in total.
The sight was already unpleasant enough for Nanny Jin.
But what was even more striking were the endless lines of dowry trunks being carried into the courtyard.
After arriving, these servants followed the household arrangements properly.
They moved into the back rooms and side quarters.
The two nannies shared one room, the two senior maids shared one room, and the junior maids shared rooms four to a room.
Everything was quickly arranged neatly.
When Jiang Lingyuan’s wet nurse, Nanny Rong, saw her, the first thing she said was. “Miss, you’ve lost so much weight!”
From the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, when Jiang Lingyuan moved into the Jiang residence, until the day she married into Duke Yu Manor, Nanny Rong had not been by her side.
Now, seeing the girl she had raised since infancy thinner by an entire circle, she naturally felt distressed.
Jiang Lingyuan, however, wasn’t too concerned.
Smiling, she said,”Duke Yu Manor doesn’t have as many filthy matters as the Jiang residence. I’ll recover soon.”
Nanny Rong frowned.
“This old servant heard that although Yilan Courtyard has no bedchamber maids or concubines, the steward nanny is not a good person?”
“Xunxia must have told you that.”
Jiang Lingyuan smiled faintly.
“It’s nothing serious. After all, our statuses are different. If I ignore her, she can’t do much to me.”
Nanny Rong, however, remained concerned.
“Miss is right to think that way, but people like that sometimes resort to unscrupulous methods. You still need to be careful.”
Jiang Lingyuan had never underestimated anyone.
“Of course. Besides, now that you and the others have come, I feel much more at ease.”
Although the third and fourth courtyards of Yilan Courtyard had been tidied up because of Lu Yun’s marriage, they were only presentable on the surface. Many details inside still did not satisfy Jiang Lingyuan.
Since Lu Yun had not restricted her, she planned to reorganize everything according to her own preferences over the next few days.
At that moment, Jiang Lingyuan and Nanny Rong went to the eastern warm chamber.
Michun and Xunxia stood guard outside.
Nanny Rong still opened the window before speaking.
“Miss, our people have not been able to infiltrate the northwest military camp. However, based on the information we have gathered, it appears that the Duke of Zhenguo is not currently stationed there.”
“So the matter of borrowing money for military provisions was not something the Duke of Zhenguo proposed.”
Jiang Lingyuan lowered her head, her slender fingers gently tracing the edge of her teacup.
“That makes sense. Over the years, the money we sent to the northwest was used only to comfort the families of fallen soldiers. As for military provisions, the Duke of Zhenguo knows the boundaries better than anyone. He would never allow us to interfere.”
“Therefore, whoever said those words had ulterior motives.”
Military provisions were the responsibility of the imperial court.
Why would she involve herself?
Nanny Rong broke out in a cold sweat.
“Fortunately, Miss is cautious.”
Jiang Lingyuan didn’t take offense.
Nanny Rong and the others were extremely skilled at handling matters within the inner residence, but when it came to affairs of the state, they naturally lacked some sensitivity.
Everyone had their own strengths and weaknesses.
As long as the stewards managing matters outside did not make foolish mistakes, that was enough.
“Then the situation of the Duke of Zhenguo in the northwest is probably not good. Our merchant caravans there must withdraw, even if we have to accept financial losses.”
“If we cannot withdraw in time, it won’t only be a matter of losing money.”
Nanny Rong understood the seriousness immediately.
“This servant will send an urgent message by flying carrier pigeon.”
With that, she hurried away.
Jiang Lingyuan sighed.
The situation in the northwest was extremely important.
She did not know whether the imperial court was already aware of it.
Should she hint at something to the Duke of Yu?
But…
Would the Duke even believe her?
Unable to make a decision, she stopped thinking about it and called Xunxia inside.
“I want to renovate the third and fourth courtyards. Go ask around, do I need to inform the manor? Should we use the craftsmen employed by the household, or find our own?”
Xunxia smiled.
“I knew Miss would want to renovate the courtyard, so I already asked. If you are paying for it yourself, the manor will not object. You only need to inform the Eldest Young Madam, who currently manages the household affairs.”
“The craftsmen can be hired from the manor as long as you pay them, or you may find your own.”
Tomorrow was the twenty-first day, the day for paying respects.
Jiang Lingyuan planned to mention it to Eldest Young Madam Lu then.
She had interacted with her during the tea ceremony. Although the woman was not especially kind toward her, she was not particularly harsh either.
Asking about renovations should not cause trouble.
Jiang Lingyuan felt relieved.
She would likely live in this residence for many years.
Since she was not lacking money, she naturally intended to arrange it according to her own wishes.
“After I speak with Eldest Sister-in-law, have the steward in charge of craftsmen come over and discuss a plan.”
Dinner that evening was even more carefully prepared.
It was still early spring in the second month, when fresh vegetables were extremely rare.
Yet that night there was a dish of garlic-seasoned baby bok choy and another called Three Crisps from the Mountain Household.
The three ingredients, tender bamboo shoots, young mushrooms, and goji berry shoots, were all excellent quality.
The bamboo shoots had been prepared especially well, with not even the slightest bitterness remaining.
This was probably Nanny Hu’s way of showing loyalty.
Jiang Lingyuan hadn’t expected Nanny Hu to make her choice so quickly.
It seemed that money and status truly were effective tools in many situations.
Xunxia added from the side,”Miss, the wives and young madams of the household who have rich dowries also receive food from their own estates. The manor has never interfered with that.”
Jiang Lingyuan smiled.
“That can only be done because they have the confidence to do so. If an ordinary household tried this, people in the capital would criticize them, saying the manor could not afford to support its wives and young madams and was trying to take advantage of their dowries.”
Nanny Rong couldn’t help laughing.
“Then Miss having things sent from your estates won’t seem unusual at all. The managers there understand your preferences better anyway.”