Chapter 126 Benefits Above All
“I’m waiting for you, my third younger sister-in-law.” Ruan Ruyi said twitchily. Although she is also the daughter of a concubine in the palace of Gaoyang, she was born in a royal family. Asking for help from a daughter of a concubine from the mansion of Grand Commandant was not what she wanted.
“It’s still for the shops east of the city,” Ruan Ruyi said anxiously, “You know, now that my third brother-in-law is famous, his elder brother still has his work to be taken care of because of his official positions. As you may have known, it needs money. My dowry couldn’t compare with your richness. Since our mother has given you three shops, I don’t think it was difficult to give us one out of three. Chang’an and Changxi are, after all, brothers. If Chang’an had settled down on his official position, he could have also help Changxi. Am I right?”
It was about benefits, after all. Qin Yunuan nodded, smiling and responding in a very polite manner, “That was a nice talk, sister-in-law. It was totally unlike what outsiders said of you, that you are the Grand Young Madam spreading rumors about my husband was not the biological son of Princess Ning. Anyway, I don’t believe it. As for what you have said, it was decided by our mother-in-law, and I couldn’t say much. If you want to help with his official career, give him some extra nutrition during the imperial examination in autumn. I will also go to my home temple and pray for his elder brother to find a position on the road to the royal court.”
Ruan Ruyi was choked by those few words of Qin Yunuan. She talked about the deep friendship between Grand Young Master and Third Master in Prince Ning’s Mansion. Qin then exposed her gossiping behind. She mentioned how she wished Leng Changxi could help Leng Chang’an in his career, but Qin advised her to study for the exam directly. She wanted the shop. Then Qin told her it was Princess Ning’s command, and she could always talk to Princess Ning for the shop if she had the guts.
“Why are you saying things so absolutely?” Ruan Ruyi’s tone was low. But there was still room for discussion.
“Sister-in-law, you are too sensitive,” Qin Yunuan smiled, “I am only married on the first day. How could I be angry with my sister-in-law? I am a new wife, and there must be many things I don’t understand. I have to listen to my mother first. How dare I turn against her with outward meekness and inward rebellion?”
Ruan Ruyi’s beautiful eyes lifted, and her tone immediately went cold, “Since you refuse to help, I will not be shameless and ask for it. As sisters-in-law, we couldn’t be as close as real sisters, but we also have to get along well. You have just arrived in the mansion and will naturally know what to do in the future.”
Ruan Ruyi thought to herself. After knowing that Leng Changxi was the illegitimate child, her sister-in-law might take the initiative to seek her help. After all, his blood was impure. Even if Princess Ning had taken Leng Changxi as her child, the iron-clad fact couldn’t be changed.
Qin Yunuan just smiled, turned around, and called Maner Ting Xue to keep up. They followed the same way back to the yard.
Watching Qin Yunuan leaving unhurriedly, Ruan Ruyi felt extreme grievances in her heart. When she was in the palace of Gaoyang, people looked down upon her because she was the daughter of a concubine. Then her younger sister, born of her father’s legal wife, died, and the person who got married into Prince Ning’s Mansion changed to her temporarily. She thought that she could hold your head high in the future. But Prince Ning’s Mansion was more particular about the rules of bloodlines than Gaoyang. It was of no help, although she was titled the county prince of the seventh grade.
Although Leng Chang’an is the eldest son, he was born of a concubine, and his biological mother hadn’t even been called as a Madam. She was jumping from one fire pit into another.
“I’m mad,” Ruan Ruyi said, dragging the veil fiercely. She had been waiting for Qin Yunuan under the burning sun for a long time. She thought that Qin Yunuan had the same origin as she had and that they were both daughters of the concubines. She might have felt empathy and said words in her consideration, “She was nothing more than a daughter of a concubine in the mansion of Grand Commandant. Why could she become Infanta Ping of the fifth grades, having done meritorious deeds praying for Queen Mother? Anyone could go to Royal Temple and kneel for her health. How could she be so lucky?”
Before Ruan Ruyi’s complaints were finished, the wet nurse Ma beside her quickly pulled her arm.
“You mustn’t say so, Grand Young Madam,” the wet nurse Ma looked around and said after finding themselves in private, “I got the news this morning, saying that Third Young Master adores Third Young Madam extremely. Usually, he looks serious. Nowadays, as long as Third Young Madam is in front of him, his smile… And I just heard….”
Nanny Ma laid down to Ruan Ruyi’s ear and whispered for a while.
Ruan Ruyi’s eyes lightened immediately with an incredible surprise, “What? Mother gave her the deputy key?”
“Yes,” nanny Ma nodded cautiously, “I heard that Third Young Madam was to run the three shops in the east of the city for a while. If it worked, she would start to teach Third Young Madam how to manage the accounts.”
“That’s bad. I have to rush back and tell my mother-in-law.” Ruan Ruyi’s heart tightened. Although Tang’s status had not improved in recent years, she was sly. She had a few small treasuries, and the main source of them was from the accounting house, which was accumulated from selling seconds at best quality prices or falsely reporting the gains.
People said that Princess Ning was kind. In fact, it was because Princess Ning avoided and was unaware of the financial issues. Generally speaking, the yards got paid as much silver tael as they asked for, though other yards were not as obvious and bold as Tang’s. All of the yards picked up some profits on the side. However, Qin Yunuan was not like Princess Ning. She might start checking the accounts. This Third Young Madam was said to be quite smart in doing business accounting. If she had started her investigation and traced after evidence, everything would be revealed.
When Qin Yunuan returned to the yard, Leng Changxi hadn’t come back from the court yet. Emperor Zhaoxuan, Sima Xiu gave him enough freedom. He didn’t need to go to the morning greetings every day. Dealing with military chores was enough for him. But today was the first day of Leng Changxi’s marriage, which was bestowed by Sima Xiu himself. Leng Changxi still had to thank him in person.
Luomei had already filled up a bowl of cool mung bean soup and put it on the table. When Qin Yunuan entered the yard, she welcomed her.
“Third Young Madam, Miss Leng just came back. She said that she had found what the powder on the red bridal veil was. It looked like a strong aphrodisiac powder.” Miss Leng was Leng Shuang. Though named a maid, the status of Leng Shuang was much higher than maids, so the little servant girls like Maner and Ting Xue called her “Miss” respectfully.
And Luomei herself was also a treasure. Brought to her yard by Concubine Chang a few days before Qin Yunuan ’s marriage, this servant girl was from Concubine Chang ’s natal family. The girl was obedient and honest. Most importantly, she had superb medical skills. To thank Qin Yunuan for the secret assistance to her family a while ago, Concubine Chang specially asked the family for this servant girl to accompany her to Prince Ning’s Mansion.
Qin Yunuan glanced down at Luomei. The girl was full of heroic spirit. She believed in the character of people sent by Concubine Chang. But now there are already a few servant girls around her, Maner is the most loyal, Ting Xue acted decisively and made suggestions. Leng Shuang was needless to say, but she wasn’t aware of Luomei’s skills. In short, everyone by her side must be of value.
Qin Yunuan sipped the mung bean soup and asked casually, “I heard from Concubine Chang that you know medicine. In your view, what kind of aphrodisiac powder is this?”
There were many kinds of aphrodisiac powders. Qin Yunuan had to understand them to revenge.
Luo Mei nodded slightly and said with respect, “If I didn’t guess it wrong, it should be North Di’s Hehuan San. This kind of aphrodisiac powder is extremely powerful and is normally used on breeding but not on humans. According to the dose that Miss Leng brought us, if Third Young Madam hadn’t found it in time, Third Young Master and Madam might be dying because of excessive indulgence.”
Gee, what a vicious trick. Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows slightly. She didn’t expect Qin Yunzhuang to be so daring. Harming her in this way would not only leave any trace, but outsiders would think Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan greedy and insatiable. Some people might even curse Qin Yunuan as a foxy woman who lured Leng Changxi. It’s killing two birds with one stone. Huh, it’s not what Qin Yunzhuang could have thought of alone.
Yes, Qin Linfeng must have participated. It seemed that the lesson Qin Yunuan gave him was not enough.
“By the way, is the marriage between Grand Sister and Prince Ray already settled?”
“Yes,” Maner replied, “It’s the nineteenth next month, and it’s almost time.”
“Well,” Qin Yunuan snorted coldly, “She’s working so hard for my marriage, we have to give her a big gift, too.”
At about noon, Leng Changxi came back. Once he entered the room, he couldn’t wait but hold Qin Yunuan in her arms, who was embroidering. He smelled sweaty.
“I miss you.” Leng Changxi had always been so straightforward.
Qin Yunuan smiled sweetly, “Only half a day passed.”
Leng Changxi just leaned on Qin Yunuan ‘s neck, his tone was somehow bossy, “But I just miss you.”
Qin Yunuan smiled, holding the sweaty, masked face of Leng Changxi. She reached her hand out and kneaded Leng Changxi’s temples gently and rhythmically, “You are tired. Let’s rest. So much sweat.”
“I was in a hurry,” Leng Changxi smiled at Qin Yunuan, enjoying such intimate care, “There are too many people on the street today. Oh yes, today the Grand Prince Sima Ruo is marrying Saichun, Princess of North Di.”
Qin Yunuan stopped her hand, and when she thought of how the fairy-like Sima Ruo became a political tool, she felt a little worthless for him.
“What’s wrong?” Leng Changxi noticed Qin Yunuan’s changes.
“It’s just a pity if you couldn’t have spent a lifetime with someone you love but only had a perfunctory marriage. How painful should the rest of your life be?”
Leng Changxi kissed on Qin Yunuan’s lips lovingly and whispered, “So, we are very happy.”,…..