Chapter 15: The Beginning of Establishing Authority

What happened to Granny Liu last night was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake; the ripples spread quietly the next day.

When Su Wanrou got up, Gu Yangui had already gone to court as usual. Yun Que and several maids served her as she washed and dressed, their expressions more cautious than usual, especially when Su Wanrou's gaze swept over them, her eyes carrying an imperceptible scrutiny and awe.

"Madam, how about styling your hair in the 'Chaoyun Jinxiang' bun today? Paired with the ruby ​​headdress that the Duke bestowed upon you the other day, it will surely look magnificent and dignified," the head maid Lanyue suggested with a smile, holding a jewelry box.

Su Wanrou glanced at her in the mirror. Lan Yue was a servant born into the household, her parents both being influential stewards in the Duke's mansion, and thus possessed excellent information. Her suggestion at this moment carried a clear hint of flattery. Su Wanrou understood this, but her expression remained unchanged. She simply said, "We're not going out today, so there's no need for such formality. Just a simple 'fallen horse' hairstyle, with that white jade hairpin and two pearl flowers will suffice."

"Yes, Madam." Lan Yue quickly replied and began to do her hair and makeup with nimble hands, praising, "Madam is naturally beautiful, and she looks stunning no matter how she dresses. This elegant style makes her even more graceful."

Su Wanrou smiled slightly but did not reply. She knew that last night's events had made these discerning maids reassess her importance. Establishing authority wasn't just about the head maids in the outer courtyard, but also about those serving in the inner courtyard. Excessive luxury and ostentation were not her intention; a touch of simplicity better showcased the mistress's composure and confidence.

After having breakfast, Su Wanrou went to Mingxuan's courtyard as usual.

The little boy was having breakfast when he saw her. His eyes lit up, and he put down his spoon and was about to run over when his wet nurse, Granny Zhao, gently held him back. "Young master, eat your breakfast properly. Madam isn't leaving."

Su Wanrou walked over with a smile, sat down next to Mingxuan, and took out a handkerchief to wipe the milk stains from the corner of his mouth: "Mingxuan, be good, eat well, and grow up strong."

"Mother!" Mingxuan swallowed the pastry in his mouth, looked up at his mother with a hint of dependence, and asked, "Will you help me learn to read again today?"

"Of course," Su Wanrou replied softly. "After Mother finishes her business, she will come to find you in the study, okay?"

"Okay!" Mingxuan nodded vigorously, obediently picked up the spoon again, and ate with extra relish.

Looking at the child's innocent smile, Su Wanrou's heart softened. No matter how many undercurrents swirled within the inner courtyard, protecting this child and ensuring his healthy and happy growth was one of her most important responsibilities as a mother. And this responsibility, in turn, gave her even greater strength and determination.

After leaving Mingxuan's place, Su Wanrou did not return directly to Jinse Courtyard, but instead went to the small flower hall where she usually handled household chores. She knew that someone would definitely come to "report back" today.

Sure enough, just as she sat down at the head of the flower hall and before she could even take a sip of tea, a voice announced from outside that it was Granny Chang, the manager of the needlework room.

Granny Chang was a capable and thin woman with sharp eyes. As soon as she entered, she greeted everyone with a smile and gave a proper bow: "Greetings to Madam. This old servant has come to report on the autumn clothing production in the manor."

"Please rise, Granny Chang, and sit down to talk," Su Wanrou said calmly.

Granny Chang declined the seat, but sat down on only half of the chair, her posture respectful, a stark contrast to her demeanor outside the hanging flower gate yesterday. She gave a detailed report to the master of the mansion, informing him of the arrangements for the preparation of materials, styles, and timing of the tailor's visit to the mansion for the servants' autumn clothing. Her report was clear and well-organized, with no omissions.

Su Wanrou listened quietly, occasionally asking a key question, which Chang Mama answered fluently. After finishing her report, Chang Mama didn't immediately take her leave, but instead changed the subject, her tone becoming somewhat ingratiating:

“Madam, I noticed that the clothes you brought are exquisite, but the styles popular in the capital are slightly different from the regulations in our mansion. Especially for formal occasions and the official robes of noble ladies, we cannot be careless. I was thinking, should we hurry up and make a few new ones for you? There happen to be a few bolts of fine brocade and silk in the storeroom, the colors of which suit you perfectly.”

These words sounded considerate and thoughtful, but they actually contained hidden sarcasm. First, they pointed out her status as an "outsider," as her clothes did not conform to the "regulations" of the capital or even the Duke's mansion; second, the use of the best materials from the storeroom, this expenditure and discretion, was another test.

Su Wanrou understood perfectly, but her face showed a perfectly gentle smile: "Granny Chang is too kind. I've just entered the manor and am still getting used to many rules. My clothes and other necessities should indeed follow the manor's usual practices. However," she paused, picked up her teacup, and gently stirred the foam, "I remember that the manor's allowances for the masters' clothing for the four seasons are all fixed. When to make summer clothes and when to make winter clothes, the grade and quantity of the fabrics, should all be recorded in the accounts and storerooms. It's only early autumn now, and I've only recently started wearing my summer clothes. To suddenly propose to rush-make new clothes for me, and even use the best materials... that seems to be against the rules, doesn't it?"

Granny Chang's smile froze, and she hurriedly said, "Madam is of noble status and a new bride, so making an exception is only right..."

“Granny, you are mistaken.” Su Wanrou put down her teacup, her voice still gentle, but her tone firm. “Rules are rules, and once established, everyone must abide by them. Although I am a second wife, I dare not abuse my status to break the rules of the household and give others cause for criticism. Otherwise, if an exception is made for me today, who will be made an exception for tomorrow? In the long run, won’t the family rules become meaningless? The most important thing in managing a household is fairness. What do you think, Granny Chang?”

Her words, spoken calmly and deliberately, were all reasonable. They not only highlighted her attitude of abiding by the rules, but also subtly mocked Granny Chang's attempt to entice her to "make an exception." Finally, she brought up the important principle of "fairness in managing a household."

A bead of sweat appeared on Granny Chang's forehead. She quickly stood up and said, "Madam is right! It was this old servant who was inconsiderate. I only thought about not letting Madam suffer any grievances, but I forgot about the fundamental rules. This old servant was foolish!"

"I understand that you are doing this for my own good." Su Wanrou stopped when she saw the situation was right and softened her tone. "For the autumn tailoring, just follow the usual practice. My allowance is the same as other masters, so there is no need for anything special. As for the fabric, the ones in the storeroom that are used can be registered first, and we can take them as needed during festivals or important occasions."

"Yes, yes, Madam, you have thought things through. This old servant obeys." Granny Chang replied repeatedly, her attitude even more submissive than before. This new madam, though young, was shrewd and spoke with a watertight tongue, her words both soft and firm, making her truly difficult to fool.

After dismissing Granny Chang, Su Wanrou breathed a sigh of relief. She knew that the ordeal at the sewing room was temporarily over. Granny Chang was one of the more influential managers in the inner courtyard, and her attitude would greatly influence those who were still observing.

Sure enough, the managers who came back to report next, whether they were in charge of purchasing, utensils, or garden cleaning, were much more respectful and their replies were clear and logical. No one dared to use vague terms like "custom" or "new rules" to test them anymore.

Su Wanrou listened patiently, asking detailed questions when she didn't understand something, and requesting to see the account books or records from previous years when she had doubts. Her attitude was gentle, but her principles were clear. After dealing with these matters, although she felt mentally exhausted, she gradually grasped some of the tricks of housekeeping and management, and her confidence grew.

Around noon, Su Wanrou was about to rest for a while when a maid came to report that Steward Gu had arrived.

Su Wanrou's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly said, "Please come in."

Gu An remained composed, bowing meticulously upon entering: "This old servant greets Madam."

"Butler Gu, there's no need for such formalities. Please have a seat." Su Wanrou held the old man left behind by the old master in high esteem.

Gu An thanked her for the seat and, without exchanging pleasantries, went straight to the point: "Madam, this old servant has come for two matters. First, regarding what Granny Liu from the kitchen said yesterday about the need to establish new rules for withdrawing silver."

Su Wanrou's expression turned serious: "Butler Gu, please speak."

"There have always been clear regulations for withdrawing money in the manor. The daily expenses of each household and courtyard are budgeted and paid monthly. Any additional expenses exceeding fifty taels must be reported in advance with the reason and budget, approved by the mistress, and verified by the accountant before withdrawal. This is the old rule, not a new one." Gu An spoke calmly, looking at Su Wanrou with clear eyes. "What Granny Liu said is untrue. This old servant has investigated and found that she colluded with several stewards in the kitchen to deceive the madam so that they could profit from it later. The madam handled this matter extremely well, and this old servant admires her."

His words clarified the facts and affirmed Su Wanrou's handling of the situation yesterday. Su Wanrou felt reassured and humbly replied, "Steward Gu, you flatter me. I am young and inexperienced, and I will need your guidance in the future. But I wonder, what should be done with Granny Liu and the others?"

Gu An said, “According to the rules of the manor, deceiving the master and embezzling funds should be punished with twenty strokes of the cane, dismissal, and expulsion from the manor. However,” he changed the subject, “it is important for Madam to establish authority after entering the manor, but she should not be too harsh, lest she cause unrest among the people. This old servant believes that the ringleader, Granny Liu, should be dismissed from her position as head maid and demoted to a lowly servant. The other accomplices should be fined three months' wages, as a way to observe their behavior. This way, we can both punish them and reassure them. What does Madam think?”

Su Wanrou listened attentively, secretly praising Gu An for his thorough consideration. Severely punishing Granny Liu would establish authority; a minor punishment for the accomplice would prevent widespread panic within the inner court, leaving her with a reputation for leniency. The balance was impeccable.

"Butler Gu has considered everything very well, so we will proceed as you have suggested." Su Wanrou readily agreed.

"Yes." Gu An replied, then continued, "The second matter concerns the keys and tags for the mansion. According to custom, the affairs of the inner courtyard are managed by the mistress. These are the keys and tags for the storeroom and other areas. Please check and accept them, Madam."

As he spoke, a servant behind him brought over a sandalwood tray, on which were neatly arranged strings of brass keys and tokens representing various powers.

Su Wanrou looked at the tray, her heart filled with mixed emotions. This small tray symbolized the highest management authority within the Duke's mansion. Before yesterday, these things might have been merely formalities, but after last night and this morning, she had proven through her actions that she was capable of taking on this responsibility. Gu Yangui's tacit approval and Gu An's proactive entrustment both meant that she was truly beginning to be accepted by the core of this mansion.

She stood up, solemnly took the tray, and handed it to Yun Que behind her to put away. "Thank you for your help, Steward Gu. I will need your assistance with the affairs of the inner courtyard in the future."

"This is my duty," Gu An said, bowing. "If Madam has no further instructions, I will take my leave."

After seeing Gu An off, Su Wanrou looked at the heavy tray in Yun Que's hands and felt an even greater weight on her shoulders. The transfer of power was so calm, yet so significant.

In the afternoon, after finishing her chores, Su Wanrou went to Mingxuan's study as promised, spending half an hour with him learning characters, and listening to him recite a simple poem, albeit haltingly. The child's laughter and dependence dispelled her fatigue from the morning.

As evening fell, Su Wanrou was watching the maids trimming the flowers and trees in the courtyard when she noticed a young maid, whose face she didn't recognize, standing timidly at the courtyard gate, peering out.

"What's the matter?" Yun Que asked as she stepped forward.

The young maidservant knelt down with a thud, her voice trembling with tears, "Madam, I... I am Qingxing, a maidservant in the laundry. Please, Madam, save my life!"

Su Wanrou gestured for Yun Que to help her up and said gently, "Don't be afraid, tell me slowly, what happened?"

Qingxing sobbed, “This servant…this servant accidentally ruined a brocade bed curtain that was kept as a spare in the guest quarters a few days ago. The head maid, Granny Zhang, said it was a valuable item and demanded that I pay ten taels of silver in compensation. If I couldn’t pay, she would sell me off…My parents died early, and I was sold into this household by my uncle and aunt. I have nowhere to go and can’t afford ten taels of silver…I beg you, Madam, to have mercy and forgive me this time!” As she spoke, she kowtowed again.

It's customary to compensate for damaged items during washing, according to the rules. But even a spare bed curtain in the guest quarters, made of decent materials, shouldn't be worth more than ten taels. For this old woman to ask for ten taels is clearly an attempt to extort money and bully this helpless little girl.

Su Wanrou frowned slightly. These evil spirits in the inner courtyard were truly insidious. After establishing authority, she still needed to cultivate goodwill to truly win people's hearts.

She pondered for a moment, then said to Qingxing, "Get up first. It is the rule of the manor to compensate for damaged items at their original price. But the amount of compensation must be fair. Yunque, go to the laundry room and ask Zhang Mama to bring me the damaged bed curtain. Then go to the accounting office to check the inventory price of similar items. Also, ask how similar cases have been handled in the past."

"Yes, Madam." Yun Que accepted the order and left.

Within fifteen minutes, Yun Que returned, carrying the supposedly "damaged" bed curtain—it was merely a slightly tangled thread along the edge, almost imperceptible unless one looked closely. Accompanying her was Zhang Mama, the anxious head of the laundry room.

“Madam,” Yun Que replied, “I asked the accountant, and the price of this kind of bed curtain is three taels of silver. In addition, I also asked that in the past, when ordinary items were damaged during washing, the compensation was usually paid at the original price. If the value was not high or the damage was not serious, a small deduction from the monthly salary was usually given as a minor punishment.”

Zhang Mama was sweating profusely and quickly knelt down: "Madam, please forgive me! It was...it was this old servant who misremembered the price, this old servant was confused!"

Su Wanrou looked at the bed curtain in her hand, which was almost undamaged, and then at Zhang Mama kneeling on the ground trembling and Qingxing with a look of despair. She had already made up her mind.

She placed the bed curtains aside, her voice calm yet authoritative: "Granny Zhang, as the head of the household, you have already neglected your duties by misremembering the prices of items. Furthermore, using this to intimidate the maidservant in an attempt to extort money is even more malicious. Considering this is your first offense, you will be fined three months' wages but will remain in your original position under probation. If any further injustices occur, you will not be spared!"

Zhang Mama felt as if she had been granted a pardon, and kowtowed repeatedly: "Thank you, Madam, for your mercy! Thank you, Madam, for your mercy! This old servant will never dare to do it again!"

Su Wanrou then looked at Qingxing: "Qingxing, you damaged the items unintentionally, but you are still at fault. I will fine you one month's salary as a warning to others. Can you accept this?"

Qingxing hadn't expected the punishment to be so lenient, and hurriedly kowtowed, "This servant accepts! Thank you, Madam! Thank you, Madam!" The monthly allowance was only a few hundred coins, which was a great blessing compared to the ten taels of silver and the fear of being sold off.

After dealing with the matter, Granny Zhang slunk away, and Qingxing left, profusely thanking her. Peace returned to the courtyard.

Yun Que said in a low voice, "Madam is truly kind-hearted, letting them off so easily."

Watching Qingxing's light and cheerful figure disappear outside the courtyard gate, Su Wanrou gently shook her head: "Managing a household is like governing a country; it requires both kindness and severity. Yesterday, I established authority over Granny Liu, and today I'm showing kindness to Qingxing. Severely punishing Granny Zhang and lightly punishing Qingxing is to let the people under me know that I will never tolerate deceiving superiors or abusing power, but if they are law-abiding and occasionally make minor mistakes, there is still room for leniency. Only in this way can people both fear and respect me, and work sincerely for me."

Yun Que suddenly realized, and looked at Su Wanrou with even greater admiration.

Gu Yan returned at dinner time. During the meal, he casually asked, "I heard you dealt with a young maid from the laundry room today?"

Su Wanrou's heart stirred slightly; she hadn't expected him to be so well-informed. She put down her chopsticks and briefly recounted what had happened, including her approach and considerations.

Gu Yangui listened quietly, and finally said only, "Hmm, handled well."

There were no excessive praises, but those simple words reassured and encouraged Su Wanrou more than any flowery language. She knew he approved of her actions.

As night deepened, the lights in Jinse Courtyard were warm and inviting.

Su Wanrou sat under the lamp, flipping through some of the account books Gu An had sent during the day, familiarizing herself with the various incomes and expenditures of the household. Gu Yangui sat on a chaise longue beside her, holding a book in his hand, but his gaze would occasionally fall on the slender and focused figure under the lamp.

He noticed her slightly furrowed brows as she pondered, and the earnest way she occasionally jotted something down on paper. In just a few days, the naiveté and bewilderment of a new bride seemed to have faded considerably, replaced by a calmness and a gradually emerging competence.

His young wife seems to be growing up faster than he imagined.

Perhaps it's time to expose her to more things.

Gu Yangui put down his book and suddenly spoke: "In a few days, the imperial estates in the suburbs of the capital will send in this year's autumn rent accounts. In previous years, Gu An would make a preliminary calculation and report it to me. This year, since you have taken over the internal affairs, you can take a look first."

Upon hearing this, Su Wanrou looked up in surprise. The rent from the imperial estates on the outskirts of the capital was a major source of income for the Duke's mansion, involving land, tenants, grain, and currency conversions, with complex accounts far exceeding the daily expenses of the inner courtyard. His entrusting her with such an important matter was not only a sign of trust but also a test.

Looking into Gu Yangui's calm eyes, a warm feeling and fighting spirit welled up in her heart. He did not look down on her because she was young and a second wife; on the contrary, he gave her room to maneuver.

"Yes, my lord." Su Wanrou met his gaze and replied clearly and firmly, "I will certainly check carefully and live up to your expectations."

Gu Yangui nodded slightly, picked up the book again, and a very faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

Establishing authority is just the beginning. The road to becoming the true mistress of the Duke's mansion is still long. But at this moment, under the red candlelight, the couple are each doing their own thing, and a quiet warmth, called "trust" and "support," flows in the air.

End of Chapter 15