Chapter 112

It started raining at night and it still didn't stop when I woke up in the morning.

The trees in the courtyard were drenched in rain, their greenness growing stronger. The ground was littered with fallen branches and leaves from the previous night's wind. She stepped on the dead pine branches, and the hem of her blue skirt was stained a deep blue by the rain. The maid bowed when she saw her, opened the study curtain, and invited her in.

Yining felt a damp and cool breeze blowing, and when he looked outside he realized that the rain had not stopped yet.

Songzhi bowed to her and said, "Miss, the steward is here to ask you. He said that the Duke usually collects the rent from the farm at this time, but this year the harvest is late. Do you think it is possible to postpone it a little..."

Old Master Wei had fought alongside the late emperor in battles, leading a distinguished life and accumulating considerable wealth. Even by the time of Wei Ling's generation, the family fortune had remained intact, and the Wei family's wealth had grown even richer.

It had always been Wei Ling who controlled Yining, but she had only glimpsed a small part. Now, with her in charge, she realized how terrifying it was. Over the years, the accumulated land holdings amounted to over 3,000 acres, spread across the suburbs of Beijing, Baoding, Baodi, and Tongzhou. There were countless properties, land deeds, and various gold artifacts and antiques. Even Wei Ling himself probably couldn't keep track of the total. No wonder he was so lavish; he truly was rich. Only then did Yining realize the huge difference between official families and noble families. Of course, Wei Ling was one of the best among them; few other noble families could match his wealth.

Managing such a large estate was no joke. She only now realized that Wei Ling hadn't really given her any of this before, fearing she wouldn't be able to handle it.

Yining had barely slept the previous night, and her eyes were a pale blue. She put down her pen, wiped her hands with the maid's warm handkerchief, and asked, "Is the steward waiting?"

"I'm waiting for you in the main hall."

The maid held an umbrella and escorted Yining to the main hall. A light rain was drizzling, and the bluestone road was also wet. Steward Li was waiting in the main hall, drinking tea. He was wearing a silk flowered robe, with a plump face and a ready account book in his hand. He bowed to her and handed her the account book: "Take a look, this is the rent from Baoding in previous years. The Duke has always been kind to the tenants. We only collect 30% of the rent, while other farms charge 40% or 50%... The weather is not good this year. I think we should raise the rent, otherwise we may not be able to collect the amount of last year."

The Wei family owns more than a thousand acres of land in Baoding. The farmland there is fertile and the income is huge.

Yi Ning sealed the account book. Since the old lady was ill, almost all matters came to her. Those who were honest were fine. Those with cunning minds, seeing her youth, deceived her and assumed she was ignorant. Yi Ning then said, "The weather is bad this year, and everyone's harvest is bad. We already have to pay rent for renting the land, and if we increase the rent, I'm afraid there will be complaints."

Wei Ling had previously collected less rent in order to build a good reputation. And now that he'd just gotten into trouble, how could he possibly add fuel to the Wei family's fire?

Manager Li laughed and joked, "You're wrong! Those tenants are very smart. Other families are paying 40% or 50% rent, what's there to argue about? If you don't raise the rent this year, our harvest will be less. You don't understand these things, so it's right to leave it to me. Otherwise, the Duke will blame you for not doing your job well when he comes back..."

"I don't agree with the rent increase." Yi Ning shook her head, closed the account book and handed it to him. "If you don't have anything else to say, please leave."

Manager Li was slightly taken aback. He had originally thought the girl was ignorant and could only let him make the decision. He continued, "If the Duke comes back and blames me..."

"If my father blames me, it's me, not you." Yi Ning interrupted him. This steward Li has been serving the Wei family since the old master was alive. Now, relying on his respectability in the mansion, he dares to argue with his master. She smiled and said, "Steward Li, my words still count, don't they? You are the one who manages the land in the mansion, and everyone is looking up to you."

Upon hearing this, Steward Li smiled and bowed, "Your words will certainly work. I'll just go and give the orders!" The young lady's words were both an overt and covert threat to him. Managing the farm was a lucrative job, free from the need to answer to the master's orders, and with so many benefits, who wouldn't be vying for it?

The maid sent Li Guanshi out, and Yining had just had a sip of tea when someone came to report that Ting'er had returned from the garrison and had been taken to Old Madam Wei first.

When Yi Ning arrived at Old Lady Wei's place, she saw her holding Ting'er. She stroked her grandson's hair in silence, feeling the pain of losing this one bloodline to the Wei family. Ting'er was still a little confused; he was still young and didn't quite understand what it meant to lose his father.

When Tingger saw Yining coming in, he threw himself into Yining's arms and called her sister.

Mother Song came in and announced that Wei's cousin, Mrs. Xu, was here.

Old Master Wei had only one son, Wei Ling, but he also had a younger brother, who had a son, Wei Ying. Wei Ying was now the commander of a garrison, a third-rank military officer. This Xu was Wei Ying's wife. Yining had seen Xu twice: once when she was included in the family tree, and again during last year's Lunar New Year. Since the family had separated, their interactions were rare. She must have rushed here after hearing about Wei Ling's misfortune.

A moment later, a woman entered, escorted by maids. She wore a simple, elegant, okra-colored brocade jacket. As a sign of respect, she wore only a jade hairpin in her hair. Two people followed her: the boy, a head taller than her, dressed in a blue Chengzi robe and about fifteen or sixteen years old. The girl, about eleven or twelve, wore a lilac-colored jacket with a twined branch pattern. Together, they bowed to the old lady.

The maid brought a round stool and placed it beside Old Madam Wei's bed, but Xu Shi didn't sit down. Instead, she took Old Madam Wei's hand and said, "After learning about the Duke of Yingguo's situation, the Second Master told me to come quickly. I brought Yi'er and Jia'er here to pay my respects to you... Old Madam, please don't get too angry, as this mansion still depends on you. Ting'er is still young... Alas, how could such a thing happen!"

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