"This..." Liu racked her brains, stammering, trying to think of a tactful way to remind her, "Oh, let me be blunt. Now that Madam has handed the shop over to the concubine, if the concubine doesn't achieve something and prove her abilities, how can Madam continue to entrust the shop to you?"
Chen Mianmian was completely confused. "What would I need so many shops for? They're not mine."
"..." Liu Shi.
"Putting aside whether I have the ability or not, let's just say that no matter how well I do, I'm still just a concubine. All I need to do is serve the young master well, right? I didn't even want to take over this rouge shop; it was the young master who insisted that I take it."
"..." Liu Shi.
“I have no interest in doing business, nor do I have much desire for money. I just want to live a quiet life, eat my fill every day, run and jump around for a while, and then come back to read books and write. Isn’t that a good day? Why do I have to run a shop?”
"..." Liu was speechless, because what Aunt Shen said made a lot of sense.
Chen Mianmian smiled and waved her hand, "Alright, if there's nothing else, Steward Liu can go back now. Just run the shop the same way you did before. Come to me whenever you used to report to Madam. I'll go with you to report to Madam."
"..." Liu Shi—no, shall we go together to report to Madam? Then who owns this shop? Will you manage it or will Madam manage it?
Finally, with no other option, and with Aunt Shen insisting, Liu had to leave.
After Liu left.
Chen Mianmian then returned to her room to practice calligraphy.
Hanrong asked, "Auntie, shall we prepare bathwater?"
"No need, I'm going to exercise tonight, I'll just take a shower before bed."
"Yes, Aunt."
"There's nothing for you to do here. You and Guanshui can go and rest. Just come back before lunch."
"Alright, then this servant will take her leave."
"Go."
Soon, the room was empty except for Shen Mianmian and Bai Qingzhou.
Chen Mianmian walked to the window and, through a slightly angled view, could just see a figure hurrying out of the courtyard.
Bai Qingzhou also walked over, frowning as she stared at the fleeting figure outside the window. "She went to the Peony Courtyard to deliver a message?"
The person the two were looking at was Han Rong.
“That’s pretty much it,” Chen Mianmian said with a smile. “Every time Hanrong goes to report on the situation, Jiang Yinjin gives her money. I’m also helping Hanrong create opportunities to get rich. I’m truly a rare living bodhisattva.”
Bai Qingzhou asked in confusion, "How did you know?"
Chen Mianmian raised an eyebrow. "I guessed."
Of course, I read it from the novel. In the novel, it says that Hanrong gets a reward every time she reports a situation. If it's a valuable report, she gets five taels of silver.
The information wasn't particularly valuable; it was just a few words from her, worth a few ounces.
Two ounces, that's quite a lot! It's equivalent to two months' worth of Hanrong's monthly allowance.
Sometimes when she had nothing to do, she would grab Hanrong and say some vague and ambiguous things, then wait for Hanrong to report back and swindle Jiang Yinjin out of her money.
Just thinking about it makes me happy.
...
Peony Courtyard.
With a mix of trepidation and excitement, Hanrong arrived at the Peony Courtyard and recounted everything that had just happened to the young mistress.
With each word I uttered, my heart felt incredibly heavy.
Jiang Yinjin listened quietly, then looked up and asked, "Anything else?"
Hanrong replied respectfully, "No, Madam. If you don't believe me, you can ask someone to go to Ranran Rouge Shop and ask Manager Liu."
Jiang Yinjin paused for a moment, "I didn't disbelieve you, it's..."
She didn't say what came next, but everyone could tell—this Aunt Shen was too strange! How could there be a concubine in this world who didn't fight or compete?
You should know that if you manage the business well and gain the favor of the lady, you will have more power and more say in the Marquis's mansion in the future.
Chu Xue couldn't help but ask, "Young Madam, could Aunt Shen be plotting something?"
Chu Yu immediately winked at Chu Xue, reminding her that Han Rong was still there.
Hanrong lowered her head, feeling disgusted. She had served her aunt for so long, and she could see everything her aunt said and did. Her aunt was such a kind person who did not fight or compete. Why did she become a conspiracy in the mouths of these people?
Don't they know who's behind this conspiracy?
If the young mistress were upright and honest, would she bribe the maids in other people's courtyards?
Jiang Yinjin pondered for a while, puzzled, before realizing that Hanrong hadn't left yet. "Chuxue, let's see Hanrong off."
"Yes, young mistress." Chu Xue immediately took out the prepared silver and saw Han Rong out.
Once everyone was gone, Chu Yu whispered, "Young Madam, do you think Han Rong might be hiding something from us?"
"Won't."
"Why?" Chu Yu asked in surprise.
Jiang Yinjin raised an eyebrow slightly, "Because I had someone keep an eye on her family's expenses. If the Shen family wants to bribe Hanrong, they will definitely need money, so her family's expenses will change."
"I see! Young Madam is truly a brilliant strategist!" Chu Yu praised sincerely.
Jiang Yinjin smiled and shook her head, not continuing the topic, but instead picked up a visiting card.
The envelope of the visiting card was signed: Xuanping Marquis's Residence.
Chu Yu complained, "The Marquis of Xuanping's family is shameless. They harmed the Marquis of Anning's family, and only a few days later, they actually came knocking on our door. Do you think Madam will receive the Marquis of Changning's wife and Young Master Huo and his wife after such a big incident?"
Jiang Yinjin said calmly, "Whether Madam receives you or not depends on my persuasion."
"What you say is true, young mistress. So, young mistress, what do you think? Should we receive them?"
Jiang Yinjin took the visiting card, sat up from the chair, and walked around the room.
After wandering around for a while, he finally stopped, a wicked smile spreading across his face. "To receive you, of course we must receive you."
...
Two days later.
Early in the morning, two good children who go to bed early, get up early, and exercise regularly did not go to the martial arts training ground. Instead, after having breakfast, they changed their clothes and waited quietly.
Today is the day that Lady Xuanping, accompanied by her second son Huo Rang and his wife Lady Deng, is visiting the residence of Marquis Anning.
Of course, there was also an element of him personally visiting to apologize.
In this matter, the Marquis of Xuanping's family was indeed in the wrong. Even though the two families had been at odds before, the Marquis of Changning felt that this was going too far, so he asked his wife to bring Huo Rang over.
The movement of women can soften a tense atmosphere.
Chen Mianmian was playing cards with Bai Qingzhou to pass the time when Guan Shui hurriedly came in. "Young Master, Madam, the people from the Marquis of Xuanping's residence have arrived. Madam requests your presence."
"Ah, we've arrived?" Shen Mianmian pouted, looking at Bai Qingzhou with pitiful eyes. "Young Master, you go and entertain the guests yourself, can I stay home and be lazy?"
As a modern person, she really didn't want to rack her brains and speak in official jargon like people from ancient times.
Moreover, this meeting is definitely a double trap!
Why is it called the Double Feast at Hongmen?
Because Huo Rang framed Bai Shizi, it's clear that the two families are enemies. When they meet, even if they don't fight face to face, there will be plenty of hidden tensions.
Besides, Jiang Yinjin might even secretly harm her.
Therefore, two major bosses, two Hongmen Banquets.
Bai Qingzhou held Chen Mianmian's hand affectionately, "Okay, then we won't go. Neither of us will go."
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