Chapter 2: The Ninth Year of Chengde
In the ninth year of Chengde in Dayin, early March.
Dark cumulus clouds hung over Bianjing for several days, and the spring rain was slow to fall. Instead, a late spring snowstorm arrived, rustling and covering the sky.
Snowflakes mixed with cold wind tore open the sky, and a heavy snow fell extremely heavily.
The Mansion of Marquis Yongyi, East Garden.
The main house seemed to be separated from the cold weather outside.
The room with the heating on the ground was filled with soft warmth, and the aroma wafting from the purple gold incense burner filled the room with a hot and rich smell.
"The young lady has been liking this kind of strong fragrance these past two days." Yunniang outside and Cuizhi beside her whispered.
Cuizhi nodded: "I have been quite lazy about the things that Madam arranged."
"You should be slacking off. Our young lady has only been married into this mansion for a few days, and her mother-in-law has already been arranging for her to be busy like a top. The other day, our young lady checked the accounts all night, and they were all bad. This mansion of the Marquis of Yongyi is truly a splendid exterior with rotten rags inside." Yunniang said with a soft "Puh!" "The young lady is still thinking of using her dowry to cover those bad debts. It's a good thing she's been ill, so she hasn't been called by the Madam to take care of household chores these past two days."
Cuizhi tugged at Yunniang's sleeve, signaling her to stop talking, and her eyes continued to look towards the moon door in the inner room.
Yunniang understood and followed Cuizhi's gaze. She immediately put down her needlework and stood up. She lifted the veil and saw a woman in her inner garment without makeup glancing at her.
"Young Madam, why did you get up? Do you feel better?" Yunniang is five years older than Xie Rongying, and she was the one who raised Xie Rongying.
Many times she was much more casual than Cuizhi in front of this master.
"Much better." Xie Rongying walked out of the inner room. When the maid in the outer room saw her coming out, her back immediately straightened.
Cuizhi came forward and helped Xie Rongying to sit down at the main seat, saying, "Young Madam, I will go to the small kitchen to prepare food."
At this time, Yunniang put the hand warmer in Xie Rongying's hand and was about to remind her not to catch a cold when the heavy door curtain was lifted.
Yunniang looked at the person who came and couldn't help but frown.
"Greetings, Young Madam." Madam Yuan first bowed to Xie Rongying, who was seated at the main seat, and then said, "Madam said that Young Madam has rested for three days and should be feeling better. All matters within the mansion still depend on Young Madam's decision."
Just as Yunniang was about to speak, she heard her master's cold voice: "Why, before I married into the Yongyi Marquis's mansion, there was no one in the mansion who made decisions?"
"What?" Disbelief flashed in Yuan's mother's eyes.
"Please tell my mother that my daughter-in-law is too weak to handle household affairs herself." Xie Rongying's eyes flashed with contempt, and she smiled again, "Please take the household accounts back with you, too."
As he spoke, Xie Rongying glanced at Cuizhi and ordered, "Go get those account books."
"Yes." Cuizhi immediately walked out of the main house and headed towards the study.
Mother Yuan frowned slightly, questioning in her tone, "What does the young lady mean by this? The lady entrusted the household affairs to you because she values the young lady. How could the young lady disappoint the lady? You, you are doing this..."
"Is it disobeying the elders?" Xie Rongying interrupted Mother Yuan, lowered her eyes to look at the delicate white hands holding the hand warmer, and the curve of her lips became deeper and deeper.
At this time, the Yongyi Marquis Mansion was like a towering tree standing between heaven and earth. Although it seemed unshakable, its roots and interior had actually been corroded and rotted by termites.
The reason why it did not collapse was simply because the ancestor of the Yongyi Marquisate created a title of founding minister to support it.
"After getting married, you should obey your husband, respect your elders, and share the household chores with your mother-in-law. Does the young lady still need me to preach these principles? Madam handed over the power of the family to the young lady because she trusts her. What does the young lady mean now?" Mother Yuan was a little confused. A few days ago, Xie Rongying was still so strong that she wanted to take care of the affairs of the mansion. Why did she just throw up her hands and refuse to do anything now?
Is it because he was sick these two days and the young marquis didn't come to visit him, so he is angry?
"Mother Yuan, I've already told you that I'm frail and can't handle the household duties. Mother has always been considerate and wouldn't let her daughter-in-law work so hard." Xie Rongying gently stroked the hand warmer, her tone unquestionable. "Could it be that Mother Yuan is so anxious for me to take care of household affairs because she wants me to use my dowry to make up for the losses in the account books?"
Mother Yuan was shocked.
Some things can be left on the surface for the world to judge.
Some things can never see the light of day. The accounts of the Yongyi Marquis' Mansion are bad debts and cannot be put on the surface, let alone using the daughter-in-law's dowry to fill those deficits.
Although the marriage between the Yongyi Marquis Mansion and the Xie family was partly due to their eye on the Xie family's wealth, how could such a thing be said out loud?
"Young Madam, please be careful with your words." Madam Yuan's mind was raised, and she changed the subject: "The border has been uneasy these past two days, and the young marquis has been leaving early and returning late, neglecting you. Please don't take it to heart."
Xie Rongying, who originally had a gentle expression, suddenly turned cold when she heard the name of the young marquis.
She asked, "Is there no peace at the border?"
Seeing that Xie Rongying was indeed interested in the young marquis' affairs, Mother Yuan smiled a little, "Yes, as the Crown Prince's confidant, the young marquis naturally wants to help him solve his problems, which is why he neglected the young lady."
I thought that after explaining these things, the attitude would change, but I didn't expect Xie Rongying's attitude to remain the same.
The woman in the main seat sighed coldly, "As a man, the young marquis naturally cares about the affairs of his country. As his wife, I can't help him in any way. If I drag my frail body to cause chaos at home, wouldn't I only add to the trouble for the young marquis? Please ask Madam Yuan to take the account book to my mother and the young marquis and tell them that I will help mother with her worries once I recover."
After saying this, Xie Rongying coughed a few times symbolically.
Yunniang understood and immediately patted Xie Rongying's back gently, whispering, "Young Madam, let me help you go and rest."
Xie Rongying nodded and stood up.
When Mother Yuan saw this, her face turned a little embarrassed. The lady had wanted to take advantage of Xie Rongying's competitive spirit to let Xie Rongying quickly get to know the affairs of the Marquis' Mansion so that she could throw the mess to Xie Rongying.
After Xie Rongying became completely familiar with the situation, all the affairs in the Marquis' Mansion fell on Xie Rongying's shoulders. Coupled with the means of the eldest daughter of the Xie family and the dowry given by the Xie family, filling the bad debts of the Marquis' Mansion was just a piece of cake.
What's wrong? Something's wrong after being sick for two days?
"Madam Yuan, let me help you return the account book to Madam." Cuizhi naturally knew what her master meant. She held the account book and stared at Madam Yuan with a smile.
Mother Yuan looked into the inner room, glanced at Cuizhi, and left with a bad look on her face.
When the outer room quieted down, Yunniang's puzzled voice was heard from the inner room of the main house.
"Why did the young lady's attitude suddenly change?" If Yunniang remembered correctly, when the lady handed over the account books and household supplies of the mansion to her young lady, her young lady promised to manage the mansion well.
Firstly, she wanted to gain a foothold in the mansion, after all, she had just married into the Marquis's mansion.
Secondly, she also wanted to please her mother-in-law, cater to her husband, and not become a laughing stock in Bianjing.
It was just less than half a month after the marriage, and the girl's attitude changed.
Xie Rongying walked over to the beauty's bed, holding a hand warmer. As if she had thought of something, she chuckled and said, "I read a play in a storybook a few days ago. In it, the mistress was so happy to be the head of the household that she was willing to pay for the mansion's deficit out of her own pocket for her husband. But in the end, her husband got a concubine and favored her over his wife, and she was still discarded like a worn-out shoe."
She turned to look at Yunniang and said, "Look around, where are the flowers blooming in the bright day? In the end, they are just discarded after their death. Sincerity cannot be exchanged for sincerity. Instead of being trapped by so many shackles, it is better to follow the will of heaven and live a more casual life."
Yunniang's eyes flashed with surprise when she heard this, but she said worriedly, "This lady obviously wants you to take on the mess in the mansion. If you return the account book today, the lady will definitely be dissatisfied."
"If you are looked down upon by your mother-in-law, your reputation will be..."
Xie Rongying looked at Yunniang, who seemed to be hesitant to speak, and chuckled, "Compared to my reputation, I think the Yongyi Marquis' Mansion is more afraid of their reputation in Bianjing."
——
Compared with the East Garden, which was decorated with joy for the newlyweds, the North Courtyard of the Yongyi Marquis's Mansion looked much more elegant.
Even the bare branches in the courtyard curled up in front of the gray wall look particularly poetic.
Mother Yuan walked into the North Courtyard with anger, her steps were very fast, as if she was venting her dissatisfaction brought back from the East Courtyard.
As soon as she arrived in front of the main hall, Mother Yuan slowed down her pace and said to Cuizhi behind her, "Wait a moment, I'll go inform the Madam."
Cuizhi bowed and said, "Yes."
Mother Yuan lifted the heavy door curtain and walked in. Not long after, Mother Yuan came out again and said, "Please go back and tell the young lady that the mistress said that these account books have fallen into the hands of the young lady, and the young lady must deal with them cleanly. This is the style of the eldest daughter-in-law of the Yongyi Marquis's mansion."
Cuizhi frowned: "But the young lady's health is really not suitable for handling such tedious matters now."
"Then wait until the young lady recovers." Mother Yuan finally vented her anger. "Does the young lady really want to disobey her elders?"
Cuizhi was so suppressed by the word "disobeying elders" that she dared not refute and said, "I will take my leave."
In the main hall, a beautiful woman sat at the main seat, holding a hand warmer in her hands. She leaned slightly against the table, her red lips slightly raised. As she watched Mother Yuan reenter, she chuckled softly and said, "Now is the time to properly discipline her. Some emotions are normal. In time, Xie will surely become the most advantageous pawn in the Marquis' Mansion."
Madam Yuan sighed softly, "Madam, the Young Madam must be giving up her job like this because she is dissatisfied with the Young Marquis's attitude. You should persuade the Young Marquis to spend more time with the Young Madam so that she can devote herself to running the Marquis's mansion."
"This bride needs to temper herself. If she needs a man to deal with and appease her every time she gets a little tantrum, won't she trample on men and act wildly in the future?" Jiang chuckled and expressed her attitude: "Marrying Xie has already wronged my son. Now that Xie is married, how can she still wrong my son?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Yuan sighed slightly, stepped forward, held up the teacup, and placed it before Jiang, saying, "I understand what you mean, Madam. However, if you continue to let the young marquis and the young mistress continue like this, I'm afraid it will backfire."
Jiang glanced at Mother Yuan, put down the hand warmer, took the teacup from her hand, and chuckled, "Don't worry, I know Xie Rongying's personality inside out. Even without my son, she would still be able to gain a foothold in the mansion. She has a strong personality, is resourceful, and lives within the rules and regulations. Even if she is wronged, she won't let others know. After all, she has a better reputation than anyone else."
As she spoke, Jiang Shimin took a sip of her tea, and as if she remembered something, she smiled meaningfully: "She has already entered the gate of my mansion, but she is still at the mercy of our Qin family."
"As long as Madam is confident," Mother Yuan reminded carefully, "The Marquis will be returning to the capital soon, so we should resolve the affairs of the mansion as soon as possible."
When Jiang heard the words "The Marquis will be back soon," her gentle eyes instantly turned cold, and she sneered, "This man is really interesting. He didn't come back for his son's wedding, but now he's back."
"Madam, you'd better be careful." Mother Yuan reminded.
Jiang put down the teacup and looked up at Yuan Mama: "When will Junyi return home?"
Mother Yuan pondered for a moment and said, "It's afternoon."
"Send someone to the front yard and ask Junyi to come to me after he comes back." Jiang ordered.
"yes."
——
At the beginning of the afternoon, the cold wind had become much weaker, but it still blew against the window.
Xie Rongying frowned in her sleep. Since her legs became inconvenient, the most difficult time was winter. The sore and painful feeling spread across her legs. The sound of the cold wind hitting the window made her think that she was still trapped in the twilight years.
The panic and numbness of being in the miserable rain made her suddenly open her eyes.
The window had been blown open a crack by the cold wind. She stood up and moved her light legs, and the heavy stone in her heart felt even heavier.
She pushed the window open completely, letting the cold wind blow in, and looked at the prosperous scene in the courtyard.
He sneered and whispered, "Haven't you heard that time is like a galloping horse, and the sun and the moon are like falling flowers and flowing water? How can people not grow old?"
But there is always a way out. As long as she wants to leave, any shackles and fetters are useless.
She let the cold wind blow her messy hair and glanced at the account book on the pear blossom round table. She knew in her previous life that Jiang was a hypocritical person.
At that time, she thought that everyone would prosper together and suffer together. Even if Jiang was very calculating, he would not be too harsh on her, so she turned a blind eye to Jiang's actions.
But until the end, no one knew how cruel and ruthless the Jiang mother and son were to her.
"Young Madam!" Yunniang walked in and saw Xie Rongying standing by the window, distracted. She immediately went forward and closed the window: "It's only cold now, how can you let the wind blow?"
Xie Rongying came back to her senses and asked, "Is my fourth uncle still in Bianjing?"
As time passed, she could no longer remember what happened before her marriage in her previous life.
As Yunniang put her coat on Xie Rongying, she replied, "The Fourth Master is still at home. Why did you suddenly mention the Fourth Master?"
"Write a letter and ask Fourth Uncle to meet with me privately."
Yunniang looked up at Xie Rongying in surprise: "Miss, isn't it the Fourth Master who dislikes being lazy the most?"
"I just don't like him doing nothing, but Fourth Uncle is well versed in military tactics and is skilled at leading troops in battle. We can't let his talents be buried because of Grandmother's decision." As Xie Rongying spoke, he grasped Yunniang's shoulders and chuckled, "The border is in turmoil. Isn't this a good opportunity for the Xie family to make a name for themselves?"
Yunniang looked up at the meaningful smile in her girl's eyes, and there was an indescribable cunning in her eyes.
Xie Rongying: "The ranking of the Xie and Qin families' status needs to be overturned and re-evaluated."
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