Chapter 111
Chapter 111: Luo Ning’s Plans
The summer retreat villa was very comfortable. The wind was cool in both the mornings and evenings, as if it were already mid-autumn.
Those who had come with Old Madam were the Big Young Madam, Madam Wen, and her little son Luo Li Qin, their cousin Luo Wan, the Third Madam, and the pregnant Concubine Song.
The old, the young, and the pregnant could not stand the summer heat. The other people of the Marquis Manor also wanted to come, but after thinking it over, Luo Ning refused.
She stayed for five days. Her heart kept thinking about Qiu Shi Dong entering the capital, and she could not calm down, so she decided to go down the mountain and return to the manor.
Before leaving, she first spoke to her grandmother: “You stay here until the weather turns cool in autumn. I will come pick you up right before the Mid-Autumn Festival.”
Then she said to the Third Madam: “Aunt, please take good care of Grandmother and the younger ones. Everything here will depend on you, Aunt.”
Though she said so, Luo Ning did not really trust her very much.
Luo Ning told her cousin Luo Wan: “You help sister-in-law look after the child more and let sister-in-law be in charge. Sister-in-law will arrange everything properly. If anyone causes trouble, send your maidservant back to the manor at once to tell me.”
She also instructed Concubine Song: “Take good care of your pregnancy. There are still two months before you give birth. Nothing is more important than the child in your belly.”
Everyone agreed.
Only then did Luo Ning leave the mountain and return to the Marquis of Zhen Nan Manor.
The city was still unbearably hot and stifling.
In her heart, she felt grateful to Prince Yong for giving her such a residence, so that her grandmother could enjoy some comfort. In such burning heat, the old lady really could not endure it.
Luckily, the truly scorching days did not last long.
On the second day after Luo Ning returned to the manor, a heavy rain fell from morning to night.
The drainage in Shengjing City was not good, and deep water pooled in the Marquis of Zhen Nan Manor as well.
In the middle of the yard of Wenqi Courtyard, water gathered into large puddles. Luo Ning and the others stood under the eaves watching the rain.
Nanny Kong said: “It should start to get cooler now.”
Luo Ning said: “Even if it gets hot again later, it will be bearable.”
Nanny Kong lowered her voice and said: “I heard the Marchioness fell ill with a heat fever and also wants to go to the estate. Second Madam asked Lord Marquis, but Lord Marquis refused.”
She sighed again and said: “Lord Marquis is very disappointed in her, especially after she beat the Second Young Master. She was not like this before.”
The Marchioness had once been gentle, dignified, capable, and sharp. Even if she did not smile all the time, in the hearts of the servants she was kind and good.
Luo Ning said: “She used to be calm and composed.”
Nanny Kong said: “Yes, the Marchioness used to treat the servants very kindly. Only Nanny Zhen by her side was vicious.”
Luo Ning smiled.
He and Yin, the two nursemaids, also smiled, but at the same time they thought to themselves that the maidservants and steward nanny at Luo Ning’s side were all a bit naive.
As the Marchioness’s first trusted aide, how could Nanny Zhen be kind? All the evil deeds that the household matriarch could not do herself, she would send Nanny Zhen to handle. Nanny Zhen was a sharp knife, so of course it was stained with blood.
Luo Ning said: “…Facing setbacks can change a person beyond recognition.”
The blows the Marchioness had suffered were not much worse than what Luo Ning had gone through in her past life.
Even so, these blows had crushed the Marchioness. All her former dignity and grace were gone without a trace.
Nanny Kong went on: “The two concubines by Lord Marquis’s side have been very arrogant lately. They even want to go out strolling often.”
Luo Ning’s heart tightened.
Those two were beauties, they were fighters, and they were also bridges.
Qiu Shi Dong should have already entered the capital by now, right?
He could not have come alone. Most likely Luo Ning’s uncle, Bai Yu Lin, would also be arriving in the capital city soon.
For Qiu Shi Dong to do big things and compete for the post of Imperial Merchant, the Bai Family would be his first support. They not only had to cover for Madam Bai and Bai Ci Rong, but also hoped to get a share of the profits.
Luo Ning pondered for a moment.
When the rain stopped at dusk, Luo Ning went to the second branch’s courtyard to find Second Madam.
The Marchioness was under house arrest, and the Big Young Madam had gone up the mountain with her child to escape the heat. For now, Second Madam was managing the household, with Nanny Ge helping her.
Because of the heavy rain today, many matters had not been settled during the day. By dusk, lamps were already lit in Second Madam’s side room, and several stewardesses were there giving their reports.
Luo Ning waited for a short while.
Then she said: “Aunt, please send a trusted aide to help me with something. It must be someone you can truly trust.”
Second Madam said: “The Nurse Song by my side is trustworthy.”
Luo Ning said: “Then let it be Nurse Song. Ask her to make a trip to Guanghua Temple.”
She told Second Madam in detail what she wanted done and asked her to pass the message on to Nurse Song.
Second Madam was filled with doubt and surprise, but she did not hesitate. She ordered Nurse Song at once to go and do it.
Two days later, Nurse Song returned from Guanghua Temple. Two women and a girl of about seven years old followed beside her.
Nurse Song said: “These are the two madams of the Dou Family. They insisted on coming in person to thank you.”
In these past few days there had been a dharma assembly at Guanghua Temple. Nurse Song had gone to light an everlasting lamp there on behalf of Second Madam. It was cooler on the mountain, so many people and peddlers had gone up to join the lively scene and enjoy the fresh air.
Human traffickers had mixed in with the crowds.
Nurse Song, who served by Second Madam’s side, had saved a girl whom the traffickers had hidden inside a wine barrel.
The girl had gone missing in the morning and was not found until three hours later. During those three long hours, the Fourth Madam of the Dou Family had believed there was no hope left and had almost dashed her head against the wall to kill herself.
Nurse Song had saved the lives of both mother and daughter.
After the girl was found and the traffickers were caught, the Dou madams clung to Nurse Song and would not let her leave. They insisted on thanking her.
Nurse Song only said that she was just a maidservant. If Madam Dou was truly grateful, she should go and give thanks to her masters.
The surprise on Second Madam’s face was not fake. She said: “…It was a narrow escape. Your young miss is very blessed.”
The Fourth Madam of the Dou Family still had not recovered from her fright. On hearing this, she began to weep bitterly right in front of Second Madam.
Every year, girls went missing at the market. Those from ordinary families who could not read were sold far away as maidservants. Those who could read usually ended up in the brothels.
In times like these, being literate was often worth more than beauty. As long as she was not too ugly, a literate entertainer would be more highly sought after.
The young lady of the Dou Family could of course read and write.
Those three hours of searching had torn the Fourth Madam’s soul apart.
Now she was full of fear.
Second Madam handed her a handkerchief and said: “Don’t cry, don’t cry.”
While they were crying and sobbing, Luo Ning arrived.
She carried in a bowl of chilled jelly cake and said: “Aunt, try this… Oh, you have guests?”
When Madam Dou and the others had entered the manor, Second Madam had quietly sent someone to inform Luo Ning.
Luo Ning had come so quickly and had even brought food, which showed that she had been waiting for this.
Second Madam smiled and said: “These are the two madams of the Dou Family. This is Prince Yong’s intended consort.”
The two madams of the Dou Family were stunned. They hurriedly stood up to salute. One of them, whose eyes were red from crying, pulled her daughter along to bow again.
Luo Ning asked: “Which Dou Family are you from?”
The Fourth Madam of the Dou Family felt ashamed in front of Luo Ning and hardly dared to raise her head. She said: “Our family does some business.”
Luo Ning said: “I heard that in Cheng Prefecture, which is famous for producing Cheng Yan inkstones, there is a great merchant whose family lives in Shengjing City, and their surname is Dou. Are you related to them?”
The Fourth Madam of the Dou Family forgot to cry. She looked at Luo Ning with surprise and joy and said: “Miss, you know Cheng Yan?”
Luo Ning said: “Cheng Yan is famous all under heaven, of course I know it. And the biggest business in Cheng Yan inkstones belongs to Madam Dou.”
The First Madam of the Dou Family quickly added: “Miss, you flatter us. That humble shop is indeed ours.”
Luo Ning said: “With such fine inkstones, why not present them to Your Majesty?”
The Fourth Madam stared at her in surprise.
Was this young miss someone who did not understand the ways of the world?
Did she think that anyone could simply offer things from their own home straight to the Emperor?
But the First Madam felt her heart stir.
In business, a good chance comes suddenly and only for a short time.
The First Madam immediately knelt down and kowtowed to Luo Ning with sincere respect. She said: “We have always wanted to show our respect to Your Majesty, but sadly we have had no way to do so. Princess Consort, could you perhaps help us? Everyone in the Dou Family would be endlessly grateful.”
The Fourth Madam thought: “…”
She was so embarrassed she wanted to find a hole and crawl into it.
People always said her sister-in-law was very greedy and good at scheming. It was really true.
The precious daughter of the Marquis of Zhen Nan Manor, Prince Yong’s intended consort, was such a noble lady. She had only spoken casually out of politeness, and yet her sister-in-law had the nerve to kneel and beg for help.
This was really shameless.
The Fourth Madam felt so awkward that her whole body prickled. She could neither sit nor stand.
The manor’s maidservant had just saved her daughter, and now her sister-in-law was already asking for a favor, not even bothering with a few polite phrases first. This could almost be called “repaying kindness with demands.”
The room grew quiet.
Second Madam and the maidservants all looked at the First Madam of the Dou Family, their expressions changing again and again.
But Luo Ning only smiled and helped her up. She said: “You really are a straightforward person. Get up first, and we can talk slowly.”
Everyone: “…”