Chapter 113
Chapter 113: Luo Ning Acts Spoiled
In the Marquis of Zhen Nan’s manor, the household was managed by Second Madam.
Within half a month, the two concubines the Bai Family had sent to the Marquis of Zhen Nan often left the manor, either to pray at temples or to buy things at the market.
The Marquis of Zhen Nan doted on the two of them and did not restrict them much.
During this time, Bai Ci Rong went out twice. Both times she used the excuse of buying tonic medicine for Madam Bai.
Luo Ning immediately knew: [Qiu Shi Dong has already been in the capital for half a month.]
But Qiu Shi Dong had not appeared yet and had not met Madam Bai, because they were missing a person who could make things proper and aboveboard, namely Luo Ning’s uncle, Bai Yu Lin.
Luo Ning thought to herself: [When Bai Ci Rong panicked and acted without thinking, she called Qiu Shi Dong over ahead of time. Uncle probably will not arrive so quickly. They are waiting for Uncle.]
Madam Bai was still confined. Otherwise, they would have found a way to meet at least once.
Now, they were only waiting for Qiu Shi Dong to arrive at the manor.
After going out, when Luo Ning returned and looked at the towering gatehouse and imposing main doors of the Marquis of Zhen Nan’s manor, a strange feeling rose in her heart.
[Who would not want such a luxurious estate? They would fight with everything they had to get it.]
For the sake of helping his son inherit the marquis manor, Qiu Shi Dong would not care about the life of anyone in the Luo Family. They would kill without hesitation.
Fortunately, Luo Yin was dead, and Luo You was not actually Qiu Shi Dong’s son, though they did not know that yet. They still had hope, and they would still fight desperately.
Once Luo Yin died, this matter was already decided: Qiu Shi Dong could not get this marquis manor. No matter how they jumped around now, they were just autumn grasshoppers.
Luo Ning stared for a long while, until the servant boy at the gate came over and asked: “Big Miss, is there something wrong?”
Luo Ning said: “The plaque over the gate is a bit dirty.”
The servant boy immediately said: “This humble servant will tell Steward Chen to wipe it clean tomorrow.”
Luo Ning nodded and praised him: “You are diligent and clever. Do your work well.”
She added: “If guests come, pay more attention.”
The servant boy agreed respectfully.
Luo Ning returned to Wenqi Courtyard.
These days, she had often sent Qiu Lan out to meet with the Dou Family’s First Madam. One evening, after night had fallen, First Madam of the Dou Family even came through the side gate to Wenqi Courtyard, where she and Luo Ning talked in detail for two hours.
Luo Ning stated her condition: “For the next five years, give me twenty percent of the profits.”
If she did not seek some benefit, the Dou Family’s First Madam would not feel secure trusting her. Once they obtained the imperial merchant position, the name of the Dou Family’s Cheng Yan would become even bigger, and their yearly profits would increase by far more than twenty percent.
Luo Ning took what she deserved, and at the same time eased First Madam Dou’s mind.
These past days, First Madam Dou had surely asked around about everything concerning the Marquis of Zhen Nan’s manor.
Luo Ning had been granted in marriage to Prince Yong, but her own family was not of high nobility, and Prince Yong also had four other secondary consorts bestowed by imperial decree.
Each of those four secondary consorts came from a high-ranking family and, like her, had been granted their titles by the emperor. Once Luo Ning married, her situation would be like being in deep water and scorching fire.
What her maiden family could give her, whether power or money, was far too little. She needed to plan a path for herself. Her mother also came from a merchant family, so Luo Ning did not mind being stained with a merchant’s smell of money.
Everything was very convincing, so First Madam Dou naturally stood on the same side as her and worked toward the same goal.
First Madam Dou knelt and was about to kowtow to Luo Ning, but Luo Ning helped her up.
First Madam Dou said: “I will listen to the princess consort’s instructions. The Dou Family will absolutely obey every order and will never bring shame to the princess consort.”
Luo Ning smiled and nodded.
After finishing matters on this side, Luo Ning made a trip to Prince Yong’s residence. She handed the list of Madam Dou’s Cheng Yan products to Xiao Huai Feng.
Xiao Huai Feng told her to wait for news.
Luo Ning packed a bundle, then went to the Imperial Palace to request an audience with the Empress Dowager.
Luo Ning took a lake inkstone, a Cheng Yan, and a green inkstone from the bundle and said: “Imperial Mother, please look at these three inkstones. Which one is better?”
Inkstones were not antiques, nor were they a required subject for noble-born ladies. Besides, these three were not the most famous kinds.
The most famous types, however, the Empress Dowager could still tell the quality of at a glance.
Even so, the Empress Dowager was not very familiar with these and laughed as she asked: “How should I judge which is good or bad?”
Luo Ning said: “Just judge them by eye.”
The Empress Dowager picked up the Cheng Yan inkstone and said: “This one is the best. Those scholarly youths like a gentle, smooth texture but also clear grain. This inkstone should suit their taste.”
Luo Ning laughed and said: “I also think the Cheng Yan is the best.”
Then she leaned close to the Empress Dowager’s ear and quietly told her about the matter.
Luo Ning spoke softly: “The prince said I could ask him for help, so I entrusted this to him. The Dou Family has promised to give me twenty percent of the dividends for five years.”
The Empress Dowager looked at her with a smile and said: “You have quite some nerve.”
Luo Ning said: “This inkstone is good. If the Dou Family becomes an imperial merchant, that will also benefit the imperial family. Imperial Mother, if this is not proper, I will go refuse the Dou Family.”
The Empress Dowager said: “There is nothing particularly improper about it.”
All imperial merchant positions were obtained through favors anyway. Either the merchants were relatives of great clans, or they had spent countless amounts of silver. What merchants wanted was this title.
From then on, their status as masters would be a level higher.
Since Luo Ning was about to marry Prince Yong, her maiden family would naturally receive thousands upon thousands of taels in filial gifts.
Taking a little bit of dividends from merchants was no big matter in the Empress Dowager’s eyes. She could simply turn a blind eye.
The Empress Dowager said: “Tell the prince that the two of you can handle this matter as you see fit.”
On the surface she did not openly approve, but she was in a good mood.
Because Luo Ning had told her about this matter.
Even someone as high and powerful as the Empress Dowager liked it when someone drew close to her without holding back. Luo Ning had deliberately come to tell her about this, which carried a bit of the feeling of a little daughter acting spoiled toward her mother.
Luo Ning said with a smile: “Thank you, Imperial Mother. Let these inkstones stay here. Another day I will come copy Buddhist sutras for Imperial Mother, and they will be useful.”
The Empress Dowager laughed and said: “That will do.”
The inkstones were temporarily left in Shoucheng Palace.
On her way back, Luo Ning ran into Consort Li.
Consort Li was pretty, with round, chubby cheeks that looked very cheerful. The weather was hot, and as she walked over from her own quarters, two palace maids held large parasols for her, yet her face was still covered in sweat.
Even at her teenage age, sweating did not make her look the least bit awkward. Her cheeks were rosy, which only made her eyes look even darker and more bright.
She seemed ignorant of the world.
Consort Li called out to her and said: “Miss Luo.” She wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief and asked with a smile: “Are you about to leave?”
Luo Ning replied: “Yes, Consort Li.”
Consort Li smiled and said: “I still wanted to say a few words to you and ask you to do something for me. I wonder if it would trouble you.”
She tilted her head slightly, looking at Luo Ning with a touch of coyness as she waited for Luo Ning to answer.
Luo Ning’s smile was bright as she said: “Your Ladyship, I am small and weak and cannot handle important matters. Please take pity on how little strength I have and entrust it to someone else instead, all right?”
She also showed a gentle, courteous, and modest air as she looked at Consort Li.
Consort Li’s expression changed for a moment, but she quickly recovered and said: “It truly would be hard on you.”
Luo Ning said: “It is far too hot. Your Ladyship should hurry inside. If you were to get overheated, I would be guilty beyond forgiveness.”
After she finished speaking, she stepped to the side.
Consort Li’s smile did not fade as she said: “Another day, I will chat idly with Miss Luo again.”
Luo Ning passed her by.
No matter what she meant by it, Luo Ning did not want to get involved with her.
The emperor had just fainted in Consort Li’s palace, and the Empress Dowager was very unhappy about it.
The eldest prince was too young and had not yet been named heir. The emperor absolutely could not be allowed to have anything happen to him. When Luo Ning put herself in her place and thought about it, she knew the Empress Dowager must hate Consort Li deeply.
At a time like this, Consort Li wanted to ask Luo Ning to handle a matter for her, as if trying to curry favor with Luo Ning and use her as a bridge to ease her relationship with the Empress Dowager.
Taking a bit of advantage from merchants was, in the Empress Dowager’s eyes, just a daughter being playfully spoiled and cute. But not knowing her limits and letting herself be used by a palace concubine would make her look foolish and incompetent.
Those in power hated stupid people most of all, even more than the treacherous and cunning.
Luo Ning avoided her like the plague.
Consort Li did not show any anger. She did not have the same backing as Grand Princess Jia Hong, so even after being refused, she did not dare fall out openly with Luo Ning.
Since that was the case, Luo Ning naturally would not put herself in a disadvantageous position for her sake.
Luo Ning had not yet married and her power was still far too weak. Her first priority was to protect herself.