Chapter 91
Chapter 91: Luo Ning Strikes First
Luo Ning dreamed of Xiao Huai Feng.
He was standing with Empress Zheng. One was tall and straight, the other dignified and gentle. They looked very well matched.
In front of Empress Zheng, he threw Luo Ning’s tassel into the mud.
“A little tassel like this, rough and vulgar. You think it is fit to present to me?” His tone was not cold but full of contempt.
Dirty muddy water quickly drowned the tassel.
Watching this, Luo Ning’s heart ached for the tassel. “Why is it not worthy? It carries my true feelings.”
Prince Yong sneered. “And how much are your true feelings worth?”
Empress Zheng smiled softly.
Prince Yong took her hand, and the coldness in his eyes turned gentle.
Luo Ning woke up.
After she woke, she lay there for quite a while, then felt angry and amused. “What kind of ridiculous dream was that?”
In this world, besides Luo Ning, perhaps only the Empress Dowager knew about the feelings between Prince Yong and Empress Zheng. Everyone else knew nothing.
Every time Prince Yong saw Empress Zheng, the two of them pretended not to see each other, avoiding each other as much as possible.
The more feelings there were, the more they had to hide them. That was how Luo Ning saw it.
At the Dragon Boat Festival banquet, Luo Ning had paid attention. Prince Yong had not said a single word to Empress Zheng and had not even gone near her.
She had been curious.
On top of that, Pei Ying’s tassel had really surprised her.
All these thoughts jumbled together and made her have such a strange dream.
She got up.
Qiu Lan, who was on duty, poured her a cup of tea.
“I cannot sleep. Let us talk for a while,” Luo Ning said to Qiu Lan.
When she was on night duty, Qiu Lan slept on a small bed near Luo Ning’s. She poured herself a cup of tea too, sat down, and drank slowly while chatting with Luo Ning.
“The Marchioness is doing a bit better,” Qiu Lan told her. “The maid from the older young madam’s courtyard said she asked about your birthday.”
Luo Ning was silent.
“Big Miss, you do not want to hear this?”
“It is not that. I just have a feeling my birthday will not be peaceful again,” Luo Ning said, taking a sip of tea. “I had hoped to have a quiet one for once.”
Qiu Lan thought of another problem. “A birthday is a small matter. It is over in a day. What I am worried about is that the Marchioness might stuff people into our courtyard. Chu Shuang is gone. We have too many empty spots.”
By rank, Luo Ning’s side was missing quite a few servants.
Never mind younger maids. Even half of the head maids were missing.
The number of maids in Wenqi Courtyard was only about thirty percent of what it should be. There was no way such a flaw could go unnoticed.
Madam Bai would have an excuse to send people to Luo Ning, and Luo Ning would have no way to refuse.
For example, the keys to the small kitchen and the side gates all needed the approval of the household matriarch. Whether more servants could be added was also up to Madam Bai.
There was not much work to do in Wenqi Courtyard. With fewer people, no one felt overworked.
As an unmarried young lady waiting to be married, Luo Ning did not need to manage the household. Her daily life was simple and did not require many helpers.
But if people were stuffed in, then spies could be stuffed in too. It would take effort and worry to sort out who was loyal and who was not.
“Our people are indeed few,” Luo Ning said after thinking for a moment. “We may not need them now, but in the future, when we go to the Prince’s Manor and return to Shaoyang, we will need people. At least eight dowry maids.”
That was already a small number.
“What do you plan to do? Why not take advantage of the Marchioness being sick, while Second Madam and the older young madam are managing things, and hurry to buy a batch from outside?” Qiu Lan said.
This matter had to be handled quickly.
Luo Ning laughed and asked Qiu Lan, “Why did you suddenly think of this? Did someone say something to you?”
“A stewardess came to ask. She wants her daughter to take Chu Shuang’s place,” Qiu Lan said honestly.
“If someone comes to make inquiries, and we panic and rush off to buy maids, how could there not be a trap waiting for us?” Luo Ning said.
Qiu Lan’s heart shook.
“Do not rush. Just remember this matter for now,” Luo Ning said.
“Big Miss, dowry maids have to be prepared early. We cannot wait until we get to the Prince’s Manor to buy them,” Qiu Lan said.
“Yes, they must be prepared,” Luo Ning said after thinking for a while. “We need these people, but we cannot keep them in Wenqi Courtyard.”
She had important things to do right now.
At the moment, aside from the people placed here by the Empress Dowager and Prince Yong, everyone in Wenqi Courtyard was a trusted aide of Luo Ning’s. It was easy for her to do anything here.
If new people came in, then even if none of them were spies planted by others, too many eyes and ears would still be bad for her.
“Everything will come one thing at a time. First we will think of a way to stop the Marchioness from stuffing people into our courtyard. We must block her path so no more people can be sent in,” Luo Ning said, explaining her thoughts to Qiu Lan in detail.
Talking like this, they went on until dawn.
Luo Ning got up, washed, and did not go out to practice whip skills. Instead, she went to her grandmother’s courtyard.
Grandmother was already up and was chanting in the Little Buddha Hall.
Luo Ning helped the head maid set out Grandmother’s breakfast.
“Grandmother, I have thought it through. A birthday should be lively,” Luo Ning said as she ate with her.
The old lady was pleased. “That is very good. I have taken out one hundred taels of silver and asked your aunt to make preparations. We will set six tables and invite all our relatives and friends.”
“You are spending too much,” Luo Ning said.
Then she added, “I also want to invite a few people, including Princess Ping Yang.”
The Old Madam was slightly stunned. “Princess Ping Yang?”
“The princess treats me kindly and will be my relative in the future. She will give me this favor,” Luo Ning said.
The Old Madam was surprised that Luo Ning was willing to be so high profile.
“If the princess can come, it will certainly be the icing on the cake,” the Old Madam said.
“If you agree, I will send her an invitation. There are only a few days left. We cannot invite her at the last minute,” Luo Ning said.
The Old Madam nodded.
As expected, Luo Ning sent an invitation to Princess Ping Yang.
Less than an hour later, a stewardess from the Princess Manor arrived. The princess had written a letter by hand, saying she would definitely come, and had sent Luo Ning a birthday gift as well.
There were two bolts of expensive, rare silk that could rival Shimmering Jade Brocade, and a box of pearls from the inner court, all round and full.
“The princess will certainly come to celebrate with you,” the stewardess said to Luo Ning with a smile. “These small gifts, please do not dislike them, Your Ladyship.”
“The princess has shown me great favor. I am deeply grateful. I will count the days and wait,” Luo Ning said.
After receiving the reply, Luo Ning went to tell her aunt and sister-in-law. She also took out two hundred taels of silver for the food money. “You are holding the birthday banquet for me. I cannot let you spend your own money.”
She also said to her aunt, “Please ask A’Wan to invite a few of her sisters too, such as Miss Chen from the Commandery Princess of Yanping’s manor and the young ladies from the Earl of Zhongcheng’s manor.”
Second Madam was delighted and said with a smile, “A’Wan is blessed by your light.”
Luo Ning also asked her sister-in-law to invite her younger sisters from her maiden home to come and have fun, and to invite more of them.
Which unmarried young lady would not want to see the Princess?
The older young madam also expressed her thanks. “I will invite my two cousins too. They are at the age to talk about marriage.”
This matter quickly spread through the inner residence of the Marquis Manor.
That evening, the Marchioness, Madam Bai, came to Wenqi Courtyard with a set of hair ornaments for Luo Ning.
“In the future, you may not spend your birthdays at home, so as your mother I should celebrate for you. But I have fallen sick. It is an old illness left from when I gave birth to you. My body has never been very good. Do not blame me,” Madam Bai said.
“Mother, please take care of yourself,” Luo Ning said, her gaze deep and calm, revealing no emotion. “I can spend my birthday by myself.”
“I will keep you company. I will be better in a few days,” Madam Bai said.
She added, “I will not let A’Rong come. I do not want her to spoil your mood.”
“It is fine if she comes,” Luo Ning said with a smile. “She is my cousin, my relative. She already has a seat at the banquet.”
“A’Ning, you really are generous and big-hearted. That part of your temper is just like mine,” Madam Bai said.