Lin Wanru quickly said, “I’m already feeling much better today……” As soon as she finished speaking, she realized that she had misspoken. Just now, Ouyang Ke had clearly said she needed more rest and even had to remain bedridden for half a month. How had she suddenly recovered so quickly?

Damn it, Ke’er has fallen into Ouyang Nuan’s trap! She deliberately set this up for Ke’er to step into!

Now, Li Wanru was stuck in a dilemma, and neither refuting nor agreeing was a good option, leaving her completely cornered. Taking a deep breath, she forced a more sincere smile and said, “I know my health isn’t good, but isn’t it because the rear courtyard is short of people? Nuan’er and Ke’er are still young, otherwise, they could help manage things in the household. Right now, we simply can’t do without someone overseeing everything.”

Hearing that, Old Madam Li’s brows drooped slightly, as if she were hesitating. Ouyang Nuan walked over, leaned close to Old Madam Li, and smiled. “Mother is right. Last time, wasn’t Jue’er’s courtyard nearly turned upside down? If no one keeps these servants in check, who knows how unruly they might become?”

Old Madam Li’s hesitation immediately vanished into thin air. That’s right. Lin Wanru had been managing the household all along, yet even so, Ouyang Jue’s courtyard had still fallen into chaos. And now she was saying that things would fall apart without her? Wasn’t that just contradicting herself? Did Lin Wanru think that she had no playable cards left in her hand? Old Madam Li sneered inwardly, but her outward expression grew even more gentle and kind. “What are you saying? You’re unwell. I can’t possibly let you exhaust yourself. If word got out, wouldn’t people say that our Ouyang family is harsh to our daughters-in-law? Rest assured, take your time and recover over the next half-month. The household affairs will naturally be taken care of.”

Lin Wanru’s heart tightened. She asked, “May I know whom Mother intends to appoint as the temporary person in charge?”

“Isn’t there already a perfect candidate?” Old Madam Li gestured to the side, where Li Yue’e stood in the corner, calmly attending to her. Li Yue’e was Old Madam Li’s person, so any final decisions would still be in her hands.

“She’s just a concubine!” Ouyang Ke blurted out in shock. But upon seeing the faint, knowing smile on Ouyang Nuan’s face, she immediately realized her mistake. She was still too young and impatient compared to Lin Wanru.

Lin Wanru’s sharp gaze shot toward Li Yue’e like daggers. Then, she turned back to the old old madam with a smile. “Mother must be joking. Concubine Li only just entered the household and isn’t yet familiar with how things work here. Wouldn’t it be—”

“So what if she just entered? When I first married in, I started managing the household on my second day. Everyone has a first time.” Old Madam Li cut her off.

“Grandmother, I’m afraid…… Concubine Li won’t be able to win the servants’ respect.” Ouyang Ke softly reminded, trying to dissuade Old Madam Li.

“Nuan’er is already grown. If Yue’e doesn’t understand something, Nuan’er can assist her. It’ll be a good learning experience. If they are trained well, won’t they be valuable helpers for you in the future?” Did Ouyang Nuan, the eldest daughter of the Ouyang family, really not have the authority to control the household servants? Old Madam Li narrowed her eyes slightly. “Or are you saying that my words, as the family’s matriarch, carry no weight, and I have to let Zhi’er talk to you instead?”

Lin Wanru thought to herself— was the old madam really trying to strip her of her authority? No, it hadn’t come to that yet. Old Madam Li was merely trying to intimidate her with a show of power. This Ouyang Manor was filled with Lin Wanru’s people. Even if the household management was handed over to someone else, would those servants obediently follow new orders? If things turned into a mess, no one could blame her for it! Thinking of that, Lin Wanru smiled and said, “Of course not. I will follow Mother’s decision. You have been troubled enough. Once I recover, I will properly fulfill my duties as a daughter-in-law.”

The old madam rose and left, surrounded by attendants. Lin Wanru was so furious that her eyes turned red. Nanny Wang, standing beside her, carefully advised, “Madam, please don’t be too upset. It’s only half a month. It won’t change much.”

Lin Wanru thought the same. Managing the rear courtyard might seem straightforward, but there was a lot to it! She let out a cold snort. Just wait and see, Old Madam. There will come a time when you’ll have to beg me!

As Old Madam Li left the room, Ouyang Nuan could already guess what Lin Wanru was thinking. But in this world, things rarely went according to one’s wishes, especially when it came to power. Once it was given away, reclaiming it would be incredibly difficult……

────ρя

This translation is by Pocketrobbin at S h a n g h a i f a n t a s y . c o m

After escorting Old Madam Li back, Ouyang Nuan returned to her courtyard and lightly instructed Nanny Fang, “I’m tired. I’ll rest for a while.”

Nanny Fang nodded. The young miss always had a habit of napping at noon. Today, she had been busy paying respects to the old madam, visiting Lin Wanru under the guise of concern, and then accompanying the old madam for a meal, which took up quite a bit of time. After some thought, Nanny Fang hesitated but still reminded her, “Young Miss, about Concubine Li……”

Ouyang Nuan smiled faintly. “Let her come to me first.”

Although Li Yue’e came from a humble background, she wasn’t foolish. She had been entrusted with such an important task today, yet she hadn’t shown excessive joy— proving that she had some sense. But just that alone wouldn’t be enough to control the unruly household servants……

Ouyang Nuan didn’t know how long she had slept. She turned slightly, and the soft brocade curtain was gently lifted. Hongyu entered with a small smile. “Young Miss, you’re awake. That’s good. Concubine Li has been waiting outside for over an hour.”

“Why didn’t you wake me?” Ouyang Nuan’s voice was still a bit drowsy.

“This servant wanted to, but Concubine Li insisted that since she had come unannounced, she shouldn’t disturb you. She refused to let me go in. Right now, Nanny Fang is keeping her company.” Hongyu took out a simple embroidered jacket to drape over Ouyang Nuan’s shoulders.

When Ouyang Nuan saw Li Yue’e, the latter immediately stood up with a smile and respectfully curtsied. “Eldest Miss.” The other party’s posture was very humble. She wore a peach-red brocade jacket with floral embroidery, and a jade hairpin was slanted in her neatly combed hair, making her look both refined and elegant.

Ouyang Nuan nodded slightly. “No need for formalities, Concubine Li.”

Li Yue’e had previously called her ‘Nuan’er’, but now she respectfully addressed her as ‘Eldest Miss’. Clearly, she understood her current position very well. That was for the best. For a newly arrived concubine to secure her footing, the best way was to find a strong external supporter……

“Thanks to the old madam’s trust, I have been given temporary responsibility for the household. But I have only just arrived and cannot overstep the authority of the main wife. Fortunately, the old madam said I should work alongside Eldest Miss, which puts my mind at ease. If I make any mistakes, I hope Eldest Miss will help me……”

Ouyang Nuan smiled. “Concubine Li is too polite. Since Grandmother has entrusted you with managing the household, you should do so without hesitation.”

“Yes. Right now, all the stewards are gathered in the main hall, waiting for Eldest Miss’s instructions. Please take a look at them……” Li Yue’e smiled warmly, her tone full of sincerity.

She was merely a concubine who had just entered the household. The old madam had given her temporary authority to both assert control over Lin Wanru and prove that the household could function without her. But if Li Yue’e failed, it would be the old madam who suffered a loss of credibility. In that case, it would be harder for the old madam to interfere in Lin Wanru’s affairs in the future.

Understanding that, Ouyang Nuan nodded and did not refuse. “Then please, Concubine Li, lead the way.”

She walked straight across the deep red, short-pile carpet, heading north. In the side hall, a red sandalwood high-backed chair awaited her. As she sat down, the maids immediately stepped forward to serve tea. Ouyang Nuan accepted it with a slight nod.

Looking up, she saw that outside the hall, from the foot of the steps onward, a dense crowd had already gathered……