Font Size:
Chen Feng was anxiously awaiting the Golden Swallow, it had been ten days since it went out, and she wondered if it had found the tricolor ball.
Seeing Chen Feng’s concern, Chu Lingxuan comforted her, “Don’t worry, we’ll find a way. Focus on taking care of yourself and the pregnancy, let us men handle these matters.” He intended to discuss strategies with his grandfather in the front yard.
However, Chen Feng stopped him and asked him to write a letter instructing the Third Master to be cautious and careful in all matters.
With her mind set, Chen Feng observed Chu Hanyan and Li Xuan playing with the pets in the corridor. Thinking of Chen Lu, she sent for him to be brought over.
Before long, Chen Lu arrived, reassuring Chen Feng with his safe appearance.
Apart from the day she returned from the capital, Chen Feng hadn’t stayed at the General’s mansion, so she was quite busy managing household affairs and overseeing Fengyunlai business.
Fengyunlai Manager, Zeng Shuang, Steward Yang, Internal Supervisor Mama Luo, and other key positions, took turns reporting to the main courtyard.
The trading business thrived with little issues, and now there were branches in the capital city.
However, the situation at the General’s mansion was more complex. Despite Chu Lingxuan’s efforts to clean house, there were still several factions within, each vying for dominance and suppressing one another.
This was unsurprising given the lack of a female head in the residence since its inception. Chu Lingxuan, preoccupied with military affairs, was rarely present at home, leaving many matters unattended. Even when he resided there, he was not deeply involved in the household affairs.
The household staff at the General’s mansion consisted of three main factions.
Initially, some staff were recruited from the capital’s noble houses, while additional personnel were acquired later. After discovering individuals from Princess Rong Zhao and Second Madam Chu’s entourages infiltrating, causing trouble, and being eliminated, a new batch was sourced from the provincial Lou residence. This set the current situation with three factions vying for power, competing and undermining each other simultaneously.
In particular, the servants from the noble houses of the capital and the Lou residence, deeply embedded in their own networks, posed a challenge to the household unity.
Chen Feng found herself overwhelmed by the situation. In the past, when the master of the household was frequently absent, this scenario might have been manageable. However, the ongoing internal conflicts within the household were now a concern as they hindered proper care for the master.
Indeed, wherever people gathered, there existed a world of competition amongst the servants, equally intense.
Among the household staff, Chen Feng trusted Mama Luo the most. Steward Luo’s second son, Luo Fang, a junior steward in the household, also had influence.
Steward Yang, a trusted figure, was a confidant of the old Marquis. However, given his leadership role in the capital’s noble houses, Chen Feng needed to ensure that he understood the current situation clearly and refrained from forming factions. All the servants were to serve the master diligently without dividing loyalties.
Some maintained high professional standards, recognizing Chen Feng as the lady of the house, favored by the master, and willingly submitted to her authority. However, others disregarded her status, viewing her as a rural woman with limited experience. While they might harbor these thoughts, they dared not openly express them. They hoped that once Chen Feng left, they could continue benefiting while enjoying a carefree life.
Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Wu invited Chen Feng to their home, proposing daytime activities with her and an evening meal with Chu Lingxuan, Dabao, and Lu. Chen Feng declined, planning to sort things out before joining them.
As days passed, it was already July 19th. During lunch, a servant delivered an invitation from General Liu’s household, inviting them to visit.
Dabao, Chu Hanyan, and Li Xuan also received invitations from General Liu’s eldest son, Liu Wang, and were delighted. Dabao, especially, had few friends since studying at Tangyuan. Finally having a social circle with Liu Wang, Liu Ao, and Qin Jin brought him great joy. Although Qin Mu was older and Fu Lushen was younger, they all got along well. Thus, upon receiving the invitation, Dabao beamed with excitement.
Observing Chen Lu concentrating on his meal, Dabao curiously asked Chen Feng, “Mother, the invitations include everyone, even Qiqi, Gray, Zhui Feng, Sasa, Chang, and Duan, but why wasn’t my little uncle invited?”
Indeed, Chen Lu’s name was missing from the list.
Chen Feng chuckled, “Last time when they came to visit, your little uncle wasn’t there, so they don’t know him. If we bring him tomorrow, they’ll get acquainted, and they’ll become friends.” She added to Lu, “Qin Mu is the same age as you, with a bold personality. You two will surely get along.”
Chen Lu responded, “Sister, I don’t want to go to the Liu residence tomorrow. I’ve already made plans with Uncle Tang and Xiaodi to visit Third Uncle’s house.”
Chen Feng suggested, “You can meet Uncle Tang and Xiaodi anytime. Why not go to the Liu residence tomorrow? It’s beneficial to expand your circle of friends.”
Usually obedient, Chen Lu was unusually determined this time, insisting on going to Chen Shi’s house instead of the Liu residence. Despite Dabao and Hanyan’s persuasion, he remained firm.
Unable to change his mind, Chen Feng agreed. She instructed the household staff to prepare a gift for the young master when he left, as well as arrange for a carriage. She also reminded hen Lu to collect the gift before leaving and request a carriage.
Early on the tenth day, Dabao got up at dawn, taking the pets to the main courtyard.
Chen Feng, feeling both exasperated and amused, said, “Even if you come early, you have to wait for Hanyan and Xuan to wake up. Besides, who goes to visit so early?”
By the afternoon, the Chu family members set out with the pets.
Chen Lu packed his belongings, including a purse containing ten taels of silver, two small silver coins, some copper coins, and two ink sticks and pens for Uncle Tang and Little Brother.
At the General’s mansion, monthly stipends were distributed on the fifteenth day. Chen Feng also provided Chen Lu with his monthly allowance, the same as Hanyan and Dabao’s, ten taels of silver. Mrs. Wang had also given him ten taels of silver, several silver coins, and some large coins.
After instructing Sanquan to buy some snacks with a portion of the money, Chen Lu rewarded the servants. With only two small silver coins left, he planned to break a ten-tael silver piece.
Lancao remarked, “Young Master, didn’t the External Affairs Department prepare a gift for you? By secretly giving away your own ink and pens, if anything goes missing, it will be hard to explain.”
Chen Lu blushed, explaining, “I’m saving some money. Others won’t notice. Let’s not take the gift prepared by the External Affairs Department. If they find out, they might…”
Mad, Lancao said, “Young Master, you’re too honest. The gift was prepared by Madam. If anyone gossips, report it to her and have them face the consequences.”