Chapter 64

It was late December, cold and damp. 

The cold rain soaked the courtyard’s bluestone tiles, and the morning’s faint light carried a chill. 

Sheng Changyu hadn’t sought out Ning Zhen again, nor had he returned to the old residence. 

He had rested for a while and then returned to his military post. 

Ning Zhen’s life had returned to peace. 

She had been managing the kitchen for some time now, keeping the accounts clear and handling matters decisively. The stewards respected her. With her growing authority, the people beneath her no longer dared to deceive her, making Ning Zhen’s days a little easier. 

The Old lady liked to eat lamb stew in the winter, and she was particular about its taste. This dish became the kitchen’s top priority every day. 

Since Ning Zhen took over, she never let anything slip. 

The Old lady specially called her over to praise her: “You are very organized in your work. After the New Year, I’m afraid there will be more work for you. I wonder if you can handle it.” 

“I’m still young; I should be helping Mother. Please feel free to assign anything to me, and I’ll make sure it’s done,” Ning Zhen replied. 

Ning Zhen gauged the weight of the Old lady’s words. 

The Old lady kept direct control over the head stewardship of the old residence, and no one else could take that authority from her. 

Next were the purchasing office, the treasury, and the accounting office, where all the household finances were meticulously managed. Everything that went in and out could be tracked, and the Old lady wouldn’t relinquish control of that either. 

Then there were the estates. 

The estates were the main source of the household’s income, and the Old lady assigned trusted people to manage them, but Ning Zhen was not part of that circle. 

Then there were the storerooms, the kitchen, the gatehouse, the tea room, and the sewing room. 

Xu Fangdu managed the storerooms, while Ning Zhen was in charge of the kitchen. 

If the Old lady were to delegate any more authority, it would likely be at this level. 

The gatehouse and carriage house were the most well-informed places. If the Old lady were willing to let Ning Zhen manage them, Ning Zhen would gladly accept. 

During the conversation between the Old lady and Ning Zhen, no one was sent out of the room. 

Later that day, many people in the old residence heard that the Old lady was going to give Ning Zhen new tokens and account books after the New Year. 

There were three aunts and seven or eight sisters-in-law and cousins in the Sheng family, and they all flocked to visit Ning Zhen in groups. 

“The Sheng family’s old residence is a very snobbish place,” said Cao Ma. 

Ning Zhen replied, “I’ve noticed. Compared to our family, there’s not much affection between people in the Sheng family.” 

“They didn’t live together before. It was only after the Grand Governor passed away that the Old lady gathered everyone here. Now, each person is trying to get what they can,” Cao Ma added. 

Ning Zhen took a sip of tea. 

Cao Ma continued, “The news could have been deliberately spread by the Old lady to see if you’ve become too complacent lately.” 

“That’s possible.” 

“And there’s one more important thing,” Cao Ma lowered her voice. 

Ning Zhen feared she would bring up the topic of having children. 

She had no desire to see Sheng Changyu at all. 

“With the New Year approaching, how the Old lady arranges for attendance at the city’s banquets is a big deal. If she assigns you to a household that’s lower in status than Third Concubine, the people in the old residence will immediately show their true colors,” Cao Ma said. 

She continued, “I asked around, and the year before last, Second Concubine Fanfan was the star, attending all the banquets hosted by prestigious families.” 

Times had truly changed, and Cao Ma had to swallow her displeasure. 

“In the past, there was no such thing as a concubine attending banquets.” 

“What about last year?” Ning Zhen asked. 

“Last year, it was mainly Third Concubine who attended, especially the banquets at the homes of high-ranking military officers. She represented the Old lady. As for the invitations sent to the governor’s office, it was still Second Concubine Fanfan who went. The Old lady doesn’t want Second Concubine to have too much power.” 

She added, “This year, with the official wife in the picture, it’s unclear how the arrangements will be. If you’re ranked lower than the two concubines, the stewards who respect you now will immediately change their attitudes. 

“If they become disrespectful, it will be much harder for you to get anything done. Those under you will be like eels, slipping through your fingers.” 

Cao Ma’s words were clear, even without being fully spoken. 

She was urging Ning Zhen to approach Sheng Changyu. 

No matter what, during the New Year banquets, the two concubines shouldn’t be allowed to overshadow Ning Zhen. 

Ning Zhen pondered for a moment and said, “Let’s wait and see.” 

“We can’t just wait! We need to plan ahead,” Cao Ma insisted. “Once the banquet arrangements are set, it’ll be too late to stir things up.” 

Ning Zhen took another sip of tea and smiled, calmly reassuring Cao Ma: “Don’t worry.” 

“I…” 

“Relax, someone else is more anxious than we are,” Ning Zhen said with a smile. “Let them make the first move. When they panic and make mistakes, we can reap the benefits.” 

Cao Ma thought over Ning Zhen’s words. 

Indeed, the Old lady had hinted that she would give Ning Zhen more management responsibilities after the New Year. Third Concubine Xu Fangdu would be even more anxious than Ning Zhen. 

Second Concubine Fanfan would also worry that she might not be invited to the Spring Festival banquets and that she would be completely sidelined. In the past, she had been able to overshadow Third Concubine due to her long-standing presence by the Governor’s side. But what right did she have to outrank the official wife? 

Once the wife stepped out, she might push Second Concubine into the background. 

“Madam, you really have great composure,” Cao Ma said. “I’m old now, not as calm as you.” 

Ning Zhen finished her tea, placing the warm cup down: “Take it slow. This life feels endlessly long.” 

The warmth lingered in the cold air. 

When she was a teenager, she could never have imagined herself sitting here, plotting like this, like some old fossil. 

If Jin Nuan heard this, she would want to cry. 

As Ning Zhen thought of her family, the warmth in her chest that had dissipated slightly returned. 

Meanwhile, at Third Concubine Xu Fangdu’s quarters, she had also heard that Ning Zhen’s courtyard had been bustling recently. 

“The Old lady just hinted at something, and she’s already eager to show off. Who hasn’t managed a household before?” one of the maids said deliberately to provoke Third Concubine. 

Xu Fangdu’s expression sharpened slightly. 

She had an abacus beside her that she hadn’t touched for a while, her mind drifting. 

“Concubine, what should we do?” asked the head stewardess. 

Xu Fangdu replied, “The Old lady’s decisions are beyond our control.” 

“But… if she makes a mistake, wouldn’t the kitchen end up under your management too?” the stewardess whispered. 

Xu Fangdu was silent for a moment. 

She stood up. “I’ll go check on A-yin. She’s been busy with her final exams and is exhausted. What about the braised pork knuckle from the small kitchen?” 

“It’s still warm.” 

“Pack it up in a food box. I’ll take it to her,” Xu Fangdu said. 

Meanwhile, Ning Zhen’s maid informed her, “Aunt Hong, who manages the kitchen, fainted today.” 

Ning Zhen asked, “What happened? Is she unwell?” 

“I heard her son is sick. She’s been extremely worried, not eating or sleeping well,” the maid replied. 

Ning Zhen said, “Last time, the Governor sent me many health supplements. I kept a few ginseng roots. Cao Ma, pick a good one and quietly send it to Aunt Hong’s son. 

Also, check with her family and find out what exactly is wrong with her son and how they’re treating him.” 

Cao Ma agreed. 

That evening, she reported back to Ning Zhen, saying that Aunt Hong’s son was seriously ill, but the doctor had said it wasn’t a terminal illness and could be treated with proper care. 

She added, “The ginseng you sent was a lifesaver. They were in dire need of a good one for medicine. Aunt Hong wanted to kneel and thank you, but I stopped her. There are too many gossipy people in the household, so I told her to keep quiet about it.” 

Ning Zhen nodded. “You did the right thing. As long as she remembers my kindness in her heart, there’s no need for her to kneel.” 

Winning people’s loyalty was a common tactic used by those in power, and Ning Zhen’s move wasn’t particularly clever. 

But she hadn’t expected that sending that one ginseng root, timed so perfectly, would bring her so many benefits.