Chapter 82: Solving Problems

To uncover the Jia family’s weaknesses, Tian Mi decided to investigate them personally. Information-gathering was no simple task; if this were modern times, planting a listening device would have been ideal. However, this era lacked such technology. Fortunately, she had prepared a recording pen—a tool unknown in this world. Its critical drawback was its limited recording capacity of only a few hours, and it absolutely must not be discovered by anyone.

But why bother recording when she could listen in person?

As if sneaking into a place like the Jia family’s manor—a veritable dragon’s lair—was so simple! For places she couldn’t enter, she could rely on her eagle, Yanzu, to handle the recordings.

Smart as always, this ingenious lady wouldn’t act recklessly.

After dinner, Tian Mi spent some time playing with her two little ones. Soon, Tian Dabiao came to inform her that he would be leaving tomorrow. The lotus village project was entering a critical stage.

Understanding the urgency, Tian Mi nodded. She asked him to ensure their people were well-trained in martial arts and to hasten the purchase of the ship.

Tian Dabiao agreed and mentioned that the grandmother would stay behind for now. She would join later when the next shipment of supplies was sent by boat.

Next, Tian Mi inquired about the status of the shops and estates.

Qiu Yi reported that earlier that morning, a steward from the Prince Ding’s residence had arrived to assist him. Together, they visited the three shops and estate. The shops were still under lease to others, but if they wished to reclaim them, they would need to provide a month’s notice for the tenants to vacate.

A month felt too long for Tian Mi, who wanted immediate results.

As for the estate, it spanned over 5,000 acres and had just completed its autumn harvest. The royal steward managing it had already left, leaving only the tenant farmers who wished to continue working the land.

The ideal planting window for winter wheat was mid-August to mid-September, and while it was already late September, there was still time to act.

Tian Mi instructed Qiu Yi to bring along Feng Bao’s family to take over the estate and begin farming immediately. She also planned to visit the estate the following day to deliver some oxen. She remembered that Bai Mucheng had recently developed a new plow and submitted it to the court. Tian Mi asked Qiu Yi to bring five plows to the estate, though they wouldn’t be nearly enough. She resolved to commission more right away.

For the shops, she ordered Qiu Yi to look for existing properties and purchase three of them immediately so she could start operations sooner.

As the night fell, Tian Mi noted the perfect conditions for some covert activities: a dark and quiet night under the cover of the moonless sky.

She ensured her two little ones were asleep and instructed Chun Yi to move their cribs into her room, claiming she felt tired and wanted to rest.

Once the servants left, Tian Mi changed into her black night attire and, accompanied by her eagle Yanzu, snuck out of the estate.

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Meanwhile, Bai Mucheng was already preparing to make a move against the Jia family. How dare they bully Tian Mi! Did they think they could do so without his permission?

He had just sent men to gather intelligence on the Jia family when an undercover guard reported back: the Longfeng County Princess had left her estate with an eagle, heading straight for the Jia family.

He had assigned guards to secretly protect her estate, so any unusual activity would be promptly reported to him.

He smirked. “This woman doesn’t take losses lightly, does she? Of course, she wouldn’t let the Jia family off so easily.”

But did she really need to handle this personally?

Thinking of Tian Mi, an inexplicable ache arose in his chest.

Her fiery and unyielding nature was unlike any other woman. She was an eagle meant to soar, not a caged canary.

“Resentment must have been their final bond,” he thought bitterly.

But Tian Mi was far from the type to allow herself to be wronged. She held the reins tightly, always in control of her destiny.

The empress could easily accept the emperor taking concubines because she no longer saw him as her husband, merely her ruler. If the emperor were to fall critically ill today, she wouldn’t hesitate to bury him and elevate the crown prince to the throne. Their relationship was purely political, akin to colleagues or allies.

The emperor likely realized this long ago but could do nothing to salvage it. Even the birth of their son could not change things.

How could any man truly be ignorant of the pain his wife felt when he took concubines? They simply didn’t care. So what if her heart grew cold? She was still under his control.

Tian Mi, however, was different. She was rational and pragmatic. That’s why “seeking a husband” was her chosen path.

But did she think she could escape him after provoking him?

Too late.

To find dirt on the Jia family, Tian Mi needed to know them well. She decided to gather information from within their household.

Gathering intelligence wasn’t an easy task. If this were the modern era, planting a listening device would be ideal. However, with no internet in this era, she could only rely on a voice recorder—an item unknown to the times. It was crucial no one discovered it. Unfortunately, the device had a significant drawback: it could only record a few hours of audio.

If it’s possible to record, why not just listen in person?

This wasn’t a novel where you could casually go anywhere you liked. A place like the Jia residence was nothing short of a dragon’s den.

But if there were places she couldn’t enter, couldn’t Yanzu handle the recording?

Of course, a clever girl like Tian Mi wouldn’t do something foolish.

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After returning to the manor, Tian Mi played with the babies for a while. Soon, Tian Dabiao came over to inform her that he would be leaving the next day since things at the Lotus Association were at a critical juncture.

Tian Mi understood how busy things were on that end and could only nod, urging him to teach the crew martial arts to strengthen their forces and to purchase a ship as soon as possible.

Tian Dabiao nodded and promised to see it through.

Her grandmother, however, would stay behind and join them on the next trip when Tian Dabiao’s ship returned with supplies.

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Tian Mi sought out Qiu Yi to inquire about the status of the shops and estates he had visited.

Qiu Yi reported that just that morning, someone from the Prince Ding Estate’s management team had come to assist him, and they spent the entire day visiting the properties. The three shops were operational and rented out. If they wanted to reclaim them, it would take a month to give tenants time to move.

A month felt too long—Tian Mi didn’t want to wait.

The estate spanned over 5,000 mu and was originally a royal farm. The autumn harvest had just ended, and they could take it over immediately. However, the farm’s manager, being a royal appointee, had left, leaving behind tenant farmers who hoped to continue working on the estate.

The best time to plant winter wheat was between mid-August and mid-September. It was now late September—still barely on time.

Tian Mi instructed Qiu Yi to bring Feng Bao’s family to take over the estate and begin farming immediately. The next day, she planned to visit the farm, delivering cattle and five of Bai Mucheng’s new plows. Bai Mucheng had submitted one as a tribute to the imperial court. However, five plows were far from sufficient; she needed to order more.

She also asked Qiu Yi to look for readily available shops and purchase three immediately to start operations. Qiu Yi agreed.

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The hour grew late. A dark and windy night—perfect for mischief.

After checking on the two sleeping babies in her courtyard, Tian Mi told Chun Yi that she was feeling tired and asked her to move the children into her room. Chun Yi nodded and, with the help of Chun Er and Chun San, moved the cribs.

Tian Mi changed into nightwear, grabbed Yanzu, and stealthily left the estate.

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Meanwhile, Bai Mucheng was also scheming against the Jia family. “Dare to bully Tian Mi? Hmph! Did they even get my permission?”

He had just sent people to investigate and gather intelligence on the Jia family when his secret guards reported that the Duchess of Changfeng had left her estate with an eagle, heading in the direction of the Jia residence.

He had left a few guards to protect the Duchess of Changfeng’s estate, so any developments were promptly reported.

He sneered. That plump woman wasn’t one to suffer in silence—of course, she wouldn’t let the Jia family off so easily.

But why would she need to personally handle such matters?

Thinking of Tian Mi, a pang of bitterness struck his heart.

She was fierce, unlike any other woman. A soaring eagle—not a caged canary.

Her principles were clear: anyone who dared to wrong her would pay dearly.

Moreover, she never allowed herself to fall into a passive position. She held all the cards.

Bai Mucheng thought of his mother, who had disregarded everything to take concubines for his father. She had long ceased to see his father as a husband—only as a monarch.

Even if his father were gravely ill now, his mother would not hesitate to bury him and crown his elder brother emperor. To her, his father was merely a colleague.

Years ago, his father had realized this truth. No matter how hard he tried to salvage the relationship—even having him as a child—it was futile.

Men of the world surely understood the coldness that followed taking concubines. Yet they thought, so what if their wives grew cold? They remained under their control. What waves could they possibly stir?

But Tian Mi, that plump woman, was logical and clear-headed. Her choice to marry a consort was no surprise.

Heh. But did she think she could provoke him, the Prince of Qin, and walk away unscathed? Too late!