Chapter 8

The power of housekeeping in the Marquis’s Mansion lies with the Marquess’s wife, who is also Jiang Rou’s mother-in-law.

After the eldest daughter-in-law of the Marquis’s Mansion, Lu Shi, married in, she has been helping the Marquess’s wife manage these matters. In the future, when her husband is granted the title of Crown Prince, the management of the mansion will also be handed over to her.

If other young lady married into the family, they might be interested in the housekeeper of the mansion and take the initiative to get involved. However, Jiang Rou is not interested. When she married in, she was even relieved that she didn’t have to deal with these matters.

As for money, Jiang Rou had it. Jiang Xuan and Lu  loved her and prepared a lot of dowry for her. Because of the matters of the affairs of the eldest wife, the eldest wife also reluctantly gave Jiang Rou many shops and farm.

Jiang Rou can be said to be richer than ever before

With her money, the support of the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion, and her own family, she life would be very comfortable in the future.

The owner of the shops and estates came today and was waiting to see Jiang Rou, and she was also very busy.

Jin Yue said, “The shops and estates given by the eldest branch, we still don’t know which people can be used and which people cannot be used. I just took a look at them when I served them tea, and they all seemed very respectful, but who knows what their true intentions are.”

Jiang Rou said, “Once we find suitable managers, just find fault with them and dismiss them.”

Jin Yue said, “Yes.”

They were people from the eldest branch, and even if they were dismissed, the eldest branch would find ways to deal with it. But if they continued to stay with Jiang Rou, who knows if they would secretly report everything to the eldest branch?

Jiang Rou met with the managers and the estate stewards. They all looked the same as Jin Yue described, very respectful.

After meeting with these managers and stewards, Lu Shi came over.

Mrs Lu looked dignified. It was said that before she got married, she was the daughter-in-law that many people in the capital city admired. Her etiquette and rules were top-notch, she was dignified and beautiful, and she was proficient in all aspects of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

After she got married, she did a particularly good job managing the household affairs.

Mrs Lu saw that Lu Yun’an wasn’t in the room and sighed. She was afraid that her younger brother-in-law might not be able to come back for dinner in the evening.

Early this morning, Lu Mo specifically told Lu Shi to come over and talk to Jiang Rou more, and if there was anything, she could ask Jiang Rou to help.

Lu Shi said, “Sister-in-law, I don’t know if you have time today?”

What was she going to do?

Jiang Rou immediately said, “Sister-in-law, I’m afraid I don’t have time today. I’ve been busy lately, and there are so many account books sent over from the estates and shops.”

Jiang Rou had things to do, so Lu Shi felt relieved. She thought for a moment and said, “I was thinking of inviting you to go out for a walk together. Since you have so many account books, let’s go together next time.”

Before leaving, Lu Shi said to Jiang Rou again, “If you need any help, Sister-in-law, you can come to me.”

Jiang Rou said, “Thank you, Sister-in-law.”

Back in the room, Jiang Rou lay down.

Lu Shi’s rules were really numerous. Jiang Rou sat upright for a while and felt a little tired.

Jin Yue came in to help Jiang Rou massage her shoulders, “Miss, should we send someone to see what the young master is doing?”

Jiang Rou said, “No need.”

Speaking of this, Jiang Rou became angry again, “He doesn’t want to play with me at all. Forget it, if that’s the case.”

Before Jiang Rou returned to the capital, they all liked to play with her.

Besides, she didn’t care. She could just go find Jiang Cheng to play with.

Jin Ju came in, “Madam, the young master sent someone over with a lot of fun things for you, and some pastries.”

Xiang Yuan Lou.

Lu Yun’an sat by the window, leaning back lazily, listening to his friend talking and watching the boats coming and going on the lake below.

He opened his folding fan and fanned himself, seeing Li Yu, the youngest son of the Li Minister, arriving late. He smiled, “I thought you weren’t going to come.”

Li Yu looked at Lu Yun’an with envy, “You’re so lucky. You don’t know, I married a shrew. Before I left today, she had a big fight with me!”

He was practically crying.

Li Yu said, “I heard that the sixth daughter of the Jiang family is gentle. She must be very kind and considerate to you, right?”

Lu Yun’an said, “……. “

Lu Yun’an paused for a moment, then looked at Li Yu with a slightly arrogant attitude, meaning it was self-evident.

Li Yu was even more envious, “My elder sister-in-law also…..”

Li Yu’s elder sister-in-law and his wife were practically the same. Li Yu suspected that these two women must be talking about him and his elder brother in private, and they would even discuss how to control them.

Li Yu said, “Brother Lu, Yun’an, please help me!”

Lu Yun’an said, “Help you?”

Li Yu said, “The peach blossoms in the suburbs will be blooming in a few days. I’ll bring my wife, you bring your wife, and we’ll go to the suburbs to enjoy the flowers together. Let my wife see how your wife treats you!”

Lu Yun’an said, “

How did Jiang Rou treat him?

Li Yu felt more and more that this was a good idea. He grabbed Lu Yun’an’s arm with both hands, “Yun’an, thank you!”

Looking at his friends, Li Yu paused for a moment, then lowered his head, “I didn’t bring any money today, so I’ll just mooch off of you for a meal.”

His wife was very strict with him!

Jiang Rou didn’t like looking at account books, it was tiring, but even so, she had to look at them. It was all money.

After lunch, Jiang Rou went to the study and started working on the account books. The abacus beads clicked and clacked as her slender, white fingers moved them, a pleasing sight.

Even though Jiang Xuan and Lu Shi loved their daughter, they didn’t want to spoil her into a useless person. Jiang Rou knew how to look at account books, and she was even quite good at it, she was just too lazy.

After looking at the account books for a while, Jiang Rou took a break. She was going back to take a nap. After she woke up from her nap, she would continue. There was no hurry anyway.

Jin Yue said, “Madam, the young master has returned.”

Jiang Rou said, “Huh?”

Lu Yun’an’s return didn’t change Jiang Rou’s mind. She didn’t do this often, and she was already tired.

Lu Yun’an came back with some braised pork trotters, the same ones they had for supper last night.

When Jiang Rou saw Lu Yun’an, she walked straight past him and went to the bed, lying down.

So comfortable.

She was really tired. Jiang Rou was almost asleep. It was Jin Yue who came in and helped her take off her shoes and socks, and then brought her a blanket.

Lu Yun’an asked outside the courtyard, “What did Madam do this morning?”

Jin Yue said, “She stayed in the study all morning.”

When Lu Yun’an entered the room, Jin Ju came over, “Why didn’t you say that the Miss was looking at account books?”

Jin Yue said, “Madam didn’t ask the young master what he did this morning, so why should I tell the young master what Madam did?”

That seemed to make sense!

Lu Yun’an lay down next to Jiang Rou, just like the past few days. He didn’t have the habit of taking a nap. If he was sleepy, he would sleep, if not, then he wouldn’t. These past few days, he had been following Jiang Rou every day, and he was actually a little sleepy now.

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When Jiang Rou woke up, the sky outside was already getting dark, and Lu Yun’an was awake too.

Lu Yun’an said, “I brought you some braised pork trotters from Xiang Yuan Lou.”

Jiang Rou said, “My brother also sent me some braised pork trotters from Xiang Yuan Lou this morning.”

Mentioning Jiang Cheng, a smile appeared in Jiang Rou’s eyes.

Jiang Rou said, “I ate one at noon and saved one for tonight. I gave the rest to Jin Yue and the others.”

Jiang Rou got up and remembered something. She asked, “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t be back for lunch or dinner?”

Lu Yun’an said, “………”

Jiang Rou rested for a while and went back to the study. Lu Yun’an stayed in the room by himself.

As the sky grew dark, Jiang Rou was still in the study and hadn’t come back.

Lu Yun’an went to the study on his own. Jiang Rou was sitting lazily, slowly moving the abacus beads.

The beautiful young lady leaned back in her chair and looked up. When she saw it was Lu Yun’an, she didn’t say anything.

Lu Yun’an said, “What are you doing?”

Jiang Rou didn’t speak.

Lu Yun’an leaned closer and smiled at Jiang Rou. Jiang Rou said in a disgusted tone, “What?”

Lu Yun’an said, “Are you having dinner?”

Jiang Rou said, “We’ll talk about it later.”

Lu Yun’an waited for Jiang Rou. It was already dark outside, and Jiang Rou finally slowly went back to the room for dinner. Lu Yun’an followed behind her, watching her floating hair ribbon. He reached out to grab it, but quickly let go when Jiang Rou turned her head.

Jiang Rou clicked her tongue. The courtyard was swept very clean, there were no small stones at all.

He didn’t dare say anything, he really didn’t dare. If he asked, he could imagine how smug Jiang Rou would be!

At dinner time, Lu Shi sent over some fresh fruits.

Jiang Rou was very satisfied. Lu Shi was just like what Jiang Rou had heard before she got married, at least on the surface.

Jiang Rou wanted to ask Lu Yun’an what kind of person Lu Shi was, but when she looked up, she saw that Lu Yun’an seemed to be troubled.

The two of them looked at each other, neither blinking.

She wouldn’t ask. It wasn’t like she absolutely had to know what kind of person Lu Shi was.

After dinner, Jiang Rou took a cantaloupe, ignored Lu Yun’an, and planned to go back to look at the account books.

Lu Yun’an said, “When will you be finished?”

Jiang Rou said, “I don’t know. We’ll talk about it later.”

Jiang Rou walked forward, the wind blowing her sky-blue hair ribbon. The ribbon was like his, being blown about by the wind.

Jiang Rou wasn’t the type to feel wronged. She looked at the account books in the study for a while, and when she got tired, she put her legs up on the table and read a storybook.

She was engrossed in reading, and Jin Yue reminded Jiang Rou. Jiang Rou looked outside and then slowly went back.

When she was done with these things, she would go play with Jiang Cheng.

After taking a bath, Jiang Rou lay down on the bed and pulled the blanket up to her chin to go to sleep.

The room was a little dark. Lu Yun’an hesitated for a long time before finally speaking, “The peach blossoms in the suburbs are in bloom. Do you want to go with me to see them the day after tomorrow?”

Jiang Rou turned over, as if she finally had some strength. “I won’t be back for lunch or dinner.”

Lu Yun’an said, “I was wrong.”

Jiang Rou said softly, “I thought you found me troublesome. You were going to live like this from now on.”

He did think that, but he couldn’t admit it.

Jiang Rou said, “You didn’t answer me right away. That’s what you were thinking this morning.”

Lu Yun’an said, “I……”

Jiang Rou said, “Wuwuwu.”

Lu Yun’an said, “I was wrong, I really was wrong. I promise I’ll be back for lunch and dinner from now on, unless I have a good reason to convince you.”

What did he say?

Li Yu had led him astray!

Jiang Rou said, “Anything else?”

She wanted to make him say something else. He was already like this, and she still wanted him to say something. What could he say?

Jiang Rou kicked him and said,”Go Ahead.”