Four Delicate Offenders – CH 050

Chapter 50. Wait For You.

So Jiang Heng was truly an indecisive person; the fact that he’d invited her out to discuss this was rather amusing to Jin Shengyu.

But with the establishment of the mansion imminent, how could she not know the reason? “Previously, Liu-niang managed all the household accounts. Now that she knows the Marquis is getting married, she’s naturally left me with a mess to clean up.”

She’d made up her mind; this grudge had run deep, and she’d deal with Liu-niang someday. However, things were urgent now, and having the whole family huddled in that small villa was definitely not a solution.

As for his plan to borrow money from his daughter, Jin Shengyu disagreed. “Lady Yun has not been married long. Last time, when the Marquis offered betrothal gifts, it was she who provided the funds. Although she did not say anything, I knew. Now that you, her father, are building a mansion, if you ask her for money, she naturally will not refuse. But she also has her own difficulties. Are you expecting her to lend you money every time you run into financial trouble? No matter how much wealth she has, it will not be enough to support her family.”

Jiang Heng understood this perfectly well; even a hero could be brought down by a lack of funds, but he was currently facing a difficult situation.

He sighed, head bowed. “I never imagined Liu-niang was this kind of person. Such a vast fortune was handed over to her, and in just one year, she’d emptied the family coffers.”

Jin Shengyu smiled. “The Marquis is a kind man. How could he understand the thoughts of those concubines? When you can catch them, you catch them; after all, with people and money, life will not be too difficult. When you cannot catch them, you naturally grab the money. Money is a person’s foundation. Besides, she has three children. She’s certain I will mistreat them in the future, so she has to plan for their future.”

Jiang Heng was indignant. “But her appetite is too big. She must have embezzled at least two or three thousand taels.”

Jin Shengyu chuckled. “I am afraid it’s more than that! There’s no time to argue with her now; dealing with the immediate matter is more important. You have six thousand taels, and you still have a two-thousand-tael deficit…” She lowered her head, thinking for a moment. “Last time the betrothal gift was eight hundred taels. I will add some of my own savings, and if that’s not enough, I will borrow a few hundred more from my parents. Houses in the capital are scarce these days; all the officials in Youzhou are looking for suitable residences. If we delay too long, someone else might get there first, and that would not be good.”

After she finished speaking, she noticed Jiang Heng staring intently at her. She paused, somewhat embarrassed, and blushed, saying, “Why are you looking at me, Lord Marquis? What did I say wrong?”

Jiang Heng quickly said no, revealing a troubled expression. “I feel terribly guilty. My wife is not even married in yet and already having to fill this hole for me, even using up the betrothal gift.”

Jin Shengyu was not petty. Knowing the County Princess’s experience, she knew that first, she would reclaim the household management power from Liu-niang and then naturally fill the gap. Besides, Jiang Heng, even in dire straits, knew right from wrong. Helping him now would completely free him from Liu-niang’s clutches. After all, he was not utterly wicked, just lacking discipline. With proper guidance and discipline, if soft methods did not work, she could use firmer approaches to make him obedient.

So she softened her tone and said, “Since I’ve agreed to this marriage, I will be living in your Marquis’s Mansion one day. If I do not even have a mansion, what kind of person am I marrying into? My previous husband and I are divorced, and I will not hide it from you. Returning to my parents’ home is inconvenient; ultimately, I need my own home. Having chosen you, Marquis, after much deliberation, I should hold my head high and be a good wife for everyone to see so that Lady Yun can rest assured and no longer worry about Father.”

Her words were righteous and inspiring, stirring Jiang Heng’s blood.

Yes, his life needed this kind of encouragement to make him feel the weight of responsibility on his shoulders and to understand that the family business was his responsibility. It was no longer like when the County Princess was alive, when he did not have to worry about anything, allowing him the leisure to spend his time with Liu-niang.

Now that he was older and understood the bitterness of poverty, when he was desperate, it was still this woman he was about to marry who truly cared for him. He respected her character and found she possessed the same integrity as the former County Princess; at least she resolutely refused the offer to beg for money from his daughter. This was the biggest difference between her and Liu-niang.

A person who had been soaked in the mire for too long, suddenly seeing the sunlight, only a ray was needed to illuminate their entire path.

He grasped Jin Shengyu’s hand firmly. “Second Lady, I was presumptuous, but I still want to thank you. Do not worry, from now on, I will definitely live a good life with you; I will definitely restore the glory of the founding marquis’s family and become a worthy and upright man.”

She was somewhat embarrassed but did not pull her hand away. These were the words she had been waiting for. With such a statement from him, Liu-niang would no longer hold a place in his heart. In the future, she would have her own ways to make Liu-niang return all the money she had taken.

***

With Jin Shengyu’s help, the mansion at the entrance of the alley was successfully acquired. On the day of the handover, she and Jiang Heng went to see it. The four-courtyard complex, with two gardens, one large and one small, was even more impressive than the General’s Mansion.

The servants from the old Youzhou residence were all in the small market street. Now they could be summoned to clean the courtyard. This was the first time the servants had formally met their new mistress. Seeing such a majestic woman standing on the steps, unlike the previous County Princess’s gentle and refined demeanor, this woman was robust and beautiful, exuding an unapproachable aura. They felt a sense of apprehension.

With this sense of urgency instilled, no one dared to slack off or cheat. Everyone performed their duties diligently, and in less than a day, a flurry of firecrackers went off in front of the gate, and the plaque for the Founding Marquis’s Mansion was hung above the entrance.

Nanny Yao relayed the news to Yunpan, saying that the Marquis’s Mansion was complete, and she also learned some inside information from the young maids.

“A few days ago, when we were buying the new mansion, we sold our old house in Youzhou. Liu-niang only left two thousand taels in the accounts and then stood by, watching the Marquis frantically run around trying to make ends meet. Later, we finally managed to scrape together six thousand taels, but the new mansion was priced at eight thousand taels. There was a two-thousand-tael shortfall. The Marquis originally said he would ask Madam for help, but Lady Jin would not allow it. In the end, it was Lady Jin who used her own savings to cover it… Madam, you really did not misjudge her. This Lady Jin has backbone; she does not rely on Madam’s marriage into the Duke’s family. Whenever she encounters difficulties, she does not think of asking Madam for help. With someone like her managing the household, how can we worry about the Marquis’s Mansion not rising to prominence?”

Yunpan listened with satisfaction. After observing her several times, she became even more certain that Lady Jin was the best choice.

Although her mother was very disappointed in her father, they still had feelings for each other after many years. Because of these feelings, she inevitably made arrangements for him in every way. He would never know how much effort it took to maintain the family business. Now, a woman named Second Lady Jin had arrived. She had no feelings for Father; they were just living together out of convenience. A stranger’s financial assistance would make Father grateful for a lifetime. In this sense, Second Lady Jin was the one in a superior position in this marriage, and the more powerful she was, the easier it was for her to control Father.

“Liu-niang prides herself on her cleverness, but this time she’s inadvertently helping others,” Yunpan said, fanning herself with her fan. “Her initial intention was probably to force Second Lady Jin to come to me for money. Once a rift develops between us, she can sit back and watch the two fight. What a brilliant plan she came up with!”

Nanny Yao, however, disagreed. “If Liu-niang were truly intelligent, she would be actively trying to win over the Marquis right now. I think she just wants to hold onto some cash. Think about it, such a vast fortune, and in the end, only two thousand taels are left in the public accounts. Who would believe that!”

Yunpan chuckled. “She’s incredibly audacious; she must have embezzled a considerable amount.”

Nanny Yao, tucking her hands behind her back, agreed. “Second Lady Jin hates her to the core, but without any evidence, she cannot really deal with her.”

Upon hearing this, Yunpan sighed deeply. “Nanny,” she said, “I’ve been observing for so long, from Liu-niang’s outburst at the General’s Mansion to Second Lady Jin’s purchase of the new house. I was not sure what would happen before the wedding, but it seems I was overthinking it. I have a wedding gift here, which I originally intended to give her after the marriage, but now I think it’s better to give it to her in advance.” She then ordered, “Prepare the carriage for me; I am going to pay my respects to this Second Lady Jin.”

Nanny Yao agreed, signaling the maids to help her change and dress. Once everything was ready, she boarded the carriage and headed straight for the General’s Mansion.

The two mansions were not too far apart, and they soon arrived at the gates. A servant was sent to deliver the visiting card. The gatekeeper, seeing this, dared not delay and hurried inside to announce her arrival. Soon, the General’s wife and Jin Shengyu emerged, their faces beaming with smiles as they greeted her. “The Duchess has arrived!”

Yunpan, helped down from the carriage by a maid, smiled and exchanged greetings with them. “Actually, I should have come earlier, but some matters at home kept me from paying my respects until today.” Turning to Jin Shengyu, she said gently, “Aunt, I have been rude; please forgive me.”

She called her “Aunt,” an incredibly flattering title, effectively establishing a familial relationship between the newcomer and the County Princess. Placing this before the wedding ceremony was undoubtedly the best and most appropriate way to win her over.

Jin Shengyu sized her up. Despite her young age, she possessed the poised and dignified demeanor of a noblewoman, and given her marriage to the Duke of Wei, she naturally held her in even higher regard.

She was usually taciturn, but seeing her, she genuinely liked her and said with a smile, “Duchess, you are too kind. We were not acquainted before, but I’ve long heard of your esteemed name. From now on, we are family, so there’s no need for rudeness.”

Yunpan said, “Since we are family, Aunt, please just call me by my given name. Calling me Duchess all the time makes us seem distant.”

The two of them warmly entered the front courtyard’s flower hall. The General’s wife personally served tea, and Yunpan, seated on a chair, bowed and said she did not deserve it. This made the General’s wife inwardly sigh; after all, she was the daughter of a County Princess, and this dignity and honor seemed unlike anything Jiang Heng could possess.

After exchanging greetings and pleasantries, Yunpan said, “I was just thinking a few days ago that the new mansion should be furnished, but I did not expect to hear today that the plaque has already been hung up. It’s all thanks to Aunt’s hard work.”

Jin Shengyu said it was nothing. “I am not one to sit still, and I will do what I can. After all, the Marquis is a man and not very adept at managing household affairs. It’s really hard on him to plan everything.”

Yunpan nodded. “It’s a blessing for the entire Marquis’s Mansion to have Aunt in charge.”

The General’s wife, quick to speak her mind, said what her sister-in-law could not say, “It’s just that the Marquis’s concubine is truly despicable. I heard the Duke curse her before, saying she was scheming against the Duchess, and now she’s even scheming against the Marquis. After a year in charge, the Marquis’s Mansion only has two thousand taels of silver left. If I had not heard it with my own ears, who would believe it?”

Yunpan sighed helplessly, “That’s always been her way. She caused a scene at the General’s mansion last time and did not get the better of me, so naturally, she will find other ways to make up for it. They do not have enough money for the new house, so why did Aunt not have Father come to me? We are blood relatives; how could I not lend a hand?”

Jin Shengyu said, “Of course you’d help, but you are living under someone else’s roof. How can I trouble you with such a small matter?” She smiled. “Luckily, I have some savings. I borrowed some from my sister-in-law, and I can pay it back when the rent from the estate and shops is collected at the end of the year.”

Upon hearing this, Yunpan took her hand and said, “It’s so hard on you, Aunt, having to arrange all this for Father even before you are married. Next time, if there’s any inconvenience, please come to me. Our Lord has also said that even among close relatives, there’s no reason for him to stand idly by. As for that Liu-niang, please do not be distressed, Aunt. She willingly became a slave; only then did my mother allow her to enter the Marquis’s Mansion. When my mother was alive, she was quite well-behaved. After my mother passed away, she experienced the life of managing a household, and gradually, many troubles arose.”

She paused, then gave Qin-Dan a wink.

Qin-Dan presented an envelope to Jin Shengyu. Jin Shengyu pulled out the paper inside and saw it was Liu-niang’s slave registration document, and could not help but glance at her in surprise.

Yunpan smiled and said, “From now on, Aunt will be the mistress of the Marquis’s Mansion. This document is more useful in your hands than in mine. If the concubine is well-behaved, I doubt Aunt will deliberately make things difficult for her. If she is unruly, Aunt can exercise her authority as a matriarch to force her to behave.”

Jin Shengyu was truly impressed by her.

In truth, she knew that Jiang Heng’s remarriage was the eldest daughter’s idea. Her family was incompetent, and she could not easily interfere after her own marriage, so naturally she needed someone capable of decisive control. Her shrewdness was already evident in all of this, and now, with this slave registration document in her hands, she possessed both maturity and ruthless decisiveness. If it were not for her status and seniority, she probably would have already dealt with Liu-niang herself.

Fortunately, she was on her side. Jin Shengyu, clutching the document, felt a surge of relief. “Thank you for your trust. I’ve always been wary; after all, she has three children, and I could not easily punish her. Now, with this document, I can finally have a good talk with her. What right does she have to dare enter the General’s mansion and embezzle the Marquis’s money?”

Yunpan smiled. “Then it’s up to Aunt to decide. When I was turned away, my courtyard was probably ransacked. Luckily, I stored this document in the warehouse; otherwise, Liu-niang would probably be even more emboldened now. I was also worried that Aunt, being from a prestigious family, would not be able to handle her underhanded methods. Giving the document to Aunt will give her leverage over her in the future.” She stood up, her voice warm. “I came today specifically for this matter. Now that it’s settled, I will not bother you any longer. Thank you for your hospitality, General’s wife and Aunt. Please come to my residence sometime; we can catch up.”

Since she was leaving, it was impolite to keep her. The two women personally escorted her to the gate, exchanging many polite words before watching the carriage disappear into the distance.

The General’s wife had to admit that her sister-in-law had found a good husband, murmuring, “Even if the man is incompetent, with this stepdaughter, they can manage.”

Jin Shengyu lowered her head, clutching the document tightly in her hand. She had been pondering how to fight a tough battle with Liu-niang, but unexpectedly, things had taken a turn for the better so quickly. With this document in hand, handling matters would be much simpler from now on.

***

The carriage moved slowly, passing through the market town, heading towards the Duke’s Mansion. Yunpan, tired from a busy day, leaned against Qin-Dan’s shoulder and dozed off.

The trees in the capital were very well-maintained; the roads were lined with trees, and the chirping of cicadas could be heard from near and far, rising and falling in waves, indeed making one drowsy after a while.

Qin-Dan thought she was asleep, but suddenly heard her mutter as if in her sleep, “Where are Nanny Pan and Nanny Wei now?”

Nanny Pan was a maidservant to the County Princess, and Nanny Wei was her wet nurse. On the day of the earthquake, when she attended the Flower Banquet, they had not gone out with her. Later, she was stopped at the gate, and the two nannies had disappeared without a trace. She had asked her father, but he had been misled by Liu-niang and did not even know who they were. He only said that many servants in the mansion had run away in the chaos and could not be found, offering no further explanation. She was at her aunt’s house then and could not easily organize the search, but now that she was capable of handling things on her own, she should start looking for the elderly people who had served her.

As she pondered this, the carriage stopped in front of the mansion gate. She rose to get out when, suddenly, she saw a person dressed in a purple silk robe standing before the carriage, smiling at her.

She was initially startled, but upon recognizing his face, she exclaimed joyfully, “My Lord, you are back!”

He extended his hand to her, smiling. “I just arrived home. I heard you’d been away for a while, so I waited for you here.”

She blushed slightly. “Why did you wait for me? It’s so hot, and you’ve traveled such a long way…” She took his hand and stepped out of the carriage, her face radiant with a smile, glancing at him gently. “Go inside quickly… Have you greeted Grandmother and Mother?”

He hummed in response, “I sent someone in to report. We will go when you return.”

Newlyweds were always a little shy, hesitant to show their faces to outsiders. Only after they returned to their inner chamber did he turn and embrace her, softly asking, “How have you been these past few days?”

His words stirred a tenderness within her. Yunpan nestled in his arms, saying, “I am perfectly fine at home, but My Lord, you must be exhausted from such a long journey.”

He did not speak, a faint fragrance brushing against her temple, as if this closeness could soothe his weary heart.

Outside the window, the sun shone brightly, birds chirped, and fine dust floated beneath the low-hanging curtains. The hem of his robe swirled in the sunlight, casting a purple hue. He gently swayed her, holding her close, and murmured languidly in her ear, “Long journeys are common, and I never found them unbearable before. But now it’s different. I just want to go home as soon as possible.”

Was it because she was now at home?

He did not spell it out, and she naturally would not pry. Sometimes beauty lay in the unspoken, the subtle; too much elaboration, and it would lose its charm.

They both enjoyed this tender moment, but unfortunately, they could not let it linger too long. After being away from home for so many days, they could not just think about their intimate moments and forget the proper etiquette before their elders.

She gently stroked his back. “My Lord, please change your clothes first. Grandmother and Mother are eagerly awaiting your return.”

He agreed, but his actions remained unchanged. He waited quite a while before releasing her, reminding her, “Wait for me a moment. After I’ve washed up, we will go to Mao Garden together.”