A Good Country Wife
Chapter 413 - 407_1

Chapter 413: 407_1

Jiang Ziqi was still brooding over the young servant who had offended Lin Yue. On rare occasions allowing himself to be petty, once back at the Jiang Residence, he ordered a servant to convey a few words and send a message to the Chen Mansion. With just a single statement from him, he was certain that Minister Chen would severely deal with the servant. Jiang Ziqi could not bear to see the servant’s presumptuous behavior towards Lin Yue.

Since the ten thousand taels of silver were given to him by Lin Yue, Jiang Ziqi immediately had someone handle the formalities at the Ministry of Household and registered the property in Lin Yue’s name. It was a matter that could be settled with a simple command and was easily accomplished. Even if Lin Yue had decided against taking the property, he would have bought it himself. Purchasing such a large estate for ten thousand taels of silver in a good location, who would be reluctant?

Jiang Ziqi then remembered that on the seventh day of the month, Lin Yue was to attend a poetry gathering at the Chen Mansion. Though he had no siblings of his own, there were indeed several female cousins in the extended family of the Jiang Residence. Knowing that Minister Chen was working hard to curry favor with him, it was likely that Miss Chen would also send invitations to the women of the Jiang family. Indeed, after inquiries, it turned out to be the case; two female cousins were invited, and even his concubines had received invitations. Minister Chen really had gone to great lengths to ingratiate himself with him. Usually, only unmarried women would be invited to such gatherings of young ladies, and although Lin Yue was an exception, it was because Miss Chen had other intentions in mind.

Jiang Ziqi summoned a servant and gave detailed instructions. Among his aunts, only Chen Auntie was permitted to attend. Chen Auntie was intelligent and would surely know what to do, whereas the other aunts should not go and embarrass themselves publicly. Not to mention that they had yet to recover from the last caning, even if they had, Jiang Ziqi had already punished them with six months of house arrest, during which they were not to go anywhere.

With instructions from Jiang Ziqi, Chen Auntie happily accepted the task. The Family Head was willing to trust her with this important matter. As for Madam Lin, she didn’t seem inclined to enter the household. As for the two female cousins, although somewhat unwilling in their hearts, they had to follow the Family Head’s commands. Otherwise, falling out of favor with the Family Head wouldn’t be worth it. After all, the status and position of everyone in the Jiang Residence depended on the attitude of the Family Head.

Once the clothes were ready, and Jiang Ziqi had the deed for the property he had previously taken a liking to sent over, the formalities at the government office had already been taken care of. Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue did not even need to make an appearance. Lin Yue marveled once more at the advantages of privilege. For the first time, she somewhat hoped that Dalang and the others would strive hard to achieve some scholarly honor. Thinking of this made Lin Yue somewhat homesick for her younger family members. Before she left, she had specifically entrusted the shopkeeper of Jimin Hall with their care. Shopkeeper Liu belonged to Jiang Ziqi, and during her time in the Capital City, Lin Yue had come to understand the importance of the Jiang Family. With Shopkeeper Liu’s protection, the children should be fine. Even the Empress had to give Jiang Ziqi three points of respect.

In the days that followed, aside from going to the workshop, Zhao Erhu mostly dealt with affairs at home. Since arriving in the Capital City, the more he felt useless, the more eager he was to accomplish something. Even if it meant going into business, he wanted to make some achievements so his wife could enjoy the benefits and not have to worry about family matters, much less compromise herself. Thinking about how his wife had to attend the gathering to maintain the relationship with Minister Chen, even knowing Chen Ruyu harbored ill intentions, made his heart ache. Only if he was capable would his wife not have to suffer such indignities.

On the seventh day, even though Zhao Erhu acquiesced to his wife’s decision to go to the Chen Mansion, he still felt uneasy. He personally drove the carriage and dropped her at the doorstep of the Chen Mansion. "Wife, Chen Ruyu is up to no good. Be very careful once you’re inside. I’ll be right here waiting for you. If anything happens, just come out immediately."

"I know," Lin Yue originally wanted to say that her attendance at the poetry gathering at the Chen Mansion would undoubtedly take some time and that Zhao Erhu need not wait so anxiously. However, she was also aware of how worried he was since he had been fussing over it since yesterday. Thus, she didn’t try to persuade him further and only told Zhao Erhu to take a nap in the carriage if he was tired, advising him not to make himself uncomfortable.

When the young ladies from other families arrived, they were promptly greeted and fawned over. However, when Lin Yue arrived at the gate of the Chen Mansion, no one paid her any attention. It was not because the servants of the Chen Mansion were negligent, but rather because they dared not disobey their master’s orders. Neither Minister Chen nor his wife knew that Chen Ruyu would act in such a manner; otherwise, they would have made arrangements already. Since Jiang Ziqi had spoken, Minister Chen had also instructed Chen Ruyu, but she took it lightly and didn’t treat it seriously, feeling that her father was being overly cautious. To her, how could Jiang Ziqi, the Family Head of the Jiang Family, take so much interest in a mere peasant woman.

As for Jiang Ziqi, not only did he have an extraordinary identity and status, but he was also capable and distinguished in appearance and demeanor. He had yet to marry, making him the object of secret admiration and infatuation among many young women in the Capital City; Chen Ruyu was one of them. Even though she felt that Jiang Ziqi would not favor a married woman, she was still very uncomfortable in her heart. Initially only intending to embarrass Lin Yue slightly and dent her pride, her resentment grew stronger, and she decided she’d torment Lin Yue thoroughly to vent her dissatisfaction.

With people coming and going in front of the mansion gate, Lin Yue, not one to have a thick skin, found standing there somewhat awkward. Zhao Erhu was beside her, just about to suggest they leave, when he saw the Jiang family’s carriage arrive. The Jiang Residence, being a prominent household, had quite the procession; even the polygamous wives, who were but peripheral relatives, were brought in two carriages. The carriages came to a halt, and as the female cousins and Chen Auntie were aided out by the maids, people hastened to greet them warmly, and even Lady Chen came out with Chen Ruyu to receive them personally.

Such gatherings were not always attended by people from the Jiang Residence. This time, they were there strictly on the orders of the Family Head, to look after Lin Yue. A Fourth-rank official was a significant figure locally, but in the Capital City, it didn’t count for much. Even for the female cousins and Chen Auntie of the Jiang Residence, this event wasn’t given much importance.

"Oh, Madam Lin is here too. I pay my respects to Madam Lin," said Chen Auntie almost casually to Lady Chen and her daughter. Upon seeing Lin Yue, she immediately approached and half-bowed in front of everyone to show her respect.

In Chen Auntie’s view, no matter what status Madam Lin held, she was willing to do anything that could win the Family Head’s favor. She hoped to gain his trust before the official wife entered the family and to secure her own position within the Jiang Residence. Moreover, Madam Lin seemed rather extraordinary, and who knew if fortune might favor her later on—it was always good to be on friendly terms. Seeing Chen Auntie lowering her stance so much, the two female cousins also paid their respects to Lin Yue.

Lady Chen, having hurried out earlier, hadn’t noticed Lin Yue standing at the front gate. Now, feeling somewhat embarrassed, she quickly invited Lin Yue inside as well.

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