Ever since Zhao Luoning told Caixue about her plan, Caixue stopped trying to persuade her to reconcile with Ji Shisu. Instead, she started chattering about which scenic and peaceful place to choose for retirement when they left in the future.
Zhao Luoning just smiled upon hearing this.
This girl was so innocent. It was quite nice.
Ji Shisu still often stayed out at night. Zhao Luoning never asked him where he had been, but this situation inevitably made the servants in the mansion treat her with less respect.
Maybe because the Ji family was like a rebel bone in the imperial court, the Ji family members were hard to discipline. Zhao Luoning, as the mistress in charge, felt extremely frustrated.
Due to the intimidating effect of Ji Shisu's punishment of the insolent servants with the rod before, no one dared to directly target Zhao Luoning. So they started to use other methods.
For example, making things difficult for her.
One day, just as Zhao Luoning reached the entrance of Cihua Courtyard, before the messenger maid could announce her arrival, she heard voices from inside.
"Grandmatriarch, can this new daughter - in - law really manage this huge family business well?"
The maid was good at gauging people's reactions. Before the people inside could say something even more offensive, she loudly announced, "Grandmatriarch, the second young mistress is here."
Zhao Luoning followed the maid inside and found that both Madam Ji and the second Madam Ji were in the room.
The one who had just spoken should be the second Madam Ji.
Seeing her come in, the grandmatriarch greeted her with a smiling face. Madam Ji still wore a cold expression as usual, and the second Madam Ji also had a smile on her face, but it didn't reach her eyes.
Zhao Luoning had just entered and hadn't even had time to sit down when the second Madam Ji started to make trouble.
"Grandmatriarch, I think Luoning is quite capable. She should be given some more challenging tasks."
More challenging?
Zhao Luoning frowned.
She heard the second Madam Ji continue, "Aren't there many bad debts on the estate? The tenants can't pay the rent but still occupy the fields, which is really a headache. Why don't we let Luoning have a try? Maybe, out of respect for the new second young mistress, they will pay the rent on time."
The grandmatriarch looked up at Zhao Luoning and asked hesitantly, "Can you do it?"
Before Zhao Luoning could say a word, Madam Ji, who had always been sitting quietly on the side, suddenly interrupted.
"She will have to go through these things sooner or later. If Luoning encounters difficulties, I will help her."
Zhao Luoning was skeptical about Madam Ji's words.
After all, the last time Madam Ji said she would help, she only lightly fined a few maids' monthly allowances. It was Ji Shisu who stepped in and helped her establish her authority.
But since the elders had already said so, Zhao Luoning had nothing to say and had to take on the task.
The second Madam Ji watched as Zhao Luoning, supported by a maid, walked out of Cihua Courtyard. Due to nervousness, the mistress and the maid almost ran all the way out.
It seemed that this second young mistress was a bit flustered.
A smug smile spread across the second Madam Ji's lips.
As for Zhao Luoning and Caixue, who were quickly walking out of Cihua Courtyard, they didn't stop until they reached the garden. After making sure there was no one else around, they looked at each other and burst into laughter.
"I thought they would come up with some really harsh ways to make things difficult for you, but this is all they've got?"
Managing the estate and dealing with all kinds of people was indeed a difficult task for a woman who had always stayed in the inner chambers.
That was why the second Madam Ji was trying so hard to set up traps for Zhao Luoning, hoping to make her look bad.
But probably no one in the Ji family had expected that this task was a piece of cake for Zhao Luoning.
After all, she had managed the Zhao family in the name of her younger brother, Zhao Luojing, since she was a child. In order to handle the affairs of the Zhao family's estate, she had even lived on the estate for three months.
She had seen all kinds of situations.
So, the grandmatriarch asking her to collect rent was like an open - book exam.
Although it was an open - book exam, she still needed to borrow some power.
Zhao Luoning set her sights on Ji Shisu.
After learning that Ji Shisu was going to the estate to handle some business, she showed up at the door of his room on the morning when he was about to leave.
Ji Shisu was quite surprised to see Zhao Luoning.
Since Zhao Luoning moved to live with Caixue, Ji Shisu hadn't seen much of her.
Occasionally, when they met in the grandmatriarch's Cihua Courtyard, they just passed by each other without even saying a word.
"You all may leave."
Knowing that Zhao Luoning had something to talk to him about, Ji Shisu dismissed the servants.
"I want to go to the estate with you."
"The estate?" Ji Shisu frowned. "What are you, a woman, going there for?"
"To collect rent."
"Collect rent? Nonsense! Do you know what kind of people are on that estate?"
Zhao Luoning pouted, thinking to herself: I know much better than you.
Ji Shisu saw this clearly through the bronze mirror.
He suspected that he was hallucinating. He turned around and saw that Zhao Luoning in a simple dress looked more charming than usual. Maybe because she was going out, her makeup was much more understated than before.
Actually, Zhao Luoning was quite good - looking.
This was the first time Ji Shisu had a favorable impression of Zhao Luoning since their marriage.
Zhao Luoning didn't notice Ji Shisu's appraising look. She lowered her head and concealed the dissatisfaction in her eyes.
"I'm not going to show myself in public. I'm just going to meet the estate steward, Mr. Tian."
Zhao Luoning never fought an unprepared battle. Before coming, she had already investigated. This Mr. Tian was the leader on the estate. He was kind - hearted and quite prestigious.
Hearing that she was going to meet Old Tian, Ji Shisu didn't object anymore. After all, Old Tian had once served in the mansion. He was different from those low - class people.
So, Ji Shisu finally said nothing more and just nodded in agreement.
Ji Shisu led Zhao Luoning into the carriage that had been prepared. Ji Shisu's page, Yuchi, and Zhao Luoning's maid, Caixue, sat in front of the carriage to drive the horses. Two guards rode on horses, one on each side, to protect the carriage.
Ji Shisu and Zhao Luoning remained silent all the way.
The carriage stopped in front of a farmhouse. Zhao Luoning got off the carriage with Caixue. Ji Shisu didn't stop and drove the carriage straight towards the fields.
Zhao Luoning motioned for Caixue to knock on the door. Caixue nodded understandingly and rang the copper bell on the door.
"Who is it?"
The one who opened the door was a middle - aged woman wearing a simple blue cloth shirt. In her plain blue clothes and without any makeup, her smile was full of kindness.
"Sorry to bother you. The grandmatriarch of the Ji Mansion sent us to visit you. This is the second young mistress of the Ji Mansion."
Hearing that Zhao Luoning was from the Ji Mansion, the woman quickly stepped aside to welcome them.
"I didn't know it was the second young mistress. I've been so rude. Please come in."
The owner of this farmhouse was surnamed Tian. The Tian family used to serve the old master. After the old master passed away, they came to the estate and became the stewards. They had a certain prestige in the village.
Soon, Tian Cheng, who had been working in the fields, returned home. Mrs. Tian went downstairs to prepare the meal, and Tian Cheng accompanied Zhao Luoning to talk in the yard.
"Are you saying that the grandmatriarch wants us to manage the estate on our own, with more pay for more work?"
"Of course. The land still belongs to the Ji Mansion, but the way we collect rent from the Ji Mansion will change."
Tian Cheng was intrigued by Zhao Luoning's words and asked curiously,
"Oh, I'd like to hear the details."