Chapter 180: The Heir Apparent Is Actually Quite Pitiful

Xiao Jingyuan's holdings are too many and varied; with Su Chen's help, Shen Shuangning also spent a full three days to sort them out, and in between she took time to meet those several stewards.

Frankly, upon seeing Shen Shuangning, several people were surprised.

The Heir Apparent's holdings, unknown even to his parents, are now handed over without reservation to this newly wed wife, showing how deep his affection and trust for her are.

Therefore, the stewards treat Shen Shuangning with special reverence, almost regarding her as a second master, answering her every question without reservation.

Shen Shuangning then learned that most of these properties were left to him by his maternal uncle Yuan Zhenfeng, while the rest were acquired by him later, yet they still fall far short of what his uncle gave.

It had long been heard that Xiao Jingyuan and this uncle were on very close terms; now seeing the vast estate the uncle left to Xiao Jingyuan, Shen Shuangning truly felt how well Yuan Zhenfeng treated him.

This is almost treating Xiao Jingyuan as a biological son, isn't it?

It's a pity that the sole person in this world who truly treated him well was killed just like that.

After marrying Xiao Jingyuan, she also gained a rough understanding of this uncle she had never met.

It is said that Yuan Zhenfeng himself was a bastard born of a concubine, unacknowledged by his family, so he alone went to Jingcheng to make his way, becoming the emperor's fang.

Later, Yuan Zhenfeng was killed by the Holy Heaven Sect; he died unmarried, having only adopted an orphan of the Mo clan.

Shen Shuangning couldn't help but sigh.

Yuan Zhenfeng holds such a special place in Xiao Jingyuan's heart, so it's understandable that his treatment of Yao Niang differs somewhat.

Right now, Yao Niang is standing nearby.

She stands together with several stewards, quiet and unassuming, yet hard to ignore.

Shen Shuangning also keenly noticed that the stewards subtly revolve around Yao Niang; it seems that before her arrival, Yao Niang was the one in charge here.

Shen Shuangning glanced at Yao Niang and couldn't help recalling that, on the eve of their marriage, Xiao Jingyuan had confided to her Yao Niang's identity.

He also said that if she minded Yao Niang, he could send Yao Niang to a place far from Jingcheng.

Shen Shuangning had long ceased to care.

She isn't truly intending to be Xiao Jingyuan's wife for life, and Yao Niang has done nothing wrong; he really need not go to such lengths for her.

When the two-year period ends, she will take the divorce letter and leave Prince Yan's Manor.

At present, Shen Shuangning treats Yao Niang just like any other steward, handling affairs impartially.

Yao Niang, however, feels somewhat conflicted.

An autumn breeze blew past, and the bamboo outside the window made a soft rustling sound.

The meeting place is well concealed; it is exactly the spot where Shen Shuangning and Xiao Jingyuan first conducted their trade, reachable only by passing through the secret passage of the Treasure Pavilion.

Shen Shuangning still does not know what kind of place this is, only that it lies within the city.

Inside the main hall, every spot where one could stand is piled high with account books; even the tables, chairs, and stools in the corners are stacked with thick bundles.

Each steward sat on a small stool, with an abacus and ledger before them, their fingers flying over the beads.

For a moment no one spoke; only the crackling of the abacus rose and fell within the room.

Shen Shuangning had just explained to the stewards in detail the plan for allocating grain and supplies after the autumn harvest, from converting the profits of the Southern Salt Field into grain prices to planning the potato storage; she spoke for an hour, and her mouth grew a little dry.

At this moment she sat by the window sipping tea; looking out, she could see a lush bamboo grove and a crescent-shaped pond.

As dusk approached, a sliver of golden light fell on the pond, and several koi swam beneath the lotus leaves.

Suddenly, Yao Niang's voice came from beside her: "Your marriage to the Heir Apparent is merely a partnership, isn't it?"

Though phrased as a question, the tone is clearly a statement.

Shen Shuangning turned her head to look at the young, beautiful woman before her, paused a moment, then nodded.

Yao Niang said: "But the Heir Apparent likes you very much."

The stewards were all earnestly calculating, paying no attention to the commotion here.

Shen Shuangning did not deny it.

But she has always felt that, in this life, Xiao Jingyuan owes her more guilt than affection.

If he did not remember his past life, perhaps he would not like her so much.

Yao Niang observed her expression and couldn't help feeling puzzled: "Do you really have no liking for the Heir Apparent at all?"

Shen Shuangning glanced at her, her gaze indifferent.

Yao Niang immediately lowered her head: "It was Yao Niang who spoke out of turn."

Although no clear answer was given, Yao Niang could tell.

If she felt not even a hint of goodwill, someone like Fourth Miss Shen would not have agreed to a sham marriage with the Heir Apparent.

After a while, Yao Niang still couldn't help asking: "Once the partnership ends, will Fourth Miss Shen leave the Heir Apparent?" She even changed her form of address.

Shen Shuangning replied with a single word: "Yes."

Yao Niang suddenly recalled Xiao Jingyuan's appearance at their wedding; she had never seen him so happy. It turned out that, from start to finish, only the groom was genuine in that grand ceremony.

The Heir Apparent, so proud and unwilling to bow his head, would actually lay bare his soft side for a woman, entrusting his estate, sinking to the dust in humility…

Yao Niang gazed at Shen Shuangning's calm profile, a pang of pain shot through her heart; she knew all too well the ache of loving someone unattainable.

"Fourth Miss Shen, could you……"

She had wanted to say, "Don't leave the Heir Apparent," but realizing the words were inappropriate upon reaching her lips, she instead amended: "Could you treat the Heir Apparent a little better?"

Seeing Shen Shuangning look over, Yao Niang lowered her lashes and whispered softly: "The Heir Apparent is actually quite pitiable."

Shen Shuangning looked at her somewhat strangely: "You've stayed by his side all this time, from youth to now, yet you lack even a proper title—don't you pity yourself?"

Yao Niang is born with such beauty and runs the Treasure Pavilion; she is hardly a penniless orphan, and suitors could line up from street to alley.

Yet she is fast approaching twenty; in Great Liang the prime marrying age has long passed, and ordinary families wouldn't even send a matchmaker to inquire. Despite her fine qualities, she remains alone.

Shen Shuangning does not believe a woman must rely on a man her whole life, but Yao Niang's parents are dead, she has no relatives, and having a dependant would be good.

Waiting bitterly for a result that will never come is overly sentimental—what good is that?

Yao Niang tightened her grip on the handkerchief, her knuckles whitening, yet she merely lowered her head and smiled: "Fourth Miss Shen must have misunderstood something."

Shen Shuangning startled at the words, wondering what she had misunderstood—doesn't Yao Niang simply like Xiao Jingyuan?

The heir apparent did not know Yao Niang's thoughts.

The woman said with a bitter expression, "Yao Niang, how could I let the heir apparent notice? If he found out, Yao Niang could not stay in Jingcheng. So this is not the heir apparent's fault; I am simply willing."

As for being pitiful, I do not think so." Yao Niang curled the corner of her mouth, "As long as I can work by his side and see him, even if it is bitter and exhausting, Yao Niang will find it sweet."

Shen Shuangning fell silent.

At that moment, Steward Liu, who was in charge of the shop, suddenly stopped his abacus, raised the ledger, and said, "Crown Princess, the accounts for the River South Salt Works have come out! This autumn's salt yield is thirty percent higher than last year's; converted to silver, it is exactly enough to purchase another fifty thousand stone of grain and fodder!"

Another steward also calculated the result.

Shen Shuangning immediately suppressed her chaotic thoughts, rose, and walked over.

Several stewards dared not let the Crown Princess overwork; they all expressed that they would do their utmost, make no mistakes, and allow her to sit steadily in the Prince's Mansion.

But over the next few days, Shen Shuangning would still occasionally go around the various shops and granaries.

She did not interfere excessively; she merely silently noted the conditions everywhere to ensure peace and order.

At first, the stewards felt somewhat uneasy in their hearts.

What they feared most was the new master's "new official brings three fires"—relying on a momentary whim to change the rules, disrupting the order of many years.

But after a few days, the Crown Princess not only did not meddle, but rather respected their arrangements, patiently asking when she did not understand, being steady and meticulous.

Meanwhile, as everyone gradually relaxed, their respect and fondness for her increased somewhat.

Shen Shuangning, however, did not know what they thought; she only wanted to fulfill the tasks entrusted to her by Xiao Jingyuan.

With the storm approaching, relying on Xiao Jingyuan's vast estate would allow better preparation for rainy days; otherwise, relying solely on the State Duke's estate would surely be insufficient to cope with changes.

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed, and the autumn atmosphere in Jingcheng grew stronger.

That afternoon, Shen Shuangning was sitting by the window checking the newly arrived grain and fodder list when Qing Yun came in holding a sealed wax letter: "Crown Princess, a letter from Spring City!"

Her heart jumped, and she hurriedly took it and opened it.

Familiar handwriting leapt onto the paper.

Xiao Jingyuan wrote in the letter that he had safely arrived in Spring City, everything was progressing smoothly, and she need not worry.

A few brief words, yet they let the anxiety that had hung over her for half a month settle somewhat.

"Does the Princess Consort know about this?" Shen Shuangning asked meddlesomely.

The master had written only this letter; Qing Yun, upon receiving it, immediately sent it to Shen Shuangning. As for the Princess Consort's side, he had only sent someone to inform her.

Qing Yun answered truthfully.

Shen Shuangning also said nothing more; just as she put the letter away, light footsteps sounded from outside.

Mu Yu walked in holding a bowl of pitch-black decoction.

"Crown Princess, it's time to take the medicine."

Over the past half month, Shen Shuangning had been so busy she barely touched the ground; if not for Mu Yu bringing the medicine, she would almost have forgotten that the poison in her body had not yet been dispelled.

Since marrying, Shen Shuangning had suffered a poison outbreak once; in her dazed consciousness, she only remembered Xiao Jingyuan holding her tightly, using his own blood to alleviate it.

She actually did not like drinking his blood directly, especially when unconscious, resisting all the more; thus Xiao Jingyuan mixed his blood into the medicine prepared by Mu Yu.

Licorice root was specially added; the decoction, though still a bowl of black mush, tasted only of a faint medicinal fragrance when drunk, with no trace of blood.

At present, Shen Shuangning did not know that the decoction contained Xiao Jingyuan's heart's blood; she only felt that this time she could taste a distinct bloody flavor.

They couldn't help but frown slightly, yet still gulped it down in one go.

Mu Yu only let out a sigh of relief after seeing her finish drinking.

I thought, three months from now, if the Heir still hasn't returned, I must definitely find the Netherworld Flower.

Who would have expected that Shen Shuangning, after setting down the medicine bowl, lifted her gaze and asked, "How come the blood taste is so strong this time? Did you use a lot?"