Chapter 20: Palpitations

The grandmother ordered people to make many things Shen Shuangning liked to eat, and personally applied medicine to her hands, her face full of worry.

It's grandmother's fault; she shouldn't have hit you.

Grandmother, don't say that; it's proper for you to discipline your granddaughter.

Grandparent and grandchild have no overnight grudge; they tacitly agreed not to mention it further.

By the time Shen Shuangning heard about the Third Branch's matter, Madam Shen had already settled it.

Lady Yang doesn't truly want to split the household; she just wants to use this to gain advantages for the Third Branch. I promised Ling Jieer that if she marries, her dowry will be the same as yours, and she'll stop causing trouble." Madam Shen said.

Shen Shuangning asked: "What did grandmother say?"

Madam Shen sat in her chair and said lightly: "The extra dowry for Ling Jieer won't be taken from the Duke's Manor's storehouse; naturally grandmother has no objection, she'd rather I take it all."

If Lady Yang continues to cause trouble, no matter whose fault it is, in the end it will be blamed on her as the mistress of the household for not managing the household strictly.

Madam Shen felt somewhat weary, but she was also accustomed to it.

Shen Shuangning felt sorry for her mother, lowered her head: "Mother, it's all my fault; I've caused you trouble."

"It's nothing." Madam Shen gently stroked her daughter's hair, "Your aunt is meticulous; even if she doesn't cause trouble today, she'll find something to stir up tomorrow. Actually, when I prepared your dowry, I also prepared one for Ling Jieer; there's nothing to be difficult about."

Shen Shuangning lifted her gaze to look at her.

I didn't say anything because I know Lady Yang has many schemes; if I had taken the initiative to give it, she would overthink, and thus she would feel reassured and behave herself for a while.

It turned out Mother's mind was like a clear mirror, seeing things more clearly than anyone.

When it comes to managing household affairs, she truly cannot compare to Mother.

Madam Shen turned her eyes to look at her, speaking earnestly: "Ningning, matters that can be solved with money are not big issues."

Shen Shuangning nodded as if receiving instruction, wanting to share her mother's worries, she thought and said: "Mother, may I have the fields of River Pavilion and two shops allocated to me?"

Madam Shen frowned upon hearing this: "What do you want the fields and shops for?"

Shen Shuangning earnestly said: "I want to engage in business."

Madam Shen refused without hesitation: "You are a noble lady of the Duke's Manor; how could you go out and make a spectacle of yourself? I, who engage in trade, am already looked down upon; I cannot let my daughter also be pointed at. Moreover, even if I agreed, grandmother would not consent."

In Great Liang, merchants hold low status; even the wealthiest merchants can only travel by donkey cart and are not allowed to wear silk.

If it weren't for her talent in business these years, using the silver she earned to subsidize the Duke's Manor, allowing the vast Shen Manor to continue enjoying wealth and honor, the grandmother would long ago have schemed to have Shen Lang divorce his wife.

Old Madam Shen never liked her identity as a merchant's daughter; if Shen Shuangning were to follow in her footsteps, what would become of it?

The grandmother would skin her alive.

What's wrong with engaging in trade? If the Duke's Manor lacked Mother, it would not have survived.

Shen Shuangning's words were not entirely flattery.

In her previous life, not long after Mother passed away, the authority over the household passed to the Second Branch Madam; however, Second Madam lacked Mother's abilities, yet was eager to prove herself, resulting in a loss that turned the household upside down within half a year.

When Shen Shuangning went to visit grandmother again, she heard Su Niang complain that when Lady Liu was present, grandmother always had a bowl of golden bird's nest soup each day, but now she could only drink soup made from fake ginseng.

Madam Shen looked at the thoughtful little cotton jacket, a smile appearing on her face: "No matter how sweet your words, I won't relent."

Shen Shuangning had no choice but to appeal to emotion and reason, then added: "I also want to be as capable as Mother; perhaps I could be even more capable. That way, in my husband's family I wouldn't be bullied."

Seeing Madam Shen's expression already wavering, Shen Shuangning coquettishly said: "Let's just not tell grandmother."

As soon as grandmother was mentioned, Madam Shen seemed to sober up, immediately saying sternly: 'No.'

Shen Shuangning blinked, realizing the crux of the matter, and thus opted for a compromise.

How about this: Mother first gives me the right to use the fields; if I manage them well and can help you, you'll consider giving me the shops; if I fail, I'll never bring it up again.

The fields are not in the city, unlike the shops which are under everyone's nose at the Duke's Manor, making them hard to notice.

Moreover, the fields of River Pavilion are Madam Shen's private property, not belonging to the Duke's Manor; they can be considered our own people.

River Pavilion also has Shen Shuangning's cousin; if she went there, she could say she was visiting her cousin to play, a perfectly good excuse.

Madam Shen pondered for a moment, seeing Shen Shuangning gazing at her eagerly, full of enthusiasm, thinking this girl was likely just acting on a whim; a young lady who had never known hardship would probably start clamoring to return after just two days at River Pavilion.

She didn't think Shen Shuangning could accomplish anything significant; just don't cause trouble that ends up hurting herself.

Alright, I agree, but only after the birthday banquet; until then, you must behave yourself.

Shen Shuangning received Mother's nod, so she was not in a hurry.

What she didn't tell Madam Shen was that in a year there would be a great drought, the transport canals would dry up, harvests would fail, merchants would cease, triggering a series of disasters, from which the Duke's Manor would not be spared.

The court's disaster relief grain was seized, and Prince of Rong Shen Lang, having been ordered to suppress bandits, died in battle.

Not long after, someone presented to the court a famine-relief crop that could yield three harvests a year in the south, resistant to drought and poor soil, called potato.

That year it saved tens of thousands of lives.

Shen Shuangning knew that at this time the potato was not yet known in Great Liang, but she believed she could still find a way; if she prepared in advance, she could certainly avoid many calamities.

These things she could only keep to herself.

Rebirth granted her the ability to foresee; she was determined to change the fate of the Duke's Manor.

That night, as Shen Shuangning was about to rest, a light sound came from the window.

She first thought she had misheard, but just as she was about to lie down, there was another 'thud'.

So she got up and walked over to look, and saw a delicate magnolia flower on the windowsill.

Shen Shuangning stared, thinking she had misseen.

It's not magnolia season now; how could there be a magnolia flower here?

Besides that, there was also a bottle of trauma medicine; smelling it, it was the same as the doctor's medicine for her leg injury.

Who placed it here?

"Miss, miss, there's someone outside!" A Heng's trembling voice came: "Miss, don't come over; I'll go call people."

Don't.

Shen Shuangning was now wearing a white middle garment, her black hair disheveled behind her; though her face was bare, she remained charming and alluring.

She draped herself in a greatcoat and came to the porch, looking out into the courtyard.

Under the moonlight, a youth dressed in a black robe sat alone on the wall, relaxed, one leg bent, one hand resting on his sword; he first looked up at the moon, then turned his gaze toward her.

He took only one glance, then without a word leapt over the wall and left.

Aheng gripped a wooden stick she had somehow obtained, blocking Shen Shuangning before her, and said nervously, "Miss, it seems he has left......"

"It's the Young Marquis." Shen Shuangning said softly, lowering her gaze to look at the magnolia blossom in her hand.

In the palace there is a magnolia garden that blooms year-round; it is the residence of the Grand Princess.

Xie Lin is truly audacious, daring to steal the Grand Princess's beloved flower.

Although she thought this, Shen Shuangning's heart overflowed with a subtle joy.

To be cared for in such a sincere way feels wonderful.

"Young Marquis? He's too bold—he actually dared to scale the wall of the Duke's mansion; scaling the wall is bad enough, but he even came to the miss's courtyard. What is he trying to do? He's only getting away with it because the duke isn't home; otherwise I'd go to the marquis's mansion and break his legs!"

Aheng cursed under her breath, then turned her head in surprise to discover that her miss was actually smiling.

"Miss, what...?" Aheng had never seen her miss show such a shy smile.

Shen Shuangning immediately composed herself, turned her face away, and said, "From now on, when he comes, just pretend you didn't see him."

Then she placed the magnolia blossom on the bedside.

Aheng looked as if she had seen a ghost: "Miss, could it be that you and the Young Marquis...?"

"Don't talk nonsense; I have nothing to do with him."

Aheng then felt relieved.

Every morning thereafter, Shen Shuangning could pick a fresh magnolia blossom from the windowsill, yet she never caught sight of Xie Lin's figure again.

Apart from Aheng knowing, no fourth person was aware.

It seemed to have become a little secret between the two of them.

On the second day of the second month, Shen Miaoyun and Zhao Lian returned to the Duke's mansion.

Shen Miaoyun and her husband remained as loving as ever, enviable to all.

During the family meal, the news of Shen Miaoyun's pregnancy finally became known to everyone.

Shen Shuangning and Shen Ling, who had long known of this, pretended to be delighted and congratulated Shen Miaoyun at the table.

Lady Yu of the second household was overjoyed, unable to close her mouth; she was both satisfied and proud of her daughter's marriage, and she praised Zhao Lian repeatedly.

Zhao Lian, however, stole several glances at Shen Shuangning.

Lady Yang watched the second household's delight, feeling both envy and wistfulness, wondering whether Shen Ling would also find such happiness when she married.

After the meal, Zhao Lian was summoned by his father-in-law to the study to discuss official matters.

Meanwhile, the three Shen sisters remained together, sitting in the garden pavilion chatting about family matters.

Shen Shuangning observed her elder sister's rosy complexion and robust health—this happiness was not feigned—and felt somewhat reassured, yet she still asked.

"Elder sister, does your brother-in-law treat you well?"

Shen Miaoyun replied, "Would he dare to treat me badly?"

"The marquis's household is not populous; my mother-in-law recently wanted to take a concubine for Zhao Lian, but he feared I would be displeased, so he refused."

Whenever Shen Miaoyun spoke of Zhao Lian, she always wore a sweet expression.

In this era, it is common for men to take concubines, yet how many women would truly willingly share a husband? Moreover, if a wife refuses to allow her husband to take a concubine, she bears the label of a jealous shrew.

Thus Zhao Lian stands out as a rare good husband.

Recalling her past life, Shen Shuangning sighed inwardly that her own judgment was lacking, not as sharp as her elder sister's discerning eye, which could find her a good match.

Although Xiao Jingyuan did not take a concubine, he did something even more excessive and heart‑rending than taking a concubine.

Among the noble youth, Zhao Lian is not outstanding, but his kindness toward his wife is something many women would search for with a lantern and still not find.

"Who is that? I've never seen her before." At this moment Shen Miaoyun noticed a woman passing by not far away along the covered walkway.

Shen Shuangning glanced at her, her eyes flickering, and said, "My grandmother has suffered from rheumatism for many years; whenever the seasons change she is in so much pain she cannot get out of bed. This physician I specially invited from Miaoshou Tang. For convenience of treatment, I have let her reside temporarily in the mansion."

This was none other than Mu Yu.

She has been residing in the Duke's mansion for two days already.

Upon hearing that the physician was from Miaoshou Tang, Shen Miaoyun stopped asking further questions, only sighing inwardly that Shen Shuangning was generous—Miaoshou Tang is famously expensive, and she did not know how much silver this would cost.

Shen Miaoyun previously had no concept of money, but after marrying and taking charge of the household she learned that finances must be carefully managed.

Thinking of this, a faint worry flickered in Shen Miaoyun's eyes.

The marquis's household is small in population, yet of high rank; they treat her well, and she lives happily—if there is one drawback, it is that their food, clothing, and daily necessities cannot compare to those she had in the Duke's mansion...