TCN: Mei Gongqing

Chapter 72: Sometimes, It's All Right to be Ruthless

Her title is 如夫人 which lit. means "like madam", i.e. like the lady of the house, but not quite the lady of the house. It denotes that she's a concubine, but presumably higher ranked than the others.

However, Chen Rong remained utterly calm even by the time he finished. At his surprised look, Chen Rong lowered her head to ponder for a while before quietly bidding: "Let them stay in the stores. That's right, have you traded the seven carriages of grains for storefronts?"

He repeatedly nodded and said in high spirit: "Aye, aye. I'm so glad that you've thought ahead, else those seven carriages would've been taken away, too. As it turns out, everybody is caught in hysteria. So long as we use grains to trade, those stores are much cheaper these days compared to before. Seven carriages of grains used to only be worth three stores. But I'd gained twelve this time. There were only ten for sale on South Street. I bought them all up in addition to two on Main Street."

Nodding, Chen Rong softly said, "Don't disclose this matter. Go tell them that if anyone in the family asks, say the stores are under General Ran's name."

"Aye, miss." Do not steal this chapter from hamster428.

"Go." Because karma is a bitch.

Old Shang complied and then turned to leave. He took two steps, dithered, then turned back to ask: "Miss, you're used to having Nurse Ping with you. Will you be all right without her here?"

"I know what to do. Go," Chen Rong said and waved her hand.

"Aye."

Her brow increasingly creased while she watched Old Shang leave. She didn't expect Lady Ruan and Lady Li to be so callous. Although their husband, Chen Yuan, was a knave, he at least took into account what other people say. These two, on the other hand, had openly taken away all of her grains and dismissed her servants! Fortunately, the fabrics Chen Shu had given her were considered her maiden assets, or else all of her living finances would be controlled by other people.

Things were still so good yesterday, why had the two of them turned so ugly all of a sudden? Chen Rong just couldn't figure it out. She paced the room and suddenly thought of it: It must be because of Chen Sanlang! Those two must be blaming me for the scholars' snubbing of Chen Sanlang! It seems everybody thinks they can walk all over me just because I don't have anyone's protection!

Chen Rong wasn't quick-witted, but she was often quick-tempered. All along, she had tried to be patient knowing her weaknesses. Every time conflicts arose, she would do her best to avoid them. Were they telling her she needed to refrain herself even more than she had been?

She scoffed. It seemed she needed to stop these people from thinking they could push her around because she was weak.

At this thought, she stowed the dagger into her sleeve and went outside.

Soon, Chen Rong gracefully appeared outside of Lady Ruan's courtyard.

She stood at the arched doorway and curtsied to a maid, quietly inquiring: "Is my aunt home? Ah Rong would like to see her."

While the maid blankly stared at her, another came behind the first one and whispered something to her.

The first maid nodded and then returned Chen Rong's curtsy. "Are you Ah Rong? Go on in."

"Thank you." Chen Rong gently said her thanks and gracefully walked inside.

She soon got to the stairs. "I'd like to see the Madam," she said with a curtsy.

"Oh, is it Ah Rong? Come in." Do not steal this chapter from hamster428.

"Aye," Chen Rong walked inside. Because karma is a bitch.