The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 1631 - 1626: Disgusting Each Other

Lady Gao handed over her subordinates to Wang Yongzhu in such a significant matter, this certainly couldn’t be concealed from Song Hong.

After all, Wang Yongzhu had to visit the residences of those elderly individuals arranged by Lady Gao around County Monarch Rongyi initially, to meet them.

Moreover, she also needed to check out the shops and manors under Lady Gao’s name.

Lady Gao was a remarkably straightforward person; when she said she would give them, she truly held nothing back. She instructed Sister Kang that very night to deliver the list.

Locations of the manors and shops along with who the stewards were, were clearly listed.

Sister Kang even mentioned that the land deeds for these manors and shops had been brought over, and whenever Wang Yongzhu had time, she could go to the government office to record them.

Wang Yongzhu briefly reviewed them, picked out a manor and a few land deeds for shops in favorable locations: "Take these back to Madam, it’s not really right to have nothing at all. If I stay in the Capital City, it’s fine, I can watch over you two, but in a few days, I’m bound to return to Chicheng City. By then, should Madam need silver coin, where would she go?"

Sister Kang refused, considering her master was determined to give everything away and didn’t want the Gao Family or the Lord Duke to profit from it.

In the past, she might have persuaded her master to at least keep some, for confidence.

However, nowadays she understood well. With the Lord Duke’s disposition and techniques, keeping these things with her master surely wouldn’t preserve them.

It was better to give them all to the Wife of the Heir-Apparent.

The Wife of the Heir-Apparent could still look after Madam and County Lord’s subordinates!

Thus, she insisted on not accepting, saying that even if they fell into Madam’s hands, they wouldn’t be preserved.

If the Wife of the Heir-Apparent indeed wanted to leave something for Madam, these things should first have their names changed and be archived at the government office.

Then privately instruct to allocate a portion of the income each year for Madam’s expenses, which would be enough.

Wang Yongzhu saw that Sister Kang, indeed Lady Gao’s trusted nursemaid, considered things thoroughly for her, avoiding trouble.

After pondering, she nodded in agreement.

Sister Kang saluted Wang Yongzhu, and added: "The servant thanks the Wife of the Heir-Apparent! Their people under Madam are now quite elderly, if the Wife of the Heir-Apparent requires anything unclear, call on this old slave anytime—"

Then she left the list along with the land deeds and departed.

With Wang Yongzhu’s capability, and assistance from Gu Yu and Li Xia, it took several days at home to barely organize things.

Having some sort of general plan in mind, Wang Yongzhu sent someone to find Song Hong, saying there was a matter to report.

In the past, Wang Yongzhu would definitely bypass Song Hong and handle it herself.

But after Lady Gao’s incident, Wang Yongzhu felt an even deeper apprehension towards Song Hong.

Given Song Hong’s methods, since he targeted Lady Gao, surely these interactions couldn’t be hidden from him.

Rather than sneaking around, which would heighten Song Hong’s vigilance, it was better to lay everything out before him.

Now between her, Song Chongjin and Song Hong, there was a subtle balance.

Song Hong perhaps genuinely needed Song Chongjin as the heir, thus feeling somewhat restrained, whereas she and Song Chongjin currently couldn’t afford to confront Song Hong directly, having to feign compromise.

Unexpectedly, the matter of opening the trade routes was about to commence, Song Chongjin and she needed this to gather their strength.

Also, the information acquired from Lady Gao held too many unsolved mysteries, prompting suspicion about Song Hong and what the once triumphant commander against the prairie warriors might still conceal.

Wang Yongzhu had no choice but to carefully consider her moves.

With a sigh, she reminisced about Qilidun, although there were troubles, she had fewer concerns back then.

Presently, life was a hundred times better than in Qilidun, but considerations and apprehensions grew endlessly, rendering those carefree days back in Qilidun more preferable.

It truly is the more you gain, the more you lose!

However, Wang Yongzhu wasn’t someone who indulged in past regrets or seasonal melancholy; she always knew clearly.

Wherever you stand, whatever position you hold, you must undertake the corresponding responsibilities and pressures, doing what needs to be done.

Thus, after merely sighing a couple of times, she composed herself, aware that facing Song Hong allowed no sloppiness.

Song Hong’s reply came quickly, saying he was free now, inviting her to the front yard.

Wang Yongzhu put away the land deeds and list, tidied up her appearance, and led her entourage to the front.

Ever since Lady Gao fell ill, Song Hong seldom visited the inner courtyard.

Several concubines, who were older, were grandmothers or maternal grandmothers now, while the younger ones were considering matrimonial alliances for their children.

In recent years, blatant favoritism battles seem less frequent, mostly discouraging them from selecting a few attractive maids for Song Hong.

Song Hong used to accept a few, but now he rarely engages with maids sent, making the concubines lament their age, realizing they couldn’t retain him, and knowing there are also some young, appealing maids in the front courtyard study, they left it be.

Currently, as Wang Yongzhu approached the front yard, she observed no traces of women.

At the door stood Song Wu, personally escorting her to the flower hall, suggesting she sit for a moment.

Even the tea and snacks served were by recognizable personal soldiers.

After a short wait, Song Hong arrived.

Wang Yongzhu rose to salute.

Song Hong gazed at Wang Yongzhu with a faint smile for a long time before saying, "It’s rare for you to seek me out? Why not petition Madam?"

Wang Yongzhu inwardly cursed! 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Pshaw! Playing dumb! Restricting his own wife then putting on an act for whom?

But she maintained a smile: "Madam has been ill for quite some time, long unable to manage affairs, does the Lord Duke truly not know?"

Isn’t it just mutual irritation? Who fears whom?

Song Hong’s expression stiffened! He naturally knew Lady Gao was "ill," as he was the one who ensured it!

Here he wanted to make things difficult for Wang Yongzhu, what with his five or six sons, three married including the dismissed Lady Ruan, only Wang Yongzhu as an in-law would dare challenge him.

When she sought him today, there must have been something she needed; he intended to push her for once, only to find this maidservant wouldn’t relent even now, retorting right back!

Failing to regain ground, Song Hong felt aggravated, openly asking, "What is your request now? Speak clearly—"

Wang Yongzhu straightforwardly drew out: "Madam decreed all her private assets and personnel be transferred to me!"

"Pfft—" Just sipping tea, the startled Song Hong spat it out all over.

Song Wu at the door looked at Wang Yongzhu in sheer surprise.

Wang Yongzhu quickly sidestepped, dodging the splatter, checked her gown remained dry, then innocently gazed at Song Hong: "Lord Duke, at your advanced age, how come you’re still so careless?"

Song Hong, pierced to the core again, his complexion turned ashen.

He had people stationed beside Lady Gao, naturally informed of her daily moves.

A couple of days earlier reports indicated Lady Gao and Wang Yongzhu conversed half the day with Sister Kang guarding outside. What transpired was unheard.

But that evening, Sister Kang carried a heap of items to the Wife of the Heir-Apparent’s chamber, vaguely resembling land deeds and lists.

At the time, he speculated that Lady Gao and Wang Yongzhu reached some arrangement.

Regarding which arrangement, Song Hong basically understood, merely involving those items.

He awaited Wang Yongzhu’s stance these days.

The magnitude of these possessions was immense; he pondered how this rustic maid would act—blinded by wealth or would she choose another path?

Today was her deadline; if Wang Yongzhu hadn’t come to him, he’d have had ways.

Yet Wang Yongzhu seemed to have anticipated his thoughts, stepping into his threshold, leaving him with mixed feelings.

A few sentiments of appreciation? Some irritation? Yet secretly relieved.

Admitting her mind was clear! Eldest Brother’s wife, indeed a worthy union! As head mistress, clarity surpassed all.

Initially, he deemed Lady Gao astute; later discovered it amounted to emotional whimsy.

Thus upon identifying Lady Gao’s emotional entanglement causing muddled decisions, he executed decisively.

Hearing Wang Yongzhu’s declaration, Song Hong grew further convinced Lady Gao acted out of sheer anger, recklessly and foolishly!