Chapter 244.2: Taking Control of the Qinw.a.n.g Manor
“En, I, this esteemed buddha, blocking the wind and rain for you is still no problem.”
How was this just ‘no problem’? Practically can’t be more awesome. “Just help where one can, and if they make some mistake, w.a.n.gye also don’t need to let someone s.h.i.+eld, no matter how they are, still can’t……….be more important than you.”
Although the latter few words were practically inaudible, Li Hong Yuan was still delighted inside. This was probably the most endearing words of love that Wan Wan has said, truly a pretty good sign.
After the first return to the maiden home, the new wife will have officially become a member of the husband’s family, and won’t have anymore special privileges, ‘going in the kitchen and was.h.i.+ng one’s hands to cook[1]‘, serving the entire family from old to young. Of course, this was for ordinary families. For Jing Wan, these were all inapplicable.
Regardless of whether or not Jing Wan had cooking skills, Li Hong Yuan all won’t let her cook.
However, Jing Wan rather can officially take control of the qinw.a.n.g manor.
In the garden pavilion, the various people in charge of the manor were all present, deferentially standing there with their heads lowered, waiting for the female master’s arrival.
These people were long accustomed to the qinw.a.n.g manor not having a female master, the power controlled in their hands. Because in the manor previously, there was just one master, and just those few were able to serve close by, the rest, including the managers present, in a year, they may not necessarily be able to see their master once. Their master was rich, and also wasn’t stingy. As long as one wasn’t especially greedy, the profits in every position were all very ample. Although they long knew there will be a female master entering the gates, when this day really came, they were still discontent inside, even having those that hoped Jing Wan will be the same as those in the past, getting ‘cursed’ by w.a.n.gye. However, this one’s fate was too st.u.r.dy, being engaged for more than half a year, then steadily marrying in. It was still okay if this female master’s temperament was lenient and amicable, but if one that’s tightfisted, or even harsh, their good days will have to come to an end. After all, w.a.n.gfei also brought her own dowry servants over, they will inevitably need to yield their position to them.
Having one’s own people inserted into the various places in the husband’s family was something every female master in charge of the household would all do, and it also contributed to gaining a foothold in the husband’s family.
Because of these various things, they were nervous in their hearts, but on their faces, they didn’t dare to reveal the slightest negative emotion, let alone whispering to one another giving the female master an initial show of strength and whatnot. It was true that they were the veterans of the manor, but on Li Hong Yuan’s side, there weren’t any sentiments. As such, who would dare to cause trouble in front of the w.a.n.gfei. More importantly, the head steward had already warned them.
Faintly hearing the sound of movement, everyone all knew, the main lead had come, their appearance becoming even deferential.
What they saw from the corner of their eye was also just that slightly fluttering hem of the dress, and behind her, there even followed six seven people.
Jing Wan sat down in the main seat, simply saying a few words, the general idea just, all people of the qinw.a.n.g manor, and in the future, as long as one was diligent and conscientious, properly tending to one’s job, those that do well will be rewarded, and those that don’t do well will be punished.
Jing Wan’s voice was neither light nor heavy, the ins and outs of her words also not harsh. Everyone temporarily relaxed a breath inside.
“I also won’t call out the names according to the roster one by one either. You all can just take turns and have your own name reported, and also explain what all you’re in charge of. This way, I can get familiar with the person first.”
“Reporting to w.a.n.gfei, this servant, Mu An, is the manor’s head steward.” Eunuch Mu to the side quickly went forward first.
He was as deferential as one could be, even carrying a bit of flatter and desire to curry favor.
And Jing Wan had his kissing-up manner taken in the most clearly. She was rather speechless. Speaking of which, this person, in front of his master, was all very normal, even appearing astute. Yet with her, how come this style was amiss instead?
However, the others inwardly trembled in fear. Who was Eunuch Mu, that was the number one capable person by w.a.n.gye’s side, respected by all the servants in the manor, yet towards w.a.n.gfei, held such an att.i.tude. In a certain sense, this also just indicated w.a.n.gye’s att.i.tude.
In this moment, all those little thoughts were all stored away. This second master of the qinw.a.n.g manor, that was just an existence that was just as high as w.a.n.gye, no, for them, her position was actually even higher. After all, w.a.n.gye didn’t bother with internal affairs, but w.a.n.gfei was someone they will be able to frequently see. If they were to accidentally offend, or make a mistake, one word from her will be able to change their fate.
Thus, the people afterwards all became increasingly deferential, and those with a clever mouth, all didn’t forget to praise Jing Wan a few words.
Jing Wan also knew the reasons for this, and although a bit speechless towards Mu An, he indeed let her save a lot of troubles.
Jing Wan quietly listened, all the way until the end, when from a relatively far corner, out walked three people. These three people appeared very different from the others. Two women and a man. One of the women appeared to be thirty some, while the other two were even younger, just in their early twenties. But for these three, the man was handsome, and the women charming, their attractiveness index very high. Because they came forward, the others all retreated in disdain. Yet, there were also those in charge of the outer courtyard that glanced at the two women using a wanton and lewd gaze.
And they themselves, when facing Jing Wan, were also even more nervous and anxious. Even for the oldest one, who on the surface, appeared calm, under careful examination, one still was able to make out her unease.
“This servant is Qiao Niang, in charge of the female entertainers in the manor.”
“This servant is Yin Yin, in charge of the female acting troupe in the manor.”
“This little one is Qing Yi, in charge of the male acting troupe in the manor.”
Jing Wan instantly understood. No wonder it would be like this. Probably no woman would like the ‘vixens’ raised by one’s own husband, especially Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s kind, even eating both male and female. These people worrying that the newly married in female master will lash out at them was also only to be expected.
Sounds like these people were all a certain someone’s ‘harem’. “How many people are you all each in charge of?”
Qiao Niang replied rather quickly. There were thirty some female entertainers under her.
Jing Wan interestedly asked a few more questions, afterwards learning what she wanted to know. The majority were all the multi-talented type, while some were especially prominent in a certain aspect, for instance having a golden voice, or for instance having an extremely alluring and lovely figure in dance, or for instance, their mastery in a certain instrument even reaching the level of a great master.
Jing Wan propped up her chin, appearing rather interested. One just know without even thinking, for the ones that were able to stay in Jin Qinw.a.n.g Manor, there probably won’t be any that were lacking in attractiveness. Perhaps, each and every one were all prettier than Jing Wan. These people, if placed in her past life, nine out of ten, would all be held up into G.o.ddesses. However, here, they were reduced to less than those of the lowest profession, even just a plaything to be freely played with, their life and death outside of their control.
Thinking to here, Jing Wan’s interest also just faded. If they know their place, she rather didn’t mind raising a bunch of idle people. As for on Li Hong Yuan’s side, truthfully speaking, if a man wants to have an affair, it wasn’t something you can control, nor prevent against, especially in this male dominated feudal society. Saying anything excessive, it can all be treated as being easily jealous, becoming a reason to get divorced. As such, why the need to care about that much.
However, some words should still be appropriately mentioned. For some men, their feelings and body were separate. His love for you wasn’t false, but he also doesn’t believe there’s anything wrong with sleeping with other women. That’s why, she should also let him know her own standing and way of thinking. How he will choose in the end, completely depended on his own desire. That way, she will also know whether to attentively tend to this marriage, and even her feelings, or just purely be a virtuous wife and good mother, from hereon, appearing harmonious but divided at heart, just like that of strangers.
Although they didn’t dare to directly stare at Jing Wan, the people below still carefully observed Jing Wan’s expression. It was obvious, Jing Wan’s ‘face change’ made their thoughts go askew, thus naturally becoming increasingly restless.
[1] This line comes from the old poem ‘The Three Poems of the Bride’ (新嫁娘词三首), specifically the third poem where the full line is ‘三日入厨下，洗手作羹汤’, which translates to ‘three days in, entering the kitchen and was.h.i.+ng one’s hands to make dense soup’. This line is referring to the ancient custom of where on the third day of the marriage, the new bride has to prepare a meal for the entire family. Soup (羹) in this context is referring to rich and dense dishes.