Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 320 - 319: Diplomacy of the Lady

Chapter 320: Chapter 319: Diplomacy of the Lady

Cutting 10,000 starting points for Diu Diu

Chen Afu left Princess Rui and her son to eat at the Bamboo Pavilion, and Chu Lingxuan also invited the prince to dine in the Outer Court.

During this time, Chen Afu played games with Li Xuan. Perhaps no one had ever played with him this way before, so he clung to Chen Afu very much. In less than half a day, the relationship between the two became very good.

Even Li Xuan’s wet nurse incredulously said, "Oh my, Little Xuan has never clung to anyone this much before."

Chen Afu touched his little face and smiled, "We have a connection."

Little Li Xuan seemed to understand, he lifted his head and laughed at Chen Afu.

In the late afternoon, Mrs. Chu returned. She sent someone to invite Chen Afu to Anrong Hall. Princess Rui was too shy to go, but wanted to ask Chen Afu to get the Agarwood Leaf today.

Mrs. Chu brought Chen Afu a piece of Zhuanghua satin, as a reward from the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager greatly enjoyed the dessert, saying it was aromatic, sweet, soft and more delicious than the ones made by the Imperial Kitchen. She saved half of it for herself and even gave the other half to the Emperor.

Dabao’s legendary biological father also got to eat the dessert he made!

Chen Afu gladly thanked her. He also said, "It is my honor that the Empress Dowager enjoys the desserts I make. During my days in the Capital City, I will make them every two days, and my Aunt can take them to court to show our respect for Her Highness."

The Empress Dowager is nearly seventy years old, which is considered elderly in ancient times. Chen Afu hopes that she can live a few more years, as she is Mrs. Chu’s backing, and Mrs. Chu is his own. Seeing how powerful Mrs. Chu was with the Empress Dowager’s protection, he knew he would also be more at ease if she lived longer.

He not only hopes that the Empress Dowager will live longer, but also the Emperor, as the Ninth Prince has not fully recovered, and Dabao has not yet grown up.

Mrs. Chu grasped his hand and laughed, "Excellent, that’s what I was thinking too."

After that, Chen Afu mentioned Princess Rui’s matter and said that he would send her another piece in the future.

Mrs. Chu has always had a good relationship with Prince Rui. After hearing this, she generously took out the Agarwood Leaf and laughing said, "I only used a small piece, there is still so much left, I’ll give it all to her. I also hope it can cure Xuan’er’s illness."

Chen Afu brought the agarwood back to the Bamboo Pavilion, and Princess Rui brought Li Xuan to Anrong Hall to thank Mrs. Chu.

In the evening, Chu Lingxuan mentioned that Princess Rui’s father, General Lin, was in command of the Left Guard Battalion in the suburbs of the Capital City. Although he was just a second-ranking official, he controlled the heavy troops guarding the Capital City. General Lin was also considered one of the Emperor’s confidants. If the Chu family could improve their private relations with him, many things would be much easier... Chu Guangkai also had heavy troops, but his forces were mainly stationed in the north.

Chu Lingxuan also began conducting diplomatic activities through his wife.

Chen Afu thought about giving a toy filled with Agarwood Leaf to the child before returning to his hometown. Also, he planned to have someone make several sets of building blocks for him to cultivate his concentration...

The next day, Chen Ayu came to the Bamboo Pavilion.

At this time, Chen Ayu seemed a bit more seasoned and mature. He is now the second manager of the Hongyun Hotpot Restaurant’s main store, helping Yang Mingyuan manage many affairs. He said that after two more years of learning and building up experiences and contacts, he would open the Xinglong Grand Restaurant in the Capital City.

Chen Afu was quite satisfied with Chen Ayu’s response. He didn’t mention his own plan to open a large wine-shop in the Capital City, separate from his brother’s business. He was more generous than Chen Shi, more ambitious than Chen Ye, and more clever than Chen Agu. If he were to separate his business from his brother’s and pursue greater profits, seeking to outdo his brothers, his life would not be as good as he hopes it would be.

They should understand that Chu family’s full support is guaranteed because of the alliance with his brother. In this era, big businesses often amassed large sums of money and sought protection from the powerful elites.

Seeing Chen Ayu as handsome and steady, Chen Afu was delighted. Alu and Atang were still young and preparing for the imperial examination. The economic alliance of the second generation of the Chen family relied on him to steer and flourish.

Chen Afu said, "Ayu, you’re sixteen this year, right? Don’t rush for an engagement yet. Sister will help you find a good girl with some background in the Capital City, which could also be a boost for you." She paused, then added, "Of course, if you see a girl you really like, you could settle first."

With Chen Afu as his cousin, Chen Ayu had connections to the Marquis’ Mansion. Not mentioning official families, wealthy merchants would be willing to marry their daughters to him. In addition, his mature and clever demeanor and good looks might even attract daughters of minor official families or other relatives.

The key was to find a good partner. If he ends up with someone like Rong Zhao, or Mrs. Li or Mrs. Hu who creates chaos at home, it would be a disaster. It would harm not only the man, but also the mother’s family, and even destroy the next generation.

Chen Ayu blushed and nodded, "I will follow your arrangements, Sister."

At midday, she invited him to have lunch in the Bamboo Pavilion.

On the sixteenth, the family living in the suburban house came to pay respects to Chen Afu. This family is surnamed Zhao, who in no way were related to Mrs. Chen’s maternal family, the Zhaos.

Uncle Zhao, the head of the family, reported that they had planted winter wheat on the 400 acres of land and it was growing well.

Chen Afu nodded, instructing them to plant corn after they harvested the winter wheat. She would provide the corn seeds and have Yu Yongshun, Yu Zhuo’s fiancé, deliver them.

After giving a wallet to each member of the Zhao family, she let Mrs. Li and her husband, Uncle Li, accompany them for lunch in the Outer Court.

On the morning of the seventeenth, the Imperial Decree finally reached the Marquis’ Mansion, making Chen Afu a Noble Lady of the Third Rank.

After receiving the decree, the main and third families happily chatted over tea in Anrong Hall. Chu Hua also brought her son Heng to congratulate her.

However, Mrs. Li smashed a few tea bowls in her room. She was infuriated. A rural woman was now a Noble Lady of the Third Rank, with the potential for further promotion. Despite being a daughter of an official family, she had spent years struggling only to end up as a Fifth Rank Lady. Her husband’s rank was also bought, and she would never have a chance to rise higher.

She thought back to Rong Zhao who was utterly useless. Although a princess and the Emperor’s eldest daughter, she couldn’t even compete with a County Princess. If Rong Zhao had the slightest bit of ability, she would have already dealt with that country girl at the Princess’s Mansion. At the Mansion, not only had she failed to put Chen Afu at a disadvantage, she even made her own daughter take the blame for her.

If luck wasn’t on her side, her wish for Chu Lingxuan to remain childless could be unfulfilled.

What bothered her even more was that now her daughter had to go to Anrong Hall every day and spend two hours learning good manners from Changhua. Adding to her frustration, Changhua had appointed a Mrs. Qian to teach Chu Zhen manners. Mrs. Qian kept her daughter confined to the courtyard every day, and she could not even have her daughter accompany her.

Adding insult to injury, except for family gatherings, Changhua only allowed her daughter to see her once a month. Changhua claimed she had raised her daughter for fourteen years, instilling in her frivolity and pettiness, with no trace of the dignity of a Lady from the Marquis’ Mansion. Hence, she couldn’t see her daughter frequently. This unreasonable condition was surprisingly approved by the master and even her husband. Her son agreed as well.

Changhua was too domineering. As soon as she returned, she stole her authority as the housekeeper, and now even her beloved daughter had been taken away from her.