Not Your Typical Villianess

Chapter 119: A game of smoke and Shadow 3

The Prime Minister's Mansion.

Prime Minister Shi was the most powerful court official in Northern Wei and like most officials had a diverse web of spies responsible for keeping him informed of everything that happened I'm the capital.

The Prime Minister's mansion was a newly constructed mansion at Junwang Ye's street, it was built on the repossessed land of a retired official from the previous Emperor's administration. 

The Emperor gifted the land to the Shi family after Imperial consort Shi gave birth to the sixth prince. The Shi family for the past few generations lived at the lower level residential areas of the capital, close to the business district. It was home to mostly merchant families and newly titled noble families.

That area was a newly constructed residential area and while it wasn't the most ideal place according to the top tier noble families because of its distance from the Imperial Palace, it was good real estate. For generations, the Shi family were at the edges of the ranks of the middle tier noble family as a lesser forth ranked noble Family.

For the longest time, the Shi family toed the edges of the ranks of the noble family, however after the Prime Minister was ranked third place in the Imperial exams decades earlier the Shi family social standing improved. The Prime Minister was placed in charge of the ministry of works, after years of hard work, he move high in the ranks. 

Prime Minister Shi's essay submitted to the Imperial College caught the Empress's eye. He was praised for having an insightful mind and being a valued talent. Which earned him a promotion to the right Assistant Minister of works. The Prime Minister's promotion improved the families social ranking of the family.

The Shi family went to the ranks and became a high-level fifth rank official, while the old noble family looked down on the Shi family, they began to receive invitations to palace banquets and other events. 

Imperial consort Shi caught the Emperor's attention during a poetry appreciation gathering hosted at the palace by Empress Dowager to celebrate her birthday. The Emperor was impressed by her poetry skills, which earned her a place in the imperial haram as an imperial concubine. 

Having a daughter in the imperial haram had its benefits, once your daughter was favoured the entire family would be honoured. Prime Minister was brought into the limelight, he slowly climbed the ranks until he was appointed the Prime Minister. 

The Emperor charged the ministry of works with the task of constructing the prime minister's new residence as soon as the edict announcing his official appointment was drafted. The Shi family changed residence once the mansion was constructed, at that point, everyone could see that the previous social dregs had the Emperor's grace. Everything from the layout of the building to the landscape was all top-notch, the Ministry of works outdid themselves, It was as beautiful as the palace.

The Prime Minister mansion was ran by Imperial consort Shi's mother and the Prime Minister's Principal wife Ling Shi. (Ling Shi means a girl surnamed Ling, it is used for married women. In ancient times women didn't take their husbands names so they were called by their father's surname. Hence in the case of our female lead, she is called Su Shi. A married female could either be called Madam (her husband family name) or her father's family name)

Ling Shi was a strict master, she ran the house would a firm hand. Which made the servants work harder, she was the daughter of a scholarly sixth-grade family and the Prime Minister's only wife.

As opposed to his wife, Prime Minister Shi didn't have many rules for the maids serving at the main courtyard, except that his study was off-limits. No one was allowed inside without permission. He had a team of his secret guards stationed around this room.

His study was locked when he wasn't in residence, Prime Minister Shi was as paranoid as it got. He when everywhere with the key to that is room and never allowed anyone in to clean the room. The cleaning was done by his right-hand man, Xi Feng. 

Today was one of the rare court free days in a month that was observed by Prime Minister Shi, He had brought home some reports the previous day as he always did. After having a light breakfast with Ling Shi, Prime Minister Shi went into his study to handle those reports.

The sound of hurried footsteps at the door drew his attention away from reading the diplomatic reports send back by the officials sent to Western Liang to handle the border trade deal with Western Liang, one of their allied nations. Western Liang and northern Wei had a Marriage Alliance, thanks to the First Princess's political marriage to the Emperor of Western Liang.

He looked up from the open report in his hands as Xi Feng rushed in and frowned, "why the hurried steps, Xi Feng?".

Xi Feng stopped a few steps away from his masters reading table and bowed "my apologies for disturbing you my Lord, General Lu Yaozhu just arrived at the capital"

"Finally, where is he now?"

"Our men reported that he went into the palace to pay his respects to the Emperor as soon as he arrived"

"What a good loyal dog, too bad that it is all a waste. What is the point of such loyalties when his Majesty the Emperor is blind to the obvious" He set down his brush next to the inkstone, "I need eyes on the general, all around the clock. We are in a delicate time, I must know where he goes, what he does and who he meets".

"Yes"

Prime Minister Shi nodded, "You are dismissed"

Xi Feng nodded and quickly retreated.

Prime Minister Shi stood and walked to the window by the side and looked out. Lu Yaozhu had taken longer than he had expected to take the bait but finally, he did. It looks like Deputy Sun's plan would be a success, he hoped that the plan was successful. A lot was hanging on its success, he needed it to go smoothly for what he had planned to be successful.

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The Duke's mansion

Lu Yaozhu had sent word to his mother and brother days earlier so the entire Duke mansions waited patiently for his return. The responsibility for preparing for his return was handled by Zhu Fengyin. It was the first major event she was handling since she was given the responsibility of running the residence a few weeks earlier by madam Lu.

Madam Lu had gotten satisfied with her eldest daughter in law these past few months, Zhu Fengyin had surpassed her earlier expectations of her and proven to be responsible. Madam Lu observed that there was no need to guard against her and decided to give her a few of the due responsibilities of her new position as a Duchess.

Before getting married the young ladies of noble families are instructed on the methods of managing a household in preparation for the responsibilities they would assume after marriage. The young ladies are taught various tasks such as accounting and bookkeeping.

Zhu Fengyin took over the running of the household under the tutelage of Madam Lu for two weeks before she was left to handle it alone. The Preparation for Lu Yaozhu's return was the first major task, she was undertaking alone. 

Lu Yaozhu sent word a week earlier, Zhu Fengyin was informed of his return by Lu Yingjie as soon as his letter arrived. She met with madam Lu early the next day to discuss her plans before commencing with her plans.

Throughout the days leading to his arrival, Madam Lu gave Zhu Fengyin a few pointers when needed. She didn't interfere with Zhu Fengyin's plans and just observed. Zhu Fengyin's was efficiently the work that she gradually became at ease.

Having a capable daughter in law has its perks, She no longer had to shoulder running the Duke's residence alone and can now enjoy her days in peace. Madam Lu's days were filled with leisure, she woke up whenever she wished and after having her breakfast and walking around the gardens took a nap until it was time for Lunch.

The chief matron in charge of her courtyard reported the young master's return while she reclined on the couch by the window with two maids standing at her side and fanning her gently. Madam Lu had just finished having tea with her cousin Madam Yu and was resting by the window when Matron Rong ran in.

Madam Lu opened her eyes and glanced at her very capable dowery maid, who bowed and said quickly

"Madam, I just heard from Officer Bo at the city gates, our Second young master is back" 

Madam Lu Sat up immediately, "Yaozhu Is back?"

"Yes Madam, he went into the palace to greet the Emperor. He would be back soon"

Madam Lu stood and waves her maids over "quick, help me get dressed. Rong shi, instruct the kitchen to prepare all his favourite dishes no hold on alert Fengyin first. Oh and tell steward Lu to inform him to come over once he is back" she rushed to seat by the dressing mirror, her lips spread wide as she hummed softly.