Chapter 23 "She didn't even blink when she saw me off..."

Looking at Ji Jinghe's expression, Yu An said, "Master, you should go back quickly, it's late."

Upon hearing the abrupt words, Ji Jinghe immediately snapped back to his senses, realizing he was somewhat flustered. He quickly looked away and cleared his throat, saying, "You should get some rest too."

Knowing he wouldn't stay overnight, Yu'an didn't bother to deal with him and decided it was better to leave as soon as possible.

Baozhu left while getting hot water, and returned after Ji Jinghe left. "The son-in-law is really stubborn. He has no other tricks besides sending these papers."

Not only Yu'an, but Baozhu also noticed it.

Apart from the old lady of Rongshou Hall, everyone in the Ji family follows the same principle: after beating someone, they give them a sweet treat. It's just a matter of how generous they are compared to others.

Baozhu: "Didn't you say you wanted to save money? You can sell it later."

The original Chu family property was confiscated, leaving only Yu'an's dowry when she married into the family.

Chu Zhuo'an needs money to study in Jiangling. If he wants to exonerate Chu Xingjian in the future, there will be many ways to spend money, so he must find a way to save more.

Yu An shook her head: "I have my own ways of making money. Besides, the things he gave me aren't easy to sell."

Those papers were either gifts from the palace or unique items among the common people. Even if someone wanted to buy them at a high price, she dared not sell them, for fear of causing trouble and getting into trouble.

Now that she's in charge of the household affairs, life is gradually getting better, and she'll surely find ways to make money in the future, so there's no need to rush.

Time passed by unnoticed. Apart from meeting at Rongshou Hall and having meals together, Yu'an and Ji Jinghe would also visit her at Banmu Courtyard.

Every time I came over, I would bring her something, and I would leave before I could even sit for half a cup of tea, as if I were on orders.

He probably knew that Yu'an had to observe mourning, so he never mentioned consummating their marriage.

What Yu An found strange was Ji Shu, who sent people to deliver things to her for several days in a row.

Unsure of the situation, Yu'an instructed Baozhu to politely decline, but on the day of Frost's Descent, the young lady herself came to visit.

*

Since the scandal involving Lin Shi, Shen Qiulan was furious and, being unable to manage household affairs, stayed indoors all day, refusing to see anyone, including Ji Shu. Ji Shu, having nowhere to turn, hesitated for over half a month before finally steeling herself and, accompanied by her maid, personally going to Banmu Courtyard.

The road to Banmu Courtyard was still filled with complaints. "That ungrateful fellow insisted on calling me there himself. This Chu family just wanted to see me make a fool of myself."

Because she couldn't bring herself to do it, she asked Caiqi to deliver the things over, but after several days of deliveries, she still hadn't seen Yu'an even once.

She wouldn't have come to this run-down place if it weren't for buying the jewelry she wanted.

Caiqi: "Miss, just bear with it. It's because the young master has already set his sights on the young mistress."

Ji Shu snorted: "My brother is crazy, saying the Xu family's affairs are innocent, the Chu family is innocent, and the murderer is someone else. I'd like to see who that murderer could be..."

Despite her angry words, Ji Shu obediently shut her mouth and composed herself when she saw the plaque for the Half-Acre Courtyard. She had barely stepped into the courtyard when Baozhu, with her sharp eyes, spotted her and quickly went to greet her, trying to stop her.

"Where is your young mistress?" Ji Shu asked first, still holding her chin up, unable to shake off her haughty attitude even when she needed something from someone.

Baozhu secretly complained, "My wife did the accounting a little late today and just went to bed."

It's the same old excuse.

Several times before, she had used this kind of rhetoric to make her maid wait for half an hour in vain. Today, she chose to come after the afternoon nap, but it was still the same as before. What else could this be but deliberate?

Ji Shu suddenly felt a surge of anger, and it looked like she was about to explode, but Cai Qi pulled her back from behind, so she gritted her teeth and held back.

"Alright, tell your young mistress to get some sleep. I'll wait here."

Ji Shu's personality was exactly the same as Shen Qiulan's. For Baozhu, it was interesting to see her get the short end of the stick, but after all, she was her master, so she didn't dare to play too much. After estimating that half an incense stick had passed, she went in to find Yu'an.

The repeated and persistent visits confirmed Yu'an's suspicions: the young lady of the Ji family had been spoiled since childhood and was used to spending lavishly, so her monthly allowance was probably always gone.

This time, with my money cut off, I couldn't make ends meet anymore, so I had no choice but to come here.

She didn't want to make things difficult for anyone, so she asked Baozhu to call the person in.

Seeing that Yu'an had just finished dressing, Ji Shu's anger subsided slightly. "A few days ago, I was instigated by the Lin family, which caused me to misunderstand you. I picked out some nice jewelry to send to you as an apology."

Perhaps seeing that Yu'an remained unmoved and her expression was indifferent, Ji Shu had no choice but to take the carved box from Cai Qi's hand and then hand it to Yu'an.

Yu An paused for a moment, noticing the arrogance in her eyes, sighed inwardly, took the item, and handed it to Bao Zhu to handle.

"Did the old man send you?" Yu An asked gently.

“If it’s just to appease your brother, you don’t really need to come in person. I heard from the servants that your marriage was ruined because of me. I’ve already wronged you, so let’s just call it even.”

These words surprised Ji Shu.

She had carefully considered what Ji Jinghe had said to her that day. Although it was hard to believe, she was still willing to believe her brother. Looking Yu An up and down, she couldn't express the awkwardness in her heart.

She opened her mouth, then sat down and glanced around the room without really looking at the furnishings. "You... you know that's good. If I come again next time, don't put on airs. Don't think that just because Grandmother likes you, everything will be fine once you've taken charge of the household affairs. If any problems arise one day, my brother will still take your power away."

Yu'an did not respond, but asked Baozhu to find the watermarked paper and gave it to Caiqi.

Consider it a return gift; the paper book was a gift from Ji Jinghe, so returning it to the Ji family is just right.

Ji Shu glanced at it, then reached out and touched it, saying, "You actually have such good paper... You really have a lot..."

The word "greed" slipped out at last, but luckily she was quick-witted and swallowed it back before it came out.

Yu An didn't want to argue, and seeing the person whose gaze was drawn to the watermarked paper, she remained silent.

Ji Shu cleared her throat, suppressed her satisfaction, stood up, and solemnly instructed, "Then let's consider our business settled. If my brother asks, you can't lie and tell anyone."

As proud as a peacock, yet as innocent as a child, with such a person standing before him, Yu An truly felt the need to deal with him, and stood up as well, saying, "That's only natural."

Perhaps Yu'an's initial offer was too generous, making Yu'er crave it, because Ji Shu came over again just two days later.

Yu An: "I've already had someone send you your allowance, haven't you received it?"

The saying goes, "No one visits the Three Treasures Hall without a reason," and that was the only thing Yu'an could think of.

Ji Shu shook her head, her face showing an unusual shyness. She hesitated for a moment before speaking, "I only found out yesterday that your needlework was appreciated by the Imperial Concubine. I'd like you to help me embroider a sachet, okay? Just follow this pattern."

Yu An stopped using the abacus, wondering how to politely refuse, but Ji Shu, being the most perceptive, spoke up before she could.

"Only you can embroider this pattern. This is payment, so please don't refuse. It doesn't matter if it takes a little longer."

The embroidery popular in the capital was usually embroidered in the palace and specially selected by the imperial concubine, so it naturally attracted the attention of the powerful and wealthy.

A wildflower in Yu'an Embroidery somehow became the favorite of noble ladies in the capital.

Ji Shu, who always loved to compare herself to others, naturally wouldn't let it go. Before coming, she even brought a few hairpins as a reward. After saying this, she hurriedly left, afraid that Yu An would refuse her in person.

After seeing Ji Shu off, Ji Jinghe arrived that evening after receiving the news.

After hearing Yu An's account, Ji Jinghe was puzzled. Ji Shu was proud and arrogant, and she hadn't made a fuss about anything. Instead, she took the initiative to ask for help, which didn't seem like her reaction after being humiliated. However, seeing Yu An sitting quietly at the table checking the accounts, he couldn't say anything.

The next day, after finishing his shift, Ji Jinghe went to Jianjia Pavilion.

Seeing his younger sister sitting at her desk by the window, writing and drawing, he didn't go in, but started a conversation from outside the window.

"Brother? Why did you suddenly come here?" Ji Shu said. "I've already apologized to Banmu Courtyard."

Ji Jinghe was taken aback. Before he could say "I know," his gaze was drawn to the few pieces of paper on the table.

Where did this paper come from?

Ji Shu smiled matter-of-factly, "She gave it to me, saying it was a return gift."

"You know what, the Chu family was really quite wealthy before. Such expensive paper, such a thick stack, they just gave it away like that. No wonder she stood so straight when she first married into the family, it turns out her dowry was very generous."

She continued talking to herself, completely oblivious to the expression on Ji Jinghe's face. She eagerly wrote large characters on the paper, smugly saying, "She's quite generous. What I gave her wasn't even a fraction of what this is, but she didn't even blink when she gave it to me."

Ji Jinghe's forehead twitched. The more he looked at the paper that had been ruined by her pen, the more indescribable feelings welled up in his heart.

She accepted it so readily that day, but it was given away every few days?

He calmed himself down, the kindness that had been reserved for his elder brother completely gone, and he switched to the tone he used when he was an official in the court: "It's a pity that such good paper has fallen into your hands, since you don't like writing materials."

Ji Shu looked up, sensing a hint of displeasure, and asked in confusion, "Who upset you again? This is so strange..."

Ji Jinghe remained calm, "Your sister-in-law has been so good to you, yet you've treated her so poorly. I don't think you're truly apologetic. If you ask me, it's just a formality..."

"elder brother."

Ji Shu knew her brother was probably not one to say anything nice, so she decided to interrupt him early on. "Brother, what are you trying to do? I'm your family."

Seeing that Ji Jinghe was about to leave, she quickly softened her tone, "Brother, I was wrong, I was wrong..."

"When you reach a certain age, you should focus your energy on the right path. Your sister-in-law still has to manage the household, so unless you go to ask her for advice, don't bother her unnecessarily."

"elder brother……"

Before she could finish speaking, Ji Jinghe turned and left, ignoring Ji Shu's calls.

Having exhausted all other options, Ji Shu had no choice but to try to gain favor with Yu An, lest she offend both of the household stewards and leave her with nowhere to spend money in the future.

Ji Shu had intended to give her some more jewelry, but seeing that the jewelry in her hair was always monotonous, she had no choice but to forcefully drag her sister-in-law out of the house and tell her whichever piece she liked, she would give it to her.

After all, compared to his own allowance, going out with her was tolerable.

At first, she didn't respond, but when she brought up Ji Jinghe, she saw Yu An waver. Just like an official obeying his superior, he neither resisted nor complained.

The carriage had just arrived at the jewelry shop when, by sheer coincidence, it ran into the Xu family.

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