Sister Feng knew perfectly well that he was short of money again, but she deliberately didn't point it out. She just slowly picked up a piece of osmanthus cake, tasted it, and nodded, saying, "It tastes good."

Seeing this, Jia Lian quickly stepped closer and tentatively said, "Feng'er, I'm a little short on money lately, do you think you could..."

Sister Feng interrupted him, asking with a smile, "What does Second Master need money for again?"

Jia Lian stammered, "It's just... just socializing with some friends."

Sister Feng scoffed, "Socializing? I bet you're thinking of going to those brothels again."

Jia Lian's expression changed, and he quickly waved his hand, "That's not true! I'm completely innocent!"

Sister Feng was too lazy to argue with him, so she took out a silver note from her sleeve and tossed it to him: "Spend it sparingly."

Jia Lian took the silver note, his face immediately lighting up with a smile, nodding repeatedly: "Definitely, definitely!"

Having said that, he hurriedly left, fearing that Sister Feng might change her mind.

Ping'er shook her head as she watched, whispering, "Second Madam, if you spoil him like this, I'm afraid..."

Sister Feng waved her hand and sneered, "It doesn't matter, he's got a big heart these days."

Jia Lian received the silver, but he felt no relief whatsoever.

He walked out of the courtyard, clutching a twenty-tael silver note in his hand, his brow furrowed.

As Sister Feng's business grew bigger and bigger, she used people she bought from outside, and had nothing to do with the Jia family.

He tried to intervene several times, but was always stopped by Sister Feng, and couldn't even get close to it. Each time, she would only give him a little bit of meat to get rid of him.

Thinking of this, Jia Lian felt both anxious and annoyed.

Back in his room, Jia Lian plopped down in a chair and let out a long sigh.

The servant Xing'er brought in tea and, seeing his worried expression, cautiously asked, "Second Master, what's wrong?"

Jia Lian waved his hand irritably: "Go away, don't bother me." Xing'er didn't dare to say anything more, put down the tea and left.

Jia Lian sat alone, feeling increasingly uneasy.

Sister Feng's soap business has now expanded throughout Jiangnan, and she's making a fortune, but he can only watch helplessly, unable to get a single penny out of it.

"This is unbearable!" Jia Lian slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups clatter.

He stood up and paced back and forth in the room, pondering how to get a share of the profits from Sister Feng.

But after thinking it over and over, I still couldn't come up with a solution.

Sister Feng refused to budge, and he dared not force her, so he could only anxiously wait.

At night, Jia Lian tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw images of gleaming silver slipping away before his eyes.

He sat up abruptly, pounded the bed board angrily, and gritted his teeth, saying, "Feng-ge'er, you really are my nemesis!"

Jia Lian wasn't the only one eyeing Wang Xifeng's money.

That day, Fengjie was inspecting samples of a new batch of soap in the courtyard when Ping'er hurried over and whispered, "Second Madam, Master Zhen and Master She have arrived and say they want to see you."

Sister Feng frowned, immediately understanding most of the situation, and sneered, "Hmph, nothing good is coming."

She straightened her clothes and said calmly, "Please invite them in."

Jia Zhen and Jia She entered the courtyard one after the other, their faces beaming with smiles, but their eyes gleaming with cunning.

Jia She spoke first: "Feng'er, I heard your soap business is booming, you're really bringing honor to our Jia family!"

Sister Feng smiled slightly and said modestly, "You flatter me, Father-in-law. It's just a small business, enough to make a living."

Jia Zhen picked up the conversation, smiling as he said, "Feng'er is too modest. Since this business is so good, why don't we get a share? We're all family, let's make money together."

Sister Feng sneered inwardly, but on the surface she showed a troubled expression: "Brother Zhen, I can't make this decision. The soap formula was given by Her Majesty the Empress, and the business is also under Her Majesty's name. I'm just managing it for Her Majesty. If you really want to invest, why don't you ask Her Majesty's opinion?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhen and Jia She's expressions immediately froze.

How could they dare to ask the Empress? Yet they were unwilling to watch the money slip away before their eyes.

Jia She chuckled twice and said, "Feng'er, Her Majesty is so busy with state affairs, why bother her with such a small matter? You just need to be a little accommodating..."

Sister Feng interrupted him, saying seriously, "Eunuch, please be careful with your words. It's not that I'm inflexible, but I simply can't make the decision on this matter. If I anger Her Majesty, I can't bear the consequences."

Jia Zhen and Jia She looked at each other, speechless for a moment.

Seeing this, Sister Feng took the opportunity to see the guests off: "If you two elders have nothing else to do, I won't stay any longer. I still need to check on the new batch of goods."

Jia She's face darkened, and he flicked his sleeve, saying, "In that case, we won't bother you any longer!" With that, he and Jia Zhen left in a huff.

Back in the room, Jia She slammed his fist on the table in anger: "That Wang Xifeng! How dare she use the Empress to intimidate us!"

Jia Zhen was also furious, gritting his teeth as he said, "This girl has grown too big for her britches now, she doesn't even respect her elders!"

Despite their complaints, they were powerless to do anything about it. Like Jia Lian, they could neither eat nor sleep well, watching helplessly as their money slipped through their fingers.