Chapter 233 Something's Up

Consort Zheng's reward truly stunned everyone.

What is she doing? Has she lost her mind? Or did she give the wrong gift?

Shangguan Jin was also puzzled by the gifts sent by the eunuchs from Consort Zheng's palace.

Why would you give yourself a gift?

When she first entered the palace, Consort Zheng wouldn't even offer her a cup of tea...

Could it be that she was pleased because I embarrassed Consort Die, and then rewarded me?

Shangguan Jin felt that her thinking was probably correct.

But she didn't embarrass Consort Die on her behalf, so why is she being so presumptuous...?

Dongmai and Aunt Xin, along with the children, gathered around the gifts and discussed them quietly.

“It’s definitely from the palace; it has the mark of the Imperial Household Department on it,” the Seventh Prince said first.

"They are all gold and jade ornaments, not very practical," Shen Qingjun continued to comment.

“It’s very valuable! If you were to sell it, it should fetch five thousand taels of silver,” Shen Qingming said after examining it.

"Gold inlaid with jade, a special inlay technique, using wire inlay, openwork carving and relief carving, the craftsmanship is exquisite," Shen Qingrui said, pretending to be mature.

Shangguan Jin...

Shen Qingyue stepped forward to take a look and even gently tapped a jade bottle.

"Mother, don't you think there might be something hidden inside?"

"Yes, that's what it says in the storybooks. It says that when someone wants to harm someone, they will put some poisonous things in places that no one will notice."

They are usually colorless and odorless poisons.

"It won't kill you immediately, but over time it will make you sick," Dongmai quickly added.

Upon hearing this, Aunt Xin quickly came over to take a look.

"Madam, should we have someone take a look? I recently opened a new pharmacy, and there are two skilled doctors there."

"Should I call him over to take a look? To see if there's anything hidden inside?" Aunt Xin hurriedly said.

The youngest, Shen Qingyu, came over to take a look and chuckled.

"What are you looking at? Just smash it."

Shangguan Jin...

"Alright, all of you, stop thinking about it so much. Since she's giving it to us openly, she's definitely not afraid of us investigating."

"Whatever her purpose, the stuff is good stuff, isn't it?" Shangguan Jin asked.

Everyone immediately nodded.

It must be good stuff!

Consort Zheng was extravagant; everything used in the palace was luxurious and exquisite to the extreme.

Any one of these items, if placed outside, would be worth a fortune.

Therefore, there is no doubt that the product is a good product.

"The stuff is good, but you feel uncomfortable looking at it, and you're worried that something has been tampered with, right?" Shangguan Jin continued to ask.

Everyone immediately nodded again.

Of course it's annoying. Who in the whole capital doesn't know that the Shen family and the Zheng family are at odds?

If you inexplicably give something to your neighbor, who wouldn't feel uncomfortable?

Especially the Seventh Prince, who was poisoned by Consort Zheng.

When he saw Consort Zheng in the palace, he mostly pretended not to see her, and would even roll his eyes at her as he walked past...

“So, let’s sell these things!” Shangguan Jin said.

"Huh?" The others were all taken aback.

"I said, since you all find it disgusting, then let's sell it."

Now that it's in silver, it doesn't feel uncomfortable to hold it in my hand.

"Yunniang, don't you own an antique shop? Call the manager over tomorrow and get an appraisal." Shangguan Jin made her decision.

Apart from Aunt Xin, everyone else...

"Alright! I'll have the antique shop owner come tomorrow."

"Madam, don't worry, I will definitely get a good price for our household." Aunt Xin happily agreed.

"Mother, this was a gift from the Imperial Concubine. What if she says it can't be sold?" Shen Qingyue asked softly.

"Don't worry, cousin. As long as it wasn't given to me by my father, it can basically be sold."

"It came from a legitimate source. Every family has its shortages sometimes, so it's normal to pawn one or two items," the Seventh Prince said with a smile.

Shen Qingyue breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as it can be sold, that's fine.

The other children took a look and also felt it was better to sell it.

"Put the money from selling the winter wheat into the charity's account," Shangguan Jin continued.

Dongmai was overjoyed to hear this.

"Alright! Yunniang, tell your shopkeeper that he can't cheat us, okay?"

Aunt Xin immediately nodded and assured the shopkeeper that she would personally negotiate the price...

......

After dealing with Consort Zheng's gifts, Shangguan Jin was about to go back to her room to continue reviewing the account books when she saw Lin Mama rushing over.

"Madam, Madam Huangfu has sent her personal maid, Zhang, to see you."

Shangguan Jin, who was about to walk into the inner room, paused for a moment.

Lady Huangfu sent her personal nanny...

Where is he/she?

"forecourt."

Shangguan Jin nodded, turned around and followed Lin's mother to the front yard.

Upon arriving at the front yard, they saw Madam Huangfu's personal maid, Zhang, pacing anxiously back and forth, glancing towards the gate every now and then.

As soon as she saw Shangguan Jin arrive, she hurried to greet her.

After seeing Zhang Mama perform a proper bow, Shangguan Jin invited Zhang Mama to sit down.

"Granny Zhang, is there something urgent that you've come at this hour?" Shangguan Jin asked.

Seeing that Shangguan Jin had sent everyone in the courtyard far away, Zhang Mama moved closer to Shangguan Jin.

"Madam Shen, our mistress has sent this old servant to inquire about some medicinal herbs at your residence. I wonder if your household..."

Medicinal herbs?

Shangguan Jin was taken aback. The Marquis of Changsheng's mansion was looking for medicinal herbs from the Duke of Dingguo's mansion.

The Changsheng Marquis's family was different from the Dingguo Duke's family because they were a family of military generals.

The Changsheng Marquis's family had three generations of military service.

Their household might lack anything, but they would never lack medicinal herbs.

Especially the medicinal materials commonly used on the battlefield...

"What kind of medicinal herb? If it's particularly precious, I'll go to the palace to get it." Shangguan Jin immediately guessed the seriousness of the matter.

"Madam Shen, you must not go to the palace to look for her."

Our lady specifically instructed that if there is anything in the manor, we should take it from there.

"If that doesn't work, she'll think of other ways," Zhang Mama whispered immediately.

Shangguan Jin was a little confused; who was actually sick?

"Granny Zhang, please tell me what kind of medicine it is first?"

"It's a hemostatic medicine for wounds, not the ordinary kind. Our lady said that the Duke of Dingguo used it before, and it was very effective."

Shangguan Jin immediately understood.

Wound medicine? That means someone is injured? And seriously?

The most crucial point is that this person cannot let outsiders know that they are injured.

That could only be... the Marquis of Ever Victory!

"Your lord?" Shangguan Jin looked at Zhang Mama.

Granny Zhang nodded silently.

Shangguan Jin immediately stood up.

"Wait here, I'll go get it for you!"