Vibrating footsteps echoed from the foot of the mountain; nearby farmers had heard the commotion and reported it to the authorities.

When the soldiers were searching the mountain and saw that they were about to reach the top, Jiang Shuwan took the opportunity to throw a handful of sand at them, then rolled into the forest and ran away.

After running back to the hotel where she was temporarily staying, she dared not make a sound, much less inquire about the identity of the person who had been robbed and murdered.

All that is known is that the family that was robbed and killed was a local family from Pingzhou.

On that day at Shili Slope, Elder Yun said that Li Chengyun had turned the Gu family of Pingzhou into bandits and killed them. It had been so long that she couldn't recall it at the moment.

I dreamt of the robbery and murder in the peach grove last night; everything in the dream was vivid in my mind.

Weren't those people who died members of the Gu family from Pingzhou?!

She was terrified of being recognized by Li Chengyun...

hide!

We have no choice but to hide!

The fact that the cat had been hiding inside the house for a while was indeed the only redeeming quality Jiang Shuwan discovered about this era.

There is a difference between men and women; as long as she stays at home, Li Chengyun cannot come to her door.

Although this damned thing would occasionally send messages through his bodyguards, Jiang Shuwan didn't even glance at them and simply burned them all.

"It's cooked perfectly!"

Watching the message disappear into ashes from the small red clay stove, Jiang Shuwan let out a comfortable groan.

While brewing milk tea, Qingxing glanced at her young mistress.

She had no idea that the message Jiang Shuwan burned as firewood was the calligraphy of the current fourth prince, the future mad emperor of the Great Jing Dynasty.

Summer brings an abundance of fruit, and iced drinks are cheap these days. The girls in their courtyard often chip in to buy milk tea outside. Lately, Jiang Shuwan has been staying indoors all the time, so Qingxing doesn't need to go out. She simply set up a small stove and brewed it herself.

If you want some food, just come and scoop it up yourself.

Of course, the money still has to be paid.

Even sisters should keep clear accounts, including Jiang Shuwan.

As she pulled out a few copper coins from her waist and handed them over, Jiang Shuwan complained, "What's the point of saving all that money if you don't spend it?"

"Then you don't need to worry about it."

After carefully counting the copper coins one by one to ensure the number was correct, Qingxing ladled a bowl of coin soup for Jiang Shuwan and handed it over.

After Jiang Shuwan started doing business, she finally understood that her young lady was first-rate at making money and first-rate at spending it.

Take the northern region this year for example. First, there was the construction of factories and the leasing of land. Then, various agricultural tools were manufactured. Every single one of these costs money like water, especially labor costs and wages, which are expenses every month.

A while ago, I partnered with a businessman from the south to engage in pearl farming. It's obviously expensive, and it will take several years to break even.

Nowadays, Jiang Shuwan's business is expanding, but her money is dwindling. If she doesn't keep track of her expenses, she's afraid that one day she won't even have money to eat.

"She's saving it for you." The wet nurse was also eating milk tea nearby.

The wet nurse chuckled and saw through Qingxing's thoughts. Qingxing, who was easily embarrassed, stomped her feet and said, "I call this being prepared for a rainy day."

Seeing that she looked embarrassed and angry, Jiang Shuwan quickly gave her a thumbs up, "Yes, yes, as expected of the number one female official by the side of our Great Jing County Princess Jinzhu, amazing!"

"Hmph, of course." Qingxing was instantly appeased, and while saying this, she went to collect money from the other maids.

Buying milk tea from her also gets you a discount; she charges three copper coins less than other places.

Jiang Shuwan moved a small stool and squeezed next to the wet nurse.

"Granny, when the maids in our courtyard go out to buy milk tea, they go to our own shop. Do you think Qingxing made a profit or a loss?"

"Keep your voice down, don't let her hear." The wet nurse covered her mouth and chuckled, and Jiang Shuwan laughed too.

Qingxing didn't know what they were having fun about, so after selling all the milk tea, she grabbed a small stool and sat down.

The three people sat side by side on small stools, drinking milk tea and enjoying the scenery in the courtyard.

Springtime was the time when the Marquis's mansion suffered misfortune, and he had no mood to appreciate the scenery. Now, looking up, he saw that the pear tree in the corner of the courtyard had fruit as big as a child's fist.

With its lush foliage covering the ground, half the yard became quite cool.

"Miss, I heard that the old lady is going to the suburbs to escape the summer heat in a couple of days, and she's taking Aunt Liu with her to serve her. Even when Aunt Liu pretends to be sick, it doesn't work."

Jiang Shuwan was a step too slow before she finally hummed in agreement.

The old lady sent Chang Mama over yesterday to tell her about this.

Moreover, judging from Madam Chang's tone, the old lady wanted to use the time she spent sending Liu Yunyan away to make sure that Liu Yunyan and Pei Yanzhi could get together, and ideally, Liu Yunyan would get pregnant...

"Grandma, you're overthinking it. Your grandson is sharpening his knives, ready to bring down a prince..."

While chewing on the sweet fruit, Jiang Shuwan calculated the date again.

In her previous life, Pei Yanzhi also worked in the Ministry of Justice. She thought that since Pei Yanzhi had entered officialdom earlier in this life, he would not go to the Ministry of Justice. However, she did not expect that he would still go to the Ministry of Justice after going around in circles.

According to the timeline, it should be time for the land invasion case.

However, that's not necessarily true. Everyone in the Great Jing government knows that Pei Yanzhi is a jinx; nothing good ever comes of him to the Six Ministries. Perhaps this prince will become more obedient after seeing him go to the Ministry of Justice...

It's all about seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages!

If I were to run into Pei Yanzhi, I would have to go out of my way.

"Miss, your maternal grandmother has arrived, and she brought many gifts." Xiao Tao suddenly ran in, the little maid still with milk stains on the corner of her mouth.

Jiang Shuwan handed her a handkerchief to wipe herself, and as she patted her bottom, she got up from the stool. The maids in the courtyard who were imitating her on the stool also got up one after another.

"Why bring gifts when it's not a holiday or festival?"

As Jiang Shuwan wondered what was going on, Madam Song entered in a large entourage with her servants. Sure enough, she brought quite a lot of things: seasonal fruits and pastries, silks and jewelry. Although they weren't expensive, they seemed to be the best Madam Song could offer.

Moreover, what's most precious is that there's also a box of peach gum.

Peach gum is one of Jiang Shuwan's favorite foods; she's always the first to eat it all when we make milk tea.

Peach gum is usually harvested in the summer, and it's only the beginning of summer now, so there probably isn't much peach gum being secreted yet. The fact that the Song family was able to get a whole box of it shows how much effort they put into it.

"Mother, please come in and sit down."

Jiang Shuwan quickly welcomed her in and asked Qingxing to bring her milk tea.

"The milk tea at your place is so delicious."

While enjoying her icy, sweet milk tea, Song smiled broadly, but also took the time to look around Jiang Shuwan's room.

She still remembered the first time she came to Jiang Shuwan's house. Even the low table on the tatami mat was incredibly luxurious. Not to mention that she had inlaid a screen with large and beautiful sea pearls. It was dazzling and magnificent.

Nowadays, not much has changed in Jiang Shuwan's house; even the furniture and other items haven't been replaced.

But the regulations are different.

For example, she used to be able to enter Jiang Shuwan's courtyard whenever she wanted.

Now he has to wait outside for a summons, and when he sees Jiang Shuwan, he has to perform the etiquette of a subject to a ruler.

Furthermore, the people serving Jiang Shuwan in her room included not only the maids who had come with her as part of her dowry from the Jiang family, but also palace maids and female officials from the imperial palace...