Chapter 43 Entering the Palace to Express Gratitude

"I'm sorry to have kept you all waiting," Jiang Zhi said with a smile, having Qing Xing bring her a chair to sit on the porch. She looked at the few people standing lazily in front of her and asked, "Are all the managers here?"

"More than half of the people haven't arrived yet," Qingxing couldn't help but say sarcastically, "They've kept their master waiting for so long, they're all so arrogant."

“Miss Qingxing, what you said is not fair. Everyone in the manor has their own duties and cannot be idle for a moment. Who can find time to play house with the children? Only we can squeeze out time to be on standby, and we will have to work overtime to make up for it when we get back.”

The slightly overweight woman who had just started complaining immediately retorted.

But does an unmarried girl really think that by taking over the power of managing the household, she can wrest power from the lady of the house?

No matter what, Madam Jiang is the mistress of the Jiang family, how could she not take care of the household?

In my opinion, this young lady would be unable to keep up after only two days of playing around, and would be crying and begging the madam to come back and continue managing the household.

It's only because I'm kind-hearted that I'm willing to coax her into playing; no one else is as kind as her.

"If I remember correctly, you're Liao's mother, right? What are your responsibilities?"

Madam Liao smugly smoothed her hair. "Indeed, this old servant is in charge of planting, pruning, and maintaining the flowers and trees in the manor's garden. Young Miss, don't be fooled by this seemingly insignificant job; there's a lot to it, like what kind of flowers should be planted in what season..."

Before Liao's mother could finish speaking, Jiang Zhi waved her hand to interrupt her, "I know, next one."

She then asked several managers for their names and responsibilities, and had Qingxing and her men write them down.

None of the people below knew what she was really up to.

Just as Liao's mother was getting impatient and was about to find an excuse to leave, a maidservant hurried over, bowed to Jiang Zhi, and whispered a few words in Liao's mother's ear.

Liao's mother's face turned pale instantly, and her voice changed, "Are you telling the truth?"

The maid was Liao Mama's daughter. With a sob in her voice, she said, "Yes, Mother, my brother lost all his money at Ruyi Gambling House and owed a lot of gambling debts. He was cornered inside and beaten up badly. They even threatened that if he couldn't pay back the money, they would use one of his arms as collateral!"

Mrs. Liao was terrified, her face turning ashen. "This is truly a tragedy! I've told him not to gamble, not to gamble, but he just can't control himself. What are we going to do now?"

"Mother, please think of a way! If we can't pay back the money, my brother says he's going to take me away to pay off the debt!"

The mother and daughter were completely bewildered.

A short while later, someone else came rushing over.

It was another steward who said that his son had gotten into a fight and beaten someone so badly that the other party insisted on taking him to the authorities and throwing him into jail.

Others were detained in brothels for not paying their husbands who went out to brothels.

The managers were as anxious as ants on a hot pan, but Jiang Zhi simply sat in her chair, leisurely eating snacks and drinking tea.

After a moment of panic, everyone came to their senses.

Why did so many of the family members in charge of these matters all run into trouble today, just when the young lady was about to ask them questions?

All of this is just too much of a coincidence.

And I wonder if the households of those stewards who didn't come also suffered misfortune?

Liao's mother was already extremely anxious. After piecing together the events, she immediately knelt down in front of Jiang Zhi with a thud.

"Young Miss, it was this old servant who was blind and arrogant, who did not know what was good for him. I beg you to be merciful and forgive my family."

Jiang Zhi simply used the tea lid to skim off the foam in her cup and said calmly, "I don't understand what Mama Liao is saying, but I'm not one to stand by and watch someone die. If Mama Liao needs anything, I can lend you some money to tide you over. I won't charge you interest, as long as you do your best to serve the Jiang family."

Madam Liao now wished she could grow wings and rescue her good-for-nothing son. She dared not put on airs anymore and kept kowtowing on the ground, saying, "Thank you, Miss. Thank you, Miss. This old servant will definitely do my best to serve the Jiang family in the future and will not dare to slack off in the slightest."

Qingxing couldn't help but whisper a reminder, "Miss, you used all your personal money to ask Li Yuanhu to find someone to beat up the second young master of the Yan family last time, so you don't have any extra money to lend them now."

Jiang Zhi just smiled and said, "Don't worry, we'll have money soon."

Sure enough, no sooner had he finished speaking than someone rushed over, this time looking for Jiang Zhi directly.

"Young Miss, someone from the palace has come with an imperial decree. Master wants you to go to the front hall immediately to receive the Empress's decree!"

"Look, the money is coming to us on its own," Jiang Zhi said, getting up from her chair and straightening her clothes. "Yes, I'll go over right now."

"Please wait a moment, everyone."

No one dared to voice their complaints; they all bowed their heads in agreement.

In the front hall, a eunuch held a bright yellow imperial edict, and Jiang Zhengting led Jiang Zhi to kneel down to receive it.

The imperial edict was simple, praising Jiang Zhi for her courage, resourcefulness, and keen insight in finding crucial evidence in the assassin case, and issuing a special imperial decree to commend her.

Everything else is just fluff; the three thousand taels of gold, a three-courtyard house in the capital, and three street-front shops mentioned in the imperial edict are the real and tangible things.

Even Jiang Zhi herself didn't expect Xiao Xuanyou to be so generous, turning her from a poor household into a wealthy one overnight, which really surprised and delighted her.

Moreover, the gifts bestowed by Xiao Xuanyou through the Empress truly touched her heart.

Putting everything else aside, those three street-facing shops alone are money that can generate more money and interest. With these things in hand, even if she leaves the Jiang family in the future, she can still live a good life.

After Jiang Zhi received the imperial decree, Jiang Zhengting couldn't stop smiling.

"Alright, it's rare for the Empress to personally issue an imperial decree to reward you. Keep all these silver and shops as your dowry in the future. Your father will never mistreat you."

Jiang Zhi suppressed the cold laugh in her heart.

She couldn't believe that a man who could enjoy even his first wife's dowry without batting an eye would be so generous.

It's just that she has now gained the Empress's favor, which is beneficial to the Jiang family, which is why he is so amiable.

Jiang Zhi showed no outward expression, only feigning gratitude, "Daughter thanks Father."

"Now that you have received the reward, make preparations and go to the palace tomorrow to express your gratitude," Jiang Zhengting said gently.

Jiang Zhi then remembered that since she had received a reward from the Empress, she was obligated to enter the palace.

Is it possible that I could meet Xiao Xuanyou?

The thought of this made her scalp tingle, and the feeling of being stared at by Xiao Xuanyou at the Northern Garrison Command that day swept over her again.

But then she thought again that Xiao Xuanyou's injuries had just healed, and she had gone to the Empress's palace, so she might not be so unlucky as to run into him.

All I had to do was obediently and respectfully express my gratitude and leave.