Chapter 31 Don't call me sister-in-law, it's disgusting.

Ye Mingzhu was making plans in her mind.

More than ten days have passed, and Liu Rumei should have finished her medicine.

If Madam Sun dares to hold a grudge against her, she'll go find Liu Rumei and Sheng Huai'an tomorrow to collect "interest." If Madam Sun dares to make any rash moves, she won't let her off easily.

...

It was another sunny day, but Jia Shi in Rongshou Hall felt as if the sky had fallen.

She listened to the old shopkeeper's report with a sour face, feeling dizzy and disoriented.

She didn't have much money left to begin with, and it was already a struggle to provide for the food, clothing, and shelter of everyone in the West Mansion. Then, her fabric shop ran into trouble!

The batch of fine silks and satins transported by water this time was specially selected as the best goods, but they were all ruined because the cargo ship leaked and was soaked in water!

That's a shipment worth a full three thousand taels of silver!

Even if the cargo ship owner compensates her with 1,500 taels, her losses will still be enormous!

“Since the shops can’t keep going, let’s close them down,” Madam Jia said with a sullen face. “The cloth and spice shops don’t make much money anyway, and they’re too much work. It’s better to rent them out and get a fixed amount of money every year.”

"Mrs……"

The old shopkeeper wanted to say something more, but Madam Jia waved her hand, signaling him to stop talking: "That's it, you can go now, I'm tired."

"Yes." The old shopkeeper could only retreat.

Madam Jia raised her hand to press her temples, cursing the East Mansion in her heart once again.

If it weren't for Sheng Yunche, that sickly fellow who deserved to die young, interfering and Huai'an successfully marrying the golden child, would she be having such a headache now?

She must be living a life of luxury, without having to worry about anything!

The merchant's daughter may not be from a very wealthy family, but she has an inexhaustible supply of money!

Just then, a pretty maidservant entered the room carrying a wooden box, and bowed to Madam Jia with a smile: "Madam, something good has happened."

"What good news?" Jia asked.

"The jade Guanyin statue of Guanyin giving a child that you consigned to the Treasure Pavilion has been sold for a full 2,500 taels of silver. The silver notes are all in this box, please take a look."

Jia took the wooden box.

Upon seeing the thick stack of silver notes inside, she was initially relieved and a smile appeared on her face, but her expression quickly darkened, and she felt even worse.

The mutton-fat jade Guanyin statue, a gift of a child, was part of her dowry, and one of the few valuable items among it.

She was forced to sell her dowry, but Princess Ronghua of the East Mansion refused to continue subsidizing her, and the old lady also refused to see her no matter what.

This is outrageous!

Taking out five hundred taels of silver notes from the wooden box, Madam Jia instructed her pretty maid, "Yushu, take these five hundred taels to the Second Master so that he won't be short of money when he goes out to meet friends and become a laughingstock."

"Yes." Yu Shu curtsied gracefully and complimented with a smile, "Second Master is truly blessed to have a mother like you."

Jia finally smiled: "You have such a sweet tongue."

Just as Yu Shu was about to leave, Jia called her back: "By the way, remember to tell the Second Master to visit his grandmother more often when he has time, and ask his grandmother to give him some extra money."

If that old hag won't see her, surely she won't even see her grandson?

Yu Shu smiled and agreed.

...

The five hundred taels sent by Jia were a timely help for Sheng Huai'an.

He was worried that Liu Rumei's medicine had run out and he didn't have the money to buy more from Ye Mingzhu.

He patted her back all night, but she still coughed until her face turned pale, which broke his heart. But he was almost out of things to sell in his display case.

Fortunately, the money has arrived now.

He was truly grateful to Jia.

Although Jia was a bit harsh on Liu Rumei, always forcing her to take out her brother's pension, she truly loved him very much.

Yu Shu said softly, "Second Master, Madam also said that you should visit the Ancestor more often to show your filial piety. If you treat the Ancestor well, the Ancestor will surely love you more in return."

Sheng Huai'an understood, and smiled like the bright moon in his arms: "Tell Mother not to worry, I will."

The old ancestor has many good things, and he is also a son of the Duke of Wei's mansion. He can't let them all benefit the East Mansion.

"Yes." Yu Shu curtsied. "Then this servant will take her leave."

Before turning around, she glanced at Sheng Huai'an with her tender eyes, then quickly lowered her head, blushing, and hurriedly walked towards the courtyard gate.

It was at this moment that Sheng Huai'an truly noticed her.

He chuckled smugly.

Looking at Yu Shu's slender and graceful back, he lingered on her slim waist and full hips, and couldn't help but compare her to Liu Rumei in his mind.

My sister-in-law is exceptionally talented and has a refined, elegant demeanor, though she is a little thin.

This maid has a vulgar gaze, but she is quite pretty and has a good figure.

Unfortunately, beauty can lead to trouble. His most pressing task is still the imperial examination, and he cannot afford to be distracted.

Sheng Huai'an sighed inwardly and turned to enter the study.

Before long, he came out of the study and walked towards Songhe Hall in the East Mansion.

Sheng Huai'an stayed at Songhe Hall for a full half hour, coaxing the old lady until she was all smiles, and finally managed to get three hundred taels of silver from her before he came out.

Next, he planned to go to Linfengtang to buy medicine from Ye Mingzhu.

...

Linfeng Hall.

Ye Mingzhu stopped calculating on the abacus and looked at Baozan with some surprise in her eyes: "You said the Second Master of the West Mansion has arrived?"

She thought Sheng Huai'an was short of money and was going to send someone to remind him today to put pressure on him, but she didn't expect him to come first. Does that mean he has money now?

“Yes.” Baozan curtsied and asked with a hint of doubt, “The Second Master had a smile on his face and looked relaxed. He didn’t seem to be having trouble with money.”

After pondering for a moment, Ye Mingzhu instructed, "Tell him to wait in the flower hall. I'll finish settling the accounts before I go see him."

"Yes," Baozan replied.

Ye Mingzhu finished her work at a leisurely pace, and it was already an incense stick's time later.

She walked into the flower hall and saw Sheng Huai'an enjoying tea in a relaxed manner.

Upon seeing her approach, he immediately stood up, smiled, and bowed to her, his naturally gentle and affectionate eyes gazing at her with a smile.

This scene left Ye Mingzhu somewhat dazed.

Before he married Sheng Huai'an in his previous life, he often made this gesture towards her, as if he was deeply in love with her and that she was the only one in his heart and eyes.

That's why he kept his distance from her after marriage and refused to consummate the marriage, which hurt her so deeply.

Sheng Huai'an called out, "Zhuzhu'er..."

Ye Mingzhu frowned.

Sheng Huai'an quickly shut up, and asked with a helpless yet tolerant tone, "You won't let me call you Zhuzhu'er, and I really can't bring myself to call you 'sister-in-law.' You've really put me in a difficult position. Tell me, what should I call you?"

Ye Mingzhu really couldn't stand him calling her "sister-in-law"; it made her feel disgusted.

She said with a half-smile, "Just call me the Duchess of Wei."

Sheng Huai'an's expression changed, and he looked at her in disbelief for a moment before asking in a complicated voice, "Are you really going to do this, using Sheng Yunche's power to pressure me?"

He had clearly told her that his biggest disappointment was that his grandmother would rather give the title of Duke of Wei to Sheng Yunche, a sickly man, than to him, a man of outstanding literary talent and promising future!

"Otherwise what?" Ye Mingzhu retorted.

Sheng Huai'an gritted his teeth and shouted as if torturing himself, "Lady of the Duke of Wei!"

"Mm," Ye Mingzhu replied calmly.

Sheng Huai'an lost interest in speaking, took out five hundred taels of silver notes from his sleeve and handed them to her: "The silver you want."

"Oh." Ye Mingzhu told Ruyi to put the silver notes away. Looking at his ugly face, she suddenly had another idea and decided to dig another hole for him.

“Actually, our Ye family has another good medicine called the Health Preservation Pill, which is most suitable for people of your mother’s age. After taking it, she will feel much more energetic and have better spirits. You take such good care of your sister-in-law, so you should be more willing to spend money on your mother, right?” Ye Mingzhu said with a smile. “If you are unwilling, your mother will probably be heartbroken if she finds out.”

Sheng Huai'an: "..."

"Do you want it?" Ye Mingzhu asked.

Sheng Huai'an looked at her helplessly: "...Five hundred taels too?"

"No need," Ye Mingzhu said with a smile. "Although the health-preserving pills are quite valuable, they only cost fifty taels of silver per pill."

Sheng Huai'an breathed a sigh of relief: "Then take it."

He acted as if he would do whatever she asked.

"Okay." Ye Mingzhu had Baozan take out the medicine that had been prepared earlier, added a bottle of health-preserving pills, and handed it to him without any delay.

Fifty taels every half month, and one hundred taels more every month. It doesn't seem like much money now, but what about later?

When he reaches the end of his rope, will he stop taking Liu Rumei's medicine first, or Jia's health-preserving pills?

No matter what he chooses, she will put on a good show for him.

Ye Mingzhu chuckled to herself.

Logically, the transaction should be completed once the money and goods are exchanged.

But as Ye Mingzhu turned to leave, Sheng Huai'an suddenly called her back, his voice low and filled with disappointment and concern as he asked, "Mingzhu, is he... good to you?"

Ye Mingzhu: "...?"

This guy, who used to always acted so confident that she couldn't live without him, loved him deeply, and could easily manipulate her, has he changed his tactics now?