Jiang Shuyue sat down next to Du Yutong, took her hand and patted it gently, teasingly saying, "You can wait three or five years, but Ajin can't. Let's think of another way."
Madam Su thought that Jiang Shuyue said Su Jin would be unable to resist finding a new lover in Jiangzhou.
She quickly said gently to Du Yutong, "Child, don't think nonsense. Ajin is not the kind of person who changes his mind easily. Listen to Yue'er, we'll think of another way. At worst, your aunt will personally escort you to Jiangzhou to get married."
Seeing that Du Yutong had suppressed the tears welling up in her eyes, Jiang Shuyue teased with a smile, "It's too late to get married right away, and it's even more impossible to wait another three or five years. Even if Ajin could wait, Lord Du would kick you out of the manor."
"Sister Yue'er, please don't tease your little sister. Father never said he would kick me out." Du Yutong blushed as Jiang Shuyue teased her.
When Madam Su saw the maid bring tea, she stood up.
"Yue'er, talk to Yutong. Auntie, go pack Ajin's clothes."
"My aunt remembered to pack the medicinal herbs inside for A-Jin to take with her. There were also a few prescriptions written inside, just in case."
"Yue'er is so thoughtful. A mother worries when her son travels a thousand miles. I'm not worried about anything else, but I'm afraid he'll neglect his own health and catch a cold or cough."
As Madam Su spoke, tears welled up in her eyes. Jiang Shuyue pulled Du Yutong five steps away from her, and neither of them saw the reluctance in her eyes.
After Madam Su left the flower hall, Du Yutong watched Madam Su's departing figure and said, "Actually, Aunt Su was also reluctant to see Ajin leave the capital."
“A good man’s ambition lies in all directions. The court has few capable people. If I’m not mistaken, the emperor will hold a special imperial examination this year to select more talented people to serve the court.”
The two whispered to each other for a while before Su Jin appeared outside the flower hall.
Jiang Shuyue said, "Ajin will be leaving soon. I'll go help my aunt. You and Ajin can talk."
In this era, women rarely saw each other after getting engaged, and with their parting imminent, Du Yutong naturally had a lot to say to Su Jin.
Du Yutong blushed and nodded, pursing her lips.
As Jiang Shuyue walked out of the flower hall, Su Jin came up to her. "Sister, I don't know when I'll be able to return. Please take care. If you're not comfortable living in the capital, you can come to Jiangzhou to find me."
Jiang Shuyue smiled and said, "Don't worry about us. Take care of yourself. Jiangzhou is a good place. I will go and see it one day. Yutong is inside. Go in and talk to her and say goodbye in advance."
"Um."
Su Jin took a few steps, then suddenly stopped, turned around, and called out, "Sister."
"Is there anything else you need to tell me? You don't need to worry about things at home. I can take good care of your uncle, aunt, and Su Nan."
Seeing his hesitant expression, Jiang Shuyue assumed he was worried about his family and affairs.
Su Jin shook her head and said seriously, "Sister, there's something I shouldn't have kept from you. I should have told you sooner so you could be prepared."
"What?"
"Actually, I've long seen that the Emperor is grooming Sui Sui to be the Crown Prince, and so are you..."
"Sister, you need to be prepared. The Emperor is not someone who gives up easily."
Su Jin had actually seen through Xiao Jingzhao's thoughts, but it was merely a glimpse, without any evidence, so he could only inform him tactfully.
Jiang Shuyue showed no surprise and nodded slightly. "Sui Sui is his bloodline. I have no right to deprive Sui Sui of his father's love. As long as Sui Sui is well, his thoughts don't matter. Trust me, Sui Sui has the ability to protect himself wherever he is."
Su Jin mistakenly believed that Jiang Shuyue's answer meant that her elder sister understood the Emperor's thoughts.
Thinking of the Emperor's upright character, Su Jin didn't say anything more.
After all, he is the emperor. If he issues an imperial decree to propose marriage to the people of Shangjiang Prefecture, it would be difficult to refuse the marriage, as that would be disobeying an imperial decree.
Su Jin didn't realize she was overthinking things; that imperial edict couldn't restrain Jiang Shuyue.
Jiang Shuyue had lunch at the Su residence and then helped Madam Su plan to open a silk shop.
When Su Huai-ren returned to the capital, the emperor compensated him with a large sum of money. Not wanting to live off his savings, Madam Su set out to buy two shops.
Due to the tight schedule, we haven't had time to prepare yet.
Madam Su thought that everyone needs to wear clothes all year round, so she considered opening a shop selling silk and satin fabrics.
Jiang Shuyue hadn't seen the shop yet, but Madam Su said that the two shops were right next to each other, so it would be perfect to combine them into a cloth shop.
Jiang Shuyue thought for a moment and said, "Aunt, don't rush to find a source of goods. There are quite a few cloth shops in the capital. If you don't make something unique, it will be hard to make money. Let me go back and think about it. I'll get back to you in a few days."
“My aunt has never owned any property in the capital before, and she has no experience in running a shop. You will have to guide her step by step.”
In the past, Su Huai-ren was honest and upright, and his salary was enough to support a large family.
At the end of the year, there was hardly anything left. Among the officials, their lives were among the most frugal.
Jiang Shuyue said confidently, "Don't worry, Aunt. I may not have any other skills, but making money by opening a shop is no problem for me. Let me think about how to make something unique."
Su Jin said that someone would be hosting a farewell party for him and Bai Zhou at Juxian Pavilion that evening. After drinking tea for a while, he personally escorted Du Yutong back to her residence and then went to Bai's residence to find Bai Zhou.
There wasn't enough time for friends to take turns seeing them off, so the group had already agreed at Juxian Pavilion that they would all spend the night before leaving with their families at their own homes.
Bai Zhou is not engaged, so he has more free time than Su Jin.
Su Jin even went to the Du residence to say goodbye to his future father-in-law and mother-in-law.
On the night before her departure, Jiang Shuyue had Juxian Pavilion deliver two tables of food and wine to the Su residence.
That very night, Sui Sui also happened to leave the palace.
Just as the food and drinks were served and placed on the table, an uninvited guest arrived.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Before everyone could kneel down, Xiao Jingzhao quickly raised his hand, "There are no outsiders here, no need for formalities."
Sui Sui held Xiao Jingzhao's hand and whispered, "Father, why did you leave the palace too?"
The two stood together, the night wind blowing up Sui Sui's bangs, their features looking as if they were carved from the same mold.
"Your Majesty, may I speak with you in private?"
Seeing that the servants were busy and no one was paying attention to her, Jiang Shuyue decided to ask Xiao Jingzhao about the box of jewelry.
The two arrived in the garden, where the lamplight cast long shadows of them.
Every year, it follows behind like a little tail, neither too close nor too far.
"Your Majesty, what is the purpose of that box of jewels?"
Jiang Shuyue chose to get straight to the point.
Xiao Jingzhao stopped and looked back at the direction of the hall. The shadows of the Su family members flickered in front of the window.
He glanced at Sui Sui, who was bouncing around behind him, and said in a clear voice, "I suppose Yue Niang also knows about the case of Jiangzhou officials embezzling money."
Jiang Shuyue looked up and stared directly into those phoenix eyes. "What does this have to do with me? Could it be that the Emperor thinks the national treasury is overflowing and is giving me compensation for raising my child?"
Xiao Jingzhao chuckled, "Yue Niang is now making a fortune every day, much richer than me. She doesn't need my subsidies at all. If Yue Niang doesn't mind, I can go to the Jiang family and live off her."
Pah! Shameless.
Jiang Shuyue cursed inwardly.
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