Chapter 464 Idea
Hearing what Yu Guifei said, Madam Zhuang paused and subconsciously looked at Madam Zhou.
Although many years have passed and Yu Lan and Zhou Boxu have married, Madam Zhou's voice will never recover, and what happened can never be erased.
Madam Zhou met Madam Zhuang's gaze and frowned slightly.
Yu Lan was a little nervous, afraid that Madam Zhou would be unhappy.
"The rain is going to get heavier, let's go quickly." Madam Zhou retracted her gaze.
Yu Guifei and Yu Lan felt relieved when they heard this, one accompanied Madam Zhou and the other accompanied Madam Zhuang, and they went to Zhongling Palace together.
On the other side, Xie Wanruo also returned to the East Palace with Madam Xie and her sister-in-law Hua.
As soon as they entered the East Palace and closed the door, Madam Xie took Xie Wanruo's hand and said, "Isn't your action a little too risky? I'm afraid it will cause resentment from the officials and nobles."
It was inconvenient to communicate inside and outside the palace, and they couldn't discuss things in detail, so they could only inform each other through letters.
After learning what Xie Wanruo was going to do, the Xie family was very anxious.
However, Xie Wanruo had a big idea and had sent out the invitation before informing them. The matter was a foregone conclusion, and the Xie family could only cooperate.
Although Xie Tong and Xie Qi'an told Madam Xie not to worry after careful consideration, she couldn't rest assured.
This was obviously something that would offend people!
"I know, but I have to do it." Xie Wanruo pulled Madam Xie to sit at the table and ordered someone to serve hot tea.
Madam Xie was not in the mood to drink tea, and sighed with a frown.
Xie Wanruo comforted her, "Don't worry, mother, I know what's going on."
"Besides, I live deep in the palace and don't often meet and interact with them, so it doesn't matter if they hold a grudge."
After a pause, Xie Wanruo looked at Hua and said with guilt, "It's just that I have implicated you."
Hua said, "Your Highness is doing justice for the country, I admire you very much."
"Thank you for your understanding, sister-in-law." Xie Wanruo smiled with relief, and the two of them persuaded Madam Xie together.
At this point, it would be useless to be upset, so Madam Xie let out a long breath and talked about something else.
The raindrops were crackling and getting heavier.
In Zhongling Palace, Yu Lan changed into a dry and refreshing dress, and fumigated her hair before going to the main hall to talk to Madam Zhou and the others.
Madam Zhou and Madam Zhuang sat opposite each other, while Concubine Yu sat at the top, talking to each of them separately, and the atmosphere was a little subtle.
Madam Zhou maintained a calm appearance, and did not embarrass Madam Zhuang, but she did not talk to her either. Madam
Zhuang was very proud, and she could not put down her dignity and take the initiative to show her goodwill.
The two of them were in a stalemate, and Concubine Yu was trying to balance both sides, and her mouth was dry.
Yu Lan came just in time, and Concubine Yu had time to pick up the teacup and drink tea.
"Mother, mother." Yu Lan called softly.
"Hey, sit down quickly, don't get tired." Madam Zhou and Madam Zhuang responded at the same time.
Concubine Yu paused while drinking tea, and chose to continue drinking tea.
Yu Lan's eyes flashed, and she talked to the two of them as if nothing had happened.
Madam Zhou and Old Madam Zhuang looked at each other, both with slightly strange expressions.
When Madam Zhou asked about Yu Lan's recent situation and told her to pay attention to matters, Old Madam Zhuang listened silently without saying anything.
After the two finished talking, when Yu Lan asked about Zhuang Yin, Old Madam Zhuang spoke.
Now it was Madam Zhou's turn to be silent, drinking tea and listening quietly.
Zhuang Yin is a smart, sensible and lovable child. Although Madam Zhou did not say anything, she listened carefully.
No matter what, Zhuang Yin called her grandmother.
Concubine Yu Gui noticed Mrs. Zhou's expression and deliberately said, "Yun'er mentioned to me last time that she hadn't been back to the Zhou Mansion for a long time and missed her grandparents."
Mrs. Zhou felt a little awkward and said, "We miss Yun'er too."
Concubine Yu Gui followed suit and said, "Then take a ten-day holiday in a few days and let Yun'er go to the Zhou Mansion for dinner."
"As long as Yun'er is willing, we will like it." Mrs. Zhou smiled.
"I will tell Yun'er when I go back." Old Lady Zhuang naturally took over.
Mrs. Zhou was silent for a moment and said "um".
Although the sound was small, several people heard it.
Concubine Yu Gui and Yu Lan smiled knowingly, knowing that the knot between the two was untied.
Even if they couldn't pretend that nothing had happened, they could live in peace.
That was enough.
The spring rain outside was cold, but the atmosphere inside the house gradually became harmonious.
The rain kept falling, and it didn't stop when Shen's mother returned to Jing'an Marquis' Mansion. After getting off the carriage and entering the mansion, she went straight to Shouyong Hall and asked someone to invite Shen Changhuai as well.
Not caring about her wet shoes and clothes, Shen's mother explained the situation to Old Lady Shen and Shen Changhuai, and asked them to think of a solution together.
Old Lady Shen had been ill for a long time, and her face was already listless. After hearing what Shen's mother said, she sighed repeatedly.
"Changhuai, when Changze is not here, you are the pillar of the family. You have to make a decision on this matter." Shen's mother put pressure directly.
Old Lady Shen also said, "Yes, Changhuai, the Marquis' Mansion is counting on you two brothers."
Wang Yueyao looked at Old Lady Shen and Shen's mother, and moved her lips, wanting to say something but not daring to.
As a person of low status, no one would listen to her, and she would only be scolded.
Shen Changhuai's handsome face was solemn, and he said under pressure: "Grandmother and mother, don't worry. The Concubine's move is just to raise money to help the court, not against the Marquis' Mansion."
"In my opinion, you can do what you can."
Shen's mother pounded her hands and said, "You don't know, they will at least give three thousand taels."
If it were twenty years ago, three thousand taels would not be a big deal for the Marquis' Mansion, and it would be easy to come up with. But now is different from the past. The Marquis' Mansion today has a hard time maintaining its own dignity, so where can it have extra money?
Shen Changhuai frowned and thought for a moment, then said logically, "Due to the war in the past few months, no family in the capital has held any banquets, and there has been less social interaction, so the mansion should have some surplus."
Upon hearing this, Shen's mother's eyes flickered and she said, "You don't know that the mansion has a lot of expenses, and the wine shop business has not been very good recently, so how can there be much surplus money."
"But you, you have spent less money outside these years, so you should have saved a lot."
Actually wanted to take advantage of them.
Wang Yueyao was angry, clenched her hands and mustered up her courage and said: "My husband's official rank is low, we are unfamiliar with the place, we have nothing, and we can only rely on ourselves for everything. The monthly salary is barely enough to cover our expenses, and there is not much left."
Not much, but it's still something.
Shen's mother's eyes lit up and said: "We are all family. The honor and disgrace of the Marquis' Mansion is also your honor and disgrace. Take as much as you can."
"When Changze and Jinchu come back, the Marquis' Mansion will have surplus wealth and will not forget you. Besides, the Concubine also said that when the national treasury is full in the future, it will be returned one by one."
Shen Changhuai knew he couldn't escape, and he also understood that he was among the hundreds of officials, and he should also pay a share, so he asked Wang Yueyao how much he could give.
Wang Yueyao said in a muffled voice: "I have been very careful these years and have managed to save three hundred taels."
Only three hundred taels?
Shen's mother was a little disappointed after hearing this, but then she thought that Shen Changhuai had a low official salary and had only been in office for a few years.
But Shen Changhuai's lack of money does not mean that Wang Yueyao has no money.
Shen's mother clearly remembered that when Shen Changhuai asked to marry Wang Yueyao, the betrothal gifts from the Marquis' Mansion and Jiang Shutian's added up to 20,000 taels.
Therefore, when Wang Yueyao married into the Marquis' Mansion, although the dowry was not rich, it was not small.
If a little bit of it could be taken out, the matter would be solved.
Shen's mother thought about it, and said helplessly: "The mansion can only take out one thousand taels at most, and put it together with yours. Changhuai, you go and deliver it in person tomorrow."