When Xia Zhiyu heard Jiang Yuyao's words, he felt as if a basin of ice water was poured over his head, and he couldn't help but feel suspicious.
The pockmarks on her face have been with her since she was a child. Despite visiting many famous doctors, she has never been able to eradicate them and can only rely on makeup to cover them up. Can this folk remedy of Miss Jiang really cure her blemishes?
She is Jiang Shu's niece. Would Jiang Shu help her secretly?
"Sister Yuyao's concerns are not without reason. I simply cannot bear to see women feeling sorry for themselves because of their appearance. If Miss Xia feels it's unnecessary, then we don't have to force it."
Jiang Songyi knew that forcing was not the best strategy, so she applied the Jade Dew Cream evenly on her fair and tender wrists, then tightly capped the bottle and signaled Xiang Zhu to keep it properly.
Xia Zhiyu struggled internally, gazing for a long time at Jiang Songyi's wrist, which remained smooth and delicate even after the Jade Dew Cream was applied. Finally, he made up his mind to try it: "Miss Jiang, I have no doubts about your intentions. I am willing to try this Jade Dew Cream."
She thought, since Jiang Yuyao didn't want her to get better, then she would do the opposite. Jiang Songyi dared to try the Jade Dew Cream herself, which showed its safety, and this made her more confident to try it.
In her cousin's eyes, what difference did her appearance make between her appearance and her disfigurement? Perhaps, it would be better to give it a try, as there might still be hope.
Jiang Songyi said firmly, "Okay. One thousand taels of silver."
Xia Zhiyu was stunned for a moment and exclaimed in confusion: "Huh?"
Jiang Songyi was even more stunned, and her tone became more serious: "We have never met before, and you even contradicted my aunt before. Do you think I would give you such a rare medicine for free?"
Jiang Shu was shocked. She didn't expect Jiang Songyi to defend her so resolutely.
Then, Jiang Songyi's inner voice rang out: [The medicinal materials used in this ointment are extremely valuable. I have to recoup the cost from Xia Zhiyu first.]
Xia Zhiyu thought to herself that Jiang Songyi's words were not without reason, but the one thousand taels of silver was undoubtedly an astronomical figure for her, a distant cousin of the Duke's Mansion who was living under someone else's roof.
However, the key to the Duke's Mansion's private treasury that Hao Ren gave her quickly flashed through her mind.
She thought to herself that as long as her face returned to normal and her cousin was willing to be close to her, and she gave birth to a boy for her cousin and became the mother of the only prince of the Duke of Huguo's mansion, what would a mere one thousand taels of silver mean to her?
As for the fetus in Jiang Shu's belly, it was most likely another girl. If Jiang Shu could give birth to a son, she would have been eager to do so. Why wait until this age?
"Okay! One thousand and two taels of silver, I want it."
Xia Zhiyu made up his mind. Since it wasn't his hard-earned money, he would spend it without hesitation. "Later, I'll have my maid deliver the banknotes to your door."
"Deal." Jiang Songyi handed the Jade Dew Cream to her in the same neat and tidy manner.
Jiang Shu was wondering where this orphan girl could raise such a huge sum of money when Jiang Songyi's voice rang in her ears again.
It seems the Duke of Huguo's private treasury is indeed very wealthy. Since it benefited Hao Ren and the Liao family, why not give it to me? Consider it compensation for the years of suffering I've endured due to their scheme to switch things up.
Jiang Shu had previously managed the treasury at the Duke of Huguo's mansion, and was well aware of its dire depletion. On numerous occasions, Hao Ren, cultivating his connections within the government, was often forced to use her dowry to meet urgent needs. Although this was merely a temporary solution, she, at the time, firmly believed in the bond between husband and wife, and never considered asking Hao Ren to return it.
Now, in order to provoke Jiang Shu to return to the mansion, Hao Ren actually gave the storeroom key to Xia Zhiyu. Xia Zhiyu was short-sighted and had never known how to manage a household. How could he be as frugal as Jiang Shu used to be, even using her own dowry to supplement the household expenses?
Jiang Shu laughed inwardly. With Xia Zhiyu's extravagant spending habits, the treasury of the Duke of Protectorate's Mansion would probably be emptied by her soon.
And she was eager to see this scene.
As Song Yi said, it would be better for her to get the advantage than to let those bitches benefit.
Jiang Shu said to Xia Zhiyu, "Today is an auspicious day. Why don't you go with Cuiying to the government office to sign the documents for taking a concubine?"
Xia Zhiyu naturally wanted it more than she could have hoped, and even developed a favorable impression of Jiang Shu. "Don't worry, Sister Shu, I only want to spend the rest of my life with the Duke and continue our bloodline. In my heart, you will always be the mistress of the Duke's Mansion."
As she spoke, she respectfully performed the concubine ceremony to Jiang Shu and offered her a cup of warm tea.
Jiang Shu took the hot tea with a smile and imitated the virtuous wives. "While I am back at my parents' home to recuperate, I will trouble you to take good care of the Duke's Mansion and the Duke."
Jiang Shu and Xia Zhiyu's wives and concubines lived in harmony, but Jiang Yuyao next to them almost tore the handkerchief in her hand into pieces.
Jiang Shu actually took the initiative to take a concubine for her father!
Her father only has her mother in his heart. If he knew about this, he would definitely not agree!
However, my mother was still imprisoned in the Jingzhao Prefecture's prison. The people in the Marquisate were keeping her under close surveillance, so my father couldn't easily take action to rescue her...
…
Although Jiang Shu lived in the Marquis' Mansion, her act of taking a concubine for Hao Ren caused an uproar and caused a sensation in the whole city.
Led by Cuiying, Xia Zhiyu signed the concubine's documents and immediately purchased an exquisite pink sedan chair and hired a grand wedding procession. They beat drums and gongs along the way, deliberately circumnavigating the capital's bustling main streets, and then welcomed Xia Zhiyu through the side door of the Duke's Mansion.
Unlike the ceremony of marrying a wife, taking a concubine does not need to be held at dusk, so when Xia Zhiyu entered the house it was during the hustle and bustle of the day. The merchants, peddlers and wealthy families on both sides of the road were all amazed and looked at him sideways.
The news that Duke Protector Hao Ren had taken a concubine spread throughout the capital like a whirlwind, and the topic was a hot topic in teahouses and taverns.
At the same time, Hao Renzheng was drinking with Liao Lingxi and several officials and scholars from the Ministry of Personnel in the court, paving the way for Liao Lingxi's future career.
The Duke of Huguo's Mansion held no real power within the court, and even Hao Ren was granted only a leisurely position. Despite being related by marriage to the Yongding Marquis' Mansion, the civil servants at court were largely at odds with the Yongding Marquis. Normally, Hao Ren would not have been able to invite so many officials and distinguished scholars.
However, the Minister of Personnel is also present today, and most of these civil servants are here based on his face.
The Minister of Personnel, Wade, has a head full of silver hair and is approaching retirement age.
When Wade was young, he had a deep regret.
When he was young, he also had a deeply devoted wife, much like Hao Ren and Jiang Shu today, and was the envy of everyone in the capital. However, because his wife had been childless for many years, his mother insisted that he take a concubine for his cousin, citing the need to continue the family line.
His wife was so distressed that she fell seriously ill and eventually passed away while she was two months pregnant. Wade regretted this and remained single for the rest of his life, always regretting why he did not have the courage to resist his mother's wishes.
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