Wen Zhujun wandered around aimlessly and finally discovered Shenxun under the corridor.
By the time Jiang Jiulu left, she had already become familiar with Shen Xun.
Green Bamboo and Red Fir followed Yuan Qi around until midnight, when they discovered that Yuan Qi was making paper figures! The kind of paper figures used in funerals!
This is outrageous! Does the young lady know that someone in the manor is going to die?
You absolutely must not tell the Marquis!
The next day, Yuan Qi, still dressed in a pomegranate red, high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), obediently followed Jiang Jiulu, Jiang Junjing, and Jiang Junyu out.
Jiang Junjing and Jiang Junyu each held one of Yuan Qi's hands, treating him with even more affection than they would a younger sister.
Once inside the carriage, Yuan Qi discovered that it was fully equipped. The carriages for illegitimate sons and daughters were different from those for legitimate sons and daughters; they were smaller. However, everything inside had been prepared by Jiang Junjing and Jiang Junyu themselves.
Jiang Junjing was a shrewd businessman with enough money to last several lifetimes, so he naturally kept the carriage in perfect condition.
Yuan Qi experienced once again what it means to be arrogant and domineering.
Jiang Jiulu pulled out a wooden board from the side, spread its legs, and it became a small table. She then took out several delicate little boxes from a small drawer next to her.
The box contains nuts and dried fruits that are rarely seen on the market.
"Eat up, don't be shy."
Yuan Qi never refuses delicious food and eats without hesitation.
On the way, Jiang Jiulu introduced her to the Li family.
“My maternal family was of modest means. My maternal grandfather was an official his whole life, but he only reached the rank of a fourth-grade vice minister. My uncles were even less promising, and my cousins were even less so. None of them were good at studying or becoming officials. My aunt couldn’t find anyone suitable to help her out.”
Jiang Jiulu's expression was strange, showing no sign of regret.
Yuan Qi teased her, "Why do you look so gloating?"
Jiang Jiulu shrugged: "I'm just telling the truth. My maternal grandfather and uncle both wanted the Li family's daughter to marry my brother so that their wealth could continue. They coveted the Jiang family's immense wealth and were single-mindedly trying to curry favor with them. Alas, what can I do? My aunt was the most successful member of the Li family. My other aunts married into families of similar social standing, some even less so. Only my aunt married well. Although she was a concubine, you know, in wealthy families, a concubine is more respectable than the wife of a wife from a humble family."
Yuan Qi nodded in agreement, her mouth stuffed up like a little hamster's. These nuts were delicious, with just the right amount of sweetness and moisture; they were the best nuts she had ever eaten.
Jiang Jiulu, seeing how unseemly she ate, mocked her: "Look at you, so uncultured. If I had known you liked these, I would have given them to you a long time ago. I'll have my brother get you a big box of them, so you can eat them slowly."
Upon arriving at the Li residence, Yuan Qi could see from afar a huge crowd gathered at the entrance. Men, women, and children from the household all came out to greet him, a scene comparable to welcoming an emperor.
Jiang Jiulu looked down on the Li family for this; they were too obsequious.
However, one cannot blame the Li family for being short-sighted; there were simply too many benefits to befriending the Jiang family.
Yuan Qi noticed that the Li family members were dressed in bright clothes, and the fabrics and jewelry they wore were not cheap.
The old man and woman of the Li family were beaming with joy, their attentive manner bordering on groveling as if they were about to kneel before their own daughter.
Li Guifei didn't come empty-handed. Although she only came two or three times a year, each time she brought more than a dozen cartloads of gifts, each one of which was very valuable.
Jiang Junjing and Jiang Junyu are both handsome and dashing, and are the focus of attention for the Li family's daughter.
The calls for "cousin" were incessant, giving Yuan Qi goosebumps.
Jiang Jiulu was surrounded by several cousins who were asking after her.
Yuan Qile sat in the car watching the excitement.
"Since you're already here, why bring any gifts?" Old Madam Li glanced at the dozen or so carriages following behind, each one fully loaded, and smiled broadly.
The daughters-in-law of the Li family stared wide-eyed, wondering what good things their eldest sister-in-law had brought back this time. If they married their daughter into the Jiang family, would the Li family receive even more good things?
The Li family didn't invite any other guests for their birthday celebration; it was just a family gathering, with the married daughters bringing their husbands and children to celebrate.
After the whole family entered and sat down, Madam Li finally noticed Yuan Qi, who had been following Jiang Jiulu: "Who is this little girl?"
Concubine Li explained, “The Marquis has a daughter who was lost and wandered away. She was only recently brought back. Before that, she lived in a Taoist temple and knew some magic. Her name is Yuan Qi.”
Yuan Qi politely bowed to Old Madam Li: "Yuan Qi greets Old Madam. Old Madam looks very healthy and is sure to live to be a hundred years old."
There's nothing wrong with what he said, but it sounds a bit awkward.
Li Guiqie smiled mysteriously: "Mother, this seventh young lady of the Jiang family is quite remarkable. She knows some Taoist skills, and her words are like they've been blessed. She says you can live to be a hundred years old, and you definitely will."
As expected, Madam Li chuckled and quickly had someone bring over a box. She grabbed a handful of gold melon seeds and stuffed them into Yuan Qi's hand.
Yuan Qi accepted the golden melon seeds without ceremony, put them into his cloth bag, and casually took out a peace talisman, handing it to Madam Li with both hands: "This is for you. It can ward off evil spirits and ensure peace. I drew it myself, and it is very effective."
The Li family all grimaced, wondering how effective a peace charm drawn by a nine-and-a-half-year-old could be.
It's just that no one has said it out loud.
Seeing everyone's expressions, Jiang Junjing stepped forward to testify: "Grandmother, Seventh Sister is not exaggerating. Her amulet is indeed very effective. A few days ago, I went to inspect the shop and suddenly felt a hot spot on my body, so I stopped to check. Guess what? A flowerpot fell from the sky. If I hadn't stopped, I would have been crushed to death."
A pretty girl of about fifteen or sixteen from the Li family asked, "Cousin, is it true?"
Jiang Junjing took out a peace charm from his bosom: "Cousin Huilin, look, Seventh Sister's peace charm protected me from disaster, and it's faded now." He looked at Yuan Qi expectantly.
Yuan Qi pouted and took out another amulet from the cloth bag, handing it to Jiang Junjing: "I'll give you another one since you spoke well of me."
Jiang Junjing casually pulled out a hundred-tael silver note from his purse and handed it to Yuan Qi: "I can't just take yours for nothing."
Yuan Qi felt that Jiang Junjing was indeed a businessman, and he knew a lot. If he didn't give money, then he wouldn't give money when the Li family came to ask for the peace charm.
In this way, anyone who wanted a peace charm had to pay silver, and each peace charm cost one hundred taels of silver.
The peace charms at Wuji Palace are only ten copper coins each!
Only a fool would buy that; they don't even know if it works.
No one in the Li family wanted to waste money. Only Li Huilin, who had spoken earlier, came over and asked, "Seventh Miss, I want a peace charm. Come with me to get the money."
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