Zhu You was quite satisfied with Yuan Qi's efficiency, which was higher than the efficiency he had achieved during the many years of struggle he had fought for while he was alive.
He reverted to his dashing and elegant demeanor, floating up to Yuan Qi and saying, "I'll have my wife give you some money for incense oil, and plenty!"
Yuan Qi patiently waited for Qi Sheng and Li Fu to help Zhu You Niangzi accept the money and shops that rightfully belonged to her.
Zhu Youniangzi also accepted Huang Ying and her daughter, not only adding them to the family genealogy but also giving Huang Ying two shops and a considerable amount of gold and silver.
Yuan Qi kept a close watch, personally witnessing the government officials stamp the deed, and Zhu You Niangzi took the land deed of the shop and handed it over to the shopkeeper before leaving.
I made a good haul today, a thousand taels of silver.
Zhu You also instructed his wife to return all the money Li Fu had spent over the past two months to Li Fu, and even gave him some extra as a reward.
One year later.
Yuan Qi set up her stall every day for the year, occasionally refining medicine for Yao Guang Pavilion. Many people sought her out for fortune telling and exorcising evil spirits, and gradually more and more people came to her for medical treatment.
The weather was bad today; it had been raining since last night, so Yuanqi didn't plan to set up his stall.
Jiang Jiulu arrived at Shaoyao Residence alone, holding an umbrella.
Compared to two years ago, Jiang Jiulu has matured and become much more composed, but there is always a faint sadness on her face, and it is unclear what she is sad about.
As soon as he entered, Yuan Qi teased, "Fifth Sister hasn't visited my door in a long time."
Jiang Jiulu smiled sheepishly, walked over and sat down directly: "I've been listening to you, studying and embroidering in my room, learning to manage the household, discipline the servants, and run the shop from my mother and sister-in-law. I haven't had time to sit idly."
Yuan Qi asked Green Bamboo to serve tea and bring over the pastries and dried meat that Xiangli Youming had just sent.
Before Jiang Jiulu could speak, Yuan Qi spoke up on his own.
“I used to say that your marriage was not yet ready and that you should wait patiently for two years. Now you are eighteen, and other girls your age are already mothers. You still have no marriage in sight. Aren’t you getting impatient?”
Jiang Jiulu hummed in agreement: "I heard that the Bai family is looking for a wife for the Sixth Young Master again. This time, they're not holding a banquet or a public selection, but rather planning to find someone... with a strong destiny. They say the Sixth Young Master's first wife had a weak destiny... I'm thinking of having Mother propose marriage. What do you think, Seventh Sister?"
Yuan Qi gave a light "hmm": "Go ahead, it's a natural progression. The Sixth Young Master shouldn't be too ostentatious about remarrying. Although the Bai family is prominent and the Sixth Young Master is well-known, he is still a widower, and some people say he's a jinx to wives, so he certainly won't be too picky. It's perfect for you to send him up."
Hearing her say that, Jiang Jiulu felt that her idea was correct and couldn't help but ask, "Did you figure that out a long time ago?"
"Yes, that's why I asked you to wait patiently. As long as you have enough patience, you will definitely get what you want, and you will live a very good life after you marry him. You will live a more comfortable life than Jiang Bailu and Jiang Songlu."
Jiang Jiulu smiled knowingly: "You're right. Fourth Sister has been married to the Emperor for several years, but she has only given birth to two daughters and no legitimate son yet. Mother is almost worried to death."
Yuan Qi sighed softly: "Being an empress isn't so easy. Without a legitimate son, one can't stand firm. But if you have more children, you'll eventually have a son."
Jiang Jiulu felt that Yuan Qi's mouth was blessed, and everything he said would come true.
“Mother will be very happy to hear you say that. I heard that Mother is already looking for the secret to having a son, I wonder if she will be able to find it.” Jiang Jiulu stood up, somewhat impatiently.
Yuan Qi said, "Go ahead, go ahead, laugh if you want to. You haven't laughed heartily in years."
Jiang Jiulu did not burst into laughter, but the smile on her face was quite obvious.
Wen Zhujun walked over and blew on the newly drawn amulet to dry her face: "Fifth Miss is finally going to get her wish. I've seen her without a smile for the past two years, and she's become much quieter. It's been a little heartbreaking."
“This is the path she should take.” Yuan Qi continued drawing the peace talisman without looking up.
Wen Zhujun hummed in agreement and waved to Shen Xun at the door.
Shen Xun flew over and landed on the table, eating the dried meat without any hesitation.
Yuan Qi mocked him: "You're so fat you can't fly anymore, and you're still eating."
Wen Zhujun gently stroked Shen Xun's fur and earnestly advised him, "You're so greedy, you've fattened yourself up. Be careful someone catches you and stews you."
Shen Xun, still angry, pecked Wen Zhujun's hand hard before continuing to eat.
Wen Zhujun patted Shen Xun's head, and Shen Xun flapped its wings and started fighting with Wen Zhujun.
It took quite a while for the man and the bird to settle down.
After eating her fill, Shenxun went back to her nest to sleep.
Wen Zhujun has also learned to draw peace talismans these days, and she also accompanies Yuan Qi to his fortune-telling or ghost-catching stalls every day, accumulating a lot of merit. She also picked up a cinnabar brush and began to draw peace talismans.
"What if the Fifth Miss had married earlier?"
Yuan Qi looked up at her and answered casually, "I was mistreated by my husband's family, I was not favored by my husband, my parents-in-law disliked me, I cried all day long, and even died in childbirth."
At this moment, Hongshan ran in excitedly from outside and said with a look of excitement: "Miss, I heard that Fifth Miss and Concubine Li were discussing with Madam about proposing marriage to the Bai family, and the Bai family came to propose marriage."
Yuan Qi wasn't surprised at all, but Wen Zhujun was quite surprised. She looked at Yuan Qi excitedly and said, "Great! I just said it, and good things have come knocking. The Bai family and our family are thinking the same thing."
Hongshan continued, "Madam Bai came in person, and she is receiving them in the front hall. I saw Fifth Miss and Concubine Li eavesdropping behind the screen. Fifth Miss saw me passing by and asked me to come and inform her so that she could be happy too."
Yuan Qi hummed in agreement. It must have been tough for Jiang Jiulu to listen to her these past few years.
"Go and get thirty red spirit fruits, put them in a box and send them to the Fifth Miss. Tell her they are for nourishing her body, and she should eat one a day, no more."
Hongshan was happy for Jiang Jiulu, who had finally made it after several years of hard work: "This servant will go right away."
As Sequoia walked toward the storage room, Kaoru followed and flew over as well.
"What are you doing? Trying to steal the Red Spirit Fruit again?" Hongshan was very resistant and dissatisfied with Shenxun's behavior of always sneaking away the Red Spirit Fruit. Although she tried her best to stop her, Shenxun was agile and still flew in.
Shen Xun waited anxiously for Hong Shan to open the box, ready to act as soon as Hong Shan opened it.
Sequoia grabbed Shenxun and threw her out, but before she could close the door, Shenxun flew back.
"I can't even bear to eat it, so why should you?"
Shen Xun nuzzled her head against Hong Shan's face, obediently trying to please her.
Redwood had no choice but to let Shenxun steal two Red Spirit Fruits at once.
She came out carrying a small box of red spirit fruits and complained to Yuan Qi.
Yuan Qi said calmly, "Next time he tries to steal it, I'll pluck its fur and stew it, or braise it."
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