How to break the deadlock in Chapter 2?
Song Zhimian quickly called over Cuiguo, who was guarding outside the door. Watching the tiny Cuiguo skillfully comb her hair and help her get dressed, Song Zhimian felt depressed.
As the eldest legitimate daughter, besides this maid, the only servants in the courtyard were two old women who did rough work.
It turned out that all the people his mother had left behind had been dismissed by his stepmother, Ding, who found fault with them.
He was either sold off, sent to a farm, or died suddenly from illness, leaving behind only twelve-year-old Cuiguo...
Song Zhimian was essentially blind and deaf in the mansion.
After everything was settled, Song Zhimian brought Cuiguo to the courtyard of the current Marquis's wife, Madam Ding.
"Mother, I want to go out for a walk!" Song Zhimian said directly to Ding Shi, who was looking at the account books.
Ding looked up at Song Zhimian, put down the account book, picked up the teacup beside her, and smiled.
She glanced at Song Zhimian, whose eyes were still a little red and swollen.
"Mian'er, do you want to go out for a walk? Is there something you're missing? If you need anything, just tell the steward. You don't have to go out yourself," Madam Ding asked with a smile.
“It’s not that I’m missing anything, it’s just that I’ve been cooped up in the courtyard for many days and I want to go out for a walk. Also, I want to order some incense, candles and paper money to burn for my third uncle and… aunt in a few days!” Song Zhimian looked directly at Ding Shi.
Ding's hand indeed paused, and her gaze toward Song Zhimian was full of inquiry.
Unlike in previous dynasties, the customs of Dayu were different; women could go out to drink tea and stroll around, no longer confined to their homes.
Given Song Zhimian's valid reasons, Ding had no reason to object.
"Although the housekeeper can handle the purchase of incense, candles, and paper money, your filial piety is truly admirable..."
Alright, go ahead! Come back soon!
After all, she's a girl who's about to get married. If she stays away from home for too long, people will talk about her. She should come back soon so as not to ruin the reputation of the Marquis's mansion.
"Do you have any money on you? If not..." Madam Ding looked at Song Zhimian with a smile.
“No! Thank you for thinking of me, Mother! It’s just to order some incense and paper money, ten or twenty taels will be enough.” Song Zhimian interrupted Ding Shi.
Ding originally just wanted to say some polite words...
In the end, Madam Ding still had the steward give Song Zhimian thirty taels of silver.
Song Zhimian gave a slight curtsy and then left with Cuiguo.
After Song Zhimin left, Song Zhiqing, who had been resting in the side room, came out in a huff.
"Mother, you're still letting her out! Aren't you afraid she'll run away? Judging from her attitude, she still thinks she's the young lady of the Marquis's mansion!"
Ding chuckled and picked up the account book again.
"She is indeed the eldest daughter of a marquis's family, that's a fact!"
As for running? Where could she run to? Where could a young woman like her run to?
With your father in charge of the patrol battalion, finding someone in the capital wouldn't be difficult at all.
Her mother's maternal family, the Gu family, had long since died out. Where could she go?
"Leave the capital? Don't forget those guards at the gate are also your father's men. She wants to leave the capital... dream on!" Ding sneered twice.
Song Zhiqing thought about it and agreed!
If Song Zhimian wanted to run away, she needed somewhere to run. Where could a rich young lady like her, who usually only knew how to cry, run to?
He'd be a blind and useless bum even if he went out.
Even if you know you're going to marry an old man, so what? You'll still cry and whine, and then accept your fate, won't you?
Song Zhiqing chuckled and moved closer to Ding Shi.
"Mother, what are you looking at...?"
"This...is this the dowry left to Song Zhimin by her mother? Mother, is all of this going to be given to her?" Song Zhijing's eyes seemed to be blazing with anger.
So much dowry! Land, property, antiques, jewelry, and headdresses—Song Zhiqing couldn't take her eyes off them after just one glance…
"Of course it's that young lady's dowry. This dowry has been officially recognized by the government."
"She's getting married, of course we have to give it to her! Otherwise, what if someone goes to the yamen and sues us?" Madam Ding said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Song Zhiqing's eyebrows shot up.
"Give it all to her? Does she deserve it? How long can she live? This isn't giving her a bargain..."
"We should still give her what she deserves. She is the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Zhongyong. If her dowry is too meager, it will look bad to our household."
Only a grand bridal procession of ten miles of red could match the majesty of the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Loyalty and Valor.
Once these dowry items left the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence with her, they had no further connection with our Marquis of Zhongyong's residence.
As for what happens if they encounter bandits or something on the way to the wedding and get robbed, that has nothing to do with the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion, and there's nothing we can do to help them, is that it?" Madam Ding slowly flipped through the account book in her hand.
Although it's called an account book, it's actually the dowry list that the Gu family left for Song Zhimin.
There are quite a lot. No wonder people say that the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion has been able to stay afloat because of Gu's dowry!
It's a pity that almost half of it has been used by the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion over the years, and the remaining half... of course, cannot be taken away by Song Zhimin.
If Song Zhimin takes him away, how will the Marquis's mansion maintain its dignity?
How could their own children be treated like respectable and glamorous young ladies and gentlemen of a noble family?
Only then did Song Zhiqing understand her mother's plan.
That's right, if the bandits steal the dowry, then it has nothing to do with the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion.
With his father in charge of the patrol battalion and having connections with influential people, arranging for some bandits to join forces seemed like a piece of cake!
"Mother, what about these dowry items..." Song Zhiqing hugged Ding's arm and began to whine.
"You and your brother can each have half, we definitely won't treat you unfairly." Ding smiled and pinched Song Zhiqing's cheek.
Song Zhiqing smiled smugly and hugged Ding's neck, starting to act coquettishly.
So what if she's the eldest daughter? In the end, she won't get anything. All that awaits her is to be tortured to death by that old man...
Ding's face was also full of smiles.
Gu clan, oh Gu clan, you couldn't defeat me, and you met a bad end.
Now look what's happened. Your sister and daughter are in bad shape too, and all that generous dowry from your Gu family will be yours...
...
Song Zhimian took Cuiguo in a carriage and left the city. After walking for a while on the long streets of the capital, she finally saw a teahouse.
Spring is never too late!
The best teahouse in Chongqing is owned by members of the imperial family...
Song Zhimian thought for a moment and signaled the coachman to stop the carriage.
"Let's get off here, have a cup of tea, and then I'll go for a walk up ahead! It'll take a while."
"An hour later... just wait for us at the pastry shop over there. Find a place to rest first!"
As Song Zhimian spoke, she gestured to Cuiguo to give the coachman some silver.
Cui Guo first took out two taels of silver, but saw Song Zhimian shake her head.
Cui Guo initially thought Song Zhimian thought she had given too much and was about to take an ounce... but Song Zhimian glared at her again.
Cui Guo reluctantly took out a five-tael silver coin from her purse...
The coachman happily took the five taels of silver and left...
Song Zhimian also led Cui Guo, who looked distressed, into the teahouse.
Chunbuwan Teahouse is the best teahouse in the capital. When Song Zhimin's aunt was alive, Song Zhimin had come here twice with her aunt.
Back then, we always went to private rooms to drink tea, but now...
The private rooms at Chunbuwan are very expensive; just booking one room starts at twenty taels of silver, not including the cost of tea and snacks.
She only had enough silver to sit at the tea table on the first floor for a short while.
Song Zhimian ordered a pot of tea and a plate of snacks, and just like that, five taels of silver were gone.
The first spring for Cuiguo arrived not too late, and everything felt fresh and new.
Song Zhimian, on the other hand, sipped her tea while listening to the chatter of the other tea drinkers around her.
There are quite a few female tea drinkers like her, and everyone is used to it. It's normal for ladies to come for a cup of tea after a tiring shopping trip.
"Oh, the Imperial Household Department just posted a notice that they want to recruit female physicians and female officials for the palace."
"This is a good thing! Many women in Da Yu are now studying medicine, so it's normal to recruit female doctors."
"Is this lady-in-waiting...for a noblewoman in the palace?"
"It seems to be used by the ladies in the palace, and it also seems to be used in the princes' residences."
But which noble family could send their young lady there? The title of "Lady Official" sounds prestigious, but once inside, who knows when they'll be able to leave the palace!
This isn't like the recruitment for the Censorate or the Commerce Bureau. If it were those two places, the noble families would be fighting tooth and nail to get in.
"That's right! Serving someone in the palace is not the same as having an official position and doing things for the inner court."
I reckon that in the end, those recruited will definitely be from ordinary families.
"The daughters of noble families will definitely be kept for marriage alliances to consolidate their family's power!"
"Oh, let's not talk about that. I just came from the Inspection Department and saw that they also posted a notice there."
The war situation in the north is tense, and they are calling on people in the capital to donate silver! Whether you are a merchant, a commoner, or a noble family, you must contribute something.
The Imperial Household Department specifically ordered that all accounts be handled by the Censorate, as many families are donating silver there!
"The Inspectorate is in charge! The donated money will definitely be used for the soldiers in the North."
I'll donate a tael of silver later to show my appreciation..."
Song Zhimian listened attentively to every word these people said.
This information is important to her.
Perhaps these two pieces of news are what will help her get out of her current predicament...
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