Several months passed, and soon it was the morning before the Peach Blossom Banquet.
Thanks to Grandma Jiang's generosity, each master of the Jiang family received two sets of clothes and one set of jewelry.
The servants who were to accompany their master to the banquet that day also each received a new set of clothes.
Jiang Segu's clothes were personally delivered by Grandma Jiang San with a group of people.
"Mother knows you don't want to attend the banquet, but there's such a cunning person living in the Marquis's mansion right now. If you and I don't go, who knows what tricks she'll pull!"
Jiang Segu moved the jewelry on the tray and nodded in agreement to attend the Peach Blossom Banquet.
"Go try this outfit on and see if there's anything that needs alteration."
Qiaolian nimbly stepped forward, lifted the clothes, and accompanied Jiang Segu to the wardrobe to change.
Just then, Qiaohe walked in from outside.
She looked somewhat anxious, but upon seeing Grandma Jiang, she forced herself to suppress her panic and bowed to her.
"What's wrong? Why are you in such a panic so early in the morning? Look at the sweat on your forehead, where have you been playing around again?!"
"Replying to Third Madam, this servant went home last night, afraid of delaying your service, so I ran all the way here..."
"Why are you running! You're just a little late, but your daughter won't punish you!"
As soon as Grandma Jiang finished speaking, Jiang Segu came out.
Seeing that she was wearing the same casual jacket she had worn before, Grandma Jiang asked in confusion, "Didn't I tell you to try on clothes? Why are you..."
Jiang Segu interrupted Grandma Jiang, saying, "Mother, my stomach hurts and I need to use the restroom. You should go back and try on your clothes first. I'll try them on here later! If anything doesn't fit, I'll send someone to find you then!"
So, Grandma Jiang returned to her own courtyard.
As soon as she left, Qiaohe asked anxiously, "Has Zhou Yuan made any moves?"
After Gu Songhan said that Zhou Yuan had lied to his grandfather, Jiang Segu asked Qiaohe to keep an eye on Zhou Yuan for her brother Fubao.
Since that day, Zhou Yuan has shown no unusual behavior.
“My brother said that Zhou Yuan went to the ginkgo forest outside the city before dawn today, carrying incense, candles and paper money, to pay respects at a new grave.”
"Someone from the Zhou family has died?"
"As far as I know, no!"
"Whom did Zhou Yuan worship? Was there no tombstone on that grave?"
Qiaohe frowned and shook her head.
Jiang Segu also frowned. Who exactly was Zhou Yuan worshipping when he left the city so early in the morning?
"Qiaohe, go and ask if anyone in our household has been recently..."
Jiang Segu stopped abruptly at this point.
The three people in the room, master and servant, all thought of the same person.
Aunt Xiao!
Where is Madam Hou?
Qiaolian said, "I haven't seen anyone this morning..."
"Go find it!"
While Qiaolian was searching for her mother, Grandma Jiang had already returned to Lanyue Courtyard.
Upon returning from outside the city, Zhou Yuan, who should have been serving Marquis Changping in the front courtyard, was standing at the entrance of Lanyue Courtyard.
Upon seeing Third Madam Jiang return, he greeted her with a grin, "Third Madam, the Marquis says he's a little short on funds and would like to ask Third Madam for help..."
Since the day Marquis Changping had his money stolen, he initially didn't intend to ask Granny Jiang for money directly, after all, he still cared about his reputation.
But then people from Zhengxingfang suddenly came to his door demanding money, and he remembered that his third daughter-in-law had prepared a dowry of 100,000 taels of gold for his sixth granddaughter…
Marquis Changping felt that sometimes face was worthless!
Besides, the money belonging to the third son's wife is his own. The third son is his son, so what's wrong with a father asking his son for some money in an emergency?
Marquis Changping steeled himself and ordered Zhou Yuan to come and collect the money.
Grandma Jiang had long anticipated that since she compromised that day and gave her father-in-law money, he would come to ask for money again under various pretexts. However, she did not expect her father-in-law to be so shameless, sending servants to demand money again after only a few days!
She let out a long, heavy sigh. "How much silver does the Marquis want?"
"Fifty thousand taels!"
Even though Grandma Jiang was prepared, she was still frightened by what Zhou Yuan said!
"May I ask what Your Excellency needs so much silver for?"
"I don't know about that! I'm just here to deliver a message for the Marquis. I hope Madam Jiang won't make things difficult for me!"
“Go back and tell the Marquis that I really can’t come up with this much silver, but if the Marquis is truly short of money, I, as his daughter-in-law, can’t refuse to give it to him! Juanniang, go and get fifty taels of silver for the Marquis!”
Zhou Yuan couldn't help but sneer, "Third Madam is treating the Marquis like a beggar!"
Grandma Jiang laughed in exasperation, "I have no idea which family is so generous as to spend fifty taels of silver to send away a beggar!"
Zhou Yuan said sarcastically, "Third Madam, there's no need to waste your breath on me here. Since Third Madam is unwilling to take the money, why not go and explain to the Marquis yourself!"
Juanniang grabbed Jiang San's grandmother and shook her head, saying, "Third Grandmother, you can't go! Why don't you discuss it with Third Master first!"
The Marquis is a reckless and unscrupulous man, and now he can shamelessly make exorbitant demands on his daughter-in-law. It's clear that the Marquis now only cares about money and not people!
Even if Third Grandma goes, she probably won't get away with it!
What if the Marquis were to hit Third Madam during a conversation?
Upon hearing Juan Niang mention Third Master Jiang, Third Madam Jiang's initial intention to directly confront Marquis Changping instantly vanished.
He was Saburo's father after all...
“I already gave the Marquis 30,000 taels of silver, and I really don’t have that much silver on hand! Juanniang, give him the 200 taels of silver that were for the old lady’s birthday banquet!”
Juanniang naturally refused, "Third Madam, if this money is given to the Marquis, how will we afford to hold a birthday banquet for the Old Madam!"
Grandma Jiang was also having a headache. She really didn't have much money left. After the old lady's birthday banquet, she would have to hold Azi's coming-of-age ceremony in a few months, followed by the Dragon Boat Festival banquet, and then the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet...
Grandma Jiang San felt a headache just thinking about it. "Give it to him first. I'll discuss the matter with the First Madam about the Old Madam's birthday later!"
The news that Zhou Yuan had taken two hundred taels of silver from Granny Jiang's courtyard quickly reached Jiang Segu's ears!
She glanced at Qiaohe, who understood immediately and brought the pigeons from under the eaves inside...
The pigeon was sent by Gu Songhan a few days ago. He said that he was not at home recently and asked Jiang Segu to send him a message by pigeon if he needed anything.
After Jiang Segu finished writing the letter and released the pigeons, Qiaolian led Mother Hou into the courtyard.
"Where did Aunt Hou go so early this morning?"
Madam Hou rubbed her hands nervously. "This old servant is guilty. I shouldn't have left the manor without informing the young lady!"
"Aunt Hou, there's no need to be so nervous. I was just asking casually! By the way, I wanted to ask you where you buried Aunt Xiao?"
Madam Hou's lowered eyelids trembled slightly. "Replying to the young lady, she was buried in the ginkgo forest outside the city."
Jiang Segu suddenly sat up straight.
It turns out Zhou Yuan went to pay respects to Mother Xiao!
But why would he go to pay respects to a mother in the backyard?
If it were said that Zhou's mother went to pay respects, that would make sense!
Zhou Yuan... Jiang Segu really couldn't understand why!
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