Chapter 46 Seeking Advice
Ji Shu understood that in this world, it was already difficult for a woman to establish herself.
Now that her grandmother has passed away, who would believe her with just a thin deed in her hand?
In everyone's eyes, Ji Congwen was the rightful heir of the Ji family.
Ji Shu's eyes were filled with frost, and she cursed inwardly: He came up with a deadly plan, he really made a good scheme.
She sneered inwardly, a chill mixed with anger rising within her.
His despicable intentions were crystal clear.
Ji Congwen's goal was simple: he owed too much debt, and the interest compounded to an enormous sum. In the entire Chongzhou, only he could fill this hole.
It's hateful that when the eldest and second branches of the family divided their property, it was all decided by the grandmother's word, without leaving a single piece of evidence.
That's why she's in such a passive position.
Ji Shuqiang suppressed her turbulent emotions, digging her nails deep into her palms to maintain a calm facade.
She looked up, her cold and deep gaze sweeping over him, and asked slowly, "Second Uncle, what exactly is your intention after going through all this trouble?"
Seeing that her tone had softened, Ji Congwen immediately put on a smug smile.
He said insincerely, "My good niece, you are indeed a sensible person. It's actually very simple. Your second uncle was just short of money a few days ago and owed some money. This amount is nothing to you. If you let a little slip through your fingers, it will be fine."
"You, first settle my accounts, the ancestral home is yours, but... I want a split of your shop, how about I get 70% and you get 30%?"
Upon hearing this, Chunzhi couldn't help but retort, "Pah! Keep dreaming! You dare to say 'seven'? You should take a piss and look in the mirror."
Ji Congwen wiped his face, "You...you all...you are truly a disgrace to scholarship!"
Ji Shu narrowed her eyes, looking at the tea in her cup, and said in a cold tone, "Since Second Uncle has said so, then there's nothing more to discuss. Show him out."
Ji Congwen hadn't expected her to be so decisive. Looking at the deed in his hand, he gritted his teeth and said, "Ji Shu, this is your grandmother's private seal. Now you have no choice but to admit it. I'll give you two days to think it over carefully, hmph!"
After saying that, he and his entourage turned and left.
"Ugh! Bah!" Ji Congwen's departing figure stiffened slightly, his resentful gaze sweeping over Chunzhi before he left.
The main hall fell silent for a moment. Chunzhi cautiously spoke up, "Young lady, what should we do now? He came prepared."
“I was looking for my father’s private seal a few days ago. I thought my grandmother had taken it, but I didn’t see it. It seems there’s a traitor in the family.”
“Young lady, look at this setup. I think he’s probably colluding with the government and working in cahoots with officials.”
Ji Shu knew perfectly well that someone must be incredibly despicable to come up with such a vicious scheme.
Ji Shu closed her eyes, and Chunzhi, seeing the girl's expression, knelt down with a thud.
"Young lady, please go and see the prince!"
“This servant can tell that the young master’s attitude towards you is unusual. If you speak up, he will certainly not stand idly by.”
Hearing the words "Crown Prince" was like being pierced by needles; Ji Shu suddenly opened her eyes.
She turned to Chunzhi and said with a forced smile, "You were there that day, and I already said everything I needed to say. Now you want me to go see him? How do you know he won't refuse to see you?"
"Young lady, but..."
"Alright, I'll think of another way. He's dreaming if he thinks I'll just hand over the shop!"
No matter what difficulties or troubles she encountered, she would always find a way to solve them. However, whenever it involved the shop, it crossed her bottom line.
The next day at dawn, Ji Shu went to Furong Pavilion to request an audience with Rui Niangzi.
After hearing the whole story, Lady Rui's brows never relaxed. She could have handled other matters, but the newly appointed prefect was said to be a confidant of Marquis Yan, Pei Yanzhi.
If she were to act rashly, and were to be targeted, Furong Pavilion might be implicated, which would be a very troublesome situation.
Seeing the troubled look on Rui Niangzi's face, Ji Shu understood the situation and said, "If Rui Niangzi is having trouble, then so be it. This is my family matter, and it is indeed inconvenient to trouble you."
Rui Niangzi smiled charmingly, picked up her round fan and waved it lightly, "In my opinion, it's just that your second uncle wants money. Just give him whatever he wants for now. You can send him away this time and then find a way to teach him a lesson later."
Ji Shu gently shook her head, "Do you know that his purpose is not this at all, but... to take over the shop. Once I agree, I will become his money bag, and I will have to obediently give him whatever amount of money he wants in the future."
After saying that, she looked into Rui Niangzi's eyes and forced a smile: "Having known me for so long, do you think I'm the kind of person who can be manipulated?"
Rui Niangzi smiled awkwardly. Of course, no one would give away their shop, which brought in a fortune every day, to someone who threatened them for no reason.
Rui Niangzi paused in her hand, which was waving a round fan, and suddenly thought, "Don't you have connections with the young master of Yanzhou? If you ask him to take action, it'll be a piece of cake."
Ji Shu lowered her eyes, picked up the tea on the table and took a sip. "I have nothing to do with him anymore. Besides, Prince Pei and his fiancée set off for Yanzhou yesterday."
“Oh, you,” Rui Niangzi sighed softly.
“When I was young, I was just like you, relying on my good looks to look down on men.”
"But you should know that, especially with men of high status, there's no need to be so resistant. I only realized this in recent years."
Ji Shu looked up.
Rui Niangzi picked up the exquisite teacup decorated with peonies on the table and showed it to her: "Look, it's just like the teacup you picked up last time. In your eyes, this teacup is just a utensil for drinking tea, but in an ordinary farmer's house, it would be kept as a trophy and used only a few times a year."
"It's like this man. It depends on how you use him. If you treat him as a tool, then use him well. We women are like water. The best strategy is to use softness to overcome hardness."
But Ji Shu knew her own personality all too well; being too rigid makes one prone to breaking. If she were the kind of woman who was willing to depend on a man, then why would she need to come to Lady Rui for help now?
However, Madam Rui's words stirred up a ripple in Ji Shu's heart.
Back at the manor, Ji Shu looked at the account book for the month. Chang Wu hurriedly returned from outside and whispered, "Miss, the Second Master went to the shop again, saying that..." He hesitated and dared not say the rest.
Ji Shu looked up and gestured for him to continue. Chang Wu closed his eyes and exhaled in one breath: "Second Master took away all the money sold today, and even boasted... that he would come to ask for it every day from now on."
The room fell into a deathly silence. Chunzhi was so angry that she wanted to curse, but after glancing at the girl's expression, she swallowed her words.
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