28. "Stealing money"
After much deliberation, Jiang Xiyue decided that she should still bring up this matter with Marquis Beiding.
Although my daughter is only three years old, she still needs to receive her due allowance.
Upon hearing this, Marquis Beiding chuckled and took out a brocade pouch from his sleeve, pouring out a few golden melon seeds: "I prepared them long ago. I had them made to the size of children's toys, and the edges are all rounded. These are samples."
Jiang Xiyue picked up a seed and examined it closely. She saw that the golden melon seed was intricately engraved with a peace pattern.
She nodded, but a mother's heart immediately began to worry again: "Wouldn't that be too flashy? Being too flashy isn't good either..."
“It’s alright,” Marquis Beiding put the golden melon seeds back into his brocade pouch. “Which of those little princes in the Wenhua Hall doesn’t have some strange trinkets? The other day, the little prince took out that string of Hetian jade pendants to show off, it’s worth at least a thousand taels.”
“Those privileged girls naturally wouldn’t find it strange, but after all, she’s been in contact with more than just those two people,” Jiang Xiyue sighed. “I understand the principle of not flaunting wealth, but our Jin Lanyue is only three years old. What if she gets targeted by those wicked servants in the palace…”
"Precisely because she is young, we must not let anyone look down on her. Besides, with Grand Tutor Qu looking after her in the Wenhua Hall, no one will dare to bully our Yue'er."
“You’re right, we’ve all seen how much Grand Tutor Qu cares for Yue’er. Oh, and we should prepare some more loose silver,” Jiang Xiyue suddenly remembered something, “Last time I heard the little princess was giving people silver beans as rewards, we…”
"Don't worry. The gold melon seeds are just for her to show off. If she really needs them, there's a carved wooden box in the study with twenty taels of silver in it. I'll give it to her when we get back to the study. Twenty taels a month is more than enough for daily expenses and tips."
"That's good, then I can rest assured," Jiang Xiyue covered her mouth and chuckled. "It's funny, the little prince is so arrogant, but the other day when he took the Three Character Classic test, his score was surpassed by our Yue'er."
“This child…” Marquis Beiding’s gaze softened as he looked toward the study, “is born to study in the Wenhua Hall.”
Through the half-open window, you can see the little girl still sitting upright, the sunlight giving her a fuzzy golden edge, and even her little hands holding the calligraphy brush are shining.
-
[Task triggered]
You arrived at the study of the Marquis of Beiding, looked around, and found no one there.
You hate that they all fawn over her, showering her with priceless treasures, yet they wouldn't even spare a glance for you.
You have no monthly salary, no income, and you're barely making ends meet.
Although Qu Zijin has a monthly salary and is willing to share it with you, he is new to officialdom, and his salary as a lowly ninth-rank official is barely enough to support himself. If you two rely on him, you'll starve to death.
You're now almost at the point where you have to sell the inheritance the princess left you to make ends meet.
[You don't want things to be this way, so as the villainous female supporting character, you decide to do something bad—steal money!]
[You know that the Marquis of Beiding has a habit of keeping silver coins in a carved wooden box in his study, and your target is the silver coins in that box.]
[Mission: Steal the money from the carved box]
[Reward: Basic Animal Affinity]
Huh?
The system auntie spoke again.
Jin Lanyue, who was writing diligently, raised her little head.
Stealing seems to be a rather negative word?
The little dumpling didn't quite understand, but she knew what money was.
Money can be used to buy delicious cakes and candies.
so……
"I understand, Auntie, don't worry!"
then……
When Marquis Beiding returned to his study, the sight before him made him hold his breath instantly—Jin Lanyue was standing on a chair, tiptoeing, with most of her small body leaning on the desk, her pink face flushed red from the effort.
The little dumpling was clearly unaware that its father had returned, as it was intently reaching for the carved wooden box.
Her little hands stretched forward with all her might, her fingertips just touching the edge of the box, and the pearl flowers in her hair trembled with the movement.
"Just a little bit more..." The childish muttering drifted into the ears of Marquis Beiding.
He silently closed the door.
The door closed with a soft click.
Feeling guilty, the little dumpling trembled in fright and immediately curled up into a small ball, squatting on the chair.
Marquis Beiding hurriedly hid behind the window. Through the crack, he saw his daughter covering her mouth, her big eyes darting around. Only after confirming that no one had seen her did she breathe a sigh of relief, her chest heaving.
"It doesn't matter, Yue'er is the bravest..." she whispered to herself, then stood up shakily.
This time she finally reached the wooden box.
The moment the box was opened, the little girl's face lit up instantly.
—It was illuminated by the gleaming light of silver.
Marquis Beiding watched his daughter carefully count: "One, two, three..."
She stopped abruptly when she counted to the third one, biting her lip and struggling with the decision for a long time.
"Alright, alright, Yue'er will take three. That's enough to buy lots of candy!"
The little dumpling climbed off the table, bowed to the wooden box, and muttered, "Box, lend me three moons...thank you..."
After saying that, he grabbed three pieces of silver and ran away, but because he was too nervous, he bumped into the door frame with both hands and feet in the same way.
"Ugh!" She covered her bruised forehead, tears welling up in her eyes, but she stubbornly held back her sobs.
Clutching the loose silver coins tightly in her small hands, she looked around furtively like a thief, then disappeared in a flash.
Marquis Beiding then stepped out from behind the screen. Seeing that it hadn't been put back in its original position or even closed properly, he finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.
He deliberately called out loudly to the maid: "Hey? Who moved my desk?"
Hearing this, the little dumpling hiding in the corner of the corridor immediately hid the small hand clutching the loose silver behind her back, her little face flushed.
[Task Completed]
You successfully stole the money.
[Reward: Basic Animal Affinity]
Jin Lanyue patted her chest.
Great! Mission accomplished!
-
"Mother, Mother~"
Jin Lanyue ran in from outside and buried herself in Jiang Xiyue's arms.
"Yue'er is here, what's wrong?" Jiang Xiyue hugged her.
"Mommy, let's go out and buy cakes and candies!" The little dumpling proudly held up three pieces of silver with both hands. "Yue'er has money now!"
Jiang Xiyue assumed it was from the Marquis of Beiding, and muttered to herself, "Why only three pieces of silver? What good is that?"
Although she was thinking about it, she still smiled gently on the surface: "Oh, is that so? Then Mother will take Yue'er to the street to buy snacks. But why don't you want more, Yue'er?"
The little dumpling made a "shh" gesture, looked around warily, tugged at her mother's sleeve, and whispered in her ear, "This is what Yue'er stole! Stealing too much will get her caught!"
"Oh—" Jiang Xiyue suppressed a smile, "I see."
"Mmm!" The little dumpling nodded solemnly.
Jiang Xiyue rubbed her little face: "Yue'er, stealing is wrong, okay? Next time, you can just ask Daddy and Mommy for it."
The little dumpling lowered its head, twisting its collar: "I'm sorry, Mother..."
Jiang Xiyue simply took the three pieces of silver from her hand.
The little dumpling looked on longingly, its eyes wet with tears of reluctance, but it didn't cry or make a fuss and obediently let its mother take it away.
Jiang Xiyue opened her purse and placed three heavy silver ingots in her hand.
The little dumpling's tiny hands were drooping down, and he almost couldn't hold it up: "Eh? Mother?"
“This doesn’t count as stealing. This is a gift from Mommy to Yue’er,” Jiang Xiyue kissed her soft, fragrant little face. “But you can’t do this again. Whatever you want, Daddy and Mommy will give it to you, but you can’t steal or rob.”
"I understand!" The little dumpling kissed her mother, "Thank you~"
"Then, let's set off!"
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