Shen Zhaoshu entered the Rongguo Mansion. Seeing her imposing manner, the maid who answered the door inside did not dare to stop her. Shen Zhaoshu walked in front, ignoring Shen Yu behind her. When she saw a little girl dressed as a first-class maid, she immediately smiled and walked forward.
Seeing the two people standing in front and behind her were calm, the girl bowed and said, "Excuse me, Madam, is there anything you need to inform me about?"
From behind, Shen Yu said, “Nothing, nothing, you can go!”
But the girl didn't move.
Shen Zhaoshu said, "Please inform everyone that Shen Zhaoshu, the current manager of the Yongding Marquis's Mansion, has arrived and wants to see Madam Handan."
The maid bowed and said, "Please wait a moment, Madam." Then she turned to a second-class maid behind her and said, "Please lead this Madam to the tea room. Please wait a moment."
Shen Zhaoshu thought to herself: The masters of the Duke of Rong's Mansion are all notorious. It's strange that such bad masters have good servants?
Looking at Chen Yu again, what has she gotten herself into? Not a single maid in the mansion pays any attention to her.
Seeing Shen Zhaoshu looking at him with a smile, Shen Jue suddenly couldn't hold it back for some reason: "Laugh, laugh, you must be proud, I wanted to exchange this kiss, but it turned out to be like this.
You saw it all. Just because you collected money and collected debts, now any decent maid in the mansion can pretend that I don't exist.
I am the eldest daughter-in-law of the eldest son in the family, the eldest lady, yet I have no honor in this mansion.
My son was originally quite nice to me, but ever since my father approached you to find a job for my son and was rejected, my son has ignored me now."
Shen Zhaoshu looked at Shen Yu, feeling quite surprised. In her memories of her childhood and youth, Shen Yu seemed to be much smarter and more clever than he is now.
After marrying far away and returning to Kyoto, she spared no effort to dig holes and trip him up, and the level of those traps was hard to describe. Had she become stupid after staying in Rongguo Mansion for all these years?
However, from her first sentence, the second-class girl seemed to feel that this was not what she should listen to, and she walked away quickly, standing in the distance waiting for Shen Zhaoshu.
Shen Zhaoshu thought: This Rongguo Mansion is probably not what I imagined, at least not exactly what I imagined.
Lady Handan was quite famous when she was young. When she married into the Rongguo Mansion at a young age, a large-scale construction project was carried out, and it was almost transformed into a mansion on the water. The courtyards were connected by covered bridges, and lotus flowers were planted in the "rivers and lakes" in the mansion. Therefore, she was called Lady Handan.
Madam Handan stood on the second-floor terrace of the building where she lived, watching Shen Zhaoshu coming from the shade of the waterside pavilion.
Shen Zhaoshu had been admiring the scenery along the way, and now she was looking at Madam Handan's residence from the covered bridge, which looked like a small island... Shen Zhaoshu looked up to meet Madam Handan's gaze, and also looked at her calmly and openly.
She is about the same age as her father. Although she is old, her figure is still graceful. Even if you ignore her face, her figure is still slim.
Shen Zhaoshu thought to herself: An old lady of this age still looks like this, she really lives up to the name of Madam Handan.
The two sat down in the inner room. After exchanging pleasantries, Shen Zhaoshu explained her purpose. She was there to collect a debt, but she was afraid that people would not believe her. After she finished speaking, she took out a stack of IOUs, loan notes, and a list of items.
Madam Handan didn't even look at it. She just asked, "What's the total price?"
Shen Zhaoshu had already estimated it and immediately quoted a price. Madam Handan nodded and called a maid over: "Go and get my things, two boxes."
The girl left with a few people, and when she came back, she was carrying two boxes.
Madam Handan said, "Take a look and see if it's about the same."
When Shen Zhaoshu opened it, the first thing she saw was all sorts of heavy gold items inlaid with pearls and jade. There were also jewellery items. When she opened the jewellery box, she saw that each piece was exquisite, including a box of huge oriental pearls.
What's even more interesting is that there are actually several scrolls mixed in. When opened, they are all masterpieces of calligraphy and painting by famous artists. If these are authentic, they are worth a lot of money.
Shen Zhaoshu took a quick look, counted and estimated in her mind, and then said: "No more, no less. If these paintings are authentic, then they are far more than enough."
Madam Handan smiled and said, "Then just pretend they're not. Take them first, and then you can ask someone to identify them later."
Shen Zhaoshu hadn't expected the bill to be settled so easily, but she suddenly felt a surge of doubt. Madam Handan looked at her and said, "Not many people come here, and it's usually pretty boring. Since you're here, why don't you just chat with me?"
The bill was paid so readily. The scenery of this place was really nice. Madam Handan was an elder, so Shen Zhaoshu nodded and said, "How can I refuse an elder's invitation? Zhaoshu is also happy to accompany you and enjoy the scenery here."
Madam Handan stood up and walked out, saying, "Then come with me, and let's take a tour around this island."
The two chatted as they walked, looking at the beautiful scenery of the lake, and finally sat down in the octagonal pavilion with flying eaves in the corner of the island in the middle of the lake.
Madam Handan said, "If you have anything to ask, just ask."
Shen Zhaoshu said: “With Madam’s financial resources, it seems that the descendants of Rongguo Mansion will not have to think of various ways outside to maintain a decent life.
If Madam is concerned that they will eventually lose everything, then why doesn't she restrict her own descendants and pay off their debts?
Madam Handan said, "They are not my descendants. Whether the Rongguo Mansion prospers or fails, it doesn't matter to me. How they live has nothing to do with me.
Normally, if someone came to collect a debt, I wouldn't bother. But today, I'm willing to pay it off for them, not because of them, but because of you."
Shen Zhaoshu was completely stunned. He hesitated for a moment before saying, "Because of me? Why is that?"
Madam Handan smiled faintly: "Although I can hardly participate in any activities of the noble ladies' circle, and others can only come to visit me at home. But I still know a little about what is happening outside."
Shen Zhaoshu was even more surprised after hearing this, and asked again: "Madam, do you mean that Madam is under house arrest in this mansion?"
Madam Handan said, "That's about right. I can guarantee that those famous paintings and calligraphy are authentic.
The other things are enough to pay you back, and these original paintings are my gifts to you. I also have something to ask of you, Madam, but I don't want it to be conspicuous. It's just right for me that you come to collect the debt."
Shen Zhaoshu said, "Madam, is there anything I can do for you?"
Madam Handan said, “Before the late emperor died, he left several edicts to Your Majesty. Although Your Majesty did not visit the late emperor before his death, Your Majesty did accept all of them.
It is really a pity that the late emperor thought highly of me. One of the charges was not related to military or national affairs, but he wanted to imprison me for life.
The things I just gave you were also granted to me in the will. Although they are fine authentic works, they are not marked with "imperial gift" or "official production" to facilitate my use. Now you can sell them if you want, give them away if you want, or melt them down and forge them anew if you want."
Shen Zhaoshu listened for a while before saying, "So, Madam, what you're saying is that the late emperor gave you endless silver and money, while at the same time having the current emperor imprison you for life?"
Madam Handan nodded: "That's right. I am already old, and now all I want is to leave Rongguo Mansion freely."
Shen Zhaoshu asked, "Although I don't know why you were imprisoned, why did the old lady think I could obtain an imperial edict to resolve your predicament?"
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