"Mental illness! Pretending to be high-minded before marriage is just for appearances. After marriage, it's all about daily necessities. Why would you pursue tranquility and detachment from fame and fortune?"
Can a life of indifference to fame and fortune put food on the table?
"After this experience at the ice shop, I've come to understand that if I don't have power, status, and wealth, let alone the Madam, anyone outside can trample on me."
"Jiang Shuwan is able to live such a respectable life because the Marquis's mansion is backing her up, isn't it?"
"Yulang, Yulang, how can you not even understand such a simple principle!"
Jiang Yao was so angry that she kept pounding on the bed, making it thud loudly.
The young maid asked tremblingly, "Miss, what should we do? From what the young master said, it seems he really doesn't want to take the imperial examination..."
"He thinks he can just skip the exam whenever he wants? Who does he think he is!"
"Don't even mention him, even if the Heavenly Prince himself came, he would still have to take the test for me!"
"If he doesn't test me, how can he surpass Jiang Shuwan?"
"I don't want to live my whole life depending on Jiang Shuwan's attitude."
"He not only wants me to pass the imperial examinations, but also wants me to become the wife of the top scholar."
"Anything Jiang Shuwan has, I must have too!"
"What she doesn't have, I want too!"
As Jiang Yao spoke, a venomous glint appeared in her eyes.
"The disaster at the ice shop was not only caused by my mother, but even my aunt said I should be grateful to Jiang Shuwan."
"Why? Why?!"
"The prescription is clearly mine, so why is it that she's the one who wins people's hearts? Using my prescription to gain fame, can't they see through Jiang Shuwan's wicked intentions?"
"You expect me to be grateful to her?"
"Pah!"
"I'll make her sick to death!"
"Just wait and see, I'll definitely be the wife of the top scholar! I'll definitely be the one!"
The Marquis's Residence.
"She really said that?"
Jiang Shuwan listened to Qingxing talk while drinking tea.
"It's absolutely true. The second young lady was yelling at the young lady in her room, and she was yelling really loudly."
"You're shameless for using her prescription to gain fame. Honestly, she doesn't even realize that if it weren't for Miss, she would have been dead in jail long ago."
"He even said he wanted to be the wife of a top scholar. How ridiculous! The young master couldn't even get on the list of candidates for the imperial examinations. How could he possibly become the top scholar?"
"It's still uncertain whether I'll be able to pass the imperial examination this autumn and become a scholar."
"However, Miss, the Second Miss and Madam have been getting along very well lately. The two are more harmonious than ever before. They are keeping a close eye on the young master's studies, which has made him very resentful."
"I don't know how well the young master studies, but the second young lady and the madam are like mother and daughter. Isn't it funny? Before, the madam was trying to set rules for the second young lady, making her cry and beg for mercy. Now she's treating the second young lady like her own daughter."
"Madam said that she used to think that the second young lady was immature and inconsiderate, but she never expected that the second young lady was her sweet little darling."
"Didn't the second young lady earn more than 20,000 taels of silver in just half a month when she opened the ice shop? Now that the shop is closed, the second young lady is keeping all that money carefully. She is reluctant to spend it herself, but she takes it out to buy fabric and make clothes for the aunt."
"I also bought a lot of walnuts for the young master to eat, saying that the principle of 'like cures like' applies here. I believe that if the young master eats walnuts, he will definitely pass the imperial examination and become a scholar, and then he will be the top scholar next year."
"In this way, the Madam was completely won over and rewarded the Second Miss with many things."
"The lady of the maternal family is also very happy. She said that although it is a pity that the ice shop is gone, it is a good thing that the second young lady and the aunt get along well. Putting aside everything else, those two maids, Lianxiang and Lianyu, will never be able to get close to the young master."
"Because the Madam said that the Second Miss is so sensible and considerate, how can we let other women distract the Young Master at this time?"
"The second young lady is quite obedient. She said that there is still a month left before the autumn examination, and even she can only urge the young master to study. All other personal matters must be put aside."
"As a result, the aunt cherished her even more."
"Miss, the second young lady has become quite clever these days, but she hasn't handled the household management duties well."
Qingxing shook her head regretfully as she spoke.
Based on her understanding of Jiang Yao, this was precisely the time for her to take advantage of the Madam's favor to seize control of the household, since the Madam was still under house arrest and Jiang Yao was merely managing the household on her behalf.
If we don't seize power now, aren't we missing an opportunity?
Jiang Yao, on the other hand, remained a temporary housekeeper, focusing all her attention on Pei Lingyu's studies and career, showing no interest in the housekeeping duties whatsoever.
She even stopped suppressing Lianxiang and Lianyu.
She doesn't resemble Jiang Yao at all anymore.
"Silly girl, this is the real brilliance of my second sister."
“The Earl’s Mansion only has one son, Pei Lingyu. Sooner or later, the power to manage the household will fall into her hands. Currently, none of Pei Lingyu’s four concubines can surpass her.”
"Now that she has won the favor of the Countess, why should she risk going against the Countess to fight for the right to manage the household?"
"Right now, the most important thing for the Marquis's mansion is the autumn examination in September. As long as Pei Lingyu can pass the examination, she will have a bright future, so she will naturally devote herself to it."
"It's rare for this mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to be on the same page, which makes them quite harmonious."
"Miss, do you really think the young master will pass the imperial examination?" Qingxing asked.
"Who knows, but I do hope I win."
Jiang Shuwan spoke while laughing.
This is a clan society. Whether it's Pei Lingyu or Jiang Yao, if they succeed, it will be beneficial to the Pei clan and the Jiang family.
As for Jiang Yao, who always tries to climb all over her and cause trouble...
hehe!
If she has the ability, she will come!
August.
The weather was still scorching hot, but General Sun, who had won a battle, was about to return to the capital to report on his duties. In addition, the legend of the ice-making magic was spreading like wildfire in the capital, and the old emperor also wanted to see the excitement, so he returned to the capital early.
An ice-making ceremony was also held in the palace, and countless people marveled at the wonders of the magic.
"My God, this is truly a magical technique! It turns water into ice. It's amazing!"
"With this magic, we won't lack ice."
"The price of saltpeter has increased by several tens of percent compared to before, but it's still much cheaper than ice," the old emperor sighed, clearly quite fond of the newly formed ice, which he happily touched.
Kyoto is much hotter than the Summer Palace. If he weren't so busy with official duties, he would have liked to stay at the Summer Palace for a longer period of time.
Seeing the old emperor's pleased expression, Consort Gao suddenly covered her mouth and chuckled, "Your Majesty, the young lady who invented the ice-making method is indeed a talented person, but she is rather naive. With such a magical skill, she should present it to Your Majesty. How can she keep it to herself? Anyone who doesn't know better would think that the Pei and Jiang families don't care about Your Majesty."
Marquis Wenyuan, who had just returned with the old emperor, felt a twitch between his brows and immediately knelt down.
"I am guilty, Your Majesty, forgive me."
The old emperor smiled slightly, "What crime have you committed, my dear minister?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
