Chapter 30 Just Want to Leave
He called out urgently, but when he opened his mouth, he didn't know what to say.
Jiang Shiyao smiled and said, "I am not such a petty person. Besides, I have been by the young master's side for several years longer than Miss Song. That is enough."
Zhou Congxian's lips twitched, but what came out of his mouth was, "What about Liu Minghan?"
Jiang Shiyao's lips stiffened, and her heart suddenly ached.
So that's how it is.
Zhou Congxian gave her the hairpin in order to question her.
Her fingers dug into her palm, and her gaze fell on the red gold hairpin inlaid with rubies.
"I have already explained that memorial. No matter how many times the prince asks, I will give the same answer."
Zhou Congxian watched her emotional changes, his jaw tightening.
After a long pause, he said stiffly, "Fine, I will believe you for now, but please remember what you said today."
Jiang Shiyao smiled, but her smile didn't reach her eyes. "Yes, I will remember."
Upon returning to the mansion, Zhou Congxian was the first to alight from the carriage and strode into the gate, still clutching the hairpin in his hand.
Zhao saw this scene as soon as she got out of the car. "Sober up so quickly?"
Holding Fu'er, who had just slowly woken up, Xiang's mother said, "Your Highness has a good tolerance for alcohol. It's better for you to get drunk on your own than for someone else to get you drunk."
Fu'er rubbed her eyes. "Mother."
It had been a long time since the mother had held such a small child, and what's more, Fu'er didn't fuss at all, making one feel even more affection for her.
"My dear girl, your mother is over there."
Fu'er presented the yellow jade tiger hanging on her body to Zhao Shi.
"Grandmother, I'm giving you the big tiger. Let me go find my mother."
Zhao Shi had basically no interaction with Fu'er, and her two children were raised by the old lady when they were young.
So when I see Fu'er's gentle and lovely appearance, I can't help but smile.
"Alright, go find Mother, but you can't just give this jade tiger away to anyone, understand?"
Fu'er nodded blankly, "I'll remember."
Jiang Shiyao was worried about her daughter, so she got out of the car and walked towards Zhao's car.
"lady."
This time, Zhao finally gave her a proper look.
"The child has been well-educated and has not disgraced the Duke's mansion."
“This child is almost four years old. I plan to ask Zhang Shichong to give her her first lessons, and I will send her to the main courtyard for morning exercises every day.”
Jiang Shiyao was somewhat surprised.
In her previous life, neither she nor Fu'er had ever suggested hiring a tutor for her education until their deaths.
Her gaze fell on the jade tiger pendant around her daughter's neck.
However, it's just that they've discovered that Fu'er is now valuable.
If Xiao Lin weren't the Seventh Prince, would she still have thought of hiring a tutor for Fu'er?
Jiang Shiyao came to her senses and said, "Madam has gone to great lengths, but isn't Fu'er still too young?"
Just as Zhao was starting to find Jiang Shiyao more agreeable, her first words made Jiang Shiyao frown in displeasure, "Still too young? Xian'er and Yan'er both started at three!"
Madam Xiang immediately smoothed things over, saying, "Madam Jiang doesn't understand the rules here. The young lady will be the eldest daughter of the Duke's mansion in the future, and all the other young men and women will have to look up to her. Madam, please don't say anything foolish at this time."
Jiang Shiyao bowed slightly and said, "It was my ignorance, please forgive me, Madam."
Zhao's expression softened a bit. "Alright, take the child back."
Jiang Shiyao thought of She Erniang's words, "Madam, the temple fair at Baima Temple is in a few days. I would like to take Fu'er to the temple fair."
Seeing that Zhao's face was not good, she said, "I know that studying is hard. I will not be able to take Fu'er out casually anymore. Let this be the last time I let Fu'er have some fun."
Looking at Jiang Shiyao, Zhao was reminded of her own youth when her mother-in-law was domineering and she couldn't see her even if she wanted to.
She glanced at the well-behaved and quiet Fu'er, "What do you mean you can't go out freely in the future? Is the Duke's mansion a prison?!"
"Go if you want to. Acting like this makes people think I'm being overly demanding!"
After saying that, he turned around and went inside.
Jiang Shiyao was stunned for a moment. In her memory, Zhao Shi was stern and rarely appeared. When she did appear, she would only argue with the old lady.
In her previous life, after Song Jiyun entered the family, the power to manage the household fell into other hands, and she appeared even less frequently.
He stepped forward and said to his mother, "Madam has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. You'll see that in time."
She looked at Fu'er again, "Last time at the White Horse Temple, Master Huineng gave Fu'er a fortune reading, saying that she would be blessed with both fortune and longevity. You can just wait to enjoy Fu'er's good fortune."
Jiang Shiyao smiled and said, "Then I'll take Mother's good wishes."
Back in the courtyard, Little Bone came to greet us, wagging its tail and shaking its head!
I went out to a banquet today, and Shuangjiang and Mother He didn't come with me, so I let them rest for half a day.
There's no one in the yard right now.
Jiang Shiyao changed Fu'er's clothes herself and looked at the jade tiger that Fu'er had obtained on the table.
The jade tiger is extraordinary!
Yellow jade is rare to begin with, let alone such a large piece carved into a jade tiger.
It's because children don't understand the meaning of gift-giving that they give it away so easily.
The reason why Zhao wants to cultivate Fu'er is actually because of Yu Hu.
If Fu'er were to marry and become a princess in the future, the Duke of Yu's mansion would be her greatest support!
In her previous life, Fu'er didn't have a jade tiger, so she wasn't valued and was coldly watched as Song Jiyun tormented her until she was unrecognizable!
In this life, a jade tiger has turned everyone into a good person.
Jiang Shiyao snorted coldly.
That's quite a clever way to tailor your approach to the specific dish.
*
The day agreed upon with She Erniang arrived, and Jiang Shiyao led Fu'er to inform Zhao Shi.
Zhao was still as sharp-tongued as ever.
Jiang Shiyao, along with Fu'er, Mother He, and Shuangjiang, went to Baima Temple.
Today is the day of the Baima Temple Fair, and the temple is packed with people. In addition to the usual small businesses, there are also many acrobatic performances and street acts.
Jiang Shiyao instructed, "There are too many people. If you can't carry Fu'er anymore, find someone else to carry her. Don't let go!"
The temple fair at Baima Temple is even more lively than the Shangsi Festival.
There's still a storyteller under the big tree in front of the mountain gate today, surrounded by a group of children.
If you walk further down, you'll find the same road where you bought the puppy last time, which is also packed with people now.
Below that is where horse-drawn carriages used to park, but now it's all stalls.
Fu'er's eyes sparkled, and her little feet couldn't resist the urge to get down and play.
At temple fairs, most people are ordinary folks; ladies and young women from prominent families usually choose to come when there aren't so many people around.
"Mother! I want a sugar figurine!"
Fu'er sat in He's mother's arms, pointing at the sugar figurine stall with her little finger and jumping for joy.
Mrs. He almost couldn't hold her.
Next to the sugar figurine was a street performance, surrounded by a group of people of all ages.
Children around the same age as Fu'er were already performing while standing on adults' shoulders.
Amidst cheers, a seven- or eight-year-old girl, using a gong as a plate, began collecting tips.
Those who were satisfied with what they saw would take out a copper coin.
When the little girl walked up to Jiang Shiyao, she could tell at a glance that if the lady in front of her were more generous, she and her father wouldn't have to perform for a month.
"Madam, please give me a tip."
Jiang Shiyao took out a piece of silver from her sleeve pocket, but instead of putting it into the gong, she put it into the little girl's hand.
"Take this, don't lose it."
The young girl immediately understood that the money earned while traveling was hard-earned, but some thieves wouldn't even let go of a few copper coins, let alone a piece of silver.
She wanted to thank him, but was afraid of attracting attention and being seen as a thief, so she blushed.
Jiang Shiyao smiled, then turned and left with Fu'er.
Those nearby, who hadn't seen her put the money down, were immediately taken aback.
"He's obviously a rich man, yet he can't even spare a single copper coin."
"Who knows which official is keeping a mistress outside, with only one maidservant when they go out?"
Jiang Shiyao could no longer hear what was said after that; it was none of her concern.
As she walked up the mountain, Fu'er bought a lot of food and toys along the way.
Jiang Shiyao, Shuangjiang, and Mother He took turns carrying Fu'er; the three of them were almost exhausted by the little girl!
Long queues have already formed at the main hall of Baima Temple for offering incense.
Shuangjiang took Fu'er to see the little fish she had been longing for on the way here.
Jiang Shiyao patiently looked around; the most important thing today was to obtain the travel permit and the register.
But even after all this time, she still hasn't seen She Erniang.
Stepping into the main hall, there were even more people inside than outside.
Besides the worshippers queuing to offer incense, there were also many people listening to the sutras.
Inside the main hall, Master Huineng was giving a sermon, and many people were sitting around him.
If the old lady were to see this scene, wouldn't she faint?
Every year, the amount donated to the temple for incense oil is a thousand taels.
She remembered that the old lady had mentioned several times that she wanted to hear Master Huineng preach, but had been refused each time.
Jiang Shiyao knelt down devoutly, her current wish being to leave the capital smoothly.
After praying to Buddha, Jiang Shiyao turned around and saw She Erniang leaning against the door.
A hint of surprise flashed across her face.
“Aunt He, you go find Shuangjiang first, I’ll come find you later.”
Mother He glanced suspiciously at She Erniang, who looked nothing like a respectable woman, standing by the door.
She Erniang had actually seen Jiang Shiyao long ago, and she even had two servants with her when she went out.
"Have you really thought this through? Making a living outside isn't as easy as you think, nor is it as carefree and unrestrained as depicted in storybooks. Once you go out, you might not be able to come back."
The demands placed on women in this world are like a heavy shackle.
I can't live without it.
You can't leave, you can't come back.
Jiang Shiyao followed She Erniang down to the corridor. She knew why She Erniang had repeatedly advised her.
She didn't want to say anything more, but just asked for the information she wanted to know.
"Second Sister, after leaving the city, are there any carriages or boats heading south?"
She Erniang nodded, then shook her head. "Yes, but I can't guarantee your safety once you and your daughter are on your journey."
Jiang Shiyao pursed her lips, then smiled after a moment, "I'll find another way."
She Erniang smiled and shook her head, "It's not that I'm being nosy, it's just that you'll be powerless to protect yourselves if you go out. How will you survive?"
Jiang Shiyao gazed at the shadows cast by the sun on the trees, and after a long while, she spoke slowly.
"Why not? You can survive in the horse market, so why can't I?"
As she spoke, she glanced at She Erniang and said, "The little girl in the stable is actually your daughter, isn't she?"
She Erniang was surprised for a moment, then smiled, neither denying nor nodding.
Jiang Shiyao turned her gaze back to the edge of the small fish pond in the distance.
"My only wish in this life is to leave this place."
She Erniang sighed softly and took something out of her bosom.
Just then, a few little kids suddenly appeared out of nowhere, chasing and playing around with giggles.
Caught off guard, the things in her hands were knocked away.
Jiang Shiyao couldn't avoid it either, and was knocked off her feet by the child, almost falling down the steps.
He put an arm around her waist and pulled her up the steps.
Jiang Shiyao turned back with lingering fear.
Zhou Congxian didn't release her waist, and asked coldly, "What are you doing here?"
Jiang Shiyao stared in astonishment at Zhou Congxian, who had suddenly appeared.
She forced a polite smile, trying to suppress the panic in her heart.
"You...how could you..."
Here.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
