Chapter 4 Leaving Three Months Later
"The Empress Dowager's birthday is approaching, and the whole capital knows it. How could I not know?"
"I've been racking my brains these past few days, and I do have a good idea, but..."
Madam Gao hurriedly said, "Please speak freely, my lady. The old lady says that this birthday celebration is of utmost importance!"
"It's quite expensive, and I'm afraid that asking for help will only cause displeasure."
Madam Gao patted her hand and lowered her voice, "To be honest, Madam, the old lady has already made it clear that she's not afraid of spending money, she's just afraid of not being able to pull off something extraordinary!"
"If the public funds are not used, the old lady will pay for it herself! Madam, just go and talk to the old lady!"
Jiang Shiyao: "Thank you for the reminder, Aunt Gao. I'll go get the blueprints and go with you!"
She turned to Mingyu in the inner room and instructed her, "Mingyu, I'm going with Mama Gao. You watch over Fu'er."
Jiang Shiyao, carrying the hastily completed drawing, followed Gao's mother out of the courtyard.
As I reached the corner, I glanced back at the direction of the courtyard.
A slight smile played on her lips.
The old lady's courtyard was in the best location and had been renovated last year, so Jiang Shiyao's tiny courtyard couldn't compare.
A pear tree next to the small pavilion is in full bloom.
Jiang Shiyao stopped and took a look.
"This was moved here by the Crown Prince last year. I thought it would take two years to grow, but it bloomed this year," said Madam Gao.
Jiang Shiyao said, "I also planted one in my little yard, but unfortunately it didn't survive."
That tree was planted at Zhou Congxian's request; it was probably fate.
Old Madam Zhou was chanting sutras in the small Buddhist hall, while Jiang Shiyao waited outside the door.
As soon as Gao's mother entered the door, she asked the old lady for the reason why Jiang Shiyao had not come for so long.
Old Madam Zhou paused in striking the wooden fish, "You old fool, when did you start pleading for others?"
Madam Gao helped the old lady up, saying, "Nothing can be hidden from you. The maids below were a bit negligent, and Madam Jiang, being too sensitive, couldn't suppress it."
The old lady wasn't surprised. "Given her personality, she'd only survive under Ji Yun."
"Let her in."
Jiang Shiyao spread out the several patterns in her hand.
All of these were things she was forced to work day and night to create in her previous life. Only this auspicious beast offering peaches was presented by someone to persecute her. In the end, despite all her hard work, the credit went to someone else.
"Madam, these are all my immature thoughts. Please take a look."
Madam Zhou immediately took a liking to the auspicious beast offering peaches among them.
What are your thoughts on this version?
Jiang Shiyao said, "This is a painting I saw on the wall of the Sutra Cave in the White Horse Temple. The colors are bright and vivid, like a mythical beast descending to earth."
"If you want to present so many colors in the picture, the silk thread must be Yuzhou snow silkworm silk, and the eyes of the auspicious beasts must be the finishing touch. For these eyes, it is best to use black jadeite."
Madam Zhou nodded. "Just go ahead and do it."
"If this birthday gift pleases the Empress Dowager, there will be a reward."
Jiang Shiyao immediately feigned a flattered expression, saying, "Thank you so much, Madam!"
She had just stood up, and the smile on her lips hadn't yet faded, when Lady Zhao, the Duchess of the State, stepped in.
“Mother, I, a duchess, cannot know when to give the Empress Dowager a birthday gift. Instead, I have to discuss it with the concubines in the younger generation.”
Jiang Shiyao bowed and stepped aside.
Old Madam Zhou's eyes were cold. "There are many complicated matters in the inner quarters. You don't need to concern yourself with this."
Zhao said, "I can leave it alone, but is this birthday gift for the Duke's mansion or the Song family?"
Old Madam Zhou said, "Zhao, don't be so presumptuous!"
It was common knowledge in the household that the Duchess and the Old Madam were at odds.
In particular, regarding the marriage of the heir apparent Zhou Congxian, the old lady favored Song Jiyun, while the Duchess of the State favored the granddaughter of the Grand Tutor.
The result was obvious: the Zhao family was defeated.
She had been harboring resentment for a long time because she couldn't make decisions for her own son.
Now, for the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration, the old lady bypassed Zhao and went directly to one of Jiang Shiyao's concubines.
How could the Zhao family not make trouble?
"Mother, now that your daughter-in-law is in charge of the household affairs, it's presumptuous of your daughter-in-law to inquire about the birthday gifts for the Empress Dowager?"
"I think you should take back the key to the household and give it directly to your future granddaughter-in-law, Song Jiyun."
Seeing that an argument was about to break out, Jiang Shiyao wisely withdrew.
Madam Gao arrived shortly after, saying, "Please wait, my lady."
"This is the silver given by the old lady. If it's not enough, just ask this old servant."
Jiang Shiyao looked at the heavy money bag, wanting it but not wanting it now.
You have to cast a long line to catch a big fish.
"Mom, please keep it. I'll go back and write down a list, and then I'll ask you to buy it and have someone deliver it."
Seeing that she was sensible, Madam Gao took the money back. "Alright, madam, go back and write up the list, and this old servant will send someone to make the purchases."
Jiang Shiyao said, "Mom, please go back quickly. The old lady is getting old; don't upset yourself."
Following her words, Mrs. Gao sighed, "The old lady had already foreseen this, which is why she specifically sent me to find you. She didn't tell anyone."
Jiang Shiyao: "Could it be that one of the maids in the courtyard was too talkative and spread the word?"
Mrs. Gao immediately denied it, saying, "When the old lady told me, there was no one else in the room..."
She suddenly stopped talking.
The old lady's courtyard was empty, but Madam Jiang's room was occupied!
What a treacherous little hussy!
When Jiang Shiyao saw that Gao's mother's expression had changed, she knew that she had achieved her goal.
"What's wrong with Mom?"
Madam Gao snapped out of her daze and gave a slight smile. "It's alright, my lady, you can go back now."
Back in the courtyard.
Mingyu was playing beanbag with Fu'er.
She glanced at Jiang Shiyao secretly, then took Fu'er's hand and said, "Fu'er, your mother is back. Where did your mother go to play? She didn't take you with her."
Fu'er ran over quickly and hugged her mother, "Mother!"
Jiang Shiyao bent down and touched the top of her head. "Mother went to pay her respects to the old lady."
"Gao Amu really likes Fu'er. She might bring Fu'er candied hawthorns again next time."
The mother and daughter happily went into the house together.
Mingyu remained where she was, frowning.
What happened? Such a big matter, the old lady bypassed the madam and went directly to Jiang Shiyao. Why didn't the madam make things difficult for her when she found out?
Just as Mrs. He finished preparing the fresh bamboo shoot soup, Mrs. Gao sent someone to collect the order.
Jiang Shiyao directly divided half of the soup and let the little girl take it back for Gao's mother to try.
Looking at the bright color of the soup, Madam Gao took a sip and said, "Madam Jiang has a favor to ask of me."
The little girl doesn't understand.
“The maidservant beside me is not honest. She happened to be someone that the madam originally put into the young master’s courtyard, and later she came to Lady Jiang’s side.”
In fact, Gao's mother and Mingyu's parents were old acquaintances.
He was sent to the estate a long time ago, and now he's probably just hoping his daughter can turn things around.
Little girl, "Is Mother going to help Lady Jiang?"
Mrs. Gao ladled a bowl of soup and pushed it to the little girl, saying, "Help, of course I'll help."
In the evening, the silk thread that Gao's mother had bought was delivered.
A box of brightly colored silk threads gleamed in the candlelight.
Jiang Shiyao threaded the threads one by one onto the embroidery frame.
"Hey, these rolls of thread are not right."
"The shopkeeper must have taken advantage of my mother's ignorance and secretly replaced it."
"Mingyu, go and deliver the thread to Mama Gao and explain the situation."
Mingyu reluctantly took the thread and went.
He never came back that night.
Early the next morning.
Madam Gao came to visit again in person, bringing new silk thread and a maid.
"This is the maid that the old lady specially assigned to my wife."
The newly arrived maid, Shuangjiang, bowed and said, "This servant Shuangjiang greets Madam."
Jiang Shiyao beckoned her daughter over, "Fu'er, this is Sister Shuangjiang. How about she plays with you from now on?"
Fu'er immediately pulled Shuangjiang to go see her little rabbit kite.
Madam Gao then continued, "Don't worry, my lady, Shuangjiang is the most capable person in the old lady's service."
Jiang Shiyao did not ask where Mingyu had gone. "I trust Shuangjiang, but I feel sorry that the old lady gave her away."
Mrs. Gao smiled and said, "My lady, you can rest assured."
He then took out the money pouch that she had confiscated yesterday, saying, "This old woman doesn't understand silk threads, so I'm not afraid of making a few extra trips. I'm just afraid of delaying your important business."
"You should keep this money, my wife."
Jiang Shiyao smiled; the fish still wasn't big enough.
"Let Shuangjiang keep it for now. Since Shuangjiang is the most trusted person in the old lady's entourage, she is more suitable than me."
She turned and called Shuangjiang back, who was playing with her daughter.
Madam Gao nodded slightly and handed the money pouch to Shuangjiang.
She didn't forget to give Shuangjiang a little nudge on behalf of Jiang Shiyao, "Once you're with Lady Jiang, you're Lady Jiang's person. Serving your mistress well is your duty."
When the frost descends, she bows and says, "This servant understands."
The next day, Jiang Shiyao took Shuangjiang out to buy new silk thread.
On the carriage, she seemed oblivious to Shuangjiang's constant glancing around.
In his previous life, the Frost's Descent was specially prepared for Zhou Congxian by the old lady, but there was no chance to slip it in.
Shuangjiang, being very opinionated, develops feelings for a poor scholar who makes a living copying books at the old lady's bookstore.
After Song Jiyun entered the room, Shuangjiang also took the opportunity to bring his concubine along.
Less than half a month later, Song Jiyun and his men caught them having a secret rendezvous at her outer residence.
Jiang Shiyao knew that Shuangjiang was innocent. The day before the incident, Shuangjiang said that the scholar was preparing to go back and she would go to see him off.
No sooner had they left than Song Jiyun and his men ambushed them.
In this life, Mingyu is no longer by her side, so the old lady will naturally think of putting Shuangjiang into her courtyard first.
We arrived at the embroidery shop.
After picking through the silk threads for a while, Jiang Shiyao turned to Shuangjiang and said, "Dexinglou is not far from here. I would like to trouble Miss Shuangjiang to go and buy some chestnut pastries for Fu'er."
Then he added, "I won't take the money; I'll just wait here for you to come back and pay."
Frostfall turned around in surprise, then lowered her eyelids, her fingers rubbing a corner of her eye.
Jiang Shiyao pretended not to notice her emotions, "I promised Fu'er last night, but Dexinglou is so popular that I was worried that I wouldn't be able to buy chestnut pastries and Fu'er would be disappointed."
Shuangjiang hesitated for a moment, then said, "Alright, I'll go right away."
As Jiang Shiyao watched the carriage drive away, she immediately walked to the opposite side.
On the day of the Shangsi Festival, she had not yet finished inquiring about the carriages and horses for the road permit.
The shop assistants at the carriage company recognized her at a glance.
Jiang Shiyao got straight to the point, "How much is a travel permit?"
The waiter held out a hand. "Fifty taels a piece."
"So expensive?!" Jiang Shi exclaimed in surprise.
If it weren't for needing some money these days, she wouldn't even be able to afford a travel permit.
The shopkeeper didn't argue, but continued to ask with a smile, "There's a reason for your high price. If you need, Madam, we can also contact a caravan outside the city to take you wherever you want to go."
Jiang Shiyao asked, "When will the travel permit be issued?"
"Waiter, your birthday is coming soon. I heard that envoys from neighboring countries are coming to pay tribute. The city gates are under martial law. For safety reasons, it will be at least three months from now."
Jiang Shiyao took out fifty taels of silver. "Okay, this is the deposit. I'll come back later."
Three months later, on the same day that Zhou Congxian married Song Jiyun in his previous life.
Perhaps, this is fate.
As Jiang Shiyao emerged from the carriage, she brushed past Zhou Congxian, who was riding by on horseback.
Song Jiyun was also sitting on his horse.
Song Jiyun said, "From Brother Xian, it is Lady Jiang."
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