Chapter 43 My heart is lost, and so is my money.
Jiang Shiyao had just stepped through the second gate when she bumped into Zhou Wanqing.
"Third Miss".
Zhou Wanqing didn't want to pay attention to her, but then she saw that she looked like she was about to go out.
"What are you doing! Don't you know what's going on in the manor right now?!"
Jiang Shiyao lowered her head meekly and said, "I have a fellow villager who is a classmate and good friend of my elder brother back home. He is now an imperial censor. I would like to visit him and ask for your help in making some connections."
As she spoke, she raised her face, her expression resolute. "Even if I have to kneel, I will kneel until you open the door. It's just a matter of losing face!"
Zhou Wanqing was stunned for a moment, "You...you have connections?"
"It's not some kind of connection, just an old acquaintance." She smiled gently.
Then, her eyes lit up as she looked at Zhou Wanqing. "Third Miss, let's go and beg the master together!"
"Just kneel at the door. You are the third daughter of the Duke of England. I suppose the Duke is a man of noble character and will not refuse to come out to see us!"
As he spoke, he took her hand and led her outside, as if afraid she would run away!
Zhou Wanqing immediately shook off her hand, "I'm not going!"
Then, realizing she had overreacted, she forced a smile.
"I...I still need to go to the palace gate to pick up my grandmother!"
Jiang Shiyao was also taken aback for a moment, then laughed and said, "That's right. Now that we've entered the palace, we still need people to support us in the mansion. I was thinking too little."
After bowing, she led Shuangjiang out through the main gate openly and honestly.
Zhou Wanqing watched her retreating figure and bit her lower lip.
She just went to the Song residence to find Sister Jiyun, hoping to ask her to plead with Lord Song for help, considering they are future in-laws.
Not only did she not see Song Jiyun, she was also unable to enter the Song family's gate; a mere servant at the gate dismissed her.
At this critical juncture, everyone would avoid it like the plague.
Jiang Shiyao, however, dared to swallow her pride and kneel down at someone's door to beg...
Zhou Wanqing shook her head. "That's not how it is!"
Sister Jiyun is preparing for her wedding; she doesn't have that much time.
If the Song family truly wanted to avoid suspicion, they should have come to annul the engagement last night!
The reason for holding back now is simply to prevent the eldest brother from being caught with more dirt on him.
Jiang Shiyao was merely trying to save herself; if her elder brother were to really get into trouble, she would naturally not be able to escape.
If Jiang Shiyao remembers correctly, Zhou Congxian suffered some hardship, but it seems that he was still given important responsibilities by the Empress Dowager afterward.
She now needs to take advantage of the chaos in the mansion these next few days to find the escape vehicle.
I had heard He Dayou mention before that not only large grain merchants would go south, but also people from small trading companies would form a caravan together.
A caravan typically consists of at least ten horses. These horses are valuable, and the journey is long, making protection extremely important.
Therefore, the place where people are sent to make money is the镖局 (bodyguard agency).
If the city can be opened in ten days or so, many caravans will set off.
I just don't know if there will still be a convoy when she escapes.
There are many large and small security escort agencies in the capital.
Goods are escorted by guards, and the people who escort them are also escorted by guards.
Jiang Shiyao sat in the hall of the escort agency wearing a veil. She glanced at him subtly when she came in.
The security escort agency was very clean, and in the martial arts training area, three or four young boys were practicing horse stance.
The head镖师's hair was already streaked with silver; this镖局 (镖局 is a type of security escort agency) was the culmination of his life's work.
"Young lady, are you planning to smuggle goods?"
Jiang Shiyao said, "My father runs a grain business, but since Jinzhou has missed the spring planting season, he wants to go to Yizhou."
The head镖师 nodded. "Recently, quite a few people have been using grain as a cargo courier service."
When would you like to depart, young lady?
Around the time of the end of summer.
"The Beginning of Autumn?" The head镖师 shook his head. "According to the current plan, if the young lady leaves earlier, she can hitch a ride with him. The Beginning of Autumn is a bit late, so there are no carriages and no one around."
"Miss, you can ask around elsewhere."
Unexpectedly, the escort agency business was so good. Jiang Shiyao took Shuangjiang to inquire at three or four escort agencies.
Frostfall was somewhat discouraged. "Without a carriage, can't we go anywhere?"
Jiang Shiyao pursed her lips. "Just now, a security escort agency said that a caravan will be going to Yuzhou around the time of the Autumnal Equinox. Yuzhou has water, so we can take the waterway then."
Shuangjiang had never heard his wife mention where she was going. "By water? Isn't your wife going to Yizhou?"
Yizhou and Jinzhou are not far apart.
Jiang Shiyao smiled and said, "I'm not really going to buy grain, so of course I have to change trains."
Shuangjiang understood somewhat; his wife didn't want to leave the young master any clues.
She wouldn't go with her wife; she would tell Zhang Lang the good news tomorrow when the academy was closed.
She turned her head and saw a familiar figure at the entrance of the alley across the street.
She instinctively pulled Jiang Shiyao and hid behind a small stall.
Jiang Shiyao asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"
Following Shuangjiang's gaze, she saw a scholar-like man affectionately and carefully supporting a young woman whose belly was swollen high, suggesting she was about to give birth in two or three months.
When the scholar turned his face, she gasped for breath.
Isn't this the sweetheart of Frostfall?
Jiang Shiyao looked at Shuangjiang's instantly pale face and reached out to take her hand.
"Don't be sad. It's better to see it now than to realize it later."
Shuangjiang covered her face with her hands and squatted down, her voice trembling with sobs, "He clearly said he wasn't married..."
Zhang Lang looked back, but saw nothing.
Chunniang squeezed his hand in annoyance, "Did you write a letter home or not? I'm about to give birth! The doctor said it's a boy!"
Zhang Lang quickly and carefully coaxed, "I've written it down, my father will definitely send money, and he won't let you suffer then."
Jiang Shiyao pulled Shuangjiang out of a cloth shop.
"It's not worth shedding tears for someone like that."
Frostfall tears flowed uncontrollably; all those tender letters Zhang Lang had once written to her were now a joke.
Why did he lie to me...?
Jiang Shiyao hugged her and patted her back. "Don't cry. You just mistook someone for someone else. It's not like you lost any money."
Shuangjiang was even more heartbroken, "I've lost the money too..."
"Um?"
Sobbing, Shuangjiang said, "Last time, he said he copied a book, but he made a mistake, and the bookstore wouldn't pay him..."
Jiang Shiyao sighed helplessly, "The book's binding can be removed. If it's written incorrectly, just rewrite that page. Why wouldn't you pay?"
"How much silver did you give him?"
Shuangjiang clenched her fingers, tears still streaming down her face. "I gave him all the fifty taels I had saved up."
Jiang Shiyao inhaled.
A maid's monthly salary is only a few taels of silver. How many years would it take to save up that much money!
This silly girl actually gave it all away!
My heart is gone.
The money is gone too.
Jiang Shiyao led her forward, "Which academy is he from? Come on!"
"Where are we going?"
She turned to look at Shuangjiang, "Of course, we should go find the teacher at the academy and denounce his deceitful behavior! And we must get your money back too!"
Shuangjiang grabbed her arm, "No, don't go..."
"I don't want to embarrass myself anymore..."
We can't let my wife show her face in public for such a trivial matter.
After saying that, she released Jiang Shiyao's hand and turned to walk towards the carriage.
No matter what Jiang Shiyao said, he refused to get out of the car.
Jiang Shiyao had no choice but to take her to the second escort agency to pay the deposit.
Back at the mansion, a joyous atmosphere filled the air.
There were traces of firecrackers on the ground, and a brazier that hadn't been taken away was still by the door.
Jiang Shiyao was filled with doubts.
They're releasing them like this?
She clearly remembered that in her previous life, Zhou Congxian had suffered for several days.
It's only been two days and it's already out?
As soon as Jiang Shiyao returned, a servant went to inform her. She had just returned to the courtyard when Madam Xiang, who was by Zhao's side, came to invite her.
I've never seen such a radiant smile on my mother's face.
He said to his mother, "I never expected that Lord Liu and Madam were old acquaintances. The fact that the young master was able to return home today is all thanks to Lord Liu's righteous words."
"Madam requests a chat with your wife."
Um?
Lord Liu?
Jiang Shiyao opened her mouth, wondering if she had misunderstood something...
When she followed her mother to the flower hall, the Duke was also there, which was quite a surprise.
Fu'er, who was disliked in her previous life, was also held in the Duke's arms.
"This little girl is intelligent," said the Duke.
Zhao was in a good mood. "That Mr. Zhang is known for being strict, and he has praised Fu'er a lot."
"Does Your Excellency still remember when Master Huineng of Baima Temple predicted Fu'er's fate? He said that our Fu'er is a child with abundant blessings and longevity, and that her good fortune will continue to grow in the future!"
According to Master Huineng's divination, she also obtained the Seventh Prince's jade tiger, and now her father has escaped danger in just two days.
Zhao felt that the more she looked at the child, the more pleasing he became.
The Duke nodded in satisfaction. "A good child should be taught well. Thank you for your hard work, Madam."
Zhao agreed with a smile.
Jiang Shiyao curtsied and said, "Greetings to the Duke and to the Madam."
The moment Fu'er saw her mother, her eyes sparkled; she wanted her mother to hug her.
However, Mother He had told her many times that she should be polite in front of her grandparents, otherwise her mother would be punished.
She had promised He Amu that she would behave and not let her mother be punished.
The Duke looked at Jiang Shiyao, but for a moment he couldn't remember her name.
"Get up."
"Your embroidery is very good, and the Empress Dowager is very satisfied. Today, Lord Liu spoke up for justice. I heard from Qing'er that you went to ask for it. It's admirable that you are so sensible. You have also taught Fu'er very well."
Madam Zhao also smiled and said, "You have served Xian'er with all your heart all these years, and Fu'er is being raised very well."
"You should hurry up and have another son! If the child is well-mannered, he won't be any worse off than anyone else in the future!"
This mother and daughter, who were previously unremarkable, actually inspired her to fight!
The old lady insisted on letting Song Jiyun into the family. She wanted to show everyone that even a concubine couldn't compare to the dignified Miss Song!
The Duke lowered his head and thought for a moment, "Next month, Xian'er will get married, and you will be enshrined in the ancestral hall with him."
Once you enter the ancestral hall, you become a noble concubine.
They must not be bought or sold, nor can they be killed.
If she makes a mistake, she will be tried in the same way as the legal wife.
Jiang Shiyao slowly raised her head.
"I do not wish to."
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