Chapter 8 Winning Hearts and Minds!
Song Jiyun looked at the embroidery in Jiang Shiyao's hands; the exquisite auspicious beast heads seemed to have come to life.
How could this be...
Jiang Shiyao presented the embroidery to the old lady.
She then explained, "Madam, this is a birthday gift for the Empress Dowager, and it's embroidered with such auspicious beasts. How could I dare to be perfunctory?"
“Yesterday, Mingyu, who used to serve me, committed a crime. I couldn’t bear to see her lose her life, so I went to plead for her, but I was accidentally injured by her. The prince was afraid that my injury would frighten Fu’er, so he allowed me to stay in the courtyard.”
As she spoke, she blushed, "I've had my period, but the young master... he hasn't..."
Old Madam Zhou's face froze for a moment.
Madam Gao immediately smoothed things over, saying, "It's all because of those gossipy maids in the courtyard. The old lady is too kind and indulgent!"
She added, "It's likely that both Miss Song and Lady Jiang saw the same auspicious beast at the White Horse Temple."
"Both of them painted auspicious beasts offering peaches; this is the will of Heaven. These paintings will surely win the favor of the Empress Dowager!"
Madam Zhou nodded, her fingers tracing the fine stitches of the auspicious beast design.
"Send those gossipy fellows away. This mansion is like a sieve now. I'm old and can't manage other things, but can't I manage this courtyard?"
"yes."
Gao's mother glanced at Song Jiyun, then turned and walked out.
Song Jiyun finally realized what was happening. She forced a stiff smile and handed the embroidery to Old Madam Zhou.
"It turns out that Madam Jiang and Yun'er had the same idea."
"The embroidery is exquisite. I wonder how dazzling it will be when it's finished. Yun'er can't wait to see it."
Jiang Shiyao smiled shyly, pursing her lips. "I have no other skills, only a little embroidery. It is my blessing to be able to share the burden for the old lady."
At this point, she raised her clear eyes and looked at Song Jiyun.
"Although Miss Song's design is similar to mine, I think Miss Song is trying to help the old lady."
"How about this, I'll embroider the auspicious beast, the peach, and the final eye-dotting, and Miss Song can do it."
Jiang Shiyao's smile was pure and innocent. "This way, it won't delay Miss Song's wedding preparations, and it can also express my feelings."
After a moment's thought, Madam Zhou nodded. "Very well."
If this birthday gift truly wins the Empress Dowager's favor, it will also earn Yun'er a good reputation. At that time, no matter how much Zhao Shi wants to say, she will have nothing to say.
Song Jiyun's expression almost cracked.
Her wedding dress was embroidered at home by a skilled embroiderer; she only needed to finish the last stitch, and it was considered a wedding dress she had made herself…
She looked into Jiang Shiyao's eyes, and for some reason, she saw a hint of provocation in her calm and indifferent gaze.
Since you dared to hand the gift over to her, don't blame her for tampering with it. When the birthday gift is ruined just before entering the palace, let's see how she handles it!
Then she'll produce another exquisite embroidery piece, and she'll be the savior of the Duke's mansion!
Thinking of this, she smiled and met Jiang Shiyao's gaze.
"Alright, then we can have Madam Jiang deliver it to the Song residence."
When Jiang Shiyao returned from the old lady's place, it was obvious to anyone with eyes that she was in a good mood.
Fu'er was lying on the small table, humming and whimpering; she couldn't sit still any longer.
Her mother told her to write diligently, and she has already written so many characters!
Mother isn't back yet.
Shuangjiang glanced at Fu'er, then quietly pulled out the letter that Fu'er had warmed from her sleeve.
Looking at the strong, forceful handwriting, she slowly blushed.
I had the chance to meet her once when I bought silk thread for Madam Jiang last time.
Several days have passed, and she noticed that there are far fewer threads left on the shelf, but Jiang Niangzi hasn't asked for any more.
She doesn't go out much these days; if she had known this would happen, she would have bought less...
"Mother!" Fu'er suddenly jumped up from behind the table.
As soon as the frost fell, he hurriedly stuffed the letter into his sleeve.
He looked up but there was no one there.
"Girl, you scared me to death!" Shuangjiang breathed a sigh of relief.
Fu'er, who had already run to the door, turned back and said, "Mother is not scary at all."
Shuangjiang was both amused and exasperated, saying, "I didn't mention your mother."
Fu'er tilted her head slightly. "Fu'er isn't scary either."
"It's not that I'm talking about Fu'er..."
Before she could finish speaking, Jiang Shiyao appeared in their line of sight.
"What's wrong."
Fu'er immediately forgot what Shuangjiang had said and rushed towards her mother.
"Mother, it really is you! Fu'er didn't hear wrong!"
Jiang Shiyao picked up her daughter and weighed her in her arms. "Why is Fu'er so happy?"
Fu'er hugged her mother's cheek and kissed her several times, "Fu'er loves her mother so much!"
"Why has Mother been gone for so long? Fu'er misses you so much!"
Jiang Shiyao beamed, "Your little mouth is so sweet, did Sister Shuangjiang give you some candied fruit?"
Fu'er's attention was instantly diverted again, and her little head bobbed up and down like a chick pecking at rice!
"Fu'er wants to eat candied fruit."
Shuangjiang smiled and shook her head, "Sister, I don't have any candied fruit."
Jiang Shiyao put Fu'er down. "Shuangjiang, go out and buy some candied fruit, and also buy some silk thread. I'll write you a list."
The surprise came too suddenly; Shuangjiang abruptly stood up.
She belatedly realized she had been too excited, and slowly sat down again.
He stammered as he tried to find the right words, "Should we go now...? Aunt He went to the flower nursery and hasn't come back yet."
Jiang Shiyao pretended not to see the corner of the letter peeking out from her sleeve.
"It's okay, I'll play with Fu'er for a while."
I went out on the day of Frost's Descent.
Jiang Shiyao saw from the window that Shuangjiang had changed her clothes before going out.
She didn't really remember who Shuangjiang's sweetheart was, only that he was a scholar.
Rather than staying here and losing my life, I'd rather follow the scholar and live a simple life.
Jiang Shiyao gazed at the beast head on the embroidery frame, her thoughts drifting.
With a creak, it made a sound.
Mrs. He is back.
Jiang Shiyao placed her daughter on the bamboo couch and gave her a Luban lock to play with.
In the outer hall, Mrs. He was preoccupied with her own worries.
Upon seeing Madam Jiang emerge, she tremblingly took out the small blue bag she had hidden in her bosom.
"My wife, everything is ready."
Two brand-new ingots of official silver, but the stamps on them had all been melted away.
Jiang Shiyao asked, "How much silver is there in total?"
Mother He, "There are a total of ten thousand taels..."
She had never seen so much money in her entire life!
Jiang Shiyao frowned. If ten thousand taels of silver were dug up, there couldn't possibly be no reaction.
"Are there any silver notes left?"
"Yes, yes..."
"You can't take the banknotes." Jiang Shiyao lowered her voice. "The banknotes have the banknote number, the issuer, and the depositor on them."
"Exchanging one or two notes won't attract attention, but several thousand taels of silver notes? Do you want to get your heads killed?!"
Jiang Shiyao was certain that the silver was ill-gotten, and that it might have been related to the old Duke of England thirty years ago.
She couldn't care less about those old matters now; all she wanted was to use the money peacefully to buy and store grain!
Mrs. He was terrified. "Then, what should we do? Should we put them all back?"
She had no idea that Lady Jiang had become so bold!
She only wanted to give a little silver to her husband to pay off his gambling debts, but Madam Jiang wanted to secretly dig out all the silver!
Jiang Shiyao: "Put all the silver notes back, and use all the silver to buy grain!"
"Buy grain?" Mother He was so surprised that she forgot her fear.
"Buy all the grain, and in two months, you'll triple your profits!"
"My lady...how did you know?"
"Don't worry about the rest. Just tell your husband to do it. Split it 50/50. As long as you don't gamble, this money is enough for the two of you to live on for three lifetimes!"
Three lifetimes...
Mrs. He opened her mouth wide, as if she could see her future life as a wealthy lady.
"Okay, okay... I'll go right now."
*
Gardener He Dayou patted the silver hidden in his waistband and sauntered out through the side door.
He couldn't understand why they would spend several thousand taels of silver on grain.
When he walked back to the gambling den, familiar with the place, he realized he had gone to the wrong place again.
He slapped his forehead. "Why are we here again?"
"Hey! Brother Dayou! You're already here, why don't you come in!"
He had just turned around when the casino manager grabbed him by the neck.
"I'm not playing anymore, my wife is going to kick me out if I keep playing."
The manager threw his head back and laughed, "Brother Otomo is still henpecked!"
"What are you afraid of? Play a couple of rounds. If you win back your losses, your sister-in-law will treat you like royalty when you get back!"
He Dayou couldn't help but glance into the casino twice.
Last time he was broke, but he won the next bet. If he had money, he would have won more than double!
Seeing his wavering expression, the manager gave a wink to the waiter at the door.
Two girls immediately stepped forward and coaxed him inside, calling him "Brother He" repeatedly.
This is a gambling den.
Even if a beggar comes, he has to leave behind the last two copper coins he has.
Both He Dayou and his mother worked at the Duke's mansion, so they should have accumulated some wealth.
Unfortunately, He Dayou was a gambling addict, and not only did he gamble away all his family's savings, but he also lost everything.
Every servant and maid in the Duke's mansion had been lent money by He Dayou.
With He Dayou carrying silver right now, there was no way to let him leave the casino.
"Again!!"
Driven by gambling addiction, He Dayou threw his last ten taels of silver onto the table.
The casino manager leaned against the door frame, watching He Dayou, who was completely absorbed in gambling.
"How much did he gamble today?"
The waiter held up one finger, "One hundred."
"One hundred taels?" The steward raised an eyebrow. "Isn't he the gardener from the Duke of Ying's mansion? Where did he get so much silver?"
"Who knows? I've heard that wealthy families spend money like water to grow peonies. Could this kid have embezzled that money?"
The casino manager said, "Don't lend him any more money today. If it gets out of hand, it'll be hard to clean up the mess."
Okay.
A young man who was about to enter overheard the entire conversation between the two.
His gaze fell on the familiar figure inside.
A smile curled at the corner of his mouth. "He Dayou, you're unlucky to have fallen into my hands today!"
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