Chapter 2 The Plan to Leave
Zhou Congxian sat down next to Fu'er, his long legs completely blocking the narrow aisle in the carriage.
"They only exchanged two sentences before the carriage caught up with them before it had gone far."
Just as Jiang Shiyao was thinking about how to cover it up, Fu'er caught the word "horse" and immediately exclaimed happily.
"A big horse! Fu'er wants to ride a big horse, but Brother Ziqiu won't let her. Daddy, buy one!"
Mu Ziqiu is the son of Zhou Wanyan, the eldest daughter of the Zhou family who is already married.
Zhou Congxian gently pinched his daughter's nose. "You're too young now. In a couple of years, Daddy will personally teach you how to ride a horse."
He pulled something from his waist. "Take this."
Jiang Shiyao's arms suddenly sank, landing on her lap and hurting her.
It was a dark green money bag, bulging and clearly filled with a lot of silver.
"Your Highness, what is this...?" she feigned ignorance.
Zhou Congxian said, "Don't let people think I can't even afford to support my wife and children."
Jiang Shiyao smiled, clutching the money pouch. "How could that be? I have plenty to eat and wear."
What they lack is the money to abscond.
Dexinglou was always packed with guests, and almost everyone who came out of Dexinglou had a bag of pastries in their hand.
Little Fu'er, like a little glutton, clung to the window frame with both hands, stood on tiptoe, and craned her neck to look outside.
Looking at his daughter, Zhou Congxian's usually cool eyes softened with a smile.
The attendant came over carrying two food boxes of pastries.
Zhou Congxian took one of the boxes, "I'll send the rest back to Dongguan Qing."
Jiang Shiyao ate a meal.
In all the years she had been in the household, she had never seen Zhou Wanqing like any kind of pastry, while Song Jiyun was a regular customer of Dexinglou.
This box of pastries is for Song Jiyun, who is with Zhou Wanqing today.
"Mother, eat."
Jiang Shiyao's thoughts returned to her, and a piece of pastry with a small bite taken out of it was handed to her.
The daughter's face was rosy, and her round eyes looked like crescent moons.
She was clearly very happy today.
Jiang Shiyao smiled and took a bite. "It's delicious."
At this moment, the carriage door opened, and the attendant returned again, carrying a bowl of steaming sweet tofu pudding.
Jiang Shiyao stared blankly as Zhou Congxian served her the tofu pudding.
"What are you standing there for? Do you want me to feed you?"
"No, no! I'll eat it myself!" She quickly took the bowl of tofu pudding.
"Go to the Star Gazing Pavilion in the north of the city."
He paused, then seemed to explain, "Today is the Shangsi Festival. There will be iron-fireworks performances on the Feng River later. Wangxing Pavilion is the best place to watch the show. Fu'er should like it."
Jiang Shiyao bit down on the wooden spoon she used to eat tofu, her voice barely audible, "The young master seems to have plenty of free time today..."
Zhou Congxian glanced at the woman whose face was almost entirely buried in the bowl.
"It seems you have quite a few opinions today."
"I dare not. It doesn't really matter where we go, but it would be better if you gave me more money."
Knowing that Zhou Congxian was in a good mood today, Jiang Shiyao, who had been his wife for many years, naturally took the opportunity to ask for more money.
Zhou Congxian: "What's wrong? Are you obsessed with money today?"
"I... was just moved by watching Fu'er practice calligraphy with the young master today!"
Jiang Shiyao sat up straight. "I just noticed that Miss Song has an extraordinary demeanor. I heard from the old lady that Miss Song is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. She is a rare talent."
"But, Madam said that Fu'er doesn't need to learn many skills, just the rules for women."
"I would also like to hire a tutor for Fu'er, but I have no money..."
Zhou Congxian knew that his mother didn't like Fu'er very much. "My mother suffered at the hands of her aunts and half-sisters when she was young. You don't need to take her words to heart."
"Tomorrow I will have someone send you some more money to hire a teacher for Fu'er. Regardless of whether she is a legitimate or illegitimate child, Fu'er is the eldest daughter. I am usually busy, so please take good care of her."
"Yes, thank you, Your Highness." Jiang Shiyao lowered her eyelids, concealing the emotions in her eyes.
In his previous life, if he had truly cared more for Fu'er, she wouldn't have become so thin and he wouldn't have asked a doctor to examine her.
Women remarry when they die, and have children again when they die; men are all so hypocritical.
Only gold and silver are real.
Song Jiyun will be entering the family in three months.
She needs to acquire more money as soon as possible!
Let's get Fu'er out of this awful place!
Wangxing Pavilion was originally a watchtower, but it was expanded by several dynasties and became part of the inner city, where it was rebuilt into Wangxing Pavilion.
The Wangxing Pavilion and the wooden bridge over the Fengshui River are cleverly connected, making it the best scenic spot along the Fengshui River.
As dusk fell, lanterns lit up the streets, marking the arrival of the Shangsi Festival.
The long dragon danced, chasing the giant fireball, slowly moving from one end of the street towards the river.
On the wooden platform by the river, the craftsmen, skilled in crafting ironwork, had already prepared molten iron.
Little Fu'er sat on her father's shoulders, holding the little rabbit lantern she had just bought. Her giggles made Jiang Shiyao momentarily feel that Zhou Congxian was a good father.
"Mother!"
Little Fu'er turned to look at her mother, then turned around, wanting her mother to hug her.
Zhou Congxian patted the restless little girl, "Don't move around, there are too many people, your mother can't hold you."
There were many people on the bridge, many of whom were young men and women wearing Nuo masks.
As golden sparks exploded across the night sky, pedestrians on the bridge gathered around the railings.
Jiang Shiyao followed behind, the dragon dance on the riverbank completely blocked, she could only look up at the dazzling iron flowers being shot into the sky.
Amidst the commotion, a woman's scream came from the other side of the bridge.
Jiang Shiyao looked up but before she could see anything, her daughter was suddenly in her arms.
Zhou Congxian disappeared into the crowd without saying anything.
Jiang Shiyao saw that things were starting to get chaotic on the bridge and hugged her daughter tighter.
Fu'er hugged her mother's neck and said, "I saw my third aunt."
Jiang Shiyao patted her daughter's back reassuringly, "Father has gone to play with Auntie. Mother will take Fu'er somewhere else."
Zhou Wanqing and Song Jiyun were best friends and often spent time together. Zhou Congxian left without saying a word, probably to go find them.
The carriage was parked on the roadside below the Star Gazing Pavilion.
The coachman was marveling at the sparks flying in the sky.
Jiang Shiyao, carrying her daughter, slipped into the crowd from the other side.
She doesn't have many opportunities to go out, so there are some things she needs to ask about herself.
The horse market is in the west of the city, and it's already closed.
However, there are carriage rental shops in each district, which are basically owned by the owners of the horse market.
"Hey buddy, do you have a carriage?"
"Yes, yes, there's just one last carriage left."
Jiang Shiyao changed the subject, "Do you have a leave order?"
The waiter glanced at her and said, "Madam, you're joking. Travel permits need to be issued by the government."
Jiang Shiyao didn't mince words, "Young man, you're a sensible person. If I could get it from the government office, why would I bother coming here?"
The waiter glanced at the doorman before whispering, "You've come at the wrong time. The Empress Dowager's birthday is coming soon, and the capital is under martial law. It's not easy to open now."
"When will it open?" Jiang Shiyao frowned.
Without a travel permit, you can't even get out of the city gate!
The waiter lowered his voice, "I heard from the manager that..."
"Hey buddy! Can we return the car now?"
Interrupted, Jiang Shiyao turned around and looked at the newcomers. The leader was a handsome and refined young man, followed by a fierce-looking burly man.
“There’s one more, but…” The waiter glanced at Jiang Shiyao, who had come in earlier saying she wanted a car.
The burly man impatiently stepped forward and placed a silver ingot on the counter. "Highest bidder wins! My master will buy the carriage!"
Jiang Shiyao took a step back while holding Fu'er. The person in front of her was someone she could not afford to offend. The palace pass at her waist indicated that he was either a high-ranking official or a member of the nobility.
Xiao Shu said with a pleasant expression, "My servant was reckless and disturbed you, madam. Please don't take offense."
"I just urgently needed the carriage, so please consider this compensation for your generosity and modesty."
Jiang Shiyao originally intended to leave directly, but when she saw those silver notes, she couldn't move.
This is much more generous than Zhou Congxian's!
Although Fu'er was young, she already knew the value of money.
She stretched out her two small hands and readily accepted the banknote, not forgetting to politely say, "Thank you, kind person."
A good person? Xiao Shu smiled.
Jiang Shiyao was astonished by her daughter's boldness.
"Sir, the carriage is ready."
Xiao Shu nodded slightly to the mother and daughter, then turned and strode away from the carriage shop.
Fu'er presented the silver notes to her mother like a precious treasure, exclaiming, "Mother, we're not poor anymore!"
She still remembers her father saying that her mother was poor when they were at home.
Jiang Shiyao quickly put away the silver notes, and then glanced up to see Zhou Congxian hurrying past the door.
She whispered to her daughter, "You mustn't tell anyone about this."
Fu'er hugged her mother's neck, "Including Father?"
"include!"
Jiang Shiyao carried her daughter straight to the Nuo mask stall opposite the carriage shop and bought two masks for herself and her daughter to wear.
Then I bought some other cheap little things.
After putting on a complete disguise, I slowly walked back with my child.
"Mother, it's Father!"
Fu'er has sharp eyes.
Zhou Congxian immediately spotted his daughter amidst the noise of the crowd.
Both of them were wearing masks, no wonder he didn't see them.
The little girl remembered her mother's instructions, and covered her mouth with her little hand, saying, "Fu'er remembers, I won't tell Father."
Jiang Shiyao's eye twitched. Little Fu'er should learn what it means to "protest the truth."
Zhou Congxian's anger was palpable.
With so many people on the Shangsi Festival, how dare you take your child so far without even a servant!
"What are you trying to hide from me? Why didn't you tell me anything?"
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