As dusk fell, Granny Ma hurried in, carrying a heavy bag and an account book.
With a beaming smile, Granny Ma approached Lin Yajun, presented the items with both hands, and said in a joyful tone, "Miss, this is the shop's profit for today. When my husband came to deliver the silver earlier, he also told me some good news."
Lin Yajun took the bag, glanced at it, and flipped through the ledger, casually asking, "Oh? What's the good news?"
Granny Ma replied happily, "A matchmaker has come to propose a marriage for Qiaoqing!"
Lin Yajun paused for a moment, then looked up and saw that Granny Ma's eyes were shining. She nodded and said calmly, "Congratulations, Granny Ma."
Granny Ma couldn't help but introduce her future son-in-law, "His name is Xiao San. He is a groom in the Prime Minister's mansion. He is seventeen years old and the youngest son of the Prime Minister's steward. He has a bright future ahead of him."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yajun smiled slightly and said, "This is a very good marriage."
Lin Yajun's gaze then turned to Qiaoqing beside her. Qiaoqing's cheeks were flushed, and she was shyly lowering her head. She was not surprised at all by the marriage, but her face was full of joy.
This indicates that Qiaoqing knew in advance about the Prime Minister's steward's marriage proposal.
Lin Yajun couldn't help but think to herself, "Qiaoqing strongly suggested that I marry the gatekeeper of the Prime Minister's mansion. Now it seems she has her own ulterior motives." Thinking of this, Lin Yajun felt a surge of disgust.
Qiaoqing, a servant, can marry the steward's youngest son, while I am her mistress, and she wants me to marry the prime minister's gatekeeper servant.
It turns out that in Qiaoqing's heart, she was not even as good as a servant.
Since that's the case, why should I still care about the thin ties between master and servant?
Lin Yajun made a silent decision in her heart: since Qiaoqing despised her so much, she no longer needed to have any pity for Qiaoqing.
Just now, Qiaoqing was extremely rude to Lin Yajun, not only giving her a cold shoulder but also almost pushing her to the ground. Lin Yajun pushed her back and then pricked her with a poisoned needle.
If Qiaoqing's attitude changes in the future, Lin Yajun will give her the antidote; if she doesn't change, Lin Yajun will ignore her and let Qiaoqing suffer from the pain from time to time.
Lin Yajun didn't want Qiaoqing around for even a moment longer; if she angered her again, she would definitely kill her.
She thought to herself, "I'm getting married soon, and I don't want to kill anyone on this joyous occasion."
Thinking of this, Lin Yajun said to Madam Ma, "Qiaoqing has been engaged to a good family, which is a great joy! Let her go home and focus on embroidering her wedding dress, and she doesn't need to come to the manor to work anymore."
Upon hearing this, both Madam Ma and Qiaoqing looked at Lin Yajun in astonishment, clearly not expecting their young lady to make such a decision.
Madam Ma hurriedly said, "Miss, how can this be? Qiaoqing has always served you diligently in the manor. If you suddenly let her go, you will lose a capable helper!"
Lin Yajun thought to herself: It's not just the monthly allowance that's missing, but also the copper coins for handicrafts! The mother and daughter could earn twenty or thirty taels of silver a month from Lin Yajun just from handicrafts, which was a considerable sum.
Lin Yajun raised the corners of her mouth slightly, revealing a mocking smile. "I have servants to serve me. The two palace maids that the Imperial Clan Court just sent are enough." Her tone was calm and resolute, and she had no intention of changing her mind.
“Miss, you are about to get married, and you will need even more loyal servants to serve you. Those two people in the palace are not as loyal as us. Miss, you can’t let Qiaoqing go.” Madam Ma anxiously tried to persuade Lin Yajun.
Seeing that Lin Yajun did not agree, she added, "If you don't use Qiaoqing, it might affect my husband's mood for selling goods." The implication was that if Qiaoqing was released, Duan Dayi would not work so hard to earn money for Lin Yajun.
Hearing these clearly threatening words, Lin Yajun also felt disgusted with Ma.
A slave dares to threaten his master.
Lin Yajun said coldly to Madam Ma, "Madam Ma, your son is about to marry a new bride, and your daughter is engaged. I'm sure you have many chores to take care of at home. You and Qiaoqing go home together; you don't need to work for me anymore."
When Ma and Qiaoqing heard this, they were stunned as if struck by lightning, completely unprepared for their young lady to suddenly drive them away.
Originally, the mother and daughter had planned to get more money from the young lady so that they could prepare a generous dowry for Qiaoqing.
That afternoon, while Lin Yajun was protecting Zhao Canchen in the front yard, Qiaoqing found an excuse to return to the west wing and said to Madam Ma, "Mother, look how extravagant Miss is with money, and how naive she is. When she finds out about my engagement, she will definitely reward me with some silver so I can prepare my dowry."
Upon hearing this, Madam Ma nodded repeatedly in agreement, "Yes, Miss is always very generous. This time she will definitely reward you with several hundred taels of silver so that you can get married in style."
The mother and daughter were certain of what was going on, but things didn't go as planned. They didn't get the benefits they expected, and the young lady even let them go home.
The mother and daughter were unwilling to leave and lingered there.
“Miss, you are getting married tomorrow, and that’s the time when you need people. Let this old servant and Qiaoqing serve you.” Madam Ma said with a smile, “It would be too unreasonable for this old servant and her daughter to leave now.”
"This is my decision, and no one will question it." Lin Yajun sat at the table reading a book, ignoring Qiaoqing and her daughter's pleas and refusing to let them into the west wing to serve her.
After seeing that her daughter had made a decision, Madam Ma was no longer as generous as before, and gave the mother and daughter a sum of money when they left.
This made Ma and her daughter feel extremely wronged and disappointed. They silently packed up their belongings, carrying two bulging bundles, and walked heavily toward the mistress Xu to pay their respects and say goodbye.
"Madam, Miss is in a bad mood today. At this crucial moment when we need people, she actually sent my daughter and me home." Madam Ma's words revealed obvious dissatisfaction and resentment, as if implying that Miss was not satisfied with the marriage, which was why she let my daughter and me go in a fit of anger.
Upon hearing this, Madam Xu was quite surprised. She frowned and said, "Xiao Jun didn't tell me about this." Clearly, she knew nothing about it.
Seeing this, Madam Ma hurriedly pleaded, "Madam, please go and say a few kind words to Miss, and ask her to let us, mother and daughter, stay. Now that Miss is getting married, she needs help a lot, and we, mother and daughter, can be of great assistance."
After hesitating for a moment, Madam Xu decided to follow her daughter's advice. She said to Madam Ma, "You should go home and follow Miss's arrangements. I'll ask Xiao Jun first."
Upon hearing this, Madam Ma showed a look of disappointment. She bowed to Madam Xu and said, "Yes, Madam."
She didn't leave immediately, but continued, "Madam, when Miss is in a better mood, you must send someone to call us back. My daughter and I have always served Miss wholeheartedly, and my husband and son are still guarding the shop for Miss. Our whole family is loyal and devoted."
After thinking about it, Ms. Xu felt that Ms. Ma's words made sense and decided to give the mother and daughter some compensation.
She said, "You all go home first. I'll call you back when Xiao Jun calms down." She reached into her bosom, preparing to take out a ten-tael silver note to give to Madam Ma.
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