When Qiushuang heard Su Shuyao’s order, her eyes turned red. “Miss, you can’t hand it over. That’s part of the dowry the old madam left for you…”
Miss had already been living a difficult life in the residence. If she handed over the Spice Shops, how could she survive in the future?
“Enough. I know what I’m doing. Go get the property deeds and give them to Madam. Don’t delay things.”
One glance from Su Shuyao, and Qiushuang immediately held back her tears.
Suddenly, she remembered the fake antiques Miss had asked her to buy earlier. Miss wouldn’t hand over the Spice Shops so easily—she must have a plan. She couldn’t mess it up.
“Yes, Miss. I’ll handle it right away.” Qiushuang brought out the property deeds for the Spice Shops and the contracts of the shopkeepers and workers.
Madam Wan pulled one deed from the stack and graciously handed it over. “This one is from the old madam’s dowry shops. You can keep it.”
“What belongs to you, your mother won’t take.”
“I’m only taking back what belongs to the Marquis Residence.”
Su Mingzhu smiled, “Madam, you truly are reasonable.”
After having the contracts secured, Madam Wan showed a kind expression. “Shuyao, for the Spice Shops to become what they are today, aside from the ancestral formulas, a small part of the credit does go to you.”
“I’m not someone who doesn’t know how to distinguish right from wrong. Whatever reward you deserve, I won’t shortchange you.”
“If there’s something you want, just say it.”
Su Mingpei said coldly, “Su Shuyao, Madam is being so kind to you, and you’re still not thanking her?”
Su Shuyao lowered her head and smiled.
Such compassion. Taking away shops worth thousands of gold, offering a bit of compensation, and still expecting her to be grateful.
Su Shuyao smiled lightly. “I’d like to have a small kitchen built in the courtyard.”
Su Mingpei sneered, “A small kitchen? So, you’re also afraid of getting your rations cut?”
“You think Mingzhu is as devious as you?!”
Su Mingzhu stepped forward gently. “Sister, don’t worry. Now that I’m managing things, I will be fair and just. I would never tamper with the food supply.”
Su Shuyao looked at Madam Wan. “Madam?”
Madam Wan replied, “I’ll allow it. But let it be clear, the costs for the small kitchen will be on you. Our Marquis Residence doesn’t encourage extravagance.”
Su Shuyao accepted the terms.
Seeing everything settled, Su Mingzhu looked toward the door. “Mother, Mama Wu and Shuqi are still kneeling in the courtyard. It’s such a hot day. I’m afraid they won’t last long.”
Having taken the Spice Shops, Madam Wan was in a much better mood. There was no need to further offend Su Shuyao. “Shuyao, what did Mama Wu and Shuqi do?” You are reading on novelping(.)com, the official source.
Su Shuyao answered softly, “Last month when building the small garden, Mama Wu reported 100 taels, but it actually only cost 5. The day before yesterday after curfew, Shuqi and the gate servants drank and gambled.”
“By the rules, both should be beaten and thrown out.”
Upon hearing this, Mama Wu and Shuqi began kowtowing and crying out to Madam Wan.
“Madam, our crimes aren’t that serious! Please show mercy!”
Su Mingzhu gasped softly, speaking with a hint of timidity, “Mama Wu is one of your personal maids, Mother. Can’t we give her a chance?”
Driving away Madam Wan’s personal maid would be a public slap to her face.
Driving away Shuqi would show no respect to her elder brother.
No wonder Su Shuyao worked herself to the bone for the Marquis Residence and still gained nothing. She just didn’t know how to play the game.
Madam Wan rolled her prayer beads and said, “Now that the Inner Household Affairs have been handed over, the residence matters are no longer your concern.”
“Mingzhu, you handle these two.”
Su Mingzhu gracefully walked up to Mama Wu and Shuqi and announced generously, “This time, I’ll let it go. You’ll be docked two months of wages. If you repeat it again, punishment will be severe.”
“Thank you, Second Miss, for your mercy!”
“Second Miss, you’re so kindhearted!”
Su Shuyao watched Mama Wu and Shuqi shower Su Mingzhu with gratitude and felt nothing.
Shuqi would offend again. Drinking and gambling after curfew meant the door would often be opened at night. If someone sneaked in, the Marquis Residence losing property was nothing—if it tarnished the girls’ reputations, it would be disastrous.
In her past life, that’s exactly what happened. Because the servants drank and gambled, a poor scholar sneaked into the residence and had secret meetings with her younger sister. Her sister then insisted on marrying the man.
Not only that, but Shuqi also lured Su Mingpei into gambling. When Su Shuyao discovered it and drove Shuqi away, Su Mingpei came personally to plead. She didn’t relent, and he held a grudge.
As for Mama Wu, she used her status as Madam Wan’s maid to shamelessly extort money in the residence. If she wasn’t punished severely, other servants would follow suit. That would rot the very foundation.
Even the tallest tree couldn’t survive if ants gnawed at its roots.
Su Mingzhu only knew how to act kind on the surface. She couldn’t see the deeper threat. With the Inner Household Affairs now in Su Mingzhu’s hands, the decline of the Marquis Residence was only a matter of time.
Having gotten what she wanted, Madam Wan was content. “Shuyao, you’re not steady or meticulous enough in handling matters, and your manners aren’t refined either. If you still want to manage the household, you should learn from Mingzhu. It’s not that I don’t want you to continue managing the Inner Household Affairs. It’s just that you’re not fit for the role.”
Hearing this familiar belittlement, Su Shuyao just smiled and let it pass.
She was very steady. Everyone praised her conduct.
She was elegant and wise, unmatched by others.
She knew her own worth. Madam Wan’s opinion had nothing to do with it.
“Qiushuang, get ready. Today, we’re going out to eat something nice.”
“I heard there’s a new Wen Su Garden on West Street. Their pastries are supposed to be amazing.”
Qiushuang was stunned for a moment, then wiped her tears and said, “Miss, I’ll go prepare immediately.”
“I’ll also ask Mama Liu to hurry up and build the small kitchen.”
“I heard Mama Liu’s sister-in-law’s cat just had kittens. I’ll ask her to pick a pretty one to send over.”
Su Shuyao loved small animals. She had always wanted to keep a cat. But Madam Wan disliked them, thinking cats were unlucky and clashed with her. So Su Shuyao never mentioned it.
Now, she finally could.
She also wanted to redecorate her courtyard with everything she liked.
“Build a flower stand on the east side. Have the craftsman make a swing. Pull out all the chrysanthemums at the gate and replace them with freesias.”
Madam Wan liked chrysanthemums. To her, they symbolized nobility. She always compared herself to chrysanthemums. That was why they were planted everywhere in the Marquis Residence.
But Su Shuyao didn’t like them. She liked orchids.
Just as she finished giving orders, Mama Ni spoke up, “Miss, this old servant has something to say, though I don’t know if I should.”
Su Shuyao had three mamas at her side. Mama Liu and Mama Wang were left to her by the old madam. Mama Ni, however, was one of Madam Wan’s people.
As soon as she spoke, Su Shuyao knew she had come to deliver a warning from Madam Wan.
“If it’s something you shouldn’t say, then don’t.”
“Mama Ni, hand over the keys to the storage trunks. From today on, you’ll be in charge of sweeping duties with the junior maids. You’re no longer needed for room affairs.”
In an instant, Mama Ni was demoted from trusted housekeeper to a dispensable servant.
Mama Ni was displeased and tried to speak again, but Su Shuyao said calmly, “If you’re unhappy with the arrangement, you can return to Madam Wan.”
In her past life, Su Shuyao had thought being disliked by Madam Wan and the family was a major misfortune. She always felt she had let them down.
Only in this life did she realize—those who didn’t care about her were never worth caring about.
In this life, she didn’t care who they were.
As long as she was happy, that was enough.
After settling everything, Su Shuyao left the residence with Qiushuang.
It was time to open a new Spice Shop.