"Madam Jiang did indeed purchase a pearl worth three thousand five hundred taels from our shop a few days ago."
The shopkeeper's wife then turned to Jiang Shiyao, "Madam Jiang, may we temporarily remove this pearl? I don't wish to misunderstand you, nor do I want Yu Bao Tower to unjustly bear a bad reputation."
Jiang Shiyao nodded, "Of course, feel free to remove it, shopkeeper."
The shopkeeper's wife examined the embroidery with scissors for a long time but couldn't find where to start.
The embroidery showed no visible thread ends where the stitching was concealed.
"Madam's embroidery is truly exquisite. I can't bear to damage it. Could you possibly remove it yourself?"
"Certainly."
Instead of using scissors, Jiang Shiyao took an embroidery needle from her waist pouch and began picking at the threads from the back of the embroidery.
After carefully unraveling threads as tall as a person, she finally removed the pearl.
The shopkeeper's wife couldn't help but marvel, "No wonder I couldn't find it! So Madam Jiang attached the pearl to the final thread, making it completely seamless! Rather than sewing it on separately at the end."
Seeing them conversing with mutual admiration, Song Jiyun grew displeased.
"Determining authenticity is the main concern here! How can you two chat idly?!"
The shopkeeper's wife glanced at Song Jiyun, then held the pearl up to the daylight from the doorway.
The pearl was perfectly round and plump, lustrous and flawless white, glowing like moonlight.
It was an exceptionally rare, top-grade pearl!
Now confident, the shopkeeper's wife said, "Reporting to Old Madam, this pearl is indeed from Yu Bao Tower – we deceive neither children nor elders!"
Old Madam Zhou nodded, but before she could speak, Song Jiyun cut in.
"Does Yu Bao Tower dare to stake its entire shop on claiming this fake pearl?"
Though humble, the shopkeeper's wife was no coward. "Miss Song, your words are mistaken. Everything from our Yu Bao Tower is genuine. How could you call it fake?"
Song Jiyun looked back at Zisu.
Zisu stepped forward with her head bowed. "This maid grew up by the seaside and worked for many years as a pearl diver with my mother."
"I wouldn't dare speak carelessly about other jewels, but with pearls, I'm confident I can distinguish real from fake."
The shopkeeper's wife smiled. "Young lady, if you were truly a pearl diver, you should know the characteristics of genuine pearls."
She held the pearl before Zisu's eyes. "The real cannot be faked, nor the fake made real. Look carefully, miss."
The lustrous pearl emitted a gentle radiance.
Zisu's eyes widened instantly.
This… this is real!
How could it be…
She hadn't been mistaken earlier.
She turned to her mistress. "Miss, this… this is genuine…"
Song Jiyun's face immediately darkened.
Old Madam Zhou cast a displeased look at Song Jiyun and her maid.
"Just because you were a pearl diver for a few years, you dare to judge authenticity recklessly? Fortunately, this is among family. If it were in public, wouldn't it be utterly embarrassing!"
Song Jiyun's face flushed with alternating shades of red and green, then she shot a fierce glare at Zisu.
"Aunt Grandmother, this is a birthday gift for the Empress Dowager. We must be cautious rather than careless. Yun'er was only worried something might go wrong."
Old Madam Zhou, "Your intentions were good, but you were too trusting of others."
She then turned and said, "Thank you for your trouble, shopkeeper's wife."
"It's my duty." The shopkeeper's wife bowed respectfully.
She then handed the pearl back to Jiang Shiyao. "Madam's embroidery skills are unparalleled. Today has been an eye-opening experience!"
A faint smile touched Jiang Shiyao's lips. "You flatter me, shopkeeper's wife."
Watching the shopkeeper's wife depart, Song Jiyun nearly ground her teeth to dust.
Under the cover of wide sleeves, she pinched the soft flesh at Zisu's waist and twisted it hard.
"This account will be settled with you later!"
Zisu's face turned pale again and again.
Old Madam Zhou resumed her benevolent demeanor.
"Enough, it's all a misunderstanding. Jiang Shi's 'Auspicious Beast Holding a Pearl' is already excellent. There's no need to embroider any peaches. Once the eyes are added, I'll personally deliver it to White Horse Temple to receive the worship of thousands."
Jiang Shiyao deliberately glanced at Song Jiyun.
"Yes, it can be completed today."
She knew Song Jiyun couldn't tolerate being slighted.
A single glance would make her imagine all sorts of things.
Song Jiyun felt as if she had been slapped hard by Jiang Shiyao's glance!
That look seemed to say: Although Miss Song tried to cheat, this embroidery is already perfect and doesn't need Miss Song's peaches.
"Aunt, how can a birthday gift not have longevity peaches!"
"Yun'er has been waiting for Niangzi Jiang's embroidery for so long!"
Song Jiyun had lost all reason.
Originally, she only wanted to damage the embroidery by adding peaches to make Jiang Shiyao lose face before the Zhou family.
Now, she had changed her mind!
Receiving worship, is it? She would make Jiang Shiyao's embroidery cause a huge scandal throughout the capital!
Old Madam Zhou frowned. Although this girl wasn't particularly clever normally, she would never stoop to competing with a concubine. Why was she being so irrational today?
Old Madam Zhou refused outright, "There are only slightly over two months left before the wedding, which is already rushed. You should focus on preparing for the wedding!"
Song Jiyun stepped forward and took the embroidery from Gao Mama.
"Aunt, it's just a longevity peach – it won't take much time. Yun'er can deliver it tomorrow, it won't delay the worship at White Horse Temple."
Jiang Shiyao opened her palm, "Miss Song, would you like me to embroider the pearl first?"
Without even looking, Song Jiyun snatched the pearl, "Not necessary!"
Jiang Shiyao touched the three-thousand-five-hundred-tael pearl in her sleeve, a genuine smile blooming on her face.
What she had embroidered earlier was a fake – Zisu hadn't been mistaken.
The shopkeeper's wife hadn't been wrong either, which was why she felt something was off and wanted to remove it for inspection.
But when she was removing the pearl, Jiang Shiyao had switched it for a real one.
Just now, she had openly given Song Jiyun a fake.
This time.
Whether it's real or fake.
Everything has nothing more to do with her.
Jiang Shiyao smiled with curved eyes, "Miss Song, I don't need your grand apology gift. I only hope this embroidery will achieve a beautiful outcome."
"You!—"
As Song Jiyun turned around, Zhou Congxian, who had been motionless until now, stepped between them.
Song Jiyun stared with reddened eyes at the man blocking her way.
"Brother Congxian, you.".. you're just standing by watching her…"
Zhou Congxian glanced at his grandmother, "Grandmother, your grandson takes his leave first."
He pulled Song Jiyun out with him.
Leaving Jiang Shiyao alone.
Old Madam Zhou looked at the dazed Jiang Shiyao, first with a cold expression, then sighed.
"You didn't touch the chestnut cakes today – take them all back with you."
"Yun'er has a simple mind that's easy to see through. You're a smart person – you should know what choice you ultimately need to make."
"Not just for yourself, but for Fu'er, and for your future children."
The corner of Jiang Shiyao's mouth twitched slightly.
Only after a moment did she gently curve her lips and say, "Old Madam's advice is correct. This concubine understands."
Hah, for myself? For Fu'er?
How nicely put.
They're all heartless, ungrateful people. Why should her and Fu'er's lives be controlled by such vicious women!
Jiang Shiyao carried two heavy packages of pastries.
At the crossroads, three branching paths stretched out, with a cluster of bamboo obscuring any figures.
Faint voices could be heard drifting through.
"She's just an insignificant concubine from one of the households. As the future mistress, surely you can show some tolerance?"
Zhou Congxian coaxed her gently.
Song Jiyun replied discontentedly, "It's not that I lack tolerance, but she openly challenged me. As the legitimate daughter of the Song family, what face would I have left?"
"They say husband and wife are one. A slap to my face is no different from a slap to yours."
Jiang Shiyao didn't want to hear any more.
She forced back the tears welling in her eyes.
Her fists clenched tightly in her sleeves as she turned and walked away.
Since she had been reborn, why should she grieve over such trivial matters?
After noon,
Zhou Congxian arrived carrying the rabbit kite.
Having promised to take them to Golden Ming Lake to fly kites, he wouldn't break his word.
Zhou Congxian stood in the courtyard, one hand behind his back, the other holding the kite.
Wei Xun searched every room, only to find that the only living souls in the entire courtyard were himself and the Young Lord.
"Young Lord, there's no one here."
"No one?" Zhou Congxian was taken aback. "But I clearly informed them. How could they not be here?"
Zhou Congxian frowned deeply as he gazed at the empty small courtyard.
Meanwhile, a small carriage with a blue canopy had already crossed Fengshui Bridge and was heading toward the southern city gate.
There was a flat-topped mound in the southern suburbs, perfect for flying kites.
Shuangjiang led Fu'er to fly the kite.
Jiang Shiyao stood by the carriage as He Mama pointed to a section of the city wall. "The master has found a warehouse here."
"The southern gate is close to the official road to Jinzhou. Many merchants have their warehouses in this area."
Jiang Shiyao nodded. "Hidden among the merchants' warehouses, it won't attract attention."
Fu'er came running over, sweating profusely. "Mama, mama! Sister Shuangjiang got the kite up in the air!"
Her almond-shaped eyes sparkled brightly.
Little Bone came chasing after her, barking excitedly, his tail wagging so vigorously it seemed ready to fly off.
Since returning from White Horse Temple, he had stayed obediently with them in the small courtyard, going nowhere.
Only today did he finally have a place to run free.
Jiang Shiyao took a water pouch from the carriage and gave Fu'er a drink. The little girl then dashed off again in a flash.
He Mama continued, "The master asked me to inquire how long we should rent the warehouse for."
Jiang Shiyao calculated the time until Zhou Congxian's wedding—about two and a half months.
It would be appropriate to start purchasing provisions like rice and flour for the household about half a month in advance.
"Rent it for two months."
"Two months?" He Mama sounded doubtful. "Can we sell so much grain in just two months?"
Jiang Shiyao smiled. "By then, it won't even be enough to meet the demand."
Jinzhou produced grain and was close to the capital.
Most of the capital's grain came from Jinzhou, with the remainder sourced from the farmlands around the capital.
Jinzhou had been raining for over a month, and already, unease was beginning to stir in the capital.
If Jinzhou failed, the capital would face a year of famine.
But if the rain stopped this month in Jinzhou, they could still manage the final spring planting.
If it continued, grain prices in the capital would skyrocket.
In her previous life, confined within the deep chambers of the mansion, Jiang Shiyao's only realization was that the household had started eating old rice, with the only new rice reserved solely for Old Madam Zhou.
For Zhou Congxian's grand wedding, there was a shortage of grains and rice, which were eventually purchased at a high price.
Jiang Shiyao had no intention of profiting from the hard-earned money of common folks.
She only wanted to earn money from the Zhou residence—this would serve as funds for raising Fu'er and her future dowry when she came of age and married!
"By the way, Madam, the master asked if you would like to acquire a grain procurement team."
"Grain procurement team?"
"Yes, it's the trade caravan of grain merchants."
Jiang Shiyao recalled the day when the attendant at the carriage and horse shop mentioned that outbound trade caravans could also be arranged…
If she had her own trade caravan, even if her escape were discovered, she could use the caravan to create misleading traces.
She immediately turned to He Mama.
"Yes, acquire it!"