Old Madam Zhou massaged her temples, distressed that the perfectly good birthday gift had been ruined.
"Enough. Take this maid away and have her sold off by the human trafficker. Even after being sent to the estate, she still stirs up trouble."
"Jiang Shi shall reflect on her mistakes behind closed doors for failing to discipline properly. Yun'er, you should return home and focus on preparing for your marriage instead of running around aimlessly."
Song Jiyun felt somewhat unwilling to accept this outcome. Even this couldn't push Jiang Shiyao to her death.
She feared it would only become more difficult in the future.
Jiang Shiyao watched as the maid was taken away while still shouting that she had been the one who instigated it, feeling a chill run through her heart.
If this scheme had succeeded and she had been convicted, it would have meant certain death.
Her gaze fell upon Song Jiyun.
Yet the mastermind behind it all remained completely unscathed.
As Jiang Shiyao walked back, the setting sun cast a long shadow behind her.
She walked extremely slowly.
Though the warm sunlight shone upon her, she felt bitterly cold.
Today they had targeted Mingyu and He Dayou.
If their scheme had been more meticulous, would she have died here today?
Zhou Congxian and Old Madam Zhou were both Song Jiyun's backing, while she had no one before or behind her.
Her fingers involuntarily curled. There were still over two months before she could leave.
When she reached the doorway, a small figure came rushing up to her.
The little girl hugged her leg sweetly, "Mother, you're finally back! Fu'er missed you so much!"
The gloom in Jiang Shiyao's heart was temporarily dispelled.
She bent down and picked up her daughter, "What was Fu'er doing?"
Fu'er wrapped her arms around her mother's neck, "Fu'er wrote lots of characters!"
"Mother said that if Fu'er writes properly, Father will like Fu'er."
Jiang Shiyao looked at Fu'er's smiling face, her eyes flickering.
Then she freed a hand to tap her daughter's little nose, "Yes, Fu'er is absolutely right!"
Whether in her previous life or this one, before Song Jiyun entered the household, Zhou Congxian had never treated their daughter poorly.
Jiang Shiyao kissed her little cheek, "For now, Fu'er protects Mother."
Once we leave, Mother will protect Fu'er.
She didn't speak this second part aloud.
Shuangjiang and He Mama came forward to meet them, both sighing with relief.
Shuangjiang held a willow branch dipped in water and swept it around her, murmuring incantations.
"Drive away misfortune, drive away misfortune, leaving only fortune and wisdom."
Jiang Shiyao laughed, "You're acting as if I just got out of prison."
"Madam, this servant was terrified to death! If the White Horse Temple's sacred statue had been damaged by fire because of your offerings, wouldn't you have ended up in jail!"
Shuangjiang patted her chest, "Fortunately nothing happened, fortunately nothing happened."
Jiang Shiyao said, "For the next few days, let's not go out. It's safer to stay in our small courtyard."
In the following days, Jiang Shiyao focused on completing Zhao Shi's birthday gift.
Perhaps because Old Madam Zhou's birthday gift had been burned, Zhao Shi didn't seem to have the heart to rush Jiang Shiyao about the gift.
It seemed her only pleasure was competing wins and losses with her mother-in-law.
The money she currently had wasn't enough yet. She still needed to make Zhao Shi willingly provide more funds to continue working on the birthday gift.
Jiang Shiyao embroidered by the window.
Shuangjiang moved the small table into the courtyard. The weather today was neither too sunny nor too cloudy—just perfect for little Fu'er to practice writing.
He Mama returned, carrying a small basket.
Fu'er watched with round, curious eyes.
He Mama chuckled as she took out a package of pastries from the basket, "Chestnut cakes."
"Aunt He is the best!" Fu'er nearly jumped for joy.
Seeing that He Mama had returned, Jiang Shiyao turned and went back into the inner room.
He Mama followed her inside, glanced outside, then closed the door behind them.
"Niangzi, you were absolutely right! The master says they're now hoarding grain at all the grain shops!"
Speaking excitedly, He Mama turned the empty basket over, pulled open the hidden bottom layer, and retrieved the account books from within.
The master said that according to Niangzi Jiang's promise, they could expect to share at least three to four thousand taels!
They could return to their hometown, buy a hundred acres of farmland, purchase two maidservants, and live as gentry wives!
Jiang Shiyao took the account books. "The current grain purchase price remains relatively stable. We can still acquire more from slightly farther areas."
"Farther areas? Should we have the master organize trade caravans?"
"No trade caravans—they attract too much attention. The granary has few people now, so we must proceed with caution."
Jiang Shiyao pondered for a moment. "No farther than three hours' journey. Any more distant isn't advisable."
He Mama nodded in agreement. "Yes, the money we've earned is already sufficient!"
The next day, Jiang Shiyao brought the finally completed embroidery to show Zhao Shi.
Zhao Shi glanced at it briefly, initially startled, then waved her hand dismissively. "Leave it there."
Just as Jiang Shiyao was about to say more, she fell silent at these words, set down the embroidery, and prepared to take her leave.
Coincidentally, the Duke returned at that moment.
Zhao Shi rose. "Your Grace."
Jiang Shiyao immediately stepped aside.
The Duke of Yingguo's attention was caught by a flash of white, and he turned to see the pure white piece on the table.
"What is this?"
Zhao Shi replied, "This is an embroidery of Guanyin made by Jiang Shi, intended as a birthday gift for the Empress Dowager. However, Mother has already arranged for red coral to be prepared."
The Duke picked it up for a closer look, his eyes lighting up. "It's actually a double-sided image!"
"From what I know, several families are presenting coral. This is far superior to coral!"
Jiang Shiyao spoke up at the opportune moment. "My skills are inadequate; the Guanyin image is still imperfect."
"Are you from Xian'er's household?" The Duke glanced at her.
"Yes." Jiang Shiyao lowered her eyes demurely.
The Duke nodded. "Fine craftsmanship. Have the accounts office reward her with one hundred taels later."
Zhao Shi snorted. "If you wish to use Jiang Shi's embroidery, Your Grace had better speak to Mother yourself."
The Duke dismissed this casually. "I'll speak to her then!"
Jiang Shiyao left the incomplete embroidery behind and returned.
She had deliberately timed her visit to Zhao Shi to coincide with the Duke's return to the residence.
The auspicious beast offering peaches had been burned, so the Old Madam would certainly not use anything she embroidered.
But if the Duke of Yingguo made the request, it would be different.
Now, she only needed to wait to collect the money.
After noon, Xiang Mama from Zhao Shi's retinue came to summon her to accompany Zhao Shi on an outing.
Jiang Shiyao agreed with a smiling response.
Zhao Shi didn't trust her, but that didn't matter.
Today was the day to collect the money.
At Yu Bao Tower, Wen Niangzi brought out all the rubies from the shop's inventory.
"Your Grace, these are all the rubies in our humble shop."
Zhao Shi instructed, "See which of these would look best inlaid in this Guanyin likeness."
When Wen Niangzi had last seen this embroidery of Guanyin, only the crown on the head was completed.
Now finished, Guanyin's face radiated kindness and compassion, while the lotus throne beneath was vividly lifelike, resembling a truly blooming red lotus.
She couldn't help but sigh in admiration. "This embroidery is beyond compare."
A smile surfaced in Zhao Shi's eyes. "If it can bring even a slight smile to the Empress Dowager, it will have been worth it."
Madam Wen glanced at the door and couldn't resist leaning closer. "Madam, to be frank with you, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager once instructed His Highness the Prince to find a Guanyin statue with exceptional divine features."
"Many have been sought, but none have been satisfactory. This Guanyin painting might catch the Empress Dowager's eye."
Only then did Zhao Shi recall that Yu Bao Tower was Cheng Wang's property.
As the manager of Yu Bao Tower, if Madam Wen said the Guanyin's divine features were excellent, it might truly be worthy of the Empress Dowager's attention.
"If it truly pleases Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, I must invite you, Manager Madam, to the manor for tea."
Madam Wen replied, "You're too kind, Madam. I've contributed neither effort nor labor. Though I'll shamelessly accept the tea, I dare not accept such an honorific."
"It's just that for these divine features, we cannot use rubies."
Zhao Shi was puzzled. "Why not?"
Madam Wen shook her head. "I don't know, but I heard that several Guanyin statues with red dots between their brows, which His Highness found, were all smashed."
Zhao Shi was astonished, then sighed softly. "Thank you for the advice, Manager Madam."
"What should we use for the space between the brows then?Madam Wen had someone bring out all the treasured gemstones.
But after comparing them one by one, none were satisfactory.
After a long while, she shook her head. "The most suitable is still that pearl."
"That one?"
"It's already embroidered on the previous 'Auspicious Beast Presenting a Peach' by Niangzi Jiang."
As she spoke, Madam Wen casually glanced at Jiang Shiyao.
If she wasn't mistaken, that pearl should now be in Niangzi Jiang's hands.
She just didn't know how Niangzi Jiang would bring this pearl back into the world and sell it to the Duchess.
While they were talking, a maid's voice came from the doorway. "Manager, there's a young man saying he has a family heirloom to sell to our tower."
Madam Wen asked, "A family heirloom? Why doesn't he take it to a pawnshop?"
The maid replied, "The young man said the pawnshops don't recognize its value and offered too low a price."
Madam Wen said, "Tell him to go elsewhere."
The maid hesitated, reluctant to let such a fine item slip away.
"Manager, it's a pearl of exceptional quality."
"A pearl?" Madam Wen instinctively glanced at Jiang Shiyao.
But she remained as composed as ever, her expression unwavering.
Zhao Shi's eyes lit up. "Bring it here! If it's suitable, I'll take it!"
When the maid returned, she held a simple cloth pouch, with no one following behind.
"The young man said he had to rush back to his duties. He'll leave the item here—if it sells, he'll collect the money; if not, he'll retrieve the item."
Zhao Shi had never seen anyone conduct business like this. She poured the pearl into her palm and examined it carefully.
"It's truly a fine piece. How much does he want for it?"
The maid said, "He wants five thousand."
"Five thousand?" Zhao Shi widened her eyes. "Go catch up with him and ask if four thousand will do."
The maid didn't move. "He'll sell. The young man said if anyone bargains, he'll accept four thousand."
Madam Wen nearly laughed aloud. A pearl bought for three thousand five hundred, now resold for four thousand.
The agreement came too quickly, and Zhao Shi still felt she had overpaid.
With the Empress Dowager's birthday approaching, if this painting could truly catch Her Majesty's eye, she would beg the Empress Dowager to bestow a marriage between Xian'er and Ruoshuang!
Then, even four thousand for the pearl would be worth it!
Zhao Shi paid promptly, and Jiang Shiyao immediately embroidered the pearl onto the painting.
Madam Wen promptly called for a master craftsman to mount the double-sided image.
After the previous 'Auspicious Beast Presenting a Peach' was burned, Zhao Shi personally supervised the entire process this time.
Jiang Shiyao retreated to the window. Outside, diagonally across, Xiao Man made a gesture to her before turning and disappearing into the crowd.
One pearl, inside and out.
Four thousand.
Her heart remained utterly calm—four thousand taels, all just to please the Empress Dowager.
Back then, she had only been sold for ten taels.
When Jiang Shiyao turned back, she saw Madam Wen watching her.
With a faint smile gracing her face, she gave a slight nod, and Madam Wen returned the smile in kind.