Song Jiyun stared at the embroidery in Jiang Shiyao's hands, the exquisite auspicious beast head appearing so vivid it seemed to come alive.
How could this be…
Jiang Shiyao presented the embroidery to Old Madam.
She then explained, "Old Madam, this is the birthday gift for Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, embroidered with such an auspicious beast. How could I dare to be careless?"
"Yesterday, Mingyu, who used to serve by my side, committed an offense. I couldn't bear to see her lose her life, so I went to plead for mercy, but unfortunately, she injured me. The Young Lord, fearing my injury might frighten Fu'er, permitted me to stay in the courtyard."
As she spoke, her face flushed with embarrassment. "I… I had my monthly courses. The Young Lord didn't… we didn't…"
Old Madam Zhou's expression stiffened momentarily.
Gao Mama quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "It's all those gossiping maids in the courtyard! Old Madam's kindness has spoiled them beyond measure!"
She added, "Perhaps Miss Song and Niangzi Jiang both saw the same auspicious beast at White Horse Temple."
"Both of you drew designs of the auspicious beast presenting peaches—this must be fate. This piece will surely win Her Majesty the Empress Dowager's favor!"
Old Madam Zhou nodded slightly, her fingers tracing the dense, fine stitches of the auspicious beast.
"Send away those gossiping maids. This household has become as porous as a sieve these days. I may be old and unable to manage everything, but can I not even control this courtyard?"
"Yes, Madam."
Gao Mama glanced at Song Jiyun before turning and leaving.
Song Jiyun finally collected herself, forcing a stiff smile as she handed her embroidery to Old Madam Zhou.
"Niangzi Jiang and I actually had the same idea."
"The embroidery craftsmanship is exceptional. Once completed, it will surely be dazzling. I can't wait to see its splendor."
Jiang Shiyao pursed her lips in a shy smile. "I have no particular talents, only some skill in embroidery. Being able to share Old Madam's worries is my good fortune."
At this point, she lifted her clear, translucent eyes to look at Song Jiyun.
"Although Miss Song's design coincides with mine, I believe Miss Song also intended to help share Old Madam's burdens."
"How about this: I will embroider the auspicious beast, and Miss Song can take care of the longevity peaches and the final detailing of the eyes."
Jiang Shiyao's smile was pure and innocent. "This way, it won't delay Miss Song's wedding preparations, yet still allow her to express her sentiments."
Old Madam Zhou pondered briefly before nodding. "Very well."
If this birthday gift truly caught the Empress Dowager's eye, it could also earn Yun'er a good reputation. By then, no matter how much Zhao Shi complained, she would have nothing to say.
Meanwhile, Song Jiyun's expression nearly cracked.
Her wedding dress was being embroidered by hired seamstresses at home—she only needed to make the final stitch for it to be considered made by her own hands…
As she looked into Jiang Shiyao's eyes, for some reason, she detected a hint of provocation in their calm, unruffled depths.
Since she dared to hand this over to me, she shouldn't blame me for tampering with it. When the gift is damaged right before entering the palace, let's see how she handles it!
Then, when I present an exquisite piece of embroidery, I'll be the savior of the Duke's household!
Thinking this, she met Jiang Shiyao's gaze with a beaming smile.
"Very well. Please deliver it to the Song residence when the time comes, Niangzi Jiang."
When Jiang Shiyao returned from Old Madam's quarters, anyone could see she was in high spirits.
Fu'er was sprawled over the small table, whining and fidgeting, having long lost patience.
Mother told her to write properly, and she had already written so, so much!
Why wasn't Mother back yet?
Shuangjiang glanced at Fu'er, then secretly pulled out the letter she had been keeping warm in her sleeve.
Looking at the bold, powerful strokes of the handwriting, she slowly blushed.
Last time when buying silk threads for Niangzi Jiang, I seized the opportunity to meet with her.
Several days had passed since then. She noticed the threads on the rack had diminished considerably, yet Niangzi Jiang hadn't asked for more to be purchased.
With fewer chances to go out now, if she had known earlier, she would have bought fewer threads back then…
"A-Niang!" Fu'er suddenly sprang up from behind the desk.
Startled, Shuangjiang hastily stuffed the letter into her sleeve.
But when she looked up, there was no one there.
"You scared me to death, young miss!" Shuangjiang let out a long sigh of relief.
Fu'er, who had already run to the doorway, turned back. "A-Niang isn't scary at all."
Shuangjiang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I wasn't talking about your A-Niang."
Fu'er tilted her little head. "Fu'er isn't scary either."
"I wasn't talking about Fu'er either…"
Before she could finish her sentence, Jiang Shiyao's figure appeared in both their sights.
"What's going on?"
Fu'er immediately forgot Shuangjiang's words and rushed toward her mother.
"It really is you, A-Niang! Fu'er didn't mishear!"
Jiang Shiyao picked up her daughter and weighed her in her arms. "Why is Fu'er so happy today?"
Fu'er kissed her mother's cheeks repeatedly. "Fu'er loves A-Niang so much!"
"Why was A-Niang gone for so long? Fu'er missed you too much!"
Jiang Shiyao beamed with joy. "This little mouth is as sweet as honey. Did Sister Shuangjiang give you preserved fruits?"
Fu'er's attention was instantly diverted, her little head nodding like a chicken pecking at rice!
"Fu'er wants preserved fruits."
Shuangjiang shook her head with a smile. "Young miss, I don't have any preserved fruits."
Jiang Shiyao set Fu'er down. "Shuangjiang, go out and buy some preserved fruits. While you're at it, get some more silk threads. I'll write you a list."
The surprise came too suddenly. Shuangjiang stood up abruptly.
Belatedly realizing she was too excited, she slowly sat back down.
Stammering, she found an excuse for herself. "R-right now? He Mama went to the flower garden and hasn't returned yet."
Jiang Shiyao pretended not to see the corner of the letter peeking out from Shuangjiang's sleeve.
"It's fine. I'll play with Fu'er for a while."
Shuangjiang went out.
Through the window, Jiang Shiyao saw that Shuangjiang had specifically changed clothes before leaving.
She actually couldn't quite remember who Shuangjiang's sweetheart was, only knowing he was a scholar.
Rather than staying here and losing her life, it would be better for her to go live a decent life with the scholar.
Jiang Shiyao gazed at the beast head on the embroidery frame, her thoughts growing heavy.
With a creak.
He Mama returned.
Jiang Shiyao placed her daughter on the bamboo couch and gave her a Luban lock to play with.
In the outer hall, He Mama was full of worries.
As soon as Niangzi Jiang came out, she tremblingly took out a small blue bundle hidden in her bosom.
"Niangzi, it's all done."
Two brand-new official silver ingots, though the seals on the bottom had all been melted away by fire.
Jiang Shiyao asked, "How much silver is there in total?"
He Mama replied, "There is… there is ten thousand taels…"
She had never seen so much money in her entire life!
Jiang Shiyao frowned. Digging out ten thousand taels couldn't have happened without causing some commotion.
"There must be silver certificates too."
"Yes… yes…"
"The silver certificates can't be taken." Jiang Shiyao lowered her voice. "The certificates have draft numbers, issuers, and depositors."
"Cashing one or two might not attract attention, but several thousand taels worth of silver certificates? Do you want to get yourselves beheaded!"
Jiang Shiyao dared to conclude that this silver had dubious origins. Thirty years ago, it likely had connections to the old Duke of Yingguo.
Right now, she couldn't afford to dwell on these old matters. She only wanted to safely use this silver to buy and store grain!
He Mama was terrified. "Th-then what should we do? Put it all back?"
She couldn't understand why Niangzi Jiang had become so bold lately!
She only wanted to take a little silver to pay off her husband's gambling debts, yet Niangzi Jiang wanted to secretly dig up all the silver!
Jiang Shiyao said, "Put the silver certificates back, but use all the silver to buy grain!"
"Buy grain?" He Mama was so astonished she forgot her fear.
"Buy all the grain. In two months, we'll reap triple the profit!"
"How… how does the lady know this?"
"Don't worry about the rest. Just have your husband handle it. We'll split the profits fifty-fifty. If he stops gambling, this money will be enough for you two to live comfortably for three lifetimes!"
Three lifetimes…
He Mama's mouth fell open, as if she could already see her future as a wealthy madam.
"Alright, alright… I'll go right now."
Gardener He Dayou patted the silver hidden at his waist and staggered out through the side gate.
He couldn't understand – why use thousands of taels of silver to buy grain?
When he found himself heading toward the gambling den out of habit, he realized he'd taken the wrong path again.
He slapped his forehead. "Why did I come here again?"
"Hey! Brother Dayou! Since you're already here, why not come in!"
Just as he turned to leave, the gambling den manager hooked an arm around his neck.
"No more gambling, no more. If I keep this up, my wife will leave me."
The manager laughed heartily. "Brother Dayou, still henpecked I see!"
"What are you afraid of? Play a couple rounds. If you win back your losses, won't your wife treat you like royalty when you return home!"
He Dayou couldn't help glancing into the gambling den.
Last time he'd been broke, but the next bet would have been the winning one. With money now, he could do more than just break even!
Seeing his hesitation, the manager signaled to the workers at the door.
Immediately, two young women approached, sweetly calling him "Brother He" as they coaxed him inside.
The gambling den was such a place.
Even if a beggar came, he'd leave behind his last two copper coins.
Both He Dayou and He Mama worked at the Duke of Ying's Residence, so they should have saved up some family assets.
Unfortunately, He Dayou was a hopeless gambler who had not only lost all their savings…
But there wasn't a single servant or maid in the entire Duke's residence whom He Dayou hadn't borrowed money from.
Now that He Dayou had silver on him, how could they possibly let him leave the gambling den?
"Again!!"
He Dayou, red-eyed with gambling fever, threw his last ten taels of silver onto the table.
The gambling den manager leaned against the doorframe, watching He Dayou who had lost himself completely to gambling.
"How much has he gambled today?"
The worker held up one finger. "One hundred."
"One hundred taels?" The manager raised an eyebrow. "Isn't he just a gardener at the Duke of Ying's Residence? Where did he get so much silver?"
"Who knows?" said the worker. "I've heard that wealthy families spend silver like water to grow peonies. Maybe this guy embezzled some of that money."
The manager said, "Don't lend him any money today. If this gets too big, it'll be hard to handle."
"Got it."
A young man preparing to enter overheard their entire conversation.
His gaze fell on the familiar figure inside.
A smirk curled at the corner of his mouth. "He Dayou, you've fallen into my hands today. Too bad for you!"