The Jiang family had previously opened several shops in the county town. Although their business was doing well, the time was still short, and the accumulated wealth was not enough to be considered significant in the capital.
Songyin was also aware of the Jiang family’s plan to open a pastry shop.
A few days ago, she had been busy adding several types of floral teas to the pastry shop to help cut through the richness. The idea for the floral teas had naturally been suggested by Jiang Tan’er. In the past, Jiang Tan’er’s sudden and varied proposals had always caught her eye and earned her full admiration.
However, while Jiang Tan’er had many ideas, her abilities were not quite up to par.
Knowing nothing about the ingredients, proportions, or effects of the floral teas, it fell to Songyin to step in.
Although she had now returned to the Xie family, she had already written out all the floral tea recipes clearly and given them to Jiang Tan’er a month earlier.
What she had given Jiang Tan’er was not limited to just the floral tea recipes.
In the restaurant the Jiang family had opened in the county town, she had provided various medicinal dishes, health-preserving recipes for Jiang Tan’er’s parents, beauty and skincare recipes for Jiang Tan’er herself. The eldest son of the Jiang family had previously suffered from leg ailments but could now walk briskly, all thanks to her. She had even given Jiang Erlang many refreshing and mind-clearing pills and incense for use while studying and practicing calligraphy…
And these were only the direct benefits.
Originally, the Jiang family had lived in a small village and did not have particularly good relationships with others. However, after Jiang Tan’er pushed her to offer free medical consultations, the Jiang family gradually gained more respect.
In the past, she had never paid much attention to these matters because most of the villagers were ignorant. Many doubted her medical skills due to her youth, and whenever someone questioned her abilities, Jiang Tan’er would bravely step forward, fearlessly defending and supporting her.
Because of Jiang Tan’er’s actions, she had completely overlooked how much she had contributed to these matters and what she had gained in return.
Those whose lives she had saved, due to Jiang Tan’er’s persuasive words, like Qu Zhongjie, attributed the life-saving favor to the Jiang family.
Some capable individuals even assisted Jiang Tan’er in the county town.
When the Jiang family moved to the capital, they had no need to worry about their past businesses, as there were both helpers and influential connections in the county town. Even without the Jiang family present, their businesses remained unaffected.
At this moment, Songyin was reorganizing the recipes she had given away in the past.
She wrote them out one by one, forming a thick stack.
She was the female lead’s close friend, but in reality…
Even the old workhorse of a farm wasn’t as hardworking as she was.
“Does our family have any shops?” Songyin asked the newly assigned maid, Lanhua, who stood beside her.
The maid prepared for her by the Xie family was not young. On the day she arrived, she had noticed this maid standing beside Madam Meng, likely one of Madam Meng’s trusted confidantes. Sending such a maid to her side spoke volumes—attending to and caring for her were secondary; the important task was to keep an eye on her to prevent her from harming the Xie family.
Madam Meng’s wariness of her was undoubtedly the family’s collective intention, but she didn’t mind.
In the past, she had done too much for Jiang Tan’er, and after coming to the capital, she had even harmed Xie Yingyue. If the Xie family held no reservations toward her, that would be truly alarming.
“The fields bestowed by His Majesty are plentiful, but there are few shops. Our family is not skilled in business and only collects rent each year,” Lanhua replied with great respect and caution, while also observing Songyin intently.
As someone close to Madam Meng, she knew things that other servants in the household did not.
Madam said, this eldest young lady’s authenticity is unknown, and she possesses unusual abilities—we must be on guard. If there is any movement from the young lady, report it immediately!
“That’s a pity,” Songyin remarked casually, then handed the stack of prescriptions to Lanhua, saying, “Have the steward in front sell these things. Sell them to several shops, and it doesn’t matter if the price is a bit lower.”
“Sell all of them?” Lanhua was startled.
She had been watching the eldest young lady for a long time, and she had done nothing all day but write these things.
They were all secret formulas!
“Sell them,” Songyin didn’t feel any regret. These things held little value to her.
After all, the Xie family were nobles and shouldn’t compete with the common people for profit. Their shops could only operate within permitted limits. If they suddenly caused a big stir, they would surely face impeachment.
Since she could give these things to Jiang Tan’er, she could also give them to others.
Rather than letting Jiang Tan’er use these things to annoy her, it was better to spread them out and let others annoy Jiang Tan’er. However, the items couldn’t be sold to just one shop. Once Jiang Tan’er’s competitors became too obvious, those who bought these things from her would be targeted and wouldn’t end up well.
Lanhua didn’t dare ask further and could only comply.
“Xie Jiyan attends the academy in the capital, right?” Songyin asked again.
Lanhua’s heart tightened. Here it comes—the eldest young lady is going to take revenge for Second Young Master cutting off her arm!
“Yes,” Lanhua replied calmly, speaking quickly.
“Give him the Health-Boosting Decoction, Tranquilizing Powder, and Vitality Pill from these prescriptions. Tell him to gift these things to the scholars at the academy. Also, remind him that these are the same items used by the Jiang family’s second son. If Xie Jiyan wants to use these prescriptions to earn some silver, that’s fine too, as long as he doesn’t go too far,” Songyin added.
“…” Lanhua was even more shocked.
Madam clearly said the eldest young lady was here for revenge, but is this how revenge is done?
Filled with suspicion, she carried these things out of the room. She didn’t dare go directly to the steward to handle the matter but instead went to Madam first, relaying everything word for word.
Madam Meng took the prescriptions but couldn’t make sense of them, so she had the family physician check if there were any issues.
The family physician glanced at them and was astonished. “Where did Madam find so many prescriptions? The person who formulated these must be an expert, with an exceptional understanding of medicinal herbs and their properties. Prescriptions are usually closely guarded secrets—how could someone produce so many at once?”
“…” Madam Meng didn’t know what to say.
The master had just returned from the prince’s residence, saying Dàláng’s official position had been resolved.
He also said Old Imperial Uncle was very fond of those medicinal pills, and their effects were excellent. Old Imperial Uncle probably wouldn’t be angry with their family anymore…
Before she could fully process this, Songyin had given so many prescriptions. What difference was there between this and handing out silver? If the family kept a copy of these prescriptions and passed them down safely, even if the Xie family declined in future generations, their descendants could still live a stable life using these formulas…
How could she not be shocked?
Her son had just attacked Songyin, and instead of retaliating, she was letting him use the prescriptions to gain favor?!
Even scattering flowers like a celestial maiden wouldn’t be this generous!
Could it be… Songyin was truly surnamed Xie?
“She really said to give them all away, right?” Madam Meng asked again.
Lanhua nodded with utmost seriousness.
Madam Meng let out a sigh: “First, copy it once, especially this beauty-preserving recipe—keep it for me… According to what she said, have Second Young Master go to the academy to handle the matter. Oh, right, didn’t the eldest young lady mention earlier that she wanted to fill in the small pond in the courtyard to make room for medicine shelves?”
“Yes, just yesterday, the master said to wait a few months before deciding,” the servant promptly replied.
“What’s there to wait for? It’s just a pond. Get some soil to fill and level it, then have someone take care of it. That way, the eldest young lady won’t keep thinking about it. Lanhua, you’re always running over to my side, so her place is short-handed. Go pick a few capable maids to serve in the eldest young lady’s courtyard, so she won’t be without help.” Madam Meng quickly added.
From the looks of it now, Songyin meant no harm at all.
Since that was the case, she had to make her attitude clear and avoid giving anyone a reason to find fault.
“Mother?” Xie Yingyue had just entered the door when she heard her mother’s hurried arrangements, her face full of astonishment.