Wei Zhao sneered. The old man had gotten off too lightly. Otherwise, he would have sent someone to Wuzhou to quietly eliminate the old bastard.
When Old Madam Wei heard that Wei Zhao had given Jiang Yihuan a pharmacy, she had no objections. It was only a single shop.
The Wei family’s true wealth came from their estates. Shops were merely a small source of extra income. Owning too many businesses would make the family look like merchants, which was hardly respectable.
She had no intention of bothering Jiang Yihuan.
Unfortunately for her, Jiang Yihuan came knocking with the account books in her arms.
“Old Madam, now that I have a shop, I should learn how to manage its accounts. Wei Zhao said you’re the best at bookkeeping. Will you teach me?”
Jiang Yihuan had never handled business accounts before. Since the Old Madam had nothing better to do, she might as well teach her.
What could Old Madam Wei say?
She had no choice but to agree.
The young girl was bursting with energy, asking one question after another. It felt as though a hundred flies were buzzing around her head nonstop.
Her head throbbed.
“Old Madam, we’ve only gone through a few pages. Cheer up.”
“Old Madam, don’t fall asleep! Nanny, bring the Old Madam some tonic to keep her awake.”
Old Madam Wei clutched her chest.
For years, she’d done nothing except put on the airs of the family matriarch. It had been ages since she’d actually worked.
Ever since Jiang Yihuan arrived, she felt as though she had returned to the miserable days when she had to serve her own mother-in-law while dealing with demanding sisters-in-law beneath her.
Despite her aging eyes, she forced herself to teach Jiang Yihuan how to read the ledgers.
By evening, she was so exhausted she skipped dinner entirely and collapsed into bed.
Yet the evening meal had already been prepared—dozens of dishes—and all the daughters-in-law had gathered.
Jiang Yihuan instructed the servants to set out the meal.
“We can’t let all this food go to waste. Everyone, sit down and eat.”
The daughters-in-law hesitated.
If the Old Madam woke up, they would surely suffer for it.
Jiang Yihuan happily stuffed herself.
“The Old Madam’s snoring is shaking the roof. I tried so hard to wake her earlier, but she wouldn’t budge.”
Only then did the daughters-in-law dare to sit down and eat.
After being married into the family for so many years, this was the first time they had ever eaten in their mother-in-law’s quarters.
The Old Madam’s personal nanny secretly lamented.
The household has completely turned upside down. That little girl has taken over the room.
In the middle of the night, the Old Madam woke and heard what had happened.
Furious, she intended to summon Madam Heng and vent her anger.
Instead…
Jiang Yihuan arrived.
Her hair hung loose over her shoulders, and she looked bright-eyed and energetic.
“Old Madam, I stayed up all night waiting for you.”
Old Madam Wei was speechless.
“…Waiting for me?”
“You pretended to have no energy during the day and brushed me off. But at night, when you’re full of energy, you call Madam over to keep you company instead. I know—you look down on me and don’t want to teach me!”
The Old Madam’s hands trembled.
“…When did I ever look down on you?”
Of course she looked down on her!
She was nothing more than the country sister of an exiled criminal.
If not for Wei Zhao’s sake, why would she endure this torment?
All she wanted was to repair her relationship with her eldest grandson.
For several days in a row, Jiang Yihuan woke the Old Madam before dawn every morning and refused to let her nap during the day.
Soon, the Old Madam no longer had the energy to torment her daughters-in-law.
Instead, she was the one being tormented by Jiang Yihuan.
“Yihuan… why don’t you let Madam Heng teach you instead? She has plenty of energy and will surely teach you well.”
“But Old Madam, Madam Heng has to attend to you every day. How would she have time to teach me?”
The Old Madam immediately declared,
“Madam Heng, while you’re teaching Yihuan, you don’t need to come serve me.”
Madam Heng’s eyes filled with grateful tears.
“Yes. Thank you for your consideration, Mother.”
Compared to serving her mother-in-law, teaching Jiang Yihuan was infinitely easier.
When Wei Zhao returned home, Jiang Yihuan dragged him to Madam Heng’s courtyard for dinner.
Wei Zhao respectfully greeted Madam Heng and personally served her soup and rice.
Madam Heng’s eyes became moist.
It had been so long since the family had shared such a peaceful and harmonious meal.
Jiang Yihuan chimed in,
“When Wei Zhao’s father comes back, your whole family will finally be reunited.”
Wei Zhao remained silent.
If his father were recalled to the capital, it would likely be because the Emperor intended to keep him under house arrest to prevent him from causing trouble.
After dinner, Liang Jian summoned Wei Zhao away.
Jiang Yihuan rubbed her stomach as she strolled around to aid digestion.
Wei Zhilan looked at her with open disdain.
“You don’t even look seductive, yet somehow you’ve mastered every trick. You’re always seducing my brother and making him treat you so well.”
She wasn’t normally a spiteful person.
She simply couldn’t stand Jiang Yihuan.
Jiang Yihuan let out a small burp.
“I don’t really understand either. Why is your brother so distant toward you? Have you ever considered whether the problem lies with yourself?”
“You keep saying I stole your brother.”
“But before I came to the capital… how did your brother treat you?”
Wei Zhilan froze.
Before Jiang Yihuan arrived, her brother visited their mother only every few days.
He barely spoke, stayed for only a short while, then left.
Since Jiang Yihuan had come, no matter how late he worked, he always returned to the Wei residence.
Because of that, Wei Zhilan saw him much more often.
Sometimes she even caught him smiling.
Still, she stubbornly retorted,
“Don’t get so full of yourself! Your brother is a criminal. You’re not worthy of my brother. If he marries anyone, it’ll be a princess!”
Jiang Yihuan fell silent.
She had heard storytellers speak of princesses before.
Was Wei Zhao really going to marry a princess?
Eastern Residence
Wei Zhao asked Liang Jian,
“How is Sun Junchen?”
“He has been found by the Emperor’s men and is currently being escorted back to the capital.”
“Arrange an ambush before he reaches the capital. Capture him alive.”
Liang Jian was stunned.
The Emperor wanted Sun Junchen because he feared the man would rally the former followers of Crown Prince Zhangde into rebellion.
But why did his master want him?
Wei Zhao replied,
“Sun Junchen was absolutely loyal to Crown Prince Zhangde. I suspect the child he took away years ago may truly be the late Crown Prince’s surviving heir.”
“So… General, do you intend to support the Crown Prince’s heir?”
Wei Zhao looked at him as if he were an idiot.
“Do I look like I have nothing better to do?”
“Once I find Sun Junchen, I’ll use this matter to make them help me secure Jiangzhou.”
He already commanded the military forces of nine provinces and held overwhelming power within the court.
The current Crown Prince trusted him completely.
Why would he waste effort supporting someone else?
He then summoned the commanders from the seven provinces and distributed the gifts he had prepared.
Wei Zhao had always been fair in rewarding and punishing his subordinates, balancing authority with generosity.
The officers accepted the gifts cheerfully.
Staff Officer Cao noticed a small red sandalwood box on the table.
“General, what’s in that box? Can we have a look?”
Wei Zhao opened it.
Inside lay seven flawless Eastern pearls, each one lustrous and exquisite—the finest of their kind.
Staff Officer Cao burst into laughter.
“No need to ask. They’re obviously for Miss Jiang.”
Another deputy general teased,
“Our General really is kindhearted. Not only is he raising his enemy’s little sister, he’s spoiling her rotten.”
“General, I’ve got a few younger sisters at home who can eat plenty too. Want them? If you do, I’ll send them over tonight!”
Without changing expression, Wei Zhao replied,
“Get lost.”
He felt somewhat frustrated.
Jiang Yihuan was supposed to be his prisoner.
So why was he constantly buying her expensive gifts?
And why did she somehow have him wrapped around her finger?
After spending several days reviewing the accounts, Jiang Yihuan finally discovered the biggest problem.
The employees’ wages were absurdly high.
After paying salaries, the pharmacy barely made any profit at all.
Old Madam Wei exploded in anger.
“It’s not even a large shop! Why would it need twenty employees? Who are they trying to fool?”
Jiang Yihuan gazed at her with admiration.
“The Old Madam spotted the heart of the problem at a glance! They saw I was young and easy to bully, so I didn’t dare deal with them.”
“Hmph! This isn’t your place to handle.”
“I’ll take care of it personally!”
Suddenly, she wasn’t short of breath anymore.
Her legs didn’t ache either.
She climbed into the carriage with great vigor and headed straight for the pharmacy.
The daughters-in-law respectfully escorted her to the front gate.
Their mother-in-law was off to unleash her authority.
She would be occupied for at least half a day.
Finally, they could enjoy some peace and quiet.
They almost wanted to beat drums and set off firecrackers to celebrate.
Late that night, Wei Zhao returned carrying the sandalwood box.
He hesitated.
Should he give it to Jiang Yihuan?
If he did, she would surely become even bolder.
Jiang Yihuan was already asleep.
Zhu Xian came out yawning and told him everything Jiang Yihuan had been doing lately.
“Miss Jiang has the Old Madam completely under control. She even persuaded her to personally investigate the pharmacy. When the Old Madam returned, she was so exhausted she groaned nonstop and slept until broad daylight. Even Madam Heng’s complexion has improved.”
All the daughters-in-law agreed.
Against Old Madam Wei, Jiang Yihuan was the perfect nemesis.
Wei Zhao smiled.
This silly little goose.
He entered Jiang Yihuan’s room and quietly placed the sandalwood box beside her pillow.
Just as he turned to leave—
A pair of arms wrapped tightly around his waist.
Still half-asleep but grinning from ear to ear, Jiang Yihuan giggled.
“Hehe… I finally caught you! I’ve been waiting just for you!”