Xiyue Pavilion.
The “Eight Gossip Trio” was busily swinging their hoes.
Finally, the patch of empty land along the wall was cleared and divided into three neat rows.
Because the wild ground had been reclaimed and all obstructions removed, a certain black shadow was forced to cling to a tree by the wall.
Phew—good thing I wasn’t discovered!
Lin Yiyi looked at it happily. What vegetables should they plant?
“Madam Zhou, did you buy vegetable seeds?”
“No. I was planning to go buy them in the next couple of days.”
After thinking for a moment, Miss Lin made a decision.
“Xiao Tao, come with me to the street.”
“Miss, let this old servant go instead,” Aunt Zhou hurriedly said.
“You’re injured. Stay in the courtyard and guard the house. We’ll be back soon.”
After some back-and-forth, Aunt Zhou reluctantly agreed and reminded them, “Xiao Tao, you must take good care of the young miss.”
“Got it! Aunt Zhou, just stay home and relax. I’ll even bring you some Osmanthus cake from Shenji Pastry Shop.”
Xiao Tao’s words made her smile helplessly. Such an energetic girl, no proper manners at all.
So, the young master-servant duo happily set off.
The streets were bustling and lively.
Since it was early autumn, the weather was just right, and many people were out shopping.
Lin Yiyi looked like a curious child, wandering from stall to stall, completely absorbed.
Xiao Tao, holding a candied hawthorn stick, followed closely behind.
Not far away, a certain black shadow trailed them like a ghost.
An hour later, the black shadow silently complained:
A woman’s stamina for shopping… and desire to buy things… truly terrifying.
Lin Yiyi kept walking, browsing, and buying. Xiao Tao’s hands were soon completely full.
Seeing that her maid could no longer carry anything, Xiao Tao hurriedly said, “Miss, we’ve been out for a long time. Let’s go back. Aunt Zhou will be worried.”
Only then did Lin Yiyi stop, still unsatisfied.
“Fine~ Next time we’ll leave in the morning and shop all day!”
She casually took a few items from Xiao Tao’s arms to lighten her load.
So, at dusk, the two returned home.
And the black shadow behind them disappeared.
……
Aunt Zhou stared in shock at the small mountain of “battle spoils.”
The two people who had overspent stood there awkwardly, scratching their noses, not daring to speak.
After a while, Aunt Zhou finally recovered and asked with a trembling voice, “Xiao Tao… how much did you spend?”
“136 taels of silver.” Xiao Tao replied weakly.
“We only had 180 taels in total. Now only 44 taels remain. There are still 23 days until next month’s allowance,” Aunt Zhou said, trying to stay calm.
Xiao Tao’s face instantly turned pale.
It’s over!
“Ahem… Aunt Zhou, don’t worry about the money,” Lin Yiyi said awkwardly.
Aunt Zhou closed her eyes, then opened them again calmly.
“Miss, from now on we must tighten our belts. This 180 taels is what our courtyard saved over several months.”
The Lin family’s legitimate daughter was supposed to receive 100 taels monthly, but Madam Zhang controlled the household and deliberately restricted everything. Clothes were allocated seasonally, and anything extra was tightly controlled.
Because Xiyue Pavilion often cooked its own meals, expenses accumulated, leaving them with very little savings. Compared to the second miss of the Lin family, Lin Yiyi lived quite poorly.
That night, dinner tasted bland to Lin Yiyi.
She ate absentmindedly, forgetting even to pick up side dishes.
Xiao Tao and Aunt Zhou looked at each other, then at her.
Finally, Aunt Zhou spoke carefully, “Miss, don’t worry about money. I still have some savings.”
“I also saved a bit, Miss. We won’t go hungry,” Xiao Tao added quickly.
Lin Yiyi sighed and put down her chopsticks.
“I’m not worried about money. I’m just thinking… as the legitimate daughter of the Lin family, how did I end up living like this? Even making you two worry over a hundred taels—it’s too frustrating.”
The two servants froze.
Ever since their young miss fell into the water and woke up, she seemed different.
More decisive. More bold. Even daring to confront the Marquis and Madam Zhang.
Now she even said “frustrated.”
“Miss…” Aunt Zhou called softly.
Lin Yiyi immediately came back to herself and smiled.
“Eat first. After we’re full, I’ll take you both to make money.”
The atmosphere brightened instantly.
After dinner, the three of them sat around the table chatting.
“Aunt Zhou, how much dowry did my mother have?”
“I’ll go get the dowry list.”
She got up and went inside.
Watching her back, Lin Yiyi suddenly remembered it was time to change Aunt Zhou’s medicine.
She told Xiao Tao to bring warm water, then went inside to prepare supplies—quietly taking medicine and clean bandages from her space.
Soon, the three gathered again.
While Xiao Tao assisted, Lin Yiyi changed the dressing as Aunt Zhou began to speak:
“When Miss married into the Marquis household, she brought a large dowry. The dowry list came with it. The old madam also secretly gave me a copy and told me to keep it safe…”
Her voice trembled as she continued.
“I never thought it would be useful today…”
“These years, I endured everything, just hoping the young miss would grow up safely, marry a good husband, and have children. Then I could help raise them… and when I die, I can face the lady with no regrets…”
Aunt Zhou wiped her tears as she spoke.
Xiao Tao quietly cried as well.
Lin Yiyi: “……”
Women really are made of water.
“And then?” she asked.
Aunt Zhou sighed.
“After entering the Lin household, the old madam looked down on her merchant background. She constantly made things difficult. Your mother was soft-hearted and never told her family, always saying she was fine…”
“The old madam often forced her to give offerings, and when she refused, she complained to the Marquis. Over time, your mother’s dowry was gradually used up by the household and the Marquis’ official expenses…”
Hearing this, Lin Yiyi understood roughly.
“So what about Madam Zhang?”
“When your mother discovered your father’s affair… it was with Madam Zhang. She fell ill, gave birth prematurely, and passed away when you were three months old…”
“Three months later, Madam Zhang was brought into the household.”
“And eight months later, she gave birth to the second miss.”
“Eight months?!” Lin Yiyi frowned.
“Yes. They claimed she worked too hard caring for you and caused premature birth. In truth… she never cared for you at all. It was all me raising you…”
Xiao Tao finally couldn’t hold back.
“Madam Zhang wasn’t even treated poorly with money, but everything else was difficult for Miss! While the second miss had everything, Miss had nothing…”
From outside the window, a certain black shadow listening in was filled with righteous anger.
This Madam Zhang is too much. She needs to be taught a lesson.
After finishing the dressing, Lin Yiyi sent the two of them to rest.
Later, lying in bed, she studied her mother’s dowry list carefully.
After a long while, she closed it and slowly closed her eyes—deep in thought.