It had been five days since the transmigration.
After breakfast, Lin Yiyi lay on a rattan lounge chair in Tixue Courtyard, a book covering her face as she basked in the sun.
Nanny Zhou and Xiao Tao were watering the vegetable patch. The seeds had just been planted yesterday and needed careful tending.
The courtyard was peaceful under the bright sunlight.
Bored from lying around, Lin Yiyi suddenly sat up.
“Xiao Tao, come out with me for a walk.”
Seeing Nanny Zhou’s hesitant expression, Lin Yiyi added:
“Don’t worry, I won’t spend recklessly. I just want to check my mother’s dowry shops.”
Only then did Nanny Zhou relax a little and remind them:
“Take care of the young miss.”
“Don’t worry, Auntie! I’ll bring back rice cakes from the Cao Family shop!” Xiao Tao promised, patting her chest.
After getting ready, the two set off.
Before leaving, Lin Yiyi suddenly shouted back:
“Auntie Zhou, we’re not coming back for lunch!”
Then she grabbed Xiao Tao and ran.
If they didn’t run now, they’d definitely get an earful.
Nanny Zhou: “……”
On the street, the two strolled around for a while before heading toward the nearest dowry shop.
Jin Yu Pavilion
A shop specializing in women’s jewelry and hair accessories, known for its fashionable designs and fair prices. It was quite popular among noble ladies and young misses, and business had always been good.
Inside, several ladies were browsing.
“Miss, what would you like to buy? I can introduce them to you,” a shop assistant greeted them warmly.
“Thank you, we’ll take a look ourselves first,” Lin Yiyi replied politely.
The assistant nodded and left to serve others.
Lin Yiyi felt the shop’s service was quite decent.
After browsing, she picked a sandalwood hairpin and two silver hairpins of different designs.
“Brother, please pack these up,” Xiao Tao called the assistant over.
The assistant quickly brought the items to the counter.
The shopkeeper looked up—and froze for a moment.
“Miss… may I ask your surname?”
“Lin.”
“From the Lin family of Shunchang Marquis Residence?”
“Yes.”
At that single word, the shopkeeper could no longer contain his excitement.
“Please come to the back courtyard to talk!”
In the back courtyard, the shopkeeper looked at her emotionally.
“Are you the daughter of Madam Fan Shuhua?”
“Yes.”
Hearing the confirmation, tears welled in his eyes.
“This old servant Zhao Quan greets the young miss!”
He knelt down immediately.
Lin Yiyi quickly helped him up.
“Uncle Zhao, please get up. Let’s sit and talk.”
Tea was soon brought in.
“Miss, I finally see you. The last time I saw you was ten years ago, when the Marquis brought you here to inspect the shop. You look so much like Madam… I dared to ask just now.”
“Have you all been well these years?” she asked.
“Yes, we’ve been fine. Thank you for your concern, Miss.”
“Uncle Zhao, tell me about the shop’s operations.”
“The shop and I, along with two old craftsmen, were brought in by Madam… But Madam Zhang said you were too young, so she took over management… Later, she brought in her cousin and dismissed us… Business declined sharply… The Marquis reprimanded her, then we were rehired… After that, business improved again, and she stopped interfering with placements.”
“So for all these years, the accounts and silver were handled by Madam Zhang?”
“Yes. She sends Nanny Gui every month to collect the account books and silver.”
“Are there duplicate records?”
“Yes. This old servant secretly prepared a fake ledger for her. Please forgive me.”
Lin Yiyi quickly stopped him from kneeling again.
“Uncle Zhao, how could I blame you? Well done.”
“Bring me both the real and fake account books.”
“Please wait a moment.”
Soon, he returned carrying two wooden boxes.
“This box contains what we normally submit to Madam Zhang. This one contains the real accounts.”
“These years, Madam Zhang has controlled everything. The Madam once said all of this would belong to you as your dowry.”
“Thank you for your hard work all these years, Uncle Zhao.”
“It is our duty.”
“Can I meet the other old staff another day? I have to leave today.”
After arranging for Zhao Quan to deliver both boxes to the back gate of the Marquis Residence later, Lin Yiyi left with Xiao Tao.
At noon, they entered a restaurant called “Taoran Residence.”
The main hall was nearly full.
“Welcome, miss,” a waiter greeted them enthusiastically.
“Do you have private rooms?”
“Yes, yes, please go upstairs!”
He quickly led them to the second floor and into a room marked with a large “2”.
Lin Yiyi felt something odd about the menu but couldn’t place it.
She ordered without hesitation:
“Stir-fried cabbage in vinegar, steamed ribs with taro, braised pork knuckles, stir-fried snow peas with cured meat, white-cut chicken, steamed golden flower fish, stir-fried pork belly with green peppers, and four bowls of rice. That’s all for now.”
“…That’s all for now?” the waiter’s mouth twitched.
“For two people, that might be too much…”
“If we can’t finish it, we’ll pack it. Hurry up, I’m hungry.”
Next door, Room 1.
A man almost spat out his tea.
“Eating that much… are they pigs?”
This man was none other than the Southern War King, Yang Chengmo.
He had no intention of eavesdropping, but his hearing was too sharp, so he caught every word.
“Your Highness, that seems to be Miss Lin next door,” his guard said.
“Oh?”
He raised an eyebrow.
From next door, Xiao Tao’s voice continued:
“We should save money… Nanny Zhou will scold me again…”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered,” Lin Yiyi said confidently.
“I’ll bring back food for Aunt Zhou!”
Soon, all dishes arrived.
The two began eating like they had been starved for days.
Across the wall, the prince ate slowly and elegantly.
A stark contrast—one side like starving ghosts, the other refined and proper.
After finishing, the prince silently listened to the sounds of the other room.
“So the Lin family eldest daughter lives so poorly?” he asked.
“Yes. Madam Zhang often withholds her allowance. She only receives 100 taels per month…” the guard replied.
“…Yesterday, she even went to the second miss’s courtyard. After that, Madam Zhang sent her 200 taels and some supplies.”
“Madam Zhang…” the prince repeated coldly.
He remembered that name.
In Room 2, the two finally finished eating and patted their full stomachs in satisfaction.
“Delicious?”
“Delicious! So good!”
They packed the leftovers for Nanny Zhou and prepared to leave.
Total bill: 13 taels 50 wen.
“Miss, the shopkeeper says just 13 taels,” the waiter said.
After paying, they walked out.
BOOM—
“Ah! Sorry, sorry!”
Lin Yiyi immediately apologized without even looking up—
She had bumped into someone.