After finishing Early Court, Yang Chen hurried to Yu Shi’s room.
Seeing that Yu Shi had woken up, he breathed a long sigh of relief.
Yu Shi held his hand and spoke earnestly, “Chen’er, my health is a minor matter. You must be tired from court. Have some breakfast first.”
Yang Chen sat down but had little appetite, only picking at some side dishes.
Thinking about how Luo Chi’s people had followed him today, he felt somewhat troubled.
“I heard about last night’s events. Lin Tangtang shirked her responsibilities and left the nursing duties to Jiaojiao.”
Yu Shi was quite satisfied with Lin Jiaojiao’s attentiveness and obedience, even addressing her more affectionately.
Yang Chen’s jade-like fingers paused momentarily.
“She is somewhat spoiled,” he remarked with clear dissatisfaction.
“You’ve been too good to her! Women shouldn’t be indulged – they need rules. Later, go tell her that the Marquis Estate doesn’t support idlers. Since she didn’t perform nursing duties, she shouldn’t expect the Estate to cover her medicine expenses either.”
For propriety’s sake, Yu Shi ultimately decided to inform Yang Chen and have him pressure Lin Tangtang.
However, she didn’t specify the exact amount, only mentioning that some medicines had been taken.
After speaking with his mother a while longer, Yang Chen went to the West Garden.
Lin Tangtang wasn’t there.
Yang Chen proceeded to Lin Jiaojiao’s room.
“Young Lord, what brings you here?” Lin Jiaojiao had been preparing to rest on her lounge chair when she saw Yang Chen standing before her in white robes.
“I came to see you. Thank you for last night.”
Lin Jiaojiao’s face now carried a pale hue as she curled up, creating a fragile appearance that evoked pity.
Seeing her weak state resulted from caring for Yu Shi last night, Yang Chen felt a twinge of guilt and compassion.
“Madam has been good to me. It’s only right that I show my filial respect to her.”
As Lin Jiaojiao stood up, she stumbled and nearly fell. Yang Chen quickly caught her.
The warmth of the young woman’s skin transmitted through her clothing.
Lin Jiaojiao stiffened, hastily pulling away and stepping back, her face flushing pink.
“There’s another matter.”
Yang Chen hesitated briefly, “The blueprint you gave me last time has been approved by the Bingbu Shangshu. Now we need more detailed production drawings to begin sample manufacturing.”
Lin Jiaojiao instantly became somewhat flustered.
She had thought one blueprint would suffice, never expecting it to be so complicated.
After stealing the blueprint last time without being discovered, if she had to steal again…
“But don’t be nervous. The Shangshu said we have time – the drawings can be completed within the next few days.”
Seeing her agitation, Yang Chen offered further explanation.
“Yes, Young Lord, I understand. I’ll do my best,” Lin Jiaojiao forced a smile.
“You’ve worked hard, Jiaojiao.” Yang Chen suddenly recalled how Yu Shi had addressed her during breakfast and spoke without thinking.
Lin Jiaojiao lowered her head, her ears turning red.
Watching her like this, Yang Chen felt his heart stir. Once he completed this arrow weapon, Luo Chi’s petty schemes would become useless to him.
The military command authority would be secured.
Meanwhile, after receiving the news, Lin Tangtang hurried to Jirentang.
Granny Li happened to be auditing the pharmacy today and informed Lin Tangtang about the Marquis Estate’s Credit Medicine practices.
“They came twice, and the second time they brought quite a few people. If we didn’t give them credit, they would have likely caused a scene in the shop. Then everyone in the capital would know that Miss Lin refused to provide medicine on credit for her future mother-in-law, which would damage the young lady’s reputation.” Granny Li recalled the earlier situation and felt she had truly witnessed something extraordinary.
“You considered it thoroughly and did the right thing, Mama.”
Lin Tangtang was grateful that Granny Li was here today. Otherwise, if a scene had erupted, it would not only have affected the shop’s business but also required a great deal of effort from her to handle the matter.
“However, once we extend credit, it will be difficult to get it back.” Having spent many years in the palace, how could Granny Li not see the Marquis Estate’s intentions?
“Exactly. They never had any intention of repaying.” Lin Tangtang flipped through the IOU from the Marquis Estate, her feelings mixed.
The incident of the Marquis Estate seeking medicine on credit had not occurred in her previous life.
In her past life, to establish herself in the Marquis Estate, she had personally invited Zhong Daifu for consultations and covered the medical expenses herself.
But now, she was no longer subsidizing the Marquis Estate, yet they still clung to her.
“They’re truly cunning, thinking of using the pharmacy to default on debts. If it were any other pharmacy, would they dare to take medicine on credit without repaying?”
Granny Li sighed. It was truly unfortunate for Miss Lin to be tied to such in-laws.
Others spoke of the Marquis Estate as a prestigious family, but in reality, it was rotten to the core.
“Other pharmacies?” Lin Tangtang’s eyes suddenly lit up.
She had an idea.
“Mama, if the Marquis Estate comes again to seek medicine on credit, let the pharmacy grant it, no matter how expensive the medicine is.”
“Still extend credit? If you relent further, I fear they will only grow more audacious.” Granny Li advised with concern.
“Just make sure to keep their IOUs safe. I want them to be unrestrained.” Lin Tangtang set down her teacup and stood up to open the window for some fresh air.
“Then we’ll do as you say, Miss.” Granny Li finally nodded.
The street was bustling with people, the calls of street vendors and the lofty discussions of scholars filling the air.
On her way back, she spotted a small stall selling sugar figurines and bought ten in one go.
Her life was bitter; she needed to stock up on some sweetness.
After returning to the West Garden,
Xiangxue was practicing martial arts. Lin Tangtang handed her a sugar figurine, which she accepted delightedly.
Lin Tangtang placed the remaining sugar figurines in a wooden box and set it beside the desk.
“Miss, aren’t you going to have one?”
Lin Tangtang smiled faintly and shook her head. “I’ll save them for later.”
Though puzzled, Xiangxue didn’t press further.
“Miss, the Young Lord came to the West Garden earlier. When he found you weren’t here, he went to Lin Jiaojiao’s room.”
Xiangxue crunched on her sugar figurine, making a crisp sound. “The two of them were whispering, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying.”
Hearing this, Lin Tangtang paused briefly as she unrolled her blueprint, then her expression returned to normal.
“Keep a close watch on Lin Jiaojiao from now on.” Lin Tangtang picked up her brush and continued drawing.
In the South Courtyard,
Yu Shi, seeing that Lin Tangtang had remained silent about the medicine credit matter, assumed she didn’t dare to openly confront the Marquis Estate and grew even more confident.
Listening to Granny Zhou’s description of the pharmacy, her mind filled with images of rooms full of ginseng, deer antlers, and cordyceps…
“Granny Zhou, go to the pharmacy again and get some medicinal ingredients on credit.”
“Madam, we’ve already gathered all the medicine we need.” Granny Zhou was somewhat surprised.
“What do you know? Get more on credit, just in case we need it later.” Yu Shi felt it was time to replenish her treasury with some precious medicinal herbs.
Granny Zhou glanced at Yu Shi before hurrying off to the pharmacy.
Upon arriving at the pharmacy again, the shop assistant showed her various rare medicinal herbs and readily agreed to the Marquis Estate’s request for credit.
Granny Zhou felt somewhat lightheaded with excitement.
Yet she also found the shop assistant excessively enthusiastic.
As she loaded bundle after bundle onto the carriage, she remained puzzled in her heart.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a trap, though she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was amiss.
“Enough of this. These matters are for the masters to worry about. As a mere servant earning cabbage-level wages, it’s not my place to concern myself with such things.”
Having said this, she directly returned to the Marquis Estate.