Chapter 100: The Handsome Man
Liu Cuiyi was speechless for a long time after listening.
At this moment, Sang Er returned and said to Wen Mingqian, “Madam, your servant just took the silver to the abbot, but the abbot said he couldn’t use so much and returned twenty taels.”
“It doesn’t matter if there’s extra, just leave it here!” Wen Mingqian wouldn’t take back the silver she had already given out. “Besides, this incense fee is voluntary for the incense guests, there’s no fixed amount. If the abbot refuses to accept it, give it to someone else.”
“Your servant understands,” Sang Er replied and left again.
“Consort Song’s courage is truly great, and her heart is quite cruel,” Liu Cuiyi finally recovered. “Then who is this child’s father? Did she say?”
“She didn’t say, and in fact, there’s no need to say it, it would only be disgusting,” Wen Mingqian said. “Don’t you agree?”
Liu Cuiyi nodded. “That’s true! A lowly woman like her, who hooked up with a wild man and was abandoned by him, then came to your mansion to cause trouble.”
Wen Mingqian only wanted Liu Cuiyi to know why Consort Song wanted to kill her biological child. As for the child’s origin, she didn’t really need to know.
Not only her, but no one outside the Gong Family should know.
“Consort Song committed such a shameless act, the Gong Family naturally wouldn’t tolerate her,” Liu Cuiyi was not foolish. Consort Song’s death at this juncture clearly meant the Gong Family didn’t want her alive. “Fortunately, Elder Sister’s grievance has finally been cleared. With the Gong Family feeling guilty, they will surely treat Elder Sister even better.”
After Wen Mingqian and Liu Cuiyi had a vegetarian meal at Wu Qiu Nunnery, they invited her to go shopping at a silk shop.
“I’ve been frequenting a Sang Ji Silk Shop recently, they have quite a variety of fabrics,” Wen Mingqian said. “Since you have nothing else to do, why don’t you come with me!”
“It’s rare to go shopping with Elder Sister, and I’ve been thinking of making some new clothes,” Liu Cuiyi was gradually coming to terms with things, no longer as cautious as before. Anyone in this world could make things difficult for her, but she herself couldn’t.
Thinking back now, her lack of favor at her husband’s family, although it was due to not having a biological son, and her mother-in-law and husband were not good people.
A larger part of the reason was her own weakness. People in this world almost all discriminate against people based on their status. The weaker you are, the more unscrupulously they will bully you.
“What? Is your mother-in-law not as strict with you anymore?” Wen Mingqian asked with a smile.
“I’ve also come to my senses. I am the legitimate First Madam of the Zhou Family. I haven’t done anything that can’t be tolerated, so why should I be ashamed?” Liu Cuiyi said.
“That’s the spirit,” Wen Mingqian looked at her with admiration. “Let me teach you a trick. After you go back, subtly spread the word that you plan to adopt one of the sons born to the concubines. This way, the concubines in your mansion who have sons will surely vie to flatter you.”
“Will that work? I don’t actually like any of those children,” Liu Cuiyi hesitated.
“You are too sincere. Let me ask you, have you ever seen a donkey grinding at a mill? To make the donkey grind well, a bundle of grass is hung in front of it. In reality, the donkey can only see it but cannot reach it, yet it willingly grinds the mill in circles,” Wen Mingqian taught her. “After all, you haven’t said it yourself. It’s just gossip that’s spread, so why take it seriously? Those who flatter you do so out of greed, you don’t need to pity them.
In this inner chambers, being kind-hearted is not enough, you also need to have means.”
“Mmm, I know Elder Sister is doing this for my own good. I’ll have Granny Zhao and the others spread the word when I get back,” Liu Cuiyi’s best quality was that she would do whatever Wen Mingqian taught her.
The two of them left the nunnery, got into the carriage, and headed for the Sang Ji Silk Shop.
Sang Er sat in the carriage with her lips pouted.
“What’s there to be unhappy about seeing your uncle?” Wen Mingqian asked her, suppressing a smile.
“I don’t want to see that old scoundrel,” Sang Er’s pout deepened.
“You! You say that with your mouth, but in your heart, you’re still thinking of him?” Wen Mingqian smiled. “Yesterday, I heard you asking Yun Ying how to make shoes.”
“Making shoes for him is one thing, and not wanting to see him is also true,” Sang Er pouted.
“You’re still young! If you always speak with your stubborn nature, and I don’t urge you to see him more, you will surely regret it in the future,” Wen Mingqian said. “When you get there, speak nicely to your uncle, do you hear me?”
“I hear you,” Sang Er said dejectedly.
Wen Mingqian reached out and gently stroked her hair. “Poor child, you don’t actually dislike seeing your uncle, but when you see him, you can’t help but think of your mother.”
Sang Er’s mother passed away when she was five years old, and her uncle looked very much like her mother.
“Yes, my uncle doesn’t want to see me because I look too much like that heartless man,” Sang Er was very annoyed.
Everyone said she was very beautiful, but she herself didn’t like looking in the mirror.
Her mother, including her maternal family, were all killed by her father.
Only Sang Er and her uncle escaped alive.
Therefore, her uncle hated her father immensely.
Coincidentally, Sang Er looked exactly like her father.
The uncle and niece depended on each other. Although her uncle took care of her and raised her, every time he looked at her face, he couldn’t help but feel angry.
Sang Er also had a stubborn temper. When she saw her uncle, she thought of her mother, so naturally, she was also upset.
The carriage arrived at the silk shop in a flash.
Wen Mingqian got out of the carriage first, then waited for Liu Cuiyi to get out before holding her hand and walking in.
The silk shop was doing good business, with quite a few customers.
A man in a dark blue long gown saw Wen Mingqian enter and immediately greeted her with a beaming smile.
Liu Cuiyi glanced at the man and immediately blushed.
This man was around thirty years old, with sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, a tall and straight posture, and a handsome appearance.
If it weren’t for his amiable demeanor, he would have had no trace of a merchant’s aura.
This person was Sang Er’s uncle, Sang Sanyang.
“Two Madams, please come this way. The shop has over ten new types of fabric. Please sit down and choose slowly,” Sang Sanyang’s smile was as warm as mid-winter, only showing a hint of coldness when he glanced at Sang Er.
“Old scoundrel!” Sang Er muttered softly. “Serves you right to be a bachelor your whole life!”
“Boss Sang, please tell me about this cloud shadow gauze,” a bejeweled woman called out loudly from over there.
“Boss Sang, why did you leave me behind? You haven’t finished talking about this floral gauze!” a heavily made-up woman immediately called out to Sang Sanyang from another side.
“Chun’er, Xiao Xian, quickly go and attend to the two ladies,” Sang Sanyang called over two shop assistants. “Explain in detail, and do not neglect the guests.”
The two women were immediately disappointed. No matter how detailed the waiter’s introduction was, if Sang Sanyang didn’t personally attend to them, they considered it neglect.
Wen Mingqian smiled and remained silent, looking seriously at the fabric in her hands.
