Xie Mansion
In the courtyard of the Third Branch, the table was filled with classical books, as well as a dazzling array of clothes, jewelry and ornaments.
On normal days, Shen Tang would have been over the moon.
But these things were sent by Ruan Jiu.
No sooner had Ruan Jiu left than Shen Tang swept everything onto the ground.
"What on earth are you doing?"
Xie Xiu looked at the mess on the ground and remembered what Ruan Jiu had said just now.
His heart grew even more troubled.
His tone became harsher.
"You're yelling at me?" Shen Tang saw that Xie Xiu was no longer as gentle as before, and felt even more aggrieved.
She plopped down on a stool, big tears rolling down her cheeks.
"I've dedicated myself to the Third Branch, but this is how you treat me!"
Xie Xiu realized that his tone had been too harsh.
So he knelt down in front of Shen Tang and wiped the tears from her face.
"My lady, I'm just心疼 these things being wasted."
"Then why don't you care about me?" Shen Tang sniffed and continued, "I'm the Third Lady of the Xie Mansion, yet I'm living a worse life than a beggar girl picked up by the family!
"Moreover, I have to rely on her charity for these things!" Shen Tang pointed at the items sent by Ruan Jiu, fuming with rage.
Xie Xiu frowned, his mind heavy.
Just now, when Ruan Jiu came, she not only brought a lot of books for Zhou'er, but also many clothes, jewelry, antiques and treasures for the couple.
Most importantly, she said that she had found a famous tutor in Qinzhou City for Zhou'er.
From now on, the money for Zhou'er's studies would all come from the mansion's public account.
Normally, after hearing these words, the couple should have been grateful.
But between the lines of Ruan Jiu's words, it was clear that she knew what they had done.
But considering that the old Master Xie was getting on in years, she didn't want to trouble the old man with these things.
So she hoped that the family would live in harmony in the future.
What a masterstroke of carrot and stick!
In this way, Ruan Jiu had something on him. How could he still try to seize the Xie family's fortune in the future?
Xie Xiu let out a long sigh. "Can't you see that she came today to warn us?"
"Are we just going to let it go?" There was a hint of dissatisfaction in Shen Tang's eyes.
"Let's wait and see for now." Xie Xiu's eyes darkened.
Ruan Jiu was a shrewd woman. For the time being, they had to bide their time.
Then he looked at Shen Tang and continued, "By the way, later you should pick out some nice things and send them to your cousin."
Shen Tang pursed her lips.
The cousin Xie Xiu mentioned was Shen Yu.
Although he was called her cousin.
In fact, their relationship was so distant that they were barely related.
Since Shen Yu's grandfather's generation, they had gone to the capital to do business.
Now they had become well - known imperial merchants in the capital.
But not long ago, she learned from her father that the Shen family had become so wealthy that the emperor was jealous.
Shen Yu's father also had the idea of leaving the capital.
So she asked her father to find Shen Yu.
And she promised Shen Yu that if he could help Xie Xiu become the head of the Xie family.
Then she would definitely help the Shen family gain a foothold in the south of the Yangtze River.
Moreover, she would offer half of the Xie family's fortune with both hands.
She must win over Shen Yu these days to plan for the future.
In Mingxiang Pavilion, Shen Yu was sipping tea as usual.
But he seemed to be in a bad mood, his brows furrowed and not relaxing.
Shen Tang stood in front of him obsequiously, holding a gilded box in her hand. Inside the box was a Dongzhu the size of an egg.
That day, she had wanted to pick a nice thing from the items sent by Ruan Jiu and send it to Shen Yu.
But she found that none of them were good enough.
So she sold all the things and added some money to buy this Dongzhu.
Shen Yu glanced casually at the Dongzhu in the box and sneered.
Then he winked at his attendant and said, "Grind it into powder and send it to my mother."
Shen Tang looked puzzled. "Grind it into powder?"
Could such a large Dongzhu be used as a medicinal ingredient?
Shen Yu nodded. "Normally, my mother likes to grind Dongzhu into powder to wash her face. Third Lady Xie's gift is quite appropriate."
Hearing this, the smile on Shen Tang's face froze.
What?
The thing she had spent a fortune on was just an ordinary item for others!
Although Shen Tang was fuming with anger, she couldn't help but sigh at the Shen family's extravagance.
She must hold on tightly to this big tree.
So she showed an obsequious smile again. "Then please trouble cousin to give the gift to auntie."
Shen Yu's eyes sharpened and his tone was displeased. "Third Lady Xie, you are now a member of the Xie family. There's no need to address me as cousin."
Meeting Shen Yu's eyes, Shen Tang couldn't help but shiver.
A flood of doubts welled up in her mind.
What was going on?
Wasn't it he who said before that although they had never met, they were of the same clan and he should call her cousin?
Shen Tang was extremely embarrassed. Her eyes were suspicious and she probed, "I wonder if the deal between Young Master Shen and my husband before still counts?"
Shen Yu let out a cold laugh.
Before, he had agreed to do business with them because he thought that at least Xie Xiu was the Third Master of the Xie family.
This deal was not a bad one.
But as it turned out, Xie Xiu was neither legitimate nor well - regarded.
What's more, he didn't expect that just a distant cousin girl of the Xie family was so smart, not to mention the famous Fourth Master Xie.
Now that the Shen family hadn't yet established a foothold in Qinzhou, how could they make enemies?
"Third Lady is joking. When did we ever have a deal?"
As soon as Shen Yu said this, Shen Tang immediately understood what he meant.
Others only burned the bridge after crossing the river.
But Shen Yu didn't even cross the bridge before burning it.
Did Ruan Jiu say something to him?
She had underestimated Ruan Jiu.
But in this way, it would be even more difficult for Xie Xiu to compete for the family headship!
She had to hurry back to the mansion and tell Xie Xiu about this.
On the other hand, after Ruan Jiu left the courtyard of the Third Branch, as soon as she arrived at the silk store, Qin Yuan came with a personal letter from Xie Jingchu.
After sending Qin Yuan away, Ruan Jiu's slender fingers tightly grasped the letter. She hesitated to open it.
Her mind was filled with all kinds of wild thoughts.
What did he mean?
Why couldn't he say it to her face?
Could it be...
Thinking of this, the scene in the inner room that day reappeared in her mind.
For a moment, her eyes were absent - minded and her cheeks flushed.
She couldn't help but touch her lips.
Damn it! What am I thinking?
She shook her head to drive those thoughts out of her mind.
Then she nervously looked around.
Thankfully, no one had seen her just now.
Then she opened the letter.
After reading the contents, she let out a long sigh of relief.
She smiled sheepishly.
What was going on in her head?
She had actually thought that Xie Jingchu was writing her a love letter.
She concentrated and read the contents of the letter again.
Her eyes darkened slightly, calm and profound.
Since Xie Jingchu had set the stage for her.
Then it was her turn.