Chapter 73 - Investigation (2)

“Third Miss…” Lady Meng felt bad as she looked at Shen Ziqiao. She wanted to comfort her, but she didn’t know what to say.

Shen Ziqiao tilted her head and kept smiling splendidly. “What’s the matter? It’s rare for us to come out. Stop acting worried.”

“Third Miss, if you feel unwell, don’t keep it inside you. It’s not good for your body.” Lady Meng thought that Shen Ziqiao was just forcing a smile on. How could anyone feel good after finding out they were schemed by their family members?

Even more, Third Miss relied heavily on the Old Madam, listening to her. She must care about how Old Madam Shen treated her in reality.

Shen Ziqiao shook her head, finding this funny. She really didn’t feel anything. “It’s not the first time...I’m used to it. It doesn’t matter. I’ll find a way to deal with this. Old Madam just doesn’t want me to take back the dowry, but I will.”

She clearly had possession of the items, but it must feel worse to have it stolen before she could claim it.

She just wanted the old woman to feel terrible.

“But...if…” Hong Yu parted her lips questioningly. After all, Third Miss didn’t understand anything. How was she going to fight Old Madam?

Speaking of this test, Shen Ziqiao snorted. “I’m just playing with Old Madam. She really thinks that the dowry will belong to her if I lose this challenge? Even if I agree, my grandfather wouldn’t.”

Since the Old Madam was shamelessly claiming possession of her dowry, couldn’t she cheat as well?

Lady Meng and Hong Yu both chuckled lightly. “So the Third Miss really grew up.”

Shen Ziqiao lowered her gaze and glanced at her chest, murmuring, “I didn’t grow that much.”

Hong Yu blushed.

“Third Miss, you’re really going to write a letter to the Pan Family’s Lord?” Lady Meng asked in a low voice. She actually approved of Shen Ziqiao going to find the Pan Family for support.

“Of course. As soon as I go back, I’ll write it and mail it out.” Shen Ziqiao said, determined.

She’d be a fool if she didn’t rely on her backer.

“Oh, right. Hong Yu, have your father come see me.” Shen Ziqiao suddenly said to Hong Yu, “Since the east street’s store is lacking a shopkeeper, have your father take the place.”

Hong Yu shockingly widened her eyes. “My father...he...he…”

Shen Ziqiao smiled. “Lady Meng told me that your father used to run errands for my mother. Although he had been purposely suppressed by Old Madam all these years, he had secretly helped the Eldest Master out quite a bit. Just let him be the shopkeeper.”

“Many thanks, Third Miss.” Hong Yu and Hong Yu knew that Third Miss was going to promote their father. They kneeled down and kowtowed in gratitude.

“Enough, stop kowtowing. Doesn’t it hurt?” Shen Ziqiao pulled them to their feet.

She protected her people. Even more, the two sisters were really loyal to her. If she didn’t protect their family, what sort of master was she?

Lady Meng glanced at the scene in front of her, deeply moved.

Third Miss was acting more and more like the Madam. Just like how she protected her people as well.

“Shangpin Teahouse’s business is doing quite well. Third Miss Sheng is very capable. Countless officials only go to Shangpin Teahouse.” When the horse carriage passed by east street’s Shangpin Teahouse, Hong Yu looked at the people coming in and out of the teahouse through the crack of the window, lamenting.

Sheng Peiyin...

Shen Ziqiao sighed in her heart. She had forgotten about this heroine.

“Eldest Master?” Hong Ying gasped. “Third Miss, Eldest Master entered Shangpin Teahouse.”

Oh no! Sheng Peiyin and Shen Zikia...Oh no, could Sheng Peiyin prepare to seduce Shen Zikai already?

Shen Ziqiao became worried. No. She must not let Shen Zikai become a cannon fodder.

“Who is Eldest Master with?” Shen Ziqiao asked, seemingly calm.

Hong Yu said in a low voice, “Young Master Qi.”

She didn’t know why but she sighed after hearing that he was with Qi Zheng.

She needed to increase her protection on Shen Zikai.

Not long later, they arrived at the rice store on the west street.

The business seemed to be doing well. There were two shop assistants and a shopkeeper. The three were incredibly busy.

Shen Ziqiao didn’t enter, but had Hong Ying go and buy a bag of rice. She wanted to observe their attitudes.

How come they barely made any profit when the business was doing well? They were just reluctantly passing by.

She didn’t believe it!

Hong Ying bought a bag of rice back. Shen Ziqiao glanced at the quality of the rice. It was pretty good.

“That’s all for today. Let’s go back.” Shen Ziqiao said.

Lady Meng and the rest were stunned. “Third Miss, we’re not going to check out the store?”

“Do you know who the shopkeeper is?” Shen Ziqiao glanced at the shopkeeper calculating on the abacus and asked.

She obviously did her homework before coming to investigate. She had asked Shen Zikai about this before.

“Mama Li’s nephew. He belongs to the Old Madam?” Why enter the store? It wasn’t like they’d obtain any information to use against them.

“That means…”

Shen Ziqiao smiled. “If we don’t replace this shopkeeper, the rice store will lose money again this month. But we need to come up with a detailed plan as to how to swap this shopkeeper out with one of ours.”

Lady Meng felt a ball of anger sitting inside. “Old Madam is really… really…”

“Okay, don’t be angry. Let’s go back.” Shen Ziqiao returned to the residence. After all, she expected this. It wasn’t worth getting angry over.

The moment she returned to Shen Family, Shen Ziqiao had Hong Ying go weigh the rice. She wanted to see if the rice weighed more than it should’ve. Maybe it was because they had given much more rice to the customers than they should’ve.

“Eldest Miss and the Second Miss are here.” Before she could take a sip of tea, she heard that the two sisters were here.

They were rare guests in her place! The two sisters normally never came here. She wondered what happened for the two to even come here together.

“Jiao Jiao, you’re back.” Shen Ziwen smiled as she walked in. She was already of marriageable age. She wore an onion-green short jacket coat embroidered with branch designs paired with a nude color pleated skirt. She appeared to be slender and elegant.

“The two sisters actually have time to come today, ah. Don’t you guys need to accompany Old Madam?” Shen Ziqiao said in a neutral tone. She treated them the way they treated her.

Shen Zifen wasn’t as beautiful as Shen Ziwen. She wasn’t as refined and generous as well, revealing a sense of inferiority. She looked around Shen Ziqiao’s room. As expected, whenever father came back, there would be a ton of extra things in Jiao Jiao’s room. Each one of the items was much better than the things in her own room.

“Jiao Jiao, I heard that the housekeepers and maids didn’t show you respect at all?” Shen Zifen tried to conceal the jealous tone in her voice.

Shen Ziqiao had them sit down then had Hong Yu treat the guests with the snacks Shen Zikai brought back.

“Elder brother treats Jiao Jiao quite nicely.” Shen Zifen could tell that these snacks couldn’t be purchased in the capital.

“I’m elder brother’s sister.” Shen Ziqiao smiled as she said this. She and Shen Zikai were the closest in the family. Who else would he treat nicely besides her?

Shen Ziwen said, “That’s not right. Are we not the elder brother’s sisters?”

“Right, you guys are also his sisters.” Shen Ziqiao smiled.

They weren’t here to fight with Shen Ziqiao! Shen Ziwen held Shen Ziqiao’s hands gently and said, “It’s hard to manage a household. You never learned how to. If you need any help, just let this elder sister know.”

“If I need help, I will.” Shen Ziqiao nodded. She was just scared that they’ll just stir up trouble for her.

“Do you not need any help right now? At least, we’ve learned with grandmother for some time. We’re helping you because we don’t want you to be bullied by servants.” She really doesn’t appreciate them. Shen Zifen pursed her lips.

Shen Ziqiao sipped the tea. “No one dares to bully me.”

“That’d be best.” Shen Ziwen glared at Shen Zifen, not wanting her to talk.

They were unhappy in their hearts. Why did the Old Madam suddenly hand over her duties to this idiot? Even if she was the legal daughter, she didn’t know how to do anything. She should at least let the three sisters work together.

It must be their father and elder brother’s idea.

They just wanted to come over to see how Shen Ziqiao had been ignored by the servants. However, it didn’t seem to be the reality.

“Oh, right. Something else. The number of outfits this year don’t seem to add up. Jiao Jiao, don’t you think you should redo the math?” Shen Ziwen smiled.

Outfits? Didn’t they address that a few days ago? “What’s wrong about it?”

“We only have three outfits.” Shen Zifen said indignantly.

“How many outfits do you guys get in the past years?” Shen Ziqiao asked, but not to them. She asked Hong Yu instead.

Hong Yu didn’t even look at the two sisters. She respectfully responded, “In the past years, Third Miss received five outfits while the eldest and second miss each received three outfits.”

Shen Ziwen smiled. “This year is different. The Old Madam said we’ve grown up and we’re not that young anymore…”

Therefore, they should plan for their futures and learn how to dress themselves up.”

“Since the Old Madam said this, do this according to her ways.” Shen Ziqiao said.

Shen Ziwen and Shen Zifen both revealed a delighted expression. “Then we’ll go and talk to Mama Cui about this now.”

The two sisters went to look for Mama Cui. They said that Shen Ziqiao agreed to give them a few more outfits, however. If she didn’t believe it, she should go ask Third Miss.

Mama Cui didn’t say anything before agreeing.

Shen Ziqiao didn’t know this.

She was busy writing a letter for Pan Family’s Lord. The problem was that just because she knew how to read doesn’t mean she knew how to write. The problem wasn’t with whether it was traditional or simplified. She learned in traditional version before.

The point was that she had to write with a writing brush. Her hands were too soft that she couldn’t apply too much strength. If she wasn’t careful, she’d ruin the letter.

“Find a goose feather.” After Shen Ziqiao got her hands full of ink, she finally threw the goose feather on the ground angrily. She had someone find goose feathers before writing a sincere and touching letter after inking it.

Okay! Shen Ziqiao looked at her letter in satisfaction.

Lady Meng and Hong Yu quietly tidied up the dirtied desk.

“Will grandfather help me after receiving the letter?” Shen Ziqiao was conflicted. “What if they still refuse to forgive me?”

“No way. The Lord values the Madam a lot. He would definitely pamper you too.” Lady Meng comforted.

“Hopefully.” Shen Ziqiao sighed.

She blamed the original body for being too much of a wastrel. She didn’t even know to use the Pan Family when she had the opportunity to. She was really moronic.

She had Hong Yu bring the letter to the relay station when a maid came to report that the three concubines came.

Was it a coincidence that they came together?

“Bring the three concubines to the lobby to drink tea.” Shen Ziqiao replied, having Lady Meng take her there too.