Time Travel: The Noble Family
Chapter 498 - 186 Money

Chapter 498: 186 Money

Yuebing returned to her courtyard, annoyed, and said, "I didn’t expect the Third Young Lady’s temper to grow so big, relying on the backing of the Marquis’ household, she doesn’t even see others in her eyes."

Nanny Wang actually wanted to say that the Third Young Lady had long since stopped seeing the Madam in her eyes, otherwise, she wouldn’t always be at odds with the Madam.

Maternal Aunt Su was also inquiring about Xiang Wei, but the information she found confirmed that Xiang Wei really was an embroideress, who usually stayed indoors to embroider and seldom went out.

Maternal Aunt Su didn’t believe this, asking, "What does the girl look like? Where is she from? Where did she live before? How did she catch the Third Young Lady’s eye?"

The old nanny said, "It is said that she’s average-looking, very petite and charming, resembling a woman from Jiangnan. People from Lanxi Courtyard said this Miss Xiang Wei is an orphan who grew up in the Charity Hall and previously lived in the south. Somehow, she ended up in Marquis Jingning’s Residence, and the Heir’s Wife placed her in the villa. As for how she caught the Third Young Lady’s eye, I couldn’t delve into it. The only one who knows about her affairs at the villa is Xi Yu, but Xi Yu is tight-lipped and no useful information can be extracted from her."

Maternal Aunt Su rubbed her temples and said, "Have someone inquire more about this." Maternal Aunt Su was very sure that Xiang Wei was problematic; Yueyao was not particularly concerned about dressing up. On the contrary, Maternal Aunt Su had never heard Yueyao taking any special interest in her personal expenses. Now, having visited the villa, she brought back an embroideress, which seemed implausible. Moreover, with the Third Young Lady’s temperament, she wouldn’t randomly hire an idler in the courtyard, so Maternal Aunt Su was certain that Miss Xiang Wei was not simple.

After a moment of thought, the old nanny added, "Maternal Aunt, people from Lanxi Courtyard know that this Miss Xiang Wei is a free person." Being free implied she could leave at any time; the mansion’s orders could not bind her, nor could they move her.

Maternal Aunt Su’s frown deepened, having such a capable person by the Third Young Lady’s side was like adding wings to a tiger, potentially dangerous for them.

The old nanny suggested, "Maternal Aunt, maybe talk to the Madam about it."

Maternal Aunt Su felt a headache coming on. The Madam was desperate for money to redeem her dowry and did not spare even the silver in Yuehuan’s hands; how could she spare the Third Young Lady’s wealth? But now the problem was that the Madam could no longer control the Third Young Lady. The Third Young Lady had always been deeply cautious of the Madam, and now with the backing of her maternal family, even if the Third Young Lady died, the Madam wouldn’t get her wealth.

Maternal Aunt Su was exhausted by these thoughts. If only the Madam had listened to her and taken out the Third Young Lady during Old Madam’s seventy-seventh birthday celebration, they would have avoided these issues. Unfortunately, the Madam missed the best opportunity because she was worried about gossip. Now the Third Young Lady held too many advantages, trying to remove her now would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Suddenly, Maternal Aunt Su had a realization. She now understood who Xiang Wei was; Yueyao must have sought her from Marquis Jingning’s Residence for protection. Maternal Aunt Su muttered to herself, "No wonder the Third Young Lady is willing to be the Third Miss of the Luo Family’s study companion." With Yueyao’s proud nature, how would she deign to be a companion in a prestigious family’s house unless she had something to seek from Marquis Jingning’s Residence? The Third Young Lady sought Xiang Wei for the purpose of guarding against the Madam harming her.

Maternal Aunt Su felt that she should immediately talk to Lady about this, but she stopped at the doorway and immediately retreated.

Maternal Aunt Su’s rationality returned. How could she bluntly say to the Madam that the Third Young Lady had found someone to guard against her? Such a statement would directly imply that the Madam was scheming against the Third Young Lady’s wealth. The Madam was extremely concerned about her reputation; even if Maternal Aunt Su was the Madam’s confidante, speaking so directly would not end well.

Maternal Aunt Su clasped her hands, reminding herself not to rush. This matter needed careful planning. The best course of action was to dissuade the Madam from scheming against the Third Young Lady; if the Madam harmed the Third Young Lady, the consequences would be unimaginable.

The fourth day after Yueyao’s return was the Double Ninth Festival.

On the day of the Double Ninth Festival, Lian Mansion made Double-Yellow Cakes. Making these cakes was a meticulous affair: Coarse Flower Cake was slightly sticky with coriander leaves as a mark, mixed with green fruits, small dates, walnuts, and other coarse dry fruits in between; Fine Flower Cake consisted of three layers, each layer having finer candied dry fruits like candied apple, peach, apricot, and black dates in between; meanwhile, Money Flower Cake, Money Cake were smaller, resembling "money" in appearance. Last year, the mansion had made a variety of cakes, but today, everything made within Lian Mansion was Money Flower Cake.

Yueyao looked at it and lost her appetite, knowing without a doubt that this was probably ordered by Lady, as money was indeed Lady’s favorite.