Chapter 24 Gold Becomes the Stepmother’s
When Wen Xueling noticed people frequently peeking outside Folding Willow Courtyard, she knew that woman was starting to get anxious.
In the following days, her scumbag father found no free time.
As soon as he stepped into the Prime Minister’s Estate, he was immediately summoned by the maids from Qingxin Courtyard, giving him no opportunity to visit other courtyards.
Wen Xueling was also happy to have her freedom.
During her leisure, she further improved the incendiary devices.
If only there were a firearm tube that was more portable than a sleeve arrow, lighter, and easier to handle, so in a crucial moment, she could just press it and strike the enemy's vital points.
Handing these components over to Liang Jue for production would certainly not yield as much profit as if she made them herself.
Wen Xueling also didn’t want anyone to know the secrets of making these items.
But whether it was developing military-grade incendiary devices for warfare or personal protective firearm tubes, both required money.
She had thought incendiary devices would be costly, but she didn’t expect it to be so soon.
Her cooperation with the General-of-Pacifying-the-Nation’s Estate had brought her a good amount of money in exchange for the crossbow designs, but it still wasn’t enough.
Without money, one could not move an inch.
A light suddenly flashed in Wen Xueling’s mind.
She had money!
The hundred taels of gold bestowed by the Empress Dowager were still stored in the Prime Minister’s Estate’s treasury.
Wen Xueling immediately sent Tangxia to find the steward to get the treasury key.
However, Tangxia was gone for over an hour and didn’t return. Worried that something had happened to her, Wen Xueling took Tangchun to look for her.
Before she even reached the treasury door.
She heard Tangxia arguing with the steward from afar.
“Why can’t it be moved? That’s originally our young lady’s money!”
“Young Lady Tangxia, please don’t make things difficult for me; the treasury key is truly not in my hands.”
Seeing Tangxia about to act out of impatience, Wen Xueling quickly spoke to stop her.
The new steward, Xu Fu, was originally the Prime Minister’s Estate’s second-in-command. He took over the position after the former steward was punished with flogging and sold off.
He was more discerning than the former steward. “Young Lady, the treasury key has always been personally managed by Madam Xie.”
“If you wish to withdraw money, you must go to Madam Xie’s courtyard to request the key before the treasury can be opened.”
Even if she didn’t want to see Xie Siyu, she had to get her own money back first.
This new steward, however, unlike the maids and attendants in other courtyards, did not shy away from the people of Folding Willow Courtyard.
If he could be brought over to her side, it would greatly assist her actions within the Prime Minister’s Estate, but she still needed to observe him further.
Wen Xueling went to Qingxin Courtyard. Seeing the picturesque Southern China-style pavilions and waterside structures once more, her face was filled with coldness.
Qingxin Courtyard was the largest and most beautiful courtyard in the Prime Minister’s Estate.
Merely because Xie Siyu had said she wanted to enjoy flowers outdoors without being chilled by winter snow, Wen Jingshu had arranged numerous warming stones both inside and outside the courtyard, doting on her to the extreme.
In her previous life, when she and her mother starved, her scumbag father had created an idyllic paradise for Xie Siyu and her daughter.
Wen Xueling had not even stepped onto the stone bridge outside the courtyard when she was blocked by a maid from Qingxin Courtyard.
“Stop, our Madam does not like outsiders entering.”
Tangxia was about to step forward to argue, but Wen Xueling stopped her with a glance.
After Tangchun stepped out and explained their purpose, the maid told them to wait on the other side of the bridge.
Divided by a bridge.
On Wen Xueling’s side, there was still unmelted white snow, while the other side was indeed a scene of spring flowers blooming, without a trace of accumulated snow.
Half an incense stick passed, and the maid who went to report did not return.
“Young Lady, the weather is freezing; your body won’t be able to bear it. Please return to Folding Willow Courtyard first, this servant will wait here.”
“Once I get the key, this servant will immediately send it back.”
Wen Xueling looked towards the other side of the bridge. “I’m afraid even by dark, we won't get the treasury key.”
Tangxia was puzzled: “Why? The Empress Dowager’s reward is the Young Lady’s private property; not even the Prime Minister can touch it.”
In Rong Kingdom, a woman’s dowry and imperial grants were considered private property.
Neither her birth family nor her husband’s family could appropriate it. If anyone harbored ill intentions, they could directly report it to the Dali Temple.
“Young Lady, this servant is strong. If she doesn’t return it, this servant will go strike the grievance drum outside Dali Temple!”
Wen Xueling’s expression was calm, and a profound meaning flashed in her eyes.
Tangxia was right; the Empress Dowager’s reward was her private property, and no one could seize it.
As far as she knew, most of Wen Jingshu’s wealth in his previous life came from certain opportunities, and in this life, she had told Liang Jue all about them, cutting off his path to riches in advance.
The Prime Minister’s Estate’s treasury likely didn’t have much disposable silver.
She tried hard to recall her memories from her previous life, searching for any information she could immediately use.
She had it!
Wen Xueling curled her lips into a smile and instructed, “No rush, Tangxia, go quietly reveal the news that I want to withdraw gold to Wen Jin’an.”
Wasn’t Xie Siyu trying to deliberately make things difficult for them?
Then she would feign being troubled and helpless for Xie Siyu to see.
She remembered that in her previous life, Wen Jin’an’s maid had said that she claimed the title of the capital’s foremost noble lady at the Qinian Lantern Festival.
Given Wen Jin’an’s penchant for showing off, she would certainly outfit herself from head to toe, inside and out.
If she hadn’t guessed wrong, and the Prime Minister’s Estate’s treasury truly had little money, then the hundred taels of gold she had stored there would be the capital for her grand outfit.
As expected.
When Wen Jin’an learned that Wen Xueling was going to take the gold from the treasury, she immediately ran to Qingxin Courtyard.
Her face was anxious, as if Wen Xueling were taking money directly from her purse.
“Sister, what are you doing outside my mother’s courtyard?”
Her feigned innocence made Wen Xueling feel like she was seeing a slippery and disgusting venomous snake from the snake pit in Slave City, making her want to vomit.
Wen Xueling looked up, gazing calmly into Wen Jin’an’s eyes, and said faintly, “Getting money.”
Upon receiving a definite answer from her, the smile on Wen Jin’an’s face hardened slightly.
That gold was originally bestowed upon the Prime Minister’s Estate by the Empress Dowager. She had already planned where to use that gold; how could she possibly leave it for Wen Xueling?
Wen Jin’an swept a contemptuous glance over her from head to toe, and an idea for tormenting her immediately formed in her mind.
She walked with joyful steps, eagerly rushing into Qingxin Courtyard.
Not long after, she came out with a stack of papers and forcefully scattered them towards Wen Xueling’s face.
“Sister, don’t say that I, your younger sister, don’t help you.”
“I spoke many good words on your behalf to Mother, and only then did Mother agree for you to withdraw ten taels……of silver.”
Wen Jingshu and Wen Jinli were not in the manor, so Wen Jin’an also dropped some of her pretense, smiling at Wen Xueling with arrogance and triumph.
“Here, write it down. Where the money will be used, how long you’re borrowing it for, and when you’ll return it to the treasury. Write every stroke clearly.”
Wen Xueling looked at the letters scattered on the ground; some were already damp from the falling snow, and some had been stepped on by Wen Jin’an.
She did not miss the darkness in her stepsister’s eyes, nor the malice that was almost overflowing, fearing that she was planning another scheme to frame her.
Under Wen Jin’an’s triumphant gaze, Wen Xueling slowly knelt down.
Just then!
Wen Jin’an extended her foot, a gleeful smile in her eyes, and fiercely stepped on Wen Xueling’s hand.
0 Comments