“Well, Madam hasn’t exactly shown favoritism—these pieces are quite decent.”
Liu Nanny had set out the porcelain ornaments sent by Wang Shi, letting Tao Yiran inspect them. Anything from the marquisate’s storeroom was bound to be of good quality. Liu Nanny’s face was all smiles.
Anyone would be happy to receive a few valuable trinkets out of the blue—Tao Yiran was no exception. But just then, Nanny Cai stepped forward, wearing a look of disdain.
She remarked pointedly, “Many of the items in the marquisate’s storeroom are either war trophies from the old Marquis or imperial gifts—each piece worth a fortune.”
“What Old Madam holds aside for herself is one thing, but even the pieces under the Marchioness’s care are countless. I heard Second Young Madam helped the Marchioness organize the storeroom today and left with several items for Autumn Harvest Courtyard—no doubt all hand-picked.”
“The Young Madam, being unwell, can’t attend to the Marchioness personally, while Second Young Madam is all too clever—winning over both the Old Madam and the Marchioness. I’m afraid the Young Madam may be at a disadvantage.”
“Don’t forget—one day, the heir will inherit the household. The Young Madam must start thinking ahead.”
She stopped just short of saying it outright: all the marquisate’s treasures would one day belong to Tang Rong, and Wang Shi shouldn’t be handing out the best pieces to Autumn Harvest Courtyard.
Tao Yiran’s earlier pleasant mood vanished instantly.
Liu Nanny silently cursed Nanny Cai for being a gossip and a troublemaker. Was this the kind of thing one should say so openly? Had she forgotten the rule that “walls have ears”?
Tired of trying to manage a mistress who couldn’t hold her own and an old servant who stirred up discord, Liu Nanny made up her mind. She couldn’t change her mistress, but she could get rid of Nanny Cai. She would have to wait for the right moment and let Tao Yiran raise the matter herself.
Meanwhile, over at Autumn Harvest Courtyard, Xin An had just taken a short rest and was preparing to head to the storeroom when Ershan arrived.
He had only just started working at Autumn Harvest Courtyard the day before, and today he had gone out with Lailai to familiarize himself with the capital’s streets.
“Is something the matter?”
Ershan gave a respectful bow. “Young Master sent me to inform you, my lady—there’s a shop for sale in the capital. It’s in a prime location, very spacious, on Yinghui Street. A row of four adjacent storefronts.”
“If you’re interested, you may view it this afternoon. The paperwork can be signed by evening.”
Xin An hadn’t received any shops in her dowry. The Xin family hadn’t had time to secure properties in the capital, so most of her dowry had been converted into silver instead. She had long wanted to buy a shop, and had asked Tang Mo to keep an eye out.
“Do you know who the owner is?”
Ershan shook his head. “Just that it belongs to one of Young Master’s colleagues.”
“Very well. You know the way? You’ll take me there later.”
“Yes, madam. Brother Lailai already showed me the route.”
Xin An immediately sent Nanny Wang to have Wang Jin and Wang Fu wait for her on Yinghui Street to inspect the property together. She also had Chunyang bring silver notes—if she liked the place, Chunyang was to deliver the funds to Tang Mo right away and secure the deal.
Shops in the capital weren’t easy to come by. Good ones were always in high demand.
Once all preparations were in place, Xin An set off with her group. Ershan drove the carriage, his posture stiff, back ramrod straight. He gripped the reins tightly, guiding the horses with utmost caution. Chunyang smiled and said, “Brother Ershan, don’t be so nervous—take your time.”
Ershan grunted an “Mm,” but remained visibly tense. Still, he safely and steadily delivered Xin An to their destination. Once they disembarked, Chunyang even praised him, making his eyebrows practically fly off his face in delight.
The shop Tang Mo had mentioned was indeed excellent—four adjoining storefronts, with a courtyard in the back, situated at a busy three-way intersection. Spacious at both the front and rear.
Wang Jin and his son had arrived first and already gathered some information. “The shop belongs to the Wang family. Their patriarch is a fifth-rank military officer. Seems he’s strapped for cash and decided to sell the property.”
“The price is about twenty percent higher than market.”
Wang Jin found it a bit steep. Xin An rifled through her memory—there was something vaguely familiar about the Wangs, though it wasn’t clear. Military officers being short on silver was not unusual—he might genuinely be in need.
Outside the shop stood a man who appeared to be the steward, casting anxious glances toward the carriage. “That’s the one in charge,” Wang Jin said.
As Xin An stepped out to inspect the shop, the steward came trotting over, bowed, and said respectfully, “Greetings, Second Young Madam.”
“No need for formalities.”
The interior of the shop was even larger than she had expected—bright, well-kept, stocked with neatly arranged goods. A sizeable general store.
“Isn’t it a pity to sell such a fine shop?”
The steward, surnamed Wang like his master, offered a bitter smile. “Indeed, Madam. The location is prime, and business has been good. If not for the master’s urgent need for silver, he would never part with it.”
He hesitated as if he wanted to say more but held back. Xin An asked, “Why is the price twenty percent higher than market?”
“It’s the price set by the master,” he replied. “Perhaps he simply doesn’t want to let it go.”
Xin An smiled, looked over the shop’s layout again. In her memory, the capital would only grow more prosperous, and later it would be near impossible to acquire shops like this. Prices would keep rising—good locations were always scarce.
“No haggling. Let’s settle it at this price.”
The steward was overjoyed. Chunyang handed over two silver notes of one hundred taels each as a deposit. “We’ll pay the rest when the deed is signed. As for the official red contract, we’ll process it directly at the magistrate’s office.”
The steward accepted the notes and wrote out a receipt, discreetly wiping a tear from his eye. “My lady, the master would like to ask a favor. There are still some people living in the rear courtyard—along with a few supplies. May they remain for one more month?”
“We’ll do our best to relocate as soon as possible.”
Xin An turned to the side. Wang Jin and his son went to inspect the back courtyard and returned with grim faces.
“There are twenty to thirty people living there—mostly elderly, women, and children. Many of the elders are disabled.”
Suddenly, a distant memory sharpened into focus.
“Is your master General Wang You, titled Commander of Huaiyuan?”
“The ones living out back—are they disabled veterans who retired from the battlefield?”
Indeed, Wang You was known for housing numerous injured and dependent old soldiers. Xin An remembered that, in her past life, he fell into trouble, and hundreds of these veterans knelt in public to plead for him. The scene moved the emperor, who ultimately pardoned his crime.
More importantly, Wang You’s father had once served under the old marquis of the Tang household. Which meant these veterans had ties to the family. In her past life, Wang You had never come to the marquis household for help—surely, there was more to the story.
The steward did not deny it—he only looked at her nervously. Xin An gave a soft smile and nodded.
“That’s fine. They may stay.”
The steward bowed deeply in gratitude. Xin An said nothing further. Once in the carriage, she instructed Ershan to ask Tang Mo to come home early that night.
Back at the residence, she went directly to Wang Shi.
“How much do we know about that family?” Wang Shi asked warily.
Xin An explained the matter of the shop. “There are twenty or thirty people living in the back courtyard. They’re all injured veterans. I’m still unfamiliar with the capital’s inner workings, but given the marquisate’s past, I’m concerned there might be some connection between the Wang family and ours.”
“If there isn’t—fine. But if there is, we’ll need to consider our next steps. First, it would be an act of compassion. Second, a good deed. And third—it may spare us future trouble.”