"We will build a house on the mountain next to that one, and I'll tell you which one in the next two days," Zuo Xiangning said with satisfaction at Zhang Rui's composure, and continued in a more relaxed tone, "Check out the shops on the east and West Main Streets in the next two days to see if any are for sale, how much they cost, and also look for a quiet, double-entry courtyard house that might be on the market."
Zhang Rui couldn't help but look up at Zuo Xiangning, Fourth Miss had yet to come of age. Was she thinking about acquiring private property?
Zuo Xiangning did indeed want to acquire private property.
A cunning hare will have three burrows, she had to consider her future.
Although she had confidence in preventing herself and her loved ones from repeating past mistakes, she could not afford to be unprepared for any eventuality.
And silver, no matter the time, is always the most useful thing.
Even if Lingxiao didn't give her those four thousand taels, she wanted to use the silver she currently had to acquire some private property.
This silver, just kept in hand, would not increase by a single penny, but if turned into something that could make money, it would slowly grow more and more.
She called Pan Xia over, "Come with me to Auntie Liu's place."
"Are we going for silver?" Pan Xia's eyes sparkled with excitement as she spoke. "We should also call Pan Cui, she's stronger than me."
"We're going to get money, not to fight," Zuo Xiangning said, feeling her blood boiling at Pan Xia's words.
Even her maids were so formidable; as their master, she had to be even braver!
She took Pan Xia and Pan Cui with her to see Auntie Liu.
"Has Fourth Maid come?" Auntie Liu greeted them with a smile, and looking at Zuo Xiangning's brand-new clothes, she asked, "Dressed so beautifully, are you going out?"
"I'm here to visit you, Auntie," Zuo Xiangning said as she brought out the leftover pastries from her own courtyard for Auntie Liu, "These were specially made for me by my eldest sister when I went to Chu King's Mansion the day before yesterday. I've saved a few pieces for you."
Auntie Liu was inwardly annoyed, leftovers from the day before only given to her now?
Clearly, these were just leftovers, weren't they?
"You go out first, I have a few private words to speak with Fourth Miss," Auntie Liu said to Pan Cui and Pan Xia.
Pan Cui and Pan Xia drooped their eyes, standing as if they hadn't heard a word.
Auntie Liu turned to look at Zuo Xiangning, who was sitting in the chair, gently tapping her fingertips on the table, smiling as though in high spirits, and said with a sneer, "Pan Xia, Pan Cui, who gave you such courage? Can't I direct you anymore?"
"Why would you say that, Auntie?" Zuo Xiangning looked at Auntie Liu as if just awakened from a dream and smiled, "Aren't the maids by my side supposed to follow my orders? The maids by your side probably can't be directed by others either, right?"
Auntie Liu was shocked and had no choice but to believe what her younger daughter had told her, that Zuo Xiangning had changed completely from before.
Zuo Xiangning smiled and had Pan Xia and Pan Cui go out to wait.
Pan Cui looked at Zuo Xiangning with some concern, not wanting to leave, but was pulled out by Pan Xia.
"You're not wrong in what you say, but am I just somebody to you?" Auntie Liu sighed. "In the past, we were as close as mother and daughter, so intertwined. But these past few days? You've become distant with me, wanting to settle everything precisely. What's this really about? Did someone say something to you, or is there some misunderstanding?"
"What does Auntie think is the reason?" Zuo Xiangning countered.
"How would I know?" Auntie Liu said with a bitter smile. "Tell Auntie, did your third sister make you angry? I'll deal with her for you."
"I have a secret to tell you, Auntie" Zuo Xiangning suddenly leaned closer to Auntie Liu, "At Prince Qi's Residence, third sister pushed me into the lake, and I nearly drowned... Do you know about that?"
"What did you say?" Auntie Liu exclaimed in surprise, "Who is spreading such rumors? That is your own sister; how could she possibly do such a thing? It's absolutely impossible!"
"At that time, standing behind me were my Third Sister and Yu Tao. I am sure it was one of them who pushed me." Zuo Xiangning looked at Auntie Liu's flickering eyes, sighed, and said, "This matter has been weighing on me like a rock, and I have been hesitating about whether to tell the lady or not..."
"Of course, you can't tell her that!" Auntie Liu hurriedly interrupted her, "Ningning, rest assured, you are just like my own child to me, and I will definitely investigate this matter for you! Whoever wants to harm you, they simply can't!"
"Thank you, Auntie." Zuo Xiangning grasped Auntie Liu's hand, her eyes turning red as she said, "I thought you all didn't like me anymore. Now, hearing these words from you, Auntie, my heart feels much warmer."
"You silly child, from now on don't keep everything bottled up inside. Just tell Auntie everything; with me here, there's nothing you need to be afraid of." Auntie Liu gently patted her hand.
"The lady said she wants to build a residence on the mountain I bought and asked me to contribute some silver. I have already agreed, but I don't have any on hand, so what should I do?" Zuo Xiangning said troubled.
"Ask for silver to build a residence? Which matriarch would do such a thing? Asking a shu daughter for silver, how could she come up with such an idea!" Auntie Liu exclaimed indignantly.
"As you said, Auntie, who made me born of a concubine?" Zuo Xiangning sighed, "Otherwise, would I be in such a hurry to ask you for the silver I've saved over the years?"
"I'll give it to you." Even if Auntie Liu was reluctant, she had no choice but to give.
Auntie Liu smiled as she sent Zuo Xiangning to the door. Once they were far away, she put on a stern face and ordered someone to find Zuo Xiangyu.
"Let her come alone – don't let her bring anyone with her!"
Zuo Xiangning, accompanied by Pan Xia and Pan Cui, left Auntie Liu's Ruyi Courtyard feeling completely satisfied.
She handed the three hundred silver notes she had in her arms over to Pan Xia, instructing them to check how much silver she had in total.
After the time it took half an incense stick to burn, the count was in.
"Not counting the gold ingots given by the Princess Consort of Chu, the total comes to six hundred and twenty taels," Pan Xia and Pan Cui said, their eyes narrowing with joy, "We actually have so much silver."
Zuo Xiangning sat on the luohan bed sipping tea, mentally calculating that with the five hundred taels from her aunt, she had over a thousand taels in total.
Even if Lingxiao didn't give her those four thousand taels, she should be able to buy a small shop with her silver, shouldn't she?
By midnight, Zuo Xiangning yawned, feeling dejected as she climbed into bed.
Lingxiao, that bad guy, really didn't come to give her the silver.
If only she had known it would come to this, she should have just asked him directly for ten thousand taels.
"All this talk of 'trickling streams;' it's all bullshit!" Zuo Xiangning said angrily, kicking the bedframe a couple of times.
"You're using so much force; aren't you afraid of kicking the bed apart?" A man's teasing voice echoed in the room.
Zuo Xiangning turned over, sat up on the bed, pulled back the bed curtains, and looking at the tall man standing in the center of the room, said happily, "You came?"
The cheerful voice of the woman and her eager actions gave Lingxiao the illusion that she had been waiting for him all along, which inexplicably lifted his sullen mood.
"Mmm." He uttered softly, taking a seat beside the table in the outer room.
"Why did you come so late?" Zuo Xiangning sat down as well, blindly pouring a cup of tea for him, "I thought you weren't coming at all."
In the hazy moonlight, the delicate face of the woman shone with a pearl-like luster, her pursed red lips tempting like fresh cherries, irresistible to bite into.