Chapter 250: You

"Mother, you say how did this servant girl become like this?"

"It's been too smooth, and we got used to it, used to getting whatever we want."

"But she is, after all, my daughter."

"Zongsheng was right, send her back, let everything follow Wangfu's decisions; she also ought to endure some hardship, otherwise she won't recall what days we once lived."

The old master glanced at Wang Jiaru, "Hurry and prepare the New Year goods, prepare for Qiao Niang's family at five times the usual amount."

Wang Jiaru widened her eyes, "Father, could it be that extreme?"

"Listen to me, it's correct; Qiao Niang is an extraordinary woman, she is certainly not as simple as you all think on the surface; Ru'er did such a thing, we must show sincerity."

"What about the Compensation?"

"Ru'er's share will not be given; even the Compensation for me and your mother will be sent to Qiao Niang."

"Father, you are overestimating her, aren't you?"

"So does that mean she has a connection with the Immortal Clan?"

The old man shook his head, "I think what was given to Zihan is an Immortal Clan item; otherwise it wouldn't be so effective—so many famous doctors have examined it and are at a loss."

"Yes, Father, the daughter‑in‑law will go prepare it right away."

"Therefore, whatever it was before and whatever it will be later, try not to mention Ru'er."

"My paternal grandfather said he would Compensation you; he sent his own and his mother‑in‑law's Compensation, as well as Ru'er's, for me to deliver to you."

"The Master is guilty, and the servants following also must be punished; this is the rule."

"Since she left with the child, Jingcheng has been buzzing, and when she returned, the rumors grew even more scandalous."

"Hurry and get ready to go!"

"The letter roughly says that Jiaru is immature and asks the Old Prince and Old Princess to punish her severely."

The old lady raised her eyebrows, "She does have ability, I admit."

The old master's face darkened, "I told you to give her my and your mother's share, as well as Ru'er's, not your share; why, unwilling?"

"Old woman, stop messing around, it's because of Qiao Niang, after all."

Wang Jiaru's mouth trembled twice, the son drank several bottles; how much silver does that cost?

"It's necessary; perhaps one day, regarding Ru'er's matter, Qiao Niang might still be able to help."

"Servant girl, you!"

As soon as they reached Jingcheng, he threw her into Wangfu, only attached a letter to the Prince and then hurried back.

Wang Zongsheng arrived in Jingcheng on the fourth day of the New Year; all the way, Wang Jiaru was restless, so he could only give her a drug to make her sleep the whole journey.

"Qiao Niang? Ru'er's matter really added trouble for you."

As for when to release her, a well‑known figure estimated at least half a year.

Wang Jiaru shouted in the courtyard every day like a madwoman; the Old Princess had someone slip Sleeping Drug into her bowl, causing her to sleep for a whole day.

The in‑laws were right; our own daughter's swearing brotherhood with Qiao Niang was indeed overreaching.

"That's way too much."

"That's something even money can't buy."

She felt sorry for Wang Jiaru, but under the supervision of the old master and the old lady, she didn't dare to go to Jingcheng.

When she left, the old master scolded, "Your hair may be long but your insight is short; you only fixate on that bit of silver in your hand, and it makes you uneasy."

This time the young Princess secretly took the child out, violating Wangfu's great taboo; she should have been properly punished, but the child is still young, and Wang Zongsheng gives Wangfu so much silver each year, so they only placed her under house arrest and did nothing else.

Zihan happily took it, immediately hugging it, "Sister, so warm."

Qiao Mai prepared two hot water bags for them, filled with hot water, able to retain heat for a long time and without fear of spilling.

"In my eyes, these, 000 Tael Silver Notes are only enough to buy a single grain of food for Zihan."

"No trouble,"

Zihan respectfully bowed to Qiao Mai, "I have silently memorized everything; now I dare not boast, but I will regard Qiao sister as my own elder sister."

Wang Jiaru had long known of Qiao Mai's thoughtfulness; she and her son sat in the carriage, swaying all the way home, deeply moved, thinking that if Ru'er could have even half of Qiao Niang's goodness, she would be satisfied.

"It's just that it's too much; the household expenses have been large these past two years."

Qiao Mai watched her place a stack of silver notes on the table, then picked them up and handed them to Zihan.

A single sentence made Wang Jiaru's face turn bright red.

Qiao Mai handed the hot water bag to them, "If you're leaving, do it early; the weather is bad, keep this to warm your hands."

From now on, you must never indulge the child again; fostering such a willful character will only harm her.

If she wakes up still restless, have the servants keep pouring the drug into her mouth.

Jiaru spent the whole day in the courtyard washing her face with tears; all the old women and servant girls around her were transferred elsewhere by the Old Princess.

"Wrong, you all haven't seen clearly."

"Servant girl, do you still hold a grudge over the past?"

She too feared this, so she endured it.

"Very obedient, sister says there's no other intention; she wants you to know that I am not short of silver, you keep it yourselves, and when the common people later face some disaster, it will be handy."

"This, this is five hundred thousand Tael Silver Notes."

"Ah, that's really the case; isn't Ru'er like that?"

The old master rarely shouts at Wang Jiaru; today he broke new ground, and Wang Jiaru was so frightened she trembled and hurriedly nodded.

Thus, the Wang family's New Year goods were delivered to the Qiao family on the twenty‑seventh day of the twelfth month; Wang Jiaru felt the amount of silver notes was huge, so she brought Zihan along to deliver them.

"Thank you, sister; this soup lady is really good, I can take it to school."

"Let me ask you, in the Ming Emperor's reign, who can cure Zihan? Who can produce such medicine? Do you think she covets your few silver? Accepting it is only to let us know she wants to befriend us, not because she lacks."

"If you don't search for her, the daughter's punishment will be milder; if you do search, perhaps even the Princess's position cannot be preserved."

Madam Wang was moved to the point of being speechless; looking at the weather, she got up to take her leave.

What tactics aren't present in the great mansion? After only a few days she became obedient, no longer crying or making a fuss.

"I truly consider her my granddaughter,"

"After the water cools, twist off the lid like this, don't pour out the cold water but store the hot, then twist it tight again,"

We originally wanted to heavily punish this little princess, but after seeing the in‑laws' letter, the anger subsided by half. They sent people to place Wang Jiaru under house arrest, publicly saying she is ill, and forbade anyone from seeing her, especially the children—those are out of the question.

"Here, I don't usually have anything to give you, so take this and buy some candy,"

"No, I lack no silver at all; I'll keep the New Year goods, and give the silver notes to Zihan,"

Thus the old master recounted his findings to the old lady in full detail, and Madam Pang inhaled a gasp of cool air.

"Understood,"

Madam Wang, startled, stood up, "What? The medicine you gave Zihan, is a single pill that expensive?"

The old lady gave him a cold stare, "Just you, you're the only one, your hair never grows long."

"So she's a fool. Let me tell you, don't interfere with Ru'er's matters for now; Zongsheng is secretly sending people to protect her. All we need is to be sincere and get along well with Qiao Niang; don't let her alone cause us to ruin the relationship we've built over many years,"

Wang Zongsheng is from the family that Eleven arrived at; as soon as he returned he was busy handling official affairs, and when he occasionally heard about matters concerning the daughter, he would just bite his tongue and pretend not to see.

"Don't always point to others for help; the two of us have lived in her house and benefited a lot. Aside from that, just look at those two cats in your arms—have you ever seen the Ming Emperor? They're certainly worth a good amount of silver, yet she didn't even blink before giving them to you; she truly takes you as a grandmother,"

The old master and old lady passed the fifteenth round at the Qiao Family; Qiao Mai still treated them as before, and the old lady held Qiao Mai's hand.

"That stupid girl Ru'er, unable to recognize gold‑scented jade, threw away such a good friend of yours,"

"It's okay, the old doesn't go, the new doesn't come; I don't know which day I'll make a new friend,"

The old lady felt a pang in her heart, "She is now being punished, placed under house arrest by the old princess; we won't argue, just let her endure some suffering,"

(End of chapter)