"What did you say?" Lady scolded sharply.
That antique shop was the most profitable one she owned, and it wasn’t a problem to earn three to five hundred thousand taels in a year. In good times, even seven to eight hundred thousand taels of silver was possible.
And now, there weren’t many shops or estates left in her hands, because she had secretly given them to Xu Xinmo.
And the earnings of the others combined couldn’t match the profit of this shop.
"Lady, everything in the shop has been stolen, and the authorities have been informed!"
After confirming the news, Lady fainted on the spot.
After a flurry of panic and chaos, Lady slowly regained consciousness, feeling as though she had aged several years.
She did not like Mrs. Han and naturally did not want her to care for the sick, so she asked Lady to attend her. However, Lady had to manage the house’s provisions, Yun Zhen’s examination for the imperial scholar was imminent, Mrs. He dared not be negligent, and the children were all busy with their own matters, either going to the academy to study or preparing their dowries.
Yun Muyou did come to see her from time to time, but she did not know how to care for someone and would just take a look before leaving.
At this time, the usefulness of the concubines in the house became evident.
Concubine Cui took the lead, followed closely by Concubine Rou in attendance before Lady. Lady did not like Mrs. Han but was very fond of Concubine Rou. After Concubine Rou cared for her for a few days, she was rewarded with quite a few things and even encouraged Concubine Rou to bear Yun Qi more children.
With a smile of pride, Concubine Rou looked down at her stomach!
On the twenty-seventh of February, Yun Zhen sat for the imperial scholar examination.
The results were released on the first day of March, with the top scholar being a young gentleman named Feng Wushuang, and Yun Zhen failed the examination once again.
Yun Zhen felt disconsolate.
He got drunk at Huiquan Tower and was carried back to Yun Family unconscious.
Mrs. He wanted to comfort him but did not know where to begin.
Upon learning the news, Lady’s illness worsened.
So much so that on the third of March, the third young master Yun Xuan’s birthday wasn’t celebrated lavishly. A bowl of longevity noodles and a table of food and drink were delivered, but the proper birthday gifts were given.
Mrs. Han coldly chuckled several times at Qiyue Academy.
As if that was the end of it, in your dreams!
Yun Jinnian was sitting in front of the desk copying the Diamond Sutra, while Abbot Wuxin and his fellow disciple, Master Wuwang, were chanting sutras.
When Yun Jinnian grew tired of writing, he set down his brush, opened the brocade box, and gently caressed the beads inside.
Abbot Wuxin and Master Wuwang glanced over, then quickly closed their eyes and continued chanting.
Yun Jinnian could not fathom it; they had been practicing Buddhism since childhood and naturally could see some things that ordinary people couldn’t.
Yet Yun Jinnian, holding those beads, looked at them from all angles, treasuring them greatly.
Taking a break, Yun Jinnian flexed his wrists and then stepped out of Wanfu Hall to drink water, attend to nature’s call, have some vegetarian snacks, and admire the green trees before returning to continue his scripture copying.
From the day Yun Jinnian felt that a sutra was becoming tattered and about to fall apart, he took the fine paper his mother had sent and carefully transcribed it, then binding it with thread for the Abbot Master. He started copying scriptures, with Abbot Master chanting on his behalf to avoid tarnishing her reputation; he invited his fellow disciple Master Wuwang to join him, then continued copying other damaged scriptures from Huguo Temple, as well as those brought by Master Wuwang. Although writing so much every day was taxing, Yun Jinnian managed to memorize them while copying, which included several Martial Arts Manuscripts rumored to have been lost for many years.
Moreover, Master Wuwang accepted her as a lay disciple and taught her a set of meditation techniques for absorbing energy.
After practicing for some days, Yun Jinnian felt lighter.
It could partly be psychological, but she definitely felt much better overall.
When free, Yun Jinnian also helped the monks with medical treatment and discussed medical skills with the Medical Monk, benefiting greatly from the experience.