Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The Liu residence did not have many masters. They had Liu She, the second lady, Madam Hu, and Liu Lanting. Other than them, there were two other concubines and their children. The concubines kept to their rooms and hardly appeared in front of others.
The few masters had even temperaments and would not increase the servants’ workload. The previous mistress had created a workflow for each servant, and, once they had completed their daily tasks, they had quite a few hours to themselves.
Tong Sanniang was preparing to visit the embroidery workshop for some new threads when she passed by a group of servants and merchants whispering amongst themselves.
“What did you say happen in Cang Prefecture and Meng County?”
The new servants’ whispers were heard by her. At first, the new retainer looked pissed that they were heard, but when he noticed her, the main wing’s servant, he quickly put on a smile and brought his hands up in greeting.
“Maiden Tong.”
Tong Sanniang was around twenty years old and not married. Based on Dongqing’s laws, she would have to pay another portion of tax. Her elder brother and his wife found that embarrassing and had tried forcing her to get married. She agreed on the front, but went to find Madam Hu for help. She managed to convince Madam Hu that she would rather be an independent woman.
She was the first in the whole of Liu residence to have Madam Hu’s support and thus, none of the other servants dared cross her.
Tong Sanniang’s expression was cold when she said, “You were just talking about Cang Prefecture and Meng County. What’s going on?”
The merchants who caught her gaze felt overwhelmed and quickly bowed their heads. “This, this...” they mumbled.
“Speak!”
A merchant spoke quickly while quaking, “We are merchants traveling from Cang Prefecture and Meng County. Your residence had ordered some goods from our master, but on our way here, we were robbed. We came here to ask for some more time and forgiveness. We do not mean to waste your time, but now that Meng County is in turmoil, pillaging and plundering can be seen everywhere...”
They were just regular traveling merchants, how could they resist a mob’s robbing?
The Liu residence may not be huge and the necessities they required were not be top notch. Every year, they would put in an order of large quantities and they were generous in their spending. They were a valued customer. The merchants did not expect to be robbed before they even left Meng County, and thus, could only visit their customer empty-handed and negotiate.
After hearing that, Tong Sanniang was at a loss for words.
If something happened in another county, she would not have lost her composure... but this was Cang Prefecture’s Meng County!
“When did this happen?” Tong Sanniang asked.
The few merchants hung their heads and answered honestly. “Meng County may be part of Cang Prefecture, but it’s very far from Hejian County. If we used the fastest speed, we would need at least half a month of traveling time. Such a thing happened in Meng County, but it had been awhile. How could Hejian not have heard of this?”
The merchants started to complain incessantly, pouring out all their heartfelt grievances. “Maiden Tong, you have no idea. The Mengs suppressed the people and did not allow anyone to leave Meng County whenever they wished. They did not want such news to leave the county. Us merchants were obstructed when we tried to leave, too. It took us a while to get our official traveling documents and then we were robbed...” While they spoke, the sorry looking merchants quietly wiped at their eyes.
The amount of goods that the Liu residence had ordered was enough to line their pockets for half a year. Now that the goods had been snatched by the mob, they would have no money. They nearly died on their way to the residence, too.
If the Lius thought they had wasted their time and wanted them to compensate, their losses would be worse than not earning anything at all.
Tong Sanniang’s expression turned solemn and cold sweat formed in her palms. It seemed like she remembered something.
“I need to inform the master about this. You all follow one of the retainers to wash up and rest. I’ll head over to the master’s. If you have anything to say, you can tell him yourselves.”
Tong Sanniang visited Liu She and relayed what had happened. He was burning incense and practicing his words when she visited him. He was expressionless when he put down his brush.
“In that case, send them over. I’ll ask them what happened.” He found out that the Meng’s private army had clamped down on the issue and thus did not allow the news to spread.
The Meng’s private army? Ha!
Bloodlust flashed through Liu She’s eyes for a second...
You would even have such a day?
Shh––
The horses let out a long neigh and the carriage slowed down before it stopped right in front of the Liu residence’s door.
Jiang Pengji stepped out of the carriage, ignored the sedan that the coachman had brought, and jumped down.
When she noticed an unknown carriage, she frowned and asked the gatekeeper, “We have guests?”
The gatekeeper replied politely, “It’s a maiden from the late lady’s home.”
“Mother’s side?” Jiang Pengji raised her brows. “I wonder who.”
As Liu She had to work in Xu County, the mistresses seldom left the residence. They hardly left Liu She’s side as well. Due to the second lady’s health, she had not visited her family in Langye County and had only exchanged gifts with her family on new year’s day or other festivals.
A wild animal was possessive of its own territory and would be aware of another animal’s tracks or smell. Jiang Pengji had not reached that point yet, but she did notice the tracks made by the unknown guest. It made her unhappy.
Before she entered the house, she heard an adorable and sweet voice made by a young girl.
The girl looked to be around thirteen or fourteen and wore pink robes. Her brows were painted and her skin was fair. She still had some baby fat that made her look even younger. A pair of bright eyes, a pert nose, and red lips made one think of peach blossoms under the spring sun.
Tsk. Another adorable girl.
“Uncle, is this my younger cousin, Lanting?” The girl turned and looked at Jiang Pengji while she asked Liu She in a spoiled tone.
Jiang Pengji did not need to look at her stream’s comments to know that they were crying from the cuteness.
Niyade Zhaosi: “Ohhhhhhhh! She’s so cute! Even her voice is so sweet! A real lolita!”
Laosiji Lianmeng: “I noticed that the host’s world has all the beautiful people. There doesn’t seem to be many ugly people... Ahhhh... This is heaven for people with a face fetish.”
Jiang Pengji coldly studied the other girl.
Host V: “What’s so cute about a shit-stirring rod?”
Her viewers were dumbfounded. What did she mean?