Chapter 26: The Old Lady Becomes a Pauper

Tang Chuyao remembered that in the twelfth lunar month of the previous year, the Northern Frontier had encountered extreme weather, the coldest in decades. Temperatures plummeted, causing many soldiers to suffer frostbite and injuries, and many poor people in the cities were frozen to death!

Although it was now the scorching hot sixth lunar month, almost half a year away from the twelfth lunar month, she thought of her maternal family guarding the Northern Frontier, and how they had suffered heavy losses due to the severe cold.

Tang Chuyao decided to prepare in advance. Yesterday, she had told Manager Wang about using her mother’s dowry to buy supplies for the soldiers in the Northern Frontier. She should stock up on winter clothes, charcoal, and other items to keep warm!

She should also prepare some medicine for typhoid fever, frostbite ointment, and other medications!

Thinking about this, Tang Chuyao wrote a letter and asked her senior sister, Xiaoyu, to deliver it to Manager Wang.

Yesterday, when she was chatting with Manager Wang, she discovered that her mother’s dowry included two pharmacies. However, these two pharmacies were located in remote areas, and their profits were indeed not high. Some years, they even lost money!

Tang Chuyao decided to go and check out these two pharmacies tomorrow.

Just as she was about to go out, she ran into Tang Chuying, who was accompanied by her maids.

Tang Chuying was dressed in a pink dress, her figure as graceful as a willow swaying in the wind, as if a gentle breeze could blow her over. Her long, jet-black hair cascaded down her slender waist like a waterfall, adorned with a few exquisite jeweled hairpins that sparkled in the sunlight. As she walked, they swayed gently, adding a touch of elegance and beauty.

The jeweled hairpins on Tang Chuying’s head looked familiar. Tang Chuyao remembered that they were gifts from her aunt, the Noble Concubine!

Let her flaunt them for a few days. She would slowly take them back!

Tang Chuyao looked coldly at Tang Chuying, who was approaching. Although Tang Chuying’s appearance was average, her alluring aura was natural. No wonder Gu Huaifeng was attracted to her!

Coupled with her title as the most talented woman in the capital, it was no wonder Gu Huaifeng was infatuated with her.

However, when it came to Tang Chuying’s talent, Tang Chuyao thought for a moment. Tang Chuying seemed to have shone brightly at the Flying Flower Banquet held by the Princess’ Mansion three years ago, making her famous in the capital!

After that, she hadn’t heard of Tang Chuying composing any poems or lyrics. So, Tang Chuying’s talent seemed fishy!

“Sister, Ancestor is sick. Let’s go to Rongjin Hall to pay our respects to Ancestor!”

After yesterday’s forceful actions by Mama Rong and Mama Li, it was no wonder the old lady was sick!

Moreover, the old lady’s health wasn’t good in her previous life. It was only after she repeatedly begged Hua Wanshu to treat the old lady that she lived a long life!

Tang Chuyao didn’t refuse. She took Dujian and Tang Chuying to Rongjin Hall.

Before they even stepped into the courtyard, they could smell the scent of medicine. Tang Chuyao sniffed it carefully and slightly frowned.

Rongjin Hall must be at the end of its rope. The medicine they were taking was so cheap!

After stepping into the courtyard, she felt that the flowers and plants that usually looked pleasing to the eye were now a bit wilted. Upon closer inspection, she realized that the flower pots had been replaced with ordinary clay pots.

Not only had the original porcelain pots been replaced with clay pots, but the glazed water jars used to grow lotus flowers in the courtyard were also gone. The ground, which was originally paved with exquisite pebbles, was no longer visible. Only a pitted surface remained, and stepping on it would leave a footprint of mud!

Tang Chuyao couldn’t help but admire the two mamas. They were truly amazing!

After stepping into the room, Tang Chuyao almost thought she had gone to the wrong place!

The room was empty. The expensive ornaments and the jade screen were all gone!

The tables, chairs, and benches were all old and worn, and they smelled musty…

Tang Chuyao covered her nose with a handkerchief and walked inside. She saw Mama Zhao feeding the old lady medicine, spoonful by spoonful.

The old lady was sitting half-upright on the bed. The previous rosewood bed had been replaced with an old wooden bed, and the bedding on the bed seemed to be quite old!

Tang Chuyao was speechless. Had the two mamas taken away the bedding that the old lady had used for over a decade?

The key was that she didn’t even want those old blankets!

No, she had to go back and check them carefully!

If there were any things the old lady had used, she would definitely throw them away, or have Dujian and the others take off the silk bed covers, wash them clean, take out the cotton inside, wash it clean, dry it, and donate it to the poor.

Thinking about this, she heard the old lady’s sharp voice, “The eldest daughter is putting on airs!”

“This old lady doesn’t dare to let you come and pay your respects, lest the Noble Concubine scold me again!”

Tang Chuyao ignored the old lady’s sarcasm. After all, she was now a little rich woman in the capital. There was no need to argue with a pauper!

“Ancestor, I don’t know how things turned out like this…”

“Ancestor also knows that I rarely contact my aunt in the palace. Could there be some misunderstanding?”

Who doesn’t know how to act soft and pitiful?

The old lady leaned against the headboard, her cloudy eyes fixed on Tang Chuyao, as if she was discerning the truth in her words.

It was true, as Tang Chuyao said, she rarely contacted the one in the palace. Usually, it was the Noble Concubine who sent gifts!

Was there anything she had overlooked?

Dujian suddenly interjected, “Old Lady, you don’t know.”

“Yesterday, when we went to Meixiang Courtyard, we happened to meet the Xuanping Marquis’ wife.”

Tang Chuyao pretended to be angry and glared at Dujian behind her, scolding her, “Mind your own business!”

The old lady suddenly perked up. She frowned and said, “Let her speak! What did the Marquis’ wife go to see Aunt Mei for yesterday?”

Dujian stepped forward and said, “The Marquis’ wife came yesterday to discuss the matter of Madam’s dowry with Aunt Mei!”

“She also mentioned the second Miss’s marriage and the young master’s future career!”

The old lady pondered for a moment. Had the Xuanping Marquis’ wife and Aunt Mei conspired behind her back?

Was this about exchanging Chi Ran’s dowry for Ying’er’s marriage and Nan’er’s future?

Dujian slapped her forehead and suddenly said, “Oh, this servant almost forgot. The Xuanping Marquis’ wife also mentioned Young Master Changsheng. This servant and Miss didn’t hear clearly what she said specifically.”

“But in the end, Aunt Mei returned all of Madam’s dowry to our Miss!”

Changsheng? Mei Changsheng?

This was the son of Mei Wanglong, Mei Xia’e’s brother! That useless fool who was good for nothing!

She had always turned a blind eye to Mei Xia’e secretly helping Mei Wanglong all these years. She didn’t expect that just because she caught a cold, Mei Xia’e’s mind started to become active!

It was one thing to plan for Tang Chuying and Tang Chunan’s future, but to help her useless brother?

How could she tolerate this?

Tang Chuyao was right. The one in the palace had never interfered in the affairs of their Wenyong Bo Mansion. All these years, the Noble Concubine had never cared about Chi Ran’s dowry!

Why did she suddenly send mamas to take away Chi Ran’s dowry?

This must be the result of a conspiracy between Aunt Mei and the Xuanping Marquis’ wife!

They were using the Noble Concubine to take away Chi Ran’s dowry. Once the eldest daughter married into the Xuanping Marquis Mansion, all this wealth would fall into the hands of the Xuanping Marquis Mansion!

You bitch, Mei Xia’e! You actually conspired with outsiders to plot against her wealth!

The head of the Wenyong Bo Mansion was not for her, Mei Xia’e, to take!