375 The Knowledgeable Jiajia
The two horses led the way, followed by a carriage. Behind them was the escort team. The group stopped at the end of Xiagou Village.
The villagers had never seen such a scene before. They followed from afar.
This time, it was Eunuch Deng who was sent by Emperor Chong’an to deliver the imperial edict. As soon as he took out the imperial edict, everyone quickly knelt down with the Song family.
The contents of the imperial edict was the same as what was read in the royal court. After Eunuch Deng finished reading it, he closed the imperial edict and handed it to Song Jingchen, who was kneeling at the front.
Song Jingchen suppressed the surging hatred in his heart and lowered his eyes. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Young Master Song, you can’t disappoint His Majesty,” Eunuch Deng said.
Song Jingchen nodded. “Of course. Since you’ve been on the road, why don’t you have a cup of tea at my humble abode?”
He spoke politely, but there was no expression on his face.
Eunuch Deng looked at Song Jingchen in a daze.
In his memory, Song Jingchen was still that dissolute young man. His eyes seemed to always be filled with light, and he was born with a good appearance. He was like an immortal in a painting.
He was different from the gentle Second Prince, Shangguan Yu. Shangguan Yu did not have any fire in him at all, giving off a refreshing feeling.
Song Jingchen, on the other hand, was like a ray of sunlight in the winter.
However, the person in front of him exuded coldness from head to toe. If not for the former Duchess standing behind him, he would have thought that he was an imposter.
He stood there straight, making Eunuch Deng, who had seen too many monsters in the palace, unable to see through him.
Although he did not know why Emperor Chong’an had summoned them back to the capital at this time, with his suspicious personality, he definitely did not have good intentions.
Eunuch Deng expressed his doubts. Would His Majesty really be able to get what he wanted by recalling them to the capital?
Thinking of this, he composed himself and glanced at the courtyard behind Song Jingchen. He waved his hand and said, “There’s no need for tea. The Longevity Festival is in two months. It happens to be His Majesty’s 40th birthday this year.”
“At that time, the Wu Kingdom and the Xuanyuan Kingdom will send envoys to our birthday banquet. His Majesty wants Young Master Song to rush to the capital for the birthday banquet.”
Song Jingchen said, “Thank you for your advice, Eunuch Deng.”
Shen Yijia handed over a pouch at the right time and said with a smile, “You’ve worked hard. Take this and drink a bowl of tea.”
Eunuch Deng paused and quietly sized up the woman who suddenly spoke. She had bright eyes and white teeth, and she was not inferior to Young Master Song.
Shen Yijia let him size her up and stuffed the pouch into his hands with a smile. Then, she meekly retreated behind Song Jingchen and acted like a good wife.
The pouch felt light in his hand.
Eunuch Deng guessed that there were banknotes inside. He didn’t lack this bit of money, but this money represented an attitude.
He was clearly very satisfied with Shen Yijia’s understanding. “This must be the second daughter of the Shen family, right? I’ve been lucky enough to meet Consort Jing a few times. She’s very knowledgeable. I didn’t expect the second daughter of the Shen family to be the same. Lord Shen is indeed good at teaching his daughter.”
After praising Shen Yijia, he looked at Song Jingchen with a faint smile. “Young Master Song is lucky to have such a good wife.”
The corners of Song Jingchen’s mouth twitched. “You flatter me.”
Shen Yijia blinked. She did not understand why he was praising her. Why did he mention Consort Jing? What did Consort Jing have to do with her? Did she know her?
Was this person seriously ill?
Eunuch Deng took out a wooden box from the carriage and said meaningfully, “His Majesty asked me to pass this to you. Young Master Song, you have to keep it well.”
Song Jingchen glanced at the box and nodded slightly.
After sending Eunuch Deng off with a smile, Shen Yijia was about to enter the house when someone blocked her way.
Shen Yijia tilted her head in confusion. “Hubby?”
Didn’t he still avoid her when he woke up in the morning?
Song Jingchen was a little embarrassed by her gaze. He coughed lightly and said, “How did you think of preparing that?”
“Isn’t that what it says in the book?” Shen Yijia rubbed her nose and grinned. “Did I perform well?”
“Yes.” Song Jingchen chuckled. “This is the first time I’ve seen you so generous to outsiders.”
Song Jingchen was originally teasing, but Shen Yijia waved her hand indifferently. “Hey, it’s just the cost of a bowl of tea. It’s only one copper coin.”
Madam Li, who was about to praise Sister Jia for becoming more and more like the mistress of the household, was speechless.
In the carriage, Eunuch Deng smashed the teacup in his hand against the wall. He looked at the copper coin in his hand and turned red with anger. Who was she looking down on?
Shen Yijia’s words still echoed in his ears. Who would have thought that she was really just treating him to a bowl of tea?
With this coin, he couldn’t even order a snack to go with the tea!
Eunuch Deng was so angry that he felt dizzy. He felt that he had been tricked.
In the beginning, Song Jingchen’s indifferent attitude didn’t anger him to this extent.
The copper coin was stuffed into a corner of the pouch. It was his fault for not realizing it and even praising her.
The more Eunuch Deng thought about it, the angrier he became. He finally fainted from anger.
The young eunuch at the side was frightened out of his wits. He was busy trying to wake him up.
Shen Yijia did not know that her copper coin was so powerful. She sent away the villagers who came to congratulate her and the family sat in the central room to discuss the day of their departure.
There were still more than two months until Emperor Chong’an’s birthday. They had enough time, but they still had to leave early in case. In the end, the date of departure was set to be three days later.
“Mother, I want to hand the workshop to An Dong. Shen Dali and Shopkeeper Du will take care of it.” Shen Yijia suddenly said, “When the time comes, just get an artisan to make the incense.”
They would not return to the capital in glory. The estates of the Duke’s residence from the past would not be returned to them either. As for the other shops that were not known to anyone else, there were still so many private troops to support, so they had to keep the shops running.
The fragrance powder shop had always been doing well, especially when she saw the nearly 2,000 taels of silver that Madam Li had given her. Shen Yijia did not want it to close down just like that.
Even if this was supported by the secret recipe of the Lin Shao family’s fragrance powder, they might not be able to earn so much in the future.
No matter how small a mosquito was, it was still meat.
Moreover, the expenses in the capital would only be greater than here. She could hunt in Xiagou Village for money, and her family did not have to worry about food and drinks. Who knew what the situation would be like in the capital?
She would only feel reassured if she had enough money.
The family didn’t object to her suggestion, mainly because Song Jingchen didn’t object. Madam Li had never restrained her from doing anything.
As for the younger ones, they would only look at her with admiration. No matter what Sister-in-law did, she was right.
They were truly bootlickers.
After confirming it, Shen Yijia went to ask An Dong and Shen Dali the next day. After the two of them agreed, she brought the two of them to town to see Shopkeeper Du.
The shop was handed over to Shopkeeper Du. Shen Dali was in charge of the flower fields and An Dong’s previous work, while An Dong took over Madam Li’s main management workshop.
“Grandaunt, don’t worry. I won’t let you suffer a loss.” Before getting out of the carriage, Shen Dali patted his chest and promised.