The old matriarch looked at Jiang Chan, her face full of disappointment. "You're just too young and impulsive. Didn't I tell you to wait? But you insisted on making your own decision and just handed the handle to others!"
Hearing this, Jiang Chan felt even more aggrieved. "Aunt, you don't know. Cousin has a mistress outside. He treasures her like the apple of his eye. And that woman is almost due. If she gives birth to a son, how can cousin still have the heart to look at me? How could I not be anxious?"
The old matriarch had never expected that Xu Yanchi would keep a mistress outside. After a moment of thought, she said, "What are you afraid of? You're the concubine mistress of the mansion now. Even if that woman gives birth to a son, she can never outrank you. What's most important for you now is to win your husband's heart and take control of the household management. With these two things, you'll have the greatest guarantee."
Jiang Chan nodded. "I understand, Aunt."
After this day, both Jiang Chan and the old matriarch became much more well - behaved. Shen Qing was happy to have some peace. During this period, she had sorted out all her dowry, and Xu Yanchi had also given her back all the money he owed her.
She still remembered his pained expression at that time.
Then she coldly and mercilessly snatched away all the silver notes and drove him away.
Xu Yanchi was so angry that he went to Jiang Chan's place that night.
Jiang Chan was the concubine mistress, not an ordinary concubine. She didn't have to squeeze in the Half - Moon Pavilion with the other concubines. The old matriarch had specially allowed her to live in the former Moonlight Pavilion. For the past half - month, Xu Yanchi had been staying in Jiang Chan's room.
Jiang Chan suddenly became powerful in the mansion. From time to time, she would go and torment Juanlian in the Half - Moon Pavilion.
Juanlian suffered a great deal because of this. She came to Shen Qing to complain, and Shen Qing sent her away with some gifts.
However, Jiang Chan's influence had been really strong recently. Even the number of times Xu Yanchi "went out" had decreased.
Shen Qing thought it was time for her to "fall ill".
She didn't want to manage this mess of the marquis's mansion for a single day more.
The next day, when Shen Qing went to pay respects to the old matriarch, she deliberately put on a very sick - looking makeup.
"Mother, these days when I wake up in the morning, I always feel cold and dizzy. The doctor said I've caught a cold and overworked. I'm afraid I won't be able to come and pay respects to you for a few days."
As she spoke, she covered her mouth with a handkerchief and coughed a few times.
Although the old matriarch had secretly tormented her a lot, in front of so many people, she still had to play the role of a kind mother - in - law. Immediately, she said lovingly,
"That's fine. I'm an old woman. I don't need you to pay respects to me every day. You're the mistress of the mansion. You should take good care of your body and give the marquis a legitimate son as soon as possible."
Shen Qing lowered her head and replied, "Thank you, mother, for your kindness."
The old matriarch then said, "Since you're not feeling well, don't worry too much about the affairs of the mansion. Chan'er learned household management before she got married. Let Chan'er assist you."
Shen Qing looked a bit embarrassed, but then, thinking of something, she finally nodded with difficulty. "Well, okay."
Jiang Chan was extremely excited. No one had expected that Shen Qing deliberately wanted to get rid of the household management. After all, household management represented power and money. No one wanted to give these two things away, especially to someone on the opposite side.
But Shen Qing was naturally an exception. She had already taken out all her dowry. Now the public funds of the marquis's mansion were just an empty shell. From now on, no one in the marquis's mansion would be able to spend a single cent of her money!
After Shen Qing returned, she had someone send all the account books to Jiang Chan.
A few days later, she sent the token of the mansion. A few days after that, she also "reluctantly" had someone send the key to the warehouse.
Jiang Chan was overjoyed. The fact that Shen Qing had sent these things to her meant that she really had no intention of managing them, which meant that her illness was really serious.
It would be best if she died directly, so that she could become the main wife.
Shen Qing's "illness" came on strongly. After a few more days, Shen Qing directly said that she was going to a villa to recuperate for a few days, and then had someone pack up and move out.
As for which villa she was going to, she wasn't going to tell them.
Actually, she had taken a fancy to a medicine store. The owner was leaving and wanted to sell the storefront. Shen Qing just wanted to open a pharmacy.
In her previous life, she had accidentally discovered that there were still some retired soldiers of the Duke Protector's Mansion. Most of them were injured or old and weak and couldn't make a living. At that time, she was in a difficult situation herself and naturally had no energy to help them. Now that she was reborn, she wanted to help them.
That pharmacy was in a good location and had a good reputation. It was said that the owner wasn't from Jing Country and was going to leave, so it had been empty.
It was originally intended to be sold, but the price was too high, so it hadn't been sold. Her people had almost reached an agreement, but later, for some reason, the owner didn't want to sell it to them anymore. Her people had gone several times, but the owner just wouldn't agree. So she simply took advantage of the pretext of being ill to get this deal.
On this day, Shen Qing dressed simply, put on a veil, and after making sure that no one would recognize her, she had someone drive her to that pharmacy.
The coachman was Zhang Da. The shopkeeper was an old man who recognized Zhang Da. As soon as he saw them come in, he frowned.
"Please go back, everyone. Our owner said he won't sell. Don't waste your time here."
Zhang Da got angry immediately. "If you don't sell, are you just playing with us?"
Shen Qing stopped Zhang Da. "Shopkeeper, I really want this pharmacy. I heard that you're not from Jing Country and are leaving, so you want to sell it. I wonder if I can meet your owner. We can discuss the price and other things."
Just as the shopkeeper was about to say something, he saw someone behind them and his eyes lit up. "Owner, you're here."
Shen Qing looked back and saw a young and handsome man in brocade clothes, holding a folding fan in his hand. When he smiled, he looked like a noble and elegant gentleman.
"Owner, this lady is the one who has been wanting our store."
The shopkeeper then looked at Shen Qing. "Lady, this is our owner. You can talk to him if you have anything to say."
The man looked at Shen Qing with a smile. "I'm Shen Si. Greetings, lady."
Shen Qing returned the greeting. "So you're Boss Shen. I didn't expect you to be so young."
"You're also very young, lady."
Shen Qing said, "This isn't a good place to talk. How about I invite Boss Shen to dinner and we can have a good talk?"
Shen Si smiled. "It would be rude of me to decline a beauty's invitation."
The biggest restaurant in the capital, Yan Chunqiu.
Looking at the table full of dishes, Shen Qing felt a bit pained. The food in Yan Chunqiu was really delicious, but it was also really expensive. One meal in Yan Chunqiu could support an ordinary family for several years.
But thinking about the upcoming deal, she tried to tell herself not to feel pain.
"Boss Shen, please help yourself."
However, Shen Si looked at Shen Qing and said with a half - smile, "Lady, since you want to do business with me, it doesn't seem very appropriate for you not to show your face, does it?"
"It was my oversight."
Shen Qing smiled and generously took off her veil.