Spring flowers.

Chapter 26 Zhang
Ye Mingzhen's letter mainly listed some of his assets, allocating 5% to Wei Yishang.

Although his family was of modest means, he had run some businesses over the years. In addition, thanks to the proper guidance of Zhang, the scholar, he had acquired several estates and shops.

"Why don't you use Lord Ye's shop to do business, Miss?" Cui'er thought that since they were already engaged, she might as well take advantage of her man's property.

Cui'er mentally pieced together the new direction of the story. If Ye Mingzhen and Wei Yishang were together, perhaps he wouldn't have castrated himself. That would be good.

"I'm not married yet, these are just to put my mind at ease. But if we use them openly, I'm afraid it will cause gossip and trouble, which would be bad for our good life."

Wei Yishang told Cui'er to put it away and then went to wash up and change her clothes.

She needed to think about what to say first thing tomorrow morning to get the old lady to let her go.

The sweltering heat of a dog day makes it hard to fall asleep. The chirping of insects outside only adds to the oppressive heat.

Wei Yishang had a headache from sleeping, and seeing Cui'er snoring loudly, she took two guards and left her residence.

As they walked, they unknowingly arrived near the Lin family's residence.

"Yingjiao, I gave her all the ointments you found for Madam Prajna. She said that although they couldn't cure the problem completely, they would make her feel cool and refreshed, which was very effective. Thank you for your hard work, and Prajna should be grateful."

It was Master Wei's voice.

This scumbag father has had his share of romantic escapades.

Wei Yishang hadn't intended to continue listening when she suddenly heard the system's command.

[Host, we have found evidence that Concubine Lin drugged the First Madam.]

What the heck? This has nothing to do with me. Why should I care about the disputes between Chun Chun and the others?

I'm truly... a very idle person in this book...

Wei Yishang felt a surge of emotions. What's with all this meddling?

However, since it involved drugging, there must be clues.

Madam, do you have a hidden skin condition?

I haven't seen you usually.

Wei Yishang stopped listening to the following conversation between the man and woman and headed towards her mother Zhang's residence.

Zhang usually spends most of his time worshipping Buddha in the ancestral hall and doesn't come out often.

At this moment, Zhang knelt quietly in the ancestral hall. She was dressed in a blue outfit and wore a hairpin in her hair, looking simple and elegant.

"Aunt..."

Wei Yishang spoke up. She remembered that in the book, regardless of whether the children were legitimate or illegitimate, they had to call the First Madam Fang "Mother," while the others had to call her "Auntie."

Zhang turned around and saw her daughter, a hint of indifference in her eyes.

Wei Yishang thought of what Zhang Juren had said about the Wei family not keeping their word, and she also thought of the changes that had happened to her mother's family.

It seems that Zhang harbored deep hatred for the Wei family, and consequently disliked herself as well.

"Aunt, I've come to see you."

Wei Yishang stepped forward, intending to help Zhang Shi up.

“No need.” Zhang raised her hand, not letting her daughter touch it.

"Mother, I need your help. Please help me."

When Zhang heard her daughter say this, she slightly raised her eyes, and a hint of emotion appeared on her pale face.

"You say it."

Zhang led Wei Yishang to a side room, sat down, and gestured for Wei Yishang to sit down as well.

"Auntie, I'd like to know, Madam, you have a skin condition, right? When did it start? What are the details?"

Wei Yishang knew that Zhang had entered the household early, so she probably knew some of these things as well.

"Why would an unmarried young lady like you ask about these things?"

Ms. Zhang was somewhat annoyed, feeling that her daughter was not following the rules.

"Aunt, putting everything else aside, I'm a little curious about this matter. I heard that it was Madam Lin who found the ointment for the First Madam, but why would Madam Lin be so kind?" Wei Yishang thought of her scumbag father who had no doubts about this and even praised her, and couldn't help but sigh. No wonder he could only reach the fourth rank. His head was full of poetry and books, but he never understood human nature. He was not even as good as these women.

“I don’t remember either. At that time, the master caught a cold and I was taking care of him. My head maid, Granny An, was always helping to take care of the first madam.”

Zhang recalled, coughing a few times.

"Then where is this Granny An now?" Wei Yishang asked curiously. How could such a person have disappeared from the mansion?
"Her home is in the capital, so we sent her home. Go to Goumenzhuang and ask Zhao Sheng's family; that should find her."

After Zhang finished speaking, she was clearly tired.

"Auntie, you should rest well." Wei Yishang felt sorry for Zhang Shi's health.

She saw despair and indifference in the woman's eyes, just like someone who had lost hope and interest in life.

How could this be?
Who turned Zhang into this?

Who exactly did the Zhang family offend back then?
Knowing that Ye Mingzhen was also investigating these matters, Wei Yishang understood that her knowledge was limited and she could only offer assistance.

Wei Yishang slept soundly in the middle of the night until morning when Cui'er dragged her to pay her respects to the old lady.

Wei Yishang seemed to instantly perk up; one second she was yawning, and the next she was all smiles.

In the main hall of the old lady's room, several sisters were chatting and laughing.

"It's said that Consort Sui in the palace is dying, I wonder if it's true or not," Wei Mohan joked, her lips painted with cardamom.

"Sister Luo is skilled in medicine. She has entered the palace several times to take the pulses of several empresses. Tell me about it..." Wei Yingzi was not interested in this matter, but wanted to get information out of Wei Xinluo.

"I haven't seen Your Highness recently, so I don't know anything about it," Wei Xinluo said, unwilling to discuss matters within the palace.

Remembering that Consort Sui was indeed unwell during her last visit to the palace, she also suggested bringing Wei Xinluo into the palace to serve her.

The palace is a dangerous place; it probably won't be easy to survive there.

Wei Xinlu hesitated and didn't mention it to his parents.

"Greetings to all the elder sisters, good morning."

Wei Yishang walked in and listened quietly to her sisters' conversation.

Once everyone had arrived, the old lady came out, and the young women all stood up and bowed to her.

"All sit down."

The old lady paid special attention to Wei Yishang, wanting to see what this girl was capable of that had attracted the top scholar.

"What's been happening lately?" The old lady opened her teacup and took a sip of tea.

"The country promotes trade to boost the economy and revitalize the nation. My granddaughter has learned the skills of managing the household and keeping accounts, hoping to increase revenue and reduce expenditure for the family."

As expected of the second sister, Wei Yingzi, her words are always grand and ambitious.

"Shang girl, what about you?"

The old lady meant to deliberately compare her two granddaughters. There's a difference in status between legitimate and illegitimate granddaughters, and ultimately, the legitimate granddaughter is more discerning.

"I happen to have something I want to tell the old lady."

After Wei Yishang finished speaking, she stood up and bowed to the old lady.

"Now that the country is revitalizing trade, my granddaughter is thinking of taking advantage of this opportunity to open a shop and increase the family's income."

Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Wei felt a little dizzy.

What? Open a shop? Where will the money come from? What if I lose money?
What if it increases? What if it decreases?

Thinking about the meager monthly allowance her son received as a vice minister, the old lady felt that her granddaughter was too troublesome and only knew how to cause trouble for the family.

Wei Yishang had anticipated the old lady's concerns and continued, "Grandmother, you don't need to worry about the money."

The old lady felt a sudden darkness before her eyes.

What? You're not worried about money?

Where can you get money?
This is really...

(End of this chapter)