Chapter 49: Taking It to Heart

Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Taking It to Heart

Shuang’er hurried over and welcomed Nanny Fang inside.

"Nanny Fang, what brings you here? Is Aunt looking for me?" Zhi Wan asked.

Nanny Fang produced a palm-sized brocade box and said with a smile, "Her Ladyship asked me to deliver this to you, Miss."

"What’s this?" Zhi Wan asked, confused.

Nanny Fang placed the box directly into her hands. "Open it and see, Miss."

𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Zhi Wan had assumed it was jewelry, but the box felt very light in her hands, not at all like it contained any.

When she opened it, she saw it was filled with silver notes. They were all in denominations of one hundred taels, with several of them stacked together.

Her brow furrowed. "Why is Aunt giving me these?"

Nanny Fang said kindly, "Her Ladyship says that you’ve grown up, Miss, and you’ve made friends. There will inevitably be social expenses. These are for you to keep on hand. With some silver of your own, you’ll feel more confident when you go out with your friends."

Zhi Wan was deeply moved.

’Aunt is always so thoughtful.’

She closed the lid and pressed the brocade box back into Nanny Fang’s hands. "Nanny Fang, please thank Aunt for me, but I can’t accept these silver notes. I’ve saved all the silver she gave me before. I have more than enough."

Nanny Fang was taken aback, then grew anxious and pushed it back. "This is a token of Her Ladyship’s affection. You don’t need to feel awkward, Miss. Please, take it. It never hurts for a young lady to have a little extra silver."

"I’m not refusing because I feel awkward. It’s just that Aunt gives me too much already, I can’t possibly take more. Besides, I truly don’t need the silver," Zhi Wan said, remaining firm.

Hearing this, Nanny Fang hesitated.

’The Miss doesn’t seem to be lying. In that case, what Wei Jinyi said this morning must have been a deliberate attempt to slander her.’

Zhi Wan was very observant and immediately noticed the change in her expression. "It’s not a holiday or a special occasion. Why would Aunt suddenly give me so much money? Did something happen?"

A flicker of something crossed Nanny Fang’s eyes, but she shook her head. "It’s nothing, Miss. Please don’t read too much into it."

’Zhi Wan recalled her run-in with Wei Jinyi that morning. Considering Wei Jinyi was now living in Lan Courtyard, she couldn’t help but wonder if her cousin had said something to her aunt.’

’But Nanny Fang was also from the Wei Family, so she surely wouldn’t want to speak ill of Wei Jinyi.’ Zhi Wan didn’t press the matter, merely reminding the nanny to return the silver notes to her aunt.

Seeing that she truly wouldn’t accept it, Nanny Fang had no choice but to take the box and return to report to Lady Wei, relaying everything Zhi Wan had said.

"...It seems Fifth Miss Wei was mistaken. From the sound of it, the Miss isn’t short on silver at all."

"That girl, Wan’er, is just too proud. Even if she were short on silver, she would never bring it up with me," Lady Wei sighed.

"Then, should I still take these silver notes to the Miss?" Nanny Fang asked.

Lady Wei shook her head. "She’ll definitely refuse. Let’s hold onto them for now. I’ll give them to her myself in a couple of days."

"Fifth Miss Wei." Just then, a maid’s voice called out a greeting from outside the door.

Wei Jinyi, who was standing right outside, froze. She had been about to turn and leave, but now that the maid had announced her, it would be awkward to simply walk away.

She took the tea tray from the maid’s hands. "I’ll take it in."

"Yes, Miss," the maid replied, stepping aside.

Inside, Lady Wei and Nanny Fang had already stopped talking and put the box away the moment they heard the maid’s voice.

When Wei Jinyi walked in with the tea, Lady Wei chided her gently, "There’s no need for you to be serving me. You could have just let a servant bring it in."

Wei Jinyi replied in a playful tone, "I’m living here off your generosity, Aunt, and I was just worrying that I haven’t been able to do anything for you. I finally seized this chance to serve you tea, so please don’t mind my clumsy hands."

"You silly girl, always so quick with your words!" Lady Wei chided with a laugh, taking the cup she offered and sipping from it.

Wei Jinyi stood to the side, watching her with a beaming smile, but inside, her stomach was churning.

’So all those things she said to her aunt this morning were for nothing?’

’Not only did her aunt not develop any resentment toward Zhi Wan, but she actually had Nanny Fang send her silver notes?’

’She’d heard it all clearly from outside the door just now.’

’And that Zhi Wan had the gall to pretend she didn’t want it, pushing it away, but her aunt was planning to give it to her personally in a couple of days anyway.’

Wei Jinyi seethed with anger and jealousy.

’Even though she was a proper daughter of the Wei Family, aside from her monthly allowance, her family would never casually give her silver notes to spend.’

’Her aunt was far too good to that orphan, Zhi Wan.’

’She was her own flesh-and-blood niece, and she’d been in the Duke Dingguo Mansion for days without her aunt offering her so much as a hairpin or a bolt of fabric.’

’Yet she was so generous to an outsider.’

Wei Jinyi’s heart soured with envy.

’What had that orphan possibly done to deserve such good fortune?’

Zhi Wan, unaware of what had transpired in Lan Courtyard, took out her paper and brushes after Nanny Fang left and immersed herself in her painting.

「The next day」

Chen Jiu arrived at Yaoguang Pavilion.

Thinking Lu Zhan had some business with her, Zhi Wan sent Shuang’er to ask.

A moment later, Shuang’er ran back in, very excited. "Miss! Chen Jiu says the Princely Heir had someone find a few storefronts for us! He’s waiting outside now. If you’re free, he can take you to see them right away, and if you find one you like, you can rent it on the spot!"

Zhi Wan froze.

’Her cousin had actually found storefronts for her?’

She recalled what her cousin had said in the front courtyard the day before and blinked.

’So he hadn’t just been making polite conversation.’

Snapping out of her daze, she immediately said, "I’m free. Let’s go see them now."

’Any place Lu Zhan found would surely be excellent.’

’She was afraid that if she delayed, the opportunity would be lost.’

’I have to go look right away.’

Zhi Wan quickly got ready and left Yaoguang Pavilion.

Sure enough, Chen Jiu was waiting there.

"Miss," Chen Jiu greeted her respectfully.

"Thank you for your trouble today," Zhi Wan said.

"It is my duty, Miss. Please don’t mention it," Chen Jiu said quickly.

"Then let’s be on our way," said Zhi Wan.

Chen Jiu nodded and gestured for her to go first.

Zhi Wan and Shuang’er walked ahead.

Chen Jiu glanced at her retreating figure before looking away, a wave of emotion washing over him.

’It seems the Master truly sees the Miss as his own sister, to be so attentive to her affairs.’

’After learning in the front courtyard yesterday that she wanted to open a shop, he immediately arranged for someone to find suitable locations for her.’

’And today, he even had me personally escort her to choose one.’

’There’s never been anyone who has captured the Master’s attention like this.’

’Since the Master values her so highly, her future is surely bright.’

’Furthermore, the Duke and his wife have only the Master as their child and are raising the Miss as their own daughter. Any family that she marries into would surely see their prestige greatly enhanced.’

’Only the Fu family was too shortsighted to see the Miss’s value.’

As expected, the storefronts Lu Zhan had found were all excellent.

Zhi Wan followed Chen Jiu to see several, but she was having trouble deciding which one to rent.

"There are two more locations left to see. You can make your decision after you’ve seen them all, Miss," said Chen Jiu.

"Very well," Zhi Wan nodded.

At the final location, the owner was still open for business, with a few customers milling about inside.

The moment Zhi Wan stepped through the door, a voice called out, a little uncertainly, "Miss Zhi?"