You expect me to serve your mistress? The mistress is driving this scumbag and his entire family cra

Chapter 112 Auntie

Liang Jiang looked at Guan Qi, and Guan Qi, seeing her looking over, opened his mouth as a silent gesture: "Please come in!"

Liang Jiang nodded, indicating that she understood, and Guan Qi immediately turned around and went back first.

Liang Jiang sent Yu Shu and the other woman back to the Duke's mansion to continue checking the accounts. After finishing her business at the mansion, she informed Madam Liang and then went to Zui Xiang Lou.

Guan Qi was waiting in the second-floor corridor. When he saw Liang Jiang, he immediately gave her a thumbs up and said, "Grandma is awesome!"

Liang Jiang glared at him, annoyed. "Am I that old?"

Guan Qi quipped, "We men are men of our word. If you help our prince find the birthday gifts, all the guards in our Pingxi Prince's Mansion will respectfully call you 'Grandma' from now on."

Liang Jiang raised an eyebrow: "Then why didn't you call me that last time we met?"

Guan Qi chuckled: "Weren't you still angry last time? If I were to be sarcastic, I'm afraid you would have kicked me away in a flurry of kicks."

Liang Jiang savored the taste and thought that calling her "Grandma" wasn't bad at all.

I wonder if it would be too awkward for a group of grown men to call her "Grandma" in unison?
Lifting her legs, she rubbed her nose, embarrassed: "Looks like you guessed it."

Guan Qi still smiled and said, "We became friends after a fight. Compared to others, Miss Liang was already showing me mercy that night."

At least you used your feet, not your mouth. Your words are far more lethal than your fists and feet. Fighting three against one, remaining calm in the face of danger, and reducing the enemy to ashes with a few words.

"Are you praising me or scolding me? I acted out of spite and was forced into a situation where I suffered heavy losses myself."

"Well, it's true that you lost several thousand taels of silver, but the Fang family will never be able to hold their heads up in the capital again."

Unless Fang Chengxu ruins his own future, he wouldn't dare owe this money, even if it meant borrowing from the government or begging from the general's mansion. Otherwise, he would find it impossible to move an inch in the military camp in the future.

Liang Jiang smiled, thinking, "This kid is glib and smooth-talking; he's quite good at reading people's minds."

However, he was only half right.

I'm willing to do anything, as long as it makes the Fang family uncomfortable and makes them the target of everyone's criticism, a mere eight thousand taels of silver is worth it.

Most importantly, this silver could pave a path to wealth for him within the Ministry of War.

The rewards bestowed upon Fang Chengxu by the imperial court after his victory clearly demonstrate that the imperial treasury was not wealthy due to years of warfare.

I heard that in this battle of Xiliang Pass, many of the elderly and orphans of the fallen soldiers did not even receive compensation in terms of cloth and grain. They were only symbolically exempted from the summer and autumn taxes. The surviving family members complained a lot, and the person in charge of the Ministry of War was also in a great hurry.

My few thousand taels of silver weren't much, but it could temporarily solve their urgent problem. This would give me a slight edge in the competition for orders with my second uncle.

In business, nothing is more profitable than profit. The spectator could never have guessed his own cunning scheme.

Guanqi led her to the door of the private room. The door opened from the inside, and the person who opened it was Xie Fubai, the heir of the Marquis of Huaiyuan's mansion.

He bowed to Liang Jiang and said, "Please come in, Grandma."

Liang Jiang burst out laughing: "It's one thing for Guan Qi to talk nonsense and be sarcastic, but you're joining in the nonsense too. Aren't you making me feel uncomfortable?"

Xie Fubai stepped aside to let Liang Jiang in.

“You saved my life, which is a great kindness. I am extremely grateful. I would be more than willing to call you ‘Grandma’ if I could just kneel down and kowtow to you.”

"Your Highness is too kind. I dare not take credit for this. It is all thanks to the Third Prince."

"Therefore, I have specially prepared this banquet today to thank you and my cousin, and to bid him farewell."

Liang Jiang nodded slightly to Gu Xizhi inside the door: "Thank you for your trouble, Your Highness. Is Your Highness returning to Weixi?"

Gu Xizhi gave a soft "hmm": "This has already delayed us for a long time, but we should be able to set off in a few days." Liang Jiang recalled the last time in the palace when the Empress Dowager was selecting concubines for him. These days, he had been busy with business matters and had not heard any news about it, so he did not know who the winner would be.

But she was too embarrassed to ask directly, so she just responded with an "Oh".

Xie Fubai invited her to sit down: "This Zuixianglou has several signature dishes that are very well made. I'll call the waiter up in a bit and introduce them to the princess."

Liang Jiang politely replied, "There's no need for such trouble, thank you for the arrangement, Your Highness."

Gu Xizhi slowly rinsed the teacup and placed the tea beside her: "Miss Liang knows all the dishes at Zuixianglou like the back of her hand, so there's no need for the waiter to introduce them."

Xie Fubai slapped his forehead: "That's right, this restaurant is right at the gate of the Duke's mansion, Miss Liang must be tired of eating here, right?"

Gu Xizhi gave Liang Jiang a meaningful look: "It's not that I'm tired of eating it, but I'm definitely tired of making money from it."

Liang Jiang looked up and met his sharp gaze, her heart suddenly in turmoil, her heart pounding wildly.

This guy probably knows something, doesn't he? Did I give myself away somewhere?
Xie Fubai did not understand Gu Xizhi's implied meaning, but exclaimed in surprise, "I never expected that Miss Liang is such a heroine, a woman who is just as capable as any man. I was so surprised to hear that you are the famous and mysterious head of Renhetang. I can hardly close my mouth."

I, Xie Fubai, am a few years older than you, yet at such an advanced age I have accomplished nothing, merely relying on my family's influence in the Imperial Guard to make a living. Compared to you and my cousin, I am truly ashamed.”

Liang Jiang humbly replied, "I have only relied on the friendship among fellow disciples and everyone's help. Young Master Xie, please don't be so polite. You can just call me Liang Jiang from now on."

Xie Fubai nodded happily: "Alpinia officinarum, isn't that a medicinal herb? What does it treat?"

Gu Xizhi, standing to the side, said slowly, "The doctor disagrees."

Liang Jiang had just taken a sip of hot tea when he was suddenly startled by a remark from him and coughed.

Xie Fubai hurriedly got up, wanting to pat Liang Jiang's back, but then felt it was inappropriate and awkwardly put his hand down.

Liang Jiang smiled and coughed, "Your Highness should add the words 'water and soil,' as it would be more appropriate to say you're not used to the local environment."

Gu Xizhi, the instigator, couldn't help but curl up her lips, and her mischievous smile spread like ripples, instantly making the polite yet distant atmosphere in the private room relaxed and cheerful.

Neither Liang Jiang nor Xie Fubai were pretentious by nature; they could forgive and forget with a smile.

With the food and drinks served, Gu Xizhi still didn't drink a drop of alcohol, only drinking tea.

Because she still had to check the accounts in the afternoon, Liang Jiang politely declined the wine cup offered by Xie Fubai.

Xie Fubai joked, "This is my cousin's wedding banquet, you should at least do me the honor of having a drink, right?"

Liang Jiang couldn't help but look at Gu Xizhi. His expression darkened, and he pursed his lips, saying, "You still have the mood to tease me?"

"Cousin, your luck with women is something others can only envy. The daughter of the Minister of Rites is well-versed in poetry and literature, and is a woman of exceptional talent in the capital. She will surely be a perfect match for you in the future, living in harmony and mutual respect."

Xie Fubai's laughter seemed carefree, but Liang Jiang felt it was somewhat forced. There was also a hint of sourness in his words.

Gu Xizhi frowned slightly, her brows furrowing as if she wanted to speak, but ultimately swallowed her words.

Liang Jiang then understood that the one who stood out and was chosen that day was actually the granddaughter of the Minister of Rites, surnamed Jian, named Shuyan.

Liang Jiang never associated with the delicate and charming noble ladies of the capital, nor did she ever attend their flower-viewing banquets, poetry gatherings, or any other banquets of various kinds. However, she did know a little about Jian Shuyan's talent and reputation.

She was well-read, elegant, virtuous, and intelligent—virtuous and kind-hearted. Almost every compliment could be bestowed upon her. In the capital, countless men were enamored with her.

Liang Jiang twitched the corners of her lips and took the wine cup from Xie Fubai's hand: "In that case, I should congratulate you."

Gu Xizhi tightened her grip on the teacup, glanced indifferently at Liang Jiang, and slowly opened her lips, saying in a cool tone, "There's nothing to congratulate you on."

(End of this chapter)