The peasant girl has a private space, and her husband is handsome.

The Shen residence of General Shen was also bustling at night.

Xu Ruoxuan and Gu Ying both visited the old lady in her room.

The room was full of women.

The entire family of the General of the Cavalry was filled with loyal martyrs. Of Madam Shen's five sons, four had died in battle, and her only surviving son, the third, was fighting on the frontier, leaving behind only female members of the household.

During the Great Qi Dynasty, civil officials generally looked down on military generals, thinking them to be vulgar and uncultured.

Therefore, military officers usually marry into military families. Several of the wives in the mansion came from military families, except for Madam Shen, whose father was a civil official. As a result, Madam Shen was always very proud and always felt superior to others.

After learning that Gu Ying came from a commoner background, she looked down on Gu Ying even more and ordered Gu Ying, "Ruofeng's wife, go and replace the charcoal in the room."

Xu Ruoxian was displeased. "Second Aunt, changing charcoal is a servant's job. Why are you ordering my sister-in-law to do it?"

Madam Shen smiled calmly, not feeling that she had done anything wrong. "A girl, I heard that Ruofeng's wife comes from an ordinary background and is used to doing rough work. It's just exchanging charcoal, which is not an insult to her."

Madam Shen had always known that Prefect Xu was a penniless man. She was convinced that the Xu family must be so poor that they couldn't afford to marry a wife, which was why Xu Ruofeng had to marry an old woman who was eight years older than him.

It's laughable that such a girl treats someone like a treasure.

Old Madam Shen lay in bed, her face swollen and her eyes closed.

Afraid of waking the old lady, Gu Ying quickly pulled Xu Ruoqian away, not wanting Xu Ruoqian to clash with Madam Shen.

When Xu Ruoxuan lived in the Shen family mansion a few years ago, she was always ridiculed by Madam Shen the Second, and she had long disliked this second aunt.

"Second Aunt, you used to always look down on my family, saying that my mother married a poor prefect, but my second sister-in-law is not someone you can afford to mess with. My second sister-in-law's cousin is very powerful. I advise you to stay away from her."

Madam Shen felt contempt.

Thinking to himself that Gu was just a commoner who grew up in a small place like Qinghe County, what could be so great about the cousin of such a person!

Xu Ruoxian had promised Su Qianqian that she wouldn't let Gu Ying be bullied. "Second Aunt, you must have heard of the genius painter in the capital, right? Second Sister-in-law's cousin is that genius painter."

Madam Shen was extremely surprised. How could this be? Gu Ying's cousin was actually a genius painter.

Xu Ruoxian had someone bring over a painting of Gu Ying in her wedding dress, which was painted by Su Qianqian.

Madam Shen knew at a glance that the painting was indeed the work of a genius artist.

She had seen paintings by a genius painter at Wang's ink and brush shop. Most paintings in the Great Qi Kingdom were freehand, but this one in front of her was painted so realistically that it was exactly the style of the genius painter.

At Wang's Pen and Ink Shop, even a small painting by a genius artist can sell for several thousand taels of silver. This painting in front of us is at least eight times the size of those small paintings. If it were to be sold, it might fetch more than ten thousand taels of silver.

Good heavens, no wonder the Xu family arranged for Xu Ruofeng to marry a woman eight years his senior; they've brought home a god of wealth.

If Ruofeng's wife could just ask for a few paintings from the genius painter, she would never have to worry about food or drink for the rest of her life.

The maidservant stood at the door and announced, "The doctor has arrived."

After carefully taking her pulse, the doctor stroked his beard and said, "The old lady's condition has stabilized somewhat, but the most important thing is to reassure her so that she can recover faster."

The reason why Mrs. Shen fell ill was because of the stress and anxiety that caused her to fall ill.

Now that it's cold, the northern barbarians have invaded the border again.

The only surviving son, the third son, was ordered to go to the border to fight a month ago.

She was so worried that she couldn't sleep at night.

The imperial court would send grain to the border every half month, but due to various complicated reasons along the way, it was difficult for the grain to arrive on time.

Previously, in order to ensure that her son, who was stationed at the border, could live well, Madam Shen used the family's money every year to purchase a large amount of grain and fodder and transport it to the border for occasional needs.

However, the family's money was almost exhausted, and there was no money left to subsidize the third son this year.

Without subsidies, the third son's situation at the border would become even more dangerous.

Not long after the doctor left, Old Madam Shen woke up.

Xu Ruoxian handed a silver note to Madam Shen, a note with a face value of one thousand taels, saying, "Grandmother, this is what I earned from running the inn. It's all for you."

Madam Shen was very pleased, as she was in dire need of money. She gently stroked Xu Ruoxuan's hair and said with a smile, "Xu'er can earn money now, what a smart and good child."

When Vivian Hsu saw her grandmother smile, she felt happy too.

"It was all the money that Su Dongjia helped me earn. Once I open a teahouse in the capital, Grandmother, you can have my aunt take the money I gave her and rent a shop next to the teahouse to start a business. I guarantee she'll make a lot of money."

Although Madam Shen doted on her granddaughter, she didn't take her granddaughter's words to heart. It was just a shop; no matter how much she earned, she couldn't make much, let alone enough to subsidize the border.

Upon hearing Xu Ruoxuan's words, Madam Shen couldn't help but roll her eyes. Doing business in the capital is not easy! Be careful not to lose everything.

On her way back to the house, Gu Ying said to Xu Ruoxuan, "Xu Ruoxuan, my aunts said that the White Horse Temple outside the city is particularly efficacious. Tomorrow I plan to go to the White Horse Temple with my aunts to burn incense and pray for my grandmother's speedy recovery."

Xu Ruoxian nodded: "Brother went out to look for a shop and hasn't come back yet. Tomorrow, my brother and I will continue looking for a shop, so we won't be able to stay with you. Don't worry, Mother will go with us tomorrow and will definitely protect you."

The dozens of employees that Xu Ruoxuan brought were still idle. Food and lodging in the capital cost money every day, and she couldn't let Su Dongjia lose money for nothing, so she was determined to open the shop as soon as possible.

Gu Ying also wanted to open the shop as soon as possible. Her happiness today was all thanks to her cousin, so of course she hoped her cousin could make more money.

"Little sister, important business is more important. I've heard that the capital is very safe, so nothing will happen."

\

Early in the morning, outside the gate of the Duke of Anguo's mansion.

Lady Anguo personally supervised the maids as they loaded the gifts onto the carriage.

The women carried the gifts very carefully; the boxes were all brocade boxes, and they were filled with the finest things.

When Lady Anguo saw that her youngest daughter had come out dressed, she instructed her, "Zhaohua, your sister should really thank Miss Su for regaining the Emperor's favor and becoming pregnant with the imperial heir. It's a pity that Miss Su is not in the capital."

"Since Miss Su mentioned in her letter that you should help take care of her cousin, you must keep this in mind."

Princess Zhaohua smiled sweetly, "Mother, don't worry, Miss Su's cousin is my cousin."

Princess Zhaohua was especially grateful that Miss Su had sent so much flower tea this time, and she was determined to take good care of Miss Su's cousin.

In her letter, Miss Su mentioned that this cousin had once saved her life.

When Princess Zhaohua arrived at the General of the Cavalry's residence, she was told that all the women in the household had gone out.

Princess Zhaohua: "Where is Old Madam Shen?"

"Our old lady is still ill and bedridden."

Since he is seriously ill, it is not appropriate to disturb him rashly.

Princess Zhaohua had the gifts moved into the General's Mansion.

The two gatekeepers were quite surprised to see one beautiful brocade box after another being carried into the mansion.

Civil officials in the imperial court have always looked down on military generals, so those who have dealings with the General's Mansion are mostly military generals.

Unexpectedly, Princess Zhaohua herself came today. The Anguo Duke's Mansion is such a powerful and influential family. It is the maternal family of the current Empress. It seems that the Shen family is about to prosper.

The Shen family was managed by the First Madam, so the gatekeeper quickly sent for Wei Mama, the steward who served the First Madam.

Wei's mother had never dealt with a high-ranking family like the Duke of Anguo's mansion before, so she didn't dare to get close to the princess. After greeting the princess from afar, she started chatting with the old woman the princess had brought.

"My surname is Wei, and I am the head maidservant serving the First Madam of this household—"

"Greetings, Madam Wei. The young mistress of the Xu family is a cousin of our princess. She is asking the princess to look after her."

Madam Wei was shocked; she hadn't expected the old woman from the Duke of Anguo's mansion to speak so politely.

Even more shockingly, Gu's cousin was actually a close friend of Princess Zhaohua.

Gu's cousin is really amazing!

The background of the woman the Xu family married is truly amazing.

When the First Madam returns from the White Horse Temple, I must tell her that we should definitely mention the food, clothing, and daily necessities that Madam Gu has been enjoying in the mansion.

Princess Zhaohua's carriage waited outside the Shen residence for half an hour, but no one came. So she sent someone to tell Wei Mama that she would come to visit Madam Xu another day.