Fifty-three valleys owe capture so release

  "Third sister, I'm telling you this because I think you're a kind and steady person. Don't mention it to others, Sixieme's straightforward personality is not unknown to you. When the time comes and we arrive at the Wang estate, although Aunt will be there to protect us, we'll still be outnumbered and outmatched. So, I've been thinking of finding her a companion among our sisters to marry into the estate as well, to take care of her..."

  "Oh..."

  Jiang was hearing about Zou's plan for the first time, and couldn't help but look surprised all over his face, but soon that surprise was replaced by a complex mix of emotions.

  Your daughter is a legitimate wife, while others are concubines. Are your daughters precious and everyone else's worthless?

  Zou saw right through Jiang's thoughts with just one glance, and she smiled faintly again. "However, although being a concubine in the past, after all, it is a noble family of the imperial clan, and that status is not inferior to the main mother at all. Later, when the imperial seal is granted, the title of Imperial Concubine will be bestowed, which sounds dignified, of course. I also know that the eldest daughter is not willing to give up, but if it's a younger daughter, then this marriage would be quite good."

  The complex expression on Jiang's face disappeared, and his gaze at Zou also lit up.

  "Of course, good things will always be remembered by someone...". Zou smiled and said, "Look at this, last year I just had this idea, and Xiao Qi from the fourth house suddenly got wind of it, and started to curry favor with me. At first, I thought Xiao Qi was quite good, clever and quick-witted, but now, the more I look at her, the more I think she's not good, this girl is not honest."

  "Indeed!" Jiang nodded immediately after hearing it.

  She had naturally heard about the commotion caused by the seventh sister, sixth sister and ninth sister the other day, and she was also furious. After all, such behavior would slap the face of the three houses.

  If she didn't mind offending the Zou family, she would have gone to Old Lady's place long ago.

  Of course, this is one of them, and most importantly, at this moment, she hopes that Zou Shi will be cruel to these seven sisters, so...

  "This won't do, I've been thinking of replacing you for the past few days, but who can I replace you with? Xiao Ba is useless, if it weren't for that, it wouldn't be anyone else's turn, and as for Wu Jie, don't even mention her... in the end, it's only your family's Xiao Jiu left..."

  "Third Mistress, come, have another cup, this Lushan cloud and mist is our mistress's treasured collection!" But at this time, the Zhuang mother walked in to refill Jiang's tea, and Zou's words were naturally interrupted.

  "You're also an old man, how come you have no eyesight, can't see that I'm talking to my brother and sister?" Mrs. Zou naturally got very angry and scolded that Zhuang mom.

  "It's all right, it's all right, he's not an outsider..." Jiang hastily comforted.

  Zou scolded a few more sentences before stopping, but after this interlude, Jiang's desired words were never spoken again, and only trivial matters were discussed.

  Later, it was said that Marquis Ningping had returned, and Jiangshi also bid farewell.

  "Ah, Third Brother and Sister, I almost forgot to congratulate you! Your brother Shui Ge is really capable, he's found suitable husbands for both Ninth Sister and Tenth Sister. In the future, one family will help support another, and Shui Ge's prospects will be boundless." However, when sending off Jiang Shi, Zou Shi said instead...

  These words were so profound yet abrupt that they made Jiang's soul unsettled all the way, and he couldn't help but think about Zou's words from earlier.

  What does this Zou mean, should be wanting to let this Ninth Sister do the accompanying bride? To tell the truth, this is rotten through and through, sisters serving one husband together, and also getting Sixth Sister as the legitimate empress.

  But for the person involved, it was a great blessing, which solved her dilemma and also saved her from having to pay a dowry.

  The most important thing is that although this prince is only the emperor's cousin, not his brother, the old queen dowager is the emperor's aunt. Although her power has waned with the passing of the empress dowager, there are two layers to their relationship, and this prince will always be one of the people the emperor trusts most.

  Just look at that fief and you'll know that the fiefs of various kings are all far away, but only this King Xian's fief is in Lu, not only close to the capital, but also quite rich.

  If he really gets close to this noble king, his future will be secured and he won't have to worry about not being able to rise to a high position.

  "Madam, did you really take Old Madam's words to heart?"

  She returned to the house, sat on the kang, but Jiang Shi was still dazed, staring blankly at the tea cup in front of her as Ma Gu offered a longevity toast. Zhou Mama walked in quietly and asked cautiously when she saw this look.

  "This is indeed a good arrangement!" Jiang heard the sound and looked up at her.

  "But... where are Big Aunt and Young Master Xing?" asked Mother Zhou again.

  "This is easy to say!" Jiang heard the words and smiled, "My elder sister-in-law just wants a stable and virtuous wife for our family, it's not hard to find someone like that among all the officials and nobles in the capital. As for Xing Ge, let's put it this way, once he gets married, his thoughts will be cut off."

  Zhou's mother fell silent for a long time before asking in a soft voice, "Where is Ninth Sister..."

  "This..." Mr. Jiang smiled again, "It's no wonder I'm in this situation, after all, this mansion isn't mine to manage, and the decisions aren't made by me either."

  Mother Zhou fell silent.

  "Alas," Mr. Chiang sighed again, "haven't you seen that formation? I got scolded today."

  "Madam, are you... alright?" Upon hearing this, Mrs. Zhou's face immediately showed concern and sympathy.

  "What's wrong? Ah......" Jiang sighed again, "These years... have been practiced!"

  Such a bitter and sour sentence made Mrs. Zhou almost cry, as the two grew up together, their feelings were naturally not ordinary.

  "All right, go and visit Ninth Sister for me, I need a rest!" said Jiang at this time.

  Mother Zhou nodded hastily, but soon looked embarrassed again, "How can I say that?"

  During this time, she was always the one to send secret messages to Jiu Jie'er, and it could be seen that Jiu Jie'er also had thoughts about it. But now, she's being asked to pour cold water on it again, which is really a bit hard to say.

  Jiang listened to this and frowned for a long time before saying, "Just tell her that I'll take her and tenth sister to Zheng Duhu's house tomorrow to drink at the wedding banquet. Let her prepare her going-out clothes. This girl is perceptive, as soon as she hears the tone of voice, she'll know that things won't work out."

  "Oh..."

  "Also..." Just as Mother Zhou was about to leave, Jiang Shi stopped her and said, "While you're at it, can you go to the storage room and get me two pieces of medicinal plaster? I have a terrible headache." But while saying this, she continued drinking tea, without showing any signs of a headache.

  Mother Zhou was taken aback for a moment, but soon came to her senses, nodded and turned away.

  Scolded and got angry so head hurts, still because of this concubine-born daughter, what else can be said about this concubine-born daughter...

  ……

  "I was just bullied, this is for you!"

  Just as Aunt Zhou hastily left the door, she went to the warehouse to get some medicinal paste and then took it to Jiu's room. Meanwhile, Zhuang Mama in the main house was pulled by Zou Shi to sit on the kang table, with a silver ingot stuffed into her hand.

  "Madam, this... no need, it's what I, an old servant, should be doing!" The housekeeper hastily declined.

  "Take it then!" said Zou Shi.

  Zhuang's mother hastily expressed her gratitude and then accepted the silver.

  A scolding without sincerity, a few curses that don't come from the heart, exchanged for this shiny silver, is it worth it?

  But she still... didn't understand why her master insisted on playing this twisty-turny game, if he wanted to let someone go upstairs, then why did he withdraw the ladder halfway.

  "You must be wondering why I acted that way just now?" Unexpectedly, Zou Shi had already guessed what she was thinking and took the initiative to speak up.

  "Uh..."

  "Hmph..." Zou smiled, "If everything is made to look too easy for others, then even if you're kind-hearted, you'll be taken advantage of like a donkey's liver and lungs. So, one must pretend to yield in order to capture!"

  Zhuang's mother couldn't help but be stunned again.

  "Besides..." Jiang smiled again, "Lao San and his wife have been too pleased with themselves these days. If we don't give her some trouble, she'll really forget what her surname is."

  Chiang may never have thought that the one who was actually framing her was herself...

  She couldn't help but laugh again, but suddenly remembered something and her expression turned serious. "By the way, what about that thing I asked you to investigate the other day?"

  The landlady was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Don't worry, madam. I heard he won't last many more days."

  "Oh......" Zou's delicate lips gradually curled up into a smile, "So it seems that the Wang family really knows how to seize the opportunity, sending their daughter over at this time."

  "Yes, probably wants an eldest illegitimate son."

  "Hmph, I, Zou family, care about his illegitimate sons and daughters. When the time comes, let's find him a stepmother and see how she'll jump around then."

  "Uh," after hearing her words, Zhuang's mother couldn't help but look surprised all over her face, "Miss isn't going to tell that to Yang Wu Ye, how..."

  "Why bother with Yang Wu if there's a princess available?"

  "Oh..."

  "Alright, anyway this is Father and Brother's business, they're the ones who want to climb up into the Weiyuan Wang Fu, let them worry about it. Let's focus on planning for Sixth Sister instead."

  "Scheming? But San Gu Niang..."

  "The three sisters' children have just grown up, and the Guo Gongfu is busy with many things, how can they still care about this?" However, Zou Shi said, but when talking about her daughter's pregnancy, she couldn't help but show a joyful face, with a smile in her eyebrows.

  "But what about the qingzhi left behind by San Guniang..."

  "Qingzhai, hehe... Don't worry about this, just go get some medicine..."

  ……

  Digression

  Wicked people want to play tricks, hum...