Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 509 - 513: Family (2)
No wonder they were not selected!
However, the strange thing is, it’s human beings, not machines, who verify and appraise the items in the palace. Humans have discerning abilities, and yet, with such an obvious mistake from the Teng Family, no one came forward to point it out.
The implication here couldn’t be clearer: their opponent is so powerful that they not only manipulated what was sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs but also silenced all the insiders. Even those linked to the Teng Family’s interest chain didn’t notice.
No wonder First Master Teng is seeking help everywhere; this is evidently someone pulling the strings.
Xiqiu thought of the Emperor, but now it seems unlikely. The Emperor doesn’t need such tactics; it’s clearly someone who knows the Emperor’s intentions and created the Teng Family’s mistake for the Emperor. And as for the Emperor... just went along with it.
Who could it be?
Xiqiu couldn’t figure it out. She sighed and said, "Is there really such a thing? Could there be some error somewhere? How could such a big mistake occur in the strictly managed Ministry of Internal Affairs?" She paused and then advised, "Please ask Uncle Teng to be patient. Isn’t it every three years? Wait a few more years and compete again; surely you will win the bid."
Teng Qiuniang’s eyes showed a mocking expression. Three years is a relentless thing, but more so are people. Three years are enough to utterly destroy the network that the Teng Family painstakingly built, rendering her brother’s efforts in vain.
"The matters three years from now can only be discussed then. The current matters are the priority. My brother is already helpless, but there is someone who can save us from this plight." Xiqiu raised her eyebrows and looked at Teng Qiuniang, who said, "That person is Fourth Master. I’m asking the Madam if you could ask Fourth Master to help us. As they say, breaking bones are connected with sinew; whether it’s the Tong Mansion, the Xiao Mansion, or the Teng Family, we are all one family. Any harm to one of us is a loss, and the other two would also be impacted. What do you think, Madam?"
Listening, Xiqiu showed agreement but also a face of difficulty, saying, "I don’t understand court matters very well, and I don’t dare to make any decision. How about this: I will convey the intention of Madam Teng to Fourth Master when he returns tonight, but how to act will depend on Fourth Master."
Instantly, Teng Qiuniang’s face darkened, but Xiqiu, after a pause, continued, "But Madam Teng is right. We all have familial ties among the manors; inside and out, we’re one family. If there’s help to give, we certainly will; it’s just that I fear Fourth Master may not have a way, as the Emperor personally decided this matter." With a sigh, she finished.
Telling Fourth Master? If Fourth Master were willing to help, things wouldn’t be like this. Her brother sought him so many times before, and what did he say? He told her brother to abandon the business built up over the last two years, to set aside the matters of grain transport, and focus fully on managing the tea business.
The Teng Family built its fortunes on grain transport and porcelain, and now to switch to tea—a business her brother has meticulously plotted for years, why bother?
"Thank you, Madam." Teng Qiuniang stood up and bowed to Xiqiu: "This matter is of great importance, and I hope you will speak carefully with Fourth Master. If the Teng Family can get through this difficulty, we certainly won’t forget your great kindness."
Xiqiu waved her hand with a smile and said, "We’re family; there’s no need to speak like strangers."
"Then I won’t disturb Madam any further." As she walked out, she suddenly turned and said, "I heard that Madam and Nurse Zhang have opened a medical clinic. My eldest sister-in-law’s maternal family also deals with medicinal herbs, and they have branches throughout Great Zhou. If Madam needs anything, my sister-in-law would surely be happy to help."
"Thank you, thank you." Xiqiu responded with a smile: "But the clinic has just opened, and business is quite ordinary. If there’s ever a need, I will certainly trouble First Young Madam Teng."
Teng Qiuniang took a moment to think: "Understood!" She then led the maid waiting outside out the door.
Afterward, Chunyan came in to clean up the tea set and quietly asked Xiqiu, "Madam, is Madam Teng asking you to seek Fourth Master’s help?"
Xiqiu smiled and replied, "The matters of the Teng Family are not as simple as she says. Saying anything about them now is a bit late." The accusation document still sits on the Emperor’s Dragon Case, and now they turn around to seek Fourth Master Xiao’s help; she may not fully understand court matters, but even she can see the Teng Family’s indecisive stance, swaying with the winds!
Meanwhile, Teng Qiuniang, after leaving, did not return directly to her courtyard but headed with Xiuhong straight to the east corner gate. Xiuhong used silver to open the gate. Fifth Madam was already waiting outside and anxiously asked upon seeing Teng Qiuniang, "How did it go? What did she say, did she agree?"
Teng Qiuniang, with a slight hint of resentment, replied, "Brother really... makes me go ask her." Looking aggrieved, she said to Fifth Madam, "She said she’ll talk to Fourth Master when he returns tonight, but I could tell she was just being perfunctory."
Fifth Madam, seeing Teng Qiuniang’s expression, knew she couldn’t bring herself to properly ask Xiqiu, so she furrowed her brow and said, "At times like this, how can you still care about face? No matter how unreliable she is, she is still Fourth Master Xiao’s wife, and Fourth Master Xiao listens to her in everything. As long as you ask her and she agrees, Fourth Master Xiao will surely not sit idly by." After a pause, she added, "Did you plead with her carefully?"
If the plea carries genuine emotion, even if it means kneeling, it should be done.
This was what Fifth Madam instructed before she left.
Teng Qiuniang furrowed her brows, waved her handkerchief, and said, "I’ll go plead with Second Madam, and if that doesn’t work, I’ll ask the Marquis, whatever it takes!"
"Usually, you are quite smart in handling matters, but when it comes to key moments, you care about this and that, which won’t do. I don’t care if you ask Second Sister-in-law or the Marquis, or even beg the Grand Dowager, but you must handle the family’s affairs with all due effort." If the Grand Dowager hadn’t strictly forbidden her from entering the mansion, she wouldn’t have sent Teng Qiuniang to handle it.
"I still have an appointment with Madam Qian and need to visit Dongchang Bo Mansion." Having said that, Fifth Madam turned and boarded the carriage behind her, leaving the alley.
Xiuyun then followed Teng Qiuniang and asked, "Mistress, the Marquis hasn’t returned yet. Should we wait at the second gate?"
Thinking of how Xiao Yanyi looked at her, Teng Qiuniang frowned, pondered for a moment, and said, "Let’s visit Madam first!"
As for Teng Qiuniang’s matters, Xiqiu had Nanny Cen send gifts back to First Master and searched the storeroom for the bitter tea sent by the Pang Family for the New Year, said to be a specialty of Guangxi. She hadn’t tasted it herself, but after hearing Xiao Yanzheng say it numbed the tongue, she remembered that First Master loved it, so she saved some to send back to the mansion.
Meanwhile, the Panax notoginseng sprouted in the backyard shed. With a few servants, Xiqiu crouched in the shed, as per Ruan Jingliu’s instructions, turning the soil and fertilizing, then opened the shed’s top to let them soak in the sun. If these Panax notoginseng survived, she planned to have the two estates start planting them in June, selecting some common and easy-to-grow medicinal herbs to plant first.
After a busy half-day, sweating, Xiqiu returned to her room, changed clothes, and reclined on the soft couch in the other room, flipping through the "Four Seasons Summary," falling asleep within no time.
Min, returning from the learning hall, was stopped by Chunyan at the door, who whispered, "Young Master Min, Madam is tired and currently asleep." Young Master Min paused upon hearing this, peeking into the other room, seeing the faint silhouette of Xiqiu through the thinly draped gauze curtains.
