She mistakenly got into the bridal sedan chair and married a sickly but powerful minister, becoming

Chapter 207 There's a Problem with the Flowers

Liu Yue pursed her lips. She would send one or two taels of silver home every month. Her parents would also take on odd jobs, but they didn't earn much money. In total, they didn't earn two taels of silver a month.

My older brother and sister-in-law are lazybones who do no work. They eat meat every day, and the whole family lives off that little bit of money.

There's never any money left over at the end of each month, so where would I get the money to buy new clothes?

Seeing Liuyue staring at their new clothes, Jiang explained, "Last time you brought a ginseng root. The doctor said it was of good quality and could sell for several dozen taels of silver. Your father couldn't bear to eat it, so your mother took it and exchanged it for silver. We each got a new set of clothes."

"Yue'er, Mother has also bought you a set of clothes." Liu Yue's sister-in-law, Wen Shi, said with a smile, "Father is weak. That ginseng is very nourishing, but he can't handle it. It would be better to exchange it for silver and buy him meat every day. That would be more practical."

No matter how upset Liu Yue felt, the ginseng had already been sold and the money had been spent, so what could she do?

“That was Second Madam’s kind gesture. Father can’t take the medicine, and you can’t sell it.” Liu Yue said as she walked into the room, “Second Madam said that if Father’s leg injury is serious, she will do me a favor and arrange for the family doctor to treat Father’s leg.”

Jiang unconsciously rubbed the hem of her clothes with her fingers: "No, no need to trouble your second grandmother. Your father can recover from his injury by lying in bed for two months."

“Yes, we can’t trouble Second Madam with everything in our family.” Madam Wen added, “Yue’er, your father broke his leg. Asking you to come home twice a month won’t interfere with Second Madam’s important business, will it?”

Liu Yue didn't say anything, but as soon as she entered the room, she smelled the aroma of herbs. Her father was asleep on the bed, with a bamboo stick between his right legs.

Wen and Jiang exchanged a glance and then fell silent.

Once Liu Yue was sure her father's injuries weren't serious, she came out of the room.

Jiang followed behind her: "Is your second mistress busy this month?"

Liu Yue asked warily, "Why are you asking this?"

“You’ll be eighteen next year, it’s time to get married. I’ve found a family for you.”

Jiang took out a birth date and time chart from her sleeve: "If your second mistress has nothing else to do, I'll set a date for you to take a look?"

Liu Yue glanced at the red paper but didn't take it: "Second Madam has nothing else to do, but she needs to go to Hualing Temple to fulfill her vow at the end of the month."

"I see." Jiang nodded. "When you have time, send a message back."

Liu Yue refused, saying, "You've sold me to Second Madam, so my marriage is still up to Second Madam to decide."

Jiang's smile froze, she lowered her head, and wiped away tears with her sleeve.

She kept repeating, "Your mother is useless; she can't support you..."

Liu Yue was troubled. She didn't mind that her parents had sold her. What bothered her was that even though the family was poor, they still spoiled and indulged her eldest brother, and all the family's savings went to him. When they had no money, they would cry and ask her for some.

She can't support her older brother and sister-in-law forever, can she?

Liu Yue rolled up her sleeves, tidied up the house inside and out, cooked dinner, and then planned to return home.

"Yue'er, won't you eat something before you leave?" Jiang called out to Liuyue.

"Don't eat."

Jiang stuffed a bundle into Liuyue's arms: "I heard that the masters of wealthy families like to take baths with flower petals. I specially went to the estate to buy some flower petals, dried them, and prepared them for Second Mistress to take a bath with."

Liu Yue frowned, about to refuse.

Jiang said, "Second Madam has treated our family well. Mother has nothing good to give her. These flowers are not worth much, but they are a token of our family's goodwill."

After thinking it over, Liu Yue accepted the bundle, returned to the Duke's mansion, and went straight to Lanxue Garden.

When Liu Yue entered the room, Shen Qingtan had just finished bathing and was sitting on an embroidered stool.

Tingxue stood behind her and spun her hair.

"Second Madam, this servant is back." Liu Yue carried a bundle in her arms and truthfully explained, "My mother sold the ginseng that you gave to my father for money."

Shen Qingtan didn't care: "If it's sold, it's sold. It'll help supplement your parents' household expenses."

Liu Yue said in a deep voice, "My mother bought flowers and dried them, specially for you to take a bath."

Shen Qingtan's eyes flashed with surprise, and she gestured for Liuyue to put down the bundle: "Your mother is so thoughtful. I will use these flower petals to take a bath tomorrow."

Liu Yue hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

“You’ve finally managed to visit your parents’ home. Why don’t you stay a few more days instead of rushing back?” Shen Qingtan said softly. “You must be tired today. Go back to your room and rest.”

Liu Yue's thoughts were in disarray and she needed to sort them out, so she followed Shen Qingtan's advice and went back to her room.

After Liu Yue left, Shen Qingtan stared at the coarse cloth bundle.

Tingxue muttered, "Sister Liuyue's mother favors her eldest brother. If she has any money, her eldest brother will trick her out of it. Even if she wants to be filial to you, given her eldest brother's heartless nature, he won't part with any money to buy you flowers."

Shen Qingtan's heart stirred, and she unwrapped the bundle, a rich floral fragrance wafting out.

The bundle contained dried jasmine flowers, each one a bud.

"Take it to the imperial physician privately," Shen Qingtan said with a sigh, thinking of Liu Yue. "Don't let Liu Yue know."

After all, it was Jiang's good intention, and if she became wary, it would ultimately hurt Liuyue's feelings.

Tingxue wrung out Shen Qingtan's hair and then took her bundle to find the family doctor.

The physician examined the jasmine carefully but found nothing wrong with it.

Tingxue returned to Lanxue Garden with her bundle and stuck out her tongue at Shen Qingtan: "Second Madam, I was wrong, there's nothing wrong with these flowers."

Shen Qingtan picked up a flower bud, crushed it into dust with her fingertip.

Jasmine only blooms in May each year, and since May there have been few sunny days, so it's impossible to dry it this much.

If I had bought it last year, I wouldn't have waited until today to give it to her.

Shen Qingtan held the flowers to her nose and smelled them carefully, her expression darkening: "Tingxue, put the flowers in a jar and put it in the bathroom."

"Yes," Tingxue replied.

"Wait a minute." Shen Qingtan beckoned to Tingxue, signaling her to come closer, and whispered a few words in her ear.

Tingxue nodded solemnly and immediately went to do it.

-

Shen Lue wandered around the capital but couldn't find anything he liked, so he decided to return to the Prince's Mansion first.

"Shen San."

Suddenly someone called his name from behind.

Shen Lue turned around and saw the person who had come, and his expression changed.