Chapter 330: Thinking Too Much

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

After the Qiao family heard about this upon returning home, they all gave a thumbs up.

“Admirable! Each person will be rewarded with twenty taels of silver. If you want to eat something, make it yourself. Fill your stomach first.”

Yuan Jiaqi sighed, “Madam Wang is truly disappointing. Our people worked hard for her for a whole day, yet she didn’t even reward them.”

“Yes, I’m getting more disappointed with her. Well, let’s leave it at that.”

The people who helped were overjoyed. Qiao Mai was generous, and working for her always felt confident.

After a few days, the emperor learned about the matter, summoned Minister Gao to the palace, and scolded him thoroughly before letting him go.

When he returned home, Minister Gao gave Madam Gao a severe beating.

It wasn’t just about withholding the dowry; it revealed the family’s character.

This incident served as a warning to families with illegitimate daughters. They all warned their ladies not to mistreat them.

Magistrate Wang also gave Madam Wang a good beating, and the old couple didn’t care. After drinking the daughter-in-law’s tea the next day, they returned to Lucky Garden.

This incident became the talk of the town for a long time.

Meanwhile, Zihan found fortune in the incident. Before long, he was promoted and became a fourth-rank official, just like Magistrate Wang. With the support of Minister Yuan, Zihan’s career was likely to rise and not fall.

Old Master Wang knew that the emperor did this out of consideration for Minister Yuan and Prince Shunqin.

Zihan, accompanied by his wife, visited Lucky Garden. Qiao Mai presented them with a greeting gift and invited the couple to have a meal.

Despite the strained relationship with Madam Wang, Zihan was a good kid. Considering their respect for Old Master Wang, there was still room for interaction between them.

After Zihan’s matter passed, the rainy season arrived. The rain fell intermittently, annoying everyone.

Even Qiao Mai was too lazy to set up her free medical stall. She spent her days practicing cultivation, but matchmakers flocked to her door whenever the weather improved.

Ling’er was almost fourteen years old. Once she reached maturity, she could get married.

Qiao Mai didn’t want her daughter to marry too early, so she wasn’t in a hurry. Ling’er herself wasn’t in a hurry either.

With a shop to run, she was busy.

Previously, only women visited the store, but now, young men who hadn’t been engaged yet often found excuses to patronize.

Ling’er was beautiful, and thanks to Qiao Mai’s occasional adjustments to her body, anyone who approached her felt a sense of comfort. Her vibrant and graceful aura was attractive to the spirited young men around.

Regardless of their social status, whether from humble backgrounds or noble families, they all came to the shop, hoping Ling’er would fancy them.

Those with less favorable backgrounds hoped to rise to prominence and become successful men, while those from more privileged families aspired to experience love at first sight with the county princess.

Men and women came. Even mothers-in-law assessing their prospective daughter-in-law visited.

Princes and princesses came to join the excitement. The emperor hoped to establish a closer relationship with the Qiao family, but Qiao Mai immediately refused any proposal related to the royal family.

Any daughter of the Qiao family refused to marry into the royal family, steering clear of the power struggles among the princes. Without needing Yuan Jiaqi, Qiao Mai made her rejection straightforward.

The emperor was pretty disappointed, but mostly, he felt gratified. It seemed his kindness to Minister Yuan was not in vain.

He did not take a stance, staying away from the struggle for the throne and remaining loyal to him alone — that’s good!

If Qiao Mai knew about this, she would surely scoff at the emperor’s overthinking. She didn’t want her daughter to marry into the royal family to avoid all those playboys.

Once the emperor was happy, he started thinking about freeloading.

Every time this happened, Minister Yuan pretended to be ignorant and foolish, offering various excuses and leaving the emperor speechless.

Seeing the emperor’s craving for it, Minister Yuan took him to the Wang family’s restaurant, bringing a cask of good wine from Qiao Mai’s personal collection.

He was finding ways to prevent him from coming. On the other hand, Jiamei visited two or three times a month and never had Qiao Mai accompany her. Instead, Qiao Mai delegated this task, assigning it to Chuan’er or Ling’er.

Taking advantage of a break, Qiao Mai decided to focus on her cultivation.

If her cultivation doesn’t progress, it’s as if she’s regressing. Spending too much time in the mortal world can indeed lead to regression. She has to continue diligently cultivating to have a chance to leave this place.

For some reason, she never feels a sense of belonging here despite investing so much effort. Even when busy, it’s merely a way to pass the time.

One day, she opened her eyes and looked at the drizzling rain outside. She grabbed an umbrella and walked out.

Using her mental senses, she observed six squirrels hiding in various corners to avoid the rain and three sheep grazing on the corridor.

Yuan Jiaqi wasn’t at home; Old Master Wang was reading, and Old Mistress Wang was instructing Wang Jiaru carefully.

Everything at home seemed fine. So, she headed to Qiao’s Small Eatery. Due to the rain, there were fewer customers, but the shop was still almost full.

She didn’t enter and instead went straight to the embroidery shop. At the entrance, she saw a young man accompanied by two servants.

He was trying to strike up a conversation with Ling’er. Nanny Jin, Yue Hong, and Yue Xia guarded Ling’er with displeased expressions.

“Sir, if you’re here to buy embroidery, please come this way. If not, please leave!”

“Oh, so I can’t be here if I’m not buying?”

The two servants behind him chuckled maliciously. They didn’t seem like good people, and their master was pretending to be a gentleman.

“I came to make friends with Miss Ling’er.”

“You?”

“Yes, I am the legitimate second son of His Majesty’s fifth son. I am also the second son of Prince Li’s mansion. How about that? Are you scared?”

Nanny Jin turned pale, but she didn’t show any weakness.

“So what? You’re a prince, but our Miss is a county princess.”

“Humph, she’s just a daughter of an honorable prince, while I am of royal blood.”

“Our Mistress has declared that Miss Ling’er will not marry into the royal family.”

“Tch, as subjects of the Ming Dynasty, everything belongs to the king. Do you dare to refuse? I will go to the palace and ask His Majesty to arrange the marriage. You can’t stop it.”

Ling’er put down the needle and thread. “If you can do it, then go. Don’t waste your breath here. I don’t want to be friends with you. Please leave!”

“I won’t leave. What can you do to me?”

“You.”

At this moment, Qiao Mai walked in. “Not leaving?”

The self-proclaimed little prince didn’t give her a proper look. “Yes, I won’t leave. What can you do?”

Qiao Mai walked up to him and sent him flying with a slap. Then, with two more strikes, she sent his servants flying as well.

The three fell to the ground, unconscious.

Ling’er quickly ran to Qiao Mai, tightly gripping her arm. “Mother, I’ve caused trouble for you.”

“Does he come to bother you every day?”

Ling’er nodded, and Qiao Mai’s brow furrowed. “From now on, don’t be polite with such people.”

Qiao Mai summoned the second sheep with her mind. Ling’er happily stroked it.

“Mother, why did you summon it?”

“To kick them out.”

“Haha, Mother, are you kidding? Can it really kick them?”

Just then, several inconspicuous individuals walked in. These people were the guards protecting the young prince, who had been waiting outside.

Qiao Mai commanded the sheep, “Kick them out.”

“Yes, Master.”

The sheep turned its hindquarters toward them. With a gentle kick, the intruders were sent flying out of the shop.

Nanny Jin, Ling’er, Yue Hong, and Yue Xia stared with widened eyes.

“Mother, is this sheep so powerful?”

“Yes. Let it protect you from now on.”

“Thank you, Mother! This cute little guy is surprisingly powerful. I like it. When

I get married, will you let me take it?”

“When you get married, I’ll gift you another cool one.”

“Hehe, Mother knows me best..”

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