After that day, Shen Xiling began studying with Qi Ying. To be fair, Qi Ying was an excellent teacher. Though he was taciturn and rarely had time to review her essays in detail, when he occasionally did provide commentary, he explained things clearly and comprehensibly. He would also show her the essays written by Third Young Master Qi and Fourth Young Master Qi. Though the two young masters’ writing was not yet mature, they were still somewhat better than her. Rather than making her feel like she was looking up at an insurmountable peak, they actually helped her learn more effectively. After she read their essays, Qi Ying would show her the versions he had personally revised for the two young masters. From these revisions, Shen Xiling gradually came to understand the subtle improvements, and in just a few days, she gained tremendously from this method.

The only unpleasant aspect was that he was very busy and often returned to Fenghe Courtyard quite late, so the time when he checked her assignments was usually even later. She frequently had to stay up late waiting for him to return. Sometimes she could wait for him, but sometimes while waiting she would inadvertently fall asleep. As a result, she ended up sleeping several more times in the inner chamber of Wangshi.

Moreover, since she began studying with Qi Ying, she could freely enter and exit Wangshi. When he wasn’t there, she would move about unrestrained, looking for books to read in Wangshi. When he was there, she would tiptoe in quietly to retrieve books for reading. At first, when she entered, he would still lift his head to glance at her, but later, as it became routine, he stopped looking up altogether.

After spending time together for a while, Shen Xiling increasingly felt that Qi Ying was not someone who minded trivial matters, nor did he have so many rules. As long as one’s actions didn’t cross proper boundaries, he wouldn’t interfere, which made her feel very comfortable.

This comfort gave her the courage to make her first proactive request to Qi Ying since they had known each other: she hoped to have her own small writing desk in Wangshi so she could study there.

Although Qi Ying had previously told her to speak directly to him about any needs, when Shen Xiling actually made the request, she still felt quite burdened, afraid she was being too presumptuous. Unexpectedly, after Qi Ying listened, he readily agreed, and the next day he had Qing Zhu arrange a small writing desk for her.

Shen Xiling was naturally delighted by this, and at the same time discovered that many things would change in one’s understanding and feelings once one’s attitude and perspective shifted. Take Qing Zhu, for example. She had originally thought he disliked her very much, so she had always been afraid to speak with him. But ever since she began studying in Wangshi, she and Qing Zhu had more opportunities to meet.

Though Qing Zhu was mature beyond his years, he was ultimately just a young man not much older than her, and sometimes he inevitably had some oversights. When Shen Xiling had free time, she would help him heat water for Qi Ying’s tea, and sometimes when she encountered him lost on the road, she would try to give him directions as inconspicuously as possible. Though Qing Zhu had never explicitly thanked her, his attitude toward her was no longer as barbed as before.

This made Shen Xiling feel even happier, sensing that life was truly beginning to get better and better.

Another matter worth mentioning was that Qi Ying began giving her spending money.

This initially left Shen Xiling quite flattered beyond measure.

She now lived in his mansion, and all her food, clothing, and daily necessities were provided by him. If she were to take spending money from him as well, it would seem too shameless, so she naturally declined to accept it.

Qi Ying didn’t think there was anything wrong with it, simply telling her not to mind, and even said, “I cannot attend to every detail of your daily life. You’ll always have things you want, and having some silver on hand will let you obtain them yourself without having to go through me for everything, which is more convenient.”

Shen Xiling still shook her head.

She now lived very comfortably in Fenghe Courtyard and lacked nothing. Having lived in quite straitened circumstances in her childhood, she could now be said to have everything she needed, and she completely had no desires for anything else.

Qi Ying pondered for a moment, then also took a step back, saying, “Since that’s the case, then how about this…”

He gave her a small fabric shop.

It was one of his many private properties, located in Jiankang City. The place wasn’t large, and reportedly the monthly profits were quite meager—something of no consequence to him. He gave her this shop, asking her to continue directing seventy percent of the monthly profits to his private accounts as before, with the remaining thirty percent serving as her spending money.

Upon hearing this, Shen Xiling felt somewhat tempted.

She actually wasn’t averse to wealth—people like her who had lived in straitened circumstances in childhood especially understood the value of money. She had refused Qi Ying’s offer of spending money only because she disliked getting something for nothing, disliked receiving extra things from him for free. But receiving this shop was slightly different. She could try to manage it herself, and then that thirty percent profit wouldn’t be something she got for nothing—it could be considered her hard-earned money. Though she would still be receiving his favor, it was still better than doing nothing at all.

If she could manage this shop well and the profits became substantial, not only would she receive more, but she could also add more to his accounts. Although he certainly wouldn’t care about such meager profits, for her, this was also something to look forward to.

Qi Ying could naturally see that the young lady liked this idea, so the matter was settled. He was usually busy with government affairs and didn’t personally manage these private properties. More than half of the accounts were handled by Yao Shi on his behalf, with only a small portion managed by an accountant surnamed Ding from Fenghe Courtyard. This accountant was currently away collecting debts and would return to Jiankang in a few days. Qi Ying’s intention was to wait for his return before having Shen Xiling learn from him.

Shen Xiling was very pleased and thanked Qi Ying, accepting his kind gesture.

Qi Ying, however, considered this matter more deeply than Shen Xiling did.

Before her father’s death, to protect her safety, he had given him two astounding fortunes. Though he had accepted them at the time, he actually had no intention of keeping them for himself. He ultimately planned to return this money to the young lady. But Minister Shen had thought correctly—worldly wealth cannot be protected without power. This fortune was too astonishing and would be a disaster rather than a blessing for the current Shen Xiling. Before she grew up, it was better for him to keep it for her temporarily.

He hoped she could acquire a skill. If she could learn to manage wealth, he wouldn’t need to worry about her in the future. Now he planned to start by having her practice with this small fabric shop. If she could do well, that would be excellent; if not, he wouldn’t force it—at worst, he could think of other paths for her later.

After living like this for several days, the annual Qingji Mountain Flower Festival arrived.

Shen Xiling’s current status was awkward, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to appear in public without restraint, so Qi Ying didn’t have her participate. Shen Xiling understood this reasoning, and since she didn’t originally like to invite trouble, she agreed very readily, remaining in her Woyu Courtyard to drink tea and read.

The several maids, however, weren’t as carefree as she was. Zijun lay sprawled on the table, eating edamame while wearing a bitter expression, saying, “Can’t we really go? Can’t we plead with Young Master? The flowers in the back garden are blooming all over the mountain, so bright and beautiful, and today many distinguished guests have come. It would be good for us to go along and broaden our horizons.”

Before Shen Xiling could speak, Shuipei tapped Zijun’s forehead and laughingly scolded, “The flowers in the back garden—which day can’t you look at them that you must look today? Are the distinguished guests’ festivities something you should be joining? If Young Master says we can’t go, then we can’t go. Stay here and eat your edamame properly.”

Zijun pouted, and Fengshang beside her added, “But today I heard it’s really lively, and several princes have come too. I think it’s a pity not to go have a look…”

Hearing this, Shuipei naturally scolded Fengshang as well, while secretly glancing toward Shen Xiling, afraid that her young lady might develop thoughts of wanting to go after hearing Zijun and Fengshang’s words, which would only cause her heartache in the end.

Unexpectedly, Shen Xiling’s expression remained calm, showing no signs of inner conflict, which made Shuipei breathe a sigh of relief. Fearing that Fengshang and Zijun might continue their idle chatter and spoil things, she drove the two out, saying, “Miss wants to study. You two don’t chatter noisily in the room—if you want to eat or talk, go outside.”

Shuipei’s words always carried weight among the three maids. Though Fengshang and Zijun were about the same age as her, they inexplicably all obeyed her management. Being driven out like this, they really did obediently exit the room together.

But once they were out of Shuipei’s sight, they began hatching restless schemes again. The two shared the edamame while gazing toward the back garden’s mountain full of pink cherry blossoms. They could faintly hear the conversation and laughter from the distinguished guests’ banquet, as if they were glimpsing a fairyland, filling them with longing.

Zijun swallowed and felt that even the edamame in her hand had lost its appeal. She glanced at Fengshang and tentatively asked, “How about… we sneak over to have a look?”

Fengshang’s eyes showed wavering, but she was more timid than Zijun. Hearing this, she hesitated, “Ah? This… this isn’t very appropriate, Young Master said our miss couldn’t go…”

Zijun smacked her and said, “He only said our miss couldn’t go, he didn’t say we couldn’t go! Yesterday I heard Sister Biyu say that the flower festival is short-handed. We could go help out and take a look at the same time.”

Fengshang wavered even more. Zijun pressed her advantage: “If we miss this time, we’ll have to wait another year. Didn’t you say early on that you wanted to see what the Sixth Princess looks like? She’s here this time too! If you don’t look now, when will you?”

Seeing that Fengshang was still struggling, Zijun added the final push: “After all, even if Young Master catches us, he dotes on our miss so much that he didn’t even blame her when such a big incident happened with the main family. When the time comes, if Miss pleads for us, could Young Master really bear to go against her wishes?”

This reasoning convinced Fengshang completely, and she finally set her mind at ease. The two little maids egged each other on and headed together toward the back garden of Fenghe Courtyard.

On this day, the back garden of Qingji Mountain was resplendent with flowers, infinitely fragrant and beautiful.

One could see the spring mountains verdant and green, the early spring sunlight warm with gentle breezes caressing faces. The cherry trees covering the mountain were at the height of their blooming season, with clusters of blossoms adorning the branches. Occasionally when a light breeze passed through, there would be the scene of “falling petals in colorful profusion” often described in books, truly endearing and pitiful to behold.

Beneath the rosy clouds, distinguished guests filled the seats. The nobles and renowned scholars of Jiangzuo gathered like clouds, with guests seated on soft mats and servants moving among the abundant flowers—truly a splendid scene of prosperity with music and festivities.

Today’s occasion was personally arranged by Yao Shi. Though this mistress came from a minor official family, she had been managing such events for the Qi family for over twenty years and was an undoubted master of this art. Now with guests numerous as clouds, though the seating appeared casual, there were actually many considerations—which family sat under which cherry tree, which families should be seated adjacent to which others, and which families absolutely could not be placed near certain others. Even the size of the cherry trees overhead for each family required careful consideration and could not be arranged randomly. It was truly a profound field of study.

Yao Shi had arranged everything perfectly, so now one could only see harmony among all the guests without the slightest sign of discord.

The Qi family, as hosts, naturally sat under an extremely lush cherry tree close to the mountain stream at the back. Besides Qi Zhang and Yao Shi, all the children of the family were present: Qi Yun and his wife along with their only daughter Hui’er, and Third and Fourth Young Master Qi were all at the gathering. Qi Ying had gone somewhere and was not currently present.

The three great families were seated quite close together, with the Han family and Fu family on either side.

The Fu family hadn’t brought many people—only Fu Zhuo, Fu Rong, and their half-brother Fu Ran, three in total. Only a few collateral relatives had come from the Fu family elders, reportedly because the Fu family matriarch had recently fallen ill, so Fu Zhuo’s father Fu Bi remained at home to accompany his wife, regrettably absent today. The Han family had brought more people—not only had Han Shousong personally come with his wife, but even Han Shouye and his wife had come, along with the brothers Han Feiyu and Han Feichi, plus several other legitimate and illegitimate children from the household.

The families sat around the trees chatting and laughing harmoniously, raising cups and sharing joys in perfect contentment. Onlookers, seeing this scene, felt that such a spectacle truly represented limitless wealth and nobility. Under just three cherry trees were gathered the three most powerful families of all Jiangzuo, controlling all the wealth and power of the entire Jiangzuo region. Even compared to the Son of Heaven of Great Liang, they were not inferior in the slightest. If they set their minds to it, they could even influence the situation of the entire realm.

Author’s Note: Three chapters left until she grows up~ Little wealthy lady takes her first step toward getting rich