◎Nanny Qian’s simple and straightforward revenge; don’t buy if you don’t like it◎

Nanny Qian was originally a palace maid who had also learned proper etiquette and could recognize a few characters. However, shortly after beginning her training in proper conduct, she got into a fight with a palace nanny. She was supposed to be dragged out and beaten to death, but the passing Lady Shou happened to see her and requested to take her in, thus saving her life.

She had previously had a name and surname, but after following Old Lady Shou, she insisted on changing her name. She wanted to take Old Lady Shou’s surname Shou, but Old Lady Shou said with a smile, “That won’t do—it was bestowed by His Majesty.”

Nanny Qian thought for a moment and decided on the surname Qian. Besides one’s life, money was most important.

Old Lady Shou then asked, “So what should we call you?”

Nanny Qian replied, “Something gentle and graceful perhaps?”

Her temperament was too impulsive, and she easily got into fights with people, so she thought having a gentle and graceful name might suppress that tendency. Old Lady Shou then said, “How about Mo Niang then?”

Nanny Qian didn’t understand, “Mo? Like a tail? This servant doesn’t much care for that.”

Old Lady Shou clarified, “The ‘mo’ from jasmine.”

Only then did Nanny Qian happily agree.

——She recounted this past story to Lan Shanjun while chopping vegetables, saying, “But I still haven’t been able to change this temper of mine!”

This was actually all Old Lady Shou’s fault. Every time Nanny Qian spoke and acted without restraint, she never blamed her. Nanny Qian herself knew this temperament couldn’t be changed, and said, “So I rarely go out anymore, and I don’t go to the palace either. After enduring like this for several years, I became the head matron of the entire Shou residence. Aside from the Old Lady and the Master, I’m the highest authority. Who would dare criticize me?”

In her entire life, she had rarely feared anything. The most frightening time was when Old Lady Shou’s health wasn’t good and she couldn’t bear children—Nanny Qian feared she would be made a concubine to bear children.

She absolutely didn’t want that.

Even though Old Lady Shou treated her so well, she still didn’t want it.

She packed up her bundle, taking only the few garments she wore, returned all the monthly stipend silver she had saved to her mistress, and said, “Even if this servant must give up her name and surname, I would not be willing to become a concubine or bear children for the Master.”

Old Lady Shou didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, saying, “Who said we wanted you to be a concubine?”

Nanny Qian replied, “This servant is good-looking, has a good temperament, and was saved by you, and is closest to you—I’m the perfect candidate to be a good concubine.”

Wu Qinghai laughed like a madman beside them, “Mo Niang, you’re far too confident!”

Only then did Nanny Qian understand, “You really don’t want me to be a concubine?”

Wu Qinghai nodded, “I definitely don’t want that.”

Nanny Qian asked, “Then who do you want?”

Wu Qinghai replied, “Why must we have children? We’re not planning to have any.”

Nanny Qian was quite relieved afterward: “Fortunately I encountered a master who shocked conventional society—otherwise even if I didn’t become a concubine to bear children, I’d still have to help Old Lady care for someone else’s children. How vexing that would be!”

Lan Shanjun listened with great amusement.

Nanny Qian continued, “From then on I became much bolder. Back when our Master passed away, both His Majesty and Old Lady were in danger—it was I who went out to deliver the message—”

This touched upon matters related to the previous emperor’s ascension to the throne, so Nanny Qian didn’t elaborate further, saying, “In any case, His Majesty promised me a favor.”

Lan Shanjun paused, “His Majesty’s promise?”

Nanny Qian affirmed, “Yes, but I’ve never had occasion to use it.”

But this time she could use it to vent her anger.

She looked at the sky, untied her apron and tossed it aside, saying, “Miss Shanjun, I need to go out to buy groceries.”

Lan Shanjun asked, “Should I accompany you?”

Nanny Qian replied, “No need, you should return home as well. Otherwise your mother won’t feel comfortable either.”

Lan Shanjun said with a smile, “Old Lady has been ill all along, so it’s proper for me to serve her here.”

Her mother was actually willing in her heart as well. She was still waiting for Old Lady to arrange a marriage for Huihui. It was just unfortunate timing—Old Lady had been in a constant daze, so she waited for Old Lady’s health to improve more quickly, and therefore hadn’t urged her to return.

Nanny Qian nodded, “Then what would you like to eat?”

Lan Shanjun suggested, “Green beans? Stewed green beans with eggplant would be perfect.”

Nanny Qian agreed, “Alright.”

She hurried out the door. First she went to a bookstore to buy books, saying, “I want your best sellers.”

The bookshop proprietor understood perfectly, quietly asking, “How many do you want? What kind?”

Nanny Qian replied, “For the gentlemen at home to read—he has a taste for this sort of thing.”

The bookshop proprietor understood completely, “Understood.”

This was big business indeed.

He brought out colorful erotic prints and sensual literature for Nanny Qian to choose from, “Whatever quantity you want, whatever type you want, I have it all.”

Nanny Qian ate and lived at the Shou residence, and her seasonal clothing and jewelry were all made together with Old Lady. The old lady never used silver herself, so Nanny Qian had plenty of silver, truly living up to the surname Qian. She waved her hand grandly, “Fine, I’ll take them all.”

The proprietor’s smile was brilliant, calling her “elder sister” with every other word, saying, “Elder sister, when your young master wants more, just come find me.”

He respectfully escorted this god of wealth out the door, saying gleefully to himself, “It would take at least a year or eighteen months to finish reading all these, wouldn’t it? This family’s young master must still be quite inexperienced.”

Nanny Qian personally drove a cart full of erotic prints and sensual literature to the Wang family residence.

She had made all the inquiries—this man surnamed Wang had only started associating closely with Wu Qingchuan last year and gained some reputation. His family background wasn’t particularly wealthy or noble—quite ordinary—so he didn’t dare offend high-ranking noble families, yet he had a chivalrous heart and often defended common people’s grievances.

This person wasn’t thoroughly bad, but since he dared to bully her own household, Nanny Qian was still angry in her heart.

When they arrived at the Wang family residence, the Wang household was hosting a banquet—she had inquired clearly about this. Today was Wang Kui’s own scholarly celebration banquet.

Nanny Qian figured he was now studying under Wu Qingchuan and surely wanted to show off his learning. The Wang family held a banquet every three to five days. Those who had gone with him last time to splash ink were people who frequently came to eat at his house.

Nanny Qian curled her lip: So that’s why they don’t want the perfectly good Yu Qingwu and want this sort of person instead.

Qingwu never held banquets at home. Buying banquet food from outside was too expensive, and holding banquets at home required the old lady to worry about everything, so he never invited people back.

But this Wang Kui had no servants at home, so whenever he held a banquet, it was his elderly mother and wife who did all the work. And he didn’t care about that. Bah! Nanny Qian was quite contemptuous.

At this moment, the burly strongmen she had hired arrived.

She said, “Then I’ll leave it to you.”

The burly strongman said with a smile, “Sister Qian, what’s the story with this person?”

Nanny Qian replied, “A bunch of classless scoundrels.”

The burly strongman acknowledged, “Don’t worry. When I handle matters, you can rest completely assured.”

Thus a group of people entered the residence and said to Lady Wang with smiles, “Young Master Wang’s goods have arrived. Please ask him to come inspect the merchandise.”

Wang Kui came out quickly.

He had been feeling frustrated these past few days and said sullenly, “What goods?”

The strongman replied, “The books you purchased. Our proprietor said to deliver them to your home.”

Wang Kui had indeed bought many books recently.

He asked, “From which bookshop?”

The strongman answered, “Number One Scholar Spring Bookshop.”

Wang Kui had indeed purchased books there, so he didn’t ask further questions and said, “Bring them in then.”

The strongman carried them inside.

Someone at the banquet asked, “What did you buy so many of?”

Wang Kui replied, “Fine books.”

He said, “These are what I’m planning to give away.”

Now that he was studying under Master Wu, he couldn’t continue as before. He needed to be a good person who bestowed favors.

He explained, “At the Imperial Academy there are often poor fellow students who can’t afford books. I’ve already discussed with Director Zhao—I’ll purchase these books.”

His fellow students praised him for his noble righteousness, saying, “Since that’s the case, why don’t we deliver them to Director Zhao right now?”

That would work.

With so many people present, Wang Kui felt quite respectable. So they went.

Director Zhao accepted them for the sake of Wu Qingchuan’s reputation, saying, “Thank you very much.”

Wang Kui waved his hand, “It’s nothing.”

He left gleefully. The group prepared to go to a wine house to drink and celebrate.

On the return trip the cart was empty, so the strongman invited them to ride in it, “After all, we’re going the same way.”

When Wang Kui and the others had come, they were squeezed into one carriage, but now there was much more space—indeed a good thing. Wang Kui was courteous and let the other carriage go to the others while he himself rode in the bookshop’s carriage.

He even said with a laugh, “How come I haven’t seen you before?”

The strongman smiled, “Oh, I just started.”

Wang Kui asked a few more questions, but the strongman was evasive. Only then did he notice the route was wrong.

He said, “Where is this going? This isn’t the road back to the city?”

The strongman laughed, “Indeed it’s not.”

Wang Kui cursed, “What kind of person are you?”

As soon as he finished cursing, he saw the carriage stop in front of a manure pit, where Nanny Qian was standing waiting.

She had a good memory and had identified all those who went to splash ink yesterday. She even said regretfully, “Alas, three of them didn’t come.”

She said, “These few aren’t the ones—toss them aside. Throw all the others into the manure pit.”

Wang Kui was furious, “You old hag, we’re all students of the Imperial Academy!”

Nanny Qian just laughed, “Stop talking already. Our Young Master Yu has an official position, yet you still went ahead and splashed him with ink, didn’t you?”

She said impatiently, “Jump in one by one, quickly. Don’t make me wait long.”

She snorted, “I’ll tell you plainly—before His Majesty, I still have some face. I had planned never to use it in this lifetime, yet I’m using it on the likes of you. Consider it my loss!”

After jumping into this manure pit, she’d see if they still dared to bully people.

Meanwhile, when the Imperial Academy Director’s face alternated between pale and flushed as he looked at those books inside and called for someone to summon Wang Kui and the others back, they were found at the manure pit.

Director Zhao listened to them all talking at once and frowned, asking, “A matron from Old Lady Shou’s residence?”

That would be Nanny Qian.

He thought for a moment, “You must not spread word of today’s events.”

That was someone who truly had a promise given by His Majesty’s golden words and jade speech. He happened to know about this matter from his younger days.

He sighed, “Such a simple stratagem, yet you were all too foolish. In the future, even if you complete your studies and become officials, I fear it won’t be appropriate.”

They still needed more tempering.

He looked at Wang Kui and said, “Your transfer order… forget it, wait until next year.”