Palace Fighting Naive Concubines’ Ascent to Power

80: Chapter 80 Silver Flies (added chapter, hehe) 80: Chapter 80 Silver Flies (added chapter, hehe) Turning back to Lian Hua’s predicament, after Nanny Sun left, she became extremely disappointed, sighing and muttering to herself now and then.

Xiao Qing was confused about what was wrong with her Young Master and asked, “Young Master, what’s the matter with you?

Isn’t it a good thing that you don’t have to help Nanny Sun anymore?”

Xiao Jizi had brought over a ladder as soon as Lian Hua called for it.

On arrival, he saw that Nanny Sun was gone, and the Young Master had started sighing and expressing dismay, which puzzled him.

Hearing Xiao Qing’s question, Xiao Jizi also asked, “What’s the matter, Young Master?

Do you still need the ladder?”

Lian Hua shook her head and sighed again, saying, “No, it’s not needed anymore.”

Xiao Jizi, still puzzled, asked, “Young Master, are you sad because Nanny Sun left?

Is there something wrong with her leaving?”

It would have been wrong if Nanny Sun hadn’t left, but looking at the Young Master, it appeared as if something very important was missing, and the mood was quite downcast.

Upon hearing this, Lian Hua shook her head again and said, “There’s nothing wrong, it’s just that she doesn’t want us to fix the roof anymore.”

Having said that, she sighed once more and said, “Ah, there goes the silver.”

Ah, the easy mark had left, and she had thought they might earn some silver.

“What?”

“Huh?”

Xiao Jizi and Xiao Qing were both surprised.

What silver?

Was there any silver?

Nowadays, the word silver was particularly sensitive in Canglan Court.

As soon as anyone mentioned it, everyone’s eyes lit up; they all dreamed of how to obtain more silver to supplement their daily needs.

Lian Hua said wistfully, “I had hoped that with Nanny Sun needing the roof fixed, if we went to fix it, we’d get paid for the work, wouldn’t we?

Such a pity, why don’t they need it anymore?”

“Oh~” Xiao Qing and Xiao Jizi nodded in realization.

That explained it.

They had thought the Young Master just wanted to help for nothing, but she was actually looking forward to getting paid.

What a shame!

As they listened, Lian Hua began calculating, “Xiao Qing does such excellent repair work, she should earn at least ten taels of silver.”

“Ten taels?

Young Master, am I really worth that much?” Xiao Qing exclaimed in surprise.

That was ten taels.

In the folks, that amount could last a family for more than half a year.

Of course, it wouldn’t last long in the palace, but it was still not a small amount.

The Young Master’s monthly allowance was only ten taels, and to think that fixing a leak was worth that much!

“Of course, otherwise why would we have detailed our roofing skills to Nanny Sun so elaborately?

It was to show her that we are worth the money.

Good craftsmen are indeed very valuable.

Plus, if no one fixes their roofs, their valuables will be ruined the minute it rains.

That would be awful!” Skilled labor was rare in the palace, and rare things are prized.

It wasn’t too much at all for her to ask for this.

“Oh~” Xiao Qing nodded in agreement, feeling the logic in her Young Master’s words, and feeling even more regret.

Seeing Xiao Qing absorbed in thought, Lian Hua continued calculating, “Just by virtue of being a Daying, if I helped with the repairs, starting at twenty taels seems right!”

Where would one find a craftsman Daying skilled in roof repairs?

Although her status among the concubines wasn’t much, it was about the highest among craftsmen, being HIS Majesty’s Beauty; she was a mistress after all.

If she were to repair, not tipping extra would be unthinkable.

“Although Xiao Jizi has never done repairs, he is also an exceptional talent.

A bit of training and he’d catch on, surely they’d also need to pay seven or eight taels for his work, right?

Altogether, shouldn’t the three of us get thirty or forty taels if we fixed it for them?

And if there were more houses to repair, they’d have to pay even more~” the more Lian Hua calculated, the more it seemed feasible.

Xiao Jizi was bewildered as he listened.

Young Master had calculated well, but, “Young Master, you haven’t discussed the payment with Nanny Sun!” What if they don’t agree to such figures?

“It will be the same if we talk about it after the repairs!” Thinking about how the silver was flying away, Lian Hua felt pain in her heart and liver—that was thirty or forty taels of silver flying away!

Xiao Jizi let out an “oh,” realizing that it could wait until after the work was done.

Was Young Master planning to ask for a large sum and finalize the deal?

What cleverness!

The master himself was coming down to help with the roof.

By then, refusing to pay would be unjustifiable.

The palace cared most about maintaining face.

For such a small sum of silver, causing a fuss would tarnish Beauty Li’s reputation, and given her proud nature, she certainly wouldn’t go back on her word!

Young Master is indeed clever!

By then, they would have no choice but to accept their silent loss, hehehe.

It’s only right to deal with Beauty Li this way, always sending Young Master on errands.

The more Xiao Jizi thought about it, the happier he became, a cheeky smile spreading across his face.

Lian Hua glanced at Xiao Jizi and began to sigh wistfully: “Xiao Jizi, don’t be too happy yet.

They might not need our repairs after all, and the silver hasn’t been secured.

Alas, it’s such a pity.

I didn’t even bring up the matter of silver, how could Nanny Sun be so alert and leave just like that?”

Hearing Lian Hua say this, Xiao Jizi promptly straightened his expression and cleared his throat.

He had been thinking too beautifully.

Young Master, being such an upright and outstanding person, how could he think of her like that?

Seeing Young Master so wistful, Xiao Jizi couldn’t help but voice the question he had been harboring ever since Nanny Sun arrived: “Young Master, haven’t you wondered what Nanny Sun’s real intention was?” Previously, since Nanny Sun didn’t leave and seeing Young Master so calm, he didn’t ask.

In his opinion, perhaps Nanny Sun wasn’t really there to have them fix the leak… He didn’t want to dishearten Young Master, but it was better that she had left on her own, saving them the trouble of sending her away later.

Lian Hua wondered: “Didn’t she say she came to have us fix a leak?”

Xiao Qing also interjected curiously: “Yes, what else would she be here for?”

Xiao Jizi couldn’t help but facepalm, knowing they wouldn’t ponder deeper, so he hinted: “Young Master, I think Nanny Sun’s visit wasn’t that simple.

It was probably related to Beauty Li’s invitation yesterday to visit the Imperial Garden.

The leak might have been just an excuse to invite you over, but I’m not sure why she left again.”

“Oh!” Lian Hua, upon hearing this, became unhappy, puffing up, “Then let’s not fix it.

If they still ask me to stroll in the garden, forget it, I won’t go!” No silver, no talk!

Xiao Jizi coughed and asked, “What did you originally think she was here for?”

Lian Hua spoke with less enthusiasm: “I don’t know.

She didn’t want to talk, and she came just as we were serving our meal.

Even when invited, she didn’t eat.

I was hungry and anxious to eat, so I didn’t bother with it much.”

Xiao Jizi suddenly started coughing violently, this time choked by his saliva.

Since Nanny Sun’s arrival at Canglan Court, Young Master had been utterly unperturbed, hardly letting Nanny Sun speak a word.

He had thought Young Master had everything under control, doing it deliberately.

Now, it seemed the situation wasn’t as complex as he thought; she was just anxious to eat and couldn’t be bothered with Nanny Sun…

Indeed, when Young Master was eager to eat, she wouldn’t recognize even her closest kin; she’d demand to eat first even if the sky were falling, not to mention dealing with a mere Nanny Sun!

Looking at it this way, it was quite normal.

Xiao Jizi nodded understandingly, feeling in his heart that it was best to think of Young Master in simpler terms, not to probe too deeply into her thoughts, otherwise, he really couldn’t keep up with Young Master’s ideas!

Lian Hua, unaware of what Xiao Jizi was thinking, said listlessly: “I’m tired.

I’ll go back for an afternoon nap.”

Xiao Qing hurried over to take the stuff from Lian Hua’s hands and helped her back to take an afternoon nap.