The attic has all the information about the past and present, and I became rich by becoming a trader

"But this is too much. I'm afraid I won't wear the same thing twice in a month if I change it every day."

Zhu Ling chuckled and said, "What's that? These jewelry, hairpins, and rings alone were enough for my mother's dowry to fill two large carts. She gave away many of them without even wearing them. If you have a style you like, just tell me and I'll definitely find it for you from her."

"That's not necessary." Song Youan quickly declined. "I'm already very grateful for what Madam has given me. To be honest, I haven't had time to go shopping at a jewelry store during these days in Kyoto. Now I can save myself the trouble."

Zhu Ling nodded: "You deserve this. Besides, the jewelry in all the jewelry stores in Kyoto can't compare to my mother's. Just look at what I wear every day and you will know."

Zhu Ling did not exaggerate this point. This wooden box, even though it was small enough to hold a pendant, was exquisite and gorgeous enough. One could tell at a glance that it was a high-quality item.

The two were talking as they walked out of the yard, and suddenly they almost bumped into two people at the door.

The other person was a woman who looked to be about thirty years old, and a boy who looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old.

The boy was handsome and fair-skinned, but he was too thin, making him look a little frail.

When they saw Zhu Ling, they both stopped and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Second Sister."

"Second Miss An."

Zhu Ling's smile faded slightly. He looked at the two of them and asked calmly, "Third brother, Aunt Qiu, what are you doing here?"

Aunt Qiu lowered her head slightly when she heard this, and said respectfully, "We have something important to discuss with Madam."

Zhu Ling frowned slightly, and looked back and forth between the two of them before speaking again, "Mother has been exhausted from the long journey, and she must have just rested. What's the urgent matter, Aunt Qiu and Third Brother? Why don't you come back later?"

Aunt Qiu and Zhu Lin couldn't help but look at each other, but since Zhu Ling had already said this, they couldn't force themselves to go in.

Aunt Qiu nodded, turned around to leave, and caught a glimpse of the wooden box in Song Youan's hand.

At a glance, she remembered that this wooden box was the one she used as a gift to present to her wife when she got married, and the gems on it were all carefully selected by her.

Why did it appear in someone else's hands at this time?

She subconsciously looked up at Song Youan, and seeing her unfamiliar face, she couldn't help but ask, "Who is this girl?"

Song Youan nodded slightly and replied, "I am Song Youan, a commoner, greeting Aunt Qiu."

Her name was also very strange. As a concubine, she knew very little about people and things in the outside world except what happened in her own room. Even when she knew something, it was already over and it took a long time for her to hear it.

"Miss Song is my friend, so it's okay if Aunt Qiu doesn't recognize her." Zhu Ling seemed to suddenly remember something and added, "I remember sending two cakes to Third Brother and Aunt Qiu a few days ago. Did Aunt Qiu eat them?"

cake?

Aunt Qiu was stunned for a moment before she realized that it must be that beautiful and delicious little dessert.

She smiled and nodded: "I ate it, it was delicious."

Zhu Ling raised an eyebrow proudly and looked at Song Youan: "Look, that's what Miss Song made. It sells for ten taels of silver a piece in Kyoto, and there's still no demand."

Aunt Qiu was stunned, but Zhu Lin was quicker to react and said quickly, "Miss Song's cooking is excellent. I've eaten it once and I've remembered it ever since. I can't forget the taste."

Song Youan could already tell that the two people in front of her were the concubine and illegitimate son of Marquis Fuyang, but she was not sure what their relationship was with Zhu Ling.

There is a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children in noble families, so Song Youan did not show too much enthusiasm towards them in front of Zhu Ling.

So she just responded to Zhu Lin's praise with a smile.

"Then we will go back first and come back to pay our respects to Madam later or tomorrow." Aunt Qiu said as she bowed to Zhu Ling again and left with Zhu Lin.

After the two walked away, Zhu Ling began to explain without waiting for Song Youan to ask, "This Aunt Qiu is my father's only concubine. My mother told me that when my grandmother celebrated her birthday, Aunt Qiu was the top performer in the troupe of musicians we hired from outside. She played the pipa so well that she captivated my father's soul with just one tune."

"Later, she was carried into the mansion through the back door and became the concubine of our Fuyang Marquis's mansion. Over the years, she gave birth to two sons for my father and has established herself on a stable footing. However, she is quite obedient, and my mother has never given her too much trouble."

Song Youan nodded in understanding, then heard Zhu Ling continue, "My third brother failed the imperial examination this year, and this really made Dad very unhappy. He had no talent since he was young, and relied entirely on rote memorization to study. And with my second brother as a contrast, he seemed even more useless."

"Mrs. Qiu must have come here today to bother Mother again about his marriage. However, a man with such mediocre talent, even if he was born in the Marquis of Fuyang Mansion, there might not be any girl who would be interested in him."

"The Marquis is in a high position and has great power. Even if he is a concubine's son, there should be someone willing to marry their daughter to him, right?" Song Youan asked casually.

Zhu Ling scoffed and shook his head, saying, "That may not be the case. Bastards also have their own status. Bastards from respectable families are naturally different. But Concubine Qiu is a musician, so that's another matter."

"She is not outstanding herself, and her mother is a musician. Even a decent family would be reluctant to marry her off to a concubine."

The ancients cared most about birth and reputation. Even those born out of wedlock were looked down upon, and some people would feel inferior for their entire lives because of this status.

Song Youan naturally couldn't understand and empathize with the situation, but for her, this feudal system that divided people into different classes was a historical dregs and she really couldn't agree with it.

After leaving the Marquis of Fuyang's Mansion, she carried the small wooden box and went to the Duke of Su's Mansion.

"Meet our young lady?"

The servant who opened the door saw that Song Youan looked unfamiliar and that she was holding a wooden box in her hand, so he subconsciously thought that she was here to curry favor with the eldest lady, and his expression was not friendly.

Song Youan was not annoyed, and just said: "My last name is Song, and Miss Li posted a post for me, please take a look."

After saying that, she handed over Li Chuyou's invitation card. The other party took it skeptically and looked at it, and found that it was indeed a card from the young lady.

He glanced at Song Youan again before slowly opening the door and saying, "My young lady has something important to attend to right now and can't see you right away. Please follow me to the side hall and wait."

Song Youan nodded and followed the servant into the mansion.

A few dusty little heads popped out from the alley not far away, blinking their eyes and looking at the vermilion gate of the Duke Su's Mansion.

"Brother Bao, why does the girl always visit these officials' homes every time she goes out? What is she doing?" asked one of the little beggars.

Yuan Bao shook his head: "How would I know? The young lady must be some important person. She has been staying in the Fuyang Marquis's Mansion for several hours today, and now she has entered the Suguo Duke's Mansion. How can ordinary people go to these places casually?"