The reborn girl always wants to escape, but the abstinent marquis hugs her and coaxes her!

Chapter 6: Just want to focus on making money

On the sixth day of July, Zou Ji Cloth Shop came to Xu's house to deliver custom-made clothes.

The pear blossom white skirt, paired with a goose yellow waist ornament, looks innocent and playful.

Xu Rongrong glanced at it briefly, threw it aside, and continued to fiddle with her booklet.

Seeing that her master wasn't interested in this, Wen Yao put the clothes away.

Since the Shangshu personally inquired about the affairs of his own mansion, Xu Chaoqian repeatedly warned Xu Liu in the past two days: Don't neglect Wutong Courtyard.

Life in the small courtyard was getting better, as at least the two girls had enough to eat three times a day. Luo Shu was a simple-minded person. Now that he had a full meal every day and a little snack every now and then, he was very happy and worked more efficiently. The purses he embroidered for Xu Rongrong were more and more exquisite.

Xu Rongrong sat by the window, biting her brush while watching Luo Shu's needlework. Suddenly she asked:

"Your brother is in the capital now, right?"

"Miss, you're right. He's driving a rickshaw for someone at Liao's. Are you looking for my brother for something?"

Xu Rongrong nodded. "Tomorrow night is the Qixi Festival banquet. You can only accompany me to the palace gate. While we're at the banquet, you can quietly go to the car dealership and ask him to find out if there are any small courtyards for sale near Luming Street in the West Market."

"Miss, you want to buy a yard? But Luming Street is very remote and there are always foreigners hanging around."

"It's okay. You can ask him to find out carefully how many courtyards are for sale and how much money they cost. If the Xu family really can't accommodate us in the future, we will have a place to go." Luo Shu was a little confused, but still agreed.

There are some things that Xu Rongrong is not comfortable talking about.

After all, at that time, Luming Street was still a remote street in the West Market. Because it was close to the Honglu Temple, many foreign merchants with high noses and blue eyes lived there, and people from the dynasty rarely went in and out there.

But Xu Rongrong knew that this very year, the emperor would heed the Third Prince's advice and reduce taxes on international trade. He would also appoint a large number of foreign trade officials to manage their respective countries' merchants. By then, all nations would send envoys to the capital, and the small Honglu Temple would be far from enough to accommodate them. The courtyards on Luming Street would become highly sought-after properties, with land prices quintupling in just one year.

She doesn't have much money now, and she will have to find a way to leave the Xu family and become self-reliant in the future. If she wants to make money quickly in the short term, she can't miss this opportunity.

Just as he finished giving the instructions, Wen Yao came in and said that his wife had sent a set of head ornaments for his young lady to wear when she attended the Qixi Festival banquet tomorrow.

Hearing about the Qixi Festival banquet, Xu Rongrong felt strangely irritated. As she fiddled with her gaudy gilded headpiece, she began to think.

At night, she took Wen Yao to the stable in the backyard, and while no one was watching, she cracked the axle of one of the carriages.

……

The next afternoon, the entire capital city became busy.

Because today is the annual Qixi Festival feast.

This was a banquet prepared by the Queen herself, for the Emperor and his subjects to enjoy together.

Unmarried children of officials in the capital met each other openly at banquets accompanied by their parents. This was not against etiquette, but also allowed them to observe each other's behavior up close. If there was a mutual attraction, the emperor would grant the marriage on the spot.

Unlike previous years when only officials of the third rank and above were invited to the Qixi Festival banquet, this year marks the 30th anniversary of the marriage of the emperor and empress, and officials of the sixth rank and above are specially invited to attend the banquet with their relatives.

In her previous life, Xu Rongrong was betrothed to Mu Rong on this very night. Tonight, she naturally would not repeat the same mistake. She sat quietly in a corner, eating and drinking, and after the banquet was over, she returned safely to the Xu Mansion and focused on making money.

Just after the hour of Wei, Xu Liu brought Nanny Ping to Xu Rongrong's room.

The pear-blossom-white dress set off the eldest daughter of the Xu family, whose black hair was like clouds and whose skin was as white as cream. Her moon-white face was filled with bright eyes and white teeth, and she was unparalleled in her beauty.

At this moment, she was stretching out her arms and letting Wen Yao tie a lilac sachet around her waist.

The slender waist is so thin that it can be held in one hand, which makes the chest look fuller and more graceful.

Xu Liu couldn't help but frown. It had only been a few days since we last met, and Xu Rongrong seemed like a completely different person. There were no signs of poisoning at all. But this was a good thing; it would make things easier for her.

She composed herself and said, "If you're ready, we'll set off in half an hour." Because Xu Chaoqian was only a sixth-rank official in the Ministry of Works, the lowest rank among all the officials attending the banquet, he needed to arrive at the palace before the other officials and could only leave after all the officials had left.

It takes nearly an hour for a carriage to reach the Xu Mansion from the palace. Moreover, the closer they are to the palace, the more dignitaries gather there. It would be troublesome if they accidentally bump into a dignitary on the road, so they have to set off early.

Xu Rongrong nodded and said, "I understand."

Her voice was soft and gentle, and Xu Liu rolled her eyes in her heart: Vixen!

When he turned around and walked out of Wutong Courtyard, he saw the servant at the second gate whispering something with Madam Ping.

Xu Liu was very impatient when she saw this. After Manager Liu was dismissed, the Xu Mansion was without a manager for a while and everything was out of order. Now the boy from the second gate actually dared to enter the inner courtyard. How could this be disgraceful!

She walked over and asked, "What's the matter?"

Ping Ma Ma had just driven the servant away when she saw Xu Liu's expression and knew her master was angry. So she apologized cautiously: "The carriage that the young ladies usually ride in when they go out has broken down. I am afraid that it will ruin Madam's business, so I came here specially to give you instructions."

Xu Liu snorted coldly: "Don't you have an old car? It was refurbished a few days ago. It would be perfect for that girl."

"That car just got a new paint job. The interior is in such bad shape. I'm afraid I'll get carsick if I sit in it for too long."

"What? Are you feeling sorry for her?" Xu Liu raised her eyebrows.

Madam Ping quickly understood: "I will go down and give the order right away."

So, when Xu Rongrong went out, she saw a carriage with new paint but a rotten smell waiting for her.

Xu Chaoqian naturally didn't notice these things. He and Xu Liu got on another carriage.

Xu Rongrong curled her lips and handed Luo Shu a piece of ginger: "Put it under your nose."

Then, he calmly got into the carriage. The two carriages drove away from the Xu residence one after another. Luo Shu, who hadn't been out for a long time, excitedly lifted the curtains and looked around.

Xu Rongrong leaned against the wall of the car and closed her eyes to rest.

It had been a long time since she had ridden in such a rocking carriage. Fortunately, she had been prepared, so she didn't feel too uncomfortable.

I don’t know how long it took, but the scene outside the window became increasingly lively. Carriages from various prefectures gradually drove over and slowly gathered towards the palace.

"Master Liu, you're here early. I'll definitely have a few more drinks with you tonight."

"Hahaha, it turns out to be Lord Xue. You can't act rashly in front of the emperor."

"Don't worry, I know what's going on. Oh, isn't this Lord He? Is there a newlywed lady in the car?"

"..."

Luo Shu covered his mouth and laughed, "These officials are usually so serious, but when they get together, they chatter like ordinary people." Xu Rongrong opened her eyes, "There's no difference between officials and ordinary people."

As he was speaking, a hearty laugh came from outside: "Marquis Weiyuan, you've arrived so early? Why haven't I seen you wearing a red robe recently? Today's green robe makes the general look less murderous and more approachable and elegant."

"Master Xiao, you are too kind." A deep male voice struck Xu Rongrong's heart, making her stunned for a moment.

The carriage was still shaking as it moved forward, and the curtains fluttered from time to time as the carriage swayed. Through the gaps in the curtains, she caught a glimpse of a tall and agile figure riding a horse towards her.

The man on horseback seemed to sense something. He turned his horse's head and looked into the car over the crowd, but his view was blocked by the curtains that fell at the right time.