After being divorced, she overturned the capital and seized the empress's position!

The old lady frowned: "Didn't the manor prepare even this little bit for you?"

Song Yue shook her head: "No, it's just that the housekeeper prepared a few snacks and tea sets, but I felt they were a bit meager, so I shamelessly came to ask my grandmother for help."

These two items are not even presentable enough to give to the Jiang and Xie families, let alone poor relatives. The Grand Madam took a deep breath and instructed the maid: "Go and tell the madam to return part of the princess's dowry to the third young lady for her to handle. Also, go and inform the steward to prepare two generous gifts for the third young lady."

"Yes."

She thought for a moment and then said, "Sister Yue, you haven't been to the Jiang and Xie families yet. Why don't you ask your older brother to take you there when he has some free time?"

Before Song Yue could explain, the Grand Madam had already gotten up and walked towards the other side of the screen.

Song Yue shrugged. If Song Hengchuan wanted to follow, so be it. Anyway, it wasn't her who was disliked. Judging from Song Hengchuan's actions yesterday, Madam Jiang and Madam Xie looked down on this fool, Song Hengchuan, at all!

"What? Another dowry?" Yuan Fuling nearly vomited blood upon hearing the maid's words, but dared not lash out at the messenger, so she could only ask, "Did the Third Miss say something again?"

The maid said, "The Third Miss wanted to prepare a thank-you gift, but she didn't have the money, so she had to go to the Grand Madam, who then compromised."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Fuling became even angrier. She patiently sent the maid away and then looked at the steward beside her: "What exactly happened?"

The steward protested, "Madam, the Third Miss did indeed prepare a generous gift half an hour ago, saying she was going to pay her respects to her benefactor. This old servant prepared it according to the rules, but the Third Miss didn't give any instructions and just turned around and left. Who knew that the Third Miss would actually go to see the Grand Madam?"

These three girls are too cunning.

Just then, the person arrived. Song Yue, in a good mood, hummed a tune as she entered the Rose Courtyard and smiled at Yuan Fuling, saying, "Madam, I've come to collect my mother's dowry."

“Sister Yue, this dowry…” Yuan Fuling looked troubled and was about to play the victim, but Song Yue didn’t listen to her explanation at all. She turned around and was about to leave, shouting, “Then I’ll go ask Grandmother for it.”

"Stop right there!" Yuan Fuling was so angry that her head ached. She couldn't do anything about Song Yue at all; she was simply a rogue!

When this matter reached the Grand Madam, she was bound to be severely reprimanded, and in the end, she still had to hand over a portion of it. So Yuan Fuling had her confidante bring a large box and give it to Song Yue.

Song Yue opened the box, glanced at it, and frowned.

Yuan Fuling quickly ordered, "Go and move more!"

Only after carrying three boxes did Song Yue leave satisfied. She then ordered two more generous gifts to be prepared, as she was leaving the mansion in half an hour.

Someone was sent to inform Song Hengchuan of the news.

As expected, he claimed to be ill and did not come.

Song Yue had no choice but to go to both families to express her gratitude alone. After briefly introducing herself, she was welcomed by both families. She sat for about half an hour before making an excuse to leave.

After finishing her business, seeing that it was still early, she went to the Treasure Pavilion again. The manager rushed over to her as soon as he saw her: "Young mistress, is there anything you need?"

She nodded and stated her purpose: "Could you prepare a batch of counterfeit products in the shortest possible time?"

The shopkeeper was taken aback upon hearing this, and nodded despite not understanding: "How many do you have, young master?"

"About forty boxes."

Upon hearing the quantity, the shopkeeper replied, "Within three months."

“No, that’s too long. We need to transport them all within ten days,” Song Yue said.

She had thought that her provocation of the Duke of Jingguo's mansion and the Shen family yesterday would cause the two families to become enemies, but she never expected that the two families would get married ahead of schedule.

This situation is very unfavorable for the Northern Chu Emperor; she must break the balance.

The shopkeeper gritted his teeth: "Ten days is a tight timeframe, but since the young master needs it, I will give it a try."

Hearing the shopkeeper's words, Song Yue said, "I know that my mother left in a hurry back then, and many shops were taken over by others. It has been really not easy for you to maintain this shop all these years."

She took out 20,000 silver notes and placed them on the table. The shopkeeper was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes. The reason he hadn't dared to make a guarantee earlier was because he needed to raise the money.

Now that he has money, the shopkeeper feels more confident.

"Don't worry, young master, I will definitely take care of it for you. But I don't know what kind of replica you need. Do you have a picture?"

I'll bring it to you tomorrow morning.

The shopkeeper nodded, and the two reached an agreement. Only then did Song Yue turn back to the Duke of Jingguo's mansion. After returning home, she went to the Rose Garden.

Just then, the steward was discussing the betrothal gifts with Yuan Fuling, and dozens of large boxes were piled up in the courtyard.

Half of it was open, and the other half was still closed.

Upon seeing Song Yue, Yuan Fuling asked warily, "Why are you here?"

Song Yue waved the pastries in her hand: "I heard that Xingweizhai's pastries are the best, so I bought them specially to share with everyone. Would you like to try some, Madam?"

Yuan Fuling gets a headache just looking at Song Yue, so how could she possibly crave her snacks? She made an excuse not to eat them, closed the ledger in her hand, and stared at Song Yue warily.

Song Yue pouted: "Fine, don't eat it then."

She turned and left.

Back at Yuehua Pavilion, she sat in the pavilion and unwrapped all the pastries, inviting the others to come and try them.

At first, the maids were a little hesitant and didn't dare to take a bite, but Yun Dong took the lead and ate a couple of bites before the others dared to take some.

Zhang Mama said helplessly, "Miss, you'll spoil them if you do this."

Song Yue chuckled: "I don't have high requirements for them. As long as they leave Yuehua Pavilion, can do things for me, and don't disgrace Yuehua Pavilion, that's fine."

People die for wealth, birds die for food; simply suppressing others will not truly win people's hearts.

“Starting today, in addition to the monthly allowance from the Duke’s Mansion, Yuehua Pavilion will also give you a separate allowance,” Song Yue said.

The maids' eyes lit up immediately upon hearing this: "Thank you, Miss."

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Song Yue slowly said, "Do you have any maids or servants in your household with whom you have a good relationship? They must be trustworthy. Write them down on a list."

Without saying a word, the group nodded.

Song Yue was glad that the maids Yuan Fuling sent to monitor her were all literate.

She quickly received a list, and Zhang Mama lowered her voice and said, "Miss, it's no use. These people's indentures are not in your hands, so they may not do anything for you."

After reviewing the list, Song Yue memorized everyone's name: "As long as the benefits are right, there's no one I can't win over."

She thought that if she couldn't win them over and it would be detrimental to her, then she would kill them!

"Pothos!"

A maid named Green Ivy stepped forward.

Song Yue instructed, "You and Hua Fang Haizhu are from the same hometown, and you know that his family is not well off. I have something I need him to do."

"Please give your instructions, young lady."

...

Evening

Yuan Fuling had just returned from Song Yao's place. She sat down in a chair, her face full of anxiety, and asked again, "Has the Duke returned yet?"

"Reporting to Madam, the Duke has not yet returned, but he sent someone to tell you that you don't need to wait and can go directly to the study later," said the maid Danruo.

Yuan Fuling nodded: "Then let's serve the meal."

I've been busy all day and haven't even had a sip of water. My throat is parched, and I'm both thirsty and hungry.

Suddenly a scream came from the courtyard.

"what!"

Yuan Fuling's eyelids twitched suddenly, and she cursed incessantly, "Quick, go see what's going on!"

"Madam, I just saw a snake crawl out of the flowerpot!" the maid cried.

Yuan Fuling frowned. She was terrified of snakes, and the thought of a snake crawling into the yard gave her goosebumps. "Everyone, find this little beast!"

So the Rose Garden began a thorough search, looking for snakes everywhere.

I searched for a long time but couldn't find any trace of the snake.

"Could you have seen it wrong?" Yuan Fuling asked the maid who had discovered the snake, standing on the steps. The maid assured her confidently, "Madam, I couldn't have seen it wrong. The snake crawled right in front of me, and others saw it too."

"Yes, madam, we all saw it."

Seeing that everyone said so, Yuan Fuling no longer doubted it. Danruo said, "Madam, perhaps the Rose Garden has been uninhabited for a long time, and there are still some things left inside. I will send someone to sprinkle some realgar powder in every corner of the garden. With such a big commotion, they might be frightened away."