Tian Linwen gave Liu Ying a look, signaling her to hold back and watch how things developed. Liu Ying forced a smile and echoed Ding Zhang’s words, telling Qian Jiaoniang not to mind them. Qian Jiaoniang invited them to sit inside, but Tian Linwen declined with a casual excuse. So she had two chairs brought outside for them and asked Qingya to brew some tea for the elders.
“You carry on, no need to bother with us,” Tian Linwen said.
Qian Jiaoniang smiled. “I’m not busy, really—just putting on a show. Steward Ding, distribute the silver however you see fit. Uncle and Aunt can supervise.”
Ding Zhang immediately had Qian Jiaoniang’s chair brought out and placed beside Liu Ying’s. Qian Jiaoniang sat down and gave Liu Ying a smile, which Liu Ying ignored. She was too busy looking at the crowd of servants with barely concealed excitement. So many servants—and all belonging to her nephew’s household. If one day they really became masters of this marquisate, wouldn’t that be glorious?
Ding Zhang bowed and reported, “Madam, Master said those who serve closely are to receive twenty taels of silver each, the rest ten taels. What do you think?”
Before Qian Jiaoniang could respond, Tian Linwen blurted out in shock, “How much? Twenty taels?” That was more than half a year of his own stipend, and the Marquis was just handing it out like that to servants?
Below, the crowd erupted in murmurs. Twenty taels? Ten taels?! Heavens above! They could hardly believe they were about to receive such generous rewards.
“Is twenty taels too little, Uncle?” Qian Jiaoniang turned her head with a smile and said to Ding Zhang, “Then make it thirty taels for those serving closely, and twenty taels for the rest.” She figured she might as well do some good before leaving.
The household staff’s eyes lit up instantly. Whispers of excitement spread. Madam is even more generous than Master! Just one word from her, and they were each getting an extra ten taels!
Tian Linwen was dumbstruck. Too little? He thought it was too much! This wasteful woman’s already been dismissed—how does she still dare to hand out money like a lion’s roar?
But Ding Zhang didn’t look the least bit surprised. He nodded and ordered the silver to be brought out. Four pages carried two chests into the courtyard. When opened, they revealed bright, glistening silver ingots. Liu Ying leaned forward and swallowed hard. Qingya came out with tea, glanced over, and commented, “Steward Ding, are you really just going to hand them silver like that? At least put it in a pouch—this is so vulgar.”
Ding Zhang chuckled. “Miss Qingya is right. I’ll remember that next time.”
“Oh right, did you reward that coachman I told you about with five hundred taels?” she asked—the first servant who identified the person using the gu poison.
“I already did, per your instructions. That coachman redeemed both himself and his wife from servitude and is going home to start a business. The Marquis approved it.”
Five hundred taels?! For a servant?! Liu Ying’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. Has Qian Jiaoniang gone mad?
Qian Jiaoniang waved her hand, signaling the steward to get on with the silver distribution.
Liu Ying couldn’t help but speak up. “Madam Qian! Muzheng said twenty taels, so twenty it is. How can you just mess around? Is he the master, or are you?”
This new aunt really knew how to be annoying. And it wasn’t even her money—what was she so upset about? She had no idea how difficult it had been. Most of those who didn’t receive this reward had already met King Yama! Why didn’t she go watch the executions this morning! Clearly, sticking with the Marquis’s official wife was the right choice—otherwise not only would you miss the silver, you might also lose your life.
Qian Jiaoniang said calmly, “Of course he’s the master. I wouldn’t dare overstep.”
Ding Zhang smiled and added, “Great Aunt Liu may not know—Master said that Madam has full authority in this matter. If she wants to increase the reward, then it is to be increased.”
“You—!” Why does this steward oppose me at every turn? Liu Ying just couldn’t understand it. Qian Jiaoniang was no longer the official wife, so why did he still call her “Madam” so respectfully?
Tian Linwen shook his head at Liu Ying, and she reluctantly held her tongue.
Ding Zhang began reading names from the registry. One by one, the servants stepped forward, knelt before Qian Jiaoniang, and happily received their shining silver ingots. The personal attendants weren’t many—Qingya counted among them, but not Ah Da or Wang Yong, likely because they were rewarded separately by Xing Muzheng.
But there was one person missing. Qian Jiaoniang asked, “Where’s Xiangyue from the Marquis’s quarters? Why isn’t she here?” Could it be she’s been elevated to a master, and no longer counted among the servants?
“Miss Xiangyue was also summoned by Captain Wang,” Ding Zhang replied.
“To where?”
“This… This servant truly doesn’t know.”
Qian Jiaoniang fell silent for a moment, then told him to proceed.
Once the last servant—Old Zhang—received his silver, the two chests were completely empty, not a single ingot left. Qian Jiaoniang narrowed her eyes. Coincidence? She had thrown out those thirty- and twenty-tael numbers on a whim. Yet the silver matched up exactly?
Ding Zhang turned to Qian Jiaoniang and asked, “Madam, would you like to say a few words?”
“The silver is from your Master, not me. I’m not going to—” she glanced at Qingya.
Qingya picked up the thread with a grin, “Put on airs?”
Qian Jiaoniang clapped her hands. “Yes! Put on airs!”
Ding Zhang gave a couple of dry chuckles. “Then… should this servant say something?”
“You go ahead.”
Ding Zhang bowed twice and stepped before the gathered servants. He cleared his throat. At once, the servants stood with hands folded and heads lowered, but couldn’t hide the smiles at their lips. The silver in their arms was like a burning fire, making their hearts itch with excitement.
“Everyone, you’ve received your reward silver. Do you know whose favor this is from?”
“Yes!” they answered in unison.
“And who is it from?” Ding Zhang asked again.
The servants shouted louder, “Master and Madam!”
“Good that you know. Now look at the silver you’ve just received—see how much it is! I’m not exaggerating when I say this: for us servants to get this kind of reward—not just in all of Yuzhou, even in the imperial capital, I doubt there are many households that hand out such large sums. You all must’ve burned a lot of incense in your past lives to be blessed with such good masters as our Lord and Madam!”
Qingya gave a soft snort. “This Steward Ding does have a way with words. The big spenders in the capital… well, even they don’t often hand out rewards to so many people at once.”
Qian Jiaoniang asked, “Oh? Which households in the capital are these big spenders you speak of?”
Qingya answered vaguely, “There are plenty.”
Liu Ying, listening to her tone, looked at Qingya with new appreciation. She was already mentally calculating how she might bring Qingya over to serve Bilian—then Bilian would instantly seem like a refined lady straight out of the imperial capital!
Ding Zhang continued in front, “You must always remember the grace of your Lord and Madam. Serve your masters with dedication. If you perform your duties well, your rewards will come. Keep your mouths shut. If you’re lazy or deceitful… well, you all saw what happened this morning. Think about it carefully. Understood?”
“Understood!” the servants chorused.
“Then what are you waiting for? Thank your Madam!”
The servants all turned in unison toward Qian Jiaoniang, knelt down, and shouted, “Thank you, Madam, for the reward!”
The shout was so loud it nearly deafened Liu Ying and her husband. Qian Jiaoniang scolded, “What are you shouting for? I’m not deaf! The silver came from your Master—go thank him instead. Now up, all of you, and back to your duties!”
The servants quickly rose and withdrew. Ding Zhang stayed behind with a few maids and old women. He stepped forward and said to Qian Jiaoniang, “Madam, Master said these servants are to remain here and serve you. In a few days, we’ll purchase more, and you can pick a few extra.”
