Chapter 47 She Is Illiterate

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When Zhao Yun Lu heard Madam Lu mention this plan, she felt intrigued.
“Mother, I think it’s a good idea.”
Madam Lu hesitated slightly. “I feel she has a bit of a mischievous streak. She just returned to the capital and already showed her face before Prince Jin. The Imperial Physician has also been very kind to her. If we send her out again, who knows if she’ll gather even more allies.”
The maid implied that once outside, there would be a chance to have Zhao Ling Lu remove her shoes and socks to verify her birthmark.
Moreover, Chancellor Shen’s daughter, Xiangjun Shen, must have known about the arranged marriage. She might not spare Zhao Ling Lu.
Zhao Yun Lu smiled and linked her arm with her mother’s. “Mother, think about why we’re going.”
“To copy scriptures.”
“Exactly. We’re all going to copy scriptures. Later, Princess Changning could bring those scriptures into the palace; maybe the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Empress will glance at them. That’s an opportunity for me to gain recognition. But my second sister was raised in the countryside.”
Madam Lu suddenly understood her meaning.
“Yes, your grandmother and your third uncle didn’t let that girl study. She only had two years of schooling before she was six. Being able to write her own name was already impressive. And you expect her to copy scriptures?”
Before the age of six, Zhao Ling Lu also lived in the capital, studying the Four Books and Five Classics, learning calligraphy and embroidery for just two years.
After being sent to the countryside, Grandma Lu certainly treated Zhao Ling Lu like a servant. It was said she had to do farm work every day, hardly ever touching a brush.
If she were to copy scriptures now, she would surely make a fool of herself.
Madam Lu suppressed a smile but then thought of another concern. “But will she even go?”
“She doesn’t know what it’s for. Everyone is going, and since she’s already betrothed, she won’t dare refuse—it would be a disgrace to Prince Jin.” Zhao Yun Lu said.
“Alright, you go and talk to her.”
Zhao Yun Lu went to the Warm Listening Pavilion.
Zhao Ling Lu was trying on new clothes.
The three bolts of silk sent from Prince Jin’s residence were about to be measured for tailoring by Qingyin and Qingbao. Before that, they had bought Zhao Ling Lu two sets of new clothes.
“Second sister, you look truly beautiful.”
Zhao Yun Lu felt a pang of unease when she saw Zhao Ling Lu’s new dress.
Previously, Zhao Ling Lu had worn her clothes—ones she disliked, with garish colors and patterns, and they were too loose on her, making her look like a molting pheasant.
That was Zhao Yun Lu’s impression.
But now, Zhao Ling Lu wore a pale blue dress embroidered with white magnolias, delicate and elegant beyond compare.

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Zhao Yun Lu had to comfort herself: after ten years of hardship in the countryside, her figure was like a bean sprout; only her facial features remained pretty.
“You arrived just in time,” Zhao Ling Lu glanced at her. “When was the household allowance given?”
“Allowance?”
“You don’t mean to say there isn’t any?” Zhao Ling Lu narrowed her eyes slightly.
She had some silver on hand now, but why did she always have to spend her own?
“There is, but our family’s situation is average. Father’s salary alone can’t provide much.” Zhao Yun Lu said.
“How much do you get per month? How many sets of clothes do you make in a year?” Zhao Ling Lu asked again.
Zhao Yun Lu wanted to downplay it, but when faced with those seemingly all-seeing eyes, her heart skipped a beat, and she told the truth, though still cautious.
“Zhao Hua gets three hundred wén a month. She makes a set for each season, so four sets a year. If the family’s finances allow, they make an extra one at year-end.”
Qingyin and Qingbao frowned. Three hundred wén? Was the Lu family really that poor?
“I’m asking about you,” Zhao Ling Lu didn’t follow Zhao Yun Lu’s lead at all.
Zhao Yun Lu bit her lip in secret.
Zhao Hua was a concubine’s daughter, not born from the main wife. How could she get more?
“I often attend banquets and meet princesses and noble ladies, representing the Lu family’s face, so Mother gives me a bit more.”
Zhao Ling Lu smiled. “So, how much exactly?”
Her temper was surprisingly good now; she even asked several times. Before, she never asked twice.
“One tael per month, eight sets of clothes a year.” Zhao Yun Lu gritted her teeth and answered.
She was the legitimate eldest daughter!
She had an engagement with the Second Prince!
She was friends with Princess Changning!
She was a well-known noble lady in the capital. Of course, she couldn’t be compared to Zhao Hua.
“Then, for the ten years I spent in the countryside, shouldn’t that be reimbursed to me?”

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Zhao Ling Lu paused, then clearly stated, “At one tael per month, that’s twelve taels a year, one hundred and twenty taels for ten years. Eight sets of clothes a year means eighty sets now owed to me. But I don’t trust Madam Lu’s taste, so let’s convert those eighty sets into silver. I’ll buy them myself and give her a discount—two taels per set. Eighty sets equals one hundred and sixty taels.”
She spoke quickly, leaving Zhao Yun Lu completely stunned until she heard the final tally.
“A total of two hundred and eighty taels.”
“That doesn’t include jewelry or other items. But every year during the New Year and birthdays, gifts are given, right? Let’s convert those to silver too, say twenty taels, to make a round figure—three hundred taels.”
“You, you…” Zhao Yun Lu was so shocked she stumbled over her words. “Where’s the reimbursement? Didn’t you need food and clothes in the countryside?”
Zhao Ling Lu’s gaze chilled.
“The clothes I wore were the hand-me-downs from the three elder cousins. The food I ate was wild vegetables I dug from the fields and mountains. Does that count as spending silver?”
Zhao Yun Lu was furious.
Three hundred taels—why didn’t she just go steal it!
“Second sister, three hundred taels—our family truly can’t afford that. We’re all family, so Mother will give you an allowance in the future. For now, let someone take your measurements and make a few new sets of clothes, okay?”
She still had to coax Zhao Ling Lu to attend the small banquet.
“That’s for the future. For the past, three hundred taels—one tael less isn’t acceptable.”
“Don’t be so unreasonable. It’s not easy for Mother to manage the household. There are so many mouths to feed. If all goes to you, what about the others?”
Zhao Ling Lu looked at the intricately carved red gold bracelet on her wrist.
“How poor can the Lu family be, when you have that gold bracelet? And the broken jewel peony gold hairpin on your head?”
Those two alone were probably worth dozens of taels!
And she was talking about poverty?
Zhao Yun Lu’s expression darkened. She instinctively tugged at her sleeve to cover the bracelet.
“I want the three hundred taels today. Otherwise, I won’t hesitate to ask Prince Jin to help me collect my debt.”
Zhao Yun Lu nearly leapt in anger.
“Second sister! You want to bother Prince Jin with family matters?”
“Why not? He’s my fiancé. He can’t let his future princess be bullied and live in such poverty.” Zhao Ling Lu stated firmly.