Chapter 22: Let the God of Wealth Take Care of Love

After a family banquet that left no appetite had dispersed, evening was falling, yet the lights in every courtyard remained lit.

In the Yuanshang Courtyard, ever since her return, Pan Wenjun had calmly been filling a box with silver coins. By now, Tan Qing, who attended her and had maintained a composed expression, could no longer remain so calm.

Stepping forward, she whispered, “Miss, I understand your concern for Fourth Miss, but surely this... this is too much.”

Earlier at the banquet, Pan Yulian’s drunken outburst was a clear display to all that she was shamelessly demanding silver. Though such behavior was highly unbecoming, given that the chosen ones were to enter the palace, it was unsurprising that Pan Wenjun had actually taken a box to fill with silver upon returning home.

As Pan Wenjun’s trusted maid, Tan Qing had a general understanding of the finances of Yuanshang Courtyard and Pan Wenjun’s private assets. Watching Pan Wenjun add coins one after another, she could no longer hold back and intervened.

Pan Wenjun’s hand paused slightly but then placed the silver ingot into the box. “She cried right before my eyes; I cannot just ignore that.”

What?! What kind of tears could be worth so much?

Fourth Miss was clearly counting on their stubbornness and soft hearts.

Tan Qing, who cared deeply for Pan Wenjun, could not help but say, “It was just a couple of weak drinks; how could she really get so drunk?”

“Miss, you know Fourth Miss always acts in her own way...”

Since Pan Yulian’s identity was different now, Tan Qing dared not speak as freely as before when criticizing her, and said instead, “Besides, which palace candidate isn’t thoroughly trained in proper conduct before entering the palace?”

“Oh no, could there really be such unseemly and inappropriate candidates as Fourth Miss described?”

Listening to Tan Qing’s words, Pan Wenjun seemed to recall something, even smiling faintly. “I know.”

“You know? Oh, yes, you also went to the palace for the selection.”

Pan Yulian’s outrageous behavior had been so distracting that it was easy to forget that others from the household also entered the palace for the selection. Tan Qing nodded in sudden realization.

Yet, seeing Pan Wenjun’s actions, Tan Qing was puzzled. “If you know, then why...”

Only after placing the last silver note into the box did Pan Wenjun close it.

She looked up at the gloomy-faced Tan Qing. “Because she really did cry.”

Tan Qing was speechless.

Lowering her eyes, Pan Wenjun gently stroked the box holding the silver, lost in thought, perhaps a little moved. “She...”

After those two words, Pan Wenjun shook her head and explained seriously, “If she were marrying out of the estate, at least she would have a dowry to bring.”

“But this time she’s going to the palace. Given our household’s situation... her status won’t be high, and she’ll just be carrying a bundle and leaving hastily.”

“The road ahead is difficult; it’s not something that tears alone can resolve.”

“She’s alone; there’s really not much she can bring. Whatever she wants, if I have it, I must give it to her.”

“After all, whether inside or outside the palace, no one can expect others to struggle just because of empty words.”

“If the silver can be spent in the palace, that’s good. What I fear is that she might not even get the chance to use it.”

Finishing her words, Pan Wenjun looked at Tan Qing and said calmly, “One stroke won’t form two ‘Pan’ characters. If she can live well in the palace, our household won’t suffer. This is more important than any amount of silver. Understand?”

“Yes, I understand,” Tan Qing replied.

Tan Qing lowered her head and knelt again, looking somewhat ashamed. “It is this servant’s ignorance that almost caused trouble for Miss.”

Pan Wenjun reached out to help her up. “I know you only have my best interests at heart; there’s no fault to be blamed.”

With that, Pan Wenjun placed the silver box in Tan Qing’s hands. “It’s late now; keep this safe. Tomorrow morning, you will come with me to the Ninglan Courtyard.”

Tan Qing took the box solemnly and nodded seriously. “Yes.”

...

“Second Sister!”

Early in the morning, Pan Yulian, delighted to see the “God of Wealth” in person, warmly greeted Pan Wenjun.

Pan Wenjun put an arm around Pan Yulian and walked inside with her.

After exchanging a few words and sipping some tea, Pan Yulian’s eyes flicked toward the box in Tan Qing’s hands. Without hesitation, Pan Wenjun took it and smiled, placing the small box before Pan Yulian.

“Your journey to the palace will be difficult. There’s little the household can help with there. Take these small sums with you so your hands are not empty.”

“This...” Pan Yulian blinked, feigning modesty though clearly eager.

Pan Wenjun smiled and pushed the box closer. “Take it; it’s my sincere gift.”

Pan Yulian pretended to wipe away tears, genuinely touched as she accepted the box. “Yulian thanks Second Sister greatly.”

Seeing Pan Yulian’s feigned affection, Pan Wenjun did not lecture as before, only gently tucking loose strands of hair behind Pan Yulian’s ear. “Take care of yourself and be cautious in all things.”

Tsk. Hard to handle.

Within the falsehood was a hint of true feeling.

After a moment, Pan Yulian nodded softly.

Knowing many would visit Ninglan Courtyard today, Pan Wenjun did not linger and quickly left after delivering the gift.

Soon after, Pan Nianyao and Pan Fangyan arrived, followed by polite greetings, tea drinking, money giving, formalities, and money receiving — this routine continued until the Ningfeng Hall.

As evening approached, Pan Yulian returned to Ninglan Courtyard, her face radiant and smiling.

Quickly sending her maids out, she gleefully opened all the boxes and poured out the collected silver.

The Pan household was not a grand noble family, but even a secondary daughter’s dowry was prepared—three hundred taels.

Pan Yulian’s public display was so shameless, acting foolish and desperate for money.

At this moment, such shamelessness had a certain invincible quality.

Seeing how difficult it was to dismiss this shameless Pan Yulian, Master Pan and Lady Lin grudgingly added another 2,700 taels in private, bringing the total to 3,000.

Pan Nianyao and Pan Fangyan each contributed 200 taels.

Truthfully, these two sisters were sincere with their genuine silver gifts.

But looking at the box from Pan Wenjun, Pan Yulian couldn’t help but feel like clinging to her wealthy sister’s leg—an entire 1,000 taels!

Pan Wenjun had a grandfather who managed the salt monopoly; no wonder she was wealthy.

But no one’s money just blows in with the wind; even with wealth, it’s hard to be so generous.

To be so willing to give to a younger half-sister who had to grovel like this.

Holding the silver ingots, Pan Yulian maliciously speculated about the male lead—

Was his close involvement with Second Sister actually motivated by greed for this silver? Was he trying to use this chance to court Lady Lin’s grandfather, the salt official?

After some thought, Pan Yulian dismissed her wild suspicions.

The shameless, attention-grabbing nastiness in the book was aimed at her, the scapegoat; otherwise, the male lead was clearly a clear-headed man.

Now that she was unwilling to get involved, abandoning the palace entry, those messy matters would not fall on her head.

It wasn’t that Pan Yulian thought highly of herself, but the two sisters, Pan Nianyao and Pan Fangyan, probably didn’t meet the male lead’s standards.

Of course, even if they did, Pan Yulian would never willingly stay in the household to take the blame for them.

The male lead would eventually ascend to the throne; her Second Sister’s status would rise accordingly.

Pan Yulian remembered the messy plot but lacked the intelligence to meddle, trusting that her clever Second Sister, who owed the male lead a favor, would handle things naturally.

She had a clear mind: now that she was in the palace, even if she did not cherish past affection, she had to look out for the silver. She would help as much as she could, but would never sacrifice herself to help others.

After counting the silver, Pan Yulian opened the system’s recharge page, her excitement slightly fading.

Four thousand four hundred taels—recharging only cost four yuan.

Tsk tsk, facing the system’s voracious appetite, Pan Yulian didn’t even want to curse.

She flipped through the system and carefully examined the character cards in the Juxian Pavilion.

Having met the emperor once, Pan Yulian now had no intention of competing for favor in the palace; her focus was entirely on self-preservation.

No inanimate object in this world compared to the value a living person could create.

For Pan Yulian, the Pan household had become an alliance of convenience.

If she never gained favor, it was uncertain how much effort Master Pan would still invest in her.

The struggle for the throne was perilous, and the male lead’s ties to the Pan household were inextricable.

Therefore, Pan Yulian needed a more reliable alliance, one bound by life and death, where neither party could betray the other—an alliance that, even if the Pan household fell, could still have influence in court and not drag her down with it.

Tapping on a character card, Pan Yulian read the hint—Yuanjue Temple.

A living person wouldn’t suddenly appear in the Pan household; this was the perfect meeting place.

In high spirits, Pan Yulian finished her washing and went to bed early.

Tomorrow morning, she could go to Yuanjue Temple, ostensibly to fulfill a vow.

After waiting so long, she would finally meet these SSR-level elites before entering the palace.

...