Chapter 18: You Won't be Chosen

Jiang Ning was stunned at the child's words.

Although she could write well, calligraphy was a bit of a stretch.

Who would've thought someone would want to spend their money on her painted calligraphy?

Jiang Ning was sure that 80% - 90% chance of this whole thing was little Qian's doing.

'But how?' Was the biggest question that still remained unanswered.

With Old Li's shabby appearance, how much money could his family have?

The silver banknotes in Little Qian's hand must be fake. Surely it must be something little children like to play with. Even though the thought and help were appreciated, how could they trick Concubine Hua into believing it was real? The older lady had been a housekeeper for years. Surely she would see through the lie in an instant.

And sure enough, without waiting for Jiang Ning's response, Concubine Hua laughed, "A thousand pieces of silver? What kind of calligraphy would worth such a high price? Child, did you make this on your own?" 

"You can ask someone to exchange it at any money-keeper outside. If you can't withdraw the silvers, I'll tell them your surname in the future."

"Do you think he's telling the truth?"

Concubine Hua gestured at the maidservant beside her.

The maidservant came over to take the silver banknotes. After looking at them carefully for a long time, "Madam, this... This seems real."

"Impossible!"

Concubine Hua snatched the banknotes and looked at them for a long time. The more she looked at it, the uglier her expression became.

Because she realized that even she could tell that the silver banknotes were not fakes.

In other words, the silver banknotes were indeed authentic.

'Someone really wanted to spend a thousand pieces of silver to buy the Seventh Lady's calligraphy?'

"You believe me now?" Qian smugly said before turning to Jiang Ning, "Auntie, you can just write four words, and I'll deliver your work to them,"

"What... What should I write?" Jiang Ning asked, still perplexed with what was going on.

"Hmm... Just write 'High Mountains' and 'Flowing Water'."

"Oh..." Jiang Ning looked at the silver banknotes in her hand and inspected them silently herself. These silver notes looked quite real. Even Concubine Hua was fooled! 

'But… But how? The last time Old Li and little Qian visited her, they were gobbling her food up like they hadn't eaten for weeks!'

'Could Old Li's family' s job is to make counterfeit banknotes? Is that why he could buy her fish, meat, and rice?'

But even if it was fake, she couldn't let little Qian lose face in front of these people.

"Auntie, go ahead and write." Little Qian held her hand.

"That… I will need a brush and paper," Jiang Ning looked at Concubine Hua and said, "Can I borrow your ledger?"

With no room to argue, Concubine Hua signaled one of her maids to hand the young girl what she asked for.

Concubine Hua could only watch helplessly as Jiang Hua picked up the brush and wrote the words 'High Mountains' and 'Flowing Water' on a yellowed account book. She tore it off and handed it to little Qian.

Concubine Hua, Fifth Lady, and the other servants felt their hearts tremble.

Everybody had seen the Fifth and Sixth Lady practice their calligraphy with a brush from an expert calligrapher. Even then, it took them a long time before they managed to write beautifully.

None of them expected Jiang Ning to have a natural talent in the art of brush stroke.

Little Qian's eyes lit up, "Auntie, you have good handwriting."

"Average, average." Jiang Ning said humbly.

Little Qian stuffed the silver notes into Jiang Ning's hands. "Take this, auntie. One word you wrote is worth a thousand pieces of silver, so these four words should worth four thousand pieces of silver altogether. I'll ask the buyer to make up for the rest of the three thousand pieces!"

Concubine Hua and the others were stunned as they listened.

Jiang Yuan, in particular, looked at the scroll, wondering why it was so valuable.

Holding the paper in his hand, Little Qian looked at Concubine Hua and Jiang Yuan and snorted at them, "You dare to call me dirty and bully my auntie? Just you wait. Auntie, let's go."

"What can a kid like you do?" Jiang Yuan muttered quietly.

But little Qian seemed to hear her anyway because he turned back to look at her. "You're the daughter of the Jiang family. It looks like you're also going to enter the palace to participate in Prince Yu's consort selection, am I wrong?" He asked haughtily.

Jiang Yuan was surprised by the kid's tone, but she didn't deny it, "It has nothing to do with you,"

"It has nothing to do with me, but I can guarantee that you will not be chosen."

"What did you just say?" She shrilled.

"Hmph," he snorted, turning with his nose held high.

Qian ignored her and left the room with Jiang Ning.

After returning to her own courtyard, Jiang Ning returned the silver notes to Qian and said with a smile, "You're so naughty. Despite how you talked like a mature person, you're still a child at heart. You shouldn't lie about money like that. What if you get beaten up?"

"I know Auntie doesn't need money," Qian waved his hand, "Just take this as pocket money. It's getting late. I should go home. Otherwise, Grandpa will scold me if he finds out."