Abandoning Wife and Selling Daughter? Turning Around to Marry a Powerful Minister and Wiping Out Your Entire Clan! - Chapter 11

A piece of fabric with a damaged pattern and another with a repaired design were overlapped, clearly showcasing Zhang Xiaolan’s skills.

The Buddhist scriptures were written in a slender and strong style. Using the damaged area, she depicted the Buddha preaching under a Bodhi tree, with petals gently falling, as if the teachings of Buddhism were spreading across the world.

The shopkeeper was very pleased and ordered his staff to repair the embroidery according to her design.

Since this was a task assigned by the Emperor, he would naturally complete it well. As for the promises made to Miss Zhang, he also had his own ways to fulfill them without troubling the Emperor.

The shopkeeper was in a great mood, but Zhang Xiaolan was not.

On the way home, she remained silent. Even after returning to the Tao residence, she said nothing and simply went to her room to carefully examine the Emperor’s handwriting.

It wasn’t until dinner that Zhang Xiaolan finally spoke to Madam Tao.

“Nanny, did you already know when the shopkeeper first came to you?”

Madam Tao paused slightly as she picked up a dish.

“When he first delivered it, I didn’t know. I was only puzzled as to why they would send in an embroidery piece that needed repair.” Madam Tao sighed and put down her chopsticks. “It was only after I opened it that I found the note the shopkeeper had left inside.”

Zhang Xiaolan remained silent. “Is the shopkeeper really the Emperor’s man?”

Madam Tao nodded. She hadn’t wanted Zhang Xiaolan to get involved in such matters, but in recent years, plagues of locusts had been frequent. Every year, the Emperor held sacrificial ceremonies, and all the noble ladies with excellent embroidery skills had already been tested—only Xiaolan was left.

The Emperor was not one to blindly believe in ghosts and gods, but he still had to show his devotion.

“Nanny, are you very familiar with that shopkeeper?” Zhang Xiaolan asked, recalling how calm her nanny had been in the tea room.

“Not really, just some acquaintance from the past,” Madam Tao replied, picking up her bowl, but her eyes seemed distant.

Zhang Xiaolan knew her nanny had something on her mind, so she did not press further.

Other people’s intentions did not matter. What mattered was that she could find her daughter.

Thinking of this, Zhang Xiaolan suddenly felt full of energy.

That night, she went to bed early, and the next morning, she got up at dawn.

She planned, sketched, and carefully studied the handwriting on the manuscript.

Time slipped away like fine sand.

Finally, Zhang Xiaolan completed the embroidery.

And by now, her legs had healed.

Early in the morning, she stepped out into the yard and saw her nanny standing there.

The summer heat had passed, and autumn was near. The nanny had started wearing thicker clothes.

Tao Yi Ming was busy that day, but the embroidery workshop seemed to value this work highly, sending a carriage to pick them up.

They arrived once again at the tea room, but this time, only Madam Tao accompanied her.

The shopkeeper took out the embroidery piece and examined it closely.

The room fell silent.

“As expected of Miss Zhang, both her calligraphy and embroidery are truly exceptional.” The shopkeeper was extremely satisfied after inspecting the entire piece.

It was as if the entire room had come to life. The shopkeeper clapped his hands, and the workshop assistants entered one by one.

Each carried a tray, setting them down in order. The lead assistant then took the wooden box and left.

“Miss Zhang, take a look. These are for you.” The shopkeeper gestured toward the trays. “A payment, a piece of news, and a bottle of medicine.”

“Do I have to choose one?” Zhang Xiaolan took a deep breath and looked up at the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper laughed heartily, stroking his beard. “Of course not, they are all yours.”

Zhang Xiaolan immediately took the letter. Her hands trembled as she carefully opened it.

“The person has been found, currently in the Anbei Protectorate.”

She pressed the letter against her chest, closed her eyes, and tears instantly fell.

Two months ago, she had stood at the doorway, watching her daughter being taken away in a carriage. Only heaven knew how much pain she felt!

Her daughter wasn’t just visiting distant relatives—she had been sold to someone else!

But she had been powerless, unable even to take her daughter and flee. She could only beg her to survive.

Her daughter had a stubborn nature, too strong for her own good. Zhang Xiaolan had feared that she would take her own life and disappear forever.

Maybe she was selfish, but what mother would want her child to seek death as an escape?

Her daughter still had a long life ahead of her.

She hadn’t yet stayed up all night reading a book she loved.

She hadn’t yet found a young man she liked and experienced the thrill of riding horses together.

She hadn’t yet decided on the path she wanted to take in life.

She hadn’t yet quarreled with someone she loved, feeling both angry and concerned at the same time.

She hadn’t yet grown old with children and grandchildren around her, still being cherished like a precious gem.

How could she just give up in the face of hardship?

Luckily, her daughter was still safe, and the shopkeeper’s people had found her!

All she wanted now was to hire a carriage and bring her daughter home as soon as possible!

She wiped her tears in a hurry, carefully putting the letter away.

“Forgive my loss of composure, Shopkeeper,” Zhang Xiaolan said, deeply grateful for his promise. This news was the most important thing in the world to her.

She bowed deeply and hastily grabbed the pouch of silver. All she could think about was how to reach her daughter as quickly as possible.

“Miss Zhang, wait.” The shopkeeper stopped her. “My people found your daughter half a month ago.”

Zhang Xiaolan turned back, her eyes gradually filling with joy, making them shine even brighter.

“I calculated the timing, and she should be arriving within the next couple of days,” the shopkeeper said, stroking his beard with a smile.

Madam Tao, upon hearing this, was overjoyed as well.

She held Zhang Xiaolan’s arm tightly. “Ah Ning must have suffered a lot out there. Let’s go buy some things and make sure she’s well taken care of when she returns.”

Zhang Xiaolan bowed deeply to the shopkeeper. “If not for you, I would have spent years searching for her. I have nothing to offer now, but if you ever need my help in the future, I will not hesitate, even at the cost of my life.”

She bowed so deeply that the shopkeeper quickly reached out to help her up.

“I wouldn’t dare accept such a promise. With your embroidery skills, I will surely need your help again in the future,” the shopkeeper said with admiration.

“If you ever need anything, I will do my best without hesitation!” Zhang Xiaolan’s voice was filled with sincerity and determination.

The shopkeeper appreciated her resolve but also shook his head slightly in pity. That Zhou Quan had truly failed to treasure her.

A woman with such a strong spirit would bring fortune to any family she married into.

He wondered—would Miss Zhang ever consider remarrying?

Zhang Xiaolan, filled with joy, bid farewell to the shopkeeper. She and Madam Tao then carried their rewards back home.

Upon opening the pouch, Zhang Xiaolan was surprised by the amount of silver inside.

She called her nanny over, and upon seeing the contents, Madam Tao immediately understood.

“That Shopkeeper Hao is not a stingy man. The extra silver must be from the artwork you gave him last time. The restoration turned out well, and he likely sold it for a good price.”

“This…” Zhang Xiaolan had never experienced such kindness from a stranger before and felt unsure how to respond.

Madam Tao smiled, patted her shoulder, and went to the kitchen, leaving her some space to process everything.

Perhaps because this unexpected kindness overwhelmed her, Zhang Xiaolan remained in a daze even after dinner.

Madam Tao thought she was troubled and tried to comfort her.

“Shopkeeper Hao is a good man. He works for the Emperor but never takes advantage of others…”

“Nanny, I want to buy a house!” Zhang Xiaolan suddenly grabbed Madam Tao’s arm, her eyes shining with newfound determination.

Madam Tao was taken aback and choked on her words, coughing several times.

Zhang Xiaolan quickly gave her water and patted her back. After a while, Madam Tao finally recovered.

“Why do you suddenly want to buy a house?”