Chapter 42 Money Makes the Mare Go

Wei Yanqiao felt as though the anger burning in her chest could ignite the stack of paper on the table. Clenching her fists tightly, she wondered if Xiao Ceyun was truly determined to torment her to death without a shred of mercy.

The more she pondered, the more outraged she became, feeling that her patience had reached its absolute breaking point.

Xiao Ceyun had clearly recognized her high threshold for endurance, which was why he kept relentlessly increasing her workload. And this time, if she actually managed to finish transcribing all these documents, the next time that palace maid came back, the stack of paper she brought would likely be even larger—perhaps even doubled! Let alone the next time, she couldn't even finish this batch.

She separated half of the silver pouch Cheng Youchun had so kindly given her earlier, clutched it firmly, and walked swiftly toward the door. The guard outside blocked her path, his expression solemn and merciless. "My lady, you are not permitted to take a single step beyond this threshold!"

Hearing this, a bitter smile touched the corners of Wei Yanqiao's lips. She had known this would be the outcome! Xiao Ceyun refused to see her, yet expected her to beg him—did he expect her to fly out of here?

Looking straight into the guard's eyes, she spoke in a calm yet resolute tone, "Then could you please relay a message to Eunuch Bi on my behalf? I have an urgent matter and wish to see him."

Without a moment's hesitation, the guard gave a cold and flat refusal, "No!"

Wei Yanqiao offered him half of the silver pouch she had set aside, a flattering smile gracing her face as she coaxed, "Eunuch, could you perhaps do me a small favor then?"

The guard accepted the silver. Its heavy, substantial feel stirred a brief ripple in his heart, but he quickly regained his composure. Frowning with a troubled expression, he replied, "Seeking an audience with Head Eunuch Bi is completely out of the question! Aside from the fact that you are not allowed to leave this place, my lady, even I am not permitted to step away from my post for a single moment."

His meals were brought to him, and he was required to remain stationed here at all times to watch over Wei Yanqiao. Asking him to go find Bi Zifu was tantamount to telling him to walk right into a death trap.

Wei Yanqiao maintained her smile and said, "I merely wish to trouble you, Eunuch, to help me transcribe a few scriptures. Just think, standing here all day must be rather tedious, wouldn't it? Since I won't be running about causing trouble, you can take advantage of this time to help me copy the scriptures. It would help you pass the time while earning a little extra money on the side—why not?"

"Help you transcribe scriptures?" The guard stared at her in utter astonishment. As far as he knew, wasn't Wei Yanqiao the one most passionately devoted to personally copying scriptures? Furthermore, over the past few days, he had watched her bury her head in endless writing without rest. Why on earth was she asking him to help now?

"Yes," Wei Yanqiao replied softly. She gracefully stepped back into the room, carefully scooped up a small portion of the snow-white paper, and returned to the guard's side. Extending it toward him gently, she murmured, "I leave this in your capable hands, Eunuch. Please help me finish transcribing all of these sheets. Three days from now, when the palace maid arrives to collect the completed scriptures, I kindly ask that you ensure they are fully finished."

The guard tightly gripped the heavy pouch of silver, its enticing gleam holding his gaze captive. After a moment of hesitation, he nodded reluctantly. "Very well, since you insist, I suppose I shall do you this favor. But let's get one thing straight: I will only help you transcribe these scriptures. As for anything else, don't even dream about it!"

Wei Yanqiao hurriedly expressed her gratitude, "Then I am deeply indebted to you, Eunuch. A humble person like myself would never dare to presume upon you for anything else."

The guard picked up his brush and immediately buried himself in transcription, while Wei Yanqiao returned to the room and resumed her writing at the table.

As she rapidly penned the scriptures, Wei Yanqiao silently cursed her misfortune. Had she known beforehand that Xiao Ceyun would deliberately torment her in such a manner, she should have made arrangements for Cheng Youchun to find a way to send her funds for emergencies more frequently. At present, the only person she could truly count on was Wei Tianze.

In the depths of her mind, she softly called out to Wei Tianze, "Tianze, please speak with my father and ask him to think of a way to smuggle some money to me."

Wei Tianze responded instantly, "Understood. I will inform my father immediately and ask him to pull strings and arrange for some eunuchs and palace maids to deliver funds to you."

"Tell Father to be cautious."

As long as she had ample funds in her hands, no matter how harsh Xiao Ceyun's demands or how heavily he multiplied the workload, she could always hire others to finish it for her.

Early in the morning, Wei Yanqiao began chanting Buddhist scriptures and paying her respects to the Buddha. Meanwhile, the guard stationed outside the door remained fully absorbed in transcribing the texts.

As long as Wei Yanqiao didn't cause him trouble, he had nothing to worry about and could focus entirely on writing. Previously, standing guard here alone had felt excruciatingly dull. Now, having the task of copying scriptures to pass the time while earning extra silver was an opportunity he couldn't have hoped for. Naturally, he was more than willing to write diligently.

Three peaceful days passed in this manner. When the palace maid returned, Wei Yanqiao had already neatly arranged every single meticulously transcribed scripture and handed them to the maid in person.

Gazing at the thick, heavy stack of scriptures before her, the maid's jaw dropped in disbelief. She asked incredulously, "My lady, did you really finish copying all of these scriptures in just three days?"

Wei Yanqiao nodded. "Yes. Since it was Eunuch Bi's order, I had to complete it so that you could report back without issue."

Clutching the stack of scriptures to deliver her report, the maid curtsied, "This servant will take her leave."

With all her allotted paper finished and none left to write on, Wei Yanqiao was finally able to take a brief rest. Her hands were bruised, aching, and thumping in pain from three solid days of non-stop writing.

Late in the night, Wei Yanqiao suddenly heard a rustling sound near the window. Rushing over to investigate, she was startled to discover a pouch of silver lying on the floor.

Quickly picking up the pouch, she peered out the window, catching only the fleeting shadow of a figure sprinting into the distance.

Wei Yanqiao smiled, clutching the pouch of silver.

To make it easier for someone to deliver funds to her in the future, she simply left the window wide open.

Early the next morning, the palace maid arrived.

This time, the maid was carrying an even greater quantity of white paper than before. Fearing that Wei Yanqiao would fly into a rage and lose her temper, the maid spoke with utmost caution, "My lady, these are the papers you are required to submit in three days."

Looking at the doubled stack of paper, the maid secretly broke into a cold sweat for Wei Yanqiao, wondering if she would possibly manage to complete such a massive workload within three days.

Wei Yanqiao offered a cold smile. She knew Xiao Ceyun was deliberately making things difficult for her, and true to form, he had increased the quota yet again. "Very well, I understand."

Noticing the frigid expression on Wei Yanqiao's face, the maid hurriedly took her leave.

Looking over the papers, Wei Yanqiao realized that relying solely on herself and the minor guard outside would no longer be enough to finish copying these scriptures. She would have to bring more people in to help.

She took out half of the silver pouch, scooped up the entire stack of paper, and carried them out to the guard. "Eunuch, I must trouble you once more this time."

The guard stared at the towering stack of paper, stunned. "We have to copy this much?"