How Could You Make Up Such a Lie?

Shangguan Wan'er said with displeasure, "Yes, I am indeed in charge of managing the household, but isn't it because you can't manage it well?"

Madam Shangguan's tears slowly streamed down her face as she choked out:

"I have never managed a household before, so I don't know if I know how to manage one. Actually, it doesn't matter. Just give us ten taels of silver every month."

"Wan'er, the one tael of silver you've given us, mother and daughter, is far too little."

"What? One tael of silver? What can one tael of silver do?"

"Who in charge of the household gives the mistress of the house a tael of silver? Isn't this just Madam Shangguan making things up on purpose?"

The Madam Shangguan spoke up:

"Our lady wouldn't lie about something like this."

Indeed, Miss Shangguan only gives our Madam and Second Miss one tael of silver each month.

Shangguan Wan'er said in a flustered manner, "Nonsense! If I really gave you a tael of silver, where did you get these clothes?"

Just as the nanny was about to speak, she heard Zhou Wanwan raise her hand and say:

"Me! These clothes were rented from me by Madam Shangguan. The whole set only cost one tael of silver, which is a very good deal."

I felt sorry for Madam Shangguan; she couldn't even afford a proper set of clothes.

Shangguan Wan'er's expression changed, and she angrily said, "Zhou Wanwan, what right do you have to come to the Yongning Earl's Manor?"

Zhou Wanwan chuckled and said:

"What do you mean, 'Why did I come to the Estate of the Count of Yongning?'"

"Of course, it was Countess of Yongning who invited me."

Zhou Wanwan hadn't expected the Countess of Yongning to invite her.

Shangguan Wan'er scoffed, "I think it's the Countess of Yongning who wants you to be her son's concubine, isn't it?"

The Countess of Yongning came out from inside, smiling as she took Zhou Wanwan's hand and said:

"Shangguan girl, don't talk nonsense. Zhou Wanwan is my goddaughter now, and I love her very much."

Today I just want to introduce it to everyone.

Everyone was stunned.

The Countess of Yongning said:

"Don't underestimate my goddaughter, she's incredibly capable! Do you know why I returned to the capital?"

It's because my goddaughter said my luck would improve in Beijing. Oh my, she's a fortune teller! And her predictions are incredibly accurate."

Shangguan Wan'er beside her, burst into laughter:

"Countess of Yongning, did you receive a bribe from Zhou Wanwan?"

How could someone make up such a lie? Zhou Wanwan can tell fortunes?

"She's just a bandit. It's a miracle she didn't harm you; why would she tell your fortunes?"

Those around were startled upon hearing the word "bandits" and quickly backed away, exclaiming, "Bandits? No way!"

"I've never seen such a small bandit before. I think if she were a bandit, she'd be quite cute!"

Countess of Yongning snorted coldly:

"What bandits? They just farm a little land on the mountain, how can they be called bandits?"

"If Zhou Wanwan were a bandit, how could she possibly pass the imperial examination?"

The ladies exclaimed in astonishment, "Ah? A six-year-old scholar? That's impossible!"

"You mean this little girl is already a scholar at the age of six?"

Countess of Yongning nodded and said, "Yes! Do you know why she came to the capital? Because she plans to take the imperial examination to become a scholar!"

A man next to me burst out laughing:

"Isn't this just wishful thinking? It's one thing for such a young child to be a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the county-level imperial examination), but he's even planning to take the Juren (a higher-level imperial examination)!"

That's absolutely hilarious, especially since it's a girl.

The lady next to him slapped him across the face and said, "Laughing my ass! He passed the imperial examination at the age of six and became a scholar, while you are sixteen and can't even pass the preliminary examination."

The man coughed and said, "Mother, in front of so many people, you should at least give me some face!"

The lady laughed in exasperation:

"You said your goddaughter can tell fortunes, is that right? Then could you tell me why my son failed the imperial examination?"

He took the imperial examination for even the lowest level, the preliminary scholar, for six years, and failed every single one. I just want to know if he's not mentally sound?

If he's mentally challenged, then I won't let him take the imperial examinations for the lowest level of education anymore.

This was also the wife of a fourth-rank official. Zhou Wanwan coughed and said, "I never offer free fortune telling; I charge a fee."

The woman looked at Zhou Wanwan and asked, "How much?"

The kid next to me laughed loudly:

"Hahaha! Mother, you don't actually believe her nonsense, do you?"

You say she can tell fortunes? You might as well believe I can pass the imperial examination and become a scholar!

The woman said with a dark expression, "How much money do you want? Tell me."

Zhou Wanwan said:

"For 2000 taels of silver, I'll help you figure out what's going on, and I'll also help your son figure out how to pass the imperial examination and become a scholar."

If I fail the exam, I will tell you directly.

The woman nodded and said, "Alright, I trust you."

She took out 2,000 taels of silver.

Shangguan Wan'er, standing nearby, couldn't help but roll her eyes and said, "Only you guys believe her. She's a liar, why don't any of you believe her?"

Countess of Yongning snorted coldly:

"If you don't believe me, fine, no one asked you to. But my goddaughter's fortune-telling skills are truly amazing; everyone in Dongshan Prefecture knows her."

You all know about the drought in Dongshan Prefecture, right? It's not just Dongshan Prefecture Dongshan Prefecture; several surrounding prefectures have been suffering from drought for a long time.

As a result, the salt merchant made a bet with Zhou Wanwan, saying that the prices of grain and salt would definitely rise.

You all know this, right?

The ladies nodded. "During a drought, grain prices naturally rise; everyone knows that!"

"That's nothing special, there's no need to even make a bet."

Madam of Yongning Earl's Manor nodded and said, "But Zhou Wanwan said that the prices of grain and salt are going to drop, and within seven days."

All the ladies in the capital shook their heads. "How could that be? During a drought, grain prices inevitably rise."

Yes, there are no exceptions.

"But Zhou Wanwan won the bet! A few days later, the price of grain indeed dropped by more than half."

"Wow? Such an amazing thing!"

"This is simply impossible! How can something so miraculous happen?"

Countess of Yongning nodded and said:

"That's why I say Zhou Wanwan is very capable."

If you want her to tell your fortune, do it quickly. She charges based on the severity of the situation.

The lady looked at Zhou Wanwan and said, "Miss Wanwan, please let me take a look!"

Zhou Wanwan nodded and said, "It's not convenient here. How about we find a quiet place? I'll take a look for you."

The Countess of Yongning found her a side hall directly. Zhou Wanwan looked at her and said, "Countess, would you like to go out for a moment?"

Countess of Yongning smiled faintly and said, "You child, why are you being so formal with me!"

Zhou Wanwan nodded and said, "Customers have privacy, and I cannot disclose their information."

Countess of Yongning chuckled and said, "Alright, I'll go out now. You'd better give him a good look!"