Splendid Twins

After leaving the hall, Si Yao returned to her room, got the key and went to the storeroom of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. When the housekeeper heard it, he hurried over and said:

"Miss, if you need anything, just let me know and I will personally deliver it to you."

Si Yao looked at the housekeeper and shook his head slightly:

"No need, I'll check my private vault."

The storehouse of the Duke's Mansion is located between the outer courtyard and the inner house, which is convenient for the masters and mistresses in the mansion. The storehouses in the public house are collected together as a whole, and interpersonal relationships are handled according to the gift list. Next to them are the private storehouses of the two young masters and young ladies. The three storehouses are combined together, and they can manage them themselves when they reach adulthood.

As the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo, Zhou Yao received more than a dozen boxes of rewards at palace banquets every year for her talent, not to mention the gifts she received during the holidays. Those gifts belonged to her alone, and no one else was qualified to use them!

Si Yao originally wanted to wave her sleeves and not take a single leaf with her, but when she thought of the cunning Duke Zhenguo's hint to Zhou Yao, she became furious. Zhou Yao might not have understood, but she knew it all!

The old fox doesn't want Zhou Yao to return to the countryside, but he also hopes that Zhou Yao can take the initiative to give in. If he wants harmony in the family, the only way he can do is to let the most obedient one suffer!

Zhou Yao practices dancing in the summer and piano in the winter, and she is also involved in calligraphy, painting and needlework. The Duke of Zhenguo naturally doesn't want to waste such an outstanding daughter!

Considering the deep love between the mother and daughter, Zhou Yao would commit suicide on her own!

Having repaid the kindness of raising her with her life, Si Yao pursed her lips and her face turned cold. The housekeeper saw this and lowered his head.

The housekeeper opened the door of the warehouse, and Si Yao walked to the next room without looking around. Seeing that he was still following her, Si Yao spoke casually:

"Okay, wait outside the door, and then you can report to Madam what I have taken."

The housekeeper naturally knew the direction of the wind in the mansion. Upon hearing this, he lowered his head and said in panic:

"Miss, you are joking."

Si Yao glanced indifferently and turned to go in. There were dozens of mahogany boxes neatly arranged inside. She opened one and found the shoes that Zhou Yao wore when she was a child.

Each pair of shoes was embroidered with silk and glittering jewels. Some had pale pink pearls on the toes, and some had aqua-colored gems sewn on the edges. Si Yao sighed:

A wealthy family!

Next to them were various gorgeous cloaks, almost all of which were made of the finest leather. The fur on them was still fluffy and clean, and it seemed that they were often carefully taken care of.

Si Yao picked one and put it on her arm, then walked over to look at the other boxes, which were all filled with golden jewellery, top-quality kingfisher-inlaid headpieces, and various jade hairpins, all of which were dazzling and colourful.

There were also several boxes of gold ingots, which were the profits Zhou Yao earned from running her own shop and were her personal property.

There was an inconspicuous little box in the corner. Si Yao's eyes lit up. He walked over, picked it up and opened it. Inside were several wood carvings. They looked like they were just made, with interrupted lines and unclear shapes.

Si Yao picked up one of the hairpins and looked at it. A trace of regret flashed in her eyes. Zhou Yao was not allowed to have her own hobbies, just because the Duke said:

A woman’s beauty lies in her tranquility.

The next day, the Duke's wife had all the tools put away, and threw away all the works she had carved all night long. These works had escaped disaster only because she had just learned how to carve them and had thrown them in a corner whenever they broke.

Si Yao inserted the wooden hairpin into her hair. She had collected most of the things in the private storeroom, and the ones left were those that others wanted to use but could not, or dared not, use.

For example: embroidered shoes with gems picked out, musical instruments or screens bestowed by the emperor, and jewelry pendants given to each other by noble ladies.

I think the real daughter doesn't need these. If she needs them, she can earn them with her own abilities!

Si Yao went in empty-handed and came out empty-handed. The housekeeper heard the footsteps and said:

"Miss, are you looking for something?"

"Well, I'll take this hairpin with me. If you ask, just tell me the truth."

Si Yao casually pointed at the wooden hairpin on her head. The housekeeper was stunned when he heard it, and looked at the unusually ordinary wooden hairpin, not knowing what to say!

He naturally knew the young lady's situation. It wasn't the final step yet, so why didn't she take some real money to have something to rely on in the future?

His lips moved, but he finally lowered his voice and said:

"You have always kept your private vault by yourself. No one else knows how many things are in it. I dare to tell you the truth. The Duke has already instructed that if you need anything, just go to his private vault and pick it up."

Si Yao narrowed his eyes when he heard this. It would be a waste if he didn't take advantage of the wool he had already got!

"Then go and have a look. I don't want anything. Just consider it as a memory for the future."

The butler smiled and said, "You are right. I will lead the way for you."

Si Yao was simply stunned by the private vault of the Duke of Zhenguo. It was like a treasure house filled with rare treasures and various locked mahogany boxes. Each type of treasure had a designated area. Paintings and calligraphy, porcelain, weapons, and jewelry were the only ones she could see at a glance, and the rest were sealed and marked aside.

Si Yao went out quickly, and the housekeeper saw that she was still empty-handed, and suddenly felt tired: I can’t take care of you, young man, at all!

Si Yao was in a good mood, as it was a sunny day today, perfect for traveling!

He handed the key to the butler and said calmly:

"Here, return the key to the lady, and ask where my country home is!"

The housekeeper knew he had no right to ask, so he took the key and left.

Si Yao crossed her arms and looked around nonchalantly, at the pavilions, towers, flowers, plants and trees. A deep meaning flashed across her eyes. Even the best treasure land would become ordinary after being eroded by the turbid air, and even the feng shui would begin to reverse...

The butler came over panting with a small bundle in his hand.

"Miss, Madam Zhou told you to go west out of the city and you will find Sijia Village. This is what my wife packed for you, please don't dislike it."

Si Yao looked at the coarse cloth bundle without saying anything, and the housekeeper reminded her:

"You are alone on the road. If you carry anything conspicuous, you will be targeted by bad guys. I hope you are safe."

Si Yao took it with her hand and smiled: "I don't dislike it, I just feel a little sad. You also need to be safe."

The housekeeper stood there and watched Si Yao leave step by step. The girl's thin back was faintly glowing in the sunlight, and her calm and composed look did not seem like someone who had lived a hard life.

He sighed slightly, with an indescribable feeling, he always felt that he could see the lady again!

Si Yao came out of the Duke's Mansion and onto the street. She looked around as she walked, thinking how interesting it would be when Zhou Wan opened her private vault in the future!

Si Yao guessed correctly, when the key was handed to the Duke's wife, Zhou Wan was staring at it eagerly in front of her. Seeing this, the lady gave it to her directly.

At first, Zhou Wan was busy communicating with the Duke's wife. After some time, she took the key to open the private vault, thinking that she could get many treasures.

The result is this!!!

Looking at the guqin with Zhou Yao's name engraved on it, he was so angry that he smashed the guqin on the spot and broke the strings.

When this matter reached the ears of the Duke of Zhenguo, although he said nothing, he was very dissatisfied with Zhou Wan in his heart. This daughter of his did not have a gold destiny but had a gold disease!

She can't even seize the opportunities, and instead of thinking about improving herself, she focuses her mind on mundane things!

Compared with Yaoyao, there is not even a little difference!