My Sassy Little Princess

n the Chang family household after she gave birth to Chang Shunyuans first born son. Though she was a servant, she rose up, above all the concubines, and with Chang Shunyuans protection, she had been living a safe and comfortable life.

But, Lanying also was homebound, never appearing before society despite being the official Chang madam. Rumors claimed it was because she was very sick or because she died giving childbirth.

”Do you not like the hairpin, mother? ” Jiang Yingyue asked softly as she peered up at her mother. She had witnessed how pleased her mother was with the hairpin, but immediately after, a wave of distraught passed through her. Jiang Yingyue gently took her mothers hand and squeezed it, ”Mother, I think father would also love this hairpin as well, ” she knew her mother well enough. If Xu Suyin wasn thinking about her, she was thinking about Jiang Donghai.

Xu Suyin shook her head as she placed the blush hairpin on the stand. She turned to the stall owner, ”Could we possibly see hairpins that are green in color? ”

The stall owner nodded his head.

Though Xu Suyin and her daughter had a hard time adjusting in the town due to all the rumors, the townsfolk slowly began to accept them after seeing Xu Suyins kindness and Jiang Yingyues naughtiness. At times, there would still be bullying. But, it was nothing Xu Suyin or Jiang Yingyue couldn handle themselves.

The stall owner pulled out a display box of green colored hairpins as Jiang Yingyue stared at them with wide eyes.

Patting her daughters head gently, Xu Suyin leaned down to whisper, ”You keep looking at the hairpins, okay? Mother will be back after taking care of a few things. ”

Jiang Yingyue nodded her head distractedly. She glanced up at the stall owner showing off her cute smile, ”Could I see this hairpin? ” she pointed to a hairpin with green jade in the shape of small flowers.

There was gold embellishment on it, giving the hairpin a luxurious appearance. But, what really caught her eye was the crescent moon shaped white jade overlying the golden green flowers. Pink jade, in the shape of crystals, dangled off the flowers, creating a youthful appearance.

”Wow, ” Jiang Yingyue muttered as she held the hairpin in her hands. Though her name was Yue-er, it was the perfect present for her mother. Especially since Jiang Yingyue heard her mothers sobs a few nights ago when the thought of marriage was brought up.

I will always be mothers beautiful little girl, but, I hope this hairpin reassures you that I will forever be on your side.

Since she learned how to manage the account books, Granny Fang began teaching her how to manage a business. Just before her seventh birthday, her old grandmother had gifted her a couple of coins to invest. And just like the child she is, she invested in the fragrance industry. Every day, whenever she was with her mother collecting herbs for Granny Fang, Jiang Yingyue would collect beautiful, fragrant flowers and sell them to the perfumers in the town.

Though it was just a meager amount, that money was enough for her to buy treats for her family and invest in other modes of income. Her most lucrative source of income was becoming an investor in the transportation industry. The majority of the money she saved in one year was returned to her in a single month! Granny Fang was so proud of her.

”How much is it, Ge? ” though she was growing older every day, her voice was still that of a childs which frustrated her to no end.

Those investors at the transportation meeting all patted her head cutely as she invested in the shipping industry instead of the road networks. Even though they saw her as a child, they clearly were more than greedy to accept payment from a child. If it weren for her grandmother banging on the doors and slapping some of the more obtuse members heads, she wouldve lost out on all that money!

Jiang Yingyue stood on her toes, doing all she could to appear taller.

”This is twelve silver coins, ” the merchant began to sort the hairpins in his box, paying minimal attention to Jiang Yingyue as her lower lip curled out in frustration. He was well aware that the child and the mother couldn afford the pin seeing how theyd dressed, but he thought he would humor them nonetheless.

I thought this hairpin would be worth more!

Jiang Yingyue smiled, nonetheless, as she reached into the small velvet pouch her mother had given her on her eighth birthday. Pulling out twelve silver coins, she smiled at the merchants aghast expression, ”Thank you, Ge! ”

Before she could turn around and leave with the hairpin, the merchants mouth dropped open, ”L-little girl, how could you–?!? ”

Jiang Yingyue smirked as she flicked the hair on her shoulder. While her mother believes she is a fast learner, she knew the truth. When dealing with business, it was all about intuition. The roads were built for a long, long time. Investing in new roads being built wouldn change the total time it took to transport goods. But investing in the shipping industry, especially since they were so close to the seaports, could drastically change how the kingdom viewed transportation.

It was a huge risk to put all her money… but at the same time, she wasn pressed for money like others. If she lost money, it would be okay. She would just have to work harder and harder.

”A-are you the legendary little heiress? ” the merchant asked incredulously.

Ever since the original ship set to sail to the capital returned in a record two weeks time, everyone tried their best to invest in the shipping industry. But, investors were steadfast in keeping their pool only limited to the original investors.

What made the townsfolk so surprised and shocked was that ”Miss Haiyin ” was all but an eight year old young girl. They all thought she was just lucky, but the young girl formed solid income from her investments, and now many madams from prominent families wanted the little miss to join their families.

Jiang Yingyue smiled as she pocketed the hairpin.

Who would have known… the merchant quietly thought as he observed the young girl before him. Just a few years back, she was seen as the traitors daughter. But, knowing Granny Fangs respectable name and Xu Suyins kindness, people just pitied her for being her fathers daughter. The silly Jiang Yingyue… she is… much more smart than wed originally imagined.

”Yue-er! ”

Jiang Yingyue turned with a wide smile as she hugged onto her mothers skirts.

Xu Suyin held onto her daughters cheek gently, ”Were you able to pick anything for yourself, my Yue-er? ”

Jiang Yingyue shook her head, ”I think we need to come back tomorrow, ” she mentioned with a matter of fact. I hope, ” Jiang Yingyue glanced down at the ground sheepishly, ”thats alright for mother. I don want to waste any of your time. ”

When the merchant curiously peered over in her direction after seeing what he thought was rather terrible acting, Jiang Yingyue glared at him.

Xu Suyin smiled and squeezed her daughters soft cheek, not minding how petulant and sticky her daughter was being. She leaned down, ”Thats alright my love. But, ” Xu Suyins eyes sparkled with joy, ”if you promise to give me a kiss on the cheek, I might give you a special surprise. ”

Jiang Yingyue always loved her mothers sweet surprises, but more than anything else, she always loved showering her mother in love. Without a seconds delay, she leaned over, packing as much power as she could into kissing her mothers cheek.

Xu Suyin laughed with glee as she tightly wrapped her arounds around her daughter, relishing in her daughters soft warmth.

”Whats the present, mother?! ” Jiang Yingyue gleefully asked as she tried to see if her mother had anything hidden behind her arms. Her small little actions tickled Xu Suyin, but Jiang Yingyue was more focused on the prize, ”Mother, ” she whined.

”Well, why don you close your eyes? ” Xu Suyin whispered as she slowly watched her daughter close her eyes.

Xu Suyin reached for the paper bag that was hidden in her satchel. The general sounds from the townsfolk going on about their day dampened the sounds of the crinkling. But despite her wanting to hide the surprise, Jiang Yingyues eyes opened immediately as the savory flavors emanated to her nose.

”You were supposed to close your eyes! ” Xu Suyin puffed out as she gently tapped her daughters forehead in frustration.

Jiang Yingyue just hugged her mothers leg tightly, ”Thank you mother!! ” she exclaimed multiple times. She didn hope for her mother to buy the pastries. Especially since her mother distasted her eating too much street food. But considering how kind her mother was being today, she wondered if something special was going to happen.

”Mother, ” Jiang Yingyue softly asked as they were going back home, ”Is something special happening? ” The dresses, the accessories, the pastries… the more she thought about it, the more she realized that something monumental was happening and that her mother was just hiding it from her temporarily.

Xu Suyin shook her head, ”Nothing special is happening. ”

Jiang Yingyue frowned, ”Then… ” she murmured as she thought back to all the celebrations they usually have. It wasn her birthday. Her mothers birthday just passed a few weeks ago, and it certainly wasn her grandmothers birthday since that old woman refused to let them celebrate her special day.

She bit her lower lip, trying to link together all of the things that had been happening since the morning. She was doing well in her studies, so it likely was not related to that. They had already celebrated the victory she had from making those investments, so it wasn related to that. Her fathers death anniversary had passed as well…

Her eyes brightened with joy. Though she had been asking for a cat for months now, she didn think today would be the day, ”Oh, I know! We
e going to be getting–, ”

Her mother stopped in her tracks, pulling Jiang Yingyue back. As Jiang Yingyue collided into her mothers legs, she couldn help but look up with worry. Her mother was usually composed. But now, it was as if fear had struck every point of her body.

”Xu Zihao… ” she muttered as her eyes glanced down to the ground.