Chapter 645: Chapter 645: Baili Ni Huang
"What are you looking at?"
The voice of the Princess, tinged with displeasure, emanated from the carriage.
Mu Ling quickly retracted her gaze from the family of eight and respectfully replied, "Reporting to Your Highness, I just happened to see a familiar face."
Familiar? That means acquaintance?
The Princess wasn’t typically a curious person, but today her interest was piqued, especially since the person who shocked Mu Ling so much was someone she had never encountered before.
"Who is it?" came a faint inquiry from inside the carriage.
Mu Ling hesitated and glanced back; the street was crowded, and the familiar figure had long disappeared.
She was somewhat unsure, for how could someone from a rural place like Liu Family Village in Kaiyang County of the Zijing Mansion suddenly appear in the Capital City?
Moreover, she remembered that woman was quite attached to that countryside place, how could she leave easily?
But with the Princess waiting, Mu Ling dared not delay too long. After a moment’s thought, she replied, "A friend from Zijing Mansion. Does Your Highness remember the robust woman from the countryside I mentioned last year?"
The Princess hears many names daily but she has an exceptional memory, trained from a young age, never forgetting a word. Instantly, an impression emerged in her mind.
"Is it the one who sent grass paper to our mansion... Qin Yao?" Although the tone was inquisitive, it was assured.
And that grass paper, worth thousands of silver taels, rarely received by the Princess Mansion in a year, was indeed memorable.
Mu Ling was a bit surprised that her Highness had such an excellent memory and quickly responded, "Indeed, it’s this person. Her husband is a scholar, perhaps preparing in advance for next year’s spring exams in the Capital City."
Since the transaction with Qin Yao that year, they had once crossed paths due to Wang Jin. With official duties piling up these two years, Mu Ling’s information on Qin Yao stayed at their first meeting.
She still didn’t know about the connection between Liu Ji and Gongliang Liao.
Mu Ling found it somewhat miraculous; she had seen the robust woman’s husband before, who seemed to have nothing besides a good-looking face.
Unexpectedly, after two years without contact, he could now enter the Capital City to prepare for the spring exams. Did she misjudge before? Or perhaps he had received guidance from a sage?
Mu Ling mulled over it herself; she’d need to send someone to investigate that robust woman’s family situation again.
Though rejected repeatedly by Qin Yao, Mu Ling still hadn’t given up hope.
If she stayed in that mountain village, it would be one thing, but now she’s in the Capital City, right under Mu Ling’s nose, what does this mean?
It must be fate!
A person capable of both fighting and making money, who also has brains, such a remarkable individual; if she let her go, Mu Ling felt she’d be failing the Princess!
The person inside the carriage seemed aware of her thoughts, the tone tinged with laughter, "Next time someone comes to deliver grass paper, tell them to have their lady boss deliver it herself."
The implication was to see the person personally.
Upon hearing this, not only was Mu Ling unpleased, but she also felt a moment of panic, cautiously reminding, "Your Highness, this person is unruly and may anger you. How about..."
"What, are you afraid I’ll get angry and kill her?" The Princess laughed derisively, "Do I seem like such a petty person to you all?"
Mu Ling hastily said she dared not presume the Princess’s intentions, regretting deeply not covering her mouth half an hour ago.
Why bring up Qin Yao out of the blue? Now that the Princess wants to see her, she’ll have to find a way to trick that woman into the Princess Mansion.
Yes, trick, not invite.
Mu Ling was well aware of her own abilities and didn’t want to antagonize Qin Yao, so coercive and forceful methods were entirely out of consideration.
This way, tricking seems to be the only option left!
Still, Mu Ling held onto a glimmer of hope. People change; maybe Qin Yao might change her mind?
After all, she had opened a shop in the Capital leveraging the Prince’s influence, so she’d better understand how to keep the shop open.
"How are things over at Zijing Mansion?"
The topic suddenly shifted, and the Princess inquired about Fulong Trading Company.
Mu Ling secretly exhaled, giving the reports received the previous day in detail. The master and servant exchanged conversations in the alley for quite a while; nearing noon, the Princess showed no intention of returning home, forcing the female coachman to cautiously remind,
"Your Highness, having stayed out all night after entering the palace, if we don’t return, I’m afraid it’ll be difficult to explain to the Prince Consort. Princess Zhanghua is also waiting for you at the racecourse for archery practice."
The Princess Baili Ni Huang, engrossed in discussing trading with Mu Ling, upon hearing this remark, experienced a drop in emotions, shoulders slumping, unveiling a plump face from the veil, resting eyes shut against the carriage wall, rubbing her temples with a sigh.
The couple of lovable, irritating men at home indeed gave her a headache.
Taking a deep breath as if preparing mentally to face it, the Princess commanded, "Return to the mansion!"
The carriage slowly emerged from the alley, soon blending into a swarm of ordinary carriages, unrecognizable anymore.
...
On the main road of South Market, following the path inward, reaching the end, one could see a parking lot bordered by white lime powder.
Around noon, the nobles of Kyoto, known for their nightly revelries, had just gotten out of bed. Those on the streets were mostly purchasing matrons and stewards from various mansions.
Yet, the parking lot at the end of South Market Street was packed with carriages adorned by the young ladies of various mansions, elegantly parked, while in front of the adjacent two-story shop, long lines had formed.
Each young lady, either donning a sun-shielding floral veiled hat or escorted by maidservants holding umbrellas, orderly queued in the designated lines spontaneously.
The reason simply being today marks the debut of summer items at the Lady’s Box exclusive boutique.
A carefully selected Lady’s Box by the Princess, distributed by Fulong Trading Company, with merely two to three hundred pieces available monthly, routinely out of stock at the shop—with a waiting period of two to three months.
However, it’s different when new arrivals debut; the little shopkeeper at the exclusive shop declared, there are two hundred ready pieces today, first come, first served, no need to reserve. Moreover, the first hundred entering patrons, regardless of purchase decisions, shall receive an afternoon tea invitation, an opportunity to gather on the shop’s second floor for tea with lady friends when idle.
If fortunate, one might even encounter the Princess in person!
"Really? Can the Princess truly come to our shop?"
At a teahouse across from the boutique, Liu Ji, having just ordered drinks and returned to their seat, looked at Qin Yao with surprise.
He knew his wife was engaged in a significant venture and had a shop in the Capital, but he never imagined the boutique was so grand, occupying the entire opposite two-story building, decorated lavishly, obviously invested heavily.
Liu Ji was quietly pleased until hearing news of a possible princess visit, another delightful surprise making it impossible to hold back his smile.
