Jiang Li stopped there and suddenly looked up at Princess Baoqing.
Princess Baoqing was stunned by this gaze and blinked blankly: “Sister Jiang, do you have something to tell me?”
Jiang Li nodded slightly. Once she had thought it through, she voiced her idea: “I have noticed that you are interested in many things. I wonder if you would be interested in opening a jewelry shop?”
After hearing this, Princess Baoqing began to consider it seriously.
“Up until now, I have mostly experienced the life of ordinary people, but I don’t think I have ever tried opening a jewelry shop.”
In Princess Baoqing’s view, gold, silver, and jewels were too close to her everyday life. Having dealt with these things for too long, she had actually lost interest in them.
Jiang Li thought for a moment, retrieved a night-pearl from the system, and took it out under the cover of her sleeve.
“This is a deep-sea night-pearl. I have two in my possession. I plan to give one to you, Princess, and keep the other as the store’s signature treasure. However, as I am still with the Yin family, I cannot open a shop in my own name. I want to find someone trustworthy who is willing to come forward to run this shop.”
Princess Baoqing had not yet decided whether she wanted to open a shop, but upon hearing Jiang Li’s reasoning and seeing the night-pearl in her hand, she was truly delighted.
Furthermore, Princess Baoqing liked Jiang Li very much and was willing to help her.
“Alright, I am willing. We will open the jewelry shop in my name. Let this night-pearl be Sister Jiang’s investment. When the shop earns money in the future, there will definitely be a share for Sister Jiang.”
Jiang Li could feel Princess Baoqing’s kindness. It seemed she had not only found a backer in the Eldest Princess, but now Princess Baoqing would also become her supporter.
“Thank you, Princess.”
Princess Baoqing waved her hand and said with a smile, “No need to thank me, you are being too polite. Besides, I actually don’t know how to manage a shop. Even if it is in my name, you will still need to handle the matters of the shop, Sister Jiang.”
“That goes without saying. I have many shops under my management with plenty of staff. You may choose whoever you like, Princess. In these coming days, I will be closing down the shops of the Jiang family.”
As Jiang Li said this, both the Eldest Princess and Princess Baoqing understood the implication.
It appeared that Jiang Li wanted to make the Yin family believe that the shops she operated were losing money.
This was exactly how it should be; the Yin family must not be allowed to take advantage.
After hearing this, the Eldest Princess felt even more heartache for Jiang Li.
“There is no need to go through all that trouble. I shall simply make the decision for you to divorce.”
Jiang Li shook her head and refused: “I will make the Yin family agree to my departure. If Your Highness intervenes, I am concerned it might affect your reputation.”
The Yin family members were experts at such things. Jiang Li had been deceived by the Yin family’s good reputation, which was why she had been willing to marry into it.
Even in her previous life, when Jiang Li was sent to the manor, the Yin family did not hold back in framing her, making others believe she deserved to be sent away because she was vicious.
They even made people feel that sending her to the manor was an act of benevolence.
Seeing that Jiang Li was insistent, the Eldest Princess did not persist.
“If the people of the Yin family dare to bully you, there is no need to stay any longer. After you divorce, you may choose from any of the unmarried young gentlemen in the capital, and I will support you.”
Jiang Li felt her face heat up at these words. Counting both her previous life and this one, she had never truly met a man who stirred her heart.
She feared she would never marry again in this life.
Jiang Li shook her head slightly: “I do not wish to remarry.”
The Eldest Princess could understand Jiang Li’s perspective. After all, having experienced such a family as the Yin family, it was not strange to be resistant to remarrying.
However, the Eldest Princess lived a comfortable life herself, had a wonderful relationship with her husband, and Princess Baoqing gave her no cause for concern, so she naturally enjoyed playing matchmaker.
“Very well, you may decide on your own future affairs. But if there is anything I can help with, do not hesitate to speak up.”
Jiang Li nodded in agreement.
Afterward, Jiang Li accompanied Princess Baoqing to see the orchard she had planted, and then she did not stay any longer and left the Princess’s mansion.
She did not take the Emperor’s gifts with her, leaving them at the Princess’s mansion for now, to be handled after her divorce, so as to avoid them being coveted by the Yin family.
Jiang Li did not return to the Jiang family residence, but instead went to see Rendong and instructed her to find a suitable storefront for opening the jewelry shop.
Rendong had already followed Jiang Li’s instructions to close most of the shops. She had originally been very worried about her mistress’s situation, but now that she heard her mistress had a plan, Rendong felt much more at ease.
“Don’t worry, Mistress, this servant will certainly do it well.”
Not long after Jiang Li returned to the Jiang residence, Yin Ranshuang came to find her.
Yin Ranshuang’s injured foot had not yet fully healed, yet she was already plotting how to catch Wei Zizhang’s attention.
Therefore, without further delay, Yin Ranshuang came to find Jiang Li.
Upon seeing Jiang Li, Yin Ranshuang put on an extremely familiar and close appearance: “Sister-in-law, my foot injury made it inconvenient for me these past few days, so I haven’t been able to come and ask if you are settling in well?”
With Yin Ranshuang saying this, Jiang Li could tell that she must be asking for a favor.
It was easy to guess what Yin Ranshuang wanted—it was nothing more than gold, silver, jewelry, or fine fabrics for clothes.
Jiang Li continued to act timid and submissive, intentionally looking away as she answered: “It is quite good, and the servants are very kind.”
She purposely said this to make the Yin family suspicious of these servants.
In her previous life, after Jiang Li married into the Yin family, she treated the household servants with great kindness, just as she had treated the servants of the Jiang family, paying out of her own pocket to give them the best treatment.
However, later on, when she was disowned by the Yin family, those servants not only rushed to distance themselves from her but also conspired with each other to fabricate stories to smear her reputation.
It could only be said that the Yin family’s masters were ungrateful wretches, and the servants were just the same.
Letting the Yin family deal with these servants themselves saved Jiang Li the trouble of doing it personally.
Yin Ranshuang sensed something off in those words; could it be that there were actually servants in the Yin household who dared to give Jiang Li a hard time?
In theory, that shouldn’t be the case.
However, Yin Ranshuang made a mental note of this, though she proceeded to bring up the purpose of her visit.
“We are all family, so I won’t hide it from you, sister-in-law. I know that you aren’t well-off, so I didn’t think about asking you for money. I just want to borrow your jewelry and accessories. You know that I have to go out often to meet Young Master Wei. If I can marry into the Prince An’s mansion, it would be a good thing for the Yin family, and you would benefit from it too, sister-in-law.”
Jiang Li was indifferent to these words. If she had not had the experience of her past life, she might have truly been deceived by Yin Ranshuang’s words.
But now she would not be, and not only would she not be, but she would also divert the trouble elsewhere.
“I—I could have originally lent them to you, Ranshuang. Not to mention lending, giving them to you would be fine too. But—but a few days ago—forget it, it is better not to tell you about these things, lest you worry for me.”
Jiang Li deliberately left her words hanging, leaving Yin Ranshuang to guess.
Seeing Jiang Li act this way, Yin Ranshuang suspected that things were not simple and doubted whether something had happened.
Yin Ranshuang pretended to be anxious: “Sister-in-law, if you have encountered something, remember to tell us. The Yin family is your home, and we are your family.”
Jiang Li lowered her eyes and shed silent tears, saying nothing.
Yin Ranshuang became a little impatient; it was not that she felt sorry for Jiang Li, but rather she did not want to delay any longer, as it was a complete waste of time for her.
Therefore, Yin Ranshuang said indignantly: “Sister-in-law, do not be sad, I will certainly find out who is bullying you!”