“A herbal medicine shop. She knows how to dig for wild vegetables, so she should know a thing or two about medicinal herbs.”
Madam Heng pondered for a moment before nodding.
“That could work. Lady Wang may come to visit Yihuan today, so I’ll take her there the day after tomorrow.”
Recalling the beating he had taken the previous night, Wei Zhao immediately objected.
“Mother, take her today.”
He had to distract Jiang Yihuan as quickly as possible and erase her memories of last night.
Madam Heng agreed.
Wei Zhilan stepped out from behind the folding screen.
“Mother, are you really going to let her manage one of our shops?”
Seeing the grievance on her daughter’s face, Madam Heng replied,
“You’ll be getting married soon. I’m still counting on your brother to add generously to your dowry.”
A young lady’s dowry came partly from the family estate, while the rest depended on contributions from her parents and brothers.
Wei Zhilan lowered her head miserably.
“Why can’t Brother forgive me? Yes, I bullied him before, but how much trouble has Jiang Yihuan caused him? He still spoils and indulges her anyway. I just can’t understand it!”
Madam Heng patted her hand.
“If you can’t understand it, then stop thinking about it. Mother will find a way to make him contribute more to your dowry.”
When Jiang Yihuan learned that she would be managing a shop, she was completely stunned.
Back when she couldn’t even fill her stomach, she had wanted to work as a helper in a store, but no one would hire her because they thought she was too skinny.
She had never imagined she’d one day become the person managing one.
That very day, Madam Heng took her to the herbal medicine shop.
“Yihuan, managing a shop isn’t difficult. You only need to review the account books. The shopkeeper handles the daily operations.”
Jiang Yihuan nodded enthusiastically.
“Don’t worry, Madam! I’ll study hard!”
The pharmacy had been open for many years and enjoyed a respectable reputation. Madam Heng rarely visited in person.
The shopkeeper was dozing behind the counter while several assistants stood together chatting idly.
Seeing Madam Heng arrive with a young girl, the shopkeeper looked surprised.
Why has Madam come today?
Smiling brightly, Jiang Yihuan said,
“Shopkeeper, Madam brought me to inspect the shop. She wants me to familiarize myself with the medicinal herbs.”
If she was going to manage the pharmacy, she naturally needed to know what herbs they stocked.
Assuming Madam Heng was merely entertaining a little girl, the shopkeeper sneered.
“What does a child know? Medicinal herbs aren’t something just anyone can inspect.”
Jiang Yihuan frowned.
“Madam brought me here. You should treat me politely instead of laughing at me.”
The shopkeeper snorted.
Madam Heng had always treated the servants with courtesy, so he wasn’t afraid of her. The only person he feared was the sharp-tongued Old Madam.
“You’re not even fully grown, yet you want to manage a shop? Isn’t that a little inappropriate?”
Madam Heng’s expression darkened as she prepared to speak.
Before she could, Jiang Yihuan puffed up her cheeks and declared,
“Madam, I’m going to find Wei Zhao. What kind of shop did he give me? The shopkeeper keeps bullying me!”
Zhu Xian immediately answered,
“I’ll take Miss to see Master at once. He’s at the Eastern Palace today.”
Only then did the shopkeeper realize something was terribly wrong.
This little girl was sent by the Eldest Young Master?
But the Eldest Young Master was buried in state affairs every day.
Why would he assign a little girl to manage a pharmacy?
Was this some sort of joke?
The shopkeeper hurried after them, intending to ask for clarification, but Jiang Yihuan stormed off so quickly that he couldn’t catch up.
Now he truly began to panic.
“Madam… this… this has become quite a misunderstanding…”
Madam Heng ignored him with a cold expression and boarded the carriage with Jiang Yihuan.
Resting her chin in her hand, Jiang Yihuan asked curiously,
“Madam, doesn’t the shopkeeper make a living because of the family’s business? Why is he so arrogant? He doesn’t even respect you.”
Madam Heng looked slightly embarrassed.
“He’s an old servant of the Wei family. He followed my father-in-law into battle in the past, so I show him some respect.”
Jiang Yihuan huffed.
“He’s relying on his seniority to act overbearing, and he doesn’t even manage the shop well. I’m not going to be polite to him. I’m telling Wei Zhao everything.”
Madam Heng laughed.
“Calm down. I’ll take you shopping for something you like.”
Jiang Yihuan agreed wholeheartedly.
Their carriage headed toward the West Market, where all sorts of rare and interesting goods could be found.
Suddenly, another carriage came charging toward them.
“Make way! Make way!”
The Wei family’s coachman yanked hard on the reins.
The sudden stop violently jolted the carriage.
Zhu Xian threw herself forward and shielded Jiang Yihuan.
Madam Heng’s maid lacked Zhu Xian’s quick reflexes, and Madam Heng’s head struck the carriage wall with a heavy thud.
Jiang Yihuan lifted the curtain.
Facing them was an extravagantly decorated carriage pulled by two magnificent horses.
The curtain opposite was lifted.
A young man leaned out.
He was handsome and elegantly dressed, his refined features carrying an unmistakable air of arrogance.
Zhu Xian lowered her voice.
“It’s the Third Prince.”
Jiang Yihuan immediately let the curtain fall.
She absolutely could not afford to offend royalty.
But the Third Prince had already caught sight of her.
His eyes lit up.
What a fresh, delicate beauty.
He walked over, lifted her carriage curtain, and smiled.
“My lady, I’m afraid I’ve startled you. Allow me to invite you to a teahouse for a chat.”
Jiang Yihuan poked her head out.
“I’m not going. You should leave.”
The Third Prince merely chuckled.
“You’ve got quite the temper. Interesting.”
He smiled lazily.
“When this prince invites someone, she goes—whether she wants to or not.”
Zhu Xian stepped protectively in front of Jiang Yihuan.
“Your Highness, she is Jiang Qianli’s younger sister… and she belongs to our General.”
The Third Prince became even more intrigued.
Jiang Qianli’s sister? Wei Zhao’s treasured darling?
Now that’s interesting.
He reached out to grab Jiang Yihuan.
“Beauty, your brother and I are friends. Come with me.”
Madam Heng panicked.
“Your Highness, please conduct yourself with dignity.”
The Third Prince laughed mockingly before turning to his guards.
“Surround this carriage!”
His elite guards far outnumbered those accompanying Madam Heng and Zhu Xian.
Besides, laying hands on a prince amounted to the grave crime of disrespecting the imperial family.
Madam Heng’s face turned pale.
Zhu Xian was ready to risk her life.
Suppressing her fear, Jiang Yihuan climbed out of the carriage herself.
“…Your Highness, I’ll go with you. Please don’t make things difficult for them.”
Rather than letting Zhu Xian get beaten first and then being dragged away anyway…
She might as well go willingly.
The Third Prince smiled in satisfaction.
“You know what’s good for you.”
Then he smugly called to Zhu Xian,
“Tell your master that Miss Jiang chose to follow this prince of her own free will.”
Zhu Xian understood.
Jiang Yihuan was buying them time.
She couldn’t ruin that sacrifice through reckless action.
Inside the carriage, the Third Prince openly ogled Jiang Yihuan.
His favorite women were exactly this type—delicate, fragile beauties.
“From now on, you’ll stay with me. Your brother and I are good friends. He’s a real man.”
Jiang Yihuan moved her lips slightly.
“…A Young Master Cui said the same thing.”
And just like you… he’s incredibly annoying.
“The Cui you’re talking about—is it Cui Jingzhi? He’s my cousin. Quite talented. He’s famous for his poetry.”
Jiang Yihuan pouted.
“He can’t write poetry at all. And he’s not very bright either.”
The Third Prince was speechless.
He reached out, intending to caress her cheek.
“You’re beautiful, and amusing too. As long as you’re obedient, I won’t make things difficult for you—”
Suddenly, the carriage came to an abrupt stop, rocking violently twice.
The Third Prince angrily lifted the curtain.
“What kind of driving is this? Are you looking to be flogged?”
From the carriage opposite appeared the smiling face of the Crown Prince.
“So it’s Third Brother. Surely your carriage should yield to mine.”
The Third Prince stiffened.
“…Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
Jiang Yihuan’s ears perked up.
Zhu Xian had once told her that the Crown Prince and Wei Zhao were very close friends.
She immediately threw open the curtain and shouted,
“Your Highness! Save me! I’m Wei Zhao’s person! My name is Jiang Yihuan!”
The Third Prince hadn’t expected her to be so bold.
He shoved her back into the carriage.
The Crown Prince froze for a moment.
Wei Zhao’s person?
And her surname is Jiang?
“Third Brother… are you hiding a young lady in your carriage?”
“…Was she just calling out to me for help?”