Catching sight of Lin Yulan’s expression inadvertently, Shao Xun was taken aback for a moment before letting out a soft, self-deprecating laugh. He was taking things for granted—she was a woman, so how could she possibly enjoy drinking? Even if this wine went down smoothly, it was still alcohol after all.
“Xiao Qu, do not pour any for your mistress. If the Marchioness does not like it, she does not have to drink it. There is no need to force yourself.”
Lin Yulan froze. A faint trace of aversion had indeed arisen in her heart by reflex, but had he actually noticed it? His words made her feel a strange pang in her chest.
No one had ever told her she didn’t need to force herself if she didn’t like it.
“It is fine, Xiao Qu, pour it. This concubine would like to give it a taste as well.”
In truth, she could not truly say she disliked it.
In her past life, she had lacked the right to speak of liking or disliking things. But now, she did not need to force herself, nor was she compelled to participate in social engagements; having a taste would do no harm.
It was purely a matter of tasting the flavor, without any underlying purpose required.
She was even somewhat eager to experience this kind of feeling.
Shao Xun smiled. “Then just give it a taste. If you do not like it, simply set it aside.”
Lin Yulan nodded gently. “Alright…”
The color of the wine was a pale cyan, clear and pure. A subtle, mild fragrance induced a sense of slight intoxication even before touching the lips. Shao Xun tilted his head back and finished the wine in his cup in one gulp. “Feel free, Marchioness.”
“Alright, Marquis.” Lin Yulan took a gentle sip. It was smooth, soft, and mellow, with an agreeable aroma and a long, lingering finish that invited reflection—quite different from the drinks she had consumed in her previous life.
Lin Yulan was somewhat surprised; it turned out that wine could taste like this, and that it was not entirely repulsive.
Her mood suddenly lightened. Living a second life meant that everything was different after all. Even the wine she disliked the most brought her a pleasant surprise.
“Xiao Qu, pour me another cup.”
Hearing this, Shao Xun immediately looked over. Seeing the light in her eyes and the lighthearted joy between her brows, he felt a bit baffled. Shao Xun felt a burst of emotion inwardly; he truly did not understand. Were women really this fickle?
Lin Yulan smiled amiably. “This concubine finds the taste of this wine rather pleasant and would like another cup. You would not mind, Marquis?”
Shao Xun shook his head and smiled. “This wine does not easily make one drunk. If the Marchioness likes it, drinking a couple more cups will do no harm. By the way, they also have a ‘Hundred-Fruit Brew’ here that is most popular among female guests. In a moment, I will have the waiter bring two bottles for the Marchioness to take back and sample slowly. Perhaps you will like it.”
Lin Yulan broke into a captivating smile. “Then many thanks to you, Marquis!”
Her speech with him had always been gentle and soft, and she had smiled often with a gentle and tranquil demeanor, but her smile at this moment was entirely different from before. It was like bright moonlight suddenly breaking through parted clouds, revealing a clear, bright, and completely unmasked authentic self that made one’s eyes and heart brighten up alongside it.
“There is no need to be formal, Marchioness!”
Shao Xun tilted his head back again and drained his cup. His wife actually looked quite lovely when she smiled.
After the two finished lunch, Shao Xun indeed had the waiter prepare two bottles of Hundred-Fruit Brew to take away. The waiter, smiling merrily, offered a barrage of unsolicited, rainbow-colored praise without charging a cent, complimenting how harmonious the relationship between the Marquis and Marchioness was, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven.
Who would have thought that after marrying, the Marquis would dote on his new bride so much?
No wonder elders in every family always loved to instruct the younger generation by saying, “Once you marry a wife and form a family, you will become sensible!” It seemed there was indeed quite a bit of truth to that.
Neither Shao Xun nor Lin Yulan knew what to say. They feared that anything they said would make the other overthink or feel awkward, so they simply offered a polite smile while suppressing their embarrassment.
As long as one did not feel embarrassed oneself, then it was not true embarrassment!
The two boarded the carriage and returned to the manor together.
Halfway there, they encountered a traffic jam. Lin Yulan lifted a corner of the carriage curtain to look outside. It turned out there were several silk and satin shops along this stretch, and the shopkeepers were likely holding a clearance sale. Countless people were scrambling to buy goods, causing congestion on the road. Coupled with several carriages arriving all at once to pass through, the street had become completely blocked.
Lin Yulan’s heart stirred. She suddenly recalled that in her distant past life, likely during this very year, various types of plain damask, patterned damask, and damasks in shades like onion-yellow, fruit-green, lotus-root, and crimson had unexpectedly become popular in the summer. Sales had exploded to the point where almost every boatload of goods coming from the South was snapped clean, going out of stock almost the moment it arrived at the shops.
Right now, however, these various types of damask were still inconspicuous, and few people sought them out.
If she were to have traveling merchants transport large batches from Jiangnan on her behalf right now to hoard them in bulk and sell them when the time came, she could make several times the profit.
The reason she remembered this so clearly was that the sales of these various damasks and gauzes back then had been so wildly popular and frenzied that even someone like her, who had been burdened with complex family affairs, knew about it.
Since she knew about it, would it not be a pity to miss out for nothing?
When Heaven bestows an opportunity, why not take it?
She had no dowry shops, and the shops of the Marquis’s Manor were not hers to meddle with. Shao Xun likely had a good deal of property in his hands as well, but she had never thought of claiming a share of it.
Her opportunities to earn money were few.
Earning whatever she could was what mattered.
With an extra portion of money in her hands, her future days could be that much better.
After a moment’s thought, Lin Yulan tentatively smiled at Shao Xun. “The business of these silk and satin shops is quite good indeed. Marquis, this concubine also has some capital on hand and would like to try this line of business as well.”
Shao Xun glanced at her in some surprise.
Her eyes were filled with soft brightness, and her expression was upright; she did not look like she was speaking casually.
“You really want to do this?”
“Mhm.”
“Have you done it before?”
“Buying low and selling high—this should not be too difficult, should it…”
So she had never done it before.
Shao Xun disapproved, but since what she meant to mess around with was her own dowry, he had no reason to oppose her either.
He thus kindly reminded her, “Doing business is not as simple as buying low and selling high. Some make a fortune, while others lose everything to bankruptcy. There are far too many intricate tricks to it. Most of those who lose everything to bankruptcy are people who have never done business before and thought of the matter too simply.”
Lin Yulan: “…”
The way Marquis Shao spoke could truly make one unhappy at times.
Shao Xun thought for a moment and felt that he might have spoken a bit too directly. Women were sensitive and fragile in mind, and he feared she might not be able to take it. He coughed to smooth things over. “Of course, such things cannot be generalized across the board; luck is quite important at times as well. If the Marchioness truly wishes to try, it is not impossible either, but it would be best to invest a smaller amount of capital at the beginning to test the waters first.”
Lin Yulan’s heart eased slightly, and she smiled with a nod. “As long as the Marquis does not oppose it, this concubine will give it a try.”
She was making up her mind to try just like that?
Shao Xun felt she was being too casual about it and persuaded her out of goodwill: “The Marchioness might as well consider it more thoroughly and resolve to do it once a suitable opportunity is found. Such things cannot be rushed.”
Lin Yulan’s eyes held a smile. “Many thanks to the Marquis; this concubine will consider it carefully!”
As long as he did not object, then it was settled. She was confident about this matter and did not need to give it further thought.
Shao Xun put his mind at ease. “If the Marchioness needs help with outside matters, just have someone send word. Also, it is best not to let Second Aunt and the others know about this, lest it cause further trouble.”
Lin Yulan agreed wholeheartedly with this point and nodded. “This concubine will be careful.”
Before long, the road cleared, and the carriage moved forward slowly, arriving at the Marquis’s Manor soon after.
Shao Xun went to the outer study to rest on his own, while Lin Yulan returned to Chunhui Court. Bursting with confidence and in high spirits, she began to ponder the arrangements for procuring the goods.