The news of Prince Yu Fu Nanli being snubbed at the entrance of the Qingcheng shop spread like wildfire, flying through every street and alley of the Capital City overnight.
In the teahouse, the storyteller slapped his gavel, no longer telling tales of the previous dynasty, but the freshly baked story of "Prince Yu rejected at the door, Miss Xue becomes the God of Wealth."
"You didn't see it! Prince Yu's face was as green as if it had been painted with lacquer!"
"If you ask me, this Eldest Miss Xue truly has the ability! She used to chase after Prince Yu, and he wouldn't even pay her any mind. And now? She has become a living God of Wealth herself, and Prince Yu wants to cling to her? Not a chance!"
"Isn't that the truth! Women, they still have to rely on themselves! Look at Eldest Miss Xue; what do you call this? This is the turning of the tides!"
The discussions were boisterous, and accompanied by these words, Fu Nanli's carriage returned to the Prince Yu's Estate in a dejected state amidst the pointing and whispering.
As soon as he stepped into the estate, a slender white figure came to greet him.
Xue Manman had changed into a plain white dress that made her look the most pure and innocent, her eyes were red, and she was holding a bowl of freshly stewed bird's nest.
"Your Highness, you've returned... Please don't take those rumors outside to heart. Older sister, she... she definitely didn't mean it..."
She reached out her hand, wanting to pull on Fu Nanli's sleeve, putting on a weak and helpless posture.
Fu Nanli's footsteps paused, and he swept a gaze over her that was cold enough to drop ice shards.
Xue Manman's hand stiffened in mid-air, and she pulled it back abruptly, frightened by that look, her heart trembling.
She wanted to speak again, but Fu Nanli had already bypassed her and walked straight toward the Study Room.
Xue Manman was filled with unwillingness; she lifted her skirt and followed him inside quickly, placing the bird's nest on the table, her voice carrying a sobbing tone.
"Your Highness, older sister must still be angry with you, which is why she is playing hard to get like this. She still has you in her heart, otherwise, how could she..."
"Playing hard to get?"
Fu Nanli turned around abruptly, looking at her as if she were a fool.
"Xue Manman, do you take this king for a blind man?"
He swept the bird's nest off the table with one hand, and the white jade bowl crashed onto the ground, emitting a harsh shattering sound.
"She used to follow behind this king, her eyes full of admiration. Now, when she looks at this king, her eyes are filled only with calculation and disgust! She truly wants to embarrass this king and trample this king's face under her feet! Do you understand!"
Xue Manman trembled all over from his roar and was thoroughly stunned.
Fu Nanli pointed at her, his chest heaving violently.
"This king wants to be quiet now, don't appear in front of me!"
Unlike the oppressive atmosphere of the Prince Yu's Estate, the backyard of the Dingguo Mansion was currently bustling with activity.
Xue Tingxue was standing in front of a huge table, holding a charcoal pencil, sketching something rapidly on a blueprint.
Liu Fu stood to the side, his forehead covered in sweat, writing furiously in a small notebook.
"Eldest Miss, this 'pre-sale' you mentioned, this humble one has written it down. It means paying a 'deposit' first, and when our new product, the 'Noble Lady's Fragrant Cream', officially goes on sale, this deposit can be used as double the amount of silver?"
"That's right." Xue Tingxue put down her pen, very satisfied with this new concept. "Release the word that for this fragrant cream, the materials are rare flowers picked from the snowy mountains of the Western Regions, which only bloom once a year, so for our first batch, we are limiting it to one hundred boxes."
Bi Tao, who was using the abacus on the side, stopped, her mouth open wide enough to fit an egg.
"Miss! Isn't this... isn't this Empty Hand Catches White Wolf? Our fragrant cream hasn't even been made yet, and you're already collecting the customers' silver?"
"This is called pre-heating." Xue Tingxue picked up her tea and took a sip. "Let them wait; the longer they wait, the more impatient they will become. When it finally goes on sale, they will fight even harder for it."
Liu Fu's eyes lit up as he listened, nodding repeatedly: "Brilliant! Truly brilliant! Eldest Miss, this humble one will go and arrange it right away!"
Just as they were speaking, Duke Dingguo Xue Yuan walked in with long strides from outside.
He had just returned from the morning court and was still wearing his court robes, but there was a hint of a smile on his face.
"I just passed by Vermilion Bird Street and heard people saying that our Tingxue is now the Capital City's number one 'top-tier wealthy beauty'? Making a fortune every day!"
Xue Tingxue smiled and went to greet him: "Father, you are teasing me again."
Xue Yuan waved his hand, the smile on his face fading slightly, his expression becoming serious.
"There is something I need to tell you. In half a month, it will be the Grand Princess's fortieth birthday. The Palace has sent an invitation for you to attend as well."
He paused and added: "This time, not only will all the royal relatives be there, but I hear that the Envoys from Northern Hu and Xiliang will also attend. It will be a grand occasion."
The smile on Xue Tingxue's face did not change, but a cold light flashed in the depths of her eyes.
The Grand Princess's Birthday Banquet.
How could she forget.
In her previous life, it was at this very banquet that Xue Manman bribed a Palace Maid beside the Grand Princess, stole the Grand Princess's personal Belly Band, and secretly stuffed it into her carriage.
After the incident, she was unable to defend herself and was branded with the charges of "jealousy" and "theft," becoming the laughingstock of the entire Capital City, her reputation completely ruined.
"I understand, Father." Xue Tingxue lowered her eyes, hiding the chill in her gaze.
Since she likes acting so much, in this life, she would personally present Xue Manman with an unforgettable "Golden Broom Award."
After Duke Dingguo left, the figure of Qing Feng appeared at the entrance of the backyard.
The follower of the Prince Ning'an's Estate was now as familiar with entering and leaving the Dingguo Mansion as if it were his own home.
"Eldest Miss Xue." Qing Feng bowed and handed over a flat wooden box.
"His Highness said that since the Princess Consort wants to put on a big show, he, as a spectator, must add some firewood to stir the water even more."
Xue Tingxue opened the box; inside were not gold and silver jewels, but a thin list densely packed with names and their respective backgrounds.
The underground, intricate intelligence network of the Capital City.
Xue Tingxue closed the box and smiled at Qing Feng.
"Thank the Prince for me."
She turned around and took an exquisite white porcelain bottle from the inner room, handing it to Qing Feng.
"This, a return gift."
Qing Feng took it and asked curiously: "What is this?"
"Skincare cream for men." Xue Tingxue looked at him and instructed solemnly, "Tell your Prince that his face is the storefront of our Great Xuan, so it must be well-maintained. Don't wait until the day of the Grand Wedding, wind-blown and sun-baked, to become a piece of old cured meat."
The corners of Qing Feng's mouth twitched. Holding the porcelain bottle, he felt his palm burning, and he bowed and retreated.
Bi Tao, who was calculating accounts on the side, heard the whole thing and couldn't help but mutter to herself.
"Miss, this isn't you talking about love at all; you are clearly CPU-ing Prince Ning'an!"
"This is called emotional value." Xue Tingxue sat back at the table calmly and picked up the Account Book. "You don't understand."
The night was deep.
In a Secluded corner of the Prince Yu's Estate, Xue Manman dismissed the servants and came to the back of the rockery alone.
A black-clothed person was already waiting there.
"How did the matter go?" Xue Manman's voice was very low, carrying a hint of urgency.
The black-clothed person let out a hoarse laugh, took a small paper packet from his bosom, and handed it over.
"Rest assured. This is a Strange Poison from the Western Regions, colorless and odorless. Just a touch will cause a person to break out in red rashes all over, with unbearable pain and itching, appearing as if they have gone mad."
He looked at Xue Manman with a sinister smile.
"The Grand Princess's Birthday Banquet is a good opportunity. As long as she makes a fool of herself in front of the Envoys of various countries, she will never be able to hold her head up again in this life."
Xue Manman took the medicinal powder and gripped it tightly in her palm, her knuckles turning white from the force.
She looked at the medicinal powder in her hand, a vengeful light erupting in her eyes.
"Xue Tingxue, this time, I will make you lose your reputation and die without a burial place!"
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