Since she intended to use Concubine Liu as a pawn, Su Hua naturally needed to start making preparations.
Within the jade bottle’s spatial realm, the medicinal fields contained every top-tier herb imaginable—but ordinary, commonly used herbs were absent.
However, according to the original Miss Su’s memories, her mother’s dowry included a medicinal herb shop.
Su Hua decided it would be appropriate to inspect the shop as well.
Although at Fuxi Hall, Old Madam Su had said the household was busy and that all the dowry arrangements would be handled when she married, Su Hua figured it was reasonable to check a bit in advance.
So, she left the residence with Yun Shuang in tow.
…
Jinhua Pavilion
Li Mo, who served closely beside Madam Zhu, brought in tea and said, “Madam, just now Concubine Liu went to see the eldest young lady. I’m not sure what they discussed.”
“That fox Liu, thinking she can climb over me just because of her looks and the Prime Minister’s favor, dreaming she can bear a child to cement her position—she’s delusional. Once this round is over, I’ll deal with her,” Madam Zhu said, sipping her tea with disdain.
“She went to that little wretch Su Hua only because she thought I’d suffered a loss, believing that after nearly dying by drowning, Su Hua surviving gives her the audacity to resist me. She hopes to ally with Su Hua—two doomed people, little ants trying to shake a tree!”
Li Mo agreed: “Exactly as you say, Madam. The Prime Minister’s household is under your command. How could they ever overturn your authority? And Liu Concubine, after losing two pregnancies, her body is damaged. Conceiving again would be nearly impossible. Even if she did, with the measures you have in place, she would never survive.”
Madam Zhu’s lips curved in a cold, wicked smile. As the head concubine, Yang and Han had long submitted to her. Her own daughters were inconsequential. Liu Concubine, though favored by the Prime Minister, would never bear a child as long as she didn’t allow it.
At that moment, a maid entered, bowing respectfully: “Madam, the servants outside report that the eldest young lady has left the residence, intending to inspect the shops included in her late mother’s dowry.”
Madam Zhu barely gave it a thought. The account books for those shops were all manipulated; that little brat Su Hua could never make sense of them. Even if she did, what then? She was about to die anyway. Did she really think the dowry would ever truly belong to her? Ridiculous!
…
Su Hua’s inspection made one thing immediately clear: all these shops had effectively become Madam Zhu’s private property.
It was impossible for her to see the shops’ true profits.
Clearly, Zhu had no intention of returning anything. Her excuses about organizing accounts and including the shops in Su Hua’s dowry at the time of marriage were mere delays. Most likely, she was still plotting how to eliminate her.
Yun Shuang quietly reminded her: “Miss, the last shop is just ahead. Jisheng Herb Shop—the first you said you wanted to visit when leaving the residence.”
Looking ahead, Su Hua saw a steady stream of people coming and going.
Yun Shuang continued: “Miss, as I know, this herb shop is the most profitable among the ten in the dowry. It’s one of only three in the capital that can trade directly with the Apothecary King Pavilion.”
Su Hua knew of the Apothecary King Pavilion—an extraordinary power on the Tianlan Continent, a branch of the sacred Yao Wang Hall.
Even the imperial family treated the Apothecary King Hall with great respect. In medicine, it was almost a godlike authority.
The Apothecary King Pavilion in Tianxiao City was only a branch managing all operations in the Cangfeng Empire. For Jisheng Herb Shop to trade directly with it meant enormous profits.
As Su Hua was about to enter the shop, a sudden commotion blocked her.
A shop manager in luxurious brocade, flanked by seven or eight muscular enforcers, was throwing an elderly man dressed in rough hemp clothes out of the store. The old man stumbled, falling hard to the ground.
The manager looked down at him, sneering: “Old man, we’ve bought your herbs. I suggest you be sensible—take your payment and leave. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being rude.”
The old man, weak and aggrieved, said: “You… your purchase price is half of what it should be. I won’t sell at this price. How can you force me?”
The manager’s eyes darkened with malice: “Force you? I make the rules here. Buying your herbs is already a favor. If I didn’t, who in Tianxiao City would dare?”
“You…”
“Shut up,” the manager sneered. “This business is under the Prime Minister’s head concubine. And soon, the Second Young Lady of the household will be Princess of Prince Jing. Old man, what are you? Get lost!”
The elder dared not reply, his gaze dimming as he hunched and walked away in silence.
Su Hua stepped forward, stopping him: “Wait a moment, elder.”
The old man hesitated, looking at her refined appearance, yet dared not speak.
Su Hua glared at the manager: “What audacity! Since when does a servant decide my mother’s dowry?”
The manager froze, startled, frowning: “You… you are the eldest young lady?”
Su Hua stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over the enforcers: “Not stepping back? Do you not want to do your job?”
The men dared not be insolent and dispersed.
The manager stepped forward, offering a forced smile: “Eldest Young Lady…”
“No need,” Su Hua said coldly. “From this moment, you are no longer the manager of Jisheng Herb Shop. Leave.”
“But Eldest Young Lady, I serve Madam. You have no right to dismiss me.”
“Is that so? Then go ask Zhu whether I have the right.”
She ignored him afterward and told Yun Shuang: “Find out how much silver the elder lost, reimburse him, and add ten taels extra as compensation.”
Yun Shuang nodded: “Yes, Miss.”
The elder could hardly believe it. Only when he received the silver did he accept it, even trying to return the extra ten taels.
Yun Shuang stopped him: “This is from our Miss. Keep it. The troublemakers have been expelled. She says Jisheng Herb Shop trades honestly—good herbs will always get fair prices.”
Meanwhile, outside Jisheng Herb Shop, a plain yet wide carriage stopped.
Inside sat a man in pale moon-white brocade. His face was exquisite, a refined elegance, with an air of calm control. Yet his eyes held a coldness impossible to meet directly.
Closing the folding fan in his hand, he lifted the carriage curtain slightly, his gaze fixed precisely on Su Hua.
Su Hua’s perception caught the moment his eyes landed on her—they locked instantly.
Clearly, his appearance was no coincidence.