Downstairs, Yun Zhiyue sat behind the counter listening to Qi Yanqing report the day’s accounts.
Suddenly, a servant came running over in a panic. “This is bad, this is bad, Shopkeeper! Someone in the private room upstairs is making a scene and demanding to see you!”
Hearing this, both of them paused. Yun Zhiyue turned toward him. “What’s gotten you so flustered?”
The servant wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Miss, the two young ladies in the upstairs private room say these phoenix claws are filthy things and unfit to eat. They insist on seeing the shopkeeper.”
Yun Zhiyue’s expression remained calm as she said lightly, “Very well. Lead the way.”
Qi Yanqing thought for a moment before following after her.
The moment Yun Zhiyue entered the private room, the two women inside were both startled.
Li Wanqing spoke first. “Elder Sister, why are you here? Ever since you left that day, Wan’er thought I would never see you again.”
“You have no idea how much Father and Mother miss you. Ah, I really shouldn’t be saying this. But seeing you again after so long, Wan’er simply couldn’t help herself.”
Yun Zhiyue frowned. “If you know you talk too much, then keep your mouth shut.”
Li Wanqing choked on her words, secretly clutching her handkerchief tighter.
The woman beside her gave a cold snort, her eyes full of disdain. “What is a fake like you doing here?”
Yun Zhiyue looked at her, a memory surfacing in her mind.
Ruan Jiaojiao—the legitimate second daughter of the Minister of Personnel.
Her father held the rank of a second-grade official.
Her elder sister was Consort Li of the imperial harem.
And she had been the original owner’s sworn enemy.
Every time the two met at banquets, they would inevitably exchange sarcastic barbs.
Yun Zhiyue withdrew her gaze. “Weren’t you looking for the shopkeeper? The shopkeeper isn’t here. If you have something to say, you can say it to me.”
As though she had heard the funniest joke in the world, Ruan Jiaojiao burst into laughter, her eyes dripping with mockery. “What status do you have to deserve speaking with me? Don’t tell me you still think you’re some noble young lady of a marquis household.”
“Don’t forget, you’re nothing more than the lowly daughter of a merchant now.”
Even the maid beside her covered her mouth and laughed quietly.
Yun Zhiyue remained expressionless, as though the ridicule had nothing to do with her. “I am the owner of Jade Delicacies Tea House. So if there’s a problem, speak.”
Li Wanqing looked shocked. “Sister, so you’re the one selling chicken claws here? How could you degrade yourself like this? Chicken feet are filthy things. How can they possibly be served as food? Could it be that after leaving the marquis household, you lost your mind as well?”
Ruan Jiaojiao’s face darkened instantly. “You shameless impostor! Your heart is truly black. Using filthy scraps like this to do business? Just you wait—I’ll have someone shut this teahouse down!”
Yun Zhiyue glanced at them indifferently before suddenly laughing.
Seeing that she could still laugh, Ruan Jiaojiao felt irritated. “What are you laughing at?”
Li Wanqing looked puzzled. “Has Sister gone mad?”
Yun Zhiyue replied, “I’m laughing because the two of you seem even more noble than the Third Princess.”
Ruan Jiaojiao frowned. “What nonsense are you spouting? When did I ever say I was more noble than the Third Princess? Don’t slander me!”
Yun Zhiyue turned and sat down leisurely. “On opening day, the Third Princess personally came to Jade Delicacies Tea House for tea. She even praised the phoenix claws as a delicacy beyond compare. Yet when it comes to you two, they suddenly become filthy things unfit for the table.”
“What? The Third Princess can eat them, but you can’t?”
“Isn’t that just another way of saying you’re more noble than the Third Princess?”
Ruan Jiaojiao froze, panic flashing through her eyes. “Is what you said true?”
Li Wanqing covered her mouth and laughed mockingly. “Sister, the Third Princess is a golden branch and jade leaf. Why would she personally come to a tiny teahouse like yours for tea?”
“Don’t exaggerate just to scare Jiaojiao.”
That was right.
Who was the Third Princess? She was the legitimate daughter of the Empress herself, exalted and noble. Why would she visit such a small teahouse?
This wretch actually dared to bluff her?
Ruan Jiaojiao flew into a rage and raised her hand high to slap Yun Zhiyue. “You bitch! How dare you lie to me? You’re asking for it!”
Just as the slap was about to land, Yun Zhiyue swiftly pulled Li Wanqing in front of her.
Smack!
A sharp sound rang out.
“Ah!” Li Wanqing cried out in pain, her eyes instantly reddening. “Sister, why would you treat Wan’er like this?”
Seeing that she hadn’t managed to hit Yun Zhiyue, Ruan Jiaojiao grew even more annoyed and shoved Li Wanqing aside. “Move! Don’t block me!”
Li Wanqing covered her cheek as she stumbled aside, a vicious glint flashing through her lowered eyes.
Damn them all. Every single one of these bitches.
As Ruan Jiaojiao raised her hand again, Yun Zhiyue calmly took out a palace token and toyed with it in her hand.
“That day, the Third Princess gave me this token. I was just thinking of entering the palace tomorrow to deliver some food to her. I wonder whether today’s remarks of yours might reach her ears.”
The moment Ruan Jiaojiao saw the token in her hand, her pupils contracted sharply. Her raised hand froze midair.
Wasn’t that the Third Princess’s palace token?
Could everything she said actually be true?
Every imperial prince and princess of status possessed a personal palace token that allowed free entry into the palace.
Li Wanqing refused to believe it, resentment filling her eyes. “Who knows where Sister picked up that worthless token? And yet you dare falsely invoke the Third Princess’s name. If word reaches her ears, do you know what crime you’d be committing?”
Yun Zhiyue tilted her head at her, amusement dancing in her eyes. “Oh? Then tell me—do you think I know whether I’m guilty or not?”
What an idiot.
Ruan Jiaojiao could no longer stand listening. Grinding her teeth, she snapped, “Shut up. That token is real.”
Li Wanqing stared in shock. “How is that possible?”
How could Yun Zhiyue know the Third Princess?
After leaving the marquis household, wasn’t she just the lowly daughter of a merchant?
Shouldn’t she have been despised by everyone? Shouldn’t she have regretted it and begged to come back?
But Ruan Jiaojiao was thinking far ahead.
Though she hated Yun Zhiyue, she also knew she couldn’t afford to offend the Third Princess. If today’s words truly reached the princess, who knew whether the princess would take offense?
And offending the Third Princess would bring no benefits to her family.
After weighing everything carefully, she finally calmed down. “So what exactly do you want?”
“I don’t want much. But if you want to settle things peacefully, that depends on your sincerity.” Yun Zhiyue played with the token casually, sounding absentminded.
“A’Lu, bring the silver.”
The maid beside her immediately untied a pouch from her waist and handed it over.
Ruan Jiaojiao took it and tossed the heavy bag of silver toward Yun Zhiyue. “Is this enough?”
“Yes. Then many thanks to Miss Ruan.” Yun Zhiyue weighed the pouch in her hand, looking very satisfied.
The money of rich people really was easy to earn.
As expected, power reigned supreme.
Seeing her smug expression, Ruan Jiaojiao felt utterly stifled. “Let’s go.”
Li Wanqing remained unwilling to let things end like this. Her eyes locked tightly onto Yun Zhiyue, as though trying to see through her completely. “Sister truly is capable.”
Yun Zhiyue lifted her chin slightly. “Thank you for the compliment.”
Outside the private room—
Seeing that the matter had been resolved, Qi Yanqing withdrew his gaze and headed downstairs.
It seemed his employer was very skilled at borrowing power to her advantage.
“Mother, I want to build a workshop at the estate to dry lemon slices. Once dried, they can also be brewed in water to drink.”
“Good, good, good. Whatever ideas Yue’er has, Mother supports them all. But leave the work to your father—otherwise he’ll spend all day doing nothing.”
Madam Yun ladled another bowl of soup for Yun Zhiyue. “Here, Yue’er, drink another bowl. This soup nourishes the blood and restores vitality. It’s especially beneficial for women.”
“Thank you, Mother. You’re the best.” Yun Zhiyue smiled warmly.
[Congratulations, Host! Today’s points gained: +1001]
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[Keep up the good work, Host. I believe in you~]
“Got it.”