Chapter 264 Summer Rain

Qi Yuxuan: "Then does that mean Mother won't go to the academy anymore?"

The eldest princess wasn't so insistent on going to the academy every day. "Let Master Zhuo act as the dean. It'll only be a month or so. He can handle it."

Nowadays, the trend of women studying and learning is gradually gaining popularity. In addition to Yuxiu Academy, two new girls' academies were opened at the beginning of the year, one in the east and one in the west of the city. They are enrolling students and teaching in accordance with the regulations of Yuxiu Academy, and everything is on the right track.

This year is not the year that Yuxiu Academy enrolls students, so the eldest princess is not busy.

“Then I’ll go with my mother.”

Thus, the trip to Beiyuan three days later was finalized. The Crown Prince also sent half a basket of lychees, which surprised the Eldest Princess.

"Didn't they say this year's tribute was only two small baskets? Yesterday it was half a basket and today it's half a basket. Where did you get so many lychees?"

Qi Jun remained calm: "The imperial physician advised that Father and Mother should not consume too many lychees, and Grandmother is old and does not like sweets. Aunt, please rest assured, the other officials and relatives have been allocated enough, so please use them with peace of mind."

The crown prince has left.

Qi Yuxuan happily stepped forward and lifted the cotton cloth covering the basket. Sure enough, it was half a basket of fresh lychees, red and green, with crushed ice.

"Mother, take it to the kitchen in a bit. Let's have lychee ice bowls for lunch!"

Aunt Meng was taken aback. These two masters both loved lychees more than anyone else. An outsider could see things more clearly, but she didn't know what the Crown Prince really meant.

The next day, Princess Chang Le developed a large pimple on her fair cheek because she ate too many lychees.

The princess lay on her dressing table, filled with remorse because of a bright red pimple, and vowed never to eat lychees again.

Lanxin came in at that moment, carrying a letter.

"Princess? What happened?"

She was startled, but when she saw the pimples on the fair and pretty girl's face reflected in the bronze mirror, she burst out laughing.

“Yesterday, your godmother reminded Your Highness and the Princess, but the Princess, relying on her youth, ate half a plate more than Your Highness. No wonder she got feverish acne! Let me take a look.”

She set the letter aside for the moment and carefully examined Qi Yuxuan's face.

"It's not too serious, Princess. Don't worry. Just apply the medicine and it will subside in less than two days. Just remember not to touch it with your hands, no matter how itchy or painful it is."

Qi Yuxuan had hardly ever eaten lychees in her previous life, let alone had any acne. When she woke up this morning and saw her like this, she was shocked. In addition to being shocked, she was also annoyed and sad. The sore was actually in the middle of her cheek. She had seen what other people looked like after it subsided. There was a mark the size of a thumb on it, which looked very ugly.

Although she doesn't value her appearance as much as she does now, it's really not worth ruining her face because of overeating and drinking.

"I never want to eat lychees again!" she muttered, venting her anger on the lychees and also inwardly blaming the Crown Prince for sending so many lychees.

The maids, unaware that she dared to complain about the Crown Prince, simply smiled and said they would make sure to never let lychees appear in front of her again.

"By the way, I saw you come in with something in your hand. What was it?" Qi Yuxuan had been teased and had no choice but to change the subject.

Lan Xin: "It was sent by Miss Zhao. She said you would understand after reading it, and that if you agree with what she said in the letter, please go directly to the land deed shop that she gave me yesterday to discuss it tomorrow."

As Qi Yuxuan listened to her, she unfolded the letter. When she saw that what Zhao Mei had sent was actually the layout plan of the land deed shop from yesterday, along with her cost estimates of manpower, daily expenses, and revenue, her eyes widened slowly.

I just talked to Zhao Mei about some simple matters about opening a shop yesterday, and today she has already prepared and delivered all of this. No wonder the Zhao family has been in business for generations. Under such influence, she is a natural-born businessman.

In addition, Zhao Mei said that she took the time to consult her parents and brother, who confirmed Qi Yuxuan's statement that competitors are not necessarily just rivals, but can also help facilitate business. She expressed her admiration and gratitude.

This was all by accident. Qi Yuxuan smiled and shook her head, carefully looking at the blueprints and estimated ledgers that had been given to her earlier. She didn't finish looking at them until it was almost dark.

The maids were lighting the candlesticks and lanterns in the room. Their footsteps were almost silent on the soft Western Region carpet, and the only sound in the air was the soft clatter of the abacus beads.

"Just as I thought..." Qi Yuxuan murmured, then stood up and, seeing that it was already dark outside, quickly said to Lan Xin:

"Good Lanxin, I'll trouble you to go to the Zhao family in person and tell them that I have no objection to what I wrote in the letter, and that I will meet Miss Zhao at the shop at the beginning of the morning tomorrow."

The next morning, Qi Yuxuan was awakened by the sound of raindrops outside the window.

She looked out the window; the flowers and plants in the courtyard were shrouded in a swirling mist of rain, and countless streams of water cascaded down from the eaves, splashing up a warm, damp spray.

Summer rains are heavy and torrential, coming and going quickly, but unexpectedly, even as I was about to leave, the rain was still pouring down relentlessly.

"Even though it's hot in the middle of summer, please remember not to get caught in the rain. Hot winds and cold are the most uncomfortable. Don't think that the raincoat is inconvenient, just wear it."

After finishing her breakfast, the princess held a cup of ginger tea and casually gave her some instructions.

"I know, Mother. I'll be back soon after I've checked the shop."

The capital city was quieter than usual under the torrential rain. As the carriage traveled along Zhuque Street, the street, which was usually filled with the sounds of vendors hawking their wares at this time of day, was so quiet that only the sound of rain could be heard. Water flowed down the eaves of the shops along the street, and the white foam it stirred up could almost splash onto people's shoulders.

Qi Yuxuan put on her raincoat, and with Bi Sui holding an umbrella for her, she stepped off the carriage, lifting her skirt as she walked.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, she looked up at the other end of the long street.

There stood a tall, black horse, its rider dressed in a straw raincoat, his face hidden under a bamboo hat. Through the torrential rain, Qi Yuxuan could not make out the man's features, but he seemed very familiar.

She must know that person.

The two were about ten feet apart. Qi Yuxuan wanted to get closer to check but couldn't. The rain was too heavy, and if she didn't get into the shop soon, her skirt would probably be soaked through.

Fine, since the other party is just standing there and unwilling to come over, she'll just pretend she didn't see them.

Qi Yuxuan withdrew her gaze, hid under the umbrella, got off the carriage, and quickly walked into the shop next door.

"The princess has arrived!"

Zhao Mei had been so excited these past two days that she hadn't slept much. This morning, she rushed to the shop as soon as it was light, despite the heavy rain. When she saw Qi Yuxuan arrive, she couldn't hide her excitement as she approached her, even though she was reserved.

"You're here so early? Did you get caught in the rain?"

Bi Sui took off the raincoat covering her, and she seemed to catch her breath, feeling relaxed all over. She quickly forgot about the horseman she had just seen.

"No, no, I thought about it all night yesterday and felt that the previous layout was still a bit rough, so I rushed to make another version and improved many parts. This morning I couldn't wait to come and see it in person..." The two walked in as they talked.