Xu Zhi's shop in Beijing had a bumpy road to opening.

The search for a shop was not smooth at first. After finally finding two suitable shops, one of them was for sale only and not for rent, and the price was very high. Xu Zhi gritted her teeth and took out a large sum of money to buy the shop. Only after buying it did she find that the house was in disrepair and had to be demolished and rebuilt.

Xu Di comforted her, saying that it was actually quite good this way. The house belonged to their own family, so they could build it however they wanted and decorate it as they pleased. It was great, though it would just cost more money. Xu Di told Xu Zhi not to worry about the expense, as he had more money to spare if she needed more. She could just come and get as much as she wanted.

The house was under construction for another two months, and then they rushed to renovate it. By then it was June, and the weather was very hot. Xu Zhi spent a lot of money to order a large area of ​​glass, and finally the transparent counter was finished.

This dragged on until August, when everything was finally ready. Next came the preparations for opening the business. At the very least, it had to be before the Mid-Autumn Festival on the 15th of August. During the festival, people would buy snacks and gifts, and this was an opportunity to make money and build a reputation that couldn't be missed.

The marriage between Zhao Sixing and Zhou Junhong was set for October. Xu Shao was extremely busy. Through this marriage, Xu Shao not only obtained a large sum of money from the public funds, but also got some benefits from the Marquis of Yongping. As for Zhao Sixing's biological father, Zhao Ziqi, he even opened the storeroom behind Xu Shao's back and took away many of her previous possessions, especially those famous paintings and calligraphy, rare stones and antiques.

These are all Zhao Ziqi's treasures. Granny Zhou was afraid that if Xu Shao took the things away, her relationship with Zhao Ziqi would become even worse, so she advised her not to take too many. Xu Shao sneered and said, "Most of the things in here were bought with my dowry. With the ten or so taels of silver that the manor gives your young master every month, you think you can bring all these things home? Move them all to my courtyard."

Zhao Ziqi wanted to step forward to stop them, but was blocked by two servants arranged by Xu Shao. Zhao Ziqi felt guilty towards Xu Shao because of his eldest son's marriage, and kept shouting, "Don't take it all, leave me a few things, leave me a few things!"

Xu Shao glanced at Zhao Ziqi, who was jumping up and down on the side, and felt very happy. It was at this moment that she realized that living life openly was such a joyful thing. Filial piety and virtuousness were nothing compared to the pleasure of living freely.

Xu Shao nodded and said to the men carrying the things, "Your young master said he would leave some things for him. You can keep some of the less valuable items. I need to exchange these things for silver for my child's wedding. Also, there's Yan'er. I was short of money when she got married and didn't manage to get her a good dowry. I'll send some silver to my poor Yan'er after I sell all these things."

Xu Shao and her entourage carried the things away. Zhao Ziqi looked at the nearly empty storeroom and then at the now-empty antique shelves, feeling like crying. It was only after Xu Shao left that the maids who had been his concubines came forward. One of them, who was quite favored, approached Zhao Ziqi and whispered, "Young Master, are you just letting Madam take the things away like this?"

Zhao Ziqi glared angrily at the maids who had suddenly appeared and said resentfully, "If you didn't want her to take it, why didn't you stop her? She's already taken her things, and you're only coming out now? Are you all just good for nothing?"

Upon hearing this, the maidservant said reproachfully, "Oh dear, young master, we sisters are no match for Madam. Look at the people she brought with her; they're clearly not to be trifled with. Even if we went up against her, we'd still be beaten away, wouldn't we?"

Zhao Ziqi flicked his sleeves and said, "Since you can't do anything, don't come out and embarrass yourself."

Seeing Zhao Ziqi about to leave, the maid quickly grabbed his sleeve and coaxed him, "Young Master, look at you, why are you so anxious after just a few words? No matter what, isn't Madam still your wife? A woman is supposed to obey her husband after marriage. You are her husband, how can you not control her?"

Zhao Ziqi sneered and said, "This shrew has already ransacked the Marquis's place. What else can I do? Just wait and see. Once our young master gets married, things will get even more lively in this manor. Don't blame me for not warning you. From now on, you'd better keep your tails between your legs and behave yourselves in the manor. Don't take advantage of my arrogance and do not provoke that shrew. None of you are a match for her."

After finishing his speech, Zhao Ziqi walked out with his hands behind his back, feeling utterly frustrated. He desperately needed someone to comfort him. Thinking of the young courtesan he had been intimately involved with at Qingfeng Tower, Zhao Ziqi felt a surge of heat in his heart.

The maids left behind looked at each other in bewilderment. One of them said with lingering fear, "I heard that the eldest young master is going to marry a girl from a military officer's family. Moreover, this girl has practiced martial arts since she was a child and I heard that she has even been to the battlefield."

Another nodded and said, "Girls from military families aren't as well-mannered as girls from families like ours. They're quick to fight at the slightest disagreement. Wouldn't it be a laughingstock if our young master, such a handsome man, were to be with a girl like that?"

The maid who had just spoken to Zhao Ziqi turned around and shouted sternly, "Silence! You are all so audacious, daring to gossip about your master here. Have you no manners at all?"

Seeing the others fall silent in fear, the maid sneered and walked towards the backyard. Once she was out of sight, another maid curled her lip and said contemptuously, "She's just relying on the young master to talk to her a few more times. Look at how arrogant she is, she's completely out of control."

The others glanced in the direction the figure disappeared, then looked at the person who had spoken earlier, but said nothing more, and walked towards the backyard with their heads down.

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