Chapter 57 The bitterness in my heart felt like swallowing a mouthful of extremely bitter medicine.

Chen Pingjin: "..."

This is more than just novel.

She knew about breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner, but why did she feel like she couldn't understand the rest?

Looking at Chen Pingjin, whose brows were furrowed in a deep frown, Li Qin'er instantly understood what was going on.

She smiled and explained, "Your Highness, the traditional snacks I'm referring to are similar to chestnut pastries and purple dragon cakes. The appetizing and refreshing snacks are similar to the spicy crayfish I mentioned this morning. A balanced lunch includes both meat and vegetables, plus rice. If someone prefers noodles or rice vermicelli, that can be substituted. Finally, the essential dinner for weight loss, along with this light and healthy drink, is rich in protein and dietary fiber, similar to goji berry and white fungus soup. Eggs and corn, and vegetable salads are also good sources of protein and dietary fiber."

Shen Pingjin was completely bewildered, because the young master Qin in front of her was using many words she had never heard of before.

There were even some foods that she had never heard of before.

Li Qin'er knew she had said too much at once, and that Shen Pingjin might not understand.

She had no choice but to say again, "Your Highness, I won't talk about the food for now. As for the layout of the Glass Pavilion, just leave it to me. You provide the money and the labor, and I'll provide the ideas. What do you think, Your Highness?"

Shen Pingjin believed in Li Qin'er. Although she couldn't quite understand what Li Qin'er was saying, every word seemed to make sense.

She pondered for a moment, then said, "Alright, I'll just prepare the people and money, and the rest is up to you."

Shen Pingjin watched as Li Qin'er took out the prepared contract and pen, raised her hand and wrote something on it in a flamboyant style, and then handed the contract to Shen Pingjin.

Shen Pingjin took the document. The handwriting on it was somewhat messy, yet somehow familiar. Shen Pingjin felt that the handwriting of the young master Qin was somewhat similar to the autobiography of her mother that she had brought back from her own courtyard when she returned home earlier.

But she soon realized that she might be overthinking things. After all, her mother had passed away many years ago, and the young master Qin in front of her looked to be no more than twenty years old. How could he possibly know her mother?

Shen Pingjin felt that she had really been foolish.

She glanced at the contents of the contract and, after confirming that it only specified the cooperation method and profit sharing between the two of them, quickly wrote down her name.

Li Qin'er said, "Your Highness, shall I keep this contract, or shall I keep it?"

Shen Pingjin thought for a moment, "Young Master Qin, how about this, we each keep one share. If mine or yours goes missing, we can both have a backup plan. What do you think?"

Li Qin'er thought about it and felt that this was reasonable, so she nodded and said, "Okay, then let's do as the Princess says."

After finishing their discussion, Li Qin'er prepared to get up and take her leave.

Shen Pingjin was somewhat surprised, "Young Master Qin, are you leaving?"

Li Qin'er still had things to finish at the Imperial Clothing Shop, but now that she had settled things with Shen Pingjin, she prepared to leave.

He nodded and said, "Your Highness, I have some matters to attend to at home. If we meet again, please write a letter to the Liuli Pavilion. I will likely be there for the next few days."

Shen Pingjin knew that Young Master Qin had his own things to do, so she did not try to stop him.

She nodded solemnly and said, "Alright, in that case, Young Master Qin, we'll meet again next time."

Li Qin'er nodded, got up, and left.

No one knows how much cold sweat she had just broken out in her palms.

Good heavens! When she was saying goodbye, she almost asked Shen Pingjin to deliver the letter to the Imperial Capital Clothing Shop!

Thankfully, she didn't say it.

Li Qin'er breathed a slight sigh of relief.

After bidding farewell to Li Qin'er, Shen Pingjin sat back down on the stool. When she saw the two maids still diligently eating the knife-cut noodles in their bowls, she found it somewhat amusing.

But at the same time, she couldn't help but recall the time she had spent eating knife-cut noodles with her mother.

Her eyes stung with tears. Looking at the half-eaten beef noodles in front of her, she felt she couldn't eat anymore.

Especially just now, seeing the words in that contract reminded her of her mother.

After Nian'an and Nianning finished eating, Chen Pingjin said, "Let's go back to the manor."

Nian An and Nian Ning hesitated, looking at the unfinished noodles in front of Shen Pingjin. "Your Highness, you..."

Shen Pingjin said calmly, "Let's go, we're not eating."

Nian'an and Nian Ning had no choice but to give up.

When Shen Pingjin returned to the manor, it was already getting dark. She lifted her embroidered shoes and was about to step over the threshold when she unexpectedly bumped into Yan Jue, who was walking towards her.

Yan Jue was taken aback. In the dim light, he saw the woman's eyes glistening with moisture in the darkness.

Yan Jue frowned. Had he been bullied again after going out for a while?

He wanted to go forward and comfort him, but when he thought of what the midnight court had told him earlier that night, he stopped in his tracks.

He knew that Shen Pingjin had heard about Miss Wen's affairs at the Imperial Clothing Shop, and today, he happened to be discussing matters with Wen Xicha in the study. He was sitting inside when he heard her voice outside.

He was afraid that Shen Pingjin would misunderstand him and Wen Xicha.

He had been waiting for Shen Pingjin to return so he could explain, but after waiting for so long, she still hadn't come back.

However, when Ye Ting reported to him that Shen Pingjin was waiting outside and learned that it was him and Wen Xicha inside, he showed no reaction at all.

A bitter feeling welled up in Yan Jue's heart.

The bitterness was like medicine; though it was only mild, it made his chest feel as if it were being scratched by a cat.

Even if he explained, Shen Pingjin would probably just tell him that she didn't care.

After all, the only one who truly cared about and loved her was himself.

If that's the case, then even if he goes out and indulges in debauchery, wouldn't Shen Pingjin not care?

Indeed, in the eyes of outsiders, he was always a playboy.

Yan Jue glanced at Shen Pingjin approaching him, hesitated for a moment, and finally decided to turn around and leave.

Just as Shen Pingjin was about to speak, the man in front of her turned around and left, leaving her with a handsome back view.

Chen Pingjin was stunned: "?"

But soon, Shen Pingjin put the matter out of her mind. She was either walking or on her way to walk all day and was already exhausted. She had no time to care about Yan Jue.

She wished she could lie on the soft couch without taking a bath, but the sticky, sweaty feeling on her body was impossible to ignore, so she could only sigh.

She looked at Nian An and Nian Ning and said, "I'll give you a day off tomorrow. You don't need to come with me."

Nian An and Nian Ning were taken aback. "Your Highness, are you feeling unwell?"

Shen Pingjin waved her hand and said, "No, no, I'm just too tired today. I want to stay in bed all day tomorrow."

Nian'an and Nian Ning had been following Shen Pingjin all day, and upon hearing this, they knew that their princess was truly exhausted.

Thinking of this, Nian'an and Nianning obediently replied, "Your servants obey."