"Respectfully seeing off the Thirteenth Princess Consort!" Lady Fucha and Lady Nian had no choice but to bow once more.

Lanqin felt that Nian Shi was getting a little carried away. Perhaps she was trying to prove herself, or perhaps she thought that she could show off in front of Lanqin because of her current position in the Fourth Prince's heart, and even disregard the Thirteenth Prince's wife.

After walking for a while, Lanqin and Zhaojia said, "This Nian woman is very arrogant!"

Lanqin smiled and said, "She's beautiful, so she has a big temper!"

Seeing that Lanqin didn't seem to care at all, Zhaojia chuckled and said, "You're quite carefree."

Si Hua said with dissatisfaction, "That's how our master is. Not long ago, he even handed over all the power of the steward."

Zhao Jia said, "I heard the Thirteenth Prince say before that he only doted on Lanqin. How come the Fourth Prince doesn't care about Nian Shi's current situation?"

Lan Qin said, "Let's not talk about that anymore. Let's talk about opening a hot pot restaurant. We'll get all the ingredients from Fourth Master's estate. We just need to rent a storefront, send some trusted confidants to manage it, and we can sit back and reap the profits."

Zhao Jia had no idea what a "hot pot restaurant" was, and looked at Lan Qin in surprise, saying, "The Thirteenth Master doesn't own any estates. I can only contribute some silver and select two trusted confidants to go there."

“You don’t need to put up any money; I’ll pay for the rent. You provide the staff to manage it. You also need to manage the daily income and expenses of the hot pot restaurant. I’m your investor. At the end of the year, you just need to give me the corresponding rent and dividends. Of course, if we lose money, I won’t ask you to pay me back,” Lan Qin said. She thought for a moment, and decided that instead of subsidizing Zhao Jia’s family, it would be better to find her a way to generate income. This way, Lan Qin not only found a way for Zhao Jia’s family but also a way for herself to make money. Anyway, there were plenty of vegetables, pigs, sheep, and cattle on Fourth Master’s estate, so she also found a way for his tenants to make money.

Zhao Jia stared at Lan Qin, saying incredulously, "Then, I, I've never done business before!"

"Don't worry. It's very simple. You only need three managers to run this hot pot restaurant. The first manager will help you purchase vegetables and meat and manage the kitchen. The second manager will be your accountant, mainly responsible for how much silver is spent and how much is earned each day, and will prepare reports for you. The third manager will be responsible for managing the service staff, namely your cooks, vegetable washers, food runners, and waiters. Your responsibility is to listen to these three people's reports every day, and then count the daily profits. As for the marketing of the hot pot restaurant, I'll take care of that for you." Lan Qin smiled, feeling pleased with her brilliant idea.

"Is it really that simple?" Lady Zhaojia still seemed a little scared. She was, after all, a prince's wife; how could she go out to do business?

Lanqin noticed Zhaojia's hesitation and guessed what she was thinking, so she said, "Wenxiu, I won't force you. Have you thought it through? If you're going to do it, you have to put your heart into it and work hard. That's how our hot pot restaurant can make a fortune and thrive. If you don't mind your current life, then it's fine if you don't do it. I just want to find you a way to make money."

Looking into Lanqin's honest gaze, and reflecting on her own life, Zhaojia realized she had dismissed almost half of the servants in the manor. There were still the thirteenth princess's concubines, and countless elderly, weak, women, and children waiting for her to find a way to survive.

"Lanqin, I don't quite understand what you just said. What's this 'marketing,' 'report,' and 'finance'? Could you explain it more clearly?" Zhao Jia said.

Lanqin smiled and said, "Come, let me tell you slowly."

After seeing Zhao Jia off, Lan Qin realized it was already dark and almost time for dinner. She and Zhao Jia had spent the entire afternoon in the garden, skipping her beloved afternoon nap, and finally managed to persuade Zhao Jia to open a hot pot restaurant together. Zhao Jia promised to select a few trusted confidants when she returned. Lan Qin's tasks were twofold: first, to find a storefront; and second, to discuss the sourcing of ingredients for the hot pot restaurant with the Fourth Prince.

"Sihua, go to the front yard today and see if Fourth Master has returned. Tell him I have something important to discuss with him, something about the Thirteenth Prince's residence," Lanqin said.

"Yes. Master hasn't come for several days, and Nian Shi is getting all cocky," Si Hua said.

"Alright, Sihua, from now on, we need to broaden our horizons and stop focusing on this inner courtyard. Anyway, Nian Shi wouldn't dare to cause trouble in my South Courtyard, so let's deal with her less in the future," Lanqin said.

Si Hua dared not say anything more and immediately went to the front yard to wait for the Fourth Master.

Lanqin then instructed Shuiling to tell the kitchen to prepare a fine dinner in preparation for the Fourth Master's return.

Meanwhile, Si Hua walked towards the front courtyard. As soon as she reached the gate, she saw that Nian Shi's maid, Cui Ling, was already standing there. Clearly, she was also waiting for the Fourth Master.

Si Hua was still angry when she thought about how Nian Shi and Liu Shi had conspired to set a trap for her. Now, seeing Nian Shi pressing down on Lan Qin's face, she was even more furious.

Cui Ling also saw Si Hua arrive, glared at her and said, "Our concubine has something to discuss with the Prince today. Those who have nothing to do should not interrupt at this time."

Si Hua was clearly mocking Lan Qin for giving the household management power to Nian Shi when she dared to say that her master was "someone who had nothing to do".

“Our concubine also has something to discuss with the Prince!” Si Hua said, ignoring Cui Ling’s sarcasm.

"The Prince has visited our concubine for two days in a row. This morning, he even said he was going to see her. I advise some people not to have unrealistic expectations, lest they be even more disappointed!" Cui Ling mocked.

Si Hua was so angry that her face turned red. In all the years that Lan Qin had been favored, they had never suffered such humiliation outside!

Just as she was about to say something more, Cui Ling suddenly brushed past her and ran to Fourth Master and Su Peisheng, who had already turned around the wall and were walking towards her.

"This servant greets Your Highness! Our concubine has prepared some soup today and invites Your Highness to come and have some," Cui Ling said hurriedly.

Fourth Master saw Si Hua standing at the entrance of the front yard, her face seemingly containing a hint of anger.

He nodded to Cuiling and said, "Go back and tell your concubine that I'll go as soon as I'm done with my business. Tell her to save the soup for me."

"Yes! Then this servant will take her leave." Cui Ling was overjoyed, raising an eyebrow at Si Hua, as if to say, 'You'd better go back!'

After Cuiling left, Sihua naturally heard what the Fourth Master said, but she did not leave and remained waiting there.