The next morning, Zhou Yu brought Lv Fu to the door.

Gu Nanjiao was taking Lu's mother to look at the shop today and had no time to pay attention to Zhou Yu, but this Miss Jiao followed her around like a little shadow.

Chattering incessantly on the way, Zhou Yu gesticulated wildly as she described the amusing events at the Zhou residence: "Oh dear, you wouldn't believe it! I had just returned home when my aunt's reward arrived, saying I was sweet-talking and charming, and that I should spend more time in the palace accompanying her. Father was overjoyed and specifically instructed the First Madam not to make things difficult for my aunt. And that Zhou Wan, she got kicked by Princess Fuyang and broke a rib. What do you call that? Lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own foot."

Zhou Yu laughed wildly, unable to hide the smugness in his eyes.

Gu Nanjiao was in a hurry and apologized repeatedly: "Third Miss, I'm sorry for today. I have important matters to attend to and cannot accompany you. Please make your own way." After saying that, she pulled Lu's mother away quickly, afraid that Zhou Yu would entangle her in the next second.

"Hey!" Zhou Yu put her hands on her hips and shouted angrily at the departing figure, "Gu Nanjiao, why are you hiding from me? We're in this together. You've escaped this time, but what if Zhou Wan wants to deal with me?"

Lu Fu glanced at Zhou Yu cautiously: "Madam Lu seems to be busy with important matters. Perhaps we should visit her another day."

Zhou Yu waved her hand: "What I need to do, I will finish today." She followed Gu Nanjiao's steps, beckoned to Lv Fu, and impatiently shouted: "Hurry up and keep up."

The streets of the capital were lined with shops, and people were bustling everywhere. The young women and wives of the capital all covered their faces with light veils and dressed in bright and exquisite clothes, just like Gu Nanjiao's current appearance.

However, there were no shops for rent or transfer on the bustling street, so Gu Nanjiao led Lu's mother to the end of the street.

Business was much worse at the end of the street. After searching for a long time, the two finally found a restaurant that was up for sale.

This restaurant has two floors. Upstairs there are private rooms, and downstairs the hall is spacious and beautiful. However, the decoration is somewhat old-fashioned and austere, giving people a depressing atmosphere. No wonder the business is not doing well and it is being sold. With this lifeless decoration style, it is no wonder that no one will come to eat.

Upon inquiring about the price, they learned that the transfer fee for this restaurant was three hundred taels of silver, and the monthly rent was one hundred taels. Madam Lu gasped in shock: "Housing prices in the capital are outrageously expensive."

In ancient times, every inch of land in the capital was incredibly valuable. Even in modern times, the housing prices in provincial capitals and developed cities are dozens of times higher than those in small county towns. In ancient times, the capital was right under the emperor's nose, and every inch of land was built of gold.

Gu Nanjiao tried everything to lower the price, but to no avail. Just as she was about to give up, Zhou Yu suddenly appeared out of nowhere and asked with a grin, "Manager Gu, are you going to rent a restaurant to start a business?"

Gu Nanjiao nodded, looking helplessly at Zhou Yu. She never imagined that one day this high-born young lady would follow her around like a tagalong.

Zhou Yu pointed to the dilapidated restaurant: "Are you going to sell this place?" Before Gu Nanjiao could answer, she suddenly leaned closer: "This is my aunt's property, I can sell it to you at a low price!"

“However…” Zhou Yu smiled mysteriously, “Manager Gu, I want to be your friend.”

Zhou Yu wants to be friends with her?

Regardless of whether it was genuine or not, fortunately Zhou Yu had never harmed her. He was just too arrogant, but after getting to know him, she found that he wasn't as haughty as she thought.

Making friends is a good idea!

"No problem!" Gu Nanjiao agreed readily, which even surprised Zhou Yu.

She suddenly felt that transferring the bottom price to Gu Nanjiao was a bit hasty.

And so, Gu Nanjiao rented the restaurant for a transfer fee of one hundred taels of silver. She always smiled broadly when facing Zhou Yu, completely losing her previous impatience.

It's always better to have more friends than more enemies. Although Zhou Yu is a young lady from the Zhou family and is arrogant and rude, as you get to know her better, you'll find that she's just a big-breasted, brainless pampered young lady, and not a bad person at heart.

She's much better than someone like Zhou Wan, who appears gentle and kind but has a saintly demeanor.

After a month of renovations, Meiweizhai finally opened for business.

That day, Lu's mother was so busy that her feet barely touched the ground, and the smile on her face never stopped.

Whether in management or marketing, Lu's mother handled everything with ease. She finally felt alive again.

Huang Qingqing delivered a flower basket, with the attentive Bai Su following beside her.

Gu Nanjiao found it unbelievable and pulled Huang Qingqing aside, whispering, "What's going on? Didn't you say you were going to stay far away from Bai Su? Why do I keep seeing you two together?"

"Ugh, I'm so annoyed too. My jewelry shop has been so busy lately, and he keeps coming over to help out. I can't get rid of him no matter what I do." Huang Qingqing looked distressed, and her tone became somewhat impatient when she talked about Bai Su.

Huang Qingqing gestured for Bai Su to put down the flower basket she was carrying, and waved to Gu Nanjiao: "I'm going back first. Manager Lü ordered a lot of hairpins from me, saying they're for matching with the Flowing Fairy Dress. I need to go back and finish them."

Bai Su put down the flower basket, then quickly ran to the carriage to retrieve two boxes of congratulatory gifts and handed them to Gu Nanjiao: "These are the opening congratulatory gifts from my young master for your business. Please accept them from Manager Gu."

Gu Nanjiao accepted the gift and smiled gently, "Please thank your young master for me!"

Bai Su agreed and turned to chase after Huang Qingqing, but Huang Qingqing walked very fast and showed no intention of stopping.

Bai Su quickly mounted the carriage and blocked Huang Qingqing's path.

"Manager Huang, I'll take you back!"

Huang Qingqing didn't stand on ceremony and quickly climbed into the carriage.

Gu Nanjiao stared in disbelief at the two figures disappearing into the distance.

She seems to have stumbled upon some juicy gossip; she'll share it with Fourth Sister later.

Not far from the Delicious Restaurant, a luxurious carriage was parked. Zhou Wan angrily lowered the curtain, her eyes filled with a venomous light.

She truly underestimated Gu Nanjiao; she actually managed to get Consort Yue to help her, not only preventing Princess Fuyang from marrying Lu Yanzhao but also shifting the blame onto her. She offered His Majesty a brilliant strategy for flood control and was awarded the title of Third-Rank Lady.

Zhou Wan pressed her chest; the spot where Princess Fuyang had kicked her earlier still ached faintly.

Princess Fuyang's wedding is fast approaching, and the Crown Prince is annoyed that she messed things up. He either ignores her or makes sarcastic remarks when he sees her.

She originally intended to show her loyalty by bringing Lu Yanzhao and Princess Fuyang to the Crown Prince's camp, but unexpectedly she pushed Princess Fuyang to the Zhou family instead. Now Chu Luoxun had to doubt Zhou Wan's sincerity.

"Go to Princess Fuyang's residence!" Zhou Wan coldly ordered Qingci.

Regardless of the circumstances, Princess Fuyang cannot marry into the Zhou family. Otherwise, the Crown Prince will completely dislike her, the Zhou family will break off relations with her, and she will have no support.

...

As the wedding date approached, Princess Fuyang flew into a rage and smashed almost everything in the mansion.

"Princess, please don't fall. If His Majesty finds out, he might think you're defying the imperial decree and dissatisfied with his bestowal of marriage. For your health, please rest," the nanny beside Princess Fuyang kept advising.

Princess Fuyang was unwilling to accept this, her chest heaving with anger, her delicate face filled with frost.

"I'm just unhappy. Why did my brother bestow my marriage upon her nephew as soon as Consort Yue arrived? He clearly knew that the person I wanted to marry was Lu Yanzhao. When he brought me from the Northern Kingdom, my brother promised that he would bestow a marriage upon whoever I took a fancy to. I never expected him to go back on his word."

The nanny was so frightened that she quickly covered Princess Fuyang's mouth: "Princess, be careful what you say!"