Ancient Entrepreneurial Blueprint

As the sun gradually set, the light in the main hall of Wanzhi Pavilion became increasingly soft and warm. Jiang Wanzhi and Zongzheng Zhaoran's discussion about "Xianqu Pavilion" became more and more heated. They talked about everything from the location to the decoration style, and from the staffing to the menu of the first batch of tea drinks and desserts. It was as if they were going to finalize the "business plan" on the spot.

"If we're going to make that 'bubble tea,' does Wanzhi already have a plan for how to make the 'pearls'?" Zongzheng Zhaoran asked with great interest. He found himself thoroughly enjoying the feeling of planning the future with her, as if the heavy burdens of his past life had been lightened considerably by her bright eyes and energetic words.

“Well…” Jiang Wanzhi stroked her chin, pretending to think, “Theoretically, it’s fine. I know about tapioca flour, but I need to experiment with the ratio and cooking time repeatedly to ensure the texture is chewy and not hard in the center. I’ll inevitably have to do a few ‘culinary disaster’ experiments in my little kitchen.”

As she spoke, she laughed first, as if she could already see the flour flying everywhere.

Zongzheng Zhaoran vividly imagined her bustling about in the kitchen with her armbands tied, and a gentle smile appeared in his eyes: "If needed, I have a few skilled pastry chefs in my manor who can lend you their skills to help out, so you won't have to work alone."

"Really?" Jiang Wanzhi looked at him in surprise. "Your Highness, your service is just too good! It's practically VIP treatment!"

She clasped her hands together, her eyes shining like stars, "When I succeed, I will definitely give Your Highness a lifetime free super VIP card, so you can eat all the products you want!"

Seeing her swaggering "little boss" demeanor, Zongzheng Zhaoran couldn't help but chuckle and respectfully cupped his hands in thanks: "Then I, the King, will thank Boss Jiang in advance."

"Sure, sure!" Jiang Wanzhi raised her little face proudly, then, as if remembering something, she leaned closer, lowered her voice, and said with a hint of excitement at sharing a secret, "Your Highness, actually I have another 'trump card' that I haven't used yet!"

"Oh?" Zongzheng Zhaoran leaned forward slightly, pretending to listen, and the distance between them closed again. He could smell the faint scent of gardenias in her hair, sweet and pleasant.

"I can also make a kind of dessert called 'cake'!" Jiang Wanzhi said mysteriously. "It's soft and fluffy, sweet and delicious, and you can even draw all sorts of patterns on it with cream. I guarantee it will be unique in the entire Da Shang! It will be our 'Xianquge's' signature product, available in limited quantities, and it's sure to be a huge hit... uh, I mean, extremely popular!"

She stopped herself in time, refraining from using the modern phrase "market explosion," but her excitement was palpable.

"Cake? Cream?" Zongzheng Zhaoran repeated these two unfamiliar words, looking at her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes, his heart filled with novelty and anticipation.

He found himself always extremely interested in the strange and wonderful things she talked about, not just because of the things themselves, but also because of the way she seemed to glow when she described them.

“That sounds very interesting,” he said sincerely, his gaze falling tenderly on her face. “I’m looking forward to your ‘Pavilion of Leisure’ more and more.”

His gaze was so focused and gentle that Jiang Wanzhi's heart, which had just calmed down, started racing again.

She shifted her gaze somewhat awkwardly, pretending to be deeply interested in the orchid by the window, but kept talking: "Right, right! Once the shop is settled, I'll try to make the cake first, and His Highness will taste the first one!"

"Then I'll have to look forward to it," Zongzheng Zhaoran said with a smile, his gaze sweeping over her slightly reddened earlobes, his mood becoming even more delighted.

At this moment, Chun Tao came in to refill the tea, and whispered to Jiang Wanzhi, "Miss, it's getting late, you should take your medicine."

Jiang Wanzhi then realized that they had been chatting for so long, and said somewhat embarrassedly to Zongzheng Zhaoran, "Your Highness, we were so busy talking about me that we forgot the time."

Zongzheng Zhaoran stood up considerately: "It's alright, I've been bothering you for too long. You've just recovered from your illness, you really need to rest well." He paused, then added, "Regarding the shop, I'll send someone to inquire about it when I get back, and I'll let you know as soon as I have any news."

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Jiang Wanzhi also stood up and sincerely thanked him.

Zongzheng Zhaoran looked at her, then suddenly remembered something, took out a small brocade pouch from his sleeve, and handed it to her: "Oh right, this is for you."

"What is this?" Jiang Wanzhi asked curiously as she took the package and opened it. Inside was a small packet of candied fruit wrapped in oil paper, emitting a sweet and sour fruity aroma.

“I know you find the medicine bitter.” Zongzheng Zhaoran said naturally, as if it were just something he did casually. “These are pickled plums and apricots made using the palace method. They’re sweet and sour and can help mask the taste of the medicine.”

Jiang Wanzhi held a candied fruit in her hand, feeling as if something had gently bumped into her heart, and a sweet and sour taste spread through her.

“Your Highness…” She raised her eyes, her gaze shimmering with tears, filled with emotion and a hint of barely perceptible shyness, “You are so thoughtful.”

Zongzheng Zhaoran looked at her slightly reddened eyes and her dependent yet shy gaze, and his heart softened completely.

He almost couldn't resist reaching out to ruffle her hair, but he restrained himself and said gently, "It's nothing. Go and drink your medicine. I'll take my leave now."

"I'll see you out." Jiang Wanzhi carefully put away the brocade pouch and followed him out of the main hall.

The setting sun cast long shadows of the two as they walked side by side along the corridor leading to the mansion gate. A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of flowers and plants from the courtyard. They walked in silence, yet an indescribable tranquility and tacit understanding flowed in the air.

When they reached the second gate, Zongzheng Zhaoran stopped and turned to look at her: "I'll stop here. It's chilly outside. You're feeling better now, so don't catch a cold."

"Mm." Jiang Wanzhi nodded, looking at his handsome features which appeared especially gentle in the sunset. "Your Highness, please take care."

Zongzheng Zhaoran gave her a deep look, as if he wanted to etch her appearance into his heart, before turning and leaving.

Jiang Wanzhi stood at the doorway until his figure disappeared behind the screen wall before letting out a soft sigh. She touched the brocade pouch containing candied fruit in her sleeve, and recalled the pleasant conversation and occasional unintentional touches that afternoon, her cheeks flushing slightly.

"Miss, it's time to go back and take your medicine," Chun Tao whispered a reminder from the side.

"Okay." Jiang Wanzhi turned around and walked briskly towards her courtyard, humming a tuneless little tune. Although the medicine was bitter, her heart felt as sweet as if it had been preserved in candy.

She suddenly felt that in this unfamiliar era, it was truly wonderful to meet someone like King Zhao who could understand her, support her, and even thoughtfully prepare candied fruit for her!

…………

The following morning, Jiang Wanzhi had just finished breakfast and was holding an agricultural book from this era, trying to find out if there were any crops similar to cassava or that could be used as substitutes, when the gatekeeper delivered a rather thick letter.

"Miss, it was sent by someone from Prince Zhao's residence." Chun Tao presented the letter with a mischievous smile on her face.

Jiang Wanzhi's heart skipped a beat. She put down her book and took the letter. The envelope was made of ordinary sandalwood paper with no special markings, but it felt crisp to the touch and carried a faint scent of gardenia ink, just like his own.

She carefully removed the sealing wax, revealing several sheets of paper covered in writing, along with a simple sketch.

The first thing that catches the eye is Zongzheng Zhaoran's elegant and upright handwriting:

Wan Zhi Ru Wu:

Yesterday's conversation was very pleasant, and upon returning home, I sent someone to look for shops near the East Market. There are currently three options available, and their locations, layouts, rents, and pros and cons are roughly listed below for your reference. If you find one that suits your taste, or wish to visit it in person, please let me know.

Also, I've attached a sketch of the layout of 'Xianqu Pavilion' that I drew. I came up with it by chance after hearing your description yesterday. I'm just sharing it for your amusement. If you find it inappropriate, feel free to discard it.

King Zhao's handwritten letter

The letter was concise and clear, just like his usual style, but the efficiency and care revealed between the lines made Jiang Wanzhi's heart feel as soft and comforted as if it had been soaked in warm water.

She couldn't wait to look at the sketch first. The drawing was outlined in fine ink with smooth lines, and although it was only a rough outline, it clearly presented the concept she had described yesterday.

The open-air tea area on the first floor faces the street and features display cases and workbenches. An elegant staircase leads to the second floor, which is cleverly divided into several relatively independent seating areas and bookshelves along the walls. Even the window area is marked with a sign that reads "A soft couch can be set up for a short rest."

There were also a few lines of smaller print next to it, offering some suggestions on lighting and ventilation.

This was definitely not just a "chance encounter," it was clearly the result of careful planning!

Holding the sketch, Jiang Wanzhi could almost see him intently working under the lamp last night, carefully transferring her wildest ideas onto paper. A feeling of being cherished and taken seriously welled up within her.

She took a deep breath, suppressing her excitement, before carefully reading the information about the three shops.

Zongzheng Zhaoran was indeed meticulous in his work. He listed the location, size, structure, current tenants or vacancy, rent, and even the surrounding environment and potential customer base of each shop in detail.

One of the locations is situated at the entrance of a quiet alley next to the main street of Dongshi. It is a peaceful oasis amidst the hustle and bustle, and is the right size. It was originally a bookstore, and its interior layout is quite similar to "Xianquge," although the rent is a bit higher.

The other location is slightly out of the way, but the shop is larger and has a small courtyard, which can be used for future expansion or as a rest area for employees.

The third place is rather mediocre in all aspects.

Jiang Wanzhi compared the options repeatedly and felt that the first one was the most suitable. Although the rent was a bit high, the location was excellent, the initial customer flow was guaranteed, and the "predecessor" was a bookstore, which had a touch of elegance, which coincided with her "reading + tea" positioning.

"Spring Peach, Autumn Chrysanthemum!" she called out, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Get ready, we're going out!"