035

The business of Zhaiyuelou has stabilized.

Song Jin is about to start working on his own shop.

As her coming-of-age gift, Song Tan gave her many shops, including several from Sheng'an.

The young lady of Sheng'an loves beauty, so jade jewelry is indispensable.

Song Jin put on his cloak and went to Linlangyu.

A jewellery shop that does booming business.

The shopkeeper of Linlangyu was named Ye. He knew Song Jin was coming, so he waited for him at the door.

"I've seen the young lady."

Shopkeeper Ye was very polite and extended his hand to welcome her upstairs.

The account book is ready.

Song Jin turned to the account and started checking the bill.

Ye, the shopkeeper, personally poured her some tea.

Half an hour later, Song Jin closed the account book with swollen eyes.

"I've seen most of the recent cash flow. Please sort out the previous years' cash flow for me in a few days."

“Okay, okay!”

Shopkeeper Ye respectfully escorted her out.

Song Jinwan couldn't refuse and went with him.

There was a commotion outside.

When she went out to take a look, she found that something happened in the restaurant opposite Lin Langyu. There were curious people gathered at the door. Song Jin couldn't see who was inside. After all, it was someone else's family's business, and she didn't have the hobby of snooping.

The noisy voices on the other end became louder and louder.

Qing Wu couldn't help but frown, "How did the owner of this restaurant manage to allow them to make so much noise?"

Song Jin did not comment.

Suddenly, a clear and soft voice came out with a hint of anger.

"How dare you! Since I have promised you something, I will definitely keep my promise!"

This sound...

Song Jin felt vaguely familiar.

Qing Wu stopped and looked at her: "What's wrong, ma'am?"

Through the crowd, Song Jin caught a glimpse of a bright color and a familiar profile flashed by.

Song Jin recognized her as the eldest princess Xu Li'er!

"Hey! Where are you going, lady?!"

*

The troublemaker was driven out.

The crowd that had gathered around them also dispersed.

Song Jin looked at Xu Li'er, whose eyes were filled with worry, and moved his lips, but didn't ask anything.

It is difficult to deal with a scoundrel who starts to act tough.

Xu Lier didn't look like she could handle it.

Maybe it's due to my personality, it gives people a soft and fluffy feeling.

Because of their brief encounter, Song Jin helped her drive away those rogues, though it cost some words.

Xu Li'er raised her hand and asked someone to pour her tea.

"Excuse me, this is my first time taking over a shop too."

In the past, she lived in the deep palace without the protection of her mother, and she did not understand many things. She only learned how to endure and survive.

This restaurant was one of her dowry.

She came here today to count her dowry, and she also wanted to personally check the business of these shops. She originally thought that they would be some good shops, but in the end, she had hoped too much. These shops were all empty-handed, and some were full of worms. None of them was profitable.

Xu Lier smiled bitterly and was unwilling to say these out loud.

Song Jin has been learning business from Song Tan since she was young. She knew the current situation of the restaurant from the moment she stepped in.

Although the restaurant is not big, the manager is nowhere to be seen and there are only a few honest waiters busying around.

The decoration looked old and the dishes on the table were bland and unoriginal.

How many years can it continue to operate like this?

Song Jin was in a mixed mood. Noticing the wound on her wrist, he stood up and took the medicine box back.

In the quiet tavern, Qing Wu and the few remaining employees cleaned up the mess.

There is no oppression of the red wall here, and it is the freedom she has longed for for years.

But she couldn't smell the scent of freedom, she seemed... still in the deep palace.

Xu Li'er lowered her head in confusion, watching this person, whom she was not very familiar with, treating her wounds gently and carefully.

Suddenly she felt that there were still people who cared about her.

"... Miss Song."

Xu Lier suddenly called her softly.

"What's wrong?"

Song Jin didn't raise his head as he carefully applied medicine to her wound.

It looked like it was scratched by some debris.

When she finished treating the wound and raised her head, I suddenly saw her eyes filled with tears, and those eyes were filled with many complicated emotions.

Song Jin couldn't understand her.

Out of habit, she cried silently.

Song Jin sighed, took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, and said softly: "If the princess is willing, you can talk to me."

*

As everyone knows, the current His Majesty once had a concubine whom he doted on very much, and he even quarreled with the Empress over her. She was the mother of the current eldest princess, the late Emperor's noble concubine.

If the late emperor's concubine had not died in childbirth, Xu Li'er would probably be the most favored princess by His Majesty except for the eleventh prince.

Fate plays tricks on us.

Xu Lier's growth was spent in endless humiliation.

She wanted to escape from the palace and leave her father who ignored her.

But she couldn't escape...

After enduring for more than ten years, she finally found an opportunity to escape from here - to get married.

She almost didn't care and chose a consort for herself based on her appearance. That man was a civil servant. Xu Li'er had secretly met her, but she was just hiding in the dark and observing. She found that this man had a temperament like her, very gentle.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

At least, the person she wants to spend her life with is not a two-faced person.

"Don't you regret it, Princess?"

Xu Lien'er was stunned for a moment, then she laughed: "Do I have a choice? I have never regretted anything."

There was constant fighting in the palace, and she didn't want to take sides.

She just wants to be free.

Song Jin sighed: "Then the eldest princess must take good care of herself in the future. This restaurant..."

Profit outside and loss inside.

After all, it's a princess getting married, so why is the preparation of the dowry so demanding?

Xu Li'er knew what she wanted to say and shook her head: "The Queen is kind-hearted, she would not do that."

The Queen has lived in the deep palace for a long time. No matter how powerful she is, she will not know the details of these shops.

People in the Imperial Household Department are used to treating people differently based on their personal preferences.

Song Jin was stunned. Such a gentle and strong princess shouldn't have such a hard life.

After a few moments of silence, Song Jin decided to teach her how to do business.

Xu Li'er was stunned.

His lips trembled violently and he couldn't utter a word for a long time.

*

The sun sets in the west.

Song Jin and Xu Li'er parted with mixed feelings.

She could see that Xu Lian'er was actually very smart, and she didn't need to repeat what she taught her three times for Xu Lian'er to learn it.

He's a good businessman!

Qing Wu glanced at the tired look on her face and said, "Madam, let's stop here for today."

"Um."

Qing Wu helped her into the carriage.

Suddenly someone approached from behind. She turned around, saw who it was, and was quite surprised.

"Lord Meng?"

Qingwu had a good impression of him.

But he is Xu Nanheng's man, and his appearance now means that Xu Nanheng is also nearby.

Meng Shu nodded his chin towards her and said, "Miss Song, His Highness would like to invite you to speak."

The people in the carriage were silent.

Qing Wu spoke for her, "Master Meng, please go back. My wife will not go to see the Seventh Prince."

Meng Shu stood still, staring at her driver.

Judging from his attitude, he won't go back until he can hire someone?

Qing Wu was filled with anger and felt that the Seventh Prince was too shameless.

Song Jin suddenly felt tired. How long would Xu Nanheng keep pestering her?

It's just a show and hypocritical.

None of these is a done deal.

"That's it."

Song Jin got off the carriage, stared at his expressionless face, and asked him, "Meng Shu, do you still insist on working for him?"

She had criticized Meng Shu before. Although she didn't know what Xu Nanheng had promised him to make him so devoted to her, she still felt that the master-servant relationship between the two was strange.

Meng Shu remained silent.

Song Jin sighed and said no more: "Lead the way."

*

In the closet.

Xu Nanheng stepped nervously on the spot.

He looked at the wine glass on the table from time to time, thought again and again, took out a packet of unknown medicine powder and sprinkled it into it.

The wine pot was shaken gently, and the powder was completely dissolved in the wine.

“Squeak—”

Xu Nanheng went to greet him with a smile.

Song Jin avoided his hand and sat down indifferently, "What does Your Highness want to say to me?"

Xu Nanheng poured wine and served dishes attentively, closing his eyes with sorrow: "Jinjin, I really love you. I was bewitched and deceived you at the beginning. Give me another chance, and I will prove my sincerity to you!"

Song Jin only felt disgusted.

No matter how many sweet words are said, once you peel off the sweet outer layer, all that's left is a rotten black heart inside.

He shot the arrow into the heart without hesitation.

Song Jin didn't even look at him, silently expressing his attitude.

Having been humiliated several times, Xu Nanheng felt a little embarrassed. A fierce look flashed in his eyes, but he immediately returned to the look of a humble gentleman.

"I know you won't believe me no matter how much I say," he raised his glass, "so today I'm inviting you to reminisce about the past and have a drink with me at the end."

Just give up so easily?

Song Jin was suspicious. In his previous life, Xu Nanheng had put a lot of effort into getting her to pay.

She looked around secretly, but couldn't see anything wrong, so her eyes turned to the wine glass in his hand.

After a while, Song Jin curled his lips and said, "Your Highness should know that I don't drink."

She tilted her head and asked Qingwu to prepare tea.

Xu Nanheng's expression was not particularly good-looking.

You must always be on guard against others.

Song Jin would rather have some trouble than follow his path.

Not long after, Qing Wu came back with tea and gave her a look without saying a word.

Song Jin was relieved, "Your Highness, Song Jin will use tea instead of wine."

Xu Nanheng's expression lightened up a bit, "...Okay."

Drink it all in one gulp.

Song Jin looked at him coldly, put down the teacup and was about to leave.

Xu Nanheng stared at the empty teacup and smiled ghostly.

*

The master and servant were in a hurry.

Qing Wu almost had to jog to catch up with her. "Don't worry, my lady. I have checked the tea. There will be no problem."

Song Jin is speechless.

It’s not that she doesn’t trust Qing Wu. Qing Wu has been by her side for many years and will never harm her.

But she was so panicked for no reason...

Downstairs of the restaurant, her car disappeared.

Song Jin's eyelids twitched, and he felt more and more panicked.

There was nothing unusual happening among the people passing by, and there were no signs of a fight where the car had just parked. The wheel marks were too shallow and disappeared after a short distance.

Qing Wu felt something was wrong, "Why is the driver missing?!"

"Don't panic, let's stay close and don't get separated."

After all, she was the Lady of Junning County appointed by His Majesty himself. If Xu Nanheng wanted to touch her, he wouldn't be so blatant.

As long as she doesn't give Xu Nanheng any chance.

Qing Wu stayed close to her, always alert to every move around her.

Not far away, Cui Huaiji's car slowly drove out from the crowd.

Qing Wu recognized his carriage and felt at ease.

Song Jin watched him walking towards him, and his tense heartstrings relaxed.

She trotted toward him.

"My Lord!"

There is a faint fragrance floating in the air.

Song Jin was caught off guard. A sharp pain spread throughout her body. She opened her mouth and suddenly vomited a mouthful of dirty blood!

"Little fox slave!"