Liu stared at the fingerprint, her lips trembling involuntarily. She wanted to defend herself but couldn't speak. The expression on her face was like a frozen picture, full of astonishment and helplessness. At this moment, Jiang Yan had quietly stood under the porch, leisurely turning his newly bought Xiangfei bamboo folding fan in his hand. The jade buttons on his cuffs flashed a cold light in the sunlight, piercing Liu's eyes like a sharp sword, startling her so much that she subconsciously took a half step back. "Madam Liu, the Dajing Family Law states that if a mistress sells her dowry privately, she shall be punished with thirty strokes of the cane." Jiang Yan's voice was steady and powerful, echoing in everyone's ears like a huge bell.
The farce ended quickly and cleanly. In full view of everyone, Liu was forcibly taken away by the servants. While struggling, she was still crying out "injustice" at the top of her lungs. The sound gradually faded away and disappeared from everyone's ears. Su Xiang coughed lightly twice, breaking the brief silence. He took out a gold card from his sleeve and handed it to me. The four characters "Su Ji Yin Hao" were carefully inlaid with silver wire on the card, shining with a noble light in the sun. "If the bookstore is short of money in the future, just go and get it." His voice was flat, but full of deep fatherly love. The eldest sister curled her lips slightly, looking disdainful, but she stuffed a brocade box into my hand, with a hint of arrogance and concern in her eyes: "This is the newly developed 'Zhuangyuanhong' rouge. It will suit you when you settle accounts. It is guaranteed to make Jiang Zhuangyuan stunned."
The afternoon sun, like golden threads, filtered through the cracks in the carved wooden windows, casting a dazzling array of light and shadow on the bluestone floor, like a natural painting. Boss Wang wiped beads of sweat from his forehead and hurried in, the abacus beads at his waist swaying merrily with his movements. "Miss Su, someone's here from the palace! The Empress Dowager wants to order the complete works of Mr. Jin Xin, and she wants a personal inscription!" His voice trembled with excitement, as if he were delivering incredible news.
I gently stroked the rouge box my eldest sister had given me. The phoenix carved on the lid, wings spread, seemed lifelike, as if imbued with endless vitality and energy. From outside the window, the young marquis's calls as he trained his guards rang out, a voice filled with vigor and strength. Jiang Yan's servant brought a basket of abacuses, claiming it was a welcome gift from "Mr. Accountant." The beads clattered crisply and melodiously, as if playing a joyous melody for the bookstore. Sunlight gently streamed down the shelves filled with rare books and pristine account books, draping them in a golden veil. At that moment, I suddenly felt as if every inch of this bookstore was filled with honey—forged from the grievances of a past life, imbued with my father's awkward yet profound care, my eldest sister's proud yet sincere support, and Jiang Yan's delicate tenderness, hidden within his sugar paintings.
Boss Wang continued to chatter about the Empress Dowager's gift, his words filled with excitement and anticipation. My eldest sister patiently taught Mo Zhu how to mix a new shade of rouge, the air thick with its fragrance. The young marquis, his wooden knife resting on his abacus, pretended to diligently keep accounts, his expression adorable. I quietly gazed out the window at the bustling streets, the bustling bustle of people. I clutched the bamboo orchid paperweight Jiang Yan had given me in my sleeve, its gentle touch filling me with endless strength. I knew that my bookshop in this life must not only be filled with the finest storybooks, a place for the spread of culture, but also leave all those who had bullied me helpless, staring blankly at this room filled with warm light and sweetness, in the shadows of the street corner, filled with envy and jealousy. And my wonderful life was just beginning to unfold, amidst the fragrance of ink and rouge that permeated this "Jinxiu Bookshop," like a brilliant and colorful scroll, waiting for me to write my own glorious chapter.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
