Chapter 263 Beiyuan
The Zhao family has been businessmen for generations, and they have their own unique methods for expanding and strengthening their businesses, which Zhao Mei doesn't quite agree with.
"But there are already three cosmetic shops on Zhuque Street, and there's also Xiangqifang. If we go there, we'll probably be targeted and killed before we even open."
"It's located right there. While there's no direct competitor elsewhere, it also means that no young lady would be willing to make a special trip just to buy rouge and face powder. If they could compare prices at three or four different stores, they would much rather stroll along Zhuque Street."
The chambers of commerce in the capital were divided according to the east and west city districts, and further subdivided into street chambers of commerce. Generally speaking, the shops on the same street would share information about their business hours during holidays, the passage of goods, and tax collection. No one dared to go against the grain.
Since Xiangqifang is located on Zhuque Street, their shop must also be there, so there's no worry about finding any clues.
Zhao Mei frowned and pondered for a while. They didn't have a map of the capital, so they could only roughly divide the sand table into several areas based on their memory to discuss the location. At this moment, there weren't many suitable locations, only three. In fact, if the cosmetics business on Zhuque Street hadn't become saturated, these would indeed have been the best locations for the shops.
Qi Yuxuan wasn't in a hurry. The Zhao family was good at business, but what she was saying was "twisted logic" she had learned from the Seventh Prince. She didn't know if she could convince Zhao Mei.
After a short while, Zhao Mei stopped worrying about it.
“Then we will do as the princess says! However… the shops on Zhuque Street are probably not cheap. This time I want to try running a business myself, and all I can use are the savings I’ve accumulated over the years. I’m afraid it’s not enough to buy a shop there…”
Zhao Mei hesitated, but Qi Yuxuan knew what she meant when she heard that the shop wasn't cheap, and immediately gave Bi Sui a look.
“I know, so I'll provide the money, and you provide the labor. I'll leave the rest to you.”
Just then, Bi Sui took the box containing the land deed and handed it to Qi Yuxuan with a smile.
Upon seeing this, Zhao Mei immediately understood.
What talk about discussing the location? Sister Yuxuan had already decided long ago, and even the shop was ready! It was just to give me a sense of involvement and, incidentally, to test whether she really wanted to do this business.
Zhao Mei was a little embarrassed, her cheeks flushed, and she twisted her handkerchief with her fingers, refusing to accept the land deed.
"Do you think I'm just joking around, and you're determined to pay for my nonsense?"
Qi Yuxuan had known her for quite some time and had long noticed that the girl was shy by nature. Later, at Yuxiu Academy, she was often ignored and looked down upon, and often lacked confidence in front of her.
She simply handed the land deed directly to Zhao Mei.
"What, you just want to mess around? My money doesn't grow on trees. No matter what, you can't let me lose money, otherwise I'll personally go to the Zhao family to complain and make your parents and brother forbid you from doing business."
She spoke in a deliberately serious tone, and if you didn't listen to what she was saying, you would really think she was being stern.
Zhao Mei moved her lips, but in the end, she only showed a grateful smile.
She clenched her fists, mimicking Qi Yuxuan's tone, and said somewhat timidly, "Anyway... anyway, the land deed is already in my hands, so there's no use complaining. Princess Chang Le, just wait and see how much money you make."
After seeing Zhao Mei off, the eldest princess arrived.
"How did the conversation go?"
Today is a day off, so the Princess does not need to go to the academy.
Now her daughter manages all the household finances, and she doesn't have to worry about anything at home. She feels more relaxed and has gained weight, with a thicker layer of fat around her belly.
She avoided the lychee her daughter was feeding her and gave her a somewhat resentful look.
"Still eating? Look at my hands. The bracelet that used to fit me perfectly now barely fits this morning. I'm so worried that I don't even want to eat."
Qi Yuxuan carefully took two steps back and looked around.
"But Mother's face doesn't look plump at all."
"Besides, it must be that the bracelet is old and doesn't fit properly. It has nothing to do with Mother. Once the cosmetics shop opens, Yuxuan will earn money to buy Mother a new bracelet."
The eldest princess was amused.
"This business isn't even going to happen yet, and you're already thinking about making money to buy me bracelets. Okay, okay, I'm waiting. Remember to buy a few more, so I can wear them all at once and show them off to all the ladies at the banquet."
The mother and daughter were laughing and joking when a maid came in to report that the Crown Prince had arrived.
I told you yesterday when I delivered the lychees that they would arrive in two days, how come they're here today?
The two looked at each other, both somewhat bewildered.
The Dragon Boat Festival has just passed, and logically speaking, the Crown Prince's Palace should not be so idle after today's court assembly.
Having to change clothes to entertain guests again, the princess became angry with her nephew once more.
She also noticed that the Crown Prince had been visiting the Princess's residence too frequently lately, coming to play chess, drink tea, and chat with her every few days. But she was no longer alone, so why did the Crown Prince need to come back and forth like this?
If it weren't for the fact that he now seems to have completely let go of his daughter, and that he has been well-mannered during their several chance encounters at the mansion, the princess would have thought that he had ulterior motives.
Upon reaching the front and meeting the people, the eldest princess asked the crown prince with little interest:
"The Dragon Boat Festival has just passed, and the Crown Prince must be very busy with official duties. Why has he come at this time?"
Qi Jun glanced at the girl behind the princess before saying:
"This morning, my father mentioned going to Beiyuan to escape the summer heat and ordered me to come and ask my aunt what she thought."
In previous years, the summers were not particularly hot, and the nobles and relatives could manage with a few extra blocks of ice. But this year, for some reason, the summer has been unbearably hot and humid since the beginning of summer. We thought it would get better after a few rains, but even now, on the Dragon Boat Festival, it is still unbearably hot.
The eldest princess was somewhat puzzled, "Why are you suddenly saying we need to go to Beiyuan at this time? The Dragon Boat Festival has already passed, and it's almost autumn..."
The Crown Prince then explained that the Emperor was in poor health and dared not use too much ice in the summer. This morning, he finally couldn't sit still any longer and had to go to the North Garden, otherwise he would get sick from the heat.
Beiyuan is said to be a summer palace, but I have hardly ever been there before, and it is a full day's journey from the capital. If the eldest princess is willing to go with me, we will have to go there in advance to prepare.
The eldest princess nodded in understanding, and thinking of her younger brother who had aged considerably, she felt a pang of sadness.
If she were young, she would naturally have been close to her siblings and trusted and relied on them in everything. But since the siblings became ruler and subject, everything had to be based on the emperor's authority. She dared not, and would not be foolish enough to still think that they were siblings with blood ties that could not be severed.
But now, seeing the emperor sit on that throne for only twenty-odd years, and already so exhausted, suffering from constant illnesses, she, as the elder sister, felt terrible.
“If His Majesty goes, I will go too. But it’s almost autumn, and I’m afraid I’ll have to return to the capital soon. Yu Xuan, would you like to go to Beiyuan with me?”
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