In the past, the Third Princess would not have understood, but at this moment she understood perfectly.
The man she admired recovered quickly not because of her, and she greeted him with joy not because of her.
Going back even further, perhaps from the very beginning, none of his joy and affection stemmed from her!
This realization felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head, chilling her to the bone.
Moreover, the ice shards were as sharp as blades, cutting her all over, leaving her covered in blood!
She turned and left, not wanting to stay for even a moment longer!
"Princess..." Lu Zong had just composed himself when he saw this and realized something was terribly wrong. Before he could stop her, the Third Princess had already lifted her skirt and started running.
Caiyun also chased after him desperately.
Soon, the master and servant left the mansion and got back into the carriage.
"Go, go quickly!" the third princess cried out hoarsely.
The old soldier driving the carriage didn't know what had happened, but since his master had lent the carriage to the Third Princess, he had to obey her orders.
So the carriage quickly turned around and disappeared at the street corner!
As always, business is booming in Baiyunjianli.
Because of the hot weather, the shop recently introduced chilled rice cakes.
Steamed glutinous rice is mashed and made into an outer skin, then filled with red bean paste, osmanthus honey, and other fillings. One bite reveals a cool, sticky, and sweet treat that is simply irresistible.
Manager Peng is also a shrewd businessman. He specially made an exquisite gift box with eight kinds of cold rice cakes, arranged in two layers side by side, which is truly a feast for the eyes.
The price wasn't expensive either, five hundred coins a box.
Every customer who enters the store is willing to spend a little money, and almost everyone leaves with two boxes in their hands.
Whether it's for a small gathering with friends, you can make a dessert plate.
Whether visiting relatives and friends or bringing a gift, it's a very respectable gesture.
Given her identity, Jiayin couldn't linger in the front, so she went directly to the backyard.
Just then, Chen Xi was thinking about a new product. He wanted to combine cake and ice cream, but he could never keep the ice cream intact. The cake would always be formed, but the ice cream would melt into a puddle.
If you put it in an ice cellar to freeze, the cake will become hard like crumbs and taste terrible.
Upon suddenly seeing his master approaching, Chen Xi was overjoyed and quickly bowed to ask for his guidance.
Jiayin recalled the glutinous rice balls she had eaten in her previous life and said, "Master Chen, why don't you try wrapping ice cream in the outer skin of a cold rice cake? Even if it freezes solid, it won't matter. As it melts a little, the outer skin will still be soft and chewy, and the ice cream inside will be just right to eat."
Chen Xi slapped his forehead, so happy he wanted to jump up and down a few times.
"Oh dear, oh dear, how come I didn't think of that! This is a great idea, this is a great idea!"
After saying that, he ran off to find materials to conduct experiments.
Manager Peng was about to enter with a few account books when Chen Xi nearly tripped over him, which made him laugh and scold him in anger.
"That madman Chen has definitely had another episode!"
But despite saying that, when he went inside and met his employer, he still made a few more comments for his old friend Chen Xi.
“Master, Chen Xi is just that obsessed. Please don’t take it to heart. Last time, when he was making some pastries, I had something to say to him, and he just yelled at me and drove me away.”
Jiayin naturally wouldn't blame him. Baiyunjian's current success and the launch of so many new products are mostly thanks to Chen Xi.
"Don't worry, Manager Peng. Our shop needs someone as crazy as Chef Chen. Countless people outside are eyeing our shop, just waiting for us to launch new products frequently."
Jiayin invited Manager Peng to sit down and personally poured him a cup of plum juice.
This is also a new product launched in the shop; it has a sweet and sour taste and is refreshingly cool.
Manager Peng stood up and thanked him again before sitting down to talk.
Actually, it's nothing serious. After all, the shop has been open for many years and has a mature business model.
Soon, Manager Peng went off to get busy.
Jiayin sipped her plum juice and flipped through the account books.
Shui Ling and Shui Yun couldn't stay idle; one went to find some of her favorite snacks, and the other went to help out in the baking room.
Just then, chaos suddenly broke out ahead.
Everyone in the backyard peeked out of the house and saw the Third Princess rush in, lifting her skirt, like an enraged tiger, shouting, "Li Jiayin, Li Jiayin! You come out here!"
Caiyun and several other palace maids followed behind, wanting to stop the Third Princess but not daring to, and stamped their feet in frustration.
Meanwhile, many guests in the front hall, feeling that there was something exciting to see, had blocked the small door leading to the back courtyard.
Manager Peng acted decisively, rushing forward to persuade the guests to go back to the front.
Some guests, unwilling to miss out on the excitement, were met with a cold shoulder from Manager Peng, who said, "This distinguished guest, are you sure you're not afraid of losing your head? That's a princess! What could possibly happen to her? Can you afford to take responsibility?"
The guest immediately shrank back and slunk away.
Manager Peng immediately closed the door and then shouted at all the chefs and employees, "Stay inside and don't move around."
In a short while, the courtyard became quiet.
At this moment, the Third Princess rushed into the side room.
"Li Jiayin, tell me! Does Brother Lu like you? Tell me, explain yourself clearly!"
The Third Princess's face flushed red, and she pointed her finger at Jiayin's nose, looking as if she was about to explode at any moment.
From birth, she was a princess of great wealth and honor, with everyone obeying and respecting her, and everything she wanted was readily offered to her.
Now, the first man she fell in love with, the first man she truly loved, is actually having feelings for her best friend. This is like a heavy slap in the face, shattering all the beautiful memories of the past!
She can't accept it!
Jiayin stared blankly at the Third Princess, feeling no fear or panic, but rather a sense of relief.
It's like a sword hanging over my head, something I worry about day and night.
Now that the sword has fallen, it doesn't matter whether I get hurt or not; at least I don't have to live in fear anymore.
"Please sit down, Third Princess. This matter... we can discuss it slowly."
Perhaps it was Jiayin's calmness that provoked the Third Princess, who became even more furious.
"You know! You definitely know he likes you! Why didn't you say so? Am I the only fool? You all think I'm a fool, making a fool of me, don't you!"
The phoenix hairpin on her head couldn't withstand the violent shaking and fell to the ground with a thud.
Sadly, its former owner, who once doted on it, no longer even glances at it...
Jiayin remained silent, quietly watching the phoenix hairpin on the ground, until the Third Princess was so exhausted that she could no longer vent her anger.
Jiayin poured a glass of plum juice, pushed it to the seat opposite her, and then said, "Sit down and have some plum juice first."
After saying that, she squatted down and picked up the phoenix hairpin, then waved to Shui Ling, Shui Yun, Cai Yun and the others at the door.
Shui Ling and the others hesitated for a moment, but eventually retreated.
Jiayin poured herself a glass of plum juice, took a sip, and began to speak slowly.
"I've been hesitant about how to tell you this. After all, telling you might ruin our friendship. Even if I did nothing wrong, you might still resent me, just like you were in a rage just now."
“But now that things have come to this, even if we never see each other again and become enemies, I still want to make things clear.”
Two updates today!
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