Chapter 61 She has a bold idea
In the private room of the teahouse, an iron kettle was simmering on a small stove, with steam coming out of the spout.
Su Zhiyan picked up the kettle and brewed two cups of tea, placing one in front of Zhuang Wan and the other in front of a bearded man.
She said, "I received your letter the day before yesterday, and immediately thought of Brother Lin. I had thought I'd have to introduce you to him some time later, but unexpectedly, Brother Lin arrived in the capital today."
The wealthy man was called Lin Gui, and every year he traveled extensively to deliver goods for merchants in the capital. He had a broad face, bright eyes and eyebrows, a dark complexion, and a smile that revealed a mouthful of white teeth.
"Sister Su, why did you call me here so urgently?"
"Don't worry, Brother Lin," Su Zhiyan said, "This is Zhuang Wan, the owner of the needlework shop in the west of the city and my good friend. She asked me to look for you. Just listen to what she has to say."
Zhuang Wan was filled with excitement. She hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. She had just written the letter the day before, and Su Zhiyan had already found the caravan today. She was also very pleased to see that the person before her had a kind and honest face.
"Brother Lin," she said, "I recently opened a shop and plan to sell handkerchiefs. But there are so many needlework shops in the capital, and if I want to do business well, I need to be innovative, so I'm thinking of going south to investigate the market. I heard that there are many kinds of silk embroidery in Jiangnan, so I'm going to take a look."
This was an excuse she had thought of a long time ago. No matter where she went, it had to be in the south, so as not to arouse suspicion from others.
Sure enough, Su Zhiyan praised her highly after hearing this: "I didn't expect Miss Zhuang to be a business savvy person."
"That's true. The capital is full of shops and a dazzling array of goods. If you want to make a name for yourself in the capital, you have to have your own unique livelihood." She said, "However, going out to investigate is not easy. It is full of difficulties and hardships. Have you really thought it through?"
Zhuang Wan nodded and looked at Lin Gui. "So I'd like to go with Brother Lin's caravan and explore the different places. Is that okay with you, Brother Lin?"
"Of course..." She continued, "I won't let Brother Lin suffer any loss. I will cover all travel expenses and also pay Brother Lin's salary."
Lin Gui had met countless businesswomen during his years of traveling, but he had never met anyone who spoke as gently as Zhuang Wan. He smiled sheepishly and said, "Boss Zhuang, you're too polite. Our caravan usually has a hundred or so people on a regular trip, so adding one more person wouldn't make a big difference. I'm just worried that since we're all so unsophisticated, you might not be able to entertain us well."
"Brother Lin, whatever happened before will happen in the future. Don't worry about me. I'm just traveling with your caravan. If it's inconvenient, I can change into men's clothes." Zhuang Wan said, "As for enduring hardships, don't worry, I can endure them. I'm not a delicate lady. If you don't believe me, ask Shopkeeper Su."
Su Zhiyan smiled at her and said, "That's true. Miss Zhuang is the most special woman I have ever met. Brother Lin, just rest assured."
"That's good, that's good." Lin Gui nodded repeatedly and asked, "When does Mr. Zhuang want to leave?"
Zhuang Wan asked, "When will Brother Lin's caravan leave Beijing?"
Lin Gui said sternly, "To be honest, we have to rush a batch of goods out of the city today, and we have to leave Beijing around the end of the night hour."
Zhuang Wan was surprised: "So fast?"
"But Mr. Zhuang, don't worry." Lin Gui said, "I will return to Beijing in half a month. We have an agreement with the Li family store in the south of the city to ship a batch of goods. I will be back then."
"That's great." Zhuang Wan was happy.
.
After leaving the teahouse, lights began to light up on the street.
Today is the Queen Mother's birthday. The capital city is decorated with bright lights everywhere, just like a festival, and people are coming and going on the streets.
But for some reason, the people on the street were walking in a hurry, as if something had happened.
Su Zhiyan sent someone to inquire, and the maid returned with the following statement: "Boss, I heard there was a fire in Mingyue Tower. The fire is quite severe, and the officials from Jingzhao Prefecture are all trying to put it out."
"Mingyue Tower?" Zhuang Wan was curious.
Su Zhiyan said, "Mingyue Tower was a lantern tower built by the Duke of Xin's mansion for the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, specifically for the people to admire on that day. I heard it was extremely elaborate, with hundreds of lanterns alone. It's such a shame that it's all gone down with the fire."
"Miss Zhuang," she said, "Let's say goodbye now. I have to go back to the cloth shop. Oh, and the streets are in such a mess right now. It would be best if you could return home earlier."
"Okay, thank you, Manager Su." Zhuang Wan said.
After bidding farewell to Su Zhiyan, she boarded the carriage and headed back home. Arriving at the main gate of Pei's residence, she encountered Guard Lu leading two men hurriedly out.
"Miss Zhuang." Guard Lu greeted her.
Zhuang Wan saw two people behind him holding boxes and asked, "What are they going to do?"
Guard Lu looked a little anxious: "Miss Zhuang, the master is injured. Someone from the palace came to order you to pack up some of his clothes for washing."
Zhuang Wan was surprised: "Why are you injured?"
"There was a fire in the Sky Palace in the palace. The Queen Mother sent people to rescue the Buddha statue in the palace. Your Excellency also helped, but he was accidentally injured by a falling beam."
Zhuang Wan was shocked when she heard this. How brave must one be to rush into the fire to save the Buddha statue?
"Is the injury serious?"
"I don't know. We'll have to go to the palace to find out. But the people from the palace said that the master is unconscious and needs to rest in the palace for two days. They ordered me to send a change of clothes."
"Oh, oh, oh," Zhuang Wan nodded, "Then go quickly, don't delay."
"yes."
Guard Lu led his men and hurried there.
Zhuang Wan watched him walk away, feeling something was amiss. How could this happen so coincidentally? There was a fire in the palace, and then there was a fire outside, and Pei Xingju was injured and unconscious.
She thought about it for a while, couldn't figure it out, shook her head and went in.
However, as soon as he stepped over the threshold, he suddenly stopped.
A bold idea emerged in her mind, making her heart beat wildly.
There was a fire in the palace and the capital, and now everything was in chaos. Pei Xingju was injured and unconscious, so he had to recuperate in the palace.
At this time, with this opportunity, if we don’t take this opportunity now, when will we take it?
Her heartbeat quickened and the thoughts in her mind became clearer and clearer.
Yes, it just so happened that Su Zhiyan helped her find the caravan, and Lin Gui was leaving the capital tonight.
She hurriedly glanced at the sky and asked Lixia, "What time is it now?"
"Girl, it's almost 11:00."
There’s still time, there’s still an hour before Lin Gui’s caravan leaves.
Immediately, she thought quickly in her mind and ordered: "Lixia, you catch up with Guard Lu and enter the palace together."
Lixia was bewildered: "What am I doing in the palace?"
"Oh, of course it's to protect your Lord Pei." Zhuang Wan said.
Lixia said, "Your Excellency has Guard Lu by your side."
"Silly boy," Zhuang Wan said, her face full of concern. "Your master has countless enemies in the court, and now he's unconscious in the palace, it's easy for something to happen. Guard Lu is a man and not careful enough. If someone wants to make trouble and sends a few palace maids, how can Guard Lu prevent it?"
When Lixia heard this, she immediately understood: "As a woman, I can protect myself from those palace maids."
"Right!" Zhuang Wan nodded in shock. "That's exactly what I mean! Go!"
"Okay, I'll go right away." Lixia ran to chase Guard Lu without saying a word.
After sending Lixia away, Zhuang Wan hurried in.
She walked and pondered, and after a while she said she was going out to see the lanterns at Mingyue Tower. Mingyue Tower had caught fire, and if Pei Xingju couldn't find her, he might think she had died in the fire.
Well, that's it.
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