Imperial Capital 29. Shopping

Madam Zhao was indeed a smart woman, and she didn't need Ye Li's help and advice at all. The next day, the news that Madam Zhao was pregnant spread in the mansion, and it was said that it was a boy. Wang almost immediately forgot about the trouble she had caused Ye Li, and turned to deal with Madam Zhao in every possible way. Her foundation in the Ye family was already stable, and it would be a joke to say that she was worried about how Ye Li, a girl who was about to get married, would treat her. The reason why she targeted Ye Li was actually because of the unspeakable jealousy and resentment towards Ye Li's biological mother. Now that it was about the status of her precious only son in the mansion, Wang naturally put other things aside without hesitation.

Wang didn't come to cause trouble, and Ye Ying was also seriously injured because of the disappointment of the Hundred Flowers Festival, so Ye Li was just at ease. After showing her brilliance at the Hundred Flowers Festival, Ye Li gradually entered the social circle of the ladies in the capital. In addition to continuing to prepare her dowry, she could also invite Qin Zheng, Hua Tianxiang and Murong Ting to play together when she had free time. On the third day after the Hundred Flowers Festival, the lady who was originally the first in poetry and was later surpassed by Ye Li was also surnamed Qin. She was the younger sister of Qin Mu, the prefect of the capital, and Qin Yuling also sent a letter to Ye Li. Although they had not met much, Ye Li had a good impression of the sister of this iron-faced judge. After exchanging letters several times, they developed a better friendship. Ye Li was in a good mood and didn't mind that Aunt Zhao would come to her Qingyixuan from time to time to pay her respects and talk. She knew what Aunt Zhao was thinking, and as long as she behaved herself and kept her promise, Ye Li would not break her promise and would naturally ensure that she could arrive in Yunzhou safely and give birth to the child.

On this day, Ye Li went out shopping as Qin Zheng asked her to. Ye Li had been free these days and was preparing to buy some books for herself. She had read almost all the books left by her mother in the past few years. However, Ye Li knew her own abilities. Even if she could memorize all the books in this world, she would never be as talented as Qin Zheng, who was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, lyrics and music. To put it simply, she did not have that talent, even though her mother was once the most talented woman in the capital. More importantly, with the memory of her past life, her thinking and vision had long been fixed. Even after so many years, she still could not understand the artistic conception and thoughts of the ancients. Therefore, she could only write a few doggerel poems, but it was basically impossible for her to write an outstanding poem. Thinking of this, Ye Li felt that her grandfather, who had forced her to memorize so many ancient books, was very wise. At least he allowed her to recite two poems from her mind to make up the number if she couldn't refuse.

"Sister Qin, Tianxiang, Murong." When Ye Li arrived at the agreed teahouse, Qin Zheng and the other two had already arrived earlier and were drinking tea and chatting.

Qin Zheng turned around to look at her and said with a smile, "Li'er."

Murong Ting pulled her to sit down and said, "You are finally here. How is it? Did your damn sister give you any trouble?"

Ye Li raised her eyebrows, "I'm sorry I'm late, but why do you think she would embarrass me?" These days, not only Wang, but even Ye Ying didn't know what she was doing. How could she have the time to embarrass her when she couldn't even see anyone?

"It's better to be careful. I heard that Empress Zhaoyi in the palace has been in a bad mood these days." Hua Tianxiang held the teacup, her smile reserved and elegant.

Ye Li blinked, and understood. She thanked Hua Tianxiang silently, and Hua Tianxiang raised her eyebrows and raised the teacup to her.

Murong Ting looked around at her friends and couldn't help laughing, "Alas, I finally have a new friend, but it's a pity that A-Li will be getting married soon."

"We are still friends even after we get married." Ye Li said, "Could it be that after we get married you will no longer recognize me as your friend?"

Murong Ting lay on the table without any demeanor of a lady from a rich family, and said dejectedly: "Of course not, but when you become Princess Ding, how can you be as free as you are now?"

Hua Tianxiang pursed her lips and smiled secretly: "It will be the same when you get married."

"I don't want to!" Murong Ting shouted, her bright almond eyes widened, "I won't marry that idiot!"

Huh? Ye Li looked up in surprise, looked at the angry Murong Ting, and then turned her gaze to Qin Zheng. Qin Zheng smiled secretly and whispered in Ye Li's ear. Ye Li then knew that Murong Ting was engaged to Leng Haoyu, the third son of the Zhenbei General's Mansion, when she was just born. But compared to his elder brother Leng Qingyu, who was both civil and military, Leng Haoyu was a dandy who was good at eating, drinking and having fun. How could Murong Ting, who was born in a general family and the only daughter of General Yangwei, look down on Leng Haoyu? The two of them had been at odds since childhood, and basically they would fight whenever they met. Murong Ting learned a lot of martial arts from General Yangwei, but Leng Haoyu couldn't beat Murong Ting. Every time she was beaten badly, Murong Ting looked down on her even more.

“哼！我爹就是個死腦筋，說什麽大丈夫一言既出就要遵守承諾，死都不肯退婚。那個白癡，敢娶我本小姐就揍得他爹都認不出來。”慕容婷仰着小下巴，氣哼哼的道。

Hua Tianxiang held her cheek lazily and said with a smile: "I think Leng Xiaosan treats you well. Have you ever seen a man in the capital who is so obedient? If you tell him to go forward, he will never go back. If you tell him to go left, he will never go right."

Murong Ting snorted and didn't answer.

Ye Li looked at her reaction with interest. Girls inevitably like excellent and strong men. Murong Ting naturally disliked the third son of the Leng family, who couldn't even beat a woman. But it seemed that Murong Ting didn't hate this fiancé as much as she thought. Moreover... for a man who had been beaten since childhood and always came up to get beaten after losing, was he really that weak? If that was the case, then Leng Haoyu was actually an M, right? Ye Li thought wildly in her mind. But she didn't say anything to persuade Murong Ting. It was not her hobby to interfere with her friend's choice casually, not to mention that she really didn't know Leng Haoyu.

Murong Ting recovered quickly from her anger and quickly put the annoying fiancé behind her. She clapped her hands and stood up and said, "Let's go shopping. We are not here to drink tea."

Three girls and a fake girl happily shuttled through the famous shops in the capital, selecting all kinds of jewelry and clothes they liked, and soon everyone had a rich harvest. Ye Li looked at the people following behind her with their hands full of big and small bags, and followed the three people around with amusement. She had to admit that no matter what era, women's shopping desire is very strong. Ye Li was not idle either. While shopping with the three people, she also took a few glances at the progress of several shops under her control that were recently being renovated. Although she didn't go in, the results from the outside were satisfactory. I believe that they can reopen one month before the wedding date. Maybe I can ask my cousin to put up a plaque for Cangzhen Pavilion by then, Ye Li thought silently in her heart.

After sending the servants who were helping to carry the things back, the girls, tired from shopping, decided to find a place to have lunch. Murong Ting, who was most familiar with the food in the capital, recommended the most famous Chuxiang Pavilion in the capital.

Chuxiang Pavilion is indeed the most famous restaurant in the capital. As soon as you step into the lobby and see the luxurious and elegant decoration of the restaurant, which is not inferior to that of a famous family, you can know that the owner of this restaurant must have a strong background. Although they came not too late, Chuxiang Pavilion's business is better than expected. The child, who was dressed neatly and appropriately, respectfully apologized to the four people and said that there were no vacant private rooms. Murong Ting often walked outside and didn't care much about whether there were private rooms. She asked the waiter to lead the four people to the second floor and found a seat with a good position. Ye Li glanced at the lobby and saw that there were also many noble girls dining together in groups of three or two, so the four people sitting outside did not seem particularly eye-catching.

After ordering the dishes, Murong Ting smiled with satisfaction and said, "The squirrel mandarin fish at Chuxiang Pavilion is the best in Beijing. I came here twice but never had it. I didn't expect that I would have it today when I asked you guys to come together. I am really lucky today."

Ye Li asked curiously, "Does Murong often go out shopping?"

Murong Ting smiled and said, "My father doesn't like to control me, and I can't stay alone, so I often go out for a walk. And my father loves to eat delicious food, and I... I don't have any talent for this, so I just look around and buy delicious food for him." Murong Ting felt a little embarrassed when she said this, but anyone could see that the father-daughter relationship in General Yangwei's mansion was definitely different from that in the Shangshu Mansion. At least it was definitely different from that between Shangshu Ye and Ye Li.

Hua Tianxiang smiled and said, "So, usually when I go shopping I will drag Murong along with me. There is no place in the capital that she doesn't know."

The four were talking happily when the door of the private room on the other side slammed open and a beautiful figure rushed out. The four of them tried to see who it was, and Murong Ting was surprised and said, "Huh? Isn't that... Be careful!" Before she finished speaking, Murong Ting had already stood up and jumped out quickly.