Peony was skillful and had always loved beauty, often playing with rouge. The refugee women she selected were exactly the same.
Under Su An's guidance, they quickly mastered the skills and opened their own beauty salons, which were located on the busiest streets.
Unlike the bustling food street, the beauty salon was filled with the aroma of perfumes and powders.
In the antique-style shop, cosmetic boxes and treasure chests were displayed, with rouge as red as the sunset, lipstick as fiery as fire, and eyebrows as dark as smoke.
The various perfumes and powders are as delicate as snow, and the cosmetics are exquisite, exuding a captivating fragrance.
The novelty of the shop, coupled with their exquisite craftsmanship, attracted many women within two days, and the business was booming.
Su An was invited to experience it, and saw that Peony had just seen off several women, their sweet laughter revealing their satisfaction.
"Well, Master Su, you finally have time to experience your apprentice's skills?" Peony greeted Su An with a smile and welcomed him into the shop.
Su An looked around at the beautiful beauty salon and couldn't help but give her a thumbs up in admiration: "Congratulations, you've not only graduated, but you've surpassed your master."
"I have to try it out, so let's get a hair wash and makeup done!"
She didn't stand on ceremony with Peony, and after lying down, she let Peony untangle her hair and wash her.
Slender, delicate fingertips massaged through her hair, making Su An almost fall asleep with pleasure, clicking her tongue in admiration.
Peony seemed shy as she washed her hair, casually changing the subject as she asked, "Miss Su, with so many talents, what are your aspirations for the future?"
Without a second thought, Su An smiled and said, "Then I must become the richest person in the world, the most wealthy person!"
Upon hearing this, Peony choked for a moment before agreeing with a slight smile.
"Among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, merchants are the lowest of the low. If they go to big towns, they will be looked down upon. Miss Su is an extraordinary person. Are you willing to be looked down upon for the rest of your life?"
Her voice gradually became seductive as she said, "Actually, if Miss Su were willing, with her skills, you could easily become the subject of the current emperor."
"When you have power and influence, it will not only not hinder your business, but it will also allow you to operate without hindrance, and you can truly grow bigger and stronger."
Hearing these words, Su An was stunned for a long time.
……ah?
How did we suddenly get onto the topic of the emperor?
Su An opened her eyes thoughtfully and saw the alluring look in Mudan's eyes.
She wasn't stupid. Recalling the identity of the former leader of the Peony Shadow Guard, who worked for the emperor, the smile on her lips faded instantly.
Does this mean that Peony is still on the emperor's side and is deliberately trying to win him over?
"Hehe... Actually, I was just bragging. I don't have that ability or ambition. I'm fine as I am now."
As those hands washed her hair, Su An felt a chill run down her spine and forced a dry laugh as she declined.
Peony couldn't help but show a regretful expression, but it was fleeting.
Su An didn't linger, and without even trying the makeup, she hurriedly said goodbye because she had something to do.
"Sigh..." After watching her leave, Peony hesitated and wrote a secret letter.
The letter contained Su An's reply just now, as well as whether or not to take action against Su An.
Little did Su An know, he was restless the whole way.
After thinking it over, she went to the clinic and mentioned the peony to Fu Zhun.
Fu Zhun's expression remained unchanged, only his eyes grew darker. He gently reassured her, "Don't worry, I already knew about her unusual behavior and sent people to keep an eye on her. We're just waiting to close the net."
Su An's lips twitched.
Looking at Fu Zhun's calm and composed demeanor, she suddenly felt a little sorry for Mudan.
Why not just stay put and live a peaceful life?
If Peony chooses to betray us again this time, things might not end so well…
Three days later, in the palace.
Chu Yi was playing with the parrot when the secret letter was presented to him, so he squinted and took it.
He skimmed through the text, and a murderous aura suddenly rose from his body.
"Chirp chirp—"
The parrot, which was being fed in his palm, inadvertently pecked him, and Chu Yi turned his gaze away coldly.
However, the next moment, he suddenly clenched his fist expressionlessly and strangled the parrot to death in an instant.
"Those who don't listen, why keep them in the way!"
He stared at the blood seeping through his fingers and sneered, then opened his palm, looked at the tragically dead parrot, and frowned in annoyance and regret.
“This beast is one thing, but Su An is different; he’s someone we can use.”
A strange glint flashed in Chu Yi's eyes. He threw down the parrot and gestured for Fu Hai to reply.
The rice and flour stored in the shop's cellar were almost gone. After arranging the food street, she asked Zhang San and others to keep order while she took some time to go buy more grain.
But as soon as she arrived at her usual grain store, she was shocked by the prices on the sign.
"Seventy copper coins for a pound of rice?!"
"Boss, the price of your rice and flour has increased tenfold? Are you crazy?!" Su An shouted in disbelief.
The grain store owner naturally recognized his old acquaintance Su An, and he was also swatting away flies with a helpless expression.
"Boss Su, don't get angry with me. It was Ma Fu from that grain depot who raised the price of grain tenfold first. We're just a small business. If he sells it at a high price, there's no reason for us to sell it at a low price. Otherwise, who will be responsible if we lose money?"
He kindly advised, "There's nothing we can do. Food is scarce right now, and the price is the same everywhere. Just raise your price accordingly. No matter how expensive it is, there will always be people who will buy it."
Su An's anger surged, and he immediately turned around and strode towards the granary.
No matter what the times are like, food is always the most important thing. Even if the price increases tenfold, there are still many people queuing up at the entrance of the granary to grab it, for fear that if they are late, the price of food will rise again.
At this moment, Ma Fu, maintaining the demeanor of a master, stroked his mustache and watched with satisfaction as the crowd scrambled for the food.
Not long after the price increase, his treasury's silver reserves more than tripled.
Great wealth and prosperity are within your grasp!
Just as he was feeling smug, Su An rushed over at top speed, panting as he pushed through the crowd and stood before him: "So it's you, you unscrupulous merchant? What kind of gold-inlaid and jade-inlaid rice and flour are you selling at such high prices, taking advantage of the chaos to raise prices? Is there no law anymore?!"
Ma Fu had heard plenty of such insults that day, but he remained unperturbed, instead giving Su An a smug look.
"You little lady, do you know how to talk? With refugees pouring in and food shortages, it's only natural for prices to go up. If you can't afford it, get out of here and stop getting in the way of others in line."
Anyway, these people may criticize, but they will still buy what they want.
Su An almost gritted his teeth to pieces. He had never been so angry before. Profiteering from a national disaster was simply outrageous!
"You're heartless and rotten, you're a piece of trash. You'll be struck by lightning sooner or later!"
"Tch." Ma Fu wasn't afraid at all. "Whether I chop you up or not is another matter. If you're so capable, then don't eat my food. If anyone's going to die, it'll be you, you bastard, starving to death first!"
Su An coldly observed Ma Fu's arrogant demeanor, knowing he was unlikely to change.
She looked around and immediately chose an honest and simple-minded man, gave him some money, and asked him to go to the Su family shop and tell Zhang San to bring the county magistrate over.
I'll stay here and keep watch, lest this unscrupulous merchant run away halfway!
However, not long after, something unusual happened in the grain-buying queue.
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