Chapter 17
Following the grand birthday banquet, "Ice Princess" Cui Yunshu and her soon-to-open mysterious dessert shop "Yunjian Pavilion" became the hottest topic in the capital's high society overnight.
The emperor's words carried far more weight than any form of propaganda. His statement, "Such delicacies should be shared with the people," not only bestowed upon "Yun Jian Ge" a dazzling royal aura but also whetted everyone's appetite. Those nobles, ladies of high birth, and other high-ranking officials who personally tasted the "Agar Ice Cream Banquet" at the event were filled with lingering reminiscence, describing its flavor vividly to everyone they met, their words brimming with longing and anticipation.
For a time, everyone wanted to know what kind of heavenly delicacy could make the emperor so pleased that he personally bestowed the title of princess upon the princess. And what kind of heavenly scenery would the "Cloud Pavilion" that was about to open on Zhuque Street be?
Amidst this atmosphere of intense anticipation and carefully cultivated expectation, Cui Yunshu and her mother, Song, did not rush things. They proceeded methodically and unhurriedly with the final preparations before the opening.
The shop's location was chosen by the Song family through their connections. They acquired a three-story prime street-front shop from a retired high-ranking official. The location faced Zhuque Street, the most expensive and busiest area in the entire capital.
The shop's renovation was personally supervised by the Song family, who hired the best craftsmen in the capital to carry out the construction entirely according to Cui Yunshu's ahead-of-its-time design blueprints. Every brick, every tile, every blade of grass was meticulously crafted to perfection. For a full month, the shop remained shrouded in high fences, preventing any outside speculation from uncovering its interior and further enhancing its mystique.
Finally, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, the Qixi Festival, a day full of romance and ingenuity, "Yunjian Pavilion" unveiled its mysterious veil and officially opened to welcome guests.
[From the female protagonist's perspective]
On the opening day, Cui Yunshu did not attend in person. She simply stayed in her Qingshu Courtyard as usual, listening to the real-time news sent back by Atao's people time and time again.
She knew that she couldn't easily play her trump card, the "Ice Princess." Maintaining secrecy and remaining behind the scenes was crucial to preserving the elegance and value of "Cloud Pavilion" at its highest level. She entrusted everything at the front of the house to her most trusted and rigorously trained maid, Atao, and a group of clever and beautiful maids carefully selected by her mother, Madam Song.
"Girl! Girl! They're here! They're all here!" The first servant to report practically tumbled into the courtyard, his face beaming with uncontrollable joy and excitement. "All fifty ladies and young women we sent invitations to have arrived! The wife of the Minister of Personnel, the Dowager Lady of the Duke of Anguo's Mansion, Princess Pingyang... they're all here! The carriages in front of our shop are almost lined up to the end of the street!"
Upon hearing this, Cui Yunshu simply smiled faintly, picked up her brush, and gently wrote the character "起" (qi, meaning "rise") on a piece of Xuan paper.
Everything was as expected.
The "Yunjian Pavilion" shop completely overturned everyone's perception of shops in the capital.
Unlike traditional shops with their open facades, this one features an entrance through an exquisitely carved rosewood moon gate. Before the gate stand two gnarled and verdant pine trees, and a winding path paved with pebbles leads in, flanked by babbling brooks and meticulously arranged rockeries. Were it not for the plaque above the gate bearing the inscription "Yun Jian Ge" (Cloud Pavilion), personally written by a renowned Confucian scholar of the time, passersby might mistake it for the private garden of some important figure.
Stepping through the moon gate reveals a completely different world.
The lobby on the first floor wasn't furnished with many tables and chairs, instead creating an ethereal and elegant atmosphere. The floor was paved with gleaming bluestone slabs, and in the center was a small pond where several koi carp swam leisurely, and a few water lilies bloomed quietly. The walls were adorned with calligraphy and paintings by famous artists, elegant incense burned in a corner, and the air was filled with the soothing sound of a guqin (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument).
The maids, dressed in uniform light green ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) designed by Cui Yunshu herself, were graceful and smiling as they guided each guest in soft voices.
"Girl! It's incredible! The guests are all stunned!" The second servant reported, his voice trembling. "They all say they've never seen such an elegant shop! Many ladies and young women didn't come in for the food; the scenery alone captivated them, and they lingered, praising it endlessly!"
Cui Yunshu smiled slightly and wrote the second character: "承".
The business model of "Yunjian Pavilion" allowed all the noble ladies who came for the first time to experience an unprecedented sense of "prestige" and "novelty".
The store operates on a membership system, and only guests who receive a specially made invitation on gilded stationery sent by Cui Yunshu in the name of "Princess Ice and Snow" are eligible to enter on the opening day.
The restaurant's dining experience is also unique. Instead of traditional waiters shouting orders, waitresses present each guest with a beautifully crafted menu. The menu is presented in the form of a picture book, with each page featuring an artist's meticulous illustration of an ice cream dessert, accompanied by a poetic name and a touching little story.
For example, the signature dish "Guifei Zui" is a bowl of shaved ice made with lychee pulp and milk. The story next to the menu is adapted from the legend of Guifei Zui, saying that it tastes sweet and can relieve all worries.
For example, "Searching for Plum Blossoms in the Snow" is a frozen dessert made from sour plum juice, garnished with a few bright red cherries. The story tells of a literary figure who, while admiring plum blossoms in winter, was inspired to create this elegant dish.
This entirely new experience brought unprecedented novelty and satisfaction to those pampered ladies and noblewomen who were used to luxury.
"Girl! It's selling like crazy! It's really selling like crazy!" The third servant reported, almost shouting, "The three hundred servings of ice cream we prepared were all sold out in less than an hour! Many ladies who didn't get to order are complaining to Sister Tao! And... and our membership cards, some people are already offering one hundred taels of silver each to buy them from the ladies who have invitations!"
A satisfied smile finally appeared on Cui Yunshu's face. She picked up her pen and wrote the third character: "Turn".
My first pot of gold is in hand.
Moreover, it was far more intense and successful than she had anticipated.
She knew that from this day forward, being able to enter "Yun Jian Ge" and enjoy an ice cream would become a symbol of status and taste, the latest trend among the elite ladies of the capital. Her "money-making" plan had been a resounding success.
[Male protagonist's perspective]
Before the dust and sand from the western frontier had completely settled through the gaps in his military uniform, Tang Pu, the young prince of the Anjun Prince's Mansion, returned once again to the capital city, a place he both knew and found somewhat tiresome.
He had just finished a three-month border patrol and returned to the capital to report on his duties. Compared to the simple, pure, and iron-blooded life in the military camp, the prosperity and hypocrisy of the capital always made him feel somewhat out of place.
He rode his horse at a leisurely pace along Zhuque Avenue, intending to return directly to his residence, but was drawn by an unusual commotion ahead.
On one side of the street, a shop I'd never seen before was now packed with people and bustling with activity. Dozens of ornately decorated carriages blocked the road, and groups of noble ladies dressed in silks and satins, each accompanied by their maids, were either excitedly emerging from the shop or lingering at the entrance with regretful expressions, seemingly wanting to go in but unable to.
"What... is this?" Tang Pu reined in his horse and asked his personal guard with curiosity.
The guards quickly went forward to inquire and returned to report: "Your Highness, it's a newly opened dessert shop called 'Yun Jian Ge'. I heard it specializes in ice cream, and today is its first day of business. They're only accepting guests with invitations, which is why it's so lively."
"A dessert shop?" Tang Pu raised an eyebrow slightly. He wasn't interested in these women's things and was about to ride away when the soldier's next words made him pause abruptly.
"...I also heard that the owner of this shop is none other than the fourth daughter of the Cui family, who recently shone brightly at the Emperor's birthday banquet and was personally bestowed the title of 'Ice and Snow Princess' by the Emperor."
Cui Yunshu, the fourth daughter of the Cui family?
In Tang Pu's mind, the image of the girl who had acted strangely and incongruously at the Lu family's spring banquet instantly appeared.
He keenly sensed that something was wrong.
How could a thirteen-year-old girl, known for her laziness and aversion to socializing, first demonstrate her amazing skill of "turning water into ice" at the Emperor's birthday banquet, stunning everyone, and then devise such a meticulous business plan to open such a phenomenal store that could stir up the entire capital?
This is something an ordinary girl could never do!
Tang Pu dismounted, tossed the reins to his personal guard, and walked straight toward the "Yunjian Pavilion".
The maid at the door saw his extraordinary clothes and distinguished demeanor. Although she wanted to stop him, she dared not speak because of his deep and sharp eyes.
Tang Pu stepped into the shop and was immediately struck by the sight before him. Every design element exuded a kind of understated yet exquisite luxury he had never seen before, brimming with ingenuity. Looking at the well-organized and highly trained maids, at the customers who were still enjoying themselves and full of excitement, and smelling the sweet and alluring fragrance in the air, he knew that this success was by no means accidental.
He found a corner to sit down and ordered the only dish with a few ingredients left that day, "The Wizard of Oz" (mung bean smoothie).
When he tasted that ice cream, its unique flavor and the enormous business opportunities it contained—enough to change the entire catering landscape of the Qin Dynasty—amazed him.
He observed everything in the shop without making a sound, and the words he had heard at the Spring Banquet, which he had almost forgotten, resurfaced clearly in his mind.
"...Three years later...it will be too late..."
Tang Pu's gaze became more solemn than ever before.
He realized that Cui Yunshu, this seemingly innocent girl, was not as simple as she appeared.
Everything she has done, from the arrangements for the Spring Festival Banquet to the gifts presented at the Emperor's Birthday Banquet, and now the sudden emergence of "Yun Jian Ge," all carry a strong, unknown purpose.
She was like a master chess player, playing a very large game. And everyone in the capital seemed to have become a pawn on her chessboard.
What exactly does she want to do?
What will happen "three years from now" that she mentioned?
At this moment, Tang Pu's initial curiosity transformed into a strong desire to explore and find out the truth.
He decided that he would personally unravel this mystery and see what this mysterious Miss Cui was really up to.
He put down the silver spoon, got up and left, his deep eyes gleaming with the excitement of a hunter spotting his prey.
All of this was relayed back to Qing Shu Yuan through the spies that the mother, Song, had planted in the shop.
After listening to the entire story of Tang Pu's visit, Cui Yunshu simply smiled faintly, picked up her brush, and wrote the last word on the Xuan paper.
"combine".
She knew the fish had taken the bait.
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