Chapter 19
After her elder brother Cui Yuanjue received his share of the profits and became her strongest ally in the court, Cui Yunshu's plan to become "richer than a country" took off and officially entered a period of rapid expansion.
The popularity of "Yun Jian Ge" is no longer news. It has evolved from a simple dessert shop into a cultural symbol, an indispensable social venue for the top social circles of the capital's elite. The limited daily supply of ice cream still attracts countless people; and the small, exquisitely crafted membership card is privately resold for hundreds of taels of silver each, yet it remains priceless.
Cui Yunshu was not satisfied with this. When the huge profits of the first month were presented to her, she immediately launched the second phase of her plan—opening branches and expanding the business.
The second "Yunjian Pavilion" was located in the West Market, a gathering place for literati and scholars, targeting wealthy individuals who appreciated elegance and refinement. Her business empire began to expand beyond the catering industry into broader and more profitable sectors.
She registered a new business name, "Jinghuayuan," and began preparing for her own high-end beauty brand. At the same time, through her mother Song's connections, she also made contact with several of the largest silk shops in Jiangnan, intending to bring the finest silk fabrics in the entire Qin Dynasty into her business system.
In just a few months, the business network centered on "Yunjian Pavilion" spread rapidly throughout the capital like an invisible giant net. It not only brought Cui Yunshu a continuous stream of huge cash flow that was enough to make even the Ministry of Revenue take notice, but also invisibly gathered a huge network of connections and influence.
This emerging, powerful, and unmistakably "Choi" branded business force has finally made some people feel a real, thorny threat.
The Eastern Palace. The Second Prince's Residence.
In the study, the Second Prince Tang Jingming irritably slammed the teacup in his hand onto the floor, splashing warm tea mixed with shards of broken porcelain all over the place.
"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!" He pointed at his silent, trembling advisors, his anger barely contained. "From the grain transport embezzlement case to the northern border military supplies, and now, you've allowed a mere young girl to thrive in the capital! Tell me, what use are you bunch of good-for-nothings?!"
The staff members all hung their heads, not daring to utter a sound.
Who would have thought that the fourth daughter of the Cui family, rumored to be only interested in pleasure and habitually lazy, would possess such shrewd business acumen? The daily revenue of "Yunjian Pavilion" now almost rivals the annual income of a mid-sized family. On the surface, this money goes into the Cui family's pockets, but everyone knows that the Cui family is now the Crown Prince's most steadfast supporter. What difference is there between the Cui family's money and the Crown Prince's money?
“Your Highness, please calm down,” said the head advisor, Zhang, who had orchestrated the “Spring Banquet for the Commoner’s Wife Case.” He rolled his eyes and said in a sinister tone, “That Cui family girl’s business seems impregnable, but in reality… it is not without its flaws.”
"Oh? What's your plan?" Tang Jingming suppressed his anger and looked at him.
Master Zhang leaned forward and lowered his voice: "Your Highness, the bigger her business grows, the more ostentatious it becomes. Its extravagance has already attracted the attention of many officials. We only need to... give it a little push..."
A conspiracy targeting Cui Yunshu's business empire thus begins.
[From the female protagonist's perspective]
The weather was still a bit hot and dry on an early autumn afternoon.
Cui Yunshu was sitting under the grape trellis in Qingshu Courtyard, playing chess with her mother, Madam Song. On the chessboard, the black and white pieces were locked in a fierce battle.
"Our branch in the West Market was shut down by the Jingzhao Prefecture today." Madam Song placed a piece on the board, her tone calm, as if she were talking about something trivial.
Cui Yunshu paused slightly in her hand holding the white piece, then looked up at her mother: "What's the reason?"
“‘Extravagance and waste corrupt social morals and lead students astray.’” A cold smile curled at the corner of Song’s mouth. “What a huge accusation. How did they even come up with it?”
Upon hearing this, Cui Yunshu smiled instead. She gently placed her white piece on the chessboard, instantly cutting off a large black group. "It seems we've stepped on someone's sore spot."
“More than that,” Madam Song looked at her daughter, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes, “The main store on Zhuque Street has also started to become unsettled these past few days. There are always a few local thugs coming in twos and threes to cause trouble. They don’t smash or damage anything, they just want a pot of the cheapest tea and sit there all day. Sometimes they shout loudly, sometimes they speak rudely to the female customers in the store, and we can’t get rid of them, and reporting them to the authorities wouldn’t be enough to warrant a charge. Several ladies and young misses have already sent people to complain.”
They're employing a two-pronged approach, one overt and one covert. On one hand, they're using the power of the government to suppress your expansion through procedural means; on the other hand, they're using the most despicable methods to fundamentally damage your reputation.
This is a common tactic used by the Second Prince's faction; it is ruthless and effective.
“Mother, don’t worry,” Cui Yunshu said calmly, looking at the chessboard as if she were watching a battle that had nothing to do with her. “The more they act like this, the more it proves that we are right. This is just the last darkness before dawn. The wind will come soon.”
The "wind" she spoke of naturally referred to her ally, Tang Pu, the young prince of the Anjun Prince's Mansion.
[Male protagonist's perspective]
The martial arts training ground of Prince An's residence.
Tang Pu was shirtless, his bronze skin glistening with a thin layer of sweat that shimmered healthily in the sunlight. He held a heavy spear in his hand, its movements swift and powerful, each swing accompanied by a sharp whistling sound that tore through the air.
After returning to the capital from his duty report in the western border, he was given a long leave by the emperor. Every day, besides practicing martial arts, he listened to the information about the "Ice and Snow Princess" that his subordinates had collected from all over the capital.
The accounts of "Yunjian Pavilion," Cui Yunshu's business empire, and even who she met and what she said every day... everything, big or small, would be compiled on his desk immediately.
He was like a patient hunter, quietly observing his prey, trying to find clues to her grand plan from every seemingly unintentional move she made.
“Young Prince,” the personal guard commander Tie Niu strode over, his expression grave, “another incident has occurred at ‘Yun Jian Ge’.”
Tang Pu holstered his gun, took the towel Tie Niu handed him, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said calmly, "Speak."
"This afternoon, a group of thugs caused an even bigger disturbance at 'Yunjian Pavilion' than in the past few days. They not only verbally harassed the daughter of the Vice Minister of War, but also... 'accidentally' spilled a bowl of boiling tea on the skirt of the Minister of Personnel's wife. Now, the shop is in complete chaos."
Tang Pu frowned slightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
He naturally knew who was behind these underhanded tactics. The Second Prince, Tang Jingming, was narrow-minded and used despicable methods; he had always been like that.
He had originally intended to observe the situation further to see how Cui Yunshu would respond. But now, the other party had begun to harm innocent people, and even set her sights on the families of high-ranking officials.
"What about the Jingzhao Prefecture? The seals on the West Market branch haven't been removed yet?" Tang Pu asked.
"Your Highness, Lord Yin of the Jingzhao Prefecture has claimed illness and is refusing visitors. His subordinates all say that this matter was ordered down from above, and no one dares to touch it."
"Hmph, feigning illness?" Tang Pu sneered. "It seems that if I don't teach them a lesson, they'll really think I'm just a lazy prince who only knows how to practice shooting at home."
He tossed the towel to Tie Niu, turned around and said, "Prepare the horses, let's go to Zhuque Street."
When Tang Pu, dressed in a black outfit, appeared at the entrance of "Yun Jian Ge," the chaos inside the store had reached its peak.
Several thugs, hands on hips, confronted the shop's manager and guards, hurling insults and profanities. Several frightened noble ladies, supported by their maids, wept. The wife of the Minister of Personnel, whose tea had been spilled, was furious, her face turning ashen, pointing at the thugs, speechless.
"Wow, it's quite lively here today."
A slightly languid yet penetrating voice came from the doorway.
The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and saw a tall, handsome young man with his arms crossed, leaning against the door frame, watching the farce unfold with great interest.
"It's...it's the young prince of the Prince An's mansion!" Someone in the crowd exclaimed in surprise.
Those previously arrogant thugs froze instantly upon seeing who it was, their faces contorted with rage, and their legs began to tremble. Everyone in the capital knew that this young prince, Tang Pu, though seemingly carefree, was actually a favorite of the Emperor, a true battlefield veteran and a ruthless killer. Offending him was worse than offending the Prefect of the Capital!
"Young...Young Prince..." The leader of the thugs knelt down with a "plop" and kowtowed repeatedly, "We were blind and did not recognize your greatness. We have disturbed your refined enjoyment. We beg your forgiveness!"
Tang Pu didn't even glance at them. He walked straight to the wife of the Minister of Personnel, cupped his hands in greeting, and said with a smile, "Junior Tang Pu greets Madam. I heard the commotion on the street and came to investigate. Madam has been frightened."
His actions were a great honor for the wife of the Minister of Personnel. The Minister's wife was flattered and quickly returned the courtesy, saying, "You flatter me, you flatter me. Young Prince, you are too kind."
Tang Pu then turned his gaze to the kneeling thugs, curled his lip, and said, "You've offended the Minister's wife, and you still dare to make a scene here? Do you think the Dali Temple's prison isn't big enough, or that the mines in Xishan aren't big enough for you to mine?"
His casual remark terrified the local thugs. They knew that this young prince meant what he said.
"Young Prince, spare us! Spare us!" the men cried and begged for mercy.
"Get out." Tang Pu only said one word.
Those thugs felt as if they had been granted a pardon and fled "Yunjian Pavilion" in a panic, disappearing without a trace in an instant.
He defused the storm with ease.[2]
After dealing with the thugs, Tang Pu turned to a seemingly inconspicuous attendant in the crowd and said casually, "I heard that the branch in the West Market has a nice view, and I was planning to go and take a look tomorrow, but it turns out it's closed. Go back and tell your Lord Yin that I will be waiting for him there at noon tomorrow. If he is really unwell, I... wouldn't mind visiting him at his residence in person."
Upon hearing this, the attendant turned pale, quickly bowed in agreement, and quietly withdrew.
Everyone present understood that the young prince was supporting "Yunjian Pavilion" and putting pressure on the Jingzhao Prefecture.[2]
No one expected that the fourth daughter of the Cui family would have such a hidden connection with the Prince of An's mansion. Suddenly, the way everyone looked at "Yun Jian Pavilion" held even more awe.
[From the female protagonist's perspective]
That evening, an autumn rain began to fall in a light drizzle.
Cui Yunshu was sitting in a private room on the top floor of the "Yunjian Pavilion" flagship store, checking the day's accounts. Although the incident during the day had some impact on business, the final turnover was still an astonishing figure.
Her mother, Madam Song, came in, draped a cloak over her shoulders, and said softly, "It's chilly outside, be careful not to catch a cold."
“Mother,” Cui Yunshu put down her pen, turned around and smiled.
"You know everything that happened today?" Madam Song sat down beside her, a hint of inquiry in her eyes.
“Yes,” Cui Yunshu nodded, “It’s all thanks to the young prince of the Prince An’s mansion for his help.”
"When did you first become acquainted with him?" Madam Song asked. She only knew that her daughter was intelligent, but she did not know that she had expanded her network to such an extent.
Upon hearing this, Cui Yunshu was surprised. She looked at her mother and asked, "It wasn't you, Mother..."
She had assumed that her mother had used the Cui family's connections to persuade the Prince of An's residence.
Madam Song shook her head: "I have no close relationship with the Prince of An's mansion. This young prince has always acted as he pleased, disliked making friends with people, and might not even give face to His Highness the Crown Prince. His actions today are truly puzzling."
Not the mother?
A greater sense of confusion welled up in Cui Yunshu's heart. She couldn't understand why this seemingly carefree and unaffiliated young general would help her time and time again.
At the spring banquet, he followed quietly behind, observing coldly.
He came to investigate the opening of "Yunjian Pavilion" without making a sound.
And today, at the moment when he needed it most, he appeared like a divine warrior, clearing away the obstacles for him in the most direct and effective way.
What exactly does he want to do?
Just as she was racking her brains trying to figure it out, there was a gentle knock on the door of the private room.
"Who?" Atao asked warily.
A slightly languid, familiar male voice came from outside the door: "Passing by on a rainy night, I thought I'd ask for a bowl of hot tea and try the legendary new product of 'Cloud Pavilion.' I wonder... if the princess could do me this favor?"
Cui Yunshu's heart skipped a beat.
It's Tang Pu!
She exchanged a glance with Atao and gestured for her to open the door.
The door was opened, and Tang Pu, dressed in black, stood quietly under the eaves, holding an old-fashioned oil paper umbrella. The raindrops under the eaves fell like broken pearls. The lanterns under the eaves stretched his shadow, casting it on his handsome face, half in light and half in shadow, making him appear deep and mysterious.[2]
"Your Highness's late arrival is an honor, I apologize for not greeting you sooner." Cui Yunshu stood up and calmly gave a bow.
Tang Pu folded his umbrella and entered the private room. His gaze swept across Song Shi's face before settling on Cui Yunshu. He smiled, getting straight to the point, yet with a hidden meaning:
"Miss Cui's business is so big that it's bound to attract attention."
In a single sentence, he made it clear that he already knew everything.
Cui Yunshu looked into his eyes, which seemed to see through everything, and felt a chill run down her spine. She knew that this man was far more intelligent and dangerous than she had imagined.
She didn't answer his question, but instead picked up the teapot on the table and poured him a cup of hot tea. Her voice was calm and even: "A strong wind is good for setting sail. I am deeply grateful for Your Highness's help today. This cup of tea is my way of offering my respects to Your Highness on behalf of 'Yunjian Pavilion'."
She gently pushed the teacup in front of him, her movements composed, her eyes showing no sign of flinching.
A silent test and confrontation unfolded quietly in this tranquil rainy night, in this elegant room filled with the aroma of tea.
He wanted to know where her ship, sailing against the wind, was headed.
She wanted to know whether his sudden "east wind" was meant to help her or... to blow her ship in the direction he wanted to go.
The two sat facing each other, neither speaking, simply sipping their tea and listening to the patter of rain outside the window. Yet, the seemingly calm air was filled with countless unspoken questions and speculations, and a subtle, dangerous yet alluring atmosphere of ambiguity began to quietly grow between them.
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