052
As the principal wife, Cen Biyun came from a noble family and naturally disapproved of the concubine's wealth and worldly possessions from a merchant family. Her expression darkened slightly as she glanced at Xie Lin, then turned to Qin Sang while stirring her teacup and said, "You are very beautiful, so you don't need those material things to adorn yourself. Just being simple and elegant is already perfect."
The mistress spoke up for herself, so how could the servants not understand?
At this moment, Xie Xiao, the youngest sister, suddenly said, "Sister Lin, why do you only give good things to the new sisters? I'm your sister too, why don't you give me one?"
Xie Lin awkwardly dabbed his lips with a handkerchief and smiled, "Of course, if Fourth Sister likes it, we can go to my room to pick one out later."
Cen Biyun then smoothed out her handkerchief: "Alright, you can all go about your business. I also have many things to take care of, so I won't keep you talking here."
Everyone stood up and heard Cen Biyun instructing her servants as she walked: "Go and find Xie Sanhu for me. He's been missing all day since he came back. This marriage is going to fall through. He's causing me no peace of mind at all..."
Xie Sanhu... that was Xie Sui'an's childhood name. Qin Sang suddenly realized that the original owner's wish to her back then was about him.
What a perfect childhood sweetheart story!
At this moment, Qin Sang noticed that Xie Lin glanced at her again, with a rather meaningful look in his eyes.
How strange, what's going on today? I have this strange feeling that I'm being surrounded by people staring at something unusual.
Too lazy to fight with these people, she strode out of the main room, only to find that Granny Liu was indeed following behind her.
She glanced back, frowned slightly, and pondered how to avoid her next move.
She would certainly report everything to the mistress, and if she wanted to go out, she would have to find a way to get her away.
But it's simple, just an old woman.
After returning to her courtyard, she ate two more soft pancakes, then smiled at Granny Liu, who had been standing to the side, and said, "Thank goodness Granny is here, I now have someone to rely on in this courtyard. Otherwise, I would be too careful and wouldn't know anything."
A smug look appeared on Granny Liu's face, but she said, "This old servant has only stayed in the Prime Minister's residence for a little longer and knows many of the rules here. The mistress sent me to the young lady's courtyard because she wanted me to help out..."
At this moment, Qin Sang interrupted her with a smile: "I brought back some valuable jewelry from my hometown, but I haven't had time to sort it out yet. Although it was brought from a remote and impoverished area, there are still many things I cherish. I'm afraid the maids won't understand. Since you're here, please help me take the maids over to take a look. If we can sort it out, count it, and put it in the storeroom, that would be the best."
Upon hearing this, Granny Liu glanced cautiously at Qin Sang. Then, she respectfully said "Yes," and left with a young maid.
Lingding glanced at them and said worriedly, "Miss, those things..."
Qin Sang got up and went inside: "Let's go, quickly change your clothes and go out."
She didn't come here to sit and embroider all day, enjoying a life of leisure, like a sheltered young lady in a well.
She needs to go out and figure out every nook and cranny of this capital city.
In the marketplace, there are many rumors, but also many truths.
Besides, now that she's here, although she still has some savings, there are countless places where she'll need money in the future. Qin Baoyun will also need to support people, and nothing can be done without money.
Yesterday, she went out and saw how bustling Kyoto was, and she started thinking about opening two shops herself, at least to increase her revenue and also to spread her influence.
To avoid trouble, the two women disguised themselves as men and walked to the nearest small door. Unexpectedly, the guards at the door stopped them, saying they didn't recognize them.
No wonder, Qin Sang has only been in the Prime Minister's residence for two days and has not shown her face in front of everyone. She did not go out through this gate yesterday, so it is normal that the gatekeeper does not recognize her.
Just as I was thinking about how to explain, a person gracefully approached.
"This is Miss Qin Sang, a new arrival in the household. Remember her well, and don't be impolite next time."
The visitor was Xie Xiao, the fourth son of Xie Zhongxu.
He gave instructions to the gatekeeper, then looked Qin Sang up and down: "Why are you dressed like this? Are you going out to buy something?"
Qin Sang smiled and said, "Just browsing around."
Xie Xiao nodded with his hands behind his back: "That's true. Kyoto is a bustling city, and it's only natural for you to go out and explore since you're new here. However, if you want to go out, you should inform the mistress and have someone prepare a carriage so you can leave openly. Kyoto is a very large city, and you can't explore it on foot."
Qin Sang thought to herself that the rules of the Prime Minister's residence were indeed numerous, and then thought that she might not be able to go out today... At this moment, Xie Xiao sighed again: "Never mind, I also need to go out. You can come with me first. When I get there, the carriage will be left for you to use."
With that, he stepped out the door.
Qin Sang was naturally delighted and quickly followed, thanking him very politely: "Then thank you very much, Fourth Uncle."
Xie Xiao glanced back at her but said nothing.
Once inside the carriage, Qin Sang felt a sense of warmth and comfort. Upon closer inspection, she noticed that the left side of the carriage wall was carved with auspicious clouds and flying horses, while the right side depicted a vast desert grassland. A tiger-skin rug covered the floor, and a sky-blue silk cushion sat on the couch. On the couch was a small ebony table, upon which sat an exquisitely carved and painted teapot and a small box of snacks. On one corner of the ebony box was the character "Xiao" (霄)... This unique design suggested that it was Xie Xiao's personal carriage.
Seeing that she was staring at the carvings on the carriage wall, Xie Xiao coughed lightly: "Just something made out of boredom, but it's worth looking at for so long."
Qin Sang turned around, looking surprised: "You carved it?"
Xie Xiao poured himself a cup of tea and said, "Mmm."
Qin Sang stroked the carving carefully with her hands: "The carving is excellent, and the painting is also very good."
Xie Xiao leaned back comfortably against the pillow: "You also know about painting."
"I know a little," Qin Sang replied modestly. "But have you been to the desert?"
“No.” Xie Xiao took a sip of tea. “Even if you haven’t eaten pork, you’ve seen pigs run, right? You can find paintings like this at any painter’s stall on the street corner. Why bother going to see them yourself? But you,” he looked at her with a half-smile, “you seem to know a little about everything. It seems you haven’t been idle during those years in the countryside.”
Qin Sang smiled politely: "Just some idle trinkets. Compared to Fourth Uncle, my skills are really clumsy."
Xie Xiao didn't make things difficult for her. He smiled, closed his eyes, and leaned against the carriage wall, pretending to doze off.
The carriage drove through the bustling city and stopped in front of a grand restaurant with ornate beams and painted rafters. Xie Xiao finally sat up lazily, stretched, and said, "I've arrived. Tell the driver where you want to go. Just get back to the manor before dark."
He bowed and walked out of the carriage, then turned back halfway and said, "Don't cause trouble. If you do, don't be afraid. Have the driver come find me."
Qin Sang was surprised by his words and felt a warmth in her heart. She then saw that the man had already stepped out of the car and hopped lightly off.
The driver asked Qin Sang where to go next, and Qin Sang replied, "Let's just wander around. We'll go to whichever street is the most lively."
The coachman then spurred the horses toward some of the busiest streets in Kyoto.
The busiest intersections are often congested with people, and you have to wait for the oncoming carriages to pass before you can move.
Along the bustling main street, restaurants and teahouses lined the streets, fiercely competing with each other, while the most lively entertainment districts were always packed with people.
Qin Sang lifted the curtain and pointed to a tall, bustling restaurant with a somewhat desolate entrance, asking the driver, "This building looks impressive, but why does it seem less lively than the restaurant across the street?"
“Yanyun Pavilion,” the coachman said, “is a long-established restaurant in the capital. Even the Emperor has dined here. However, since the old owner died, the young owner has been incompetent and has driven away all the good chefs. Now the business is getting worse and worse, and it might go out of business any day.”
Qin Sang paused for a moment, then said, "Then let's go take a look."
Upon entering the restaurant, the waiter was very welcoming and led Qin Sang and her party to a private room on the second floor. Qin Sang looked around carefully; the restaurant was quite large, with rooms side by side, and although there weren't many guests, there were still quite a few.
I asked the waiter and learned that the restaurant actually has 280 rooms. When it's popular, all 280 rooms can be booked, because there are many nobles in the capital.
Qin Sang then asked, "And now?"
"Nowadays..." the waiter smiled awkwardly, "In good times, we can book a hundred or so rooms."
Qin Sang paused for a moment, then asked him to recommend some drinks.
Before long, the table was filled with food.
After tasting it carefully, she realized the coachman was right; the current chefs were indeed not up to the standard for a restaurant with 280 private rooms. The food was far inferior to the restaurant Xie Wu had taken her to yesterday.
She rested her chin on her hand and pondered. If she could take over this huge restaurant, personally select a chef, and revitalize this magnificent establishment, it would be a good base for making money and gathering information.
I just don't know if the owner of this restaurant is willing to sell, or if I have that much money.
After having a casual meal and drinks, Qin Sang left Yanyun Tower and had the driver continue along the bustling main street.
Along the way, she discovered several more shops for sale. She asked Lingding to write down the locations and details of each one so she could calculate the costs carefully when they got back.
Finally, Qin Sang spotted a popular teahouse, with a constant stream of customers coming and going, all dressed as the most fashionable young people in Kyoto… How could she possibly miss such a vibrant and lively place? She immediately decided to go in for some tea and snacks before heading home.
Teahouses don't just sell tea; they are masters of tea preparation, accompanied by a variety of exquisite snacks and desserts. They are a place for the young men and women of wealthy families in Kyoto to relax.
As soon as Qin Sang entered, she felt that the interior decoration was indeed elegant and tasteful. There were thatched plants and flowers everywhere, which was like the charm of the countryside. Bamboo fences were used to separate the elegant seats to ensure privacy.
The tea server led her to an empty seat, and she asked someone to recommend some of the shop's specialties before she began to listen intently to the gossip.
It's not that she has long ears; it's just that it's too noisy here. Especially since the young men at the next table are making excessively lewd remarks.
A group of wealthy, unambitious playboys gathered at a table, urging each other to get to know the young ladies at another table.
Qin Sang listened with great interest, resting her chin on her hand, eager to see the outcome of their encouragement. But in the end, a young man suddenly mentioned Worry-Free Island.
Worry-Free Island?
Qin Sang immediately stretched her ears out even further.
The young man casually said, "If you've ever been to Worry-Free Island, you won't be interested in these plain-looking women anymore."
The other person quickly asked the question Qin Sang wanted to ask: "Oh? It seems you've been there, Brother Zhao? Isn't that just a brothel? Is it as magical as you make it out to be?"
The young man raised his voice: "A brothel?"
Everyone waited for his next sentence, but the young man only chuckled mysteriously twice, prompting his companions to anxiously ask, "If it's not a brothel, then what is it? Brother Pei, just tell us, don't keep us in suspense."
Brother Pei then said, "It's not just brothels. You can enjoy tea, listen to music, brew tea and burn incense, and seek pleasure... all the most beautiful things in the world are there."
One of them said with a sigh, “I’ve always heard people talk about Worry-Free Island, but they insist on joining that Treasure Appraisal Association. Ha, I always find it too mysterious and have never been willing to join… But I am interested in visiting Worry-Free Island… Brother Pei, since you’ve been there, why don’t you take us with you?”
Brother Pei paused for a long time before saying, "You really want to go?"
The others chimed in, "Of course we'd like to go and see for ourselves."
Brother Pei paused for a moment before calling out, "Come on, everyone, gather around."
Qin Sang leaned back slightly and moved closer.
The man lowered his voice and said, "In Lane 25 of Donglong Street, there's a tea shop. Go and ask the owner if you sell Worry-Free Fruit. He'll ask who said they have Worry-Free Fruit, and you should answer that it was Young Master Pei from the Jingbo Mansion who said so. The owner will then arrange a ferry for you to go to Worry-Free Island..."
Qin Sang almost crushed the straw to make it deform before she could barely hear what was being said. Then she heard the young master Pei shout, "Who is it!"
Qin Sang pretended to bump into the fence accidentally, then turned around and impatiently shouted, "What?! Who?!"
Seeing her rational yet clueless tone, Young Master Pei felt relieved and said nothing more.
The group chatted and laughed for a while, not taking Qin Sang seriously.
At this moment, Qin Sang's snacks and tea were served one after another. She ate slowly, feeling quite pleased. She thought to herself, "Indeed, restaurants and teahouses are places where all sorts of information converge. It's wonderful that I was able to stumble upon them."
In that case, I must visit Worry-Free Island tomorrow.
But that person described the island as so mysterious, it must be somewhat dangerous. So, it might be safer to bring Uncle Qin along.
After quickly drinking tea, Qin Sang took a carriage back to the Prime Minister's residence.
When Qin Sang returned to the courtyard, she found Granny Liu scolding a young maid in the room.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
