The next morning, Lin Yun went with Lin Feng to see the shop.
Just as her elder brother had said, the location was excellent, and the layout both in front and behind suited her perfectly.
In the end, he got a discount of ten taels of silver, signed a contract with the owner, and paid a deposit.
Back home, Xie Yu was already waiting in the hall. Seeing Lin Yun enter, he stood up, cupped his hands, and said with a smile, "Miss Lin, I apologize for disturbing you."
Lin Yun returned the greeting: "Thank you for your hospitality, young master. May I ask what brings you here today? Is there anything wrong with the jewelry I gave to Her Majesty earlier?"
Xie Yu's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, and he said with a half-smile, "The jewelry is very nice, and the ladies like it very much. However, I heard that Miss Lin is going to open a rouge shop, so I came here to offer my congratulations."
Lin Yun's heart skipped a beat, but she didn't show it on her face: "Oh? Where did Young Master Xie get this information?"
Xie Yu: "It's no secret that Young Master Lin went to find a shop."
Lin Yun thought about it and agreed, then smiled and said, "Young Master Xie is really well-informed, but the shop hasn't opened yet, so it's a bit early for you to offer your congratulations."
Xie Yu chuckled: "With Miss Lin's abilities, the opening is sure to be a great success. I'm just here to share in the good fortune in advance."
As he spoke, he took out a brocade box from his sleeve and pushed it in front of Lin Yun, saying, "This is just a small gift, nothing special."
Lin Yun opened it and found a set of exquisite rouge boxes. The carvings on them were delicate and beautiful, and it was clear that they were very valuable. She closed the box and declined, saying, "Thank you for your generous gift, young master. I am unworthy of it."
Xie Yu waved his hand: "Miss Lin, there's no need to refuse. Actually, I have another request to make today."
Lin Yun looked up: "Please speak."
Xie Yu said seriously, "Linglong Pavilion also sells rouge and face powder, but unfortunately, it lacks good recipes, so business has always been lukewarm."
If Miss Lin is willing to cooperate, Linglong Pavilion is willing to provide channels and manpower, and the profits will be split 50/50.
Lin Yun understood immediately; they had come for the secret recipe.
She pretended to hesitate for a moment, then shook her head and said, "Thank you for your kind offer, young master, but I want to run my rouge shop myself and don't plan to cooperate with anyone for the time being."
A hint of disappointment flashed in Xie Yu's eyes, but he still smiled and said, "In that case, I will not force you. However, if Miss Lin changes her mind in the future, the doors of Linglong Pavilion will always be open for you."
Lin Yun smiled slightly: "Definitely."
After seeing Xie Yu off, Lin Yun stood in the courtyard, staring at the rouge box in her hand, her gaze gradually turning cold.
Xie Yu's intentions were all too clear, but she would never easily hand over her secret recipe.
"Yun'er." Lin's mother's voice came from behind, "You must be careful of that Young Master Xie."
Lin Yun turned around and took her mother's hand: "Mother, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Lin's mother sighed, "Your business is growing bigger and bigger, and you're attracting more and more trouble. I only hope you stay safe."
Lin Yun nodded: "I will be careful."
In the days that followed, Lin Yun was extremely busy.
While overseeing the shop's renovations, she also personally tested the rouge recipe.
The addition of Lingquan (a type of mineral water) makes the color of the lip balm more vibrant and longer-lasting, and the texture of the face powder more delicate.
She also specially formulated a beauty cream, and after adding spiritual spring water, Xiao Tao, who tried it, became radiant in just a few days, which made the other maids envious.
After Xie Yu returned home, the more he thought about it, the more unwilling he felt.
He sat in the back room of Linglong Pavilion, his fingers lightly tapping the table, his brows furrowed.
"Lin Yun is a difficult woman to deal with," he muttered to himself.
The steward cautiously asked, "Young Master, is there any room for negotiation regarding the rouge recipe?"
Xie Yu snorted coldly: "Make way? She won't even cooperate, what make way?"
He narrowed his eyes, pondered for a moment, and then suddenly smiled: "However, since force doesn't work, let's try a softer approach. As long as we get close to her, are we afraid we won't be able to get the prescription?"
Such a golden opportunity, anyone who gives it up is a fool.
The next morning, Xie Yu ordered his men to prepare a gift—a set of fine writing implements, said to have been made by a famous craftsman of the previous dynasty and of considerable value.
He personally brought the gift to her door, his smile warm: "Miss Lin, I heard that your younger brother is preparing for the exam. This set of writing materials may be a small item, but it is a token of my appreciation."
Lin Yun glanced at the exquisite gift box and understood what was going on, but she remained calm on the surface: "Thank you for your kindness, young master. However, my younger brother is used to ordinary things, and I am really unworthy of such a precious gift."
Xie Yu insisted on putting the gifts down: "Miss Lin, why be so formal? They are just some trinkets, not worth mentioning."
After that, Xie Yu seemed to have found an excuse to send gifts in different ways every day.
Today it's newly arrived silk from Jiangnan, tomorrow it's spices from overseas, and the day after tomorrow it's a box of pearls, supposedly for Lin's mother to improve her complexion.
Lin Yun always treated Xie Yu with courtesy, but she always ordered someone to return the gifts unopened after Xie Yu left.
Xie Yu, however, seemed completely oblivious, continuing to visit without fail, as if it were a silent tug-of-war.
On this day, Xie Yu brought a box of precious tea again. Just as he arrived at the entrance of the Lin residence, he saw a magnificent carriage parked in front of the gate.
Several servants dressed as palace attendants alighted from the carriage, carrying brocade boxes in their hands, their expressions respectful.
Xie Yu was puzzled and stopped to observe.
The eunuch-like man at the head of the group announced loudly, "By order of our master, we have come to deliver a gift to Miss Lin!"
The gatekeeper of the Lin residence was startled by the scene and hurriedly went in to report.
This eunuch was Xiao Dengzi, Su Peisheng's godson. He was on his godfather's orders to make this trip. It took him several days and nights to get to Shangyang County. When he arrived at the Lin residence, he saw the two imposing stone lions in front of the gate and wiped his sweat, thinking, "Finally, we've arrived."
Before long, Lin Yun, along with her parents and elder brother Lin Feng, came out to greet them and quickly invited them into the mansion.
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