Chapter 19 Envy
"Miss, these are the accounts I just finished." Chun Tao came in carrying the ledger, her face beaming with joy. "The rouge shop has been packed with people every day since its soft opening. Those noble ladies are scrambling to pre-order the new rose cream!"
Ye Wanning took the ledger, flipped through it, and a faint smile curved her lips: "Hmm, re-inventory the inventory in the warehouse, and have the workshop make any that's insufficient."
"Yes!" Chun Tao responded, then remembered something, "Oh, right, miss, the gatekeeper just said that Prime Minister Pei sent someone with an invitation, saying he'd like to invite you to Qingfeng Tower for tea."
Ye Wanning paused, her hand still on the ledger. Pei Zhi? Why would he suddenly invite her for tea?
She recalled their encounter at the gambling den, and the jade pendant he had handed her, which she still kept at the bottom of her vanity case.
"Where's the post?"
Chun Tao quickly handed over the gold-embossed invitation. It only stated the time and place, and the handwriting was strong and powerful, revealing the composure of someone who had long held a high position.
Ye Wanning traced the characters "Pei Zhi" with her fingertips, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Report back to the messenger that I will arrive on time."
Chuntao was a little worried: "Miss, that's the current prime minister, we..."
"Don't worry." Ye Wanning accepted the invitation. "If he wanted to bully me, he wouldn't need to resort to such tricks."
Ye Wanning understood that Pei Zhi was a man of meticulous calculation. His sudden offer of an olive branch must have its reasons. And she needed a powerful patron who could speak for her in court.
Qingfenglou is a famous teahouse in the capital, built on the banks of the moat, with a very pleasant view.
When Ye Wanning arrived, Pei Zhi was already waiting in the private room. He had changed into a moon-white brocade robe, was not wearing an official hat, and his black hair was tied up with a jade hairpin. He looked less imposing in court and more gentle and refined.
"Miss Ye, please have a seat." Pei Zhi raised his hand in a gesture of respect, his gaze lingering on Ye Wanning for a moment.
Today, Ye Wanning wore a light green dress with small orchid patterns embroidered on the hem, which made her skin look even whiter, and her eyes had a calmness beyond her years.
"You're too kind, Lord Pei." Ye Wanning sat down as instructed, and a maid promptly brought tea.
The aroma of tea wafted through the air, and for a moment, no one spoke in the private room.
Ye Wanning picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and broke the silence first: "I wonder what brings Lord Pei here today?"
Pei Zhi also picked up his teacup, put it down, and tapped the rim with his fingertip: "I heard that Second Miss recently opened two shops, and business is booming?"
Ye Wanning raised an eyebrow: "Lord Pei is so busy with state affairs, yet he still bothers with these trivial matters?"
“This is no small matter.” Pei Zhi looked at her, his eyes deep. “I heard that the Second Miss’s rouge shop has a rose cream made with rouge insects imported from the Western Regions. Even the empresses in the palace have sent people to inquire about it?”
Ye Wanning understood. She had deliberately used the gimmick of Western Region tribute to create that rose cream; the ingredients were, of course, also from the Western Regions, which she had the old manager of Ci'an Hall obtain from acquaintances. She wanted to use this rare product to build her reputation.
"These are just things women like to use; Lord Pei, you flatter me."
“You flatter me, Miss,” Pei Zhi said with a smile. “My Pei family owns several silk shops, but lately we’ve felt our goods are too outdated and can’t compare to your novelty.” He then changed the subject, “What do you think, Miss? Would you like to cooperate with me?”
Ye Wanning wasn't surprised. That's exactly what she wanted—to cooperate with him. But she still feigned surprise: "Lord Pei, you mean...cooperation?"
“Yes.” Pei Zhi nodded. “I’ll provide the distribution channels and funding, and Miss Second will provide the recipe and design. As for the profits, I’ll take 20% and you take 80%, how about that?”
These are incredibly generous terms. The Pei family has been operating in the capital for so many years, with distribution channels all over the country. With his help, her shop could open in other cities within six months.
Ye Wanning didn't agree immediately. Instead, she picked up her teacup and slowly said, "Cooperation is possible, but I have a condition."
Pei Zhi raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue.
“I want absolute control over the business.” Ye Wanning met his gaze, unyielding. “What to sell in the shop, and how to sell it, is all up to me. Lord Pei cannot interfere.”
Those were firm words; anyone else would have stormed off. But Pei Zhi laughed, seemingly amused: "Second Miss, aren't you afraid I won't agree?"
“If Lord Pei wasn’t willing to cooperate with me, he wouldn’t have specifically invited me to Qingfeng Tower,” Ye Wanning said calmly. “You need new products to expand your market, and I need your distribution channels; it’s a win-win situation.” She paused, then added, “Besides, I have something you might be interested in.”
Pei Zhi's eyes deepened: "Oh? What?"
Ye Wanning leaned closer, her voice even lower: "For example, evidence that the Third Prince was secretly storing weapons at Black Wind Stronghold outside the city."
Pei Zhi paused, his hand still holding the teacup. He then looked up at her, his gaze sharp as a knife: "How did you know?"
The Third Prince was his biggest rival, always making underhanded moves. He investigated for a long time but couldn't get any substantial evidence. How could this girl know?
Ye Wanning did not answer, but simply smiled and said, "Lord Pei, all you need to know is that I can help you obtain the evidence."
She understood perfectly well that Pei Zhi must be on the Crown Prince's side. In her previous life, when the Crown Prince was deposed and the Third Prince ascended the throne, Pei Zhi was the first to be exiled.
Pei Zhi looked at her for a long time, and after a long while, he suddenly smiled: "Okay, I promise you."
"It's a pleasure to work with you." Ye Wanning extended her hand.
Pei Zhi looked at her fair and slender fingers, paused for a moment, and gently took them in his hands. Her fingertips were slightly cool and carried a faint orchid fragrance.
"It's a pleasure working with you."
When Ye Wanning came out of Qingfeng Tower, the sun was already setting. The willow branches along the moat swayed gently in the wind. Ye Wanning turned around and looked at the window of the private room on the second floor, which was now empty.
She knew that from this day forward, she and Pei Zhi were in the same boat.
This road seems a bit dangerous, but there's no other way to go.
"Miss, are we really going to cooperate with Prime Minister Pei?" Chun Tao was still a little worried. "I've heard he's incredibly capable, with very cunning methods..."
"It's good that they're capable." Ye Wanning withdrew her gaze and walked forward. "Those wolves and tigers, someone has to help us hold them off."
She wanted to deal not only with the people in the Marquis's mansion, but also with many more enemies lurking in the shadows.
Let's settle the accounts one by one.
Ye Wanning and Pei Zhi's collaboration was conducted in a very secretive manner.
Pei Zhi sent a capable manager to help her. Ye Wanning wrote down the places where the Third Prince might hide weapons, based on what she remembered from her previous life, and handed them to Pei Zhi.
In just half a month, "Ningji" rouge shop and clothing shop became popular all over the capital.
Everyone, please stop using Ningji's rouge! Everyone, please stop wearing Ningji's clothes! The Empress has already ordered two sets of her new Suzhou embroidery dresses from Ningji.
Ye Wanning's name gradually became known to the powerful and influential people in the capital.
This made Ye Jingshu, who was confined to the courtyard, so jealous that her eyes almost turned red.
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