Chapter 19 Malice
Lady Rui invited me here today, probably because of Ze Lanxiang, and I immediately understood.
“Madam Ji is a wise woman,” Madam Rui said, raising her fan and waving it gently. “I invited Madam Ji here today because I have my eye on the incense recipe you have. Would you be willing to part with it? The price is negotiable.”
Ji Shu: "I didn't guess it before, but now I do."
Madam Rui paused, "Oh~ you're not only beautiful, but you're also quite clever."
The voice carried a hint of laughter, yet it didn't come across as offensive.
"Does Lady Rui prefer the fragrance of Eupatorium?"
"Hmph! Nowadays, not to mention Chongzhou, even in other cities, many high-ranking officials are fighting tooth and nail for this incense, but unfortunately, the quantity is too small."
Madam Rui's eyes shone brightly as she stared intently at Ji Shu, saying, "If Madam Ji is willing to sell me this recipe, I guarantee that not only will the production of this incense increase, but we will also make a fortune. What do you think?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Shu shook her head. "Madam Rui, to be honest, I have more than one incense recipe, but I have never thought about mass production. Is it because I can't do it? Obviously not."
This is also what Mrs. Rui finds strange: why does such a profitable business produce so little?
At that time, she sent many people to try to imitate the fragrance of the Eupatorium.
She managed to make it, but as soon as she smelled it, she could clearly feel that something was missing. After that, Madam Rui gave up the idea of making it herself.
Therefore, Ji Shu was invited to seek cooperation.
Madam Rui asked the question that had been lingering in her mind: "Then why is Madam Ji doing this?"
Ji Shu picked up a white jade teacup from the side and displayed it in front of her. "Look, what if we produced twenty pairs of these white jade teacups in ten days?"
Hua'er, who was serving nearby, blurted out, "Of course, the supply can't keep up with the demand."
"Hmm, that's it. What if we produce a hundred pairs every day?"
Lady Rui suddenly realized and exclaimed, "Wonderful! How come I didn't think of that? If things were no longer valued for their rarity, then this fragrance would be nothing special."
Ji Shu nodded: "Actually, there's nothing special about my incense. It's just that for high-ranking officials and nobles, incense is only one aspect. The harder it is to buy, the more it can demonstrate their status, so they flock to it, don't they?"
Ultimately, it's nothing more than scarcity marketing.
Moreover, this is just a fragrance; if she were to add the fragrance to her everyday cosmetics, it would surely become a sensation throughout the Central Plains.
Madam Rui was only then surprised to realize that she had underestimated the young lady in front of her. She had only just learned that such a person existed in Chongzhou.
She saw a faint mist filling her peach blossom eyes, yet her eyes were unexpectedly dark and clear, like a spring at the foot of a mountain.
He carefully examined the young woman opposite him. Today, she was wearing a pomegranate-colored skirt that trailed to the ground, and the lotus pattern embroidered in gold thread on the hem swayed and shone with her steps.
What's most wonderful is her waist; the sash is so tight it's barely a handful. The style is undeniably dignified, yet on her it exudes an air of irresistible charm.
Sunlight streamed through the crimson gauze curtains, illuminating her face and making it seem as if one could see the smooth, delicate skin beneath the makeup. Her lips were adorned with the fashionable pomegranate-red rouge, and when she parted her lips, she revealed pearly white teeth.
The jade bracelet on her wrist slipped down a bit, revealing her soft, snow-white skin. Her hands had slender fingers, like ten flower petals adorning her hands.
A person of unparalleled beauty.
Madam Rui changed the subject: "Madam Ji is truly a business genius. I have a skill; I wonder what Madam Ji thinks of it?"
Seeing that she had gotten to the point, Ji Shu naturally picked up where she left off, saying, "I'd like to hear more details."
“Madam Ji, you have the skills and recipes, while I have no shortage of money and connections. If we join forces and open incense shops all over the Central Plains, let alone five taels of gold, even ten taels is not impossible. We earn money through power and influence. What do you say?”
For the powerful and wealthy, there is no difference between selling for ten taels and selling for five taels, while the cost is less than one-thousandth.
Ji Shu smiled and said, "If that's the case, why not?"
...
After leaving Furong Pavilion, we boarded a carriage.
Ji Shu lifted the curtain and looked at the street. Perhaps because of the cold weather, there weren't many people on the street, which was in stark contrast to the lantern festival a few days ago.
But the people seem to have woken up from the war. Yes, life goes on, and people always have to move forward.
The carriage wheels traveled a distance on the road.
Ji Shu called out, "Chunzhi, let's stop here. I want to walk around."
"Young lady, shall I keep you company?"
"No need, I want to take a walk by myself. Don't worry, I'll be back in a little while."
Chunzhi noticed that since the young woman woke up last year, she doesn't like having someone follow her around when she's upset.
"Lady, please put on your veil."
Ji Shu alighted from the carriage. The streets were deserted. She walked along, stopping frequently. As dusk approached, only a faint layer of orange-yellow remained in the sky, and the setting sun cast a magnificent golden glow.
I took a deep breath of the cool air.
Just then, the sound of horses' hooves came from behind her, disturbing her thoughts.
As a group of people rushed past from afar, the leader, dressed in a dark blue robe, stood tall and looked very familiar.
Pei Xingjian rode up to her, and out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure. His heart skipped a beat, and he abruptly tightened the reins: "Whoa—"
"Shu'er?" Her voice was filled with surprise, and she immediately dismounted.
Upon hearing the sound, Ji Shu lifted the veil covering her face, revealing only a small portion of her jade-like chin to the person behind her.
"Young Master Pei." Ji Shu curtsied.
Pei Xingjian was overjoyed. He hadn't expected to see her on the street today. Luckily, he noticed her, or he would have missed her.
Seeing her all alone, he couldn't help but frown. Although she was wearing a veil, didn't she know how conspicuous her appearance was? "Why are you out here all alone?"
Behind him, Wei Ziming pulled hard on the reins and dismounted, then strode forward, his gaze fixed intently on Ji Shu: "Xingjian, shall I introduce you?"
“Brother Ziming, this is my friend, Madam Ji, whom I met in Chongzhou.”
Wei Ziming clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, a smile playing on his lips, his gaze seemingly lingering on her: "So it's Lady Ji."
That gaze was all too familiar, filled with undisguised greed, as if scrutinizing prey.
And she was the prey.
Ji Shuxin felt displeased, but she took two steps back without showing any emotion and returned the greeting indifferently.
Pei Xingjian coughed lightly, "Shu'er, this is my elder brother, Wei Ziming. His father is the Marquis of Wenxing in Yanzhou."
Ji Shu lowered her eyes, trying to ignore the greedy gaze fixed on her from the front, and curtsied, "Lord Wei."
Wei Ziming smiled and nodded, recognizing her at a glance as the woman with the umbrella he had seen at Furong Pavilion earlier that day.
“Madam Ji, why don’t you take off your veil? There are no outsiders here.”
He gazed at the woman, her figure partially obscured by a veil. Upon closer inspection, her slender yet shapely figure was striking. Though her face remained hidden, her physique alone was exceptional.
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