Chapter 83 Nanshun Street
This trip wasn't just to dispense medicine; it was also to explore business opportunities in Yang County. Lady Rui's letter hadn't arrived yet, so he had to figure things out on his own first.
After about the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, the coachman stopped the carriage and announced, "Young lady, this is Nanshun Street, the most prosperous street in Yang County. If you go further in, you will find the largest restaurant, cosmetics shop, jewelry shop, and clothing shop in Yanzhou."
Ji Shu lifted the curtain and looked over; indeed, it was bustling with noise.
She nodded slightly, instructed Chunzhi to put the veil on her, and then, with Lian'er's help, got out of the carriage.
The streets and alleys were bustling with noise. Young women carrying food boxes hurried by, and the cries of vendors from various shops rose and fell, creating a thriving scene.
Looking at this scene, Ji Shu's brows, which had been furrowed for days, relaxed a little.
Upon reaching the largest and most magnificent rouge shop on the street, Ji Shu paused slightly. Lian'er understood and asked softly, "Miss, would you like to go in and take a look?"
She nodded slightly, her head adorned with a veil, and the three of them went inside. As soon as they entered, the waiter saw the young woman in the veil, surrounded by maids, approaching.
Dressed in a sky-blue gauze dress, her every step shimmering with light, he could tell at a glance that it was quite valuable, and knew that a distinguished guest had arrived today.
He hurried forward to lead the way: "Miss, are you looking for something?"
Meanwhile, in a private room on the third floor of Qingyunlou, the largest restaurant in Yanzhou, directly opposite the entrance of the rouge shop below.
Wei Ziming picked up his wine glass and took a couple of casual sips. His gaze swept down indifferently before pausing.
He noticed three women standing in front of the rouge shop, or more precisely, one mistress and two servants.
The woman on the left is quite beautiful and has a dignified demeanor. At first glance, one might mistake her for a young lady from a wealthy family. Unfortunately, she and the maid on the right are dressed almost identically, except for slight differences in color.
It seems most likely that she was the maid of the woman in the middle wearing the veil. What a pity for such a beautiful woman.
Turning my gaze to the woman in the middle, though she was wearing a veil, her graceful figure and composed gait suggested she must be a beauty.
Ying'er, who was pouring wine for him, noticed that he was staring down below in silence for a long time. She leaned closer and asked coquettishly, "My lord, what are you looking at? Have you been bewitched by some lady?"
"concubine……"
She was about to speak again when Wei Ziming raised his hand to stop her.
Wei Ziming narrowed his eyes, a strange light flashing in them, and muttered to himself, "Strange, strange... I mean, why does he look so familiar?"
It turned out that the person standing on the left was Lian'er, whom he had never seen before. However, he had seen Chunzhi more than once. Even after returning to Yanzhou, everything about Lady Ji would still flash through his mind in the middle of the night.
When Chunzhi turned her head, his heart skipped a beat, and he blurted out, "Why is she in Yang County? Could she have come with Xingjian?"
Seeing her husband's absent-minded appearance, Ying'er peeked outside, only to find the rouge shop deserted.
She raised her hand and waved it gently in front of him: "My lord, my lord, what's wrong?"
Wei Ziming suddenly came to his senses, and his heart stirred. He could no longer control his hands and feet, and stood up, saying, "I suddenly remembered that I have something to do and need to go out. You go back to the manor first."
Ying'er had finally managed to beg her husband to come out with her, and she was unwilling to give up. She tugged at his wide sleeve and said in a coquettish voice, "My lord, you're always with other sisters, it's so rare for you to come out today..."
Wei Ziming turned around and gently stroked her cheek, his gaze icy: "Be good! Understand?"
That look startled Ying'er, who let go of his hand and could only watch helplessly as he pushed open the door and went downstairs.
She sat sullenly in his original spot, watching him go downstairs and stride into the rouge shop. She knew this Hua Rong Fang; it was the rouge shop most loved by the ladies of prominent families in Yanzhou.
She summoned her personal maid and whispered, "Follow him and see what he's doing. Make sure he doesn't discover you, understand?"
The maidservant hurriedly went downstairs as instructed.
Meanwhile, in Huarongfang...
Ji Shu casually picked up an exquisite rouge box and asked Lian'er in a low voice, "How is it? Is anyone following us?"
Lian'er glanced at the people around her and whispered, "I've been watching closely and there are two suspicious people, but they're quite far from us. If you linger here a little longer, you might be able to buy some more time."
Ji Shu lowered her head and pondered for a while, then said to Chunzhi, "Take a few items to pay now, ask the waiter to open the back door and leave. We'll meet at the jewelry shop next door after you've prepared the medicine."
Chunzhi nodded heavily and called out to the waiter, "Brother, we'll take all of these. How much is it?"
The waiter happily agreed and hurriedly led Chunzhi to the counter.
After Wei Ziming came down, he happened to see the master and servant turn into the jewelry shop next door. He raised his eyebrows, picked up his fan, and followed them.
Ji Shu visited two shops in a row and found that the high-ranking officials and nobles in Yang County seemed to prefer a luxurious style, which was quite different from the elegant and reserved style of Chongzhou. With this in mind, she understood the situation.
Suddenly, a smiling male voice rang out from outside the door: "How could these vulgar things be worthy of Madam Ji? Waiter, why don't you bring out the treasures from your Treasure Pavilion?"
The waiter looked up and immediately beamed with joy: "Oh my, it's Young Master Wei!"
"Please come in, please come in. Do you know this lady?"
Upon hearing the voice, Ji Shu paused almost imperceptibly, never expecting to encounter him here.
Wei Ziming, dressed in a white robe, walked in, gently waving a folding fan. His gaze was fixed intently on Ji Shu. Lian'er noticed his unfriendly look and stepped aside to protect the young lady behind her.
She stared at him warily, "Who are you? How dare you offend my wife!"
Wei Ziming raised an eyebrow, his tone slightly teasing, "Madam Ji, have you forgotten me?"
Ji Shu turned her head and whispered a few words to Lian'er. Lian'er glanced at Wei Ziming before retreating behind him.
She stepped forward and gave a slight curtsy: "Young Master Wei!"
Wearing a veiled hat, her expression and appearance were obscured, and Wei Ziming stared at her from above for an unknown amount of time.
Fang laughed and said, "Madam Ji, don't you think we're destined to meet? When we first met in Chongzhou, you were wearing a veiled hat, and you are wearing one again in Yang County this time!"
Then she changed the subject: "What, Xingjian didn't come out with you today? With such a beautiful woman, he's quite at ease?"
"Please be careful with your words, Mr. Wei," Ji Shu said coldly.
Wei Ziming smiled knowingly. It was probably Xing Jian who secretly brought Ji Shu to Yang County. He probably hadn't told the old lady yet, otherwise, given Heng'er's personality, she would have already made a huge fuss.
He felt ashamed of Pei Xingjian's behavior. Since he was fond of this woman, he should have taken good care of her, but instead he insisted on doing things that were beneath him.
His gaze swept over her hazy yet undeniably elegant features beneath her veil, and he smiled, turning to the waiter who was still waiting nearby, and said, "Why don't you prepare the private room and bring out all your best and most valuable jewelry for this lady to choose from?"
"Whatever Lady Ji takes a liking to today, put it on my tab."
His smile deepened: "Consider this a celebration of our—extraordinary encounter!"
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