Chapter 304 Strolling Through the Lanterns
The maid also said, "How could it be her? Everyone knows that Liu Zijun likes the young master, but the young master has always disagreed with the marriage. The emperor can't force her, so the matter has been delayed."
"So that's how it is. I always thought Liu Zijun was unreliable. Besides flattering me, he doesn't seem to have any other redeeming qualities. I hate hypocritical and pretentious people like that, so Huo Ran definitely wouldn't like him either. I remember Grandmother saying that Huo Ran already has someone he likes. Who could it be?"
Huo Ran, who was the subject of much discussion, had already left the palace. It was getting dark, and the lantern festival was about to begin. He had to hurry back to find Jiang Mi; he absolutely couldn't miss such a good opportunity.
When Huo Ran hurriedly arrived at the entrance of the soap shop, he found Jiang Xuan and the others inside. It seemed that he had come at the right time. He straightened his clothes a little and then leisurely walked in.
"Your Highness, you've arrived! The shopkeeper is waiting for you in the backyard. We're about to start selling our new soaps. You can join us for the fun and then go see the lanterns together."
Huo Ran nodded: "Did your manager tell you to tell me this?"
Manager Liu said with a smile, "Yes, our manager is busy right now, so he asked me to let you know when he saw you."
Upon hearing this, Huo Ran went upstairs. He figured Jiang Mi should be watching the people below from upstairs. Sure enough, when he went up, he saw Jiang Mi sitting there, drinking tea, looking very relaxed.
"You must have a really comfortable job as a shopkeeper. I wonder how many people envy you."
Jiang Mi smiled and said, "Please sit down and try the tea I just bought. It tastes very good, fragrant but not strong. I really like it."
Since Jiang Mi liked it, Huo Ran naturally had to try it too. He took a bite and found the taste to be quite good. Suddenly, a bell rang from below, signaling that it was time to sell. At this moment, Steward Liu came up and said to Jiang Mi, "Shopkeeper, several people from the palace have come and want to buy your new soap. There's Consort Jing, the Empress, Princess Chongyang, and other high-ranking officials, including the Prime Minister."
Miss Liu from the mansion.
All of this was within Jiang Mi's expectations, and these people were also on her list. She wondered who the benefactor the system mentioned would be, as there was still no news or trace of them. Could it be Princess Chongyang?
“Then let’s give one to each person.” Jiang Mi said, taking another sip of tea. “Tell them that there’s only one left that was reserved, so we can’t buy them all. Also, the last one absolutely cannot be left for Liu Zijun.”
Manager Liu smiled and said, "I understand. Don't worry."
Immediately afterward, Jiang Mi heard discontented voices coming from downstairs. However, the price was not high, and since a VIP was coming to buy it, the common people were just there to watch the spectacle. The unhappy voices were coming from the ladies and young women.
"There aren't any left? I don't believe it. I timed my arrival perfectly, and this is how you treat me?" Liu Zijun rushed over, hoping to get the few remaining bars of soap, but was told they were all gone as soon as she arrived. Naturally, Liu Zijun couldn't accept this.
Manager Liu patiently reassured her: "Yes, you have no idea how many people are eyeing these things, even before you. We come in order of arrival, and you are indeed not in the first five."
Liu Zijun asked incredulously, "Then what number am I?"
Manager Liu held up six fingers: "The sixth one. If only you had been a little earlier, it would have been perfect. It was just a hair's breadth away, but there was nothing I could do about it."
Liu Zijun's face darkened completely. She felt that the steward was playing a trick on her: "You're not lying to me, are you? Is it really such a coincidence? Who are the first five?" Steward Liu stood straight and began to report: "The first one is naturally Princess Chongyang. She loves chrysanthemums the most, so she must have them. The second one is Consort Jing. Consort Jing has always loved beauty, and the whole capital knows that. The third one is the Empress, and then the Empress Dowager."
These are reasonable, and Liu Zijun naturally can't compete with them. But after counting, there are only four, and there's clearly one left.
"Isn't there one more? Bring me the fifth one."
Manager Liu said apologetically, "The fifth one has just been given out; it's Princess Chaoyang."
Liu Zijun and Princess Chaoyang had always been at odds, and upon hearing this, she immediately retorted, "No way! What are you going to do with her? Her father is long gone, and she's only living off her mother's family now. She even dared to steal my soap! I will definitely not let her get away with this!"
Manager Liu pretended not to hear these words. He was just a businessman, and it didn't matter who he served. Even if it wasn't Princess Zhaoyang, it would be someone else.
At this moment, Liu Zijun saw a woman carrying a box walking out. The woman was Princess Zhaoyang. She had seen her at Princess Chongyang's birthday banquet earlier that day, but Liu Zijun didn't get along with her and had ignored her. She never expected that this woman would steal her things.
"Chaoyang, you stop right there."
Princess Chaoyang turned around to hurl insults when she heard someone address her by her given name, but it turned out to be Liu Zijun.
"What do you want from me?" Princess Chaoyang was delighted to hear that Huo Ran had been so cold to Liu Zijun in front of everyone. She was happy as long as she saw Liu Zijun make a fool of herself.
"What are you holding in your hand?" Liu Zijun stared intently at the box in Princess Chaoyang's hand, wishing she could snatch it from her immediately.
Princess Chaoyang said, bewildered, "What could you possibly be doing here? Are you out of your mind? What are you doing here? That's exactly what I'm here for."
However, Liu Zijun heard these words as a provocation.
"I want this. Name your price. I'll give you whatever I can afford, and double the price."
Princess Chaoyang looked puzzled, then she realized that this soap was very rare, which was why Liu Zijun had shamelessly asked for it.
"Liu Zijun, do you know what you're saying? Do you think you're the only one with money? Do you think I can't afford these things? I have plenty of money, and I can buy as many of these things as I want. It's just a pity that this soap is hard to buy even if you have the money. The one I have is the last one. You're too late."
Liu Zijun's face was very ugly. She thought that it was impossible to take it by force, so she had to think of another way: "Chaoyang, this thing is not very important to you. Why don't you sell it to me?"
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