After having breakfast and rinsing his mouth, the Ninth Prince said to the air, "Go and prepare."
A voice echoed in the air: "Yes."
After much deliberation, Yuan Yao came to a conclusion—
This person is not a shadow.
How many secret guards must the Ninth Prince have around him?
However, none of these things are her concern.
The innkeeper had someone clear the tables and said respectfully, "Your Highness, Princess, let me show you around the restaurant first."
Yuan Yao nodded: "Let's go."
This restaurant has been around for many years, and because it's open, it's maintained every year.
The restaurant has three floors, but usually only the main hall and the second floor are occupied by customers.
Yuan Yao walked around for a while, then pointed to the wooden chairs and asked, "Could these wooden chairs be replaced with white leather upholstered chairs?"
Soft chair?
The steward smiled and said, "If the princess wants to change, then of course she can."
Because there are very few customers on weekdays, the restaurant's tables and chairs are very casual, all made of wood, and some are even unpainted...
Yuan Yao glanced at the counter again.
The counter is made of mahogany and looks somewhat somber.
Yuan Yao pointed to the counter: "Let's replace this with a transparent glass display stand."
From now on, besides the cash register, the counter facing the main entrance will be used as a display stand, designed to attract customers' attention as soon as they enter.
The person in charge smiled and said, "Yes."
Finally, Yuan Yao looked at the courtyard.
This courtyard is almost completely abandoned.
In the courtyard, only a few listless daffodils were planted.
Yuan Yao said, "Let's renovate the courtyard again. We can pave the ground with pebbles in a pattern, add some willow wood tables and chairs, and plant some tasteful flowers and plants..."
The shopkeeper agreed to all of them.
After finishing, the Ninth Prince asked, "Take care of the things the Princess instructed as soon as possible."
The shopkeeper bowed and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will certainly make sure the princess is satisfied."
The Ninth Prince nodded: "Choose a day and we will take down the plaque."
"When the time comes, simply spread the news that Baiweilou has changed hands."
"yes."
The manager is a master at creating hype, but for the past few years he has been working in seclusion at Baiweilou, doing things for the Ninth Prince.
After leaving Baiweilou
The Ninth Prince narrowed his eyes: "Little Yao'er, it's time to go to the Li residence."
Yuan Yao was a little tired, but upon hearing this, she perked up.
In ancient times, weddings were held at dusk.
However, considering that the son-in-law was already dead and the daughter was getting married anyway, the Ministry of Revenue decided to hold the wedding ceremony at noon.
The wedding procession has already headed to the residence of the Minister of Revenue.
Early in the morning, after boxes of betrothal gifts were carried into the residence of the Minister of Revenue, the news of the Minister of Revenue marrying off his youngest daughter spread throughout the capital.
What shocked the people of the capital the most was that the eldest daughter of the Minister of Revenue was to be married off to someone whose husband had just died yesterday…
As the carriage traveled along the main streets of the capital, Yuan Yao heard the murmurs of the people outside the window—
A woman said, "The Minister of Revenue is getting married; what a grand affair!"
“That’s right!” another woman chimed in, “This marriage was personally bestowed by the Emperor himself!”
"I don't know what sins this Minister of Revenue has committed, that his daughter is to marry a dead man..."
"Poor thing, that young lady was only fifteen years old, and her life was ruined just like that! I don't know why they would hold a wedding banquet right after someone dies."
"You don't understand... This is a ghost marriage, isn't it? They're holding the wedding banquet while the body is still intact..."
"Sigh, what are the Emperor and the Ninth Prince thinking? They're ruining people's lives..."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao looked at the Ninth Prince.
She blinked: "Father, people outside are talking about you and the Emperor!"
The Ninth Prince said calmly, "Let them talk. They're just a bunch of gossipy women."
Yuan Yao laughed and said, "Yao'er thought Father was angry!"
angry?
Is it really worth getting angry over a few words?
In that case, he would probably have died a thousand or ten thousand times over...
The Ninth Prince patted Yuan Yao's head: "Are you worried that I'll kill them?"
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao blinked and said, "Father wouldn't kill people indiscriminately!"
So you're worried he'll upset you?
She truly is his little darling.
The Ninth Prince smiled and said, "I never care what others say, I only care about what I should do and what I should do."
A casual remark is no different from the chirping of birds on a branch; there's no need to take it to heart.
Yuan Yao nodded in agreement.
Her father, as expected of someone who sits above thousands of people, has such a magnanimous heart!
The carriage drove across the main street and onto a slightly narrower street.
Along both sides of the street, at intervals, stands a large house.
In front of each house sat a pair of stone lions, and above the gates hung plaques: the residence of the Minister of Rites, the residence of the Minister of Works, the residence of the General of the North...
It turns out that this area was home to many civil and military officials, and they all held high positions.
The streets were swept very clean, and there were no shops along the way, only many ornamental trees planted...
It's pretty boring.
Yuan Yao watched for a while, then pulled down the carriage curtain.
The carriage traveled for quite some time before finally coming to a stop near the end of the street, where the "Li Mansion" was adorned with red silk ribbons.
This house is an idle property of the Ninth Prince.
Last night, hundreds of people worked through the night to finish decorating the interior of the house.
The air was filled with the smell of gunpowder from the firecrackers, and the ground was covered with a thick layer of firecracker debris, which looked very festive.
After all, it was the daughter of the Minister of Revenue getting married, and it was a marriage bestowed by the Emperor. It was said that even the Emperor himself would be attending, and not a single official in the capital was absent.
An elderly man dressed in brocade, with a full head of white hair, was being helped by a servant to stand at the door to greet guests.
Although it was a joyous occasion, there was not a trace of happiness on the old man's weathered and sorrowful face.
He lost his beloved grandson yesterday.
Moreover, everyone who came to the wedding banquet was of higher status than him, and he had to kneel for each person who came.
After he finished bowing, the servant next to him massaged his waist and legs.
This old man is in poor health...
Upon seeing this, Yuan Yao glanced at the Ninth Prince and asked, "Father, is this old man a member of Li Chang's family?"
"He was Li Chang's grandfather."
After the Ninth Prince finished speaking, he lifted the carriage curtain.
The attendant deftly brought over a footstool.
The Ninth Prince alighted from the carriage, picked up Yuan Yao, and headed towards the Li residence.
He didn't have many attendants, nor did he make a grand entrance, but the people in the Li household still recognized him immediately.
The guests who came to the banquet also bowed in greeting.
The Ninth Prince accepted the greeting and waved to the person who had extended their hand.
A fair-skinned eunuch with a naturally smiling face stepped forward: "Your Majesty."
The Ninth Prince said, "You stay here and greet the guests for the old master."
"How can this be allowed?"
Old Master Li trembled as he raised his head, revealing a pair of red, swollen, and cloudy eyes.
"If I say it's acceptable, then it's acceptable." The Ninth Prince said coldly, "You are the groom's grandfather. Today you should be sitting in the high hall, waiting for the guests' blessings and toasts, not kneeling by the door to greet them."
Upon hearing this, tears streamed down Old Master Li's wrinkled face: "This humble subject thanks Your Majesty, and begs Your Majesty to uphold justice for this humble subject and to seek justice for my deceased grandson!"
As he spoke, the old man was about to kneel down again.
The Ninth Prince reached out and steadily supported him: "I have prepared a surprise for you. Wipe away your tears and wait in the wedding hall."
surprise?
The old man wiped away his tears, his face filled with surprise and doubt.
Would the high and mighty Emperor Jiuyuan ever consider the plight of a lowly commoner like him?
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