Chapter 78 Baby, you are a bit overbearing

Li Chu only found out later that Rong Yin took Zong Zhengxiao to Qingqiu Pavilion to find Ning Yue on his birthday.

Since then, he sent people to keep an eye on Qingqiu Pavilion and discovered that Rong Yin went there several times later.

Every time Rong Yin went to Qingqiu Pavilion, he would look for Ningyue. They would either just chat or share with her the songs he had thought of that were suitable for her.

After all, outside the palace, Rong Yin seemed to be more familiar with Ning Yue. The two were soulmates and friends, and they had the same ideas, so they could talk to each other.

Ning Yue never accepted money from Rong Yin. On the contrary, every time Rong Yin came, Ning Yue would treat Rong Yin with good tea and delicious food, and would even turn down other guests' invitations for him.

The boss of Qingqiu Pavilion also supported Ningyue's approach, because the boss later found out that Rongyin was the owner of a bakery and a milk tea shop.

Everyone in the capital knew that these two stores were related to the emperor. It would only benefit the boss if Ning Yue could get to know such a powerful person.

Moreover, Rong Yin never came empty-handed, always carrying bread or milk tea, and occasionally he would share some with the boss and the people around Ning Yue, so everyone in Qingqiu Pavilion welcomed his arrival.

With the songs shared by Rong Yin, Ning Yue, who was originally one of the top performers in Qingqiu Pavilion, became even more famous. Soon she became the most popular person in the pavilion. Countless dignitaries asked her to accompany them every day. Some of them were even willing to pay a higher price just to see Ning Yue and listen to her sing a song.

There was one time in particular when a familiar guest of Ningyue was about to celebrate his birthday. This guest had a certain status in the court and belonged to the neutral faction. He usually behaved very properly and politely to Ningyue, and never relied on his status to say anything inappropriate to Ningyue or take any action against her.

He had helped Ning Yue out of trouble before, so Ning Yue was grateful to him. Knowing that he wanted to eat the cream cake from Yunduo Bakery for his birthday, but had no chance to make a reservation, Ning Yue took out the coupon that Rong Yin gave her and bravely sent her confidant to the bakery to ask if he could get a reservation.

It happened that Lu'e was in the store at that time. She knew that Rong Yin and Ning Yue had a good relationship, so she decided to reserve the reservation quota for her.

After returning to the palace, Lu'e told Rong Yin about this, and Rong Yin agreed.

The guest had never expected that Ning Yue and Rong Yin had such a good relationship. The spot that he had tried his best to get was obtained by Ning Yue with just one word.

Ning Yue herself was also surprised. She had just been trying it out, but she didn't expect it to actually succeed.

However, Ning Yue did not dare to take credit for herself, and quickly attributed all the credit to Rong Yin, because Rong Yin had a relationship with the emperor, and the emperor was fighting fiercely with the aristocratic families.

If a neutral guest like this could have a little more favor towards Rong Yin and the emperor, even if it doesn't seem to have any effect now, but if something unexpected happens in the future, this little favor may become the key to determining victory or defeat.

The news that Ning Yue had gotten a reservation for the cream cake spread quickly, and more people asked for her to accompany them.

This made Ning Yue extremely panic-stricken, and she quickly explained to others that it was just an accident that she got the quota that time, and that she would never apply for reservations for anyone again.

Therefore, if the customer who ordered her just wants her to help him get a quota, it is better not to come, so as not to waste his time.

However, even though Ningyue said this, the number of customers ordering from her still remained high.

After meeting Ning Yue, they did not mention the cake at all. They continued to ask her to recite poems and compose compositions, play the zither and listen to music. They thought that if they became familiar with Ning Yue, they might be able to gain Ning Yue's gratitude like the adult before them and get a reservation.

Therefore, recently, all of Ningyue's guests have been like humble gentlemen, respectful and polite to her.

Those who want the quota treat Ningyue well, naturally they want to win her favor. Those who are not interested in the quota also treat Ningyue well, because if they make Ningyue unhappy, those who want the quota will come out to deal with them in order to gain Ningyue's gratitude.

Even the boss couldn't help but sigh that the guests at Qingqiu Pavilion have been so polite recently, which is simply a rare sight that only happens once in a century.

Knowing that Rong Yin was coming that day, Ning Yue set aside half a day in advance and waited for him to come early.

When Rong Yin came, she brought some biscuits, which she distributed to the boss and a few familiar servants, and then left a palm-sized cream cake for Ning Yue.

It's not that he is stingy, but Ningyue's job requires her to maintain a slim figure. Cream cake is easy to make you fat, so Ningyue dares to eat a little bit every once in a while, and then she has to go on a diet to offset the calories brought by her gluttony.

Seeing Rong Yin coming in, Ning Yue waved happily: "Come on, I have practiced the song you taught me last time, and I will sing it to you later."

"Okay, but you should eat some cake first to replenish your energy." Rong Yin shook the bag in his hand at Ning Yue.

Ning Yue's eyes lit up instantly when she knew exactly what was inside. She loved sweet things the most, especially the snacks and milk tea bought from Rong Yin's store.

Rong Yin said, "The jam we used this time is wild berry. We no longer have the cherry jam you like."

Ning Yue picked up the fork, scooped out a large piece and stuffed it into her mouth. As she became more familiar with Rong Yin, she no longer had to act like a lady all the time and could be more casual and free.

Strictly speaking, she is only nineteen years old this year. In modern times, she is still a carefree female college student, at the age of being lively and cheerful.

However, because she lives in this era and has this identity, in order to survive better, she can only suppress her nature and be a gentle lady liked by the world.

While she was eating, Rong Yin sat opposite her, drinking fruit tea and teasing her: "I heard that Miss Ningyue has been very busy recently. You have to queue up to see you. I thought I wouldn't be able to see you today."

Rong Yin was actually praising Ning Yue for her popularity in a disguised way. For their profession, being left out in the cold is actually no different from slow death.

Ning Yue swallowed the cake in her mouth, wiped the corners of her mouth and said, "This is all thanks to you, Master Rong. If you hadn't generously given me a reservation, they wouldn't have come to me."

Rong Yin flattered back: "It is because of your ability that you can keep the guests."

After eating the cake, Ning Yue drank some tea to neutralize the sweetness in her mouth, and then she sang the song that Rong Yin had taught her by playing the guqin.

When she finished singing, Rong Yin immediately applauded: "You sang much better than me. You are really suitable for this song."

Ning Yue was very happy to receive Rong Yin's recognition, "Thank you, Boss Rong, for the compliment."

Afterwards, the two sat together drinking tea and chatting, talking about what had happened to them recently. Ning Yue mentioned that she had seen the girl from the He family when she was invited to perform at a banquet hosted by a young man some time ago.

Congratulations...

Hearing these two words, Rong Yin was stunned for a few seconds before he remembered that this was once a prominent family in the capital, on par with the Cui, Chen and Li families. In the end, they were confiscated and beheaded by Zong Zhengxiao for participating in treason.

The young men of the He family were exiled, and the women were sent to the Jiaofangsi, a place similar to an official brothel.

The wives of the housekeepers, who were once high and mighty, were reduced to prostitutes. This punishment was cruel, but precisely because of its cruelty, it could intimidate the court officials and prevent them from abusing their power to make mistakes.

Ning Yue continued, "I have never met the girls from the He family before, and I am not familiar with the people from the Jiaofang Bureau. The only reason I know their identities is because those young men at the banquet told me."

It turned out that at the banquet that day, the young masters invited the girls from Qingqiu Pavilion to play music and dance, and also asked for several girls from the Jiaofangsi to accompany them.

Qingqiu Pavilion only sells art and not bodies. In addition, Ningyue is very popular in the capital now, so those young masters dare not and did not do anything to them. They just let them perform.

But the girls from the Jiaofangsi were different. They were embraced by the young masters and behaved in an unruly manner in public. They also forced the girls to drink. If anyone was choked by the drink or got drunk, the young masters would burst into laughter.

Ning Yue could see that most of the girls were reluctant, but had no choice.

One of the most beautiful girls was asked to hold the wine in her mouth and feed it to several men at the same time. The girl refused and was slapped in the face by the young man who made the request.

The young master even scolded her: "Do you think you are still the daughter of the He family? Why are you pretending to be noble in front of me? I gave you money, so you have to do whatever I ask you to do? If you are so unconvinced, you should have told your father not to rebel in the first place!"

It was only after hearing what he said that Ning Yue found out that there was a girl from the He family at the banquet.

The girl from the He family was a hot-tempered woman. She did not beg for forgiveness in order to get out of the situation. She just covered her face and glared at the young man who scolded her fiercely, as if she was looking at the murderer of her father.

The young man seemed to be angered by her look, and he yelled at her a few more times, and even pretended to hit her.

Upon seeing this, several other young masters rushed over to pull him back, saying that it was a great day and he shouldn't make such a scene.

Out of sympathy, Ning Yue, relying on the little face she had in front of this group of playboys, also stepped forward to offer some advice.

Afterwards, those young masters restrained themselves a bit and were no longer as reckless as before, and the girl from the He family was taken away early.

Ning Yue looked at Rong Yin and said, "Boss Rong, do you know who is hosting the banquet?"

Rong Yin shook his head: "I don't know."

Ning Yue said: "The host of the banquet that day was named Chen, and there were also young masters from the Cui family and other small families at the banquet. It was the young master of the Chen family who attacked the young lady from the He family."

Rong Yin was surprised: "They were once accomplices, right? It's fine that they didn't help the He family when they were defeated, but now they are adding insult to injury and humiliating the women of the He family."

Ning Yue nodded, perhaps because she felt the same way, she even uttered a curse word: "It is indeed an act worse than that of an animal."

戎音和寧月并不知道，另外幾個世家在逼賀家頂罪前，還說過只要賀家一力擔下所有罪責，就不會欺負賀家活下來的後輩，說不定還會多多照拂她們。

誰知等賀家能主事的一死，他們立即就暴露了本性。

這樣的發展其實賀家主早就預料到了，不過如果他在九泉之下看見這些，估計也會感到悔恨吧。

悔恨不知死活得罪宗政逍，悔恨不該與狼共舞，最終落個家破人亡的結局，後代還要被曾經的同夥欺負。

緊接着，寧月又道：“我回來後，托人去教坊司打聽了一下消息，據說賀家姑娘進了教坊司後，崔陳還有另外幾家的少爺就成了賀家姑娘的常客，不僅沒有念舊情照顧她們，反而一再欺辱，聽聞逼得賀家有兩位姑娘都自缢了，屬實是過分到了極點。”

聽到這裏，戎音忽然想起一個問題：“你所說的折辱賀家姑娘的這群人裏，沒有李家的嗎？李傲沒死之前就是個欺男霸女的惡徒，他居然沒有參與這些事？”

“這也是我好奇的點。”寧月道：“李傲常年混跡青樓南風館，賀家出事後，他卻極少去教坊司了，去了也是躲着賀家姑娘走，而且打聽消息的人說，李大少曾經想幫助過賀家姑娘，只是賀家姑娘因其他世家當初對賀家的處境冷眼旁觀而氣惱，并未接受他的幫助，後來李大少好像就沒有出現在教坊司了。”

戎音生出了點興趣：“奇了怪了，他們是同盟，按說行事步調應該一致才對，怎麽一些不停欺辱賀家人，一些又去幫賀家人？”

寧月猜測：“或許是個人品性不同？”

戎音摸摸下巴：“總覺得沒那麽簡單。”

回宮後，戎音将這件事告訴了宗政逍。

自打賀家落敗後，宗政逍就再沒關注過他們後續的遭遇，若不是戎音今天回來說起賀家，宗政逍都快把這家人給忘了。

聽完李家跟賀陳幾家截然不同的舉動後，宗政逍意味深長地道：“有意思，我會叫人去查的。”

戎音玩笑道：“說不定有驚喜呢。”

宗政逍把戎音抱進懷裏，喟嘆一聲：“幸虧有阿音你，不然我都沒注意到這些異常。”

戎音摟住他的脖子，道：“就口頭感謝？不來點實際的？”

宗政逍抵着他的額頭，笑問：“阿音想要什麽獎勵？”

“還沒想好。”戎音道：“不過你答應我，以後要是我跟你提一個要求，你一定要答應我。”

宗政逍道：“寶寶，你這樣有點霸道了吧，萬一到時候那個要求我做不到呢？”

戎音故作生氣：“反正我不會讓你上天攬月下海捉鼈就是了，肯定在你的能力範圍之內。”

見他還在猶豫，戎音扁嘴：“這你都不答應我，你是不是不愛我了？果然是壞男人。”

說着，他作勢就要把宗政逍推開，宗政逍趕緊将人抱住，道：“好好好，說不過你，答應你，答應你了。”

戎音重新笑了起來：“這還差不多。”

聊完這個話題，宗政逍拿起旁邊的一本冊子給戎音看：“喏，這三個月衛生紙的收益，你看看。”

衛生紙在今年年初開賣，因為跟面包奶茶一樣是第一次出現，不僅新奇，價格還便宜，再加上有前面的低價宣紙做鋪墊，百姓們信任他們生産的貨物，所以開賣初始生意就很不錯。

不到兩天，體驗到衛生紙好處的顧客紛紛回購，還推薦給了還沒購買過的親朋好友。

衛生紙的市場一下子被打開了，生意好到爆。

不止是平民百姓愛用這個，那些有錢有勢的人家也愛用，畢竟誰沒有個屁股，而且布料再便宜也沒衛生紙便宜，既然有更好的替代品，又幹嘛浪費那個買布的錢。

因為紙這種東西保質期長，所以大家都愛買來囤着，他們本以為足夠應付一段時間的存貨量，不到半個月就見底了。

近幾個月的業績依舊漂亮，戎音随意看了一眼就合上了賬冊。

他轉頭問宗政逍：“開拓市場的事應該沒問題吧？”

宗政逍道：“沒問題，前兩年季家冰鋪的生意就以京城為起點，逐步拓展開了，後面的宣紙以此為基點，也賣向了全國各地，這次衛生紙甚至都不需要我們自己運出去，那些貨商眼睛尖着呢，知道這玩意兒利潤高又好賣，早跟我們簽訂了合約，從我們這裏進貨，運往外地去售賣。”

戎音蹙眉：“他們要的貨量應該不少吧？我們這邊趕得出來嗎？”

“原本是趕不出來的，但後面工部擴大了造紙作坊，又買了一批簽下死契的工人去幹活，既能保證出貨量，又不至于叫人洩露了造紙的方法，如今京城眼紅我們的人多着呢，得小心再小心。”

這些眼紅的人，自然就是那幾個世家。

戎音好笑道：“賺錢的東西，他們自然是想學的，之前陳家不就開了一家奶茶店，還搶了我不少生意呢。”

這是去年年末的事兒。

面包餅幹的做法不好學，但奶茶的配料看過嘗過基本就能猜個大概，戎音也沒想過做獨家生意，陳家奶茶店開張在他的預料之內，不是他家也會是別家。

陳家奶茶店整體定價比戎音的奶茶店低，開張那段時間又一直做促銷，将戎音大半的客人都吸引走了。

當時主管奶茶店的綠娥都快急哭了，還是戎音安慰她，說做生意難免會遇見競争，放平心态就好。

自己奶茶店都開了那麽久他們才開店，說實話戎音還覺得有點慢了。

陳家奶茶店的确是得意了一段時間，不過後續因為出現幾次顧客喝了他家的奶茶腹瀉，又有人爆出他家果茶用的是不新鮮的水果，後廚衛生極差，生意便開始回落了。

不少人感嘆，其實陳家奶茶的味道不如戎音家的好，大家只是貪圖他家便宜才去買的，沒想到便宜沒好貨，省下來那點錢還不夠買藥的。

于是戎音奶茶店的顧客再次回歸，戎音趁熱打鐵，另開了另一家分店，瞬間生意又火爆了起來。

綠娥也不再整天愁眉苦臉了，天天就想着要嚴格管理衛生和口味問題，絕對不能像陳家一樣，做出趕客的事情。

陳家奶茶店後期也做出整改，不僅公開道歉、賠付醫藥費，還開除了涉事員工，并且連着做了好幾天優惠活動，倒是挽回了一些客人，雖然沒有倒閉，但生意是遠遠及不上戎音的店了。

宗政逍順勢說起了另一件事：“衛生紙生意好，确實是讓世家急眼了，前些天早朝時，他們還站出來說我是皇帝，不該做生意，與民争利。”

戎音好奇，問他：“那你怎麽說的？”

宗政逍輕咳一聲，當即表演起來，“我問他，他嘴裏說的民是誰？是被我搶占冰市場的陳家，還是被搶了紙市場的崔家，亦或者根本不存在的奶茶面包衛生紙的競争者？愛卿可不能把自家生意不好的鍋丢給我和百姓們背。”

“噗。”戎音笑出聲：“你都不婉轉點，直接就嘲諷他們啊。”

戎音還以為宗政逍會虛與委蛇一番，說那些生意都是挂在別人名下的，不能算是他的生意，所以何談他與民争利。

之前的宗政逍就是這麽做的，因為忌憚世家。

沒想到這次宗政逍裝都不裝了，明明白白地告訴他們，我就是要跟你搶生意，你能把我咋樣？

嚣張，實在是嚣張。

宗政逍笑呵呵道：“早看他們不順眼了，如今我也能揚眉吐氣一回了。”

戎音問：“你沒把他們氣死吧？”

宗政逍道：“沒有，就是出來質問我的那個人差點厥過去，被他的同夥扶回去了。”

“哈哈哈哈哈，不行，我一想到那樣的畫面就想笑。”

宗政逍：“笑吧笑吧，确實挺好笑的。”

聞言，戎音笑得更大聲了。

戎音這邊過得愉快，卻不知寧月在他離開的第二天，就迎來了一位舊客，正是他倆頭一天才讨論過的李大少，李楚。

其實在那次寧月告訴戎音和宗政逍要小心李大少後，李楚也來過清秋閣幾次，并且點的都是寧月。

寧月一開始還以為他知道自己跟戎音說過什麽了，作陪的整個過程都戰戰兢兢的，因為她害怕李楚這個人害怕到了極點。

自從她想明白李楚就是害死李傲的罪魁禍首後，她對李楚的恐懼就更深了幾分。

有耐心籌劃十幾年，只為殺死自己的弟弟，這樣深沉的心思和狠辣的手段，怎能不叫人心驚。

不過李楚來的這幾次，都只是讓寧月像往常一樣，給他撫琴唱歌，或陪他對弈幾盤，并未提及到戎音。

但寧月的心始終不敢松懈下來，直到這次李楚過來，寧月的身體先一步她的理智感受到了什麽，總覺得這次李楚的來意不會簡單。

Sure enough, the first thing he said after arriving was: "Ms. Ningyue is really popular recently. If I order you once, not only will I have to pay extra, but I will also have to wait in line."

Ning Yue swallowed nervously, bowed, and said, "I am not talented, and I am grateful to you all for your support. Otherwise, I would not be where I am today."

Li Chu smiled, tapped his folding fan lightly on his palm, and said, "Ningyue, the group of masters you mentioned should not include me. After all, I can't be of much help to you, unlike that..."

He had a hint in his mind, but he didn't say it. After noticing Ning Yue's expression changed, he suddenly changed the subject, "Don't stand, sit down. I came here today just to listen to you playing the zither, Ning Yue."

Ning Yue breathed a sigh of relief as she sat on the piano stool. She thought, it seems that Li Chu is not going to ask about Rong Yin today?

Who knew that the next second, Li Chu said: "Ningyue, just play the song "Huanxisha" that Boss Rong gave you."