"Your Highness, as you can see, Minister Mu’s body was found in the desolate wilderness. It was actually impossible to find the body, but His Majesty cherished his relationship with Minister Mu and ordered that the body must be found. Unfortunately, the search team was one step too late. The body was already mutilated, but Minister Mu’s personal sword was found, along with these ink-colored clothes. Your Highness should be able to recognize it as Minister Mu’s."
A coffin was placed high in the hall. Because the coffin lid was covered, it was not clear what was inside. Only a blood-stained ink-colored corner of a robe was revealed at the corner, quite startling.
There was also a sword that Marquis Mu Houchu was accustomed to using. Now it lay neatly on top of the coffin as the most significant proof.
Princess Chaoyang unconsciously stepped back a few steps, covering her chest in shock: "Is this... is this really him?"
"If Your Highness doesn’t believe it, you can open the coffin and check. But I must tell you in advance that after Minister Mu’s death, his body was left in the wild and was probably attacked and eaten by wild beasts, so..." The little eunuch paused, then said: "It might be quite terrifying. Even if you open the coffin and examine it, you won’t be able to see his face clearly since it’s already unrecognizable."
Princess Chaoyang, after all, was still young and her face turned pale with fear. She couldn’t help but retreat a few more steps, covering her mouth, her eyes becoming red: "He actually... died so horribly?"
"Ah, Your Highness, you should grieve." said the little eunuch.
Chen Yining, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke up: "I want to see."
"Ah?" The little eunuch was shocked. Miss Chen, who was usually gentle and virtuous, actually wanted to see this scene?
"Open the coffin. I want to see." Chen Yining said solemnly.
The little eunuchs looked at each other and then coughed lightly: "Since Miss Chen is determined to see, we will open the coffin. Your Highness, you... "
Princess Chaoyang hastily waved her hand: "I, I, I won’t look! I, I, I don’t dare."
With that, she hurriedly ran out.
Once Princess Chaoyang left, the little eunuchs hastily opened the coffin.
As soon as they opened it, a nauseating smell of decay and blood filled the air, extremely disgusting.
Chen Yining forcibly suppressed her disgust and walked to the coffin to look.
A mass of flesh, completely unrecognizable.
Chen Yining’s face turned pale, but she forced herself to look at the clothing. It was indeed in his style, as he always wore ink-colored robes. Chen Yining clenched her teeth, trembling as she touched his sleeve and turned it over to look.
A Suzhou embroidered satin collar, and an ink-colored robe, exactly like before.
Only...
Chen Yining’s expression suddenly changed, and she retreated several steps, her face becoming more complicated.
The little eunuchs thought she was feeling sick, so they quickly closed the coffin: "Does Miss Chen want to continue looking?"
"No need." Chen Yining replied, then turned and rushed out.
Outside the hall, Chen Yining’s maid Xiaolan had been waiting for her.
As soon as she walked out, Chen Yining began retching, feeling nauseous to the point where the acid in her stomach was about to come out.
"Miss, are you alright?" Xiaolan asked anxiously.
"I’m fine." Chen Yining retched a few more times before waving her hand.
Princess Chaoyang ran over and asked her, "Did you see? Is it really him?"
Chen Yining’s face was still very pale, as if the nausea had been too intense: "Yes, it’s him."
Princess Chaoyang’s eyes turned red instantly: "So, it really is him..."
"Your Highness, please grieve. I’m not feeling well and will return to my mansion first." Chen Yining said, and hurriedly left the palace.
One of the little eunuchs said to Princess Chaoyang, "Your Highness, do you truly believe it now? Your marriage to the prince cannot be delayed any longer."
Princess Chaoyang sobbed but didn’t refute anymore.
Chen Yining left the palace with a quickening pace, as if a fire was burning in her heart. From the moment she saw the "corpse," the fire began to burst out.
He didn’t die; he really didn’t die!
His sleeve had a begonia flower she had secretly embroidered on it, a flower he didn’t even know about.
Mu Houchu, since you’re not dead, where are you then? Why are you hiding it from her too? Could it be that you’ve really never cared about her?
Chen Yining’s eyes were tinged with frustration and resentment. She clenched her teeth tightly and started making calculations in her heart.
——
Wu Zhanggui was very quick. In just a few days, the official contract was drafted, and he came to Ji Xinhe with it.
"Have a look, we’ll stick to the 28% profit split, at the price of fifteen taels of silver per catty. When we deliver the goods to the Palace, we’ll make it known that it’s supplied by Guilin Residence and produced by Qinghe Shop. All of this is clearly written in the contract. If you think there’s no problem, we’ll sign it first." said Wu Zhanggui with a smile.
Ji Xinhe took a glance at the contract and saw no issues. She then smiled and said, "I’m truly relieved by Wu Zhanggui’s efficiency. When do you need the goods?"
"The people inside the palace said that the first batch of two hundred catties must be supplied by early next month at the latest because Princess Chaoyang will be marrying next month. It’s a big celebration across the nation, and it’s the first big happy event since the New Emperor’s enthronement. At that time, they plan to use this grape wine to entertain all the civil and military officials!" Wu Zhanggui was extremely excited: "By that time, the reputation of Guilin Residence and Qinghe Shop will be known far and wide!"
Ji Xinhe’s eyes brightened. The grape wine was about to be used for Princess Chaoyang’s wedding to entertain the entire court. Wouldn’t that make it widely known? For her grape wine, it was like a massive free advertisement!
By that time, the popularity of the grape wine would surely increase several-fold!
Wu Zhanggui excitedly spoke, "It’s our luck that we happen to catch the grand wedding of Princess Chaoyang. At such a joyous national event, using our grape wine will make it easier for our future business to become unimaginable!"
Ji Xinhe happily agreed, "That’s true. Doing business can be smooth sailing as long as even God helps."
"Isn’t it? We might not have such a good opportunity in the future. Princess Chaoyang is His Majesty’s only close sister, and she is very much loved. So this wedding will be the grandest one in recent years, with immense influence."
Ji Xinhe directly signed the contract, then said, "Alright, it’s settled."
Wu Zhanggui happily collected his part of the contract, stood up, and walked out. On his way, he told her, "Before the beginning of next month, you must produce the two hundred catties of grape wine. I’ll send someone directly to your home to pick it up. Don’t let there be any delays."
"Rest assured, since I signed this contract, I definitely won’t let you down on your share."
After sending Wu Zhanggui away, Ji Xinhe was overjoyed and started calculating her profits.
Xiao Bei came over and asked, "Sister, is this Princess Chaoyang the same one we heard the storyteller talking about, the princess who had a crush on Minister Mu of the current dynasty? Why is she getting married now?"
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