54. Business
◎Spoiled by me◎
Chapter 54
After noon the next day, Jiang Qiuye began to dress herself. She really loved these mundane things, and had been like this since she was a child.
When she was little, she had a hard time. She accidentally found a silver hairpin on the street, but she hid it for a whole year, as if she had never seen the world before. Only later did she realize that the hairpin was too small and had no special pattern. In fact, it was not worth much.
Now that she has become the Princess of Qi County, since Ji Ci does not treat her badly, she will treat herself even better.
After spending an afternoon in the office, she put on a silver sea flower crown on her head, and also applied the most fashionable pearl makeup, with raised peach blossom eyes and translucent lipstick. She also wore a lotus root powder rain silk brocade skirt and a moon-white shawl.
She played the role of a concubine who used her beauty to please the man to perfection.
When Ji Ci saw her dressed like a peacock with its tail spread out, the corners of his mouth twitched.
This extreme luxury is really tacky, but for some reason, it looks particularly good on her, charming yet not vulgar.
"Are you going to compete with the most beautiful courtesan at Wangyou Tower?"
Jiang Qiuye ignored his tone, turned around in front of him, and said, "Isn't it beautiful, husband? Women dress up to please themselves, but I dress up for my husband."
"……good."
Ji Ci shifted his gaze away awkwardly, looked at the doorpost, and ordered the servants to bring a fox fur coat, put it on Jiang Qiuye, and handed her a hand warmer.
"It's still winter, and Huaixi is colder than Shengjing."
Jiang Qiuye took it, feeling very warm in her heart. She looked at him and smiled, "My husband is so good to Ye'er."
Ji Ci avoided the sight awkwardly and wanted to smile quietly, but was caught by Tian Gou who was standing beside him.
His face immediately darkened with embarrassment, his eyes glared coldly, and he felt a chill on his neck. He could only touch his nose and walk away.
It's so hard to be the master's personal attendant!
A moment later, Tian Qu brought a carriage for the two of them. This morning, under Ji Ci's instructions, he took four secret guards to investigate Wangyou Tower. Now there are no less than ten secret guards secretly protecting to ensure the absolute safety of the Princess.
There were not many people with them. Apart from Tian Qu, there were two other guards disguised as servants.
After the two of them got on the carriage, Tian Qu jumped on the horse, rode through the street, and led the carriage to Wangyou Tower.
The Wangyou Tower is five stories high and stands out in this small town of Huaixi. Coupled with the constant singing, dancing and laughter day and night, it attracts the interest of people who come to Huaixi at first sight.
The interior is hollow, creating a hidden world. A bridge is built in the middle hollow part, with colorful flags flying above it.
Since ancient times, merchants have been very fond of turning higher floors into more prestigious and prosperous places.
This is true for Jinpin Pavilion and even more so for Wangyou Tower.
Jiang Qiuye didn't know who the master behind the scenes was, but he knew that it must be closely related to Feiyan Pavilion.
Although Huaixi was under the jurisdiction of the State of Jin, it was also located at the border between the two countries and was connected with the countries in the Western Regions. Such a fortress naturally had many advantages that were difficult to achieve in other places, namely intelligence.
The place where the most information is handed over is the brothel, which has clear hierarchies but is full of smoke and dust and can hide from the public.
There are many people like Snow Owl and Zhang Yi hiding in Wangyou Tower, issuing tasks and, most importantly, providing antidotes.
Therefore, on this trip, Jiang Qiuye never worried about the poison taking effect. Yan Wu must have known that she had come here with Prince Qi.
As soon as they entered Wangyou Tower, Jiang Qiuye's gorgeous attire attracted the attention of the madam and the surrounding guests. In such a brothel, the guests' eyes were naturally not very kind.
When the madam heard that they were guests of County Magistrate Liu, she changed her appearance to a more respectful one and led them to the fifth floor.
Some dancers passed by along the way. When they saw Ji Ci, they would intentionally or unintentionally pass by him, even deliberately brushing his sleeves with their arms. Jiang Qiuye saw all of this, her face darkened, and she felt even more uncomfortable. After all, her current role was that of a spoiled concubine, so even if she quarreled with him in public, it would not be a big deal to outsiders.
The door of an elegant room on the fifth floor was opened, and County Magistrate Liu inside immediately stood up, followed by four beautiful ladies.
"County Magistrate Liu." Ji Ci greeted him with a smile after entering the room.
"Hey, hey, Young Master Ning."
Although County Magistrate Liu was greeting Ji Ci, his eyes were fixed on Jiang Qiuye, who was dressed up beside him, and he understood what was going on.
No wonder the young master of the Ning family looks down on the beauties in Wangyou Tower. If he had a concubine like this, he would definitely return home every night and not be distracted.
Ji Ci gritted his teeth, put his arm around Jiang Qiuye's waist, and sat down opposite County Magistrate Liu. He suddenly came back to his senses and said, "So this is the rumored Aunt Qiuye. I was distracted. I will drink three cups as punishment!"
As he spoke, he picked up the wine and drank three small cups directly, and a blush appeared on his fat pig-like cheeks.
"County Magistrate Liu, you're joking. My Ning family's future business in Huaixi will depend heavily on you, Lord County Magistrate." As he spoke, Ji Ci also drank a glass of wine.
County Magistrate Liu couldn't help but glance at Jiang Qiuye, who was standing silently by the side, and said with a smile, "Why do you look unwell, little aunt? Are you feeling unwell?"
Ji Ci was stunned after hearing this. He turned his head to look at Jiang Qiuye's face, which was indeed as black as charcoal. "What's wrong?"
"Hmph!" Jiang Qiuye said softly, turning away from him. "You still say that! All along the way, so many dancers have deliberately come close to you, and you didn't even push them away!"
Ji Ci frowned and said sternly, "I have let you run wild, haven't I? Don't you see the situation? This is in front of Lord Liu!"
After hearing this, Jiang Qiuye stopped talking and lowered his head, pretending to be aggrieved.
When County Magistrate Liu saw this, he felt even more pity for her and seemed to speak for her, saying, "Oh, it's nothing, it's nothing. My aunt is so pretty, it's okay to be a little spoiled."
Ji Ci sighed and said, "This woman really can't be spoiled. There is no other woman in my family who is as spoiled as her. She must have been spoiled by me. It's really shameful."
County Magistrate Liu lowered his head and thought, it's true, he came to Huaixi to do business, but he didn't bring his wife, but only brought such a beautiful concubine, which shows how much he doted on her in the past.
After the two exchanged some casual pleasantries, Ji Ci took the initiative to bring up business: "Master Liu knows that my family is in the jewelry business. I met you yesterday and it felt like we were old friends, but today I have to tell you the truth. My trip to Huaixi is actually to find another way."
Upon hearing this, County Magistrate Liu's eyes rolled and he asked tentatively, "Why? Isn't the jewelry business enough?"
"What good things are there in this Huaixi area? Especially after visiting everywhere these days, I found that this new jeweler might not be doing well, so I want to find some other highly profitable businesses to expand." Ji Ci sighed helplessly and shook his head, then picked up the wine glass and took a sip.
County Magistrate Liu narrowed his eyes and asked, "Isn't the Ning family's business big enough? Young Master Ning is so wealthy, isn't he making enough?"
"Well, to be honest, sir, the Ning family is wealthy, but we have many descendants. I've seen my father recently considering choosing the next head of the family. However, my past performance is no match for my second brother, so I have no choice but to look for other ways. If I can get a business that's lucrative enough, then the position of head of the family won't be a problem."
Magistrate Liu felt a pang of dismay. So this was all about a fight for the family fortune. This wealthy young man certainly had money, so he could use it to his advantage. Furthermore, before meeting his beautiful concubine in person, he had despised her. After all, he had seen and played with every beautiful woman. But now, seeing this delicate beauty, just sitting there, captivated him, and he suddenly felt a strong desire to possess her.
He laughed heartily, drinking as he said, "Master Ning, I do have a few options, but I'm not sure how much you can afford. You know, some highly profitable businesses aren't as easy to get into as opening a jewelry store."
"How about 40,000 taels of gold?"
"Puff—" County Magistrate Liu couldn't help but spit out the wine, dripping it onto his collar. "Forty, forty thousand taels? Gold?"
Ji Ci nodded in confusion and said, "Is it too little?"
Is 40,000 taels of gold not enough? He was a little hesitant. Does this young man really have so much money?
"Can Young Master Ning really afford this price?"
Jiang Qiuye noticed Magistrate Liu's hesitation and burst into laughter. His face was bright and his eyes were shining. He said, "What's that? The Ning family is a famous wealthy family in Jiangnan. Lishan knows them, right?"
County Magistrate Liu shook his head.
Jiang Qiuye laughed sweetly and boasted, "Young Master and I once traveled to the southwest Pear Mountain. We fell in love with a species of moon butterfly that lived there. However, due to the mountain's unique geography and climate, these moon butterflies died if they left the mountain. Young Master couldn't bear to see me sad, so he bought the entire mountain and gave it to me as a gift."
Ji Ci listened to Jiang Qiuye's story and couldn't help but glance at her. Seeing her looking back at him with her eyes full of acting excitement, he pretended to be angry and said, "What do you know, woman? Why don't you shut up?"
"Oh." After hearing this, Jiang Qiuye lowered her head again, stopped talking, and continued to act as a vase.
Of course, she made up the story about Pear Mountain and Moon Butterfly, but it wasn't completely nonsense. There was a Pear Mountain in the southwest, and there was a Moon Butterfly on Pear Mountain, but that was from a book called "Zhou You Ji".
Legend has it that Pear Mountain lies on the edge of the southwestern desert. The Moon Butterfly, a creature of the Moon Goddess, glows a vibrant hue in the moonlight, earning it the name. If one can worship the Moon Goddess in the mountains during a full moon, their sins will be absolved and not carried over into the next life. After witnessing this, she longed to wait for the opportunity to seek out the legendary Pear Mountain.
And who is Ji Ci? He is the Prince of Qi. Although he doesn't know where Lishan is, it is not easy for him to forge an official document and create a fictitious mountain out of thin air.
County Magistrate Liu tried hard to suppress his shock and wiped the wine stains off his body.
The four beauties around him instantly became jealous and envious. With such abundant financial resources and the ability to pamper women so much, they also wanted to follow Young Master Ning. It was more than ten thousand times better than serving this greasy pig.
After a moment of silence, County Magistrate Liu said, "I understand. Please allow me to consider this."
He was already tempted, but the matter was of great importance and he could not make a decision lightly.
After tidying himself up, he put aside his embarrassment and asked the beauty beside him to come forward and dance and play music to entertain him, and continued to drink and have fun. As the alcohol went down, County Magistrate Liu became more active, and the look he gave Jiang Qiuye became more bold.
A dark gloom flashed across Ji Ci's eyes. He smiled and continued to drink with County Magistrate Liu.
After the four beauties finished dancing, County Magistrate Liu looked back at Ji Ci's face, shook his head and said, "These four young ladies were trained by me personally. What do you think of them, Master Ning?"
Ji Ci acted like a playboy, glancing at the four beauties. Their voices were like orioles, their waists were soft, their clothes were revealing, their bodies were voluptuous, and their white breasts were squeezed out mercilessly by their corsets. When his eyes passed by them, they all showed shyness.
"Beauty is naturally rare in the world. She is worthy of being the concubine of County Magistrate Liu."
Magistrate Liu laughed heartily and lined them up. He introduced them from left to right, "Feng Niang is the best at playing the flute, Hua Niang is the best at riding, Xue Niang is the most flexible, and Yue Niang has a beautiful voice. If the four of them served together, that would be a wonder only found in heaven."
Jiang Qiuye could tell that County Magistrate Liu wanted to give Ji Ci the four beauties of Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon. Playing the flute? Riding a horse? Could it be the kind described in the storybooks?
She felt sick in her heart and just lowered her head without saying a word.
Ji Ci laughed twice but didn't say anything.
County Magistrate Liu returned his gaze to Jiang Qiuye and continued to probe, "I wonder if Young Master Ning would be willing to try exchanging concubines? Four for one, just for one night, and then I'll send them back to you."
When the four beauties heard this, they looked at Ji Ci with anticipation on their faces.
In Huaixi, and even in many other places, when dignitaries entertained each other, they would exchange concubines for fun, not to mention exchanging wives. A concubine was just a concubine, and her beauty was the basis of seduce men.
Ji Ci's face darkened, and the smile on his face gradually disappeared. Jiang Qiuye noticed that his hand, which was holding the wine glass tightly, was trembling slightly. He must be furious. If he turned against her, wouldn't it be a complete failure?
So she immediately raised her eyes, her expression terrified, and in a panic, she threw herself on Ji Ci and hugged his waist tightly, shaking her head and saying in a soft voice: "Master, I want to follow you for the rest of my life, and only you. Please don't leave me! I'm afraid when you're not around!"
Such a delicate look, like the wind blowing through the willows, is more intoxicating than wine. No one can refuse any of her requests.
He breathed a sigh of relief, curled the corners of his lips, and pretended to be angry: "Don't talk nonsense, Lord Liu is a high-ranking official in Huaixi, how can you be so presumptuous! I really spoiled you, you say anything!"
Jiang Qiuye shook her head desperately, hugged him tightly, and refused to let go, crying, "I know that Lord Liu is a handsome man, as handsome as Pan An, and a man of integrity. But I am deeply in love with the young master. Even if I leave him for a quarter of an hour, my heart will be broken. If I leave him for a night, I would rather die."
After saying that, she let go of Ji Ci and ran out of the house pretending to cry and try to commit suicide.
County Magistrate Liu didn't expect that he was so tall in his aunt's impression. He couldn't help but feel happy and laughed out loud.
Ji Ci had seen Jiang Qiuye's pretentious acting before, and he always disliked it before, but now he found it extremely cute.
He shook his head helplessly, looked back at County Magistrate Liu, and said, "Master Liu has seen it too. Although my aunt is only a concubine, I treat her differently from others in my heart. How can I bear to see her committing suicide like this? Master, I appreciate your kindness, but I'm afraid I won't be able to enjoy the blessing of these four beauties."
County Magistrate Liu sighed upon seeing this. He was only testing the waters. How could the Four Beauties compare to this young concubine? If it worked out, that would be wonderful, but if it didn't, that was within his expectations. Anyway, there would always be a chance in the future. Even if she didn't want to, he would snatch this young concubine away.
But as an official, he was rejected by a lowly merchant, and he still felt a little unhappy.
Ji Ci rubbed his fingers for a while, and asked Tian Qu and the other two to bring in a coral that was half the height of a person. He said, "Master Liu, this is a small gift from me. I hope you will accept it."
County Magistrate Liu did not expect that he would be so generous. It seemed that the 40,000 taels of gold he mentioned could not be false.
Such a large coral, coupled with its brilliant color, was truly priceless. The awkwardness and dissatisfaction of being rejected vanished, and Ji Ci drank several glasses of wine, inviting him to discuss business again tomorrow.
Judging from his tone, this time they meet, the fish should be about to be hooked.
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