"Hmm, Wanlilai, seeing how lively our place is, with so many people coming to register, I'm afraid we're stealing his business."
"The manager of Wanlilai is surnamed Pan, and he's no good."
"He was skilled in all sorts of vices, including eating, drinking, gambling, and whoring. He even forced women to buy and sell. He was incredibly audacious."
Su Buqing shook his head in dissatisfaction and slammed his hand on the table in anger. "However, he has someone backing him up, so those who know his background dare not speak out against him."
“I’ve met Manager Pan before. I’ve been to this money exchange. He doesn’t look like that kind of uncouth person.”
"That must be his son."
"By the way, Brother Su, do you think we should contact some officials in the capital after this incident?"
Song Yuanbao was unaware of the relationship between the money shop owner and Yun Yishu. Reflecting on the events of the day, he realized that if these officials hadn't refrained from pursuing the matter, it probably wouldn't have ended so simply.
It just so happens that these two are the ones who came this time. What if someone else comes next time?
Su Buqing nodded. "That's exactly what I was thinking too."
"Sixth Brother, try to get in touch with the relevant officials, preferably those in charge of this area and this business."
"Ideally, the officials should not be part of any cliques and should have a clear background. This way, we won't be inexplicably dragged into the court's struggles, nor will we be asked to give them a lot of money."
Song Yuanbao nodded.
“Oh, right, it’s best if this official doesn’t have any connections with other merchants either, so that our relationship will be more solid,” Su Buqing said, rubbing the string of Buddhist beads hanging around his neck.
"Yes, I understand. Don't worry, leave this to me."
Song Yuanbao fell into deep thought.
...
On this day, Yun Duoduo was reciting classical Chinese texts in the small academy specially built for her in the palace.
Sun Huohuo, whom I hadn't seen for a long time, also came to class today. While the tutor was out relieving himself, Yun Duoduo put down her books and asked, "Erhuo, why are you back at school?"
"You're not skipping class anymore?"
Yun Duoduo looked at him with a smile. Sun Huohuo had gotten so dark, now as black as coal, that you couldn't even find him if he fell on the ground.
"Duo'er, I wasn't skipping class, I was just practicing on the training ground!"
Sun Huohuo glanced at Guan Guan next to Yun Duoduo and shouted defiantly.
"Oh dear, oh dear, I know, why are you in such a hurry?"
"I didn't say you were ignorant and incompetent."
"Come on, let me see if you've got any muscles!"
Yun Duoduo reached out and pinched Sun Huohuo's arm hard: "Hmm, it's a bit hard, it must be from training."
Guan Guan, who was sitting to the side, wanted to stop Yun Duoduo, but seeing the two of them laughing and joking, he did not step forward to stop them.
[It wouldn't be good if someone saw the princess and Sun Huohuo being so affectionate.]
My father once warned me that men and women should not touch each other.
Yun Duoduo heard Guan Guan's inner thoughts and knew that she was doing it for her own good, but she didn't care about such things. If a man or woman touched parts that shouldn't be touched, or touched sensitive parts that shouldn't be touched, that was absolutely unacceptable.
But his friend only noticed that he was massaging her shoulders and scratching her arms, and there was nothing wrong with it, even through her clothes.
"Ahem, come on, let's continue the lesson."
The Grand Tutor cleared his throat, took a large gulp of strong tea, and continued the lesson.
Yun Duoduo and the other students started reciting again, swaying their heads.
...
After finishing her studies, it was noon. As soon as school was over, Yun Duoduo skipped out of the academy and saw A Xiang waiting outside.
Ah Xiang took the small book box from Yun Duoduo's hand: "Princess, the Empress Dowager wants you to go to Shouchang Palace."
【Royal grandmother? 】
[I just paid my respects to the Empress Dowager yesterday, and today I even sent Xiao Liu to deliver some nourishing pills.]
[Could it be that the Empress Dowager is feeling unwell after taking the pills?]
Yun Duoduo's heart immediately tightened: "Aunt Xiang, is Grandmother unwell?"
Ah Xiang shook her head: "The person who came to deliver the message from the Laifu Twin Palaces didn't seem nervous or flustered at all; he just looked normal."
"Hmm, that's good. Maybe Grandmother misses me?!"
Yun Duoduo's tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and she smiled.
She turned to look at Sun Huohuo and Guan Guan behind her: "Erhuo, Zhuangzhuang, Guan Guan, you guys have dinner together, I'm going to see my grandmother."
After Yun Duoduo left with A Xiang, Sun Huohuo noticed that only he and Guan Guan were left now, as Jin Zhuangzhuang had not come to class today.
Sun Huohuo rubbed his hands together: "Guanguan, let's go, let's go to the Imperial Kitchen to find Aunt Wu."
Guan Guan glanced at Sun Huohuo, intending to refuse his request to have lunch at his own residence, but afternoon classes started very early, and if she went back to her residence for lunch, she would definitely not have enough time.
"Okay, let's go."
...
Yun Duoduo walked briskly to Shouchang Palace. She had been sitting all morning, and her knees and back ached, so she refused to ride in a sedan chair and wanted to walk to stretch her muscles.
"Royal Grandmother!"
As soon as Yun Duoduo stepped into the gate of Fushuang Palace, she started shouting at the top of her lungs.
"The Ninth Princess is here! Quick, prepare a hand warmer!"
Zhang Mama hurried out to greet them, instructing the palace maids to prepare hot fruit drinks, hand warmers, and hot pastries.
"Thank you, Granny Zhang! Granny Zhang loves Duoduo the most!"
"Grandmother loves Duoduo the most!"
Yun Duoduo hopped and skipped onto the Empress Dowager's lap.
She was now an eight-year-old child and could no longer snuggle in the Empress Dowager's arms like before, so she simply gave the Empress Dowager a quick kiss on the cheek and then jumped down to sit next to her.
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