Chapter 2: Is renting a shop such a good thing?
Three days after the wedding, Cheng Xianzhi stayed at Yingyue Pavilion, ignoring Yansheng Hall. Due to etiquette, Lu Tingwan was supposed to offer tea to the master and the first lady the day after the wedding. However, the housekeeper came to Yansheng Hall with a message, saying that Lu Tingwan had nothing to do and did not need to bother Yingyue Pavilion. The usual formalities of greeting were dispensed with.
When Lu Tingwan heard this, his eyebrows slightly raised, the corners of his lips curled up slightly, and he thought to himself: "Is there such a good thing?"
Cheng Xianzhi accompanied Gongsun Xue back home. Not long after they left the house, Lu Tingwan fiddled in Yansheng Hall for a long time. She applied a layer of dark powder on her cheeks, leaving visible marks on her originally smooth face. Once this makeup was done, it was difficult for others to detect her identity as a woman.
If Lu Tingwan wants to do business, she must first find a shop. Based on the cash she has on hand, she has calculated over the past two days that she can barely rent a shop in the west of the city. The shop can be smaller, but the location must be unique.
She rented a shop as a woman, and was afraid that the landlord had cheated her first. Seeing that she was a woman and easy to be deceived, he raised the price for her. She had seen such tricks many times when she followed her mother to do business in Jiangling.
As soon as she left Cheng Mansion, she headed west of the city, where there were the most vendors. The Kyoto Wholesale Market was also close to the city, so if she bought goods, she could save a lot of transportation costs. As Lu Tingwan thought about this, the wind in Kyoto unknowingly became filled with sweetness.
When she reached Changqing Street in the west of the city, the crowds gradually increased. She could not afford to rent a shop on the main street, so she had to go around to Fenglin Lane.
Two streets away, the rent of shops in Fenglin Lane is twice as low as that of Changqing Street, but the flow of people here is no less than that of Changqing Street.
When Lu Tingwan passed by Fenglin Lane, she was looking for a shop rental notice posted outside a shop when she suddenly felt someone tugging at her long gown. She leaned over and saw a girl of seventeen or eight years old pulling at the corner of her clothes. The childish voice was particularly clear among the crowd in Fenglin Lane.
"Brother, brother, buy some flowers."
elder brother?
Lu Tingwan suddenly realized that she was actually a man in disguise. She withdrew her distant gaze, squatted down, gently pinched the girl's cheek, and asked, "How much do you sell these flowers for?"
"Two cents a stick."
"How many did you sell today? Where did you get these flowers?" Lu Tingwan saw that the flowers in her basket were fresh and growing well, and most of them were seasonal flowers.
"It hasn't been sold yet." The girl thought for a moment and then said, "This flower was planted by my father."
"Did you grow them yourself?" Lu Tingwan thought for a moment and pulled the girl to the side of the road. He carefully picked out the flowers in the basket. There weren't many varieties, but if they could be matched together, they would look elegant.
"Then follow me. I'll teach you how to sell these flowers today." Lu Tingwan looked up at the sky and roughly calculated the time. "If these flowers are sold out before noon, you can give me this one, okay?"
The girl nodded, and Lu Tingwan led her to the intersection of Changqing Street and Fenglin Lane, where the two streets met and where the flow of people was the busiest. She arranged the flowers in the basket, combining her own taste with the flower arrangement skills her mother had taught her, to create bouquets. Each bouquet sold for twenty wen, and with the purchase of a bouquet, a single, high-quality flower was given as a gift.
Lu Tingwan gave a blessing to every buyer. As the crowd gathered, the flowers in the basket were almost gone. There were a few remaining branches, and Lu Tingwan asked the girl for them.
She wrapped the money from selling flowers today in a cloth and stuffed it into the girl's bag. She pinched her face and said, "As agreed, these flowers are given to me."
"Thank you, brother," the child handed over the flowers, "you are so awesome."
"Have you memorized everything my brother taught you today?"
"Yeah, I remember."
"My brother said we should go to crowded places. If we meet people in a hurry in Maple Grove Alley, we don't need to ask them, as they won't have time to stop and buy flowers.
"Also, my brother said my flowers are good, but..."
Lu Tingwan seemed to understand his thoughts. "It's just that you still don't know how to arrange these scattered branches into a bouquet that will be fascinating, right?"
"Well," the child nodded heavily, "I'm afraid that if my brother doesn't look good enough, others won't come to buy it."
"As long as the flowers are good, as for matching them," Lu Tingwan pondered for a moment, "starting tomorrow, you will come here every day and I will teach you how to arrange the flowers into bouquets. However, you must provide one peony as tuition every day. If you think it's feasible, I will still be here waiting for you at this time tomorrow, okay?"
"Brother, it's a deal." The girl agreed happily.
Lu Tingwan originally wanted to open a flower shop in the west of the city, using flower sales as a strategy to attract customers and lay the foundation for future store upgrades. She had to proceed step by step. Although Cheng Xianzhi and Gongsun Xue were around, she had no constraints for the time being and could focus on business, but the Queen Mother's situation was not certain.
Therefore, she must rent a shop in the next few days.
When she was helping the girl sell flowers just now, she had already asked about her family situation. The girl lived on a farm outside the city. There were more than dozens of acres of land in the farm, all of which were planted with various flowers. The villagers made a living from it.
Ordinary flower farmers would sell their flowers to flower dealers. However, this year, the flower dealer who had been cooperating with the village for many years was not doing well in business and broke the contract and ran away. The flower farmers had no market, so the girl had to go to the city every day and sell whatever she could.
When she entered Fenglin Lane again from the street corner, she looked for several shops for rent, but some were too expensive or had bad locations, so Lu Tingwan returned empty-handed. She had not originally planned to find a shop she liked in one day, so she decided to look for one tomorrow.
The setting sun had already passed the top of the tree. Cheng Xianzhi and Gongsun Xue were still in the residence of the Minister of the Central Secretariat. They were back home today. After dinner, Gongsun Yin and Cheng Xianzhi chatted in the study.
He wore a frosty robe, his face cool and serene, his eyes warm and clear, like a pot of spring wine, a single glance sending a wave of warmth. Yet, this was a stark contrast to the "living devil" nickname circulated in Kyoto. His fingertips were defined, and as he held a teacup, his manners and speech exuded elegance and refinement. His eyes were slightly raised, and a hint of dignity etched between his brows made him seem unapproachable.
"I envy you," Gongsun Yin said, sitting at the desk. "You and Xue'er have known each other since childhood and are very close. You are also my most proud disciple. I am willing to betroth Xue'er to you. However, the Queen Mother is wary of a marriage between the two families, so she ordered Lu Mingqian's daughter to marry into the palace. Do you understand her intention?"
Cheng Xianzhi put down his teacup and nodded, saying, "I understand what you mean, sir. I also understand the Queen Mother's intentions. I will definitely not let Xue'er down. As for the Lu family's daughter, the Queen Mother wants to plant a spy beside me, hoping to spy on the relationship between the two families and obtain important information. Currently, the Queen Mother is meddling in government affairs, and the intentions of the Jiang Party are clear. Your Majesty and the Queen Mother are fighting openly and secretly, and as a minister, it is difficult for me to stay out of it."
"Hmm." Gongsun Yin listened quietly. "I know about your relationship with Xue'er, but you are still young and full of vigor. It is normal for you to have several concubines around you. If the person next to you is not trustworthy..."
"Sir," Cheng Xianzhi interrupted, "I issued an order at the residence yesterday. Without my permission, Mrs. Lu is not allowed to set foot in Xue'er's courtyard. I am not someone who indulges in beauty, so I will be cautious in my words and actions. Please rest assured, sir."
Gongsun Yin's words were clear, and Cheng Xianzhi also wanted to dispel his teacher's concerns.
Since the Guangjing period, the post of Shangshu Ling has been concurrently held by Zhongshu Ling Gongsun Yin. Emperor Li Tingfeng recently issued an edict in the court, ordering the selection of a new talented person to take over the position of Shangshu Ling. Looking at the court now, the only two people who are qualified for the position are Cheng Xianzhi and Lu Mingqian.
The Empress Dowager Jiang's brother, Jiang Haiyi, served as Grand Marshal and Duke of the Protectorate, guarding Shanhaiguan. Originally divided into three factions, the marriage between the Gongsun and Cheng families marked the beginning of the emperor's monopoly of power.
The Empress Dowager was eager to have Lu Mingqian appointed as the Minister of the Chancellery to prevent Li Tingfeng from seizing the imperial power, which led to Lu Tingwan's substitutionary marriage.
But he didn't know whether Gongsun Xue could keep her mouth shut about what he and she said on their wedding night.
On the wedding night, Cheng Xianzhi lifted Gongsun Xuehong's veil and took off her phoenix crown.
Just as Gongsun Xue was waiting to perform the Zhougong ceremony with Cheng Xianzhi, Cheng Xianzhi did not move. Gongsun Xue knew that he had always been self-disciplined and forbearing, but performing the Zhougong ceremony on the wedding night was also a courtesy between husband and wife and did not violate the law.
The person sitting on the edge of the bed waited for a whole day, and her red lips wanted to speak several times, but she held back.
It was not until midnight that Cheng Xianzhi spoke calmly, "Xue'er, do you know what my wish is?"
"Keep the court in order, rectify the government, usher in a prosperous era, and establish peace." Gongsun Xue's eyes moved, full of respect and love. In her heart, Cheng Xianzhi was a banished immortal in this world. Even though others regarded him as a "living devil", he was not a ghost to her.
"Sir, you often say that those who accomplish great things must dedicate themselves to the country. The Queen Mother promised the daughter of the Lu family to me as a concubine in order to restrain me and you, but I have no interest in her. I respect Xue'er, and even if the Queen Mother decrees, I will not let you suffer any grievances because of her." Cheng Xianzhi stared at her rosy cheeks.
Gongsun Xue's appearance is one of the best in Kyoto, but when he looked at the person he loved, his heart did not feel the slightest bit of excitement.
"Xue'er understands what my husband said, and I will definitely not let this matter hurt our relationship." Gongsun Xue's cheeks were flushed with shame, and Cheng Xianzhi saw it clearly.
He added, "Right now, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor are fighting each other. I need to take the position of Shangshu Ling within three months so that I can gain a firm foothold in the court and assist the monarch. This is also what you mean."
Gongsun Xueqing's eyes moved. She naturally understood what Cheng Xianzhi said, but she felt that there was another meaning hidden in his words that he had not made clear.
"Husband, are you telling Xue'er all this today because you're afraid that Xue'er and Lu will become jealous?"
"No, you don't need to pay attention to her." Cheng Xianzhi stood up and fetched the wedding wine, passing it to Gongsun Xue. After they drank, Gongsun Xue kept her head down, like a shy bud about to bloom.
Seeing that Cheng Xianzhi didn't say anything else, Gongsun Xue finally plucked up the courage. With a woman's shyness, she followed the bridal chamber etiquette taught by her master Renlun. She stood on tiptoe and wanted to take off Cheng Xianzhi's wedding dress. However, the moment her hand touched Cheng Xianzhi's shoulder, Cheng Xianzhi quietly avoided it.
Gongsun Xue's fingertips hovered in mid-air, a touch awkward, and for a moment, she even resented her own impulsiveness. This was something a woman should have been reserved about, but he still hadn't shown any interest in joining her. Gongsun Xue didn't understand what he meant, and she felt aggrieved.
"Husband, do you dislike Xue'er?"
Cheng Xianzhi distanced himself from her and said sternly, "Xue'er, I can't perform the Zhougong ceremony with you right now."
"Why, why?" Gongsun Xue raised her eyes timidly, her eyes full of disbelief.
Cheng Xianzhi's voice was cold and he explained slowly, "I'm working for the Emperor, and the Empress Dowager is watching closely. I'm not sure of a complete victory in this situation, so I won't touch you easily before I'm appointed Shangshu Ling. If I lose, and my head and body are torn apart, you can still marry someone else, and I'll grant you my protection."
Gongsun Xue felt a pain in her heart after hearing this. She could see that he cared so much about her. The warmth in her heart surged and turned into a cloud of mist. She accepted Cheng Xianzhi's words and was willing to believe him for once, and was willing to be his empty-boudoir wife for a while.
However, Gongsun Xue felt that even if he had to abide by the etiquette for the time being, he would have to stay in the room every day for the next three months. Even if he could be patient and restrained, she did not believe that he could stay within the boundaries.
But she could not have expected that in the next few days, the person who was restless every night was not Cheng Xianzhi, but her, Gongsun Xue.
"Husband..." Gongsun Xue leaned in his arms.
Cheng Xianzhi held her arms and gently pushed them away. "Xue'er, please don't mention what I told you tonight to your husband. I'm afraid he might worry too much and get hurt."
Gongsun Xue agreed.
Today at the Zhongshu Ling's residence, Gongsun Yin hinted several times that Gongsun Xue should get pregnant as soon as possible. With a child, she would be able to capture people's hearts. Everything was unpredictable. Although Cheng Xianzhi respected her, he was young and very cunning, and it was difficult to fathom what she was thinking.
He held the power of the Imperial Guards, acted decisively in the six ministries, and had absolute power over the Ministry of Justice. He made no mistakes in any case he handled, and was ruthless in judging cases and sentencing people, which was completely different from his cold appearance.
If something happens to the two families in the future, the Gongsun family will at least have a son who can restrain him.
As night fell, Lu Tingwan returned home from Fenglin Lane. Feng Xin had been waiting at the back door of Cheng's house for a long time. Finally, the ancestor came back.
Seeing her hair loosen a little when she slipped in through the back door, Feng Xin didn't know why she had been out all day. He just complained, "Second Madam, you are a woman. It's fine if you didn't report to the mistress before going out, but you didn't come back until the night. Feng Xin is so worried here."
"We're going to the west of the city on our first day, and we're not familiar with the roads," Lu Tingwan said, bolting the door behind him with deft movements. "But I've gotten a general idea of the route today, so we'll go again tomorrow."
"Are you going again tomorrow?" Feng Xin couldn't help but raise his voice a little.
"Of course I have to go. I'm going to open a shop outside, and I might have to go out every day in the future."
"Ah? But if the Lord and the Madam knew about this, wouldn't it be..." Feng Xin was worried.
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