Chapter 45
**Chapter 45: The Business Genius Shen Wei**
Cai Lian opened the food box she had brought along and took out several bowls filled with pre-prepared ingredients.
Brown sugar syrup, chilled jelly cubes, mint balls, sago, and milk were all neatly arranged in large bowls. The food box also contained ice to keep the ingredients cool.
With practiced ease, Cai Lian mixed the ingredients and presented two bowls of drinks to Shen Wei.
Shen Wei deliberately made a commotion, drawing the attention of Princess Zhaoyang and the other noble ladies.
The brown sugar jelly, with two spoonfuls of syrup drizzled over the glistening cubes, sparkled under the sunlight; the mint sago jelly, with its green, round mint balls resembling polished jade, exuded a subtle minty fragrance, the green orbs peeking through the white milk and tiny sago pearls.
Not only did it taste good, but it also looked incredibly appealing—an icy treat that any girl would find irresistible.
Finally, a tentative voice broke the chatter: “Madam Shen, what are you eating? It looks delicious.”
The one who spoke was Madam Sun, sitting next to Shen Wei. Her full name was Sun Qingmei, the newlywed wife of the Marquis of Nan in the town. It was said that on their wedding night, the Marquis had to leave for battle due to urgent news from the border.
Now, with reports of victories pouring in, the Marquis had gained great fame, and Sun Qingmei’s status among the noble ladies in Yanjing had risen significantly.
Sun Qingmei was strikingly beautiful, and her demeanor seemed gentle and serene. Her lovely eyes blinked curiously as she gazed at the mint sago jelly in Shen Wei’s hands.
“This is a summer ice drink from my hometown—brown sugar jelly and mint sago jelly. Would you like to try a bowl, Madam Sun?” Shen Wei asked with a bright smile.
Sun Qingmei’s eyes lit up with delight. “That sounds wonderful.”
Cai Lian quickly prepared a bowl of the refreshing, glistening mint sago jelly. Under the curious gazes of everyone, Sun Qingmei took a small porcelain spoon and gently tasted it.
The mint sago jelly was icy and smooth, with a chewy texture, blending perfectly with the sweetness of the milk. With each bite, it felt as if all the heat of summer melted away.
On a sweltering summer day, this was the perfect way to cool off!
Sun Qingmei couldn’t stop praising it. “This mint sago jelly is truly delicious!”
Princess Zhaoyang, seated at the head of the table, looked enviously at the treats. Having tasted all sorts of delicacies in the palace, she had never seen such uniquely beautiful food. She quickly exclaimed, “Shen Wei, I want to try too! I want both kinds!”
Shen Wei had been waiting for the princess to speak!
Cai Lian immediately prepared two more bowls and respectfully presented them.
In the sweltering noon heat, Princess Zhaoyang eagerly took a bite of the brown sugar jelly, then another of the mint sago jelly, her eyes widening in surprise.
So good!
Icy, sweet, and the sago had a delightful chewiness.
A faint smile played on Shen Wei’s lips. Her trip to the Dongshan hunting grounds was not only to ensure the safety of the Prince of Yan but also to promote her refreshing summer drinks.
Shen Wei planned to open a summer beverage shop in Yanjing, named “Wei Xue Bing Cheng” (Wei Snow Ice City)! It would specialize in brown sugar jelly, mint sago jelly, summer herbal teas, and other drinks.
With a new product launch, advertising was essential. The high-status Princess Zhaoyang would be the perfect spokesperson.
When the new shop opened, a banner would be hung outside proclaiming—“Wei Xue Bing Cheng Desserts, Loved by the Princess!”
If the princess loved it, who wouldn’t want to try it?
With the celebrity effect in play, the summer drinks would surely fly off the shelves!
Once the shop was successfully established, Shen Wei envisioned selling flower milk tea in spring, icy drinks in summer, osmanthus hot tea in autumn, and warm milk drinks in winter... The shop’s offerings would change with the seasons, building a reputation that would lead to chain stores across the country.
After establishing the chain, Shen Wei would even create a catchy jingle for the shop—“You love me, I love you, Wei Xue Bing Cheng, sweet as can be,” to boost its popularity among children.
Appealing to all ages, Shen Wei’s shop was bound to be a financial success.
As she contemplated her future business empire, Shen Wei felt quite pleased. Upon returning to the Prince of Yan’s residence in a couple of days, she would immediately start preparing for the shop and find a capable manager to run it for her.
She wanted to be the behind-the-scenes boss, making money, and lots of it!
Just in case something happened to the Prince one day, she would have an escape route.
“Madam Shen, I’d like to try a bowl too,” the daughter of the Chancellor couldn’t hold back any longer, eager to taste the treats.
Shen Wei showed a hint of regret and replied gently, “I rushed out and didn’t bring enough ingredients for everyone. If you don’t mind, each of you can have a small bowl.”
With the princess loving it, who would dare complain? They all eagerly anticipated their turn.
Cai Lian and several palace maids quickly busied themselves, filling small bowls with the remaining drink ingredients and serving them to each noble lady.
The portions were small, just a few bites to savor.
Princess Zhaoyang happily finished her two bowls and, feeling the coolness of the small bowls, suddenly remembered what Yan Yunting had warned her about—Dantai Rou had come from Kuishui and shouldn’t eat cold food.
Princess Zhaoyang instructed the palace maids, “Don’t give any to Dantai Rou; she can’t eat it.”
The maids naturally complied.
Everyone received a small bowl of the icy drink, except for Dantai Rou, who sat alone in the corner with an empty space before her.
To Dantai Rou, it felt like Princess Zhaoyang was deliberately humiliating her. She lowered her head in grievance, her hand hidden in her sleeve clenching tightly.
A flash of malice flickered in her eyes.
Seeing everyone finish their treats, Shen Wei finally smiled and said, “My skills are lacking. I’ve heard there’s a dessert shop in Yanjing that specializes in making these kinds of drinks, and it will be opening soon. If you’re interested, you can look for it when you return to the city.”
Shen Wei had intentionally not brought enough ingredients, allowing each person only a small taste, leaving them wanting more.
This was called “hunger marketing.”
The less they had, the more the noble ladies present craved it.
Princess Zhaoyang loved these two desserts. She gently waved her fan, contemplating, “Next month is my birthday; I must invite the chef from this dessert shop to make ice drinks and sweets for my guests—”
Before she could finish, a sudden scream erupted from the guest area.
The Chancellor’s daughter shrieked, “There’s a snake! A snake!”
Perhaps because they were near the creek, two small black-and-white snakes darted toward them. The noble ladies turned pale with fear, shrieking and scattering.
The two snakes were less than half a meter long, thin like black-and-white strings, their eyes glowing with an eerie red light. They were heading straight for Princess Zhaoyang, twisting rapidly, their scarlet tongues flicking out.
“Someone, protect the princess!” the palace maids cried out in alarm.
The guards, stationed at the creek’s end due to the separation of genders, rushed over upon hearing the commotion.
But it was too far; they wouldn’t make it in time.
The two snakes lunged toward Princess Zhaoyang’s face.
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