Chapter 67
**Chapter 67: The Princess Begins to Grow Vegetables**
...
The business at Weixue Ice City was booming, and the kitchen had sold out all its supplies.
As night fell and the doors closed, Ye Qiushuang happily fiddled with her abacus. At this rate, the shop would soon become the top dessert place in Yanjing. She calculated the profits while also planning to recruit two new employees, as well as the purchase and preparation of ingredients.
Knock, knock—
The back door creaked open, and Rong Mama stepped into the dim light of the evening.
Ye Qiushuang smiled and said, “You’ve come at just the right time! Please tell the owner that after deducting costs, we’ve made a profit of twenty-five taels today.”
Shen Wei was truly remarkable; with Princess Zhaoyang as her golden endorsement, the shop’s reputation had skyrocketed.
Rong Mama’s expression remained calm. “The master asked me to remind you to be cautious in all matters.”
Ye Qiushuang poured a cup of tea for Rong Mama, her lips curling into a smile. “Rest assured, I, Ye Qiushuang, have been helping my family manage their business since I was young. I’ve seen my fair share of the cutthroat dealings among merchants.”
She had single-handedly revived the nearly bankrupt Ye family, her abilities beyond question.
Seeing her confidence, Rong Mama felt reassured. She continued, “Once the business stabilizes, we can consider expanding the shop. Additionally, the master wants you to set up a small stall next to the shop to sell lemon water at one wen a bowl.”
Lemon water, or *gouyuan tangshui*, was a refreshing drink.
Ye Qiushuang frowned in confusion. “One wen a bowl? Is this meant for the common folk?”
Rong Mama nodded and explained slowly, “The expensive desserts in the shop are for wealthy customers. The lemon water, however, is for the masses. The master said this is about capturing the lower market. There are plenty of rich people in Yanjing, but there are even more ordinary folks.”
One wen wasn’t too expensive.
The common people could enjoy a bowl of refreshing lemon water even in the sweltering summer. They could also bring their own containers to take a bowl home. This sweet, icy drink was a favorite among children.
The shop aimed to cater to all ages, making it accessible to everyone.
Ye Qiushuang suddenly realized a flaw in the plan. “The idea for lemon water is great, but the supply of lemons is limited. They need to be transported from the south, which isn’t cheap.”
Rong Mama reassured her, “Don’t worry about that. The master has already purchased enough land in Nanshan to grow lemons, cassava, mint, and sugarcane, and has partnered with beekeepers for honey. The ice from the deep caves in Xishan never melts, providing us with a steady supply of ice. In short, we’ll soon have a stable supply of ingredients and won’t need to rely on expensive water transport anymore.”
The land in Nanshan was incredibly fertile. Facing south, it wouldn’t be too hot in summer or too cold in winter, making it ideal for growing crops. Shen Wei had spent a fortune to acquire it.
“The owner really thinks ahead,” Ye Qiushuang admired Shen Wei wholeheartedly.
With such a visionary owner, her future was bright and promising.
She had no intention of becoming a mere concubine in a royal household; she, Ye Qiushuang, aimed to be a renowned businesswoman! Wealthy and powerful!
...
The setting sun cast a golden hue over the Liuli Pavilion, and Shen Wei clutched her heart, feeling the sting of seeing her nearly empty treasury.
Indeed, all investments in entrepreneurship burned through money in the early stages!
Fortunately, she had a solid financial foundation to help her through this challenging startup period. Outside, she heard the soft sound of footsteps. Turning around, she saw Prince Yan, Li Yuanjing, returning in the golden glow of the sunset.
Dressed in a dark floral-patterned robe and a white jade crown, he looked as radiant as a piece of shining gold, illuminated by the setting sun.
“Your Highness, you’re back!” Shen Wei exclaimed, her joy evident as she rushed to greet him.
Her eyes sparkled with unmasked affection, warm as fire.
Li Yuanjing wrapped his arm around Shen Wei’s slender waist, his heart enveloped in tender emotions. The thing he looked forward to most each day was returning to the Liuli Pavilion after a long day of work, to see Shen Wei’s bright smile.
Her gaze was pure and filled with joy.
He knew there was always someone waiting for his return. Shen Wei loved him fiercely.
“What’s for dinner tonight?” Li Yuanjing asked.
Shen Wei’s beautiful eyes crinkled as she smiled at him. “We have your favorite—sugarcane mixed with tomatoes.”
Of course, there was also a large plate of oysters prepared just for him.
During her pregnancy, she had to make sure Li Yuanjing was well-nourished.
Holding Shen Wei’s hand, Li Yuanjing stepped into the cool, elegant Liuli Pavilion.
The gentle evening breeze, the golden sunset, and the beauty by his side made all his fatigue melt away, leaving him relaxed.
...
In the Princess’s residence, Zhaoyang had just finished her dinner. Lately, her stomach had been acting up, and she could barely eat more than a few bites.
Her maid, Yun’er, entered holding a letter and a cloth bag filled with vegetable seeds. She respectfully said, “Princess, Rong Mama sent a letter from Shen Wei, saying it contains a prescription.”
Zhaoyang chuckled, her smile radiant. “So Shen Wei really sent the prescription!”
She opened the letter.
The paper was filled with densely written characters. The handwriting wasn’t particularly beautiful, but it was legible, and it read:
**Methods to Treat Women’s Kidney Deficiency**
1. Acupressure. Massage the Gan Yu point and Tai Chong point for the duration of one cup of tea each day.
2. Food. Eat more mulberries, walnuts, goji berries, black beans, and lotus root. Drink more grain porridge and avoid foods that cause inflammation.
3. Wake up early and jog slowly each day. (Half an hour is best.)
4. Grow your own vegetables. (Two packets of cabbage seeds, along with a few eggplant seedlings, chili seedlings, and tomato seedlings were included.)
“Yun’er, prepare the food according to the prescription,” Zhaoyang said with a smile, not taking the letter too seriously. However, she appreciated Shen Wei’s kind gesture and decided to give it a try.
After all, her love for Yan Yunting wouldn’t vanish just because her health improved, would it?
Love isn’t a disease that can be cured.
Zhaoyang took a sip of tea, gazing at the lush garden of the Princess’s residence, her eyes landing on a small patch of empty ground in the pond.
After a moment of thought, her lips curled into a smile. “Yun’er, have someone renovate that patch of land. I want to grow vegetables. If my second brother can grow red tomatoes, so can I!”
Yun’er was filled with confusion but didn’t dare to oppose the Princess’s wishes, so she could only nod. “...I’ll send someone to take care of it right away.”
The next day, when Princess Zhaoyang woke up, the small vegetable plot by the pond had already been renovated. Excited, she had Yun’er prepare the farming tools and rolled up her sleeves to plant the seeds herself.
“Princess, no! You can’t! You, a lady of high birth, shouldn’t be doing such rough work!” Yun’er exclaimed in shock, quickly trying to dissuade her.
Zhaoyang wiped the sweat from her forehead. “If my second brother can grow vegetables, so can I.”
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