Chapter 68
**Chapter 68: Attending the Princess's Birthday Banquet**
The vegetable patch wasn’t large, so it didn’t take long to tend to.
Zhao Yang had also observed that Shen Wei’s complexion was even fairer and more delicate than her own as a princess. It was likely that Shen Wei’s frequent gardening and the sweat it brought had contributed to her radiant skin.
Gripping the hoe, Zhao Yang recalled the methods Shen Wei had taught her and began planting the vegetables step by step.
After a busy half-hour, the seedlings were finally in the ground.
Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Zhao Yang looked at the crooked little plants and felt an indescribable sense of accomplishment wash over her—she was happy and relaxed.
Glancing in the mirror, she saw her face, rosy and fair, and thought it quite pretty. After finishing her gardening, she wiped her brow and sat down for breakfast.
As a noble princess, Zhao Yang’s breakfast was naturally lavish, with a table full of delicious dishes. However, she had always been picky, usually eating only half a bowl of rice porridge.
Today, perhaps due to the tiring gardening, Zhao Yang felt quite hungry. To Yun Er’s astonishment, she downed two whole bowls of grain porridge, devoured half a plate of ham, and polished off half a plate of fruit.
Yun Er was left dumbfounded, suddenly recalling the strange recipe Shen Wei had provided...
Could it be that Shen Wei was actually a miracle worker?
---
Ever since Princess Zhao Yang visited the “Wei Xue Bing Cheng” shop, business had been booming day by day.
With the stall selling citrus syrup set up, ordinary folks could finally enjoy the delicious sweet drink.
Ye Qiushuang meticulously calculated the daily earnings of the shop, ensuring every penny was accounted for, and then passed the figures on to Shen Wei.
Shen Wei lounged in a chair at the Liuli Pavilion, a refreshing glass of citrus water by her side. She flipped through the account books with ease; at this rate, the shop’s initial investment would be recouped quickly, allowing her, the silent partner, to simply relax while money flowed in daily.
There’s nothing quite as joyful as making money.
Nothing in the world is more satisfying than that.
In addition to the account books, Ye Qiushuang also delivered a letter. In it, she recounted a recent incident.
[The owner of the neighboring Zhang Fu Ji, unwilling to see his business stolen, secretly sent a worker to steal ingredients from the back kitchen, hoping to replicate the same desserts. Ye Qiushuang had anticipated this and, with her staff, ambushed the thief, giving him a good beating before throwing him out.
Yet, the owner Zhang was still not satisfied. He secretly bribed a customer to “fake food poisoning,” intending to create false news that Ye’s shop’s desserts were toxic.
As he hesitated over whether to execute his plan, Ye Qiushuang burst in with evidence of Zhang’s bribery.
Zhang was taken aback, too frightened to act further, and he couldn’t help but admire Ye Qiushuang’s foresight. Acknowledging his mistake, he was willing to confess to the authorities but hoped Ye Qiushuang would take care of his old staff. ]
After reading the letter, Shen Wei asked Mama Rong, “How does Ye intend to deal with Zhang? Will she report him?”
Mama Rong replied slowly, “Ye said that Zhang built his business from scratch and has done well with Zhang Fu Ji, which is quite admirable. Wei Xue Bing Cheng has excellent dessert recipes and a huge reputation; Zhang Fu Ji has mature management experience and a larger shop. Instead of fighting to the death, it’s better to collaborate for mutual benefit.”
Ye Qiushuang had looked into Zhang’s background.
He was a relatively conscientious businessman, treating his staff well, and he had a pair of young children at home. If he hadn’t been pushed to the brink, he wouldn’t have risked confronting Wei Xue Bing Cheng.
Previously, he had looked down on female merchants, believing women should stay home to bear children. But after witnessing Ye Qiushuang’s exceptional business acumen, he had changed his mind, even considering entrusting his old employees to her.
Shen Wei set down the account book. “For Princess Zhao Yang’s birthday banquet, let Ye and Zhang collaborate on the desserts. If the collaboration goes well, we can explore further partnerships. Mama Rong, please remind Ye to always have a backup plan.”
Mama Rong nodded respectfully, “I’ll convey that immediately. Ye is sharp and clever; she’ll surely understand the master’s intent.”
As Mama Rong prepared to leave, she noticed the glass of citrus water beside Shen Wei.
In the small white jade cup, there were five or six slices of citrus, and Mama Rong frowned. Doesn’t the master find it too sour?
Shen Wei leisurely rose from her chair, stretching.
With the dessert shop under Ye Qiushuang’s management, she also needed to find someone trustworthy to oversee her plantation in Nanshan. But for now, Shen Wei hadn’t thought of a suitable candidate and would have to temporarily leave it in Mama Rong’s care.
Shen Wei had her own matters to attend to.
Princess Zhao Yang’s birthday was approaching, and Shen Wei needed to prepare a gift that would be just right. Giving a gift to a princess was no simple task.
Gifting expensive gold and silver ornaments would be too common for the princess, who had seen plenty; cheap and playful items would be too trivial to present.
Taking a sip of the particularly sour citrus water, Shen Wei fell into deep thought.
...
The summer days flowed quietly, and Princess Zhao Yang’s eighteenth birthday banquet was drawing near. On the day of the banquet, as dawn broke, Shen Wei rose early to groom herself.
By rights, as a lowly maid, Shen Wei shouldn’t have been qualified to attend the princess’s birthday banquet. However, having saved Zhao Yang, the Empress had personally decreed that Shen Wei could attend the festivities.
Shen Wei accompanied the princess consort to the princess’s residence for the banquet.
At the birthday celebration, the star of the show was naturally Princess Zhao Yang. Thus, Shen Wei deliberately dressed modestly, wearing a jade-green Qianshui skirt, its layers understated yet elegant. Her hair was adorned simply with two jade hairpins, and her makeup was light, giving her an air of grace and dignity.
The carriage from the Yan Wang residence moved slowly.
Inside the luxurious carriage, the princess consort, dressed in a dark-colored brocade robe, sat in the main seat. Shen Wei sat beside her, appearing cautious and reserved.
The princess consort took a sip of Bi Luo Chun tea, assessing Shen Wei’s face. It was young and beautiful, with a fair complexion that seemed almost fragile.
The princess consort thought of her own face, worn down by the long hours spent caring for her two sons, her mood often gloomy and lacking in care. Though still young, she already had noticeable lines at the corners of her eyes.
She no longer had the courage to look in the mirror.
The princess consort glanced at Shen Wei in the corner and said coldly, “Shen, when we arrive at the princess’s residence, do not lose your composure.”
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