Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Qiao Jinniang rarely used charcoal fire in Lin’an. After all, there were only a few days when it was really cold, and charcoal fire was easy to get people poisoned, so most people didn’t use it.
She hadn’t thought of this.
“Can’t we buy it even if you have money?” Qiao Jinniang asked.
Hongling nodded and said, “There was a cold disaster in Chang’an in the early years, and the price of charcoal fire skyrocketed. Many people didn’t even have firewood for the winter, and many people froze to death.
Seeing this, the imperial court immediately regulated the sale of charcoal fire.
“The best Silver Filament Charcoal can only be distributed by the imperial palace to officials.
“Ordinary charcoal can only be purchased from places specified by the court. Although it is also divided into upper, middle and lower grades, it’s not as good as Silver Filament Charcoal.”
Qiao Jinniang didn’t mind it, but now that her mother was pregnant, they couldn’t use poor charcoal.
Yuyan came in from outside the door, shook off the snow flakes on her body and said, “Miss, today a servant of the Duke Anyuan Mansion sent over two baskets of Silver Filament Charcoal and said it was the Duke’s
order.”
Qiao Jinniang said, “Give mother and Ruoyi a basket each.”
There was no reason to reject the Silver Filament Charcoal delivered to the door.
But Qiao Jinniang was more concerned about the charcoal fire in the Myriad Taste and the Tasty Pavilion. Unlike ice cubes in summer, charcoal fire couldn’t be bought even if you had money, so the heating in the Tasty
Pavilion would be a problem.
She couldn’t sell such expensive dishes and use poor charcoal fire for customers.
Only then did Qiao Jinniang think of Lu Chen, whom she hadn’t seen in a while. After she ordered the maids to leave, she opened the entrance of the tunnel, only to see Lu Chen coming out of the tunnel.
After Lu Chen came out of the tunnel, he held her in his arms and said, “Although I didn’t come to you these days, why don’t you come to see me?”
“I’m busy.” Qiao Jinniang said, “I bought a few shops next to Myriad Taste in Chang’an to open a jewelry shop, a silk and satin shop, and a rouge shop.
“It is extremely difficult to customize jewelry in the jewelry store on the main street, and it usually takes several months. Some jewelry is already out of date when you finally get it. So, | want to open my own shop,
which can not only make me money, but also make jewelry | like.”
Lu Chen smiled helplessly and said, “Did you know that there is the Shanggong Bureau in the imperial palace? You can ask the Shanggong Bureau to make whatever jewelry you want. Their craftsmanship is much better
than the jewelry shops outside the imperial palace. You don’t need to open a jewelry store yourself.”
Qiao Jinniang said, “Although the craftsmanship in the Shanggong Bureau is good, it’s not as convenient as making my own jewelry myself, and the most important thing is to make money.
“You know, many customers of Myriad Taste are all noble ladies. If | open these shops next to Myriad Taste, | will definitely make a lot of money.
“By the way, can you do me a favor? I want some Silver Filament Charcoal to be used in the Tasty Pavilion. There are only you and Tuan’er in the East Palace. The excess Silver Filament Charcoal is not used. It is better
to give it to me instead of wasting it, right?”
Lu Chen sighed and said, “Jin’er, when you become the crown princess, you’ll have as much money as you want. Why do you have to be so busy earning money yourself? And if you open so many shops now, what would
happen when you enter the East Palace…”
Qiao Jinniang frowned. “I thought last time you had allowed me to open a restaurant and do business.”
Lu Chen said, “I know that Myriad Taste means a lot to you, and Huixiang and Bajia should have a place to settle.
“But now your business is getting bigger and bigger, and you even want to open a rouge shop, a silk shop and a jewelry shop. You won’t have so much energy to manage them.”
Qiao Jinniang left Lu Chen’s arms, sat on the wooden couch, poured herself a cup of tea and said, “But I don’t want to rely on you all the time. Being the crown princess is good, but once I leave you, I’ll be nothing.
“If I have my own shops and money, even if I leave the imperial palace, I can still live a good life.
“Just like my mother, she dared to divorce because she had her dowry, which included manors and shops.”
Lu Chen’s face also darkened. “I’m so humble to you. Do you want me to kneel down and beg you?
“But you still think about leaving the East Palace one day? You are already thinking of leaving it before you even enter it?”
Qiao Jinniang snorted. “Who knows if you will regret it one day and feel that I am not worthy of being your wife?”
“I have to find a way out for myself.”
Lu Chen was annoyed. “You don’t trust me?”
“You are not as reliable as money.”
Qiao Jinniang said, “I recited the famous poem when | was three years old, ‘We vowed to grow old together, but before we became old, you fell in love with someone else! A surging river has its bank, and a wide marsh
always has an end. Now I recall how happy we were in the past and your vows of eternal love for me are still ringing in my ears, but you’ve broken your vows.”
“My father and mother only had each other in their lives, and when I married you, I thought we could be like them.
“Since you had thought that I was not worthy of being your crown princess.
“And I’ve seen too many men in Chang’an betray their wives. It is better to believe in money than in you!”
Lu Chen took a deep breath. “Jin’er, can you put yourself in my shoes…”
“Then why don’t you put yourself in my shoes?” Qiao Jinniang said, “You’re right, if you didn’t promise never to take a concubine and be humble to me, I wouldn’t even have forgiven you right now.”
“But you have once hurt me, so I want to leave a retreat for myself. You can’t even allow this?”
Lu Chen let out a long sigh. “We’re not doing business. There shouldn’t be something like a ‘retreat’ between us.
“I’m annoyed because you have never put me in your heart. If you have me in your heart, how can you mention leaving so easily? How can you think of a ‘retreat’?”
Qiao Jinniang held back her tears and said, “How can you say that I don’t have you in my heart? You are my husband and the person closest to me, but after you came to Chang’an, you walked out of my heart.”
“Now you are blaming me for not having you in my heart. If you have me in your heart, you will never think of demoting me from your wife into your concubine!”
Lu Chen sat next to Qiao Jinniang, took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears. “Haven’t we agreed to let bygones be bygones? Why did you mention it again?
“Okay, I will allow you to do business and give you as much Silver Filament Charcoal as you want. I’ll reserve some for Xi’er, and if it’s still not enough, I will send Xi’er to my mother.”
Qiao Jinniang snorted. “Why do I need your permission to do business? Even if you don’t agree, I will do business.”
“After I came to Chang’an, I realized how important money is, at least it’s more useful than a man.”
Lu Chen was silent. When will Qiao Jinniang know that power was much more useful than money?
“By the way, do you remember the winter hunt I told you about last time? We’ll be going to the paddock in a few days. I also ordered the Shanggong Bureau to make you riding clothes and jewelry. Do you want to go to
the racecourse to practice riding first?”
Qiao Jinniang said, “Oh, I forgot about this. The winter hunt is imminent, and the noble ladies in Chang’an will need new jewelry.
“| happen to open a jewelry store at this time, and the new styles will definitely make a lot of money.”
Lu Chen smiled helplessly. It seemed that she only had money in her eyes now..
