Tan’er instantly got into character and began crying dramatically.
Of course, without any actual tears.
ng Qianqian shook her head. She didn’t believe Yu Li had feelings for her beyond that of cousins—it seed more like a lifelong duty he had carried since childhood to marry her.
Her maternal family didn’t want her to suffer by marrying into another family, so they persuaded Yu Li to take her as his wife.
Later, her grandfather arranged for her to climb the "high branch" of the Lu Family instead. Logically, the Yu Family should have been upset, but they weren’t. Not only that, they even set aside resentnt and allowed Yu Li to take her on as a second marriage.
It always felt like there was sothing odd about the relationship between the two families.
Perhaps everything was connected to her mother, who had vanished years ago.
"Sister, sister, let’s go out and play!"
Tan’er’s excited little voice broke ng Qianqian’s train of thought.
ng Qianqian nodded. She happened to want to visit her family’s tea shop and see how Liu Changsheng’s improved business thods were doing.
"Let’s go to the tea shop."
She said to Wu Ge’er.
"Yes, Miss."
Wu Ge’er drove the carriage to her tea shop.
Liu Changsheng hurried out to greet them, saying, "Owner!"
"Shopkeeper Liu." ng Qianqian nodded, stepped down from the carriage, glanced back at the bustling storefronts filled with custors, and comnted, "I never noticed before—there are so many embroidery shops and fabric stores along Chang’an Street."
Liu Changsheng replied, "They’ve always been here; perhaps the Owner simply hadn’t paid attention before."
Tan’er pointed to a shop diagonally across the street and exclaid, "Sister! Look at all those people there!"
Liu Changsheng followed her finger and said, "That’s Yanyu Pavilion—the largest embroidery shop in the Capital City. They say the seamstresses inside are hired at great expense from all over the country. A single piece of clothing costs a hundred silver, and that’s not even counting the fabric."
Tan’er asked in confusion, "So expensive? How co so many people still go there?"
Liu Changsheng remarked enviously, "Exactly. It’s so expensive, yet they’re often in short supply."
ng Qianqian said, "Let’s go get so inspiration."
The trio entered Yanyu Pavilion, only to find that while the crowd outside was significant, the inside was packed to the brim—it could truly be described as a sea of people.
Liu Changsheng mused, "Business is usually thriving, but it’s never been as crowded as today."
An enthusiastic lady explained, "You don’t know, do you? The owner of Yanyu Pavilion has returned to the capital. These nobles are all here hoping to have her make their clothes."
Tan’er asked, "Madam, are you here too?"
The lady laughed, saying, "Oh, I can’t afford it. I’m just here to watch the spectacle."
Tan’er continued, "Is she that expensive?"
The lady replied, "The owner of Yanyu Pavilion has a pair of exceptional hands—money alone can’t afford her work. Nobody knows who managed to bring her back to the capital."
As they were talking, Lin Wan’er entered the main hall of Yanyu Pavilion with Lu Luo in tow.
The mistress and servant instantly spotted ng Qianqian standing nearby.
Curiously, though Yanyu Pavilion was crowded, ng Qianqian’s position wasn’t particularly noticeable—yet she still drew their gaze imdiately.
ng Qianqian was dressed in a pink-and-white belted silk dress, her petite face fair and radiant, like a finely carved jade sculpture.
She stood quietly, as if the din and chaos had been sealed off, leaving only the serenity and beauty of a young girl.
Lin Wan’er also noticed that several other custors were secretly observing ng Qianqian, their eyes flickering with admiration.
A surge of jealousy suddenly welled up in Lin Wan’er’s heart.
Lu Lingxiao was twenty-three this year; she was two years younger at twenty-one. How old was ng Qianqian? Seventeen.
"What are they doing here?"
Lu Luo also spotted ng Qianqian and Tan’er, and muttered in annoyance, "Is this a place for them? Don’t they know their own status?"
"Have you not had enough of the slap last ti?"
Tan’er raised her chin and turned around.
Lu Luo was startled.
Did this girl have dog ears? Even speaking so softly, she still heard it clearly?
ng Qianqian was entirely focused on observing the layout, operations, service, and custor flow of Yanyu Pavilion and didn’t spare the mistress-servant duo any attention.
Lin Wan’er grew increasingly irritated as ng Qianqian ignored her presence altogether.
Today, she was accompanying a matron from the Duke Mansion. With Duke Mansion backing her up, she had far more confidence than usual.
She walked up to ng Qianqian and gestured flamboyantly, saying: I’m about to marry the General soon; today I’m here at Yanyu Pavilion to have my wedding dress made. Perhaps you don’t know this, but Yanyu Pavilion is famous for their wedding dresses. Owning one from here is the dream of every girl in the Capital City.
Don’t think a bit of dirty money makes you special—Yanyu Pavilion doesn’t just accept any business. rchants like you are simply beneath their notice.
After delivering her speech, Lin Wan’er felt significantly more pleased.
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