bookcurios Chapter 228 Her Ambition (11)
Chapter 228 Her Ambition (11)
The reason why Zhang Lingyan was so worried was because of Zhiya Pavilion, which had become famous in recent years.
She knew that Zhiya Pavilion was founded by Nie Qingxue, the eldest daughter of the Nie family, and she thought that since she sold silk and ready-made clothes, her products wouldn't clash with Zhiya Pavilion's. But no one would keep selling the same things, just like now, Nie Qingyuan wanted to do silk business.
That's why he was holding a banquet tomorrow and inviting people who were in the silk business, including her.
"Qiao'er, I asked you to solicit business outside the door, why haven't you made any progress?" Zhang Lingyan frowned. If Qiao'er had been smarter, she would have kept Mr. Gu to have a good chat about the silk business.
She had also been to Sangluo City, where the people disliked outsiders prying into Yun Lingjin's affairs. Therefore, Zhang Lingyan had only negotiated the Fuguangjin deal there.
Now she is the only one selling Fuguang brocade in Tiandu City. If she doesn't bring out new silk, Zhang Lingyan is worried that customers will get tired of wearing clothes made of Fuguang brocade.
Qiao'er pursed her lips, lowered her head and said, "I'm sorry, shopkeeper."
"Hey, go get busy first." Zhang Lingyan didn't want to say anything more. She'd bought this girl from a human trafficker, pitiful yet clever, so she'd taught her the ropes of silk trading. Perhaps it was because she'd doted on this girl too much that she'd become illiterate and hadn't learned anything well.
After leaving Lingsi Pavilion, Gu Chang went to Zhiya Pavilion again.
His carriage was parked on the street across from Zhiya Pavilion. Gu Chang lifted the curtain to the side and looked at the golden decoration inside Zhiya Pavilion and the slogan on the door: "Latest Hydrating Essence White Mask, Not 999! Only 99 taels of silver. If you also purchase our gold mask, you can enjoy the best discount - 20% off!"
After reading this slogan, Gu Chang was certain that Nie Qingxue was from the modern era. Even in the ancient fictional world, there wouldn't be anything as modern as this.
Gu Chang lowered the car curtain and said to Tianyu who was sitting outside, "Tianyu, go back."
"Yes, sir." After receiving the instructions, Tian Yu drove away in the carriage.
Tomorrow's banquet will start at 3:00 PM sharp, which means Gu Chang can get a good night's sleep.
"Host, do you think the heroine will open a hot pot restaurant?" The system thinks that according to the general routine, if the heroine wants to make money, she will open many stores.
"Who knows, if it opens, we can go and try it." Gu Chang thought that if Nie Qingxue really opened a hot pot restaurant, it would be a good thing.
After returning to the mansion, Gu Chang got off the carriage and looked up to see that the plaque on the gate had been changed to read "Gu Mansion".
Gu Chang curled his lips and smiled slightly. It was obvious that the words on the plaque were written by Murong Heng.
"Tianyu, I'll probably get up around noon tomorrow. You can do whatever you need to do before then." Gu Chang said gently. The two of them stepped over the threshold of the gate one after the other and walked inside.
"Yes, but I would like to remind you that you must be familiar with the contents of that manual." Tian Yu said respectfully.
"Don't worry, I've always had a good memory." And even if I forget something for a moment, there's still the system. Gu Chang wasn't worried about that. He stretched and yawned. "I'm going to sleep for a while. Remember to call me for dinner tonight." What he meant by this was that Tianyu and Yinli should go to his place for dinner.
The two of them talked as they came to the east courtyard. After Gu Chang finished speaking, he went to the main house to sleep.
After spending the past few days together, Tianyu had pretty much figured out Gu Chang's personality. In Gu Chang's eyes, he and Yinli were equals. There was no clear distinction between the primary and the secondary with Gu Chang; their relationship was more like a friendship.
Tianyu and Yinli have been learning how to be Night Shadow Guards since they were young. Their every word and action is strictly controlled, and they are not allowed to have any extraordinary thoughts. Going through fire and water for their master is their life's everything.
However, after Murong Heng took over the Night Shadow Guard, this strict requirement gradually disappeared. The Night Shadow Guard can also have their own ideas and are not just death squads.
In Tianyu's opinion, Gu Chang and Murong Heng have certain similarities.
At this time, Yin Li came over, her eyes were a little complicated, "Tian Yu, there's news over there, one of our people who was planted next to him died."
"Who died?" Tian Yu frowned immediately.
"Xiao Xiazi." Yin Li's voice was slightly deep.
Xiao Xia Zi was a young eunuch who had been with Tu Minyuan since he was a child. He was recommended to Tu Minyuan by the palace maid who had taken care of him since he was a child.
Xiao Xiazi has always been hiding well beside Tu Mingyuan, and there is no problem with his identity and interpersonal relationships.
He stayed with Tu Mingyuan for five years, and during these five years, Tu Mingyuan did not completely trust him.
"Why?" Tian Yu vaguely sensed that this matter would become very tricky.
"Xiao Xia Zi was called by him to his study to appreciate paintings, and then she was carried out of the study. The cause of death was poisoning." Yin Li lowered his voice.
The two stood beside the rockery outside the yard, the afterglow of the setting sun shining on them, making them seem a little quiet.
Xiao Xiazi died of poisoning, which was actually a signal.
Once discovered, he would immediately commit suicide by taking poison, without giving others the chance to interrogate him.
It is now even more difficult to place spies around Tu Mingyuan.
"I've sent a message to the Lord. Let's wait and see what happens." Yin Li frowned slightly. "I suspect Tu Mingyuan is not a weakling."
"Lingxing said that Nie Qingxue deliberately approached the master just for the token. And her purpose in doing so was to assist the person in the palace. I think he already knew of our existence." Yinli lowered her voice, and the breeze brushed across her cheek, mixing her voice in the wind.
"There should be an invisible person hiding beside him. Yinli, next, we must protect the young master." Tianyu pursed his lips and raised his eyes to meet Yinli's gaze. There was determination in his eyes.
"Of course." Yinli raised his hand and patted Tianyu on the shoulder.
It was noon the next day.
Gu Chang woke up in bed. He sat up and stretched his arms.
He was clearly a puppet, but he still felt tired. Fortunately, Gu Chang slept very well last night and did not have any dreams.
Gu Chang felt that only sleep could make him feel better.
After getting up, Gu Chang put on his clothes by himself, and after being dressed, Gu Chang went out.
He first stood on the steps in the yard to bask in the sun, and then went to look for Tianyu in the side room on the right.
Gu Chang stood outside the door and knocked, and Tian Yu opened the door after a while.
"Young Master, it's not time yet. Why don't you sleep a little longer?" Tian Yu saw that Gu Chang still seemed a little sleepy, so he began to persuade him.
"No need, have you eaten?" Gu Chang shook his head slightly.
"Don't worry, sir. Yinli and I have already had lunch." Both he and Yinli knew about Gu Chang's special physique, so every time it was time for dinner, Yinli would ask the kitchen staff to prepare meals for three people.
Tianyu felt that he had gained some weight recently.
"That's good. You go about your own business. I'll take a look around first." Gu Chang smiled. It was a good opportunity for him to familiarize himself with the house and sober himself up.
"Sir, I'll accompany you." At this time, Yin Li, who lived in the side room on the left, came out and said softly, "This place is not like Tianyao. Someone must protect your safety."
"Okay." Seeing that the two men insisted, Gu Chang agreed.
On the other side, in Nie Mansion.
Nie Qingxue was in Mingyue Pavilion in her own yard, standing by a large lotus tank with fish food in her hand, feeding the small fish inside.
"Nannan, what are you doing?" Nie Xuanyuan walked out of the courtyard gate wearing expensive clothes, followed by several servants.
Nie Xuanyuan came to Nie Qingxue with a smile and raised his hand to stroke his beard.
Nie Qingxue casually placed the fish food in the hands of Caiju, a maid beside her, and then took the handkerchief from Dongmei to wipe her hands. She smiled and said, "Daddy, I'm feeding the little fish."
"Then why don't you go to the pavilion to feed them? The fish there are much bigger than the ones in this tank, and their colors are beautiful too." Nie Xuanyuan glanced at the little black fish in the tank and frowned slightly.
The smile on Nie Qingxue's face froze, and tears suddenly appeared in her eyes.
Nie Xuanyuan then realized he had said the wrong thing. He hugged Nie Qingxue and said apologetically, "Nannan, Daddy forgot you fell into the water when you were eight years old. You're afraid of slightly larger pools. Daddy said the wrong thing."
"How about this, my daughter and I will go on a boat trip to Yixin Lake today and attend a banquet. Daddy has picked out many talented people for you." Nie Xuanyuan released his arms and said with a smile.
Nie Qingxue, "..." This cheap father really only thinks about himself. He said that she was afraid of water and asked her to go to Yixin Lake.
He probably asked her to attend the banquet to support him.
"Nannan, look, if you find a good son-in-law, daddy won't have to worry about you being bullied. And if he marries into your family, you'll have someone to help you run the shop. Daddy, I think the boy from the Luo family is good. He's twenty-three years old, looks honest and kind, and you can tell at first glance that he's a caring person." Nie Xuanyuan pulled Nie Qingxue to sit on a double rattan chair. He held Nie Qingxue's right hand with his left hand, and then gently patted the back of Nie Qingxue's right hand with the palm of his right hand.
Nie Qingxue lowered her eyelashes, pursed her lips, and pulled her hand back.
She knew the Luo family kid Nie Xuanyuan was talking about. His name was Luo Yingsheng, and he came from a small family. His family ran a small business. When she first opened Zhiya Pavilion, this guy had come to her and said he wanted to help her run Zhiya Pavilion.
Nie Qianyuan also said that Luo Yingsheng's father had helped him, and wanted Nie Qingxue to give Luo Yingsheng a chance.
Nie Qingxue had refused outright. First, she didn't like outsiders interfering in her shop. Second, Luo Yingsheng acted like he was her husband, bossing her around and causing trouble. Third, compared to the handsome men she'd met, Luo Yingsheng looked like a toad.
Now that Nie Qianyuan said this again, it was clear that he was telling her that she had to go to the banquet whether she wanted to or not.
Nie Xuanyuan's banquet was intended to open a silk business in Tiandu City, and Nie Qingxue also considered opening a ready-made clothing store, specializing in selling a variety of beautiful dresses. However, to open a ready-made clothing store, the first step was to lower the price of fabrics so that costs could be kept within a certain range.
It would be best if she could do both, but the owner of Lingsi Pavilion disagreed with her idea of acquiring Lingsi Pavilion. So Nie Qingxue is now considering opening her own silk shop.
Nie Xuanyuan was doing business for the royal family, and his voice was the greatest in the eyes of the businessmen in Tiandu City.
If Nie Qingxue wants to open a clothing store and a silk store, she needs Nie Qianyuan's support.
Zhiya Pavilion was able to open because Nie Qingxue gave Nie Yuanyuan a 20% dividend. Although it was only 20%, Zhiya Pavilion's monthly sales could reach tens of thousands of taels of silver.
Nie Qingxue more or less didn't want to split profits with Nie Qianyuan, because he was pocketing countless silver coins just by lying down. Besides, she was going to be the queen in the future, and Nie Qianyuan would definitely be the father-in-law of the emperor, which would give him even greater power.
Moreover, after becoming the empress, Nie Qingxue couldn't always focus on Zhiya Pavilion. If there was any concubine vying for her favor, she, Nie Qingxue, couldn't let Tu Mingyuan fall in love with another woman.
The Empress of the Central Palace is hers, and Tu Mingyuan will also be hers.
She would never let Tu Weizhi become emperor, and would never repeat the same mistake and let Tu Weizhi kill her.
Unfortunately, the original owner had not had much contact with the Seventh Prince in her previous life, so Nie Qingxue had to rely on herself.