Chapter 79: Princess Shuyuan
Chapter 79: Princess Shuyuan
Early the next morning.
After washing up, Qiao Nian sat down for breakfast.
Ning Shuang came forward to attend to her, a bright smile on her lips from start to finish.
So much so that Qiao Nian couldn’t help but ask, “What are you so happy about?”
“Nothing!” Ning Shuang denied it outright, but glanced at the group of maids standing outside before lowering her voice, “Xiao Cui hasn’t eaten anything since last night.”
As expected.
Qiao Nian raised an eyebrow, “You’re not giving her food?”
“How could that be! I’ve sent all sorts of good things to her!”
But precisely because Ning Shuang had sent such good things, Xiao Cui didn’t dare to eat!
Qiao Nian laughed coldly but didn’t respond.
However, Ning Shuang’s face darkened, “Young Miss, do you really believe Xiao Cui is your blood sister?”
No matter how she thought about what the Second Young Miss said yesterday, she felt it was suspicious.
Qiao Nian shrugged, “It doesn’t matter. Someone will investigate this matter.”
Madam Lin would surely investigate this thoroughly.
But whether Xiao Cui was her sister or not, she wouldn’t let Xiao Cui have an easy time.
Did she think she could be safe just by claiming to be her blood sister?
Well, she’d see if this “blood sister” could sleep peacefully in Fanghe Court!
But hearing Qiao Nian’s answer, Ning Shuang seemed a bit disappointed, “This servant thought Young Miss got up so early today to investigate this matter!”
Qiao Nian shook her head, “We’re going somewhere else today.”
Today, Qiao Nian was going to inspect the shop gifted by Noble Consort De.
It was the most renowned ready-made clothing shop in the capital, often having styles and fabrics unavailable elsewhere.
Of course, the prices were also extremely high.
Qiao Nian’s purpose today was firstly to let the shop managers and clerks recognize her as the new owner, and secondly to see how much annual profit the shop could generate.
After all, sometimes money is also a form of confidence.
However, Qiao Nian’s timing was unfortunate. Someone was causing trouble in the shop.
Outside the shop, a crowd of onlookers had gathered, while inside, many clothes and fabrics had been thrown on the floor.
There was no sign of the manager or clerks, but arguing voices could be heard from the second floor.
Qiao Nian frowned slightly and headed upstairs, ignoring Ning Shuang’s advice.
On the second floor, she saw a richly dressed woman sitting in an armchair with her back to Qiao Nian.
A group of people were kneeling in front of her.
They should be the shop’s manager and clerks.
Two men dressed as servants stood beside the woman.
But Qiao Nian immediately noticed that the two men were wearing boots from the palace.
The manager at the front had a miserable expression, his face bruised, “Miss, even if you beat us to death, it’s useless. It’s not that we won’t sell to you, but this silkworm silk dress has already been reserved. If we sell it, wouldn’t we lose our credibility? In business, credibility is the most important thing!”
“Credibility?” The woman laughed coldly, “I think life is the most important. Don’t you agree?”
For a moment, the manager was speechless.
Because obviously, he had also noticed that the two servants were wearing palace boots!
Unexpectedly, Qiao Nian suddenly spoke up, “Life is indeed important, but as the ancient saying goes: Sincerity is the way of Heaven, and striving for sincerity is the way of man. Without credibility, how can one be human?”
Her voice attracted everyone’s attention.
Even the woman sitting with her back to her suddenly turned to look.
Her eyebrows and eyes were like a painting, but they exuded arrogance and disdain, as if everyone in her eyes were mere ants!
Qiao Nian’s hand at her side involuntarily clenched into a fist.
Because the woman before her was none other than the main culprit who had sent her to the laundry house and ordered the palace maids there to bully her for three whole years!
Princess Shuyuan!
But it seemed that Princess Shuyuan didn’t remember her at all.
Her eyes looked Qiao Nian up and down before asking, “Are you saying I’m not human?”
Qiao Nian thought, since she hadn’t recognized her, there was no need for her to recognize Princess Shuyuan either!
So, she smiled lightly, “Please don’t be angry, Miss. That’s not what I meant. It’s just that for us in business, credibility is fundamental.”
Princess Shuyuan’s gaze still showed disdain as she raised an eyebrow and asked, “Who are you?”
Qiao Nian then walked over to Princess Shuyuan, took out the property deed Noble Consort De had given her yesterday from her sleeve, and handed it to the manager, “I just took over this shop yesterday, so you could say I’m the owner of this shop.”
The manager looked at the deed. Although he didn’t understand why Qiao Nian had it, since she had stepped forward at this moment, he naturally wouldn’t interfere. He just nodded repeatedly, “Yes, this is our owner!”
“Perfect!” Princess Shuyuan laughed coldly, “Bring out that silkworm silk dress!”
Qiao Nian glanced at the manager, who hurriedly said, “That dress was reserved six months ago.” As he spoke, he had a clerk bring over a ledger.
Qiao Nian opened the ledger and saw that the person who had reserved it was Xiao Heng.
Her eyes darkened, and she closed the ledger. Then she smiled lightly at Princess Shuyuan, “Miss, this dress has indeed been reserved. There’s no use in troubling us here. Why don’t you go talk to the person who reserved it and see if they’ll let you have it?”
Princess Shuyuan raised an eyebrow, “Who reserved it?”
“General Xiao, Xiao Heng.” Qiao Nian didn’t try to hide it at all.
She even vaguely hoped Princess Shuyuan would go cause trouble for Xiao Heng.
Remembering what Prince Ming had said before about Princess Shuyuan having feelings for Xiao Heng, she added, “I heard General Xiao is engaged to the Lin family’s daughter. This dress is probably a gift from General Xiao to Miss Lin Yuan.”
Hearing this, Princess Shuyuan’s face visibly darkened. She snorted coldly, “I don’t care who it’s for. If I’ve set my eyes on it, I will get it!”
That would be perfect!
Qiao Nian thought to herself, but her face still wore a faint smile, “Then, I wish you success in getting what you want.”
As her words fell, there was a moment of dead silence.
Princess Shuyuan didn’t speak, just sat in her seat, quietly examining Qiao Nian.
Qiao Nian stood with her eyes lowered, maintaining a faint smile.
Then, Princess Shuyuan suddenly laughed.
She slowly stood up and walked towards Qiao Nian, each step incredibly domineering.
It wasn’t until she stood in front of Qiao Nian that Qiao Nian raised her eyes to look at her.
Their eyes met, and there wasn’t a trace of fear in Qiao Nian’s eyes.
Princess Shuyuan seemed a bit surprised that Qiao Nian’s gaze was so resilient.
But she still smiled lightly and asked, “What? Want to use me to get rid of Lin Yuan?”
Qiao Nian smiled faintly, “I don’t understand what you’re saying, Miss.”
Princess Shuyuan reached out and lightly brushed Qiao Nian’s cheek, “Stop pretending. You recognized me long ago, didn’t you? Miss Lin… oh, no, Miss Qiao.”