The next day, Leng Ruo Li and Jun Mo Han woke up early for their morning training. After breakfast, Jun Mo Han went to the palace, while Leng Ruo Li planned to visit Zhou Bai Yu’s shop.
After Jun Mo Han left the manor, Leng Ruo Li, accompanied by Xing'er and Ye Ying, boarded a carriage and headed towards the city with a rhythmic clatter.
After about fifteen minutes, Leng Ruo Li arrived at Zhou Bai Yu’s Yue Mei Ren Accessories shop.
Following the fire that night, Zhou Bai Yu’s accessories shop was reduced to a wooden frame. The following day, Zhou Bai Yu arranged for his shop manager to hire craftsmen to clear the burnt-out site and rebuild a new shop.
Zhou Bai Yu’s new shop was nearing completion, and he had hired Zhao Yuan Qing and his group of disabled soldiers as craftsmen.
“Princess Consort, when did you arrive?”
Zhao Yuan Qing, carrying a thick wooden beam on his shoulder, walked towards Leng Ruo Li with a cheerful smile.
“Brother Zhao, I just arrived. Seeing you all busy, I didn’t want to disturb you.”
Leng Ruo Li responded with a smile.
“Princess Consort, it’s quite dirty here, and your clothes might get soiled. Please wait over there. I’ll move a chair for you.”
Noticing the dirty ground where Leng Ruo Li was standing, Zhao Yuan Qing said considerately.
“Brother Zhao, it’s alright. I’m not as delicate as you might think. Please go ahead with your work if the beam is heavy,” Leng Ruo Li said with a helpless smile.
“Alright then!”
Seeing that Leng Ruo Li didn’t mind, Zhao Yuan Qing didn’t insist.
A moment later—
Zhou Bai Yu, along with two shop assistants, also approached Leng Ruo Li.
“Li’er, you’re here!”
He greeted Leng Ruo Li with a hearty smile.
“Haha, Uncle Yu, you’ve become even more handsome and dashing after not seeing you for so long,” Leng Ruo Li complimented him.
Zhou Bai Yu’s smile widened upon hearing Leng Ruo Li’s praise.
“Really? No wonder when I went out today, the noisy magpies on the tree outside looked at me, then one by one, they fell from the tree out of shame. Haha…”
Pleased by Leng Ruo Li’s compliment, Zhou Bai Yu became so conceited that he lost his bearings.
Everyone: “…”
Over the heads of the two shop assistants behind Zhou Bai Yu, a flock of crows suddenly flew by.
*Master, those magpies on the tree were clearly scared away by your big sneeze, weren’t they?*
“Uncle Yu, after rebuilding your shop, do you plan to reopen the accessories store?”
Seeing Zhou Bai Yu’s extreme vanity, which reminded her of Ming Jiu Xiao, Leng Ruo Li quickly changed the subject.
“Yes, I’ll still sell accessories. Do you have any suggestions, Li’er?”
When it came to the shop, Zhou Bai Yu became serious.
“I think selling only accessories is too monotonous. You could sell other items as well.”
Leng Ruo Li rested one hand on her chest, her index finger tapping her chin as if in thought.
“Sell other items? That’s possible, but Uncle Yu can’t think of anything at the moment.”
Zhou Bai Yu said softly, a rakish smile on his lips.
“How about this, Uncle Yu, you could sell gowns on the second floor of your shop.”
Leng Ruo Li looked at Zhou Bai Yu’s newly built three-story shop, its prime location felt wasted if only the first floor was utilized for business.
The word “gowns” instantly brought back the most vivid memory for Zhou Bai Yu.
“Gowns? Li’er, how did you know about gowns?”
Zhou Bai Yu asked curiously. This was because in the last year of Wan’er’s life, she had once mentioned wanting to open a gown shop.
At the time, he didn’t understand what gowns were, and Wan’er had to explain for a long time before he understood. Only the two of them knew about this; even her husband, Leng Jin Yu, was unaware. When Wan’er was pregnant with their daughter, Leng Jin Yu was dispatched by the emperor to pacify the border. He only returned to the capital when Wan’er was close to giving birth. However, due to various circumstances, Wan’er never brought up the idea of opening a gown shop again.
And Leng Ruo Li, how could she know? Her mother, Xia Wan’er, had passed away when Leng Ruo Li was born. This “gown” was definitely not something her mother told her.
“Uh…”
Leng Ruo Li was rendered speechless upon hearing this.
“I saw it in a picture book,” Leng Ruo Li fabricated an excuse.
“A picture book? Is the picture book still around?”
Zhou Bai Yu’s eyes flashed with a hint of light, and he asked urgently.
“I saw it accidentally a long time ago, and I don’t know where I discarded it. I’ll look for it when I get back,” Leng Ruo Li prevaricated again.
*Alas, there’s a saying: to weave one lie, you need ten to support it. This saying is indeed true.*
As soon as Leng Ruo Li finished speaking, Zhou Bai Yu sighed.
“Ah… then forget it.”
Zhou Bai Yu was somewhat disappointed.
“However, Li’er, if you want to open a gown shop, I’ll let you use the second and third floors of this shop,” Zhou Bai Yu generously offered.
“Uncle Yu, how can that be? How about we collaborate?”
Leng Ruo Li immediately voiced her idea.
“Fine, whatever you wish. But without seeing any samples of the gowns you mentioned, Uncle Yu can’t help much. It will still depend on you.”
Zhou Bai Yu looked at Leng Ruo Li with an aunt-like smile. The more he looked at her, the more she resembled her mother, Xia Wan’er, and even her way of handling things was similar.
“Uncle Yu, you don’t need to worry about that. I can design gowns. After I draw the drafts, I’ll have them made into finished gowns at my Jin Xiu Ge. Then, I’ll sell them directly on the second floor of your shop. For the shop rent, I’ll pay you according to the market rate for this central location.”
Leng Ruo Li directly explained her plan to Zhou Bai Yu.
“Okay, you can decide these matters yourself. But forget about the rent. The second floor of my shop is vacant anyway.”
Zhou Bai Yu immediately refused Leng Ruo Li’s offer to pay rent.
This was because Leng Ruo Li did not know that Zhou Bai Yu was also planning to give this shop to her in the future.
“This is not good, is it? Wouldn’t I be taking great advantage of you again, Uncle Yu?” Leng Ruo Li said speechlessly.
“If you insist on paying rent, Uncle Yu will rent out the second and third floors to someone else,” Zhou Bai Yu threatened her with displeasure.
“No, no, no, Uncle Yu. This shop is in such a good location, please just rent it to me. But I can’t always take advantage of you. How about I give you thirty percent of the profits after my gown shop opens?” Leng Ruo Li proposed.
“Alright!”
Zhou Bai Yu reluctantly agreed. He was operating this shop for her anyway, and the entire shop’s future earnings would also go to her. As long as she was happy, he would let her do as she pleased.