Spring flowers

Chapter 48 Unity Brings Prosperity

Feng Yueqiao sat on a recliner in the back room of her beverage shop.

Beside him were two servants fanning themselves.

"Are you sure you're seeing clearly? It's Lord Ye!" Feng Yueqiao had always felt that Wei Yishang and Ye Mingzhen might not be as they seemed.

She didn't want Wei Yishang to be too happy.

Why should I accept this outcome?

The owner of the beverage shop came over and greeted Feng Yueqiao.

Feng Yueqiao had only been in charge of this place for a short time and was not yet very familiar with it, so she replaced her with someone recommended by her father.

This was their first meeting.

Feng Yueqiao looked up and saw a young man's face. He was only a few years older than her, with a pair of smiling eyes that instantly brought a sense of joy to people.

"Manager Gu?" Feng Yueqiao remembered that the manager she had hired was surnamed Gu.

"It is I." The man's voice was also quite comical.

But such a person could not put Feng Yueqiao at ease. What she wanted was a capable manager who could support half of the shop's success.

"Tell me your thoughts on the development of the shop," Feng Yueqiao asked him.

"Develop new varieties, and then collaborate with the clothing shop across the street to launch some seasonal items." Manager Gu's words, however, were anything but funny.

Feng Yueqiao smashed the jade pot, and the sound of the pot hitting the ground could be heard.

"Few people in this world understand strategic planning, but many understand scheming. In the current situation, cooperation and joint development are the easiest paths," Manager Gu explained clearly.

"Whatever the grudges between you and the owner of that clothing shop, Mr. Wei, now is not the time to tear things apart. In business, harmony is paramount; working together is the key to success," Manager Gu added. "Like you just now, what did you gain by smashing that jade pot? A pile of broken pieces. Keeping the jade pot allows you to drink tea or use it for decoration. As for when to smash it, that's entirely up to you. Using it for a while longer will make your initial purchase price worthwhile."

After listening to Manager Gu's entire explanation, Feng Yueqiao felt there was some truth to it. Indeed, it was not advisable for her to take any action yet.

“Master, that clothing shop is protected by the Zhenyun Guards, it won’t collapse. At this time, it would be best if you sent some food and drinks to express your goodwill.” Although Manager Gu was a man, he understood people’s hearts very well.

"Okay, go and prepare. I'll go." Feng Yueqiao composed herself.

She blamed Wei Yishang for all the difficult times she went through.

However, she still found it difficult to go from being best friends to enemies.

She admired Wei Yishang, and she also resented Wei Yishang.

She felt she had done nothing wrong, so why should she have to endure so much?

She even felt that Wei Yishang had absorbed her luck.

Rumors were spreading that Wei Yishang had closed her clothing shop.

She had someone inquire about Xi'er's home and learned that it was in the suburbs.

"Cui'er, let's disguise ourselves and go to Xi'er's house."

The two girls dressed neatly and smartly as two handsome scholars.

Accompanied by two bodyguards, they headed to Xi'er's house in the suburbs, a place they had inquired about.

Although the capital city is large, the suburbs are still desolate.

They met an old man in the vicinity.

“Grandpa, do you know the Pei Nu family?” Wei Yishang stepped forward and asked.

The old man immediately became angry upon hearing about Pei Nu's family.

"That family has a crazy woman who brings bad luck."

Wei Yishang guessed that Xi'er had returned home, but she didn't expect Xi'er to be said that way.

"Old man, what happened to that woman? How did she bring bad luck?" Wei Yishang gave the old man a piece of the prepared silver.

The old man hadn't planned to speak, but upon seeing the silver, he immediately started talking.

"That woman always runs around aimlessly, and she came back wearing a short outfit. That skirt was showing her ankles, how unchaste. It's been so hot here lately, who knows if this crazy woman is bringing bad luck."

After the old man finished speaking, he spat on the ground. Wei Yishang suddenly felt a pang of heartache.

Because she wore clothes from the Spring Festival Chronicles, Xi'er, an ordinary woman, was the subject of such gossip.

Not only that, but people also blamed her for things like the weather.

Could it be that the cause I've been pursuing is wrong?

Is it fundamentally impossible for feudalistic ideas to be gradually liberated?

Wei Yishang felt that perhaps she had oversimplified things.

I thought it would be fine if wealthy ladies wore it, it was sung in teahouses, and it became a fashion trend.

It turns out that for an ordinary woman, changing her life is so difficult.

It even came at the cost of a precious life.

Seeing that Wei Yishang was silent and somewhat dazed, Cui'er nudged her.

"Thank you, sir." Wei Yishang looked into the distance, feeling a little powerless.

But she knew that she had to stick to the path she had chosen.

We cannot be easily defeated.

Otherwise, what's the point of transmigrating into a book?

If Wei Si, the girl who was disfigured and forced to worship Buddha, could live her life again, how would she live it?

Perhaps it's like my own choice: to do something meaningful and not be burdened by internal strife.

Let's face and resolve these bad people and bad situations head-on.

"Uncle, do you know where I can find out about that girl?" Wei Yishang gave the old man another piece of silver.

"That uncle and aunt live around the corner. Go ask them," the old man said, taking the silver with a happy smile.

Wei Yishang understood that she couldn't alert the enemy, so she prepared to report the information she had gathered to Ye Mingzhen and ask him to help investigate.

Meanwhile, the Empress in the palace, upon hearing about the clothing shop and the female corpse, also found it quite strange.

The eunuch beside him added fuel to the fire, saying, "It is said that the owner of this shop is the illegitimate daughter of Vice Minister Wei, a fourth-rank official. She was born in the Year of the Dragon, so she is a dragon girl."

The Empress blurted out, "What knowledge could a concubine's daughter possibly have? What dragon girl? That's utter nonsense."

"Your Majesty, don't underestimate this woman; she's truly a legend." The eunuch blurted out all the information he had gathered.

The Empress was more concerned about the woman's corpse. She believed that the rumors circulating among the people were unreliable and that the woman had probably been murdered, with some hidden story behind it.

"Go and arrange for the Zhenyun Guard to investigate this female corpse," the Empress instructed the eunuch.

Ye Mingzhen was already investigating, and receiving the order from the palace gave him an even more suitable reason.

At this moment, Wei Yishang came over and discussed the matter with him.

"The female corpse might be Xi'er, a maid from the Wei household," Wei Yishang said softly.

"Don't take it too seriously and worry about yourself." Ye Mingzhen didn't want Wei Yishang to be like this; he guessed that Wei Yishang had suffered some trauma.

"I'm fine, thank you for your trouble, Lord Ye." Wei Yishang said indifferently.

"Go back and rest. Leave this to me." Ye Mingzhen cupped his hands in greeting, but found that Wei Yishang did not react at all.

“You…” Ye Mingzhen looked at Wei Yishang’s lowered eyes.

"Miss Wei, do you know why I chose you?"

Wei Yishang looked up unexpectedly and met Ye Mingzhen's gaze.

"Because you are strong enough."

Ye Mingzhen's words swept away many of Wei Yishang's thoughts like a hurricane.

(End of this chapter)