You cause trouble and I collect your body, the little emperor’s aunt abuses the scumbag again

The waiter scrambled up to the second floor, his voice trembling.

The air in the private room seemed to freeze. Meng Siya stood by the window, her back pressed tightly against the cold wall, her nails digging into her palms to steady herself from trembling.

Why is he here? Shouldn't he be in the Eastern Palace grieving for his deceased wife and children? How can he be in the mood to accompany his new bride on a stroll through the streets?

A sharp pain shot through her heart, and intense hatred and resentment made it hard for her to breathe.

Her mute cousin stepped forward, blocking her from the doorway, his hand gripping the short blade in his sleeve.

Meng Siya closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, her eyes were devoid of emotion, utterly lifeless.

She turned around and took out a light blue veil from a hidden compartment in the dressing table. It was embroidered with tiny bamboo leaves and could cover half of her face below her nose.

She dipped her fingertip in some face powder in front of the mirror and gently slanted it at the corner of her eye, making her originally slightly round almond-shaped eyes appear slightly upturned, adding a touch of sharpness and unfamiliarity.

After doing all this, she made a gesture to her mute cousin that everything was going according to plan.

The mute cousin nodded and withdrew his hand.

Meng Siya put on her veil and straightened her clothes.

She walked down the stairs steadily, the wooden stairs making a slight sound.

She was burning with rage, wishing she could burn the couple downstairs to ashes, but her face already wore the professional fake smile befitting Boss Meng of Huayan Pavilion.

……

As soon as Ji Yongyan stepped into Huayan Pavilion, his brows furrowed involuntarily.

The shop had a light, cool fragrance, unlike the incense in the palace or the sweet scent of cosmetic shops, which reminded him of the smell of bamboo forests in the mountains after rain long ago.

The smell made his heart skip a beat, and he dared not think any further, only feeling a tightness in his chest.

"Hmph, just making a fuss over nothing."

Shangguan Yun'er's voice interrupted his thoughts.

She looked at the glass wall and the shop's clever layout with disdain.

"How much money did this wall cost? There are so many good things to do with that money, why do you have to show it off? It's so stingy and doesn't deserve any respect."

Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, and the shop assistants and several customers all heard it.

A waiter came forward, bowed, and greeted him with a respectful but not servile attitude.

"In reply to Madam, our master said that Huayan Pavilion sells things openly and honestly, so naturally we want our customers to see it clearly."

Shangguan Yun'er choked for a moment, and her face immediately turned pale.

She walked to a counter and picked up a box of foundation.

"Such a small thing, fifty taels?"

She found that statement ridiculous.

"My storeroom is overflowing with jade-like cosmetics from the Western Regions, yet no one dares to sell them at this price. Are you trying to fool the people of the capital?"

"Madam is too kind."

The waiter remained respectful.

"The products in our shop are unique in terms of ingredients and recipes. Customers who have tried them know whether they are worth it or not. If you don't believe me, you can try them for yourself."

"try?"

Shangguan Yun'er sneered and slammed the items heavily onto the counter.

"What kind of nobodies dare to challenge my face?"

Just as she was about to lash out and order her men to smash the shop, a voice came from the direction of the stairs.

"Madam, are you dissatisfied with the goods in our shop?"

The voice was low, with a deliberately lowered hoarse tone, indicating that the person had injured their throat.

Ji Yongyan suddenly turned around.

A woman in a pale white long gown was walking down the stairs.

She was slender, with her long hair tied up with an ebony hairpin, and her face covered with a blue veil, revealing only a pair of groomed, upturned eyes.

This voice doesn't sound like it at all.

Ya Ya's voice is very clear and crisp.

For some reason, Ji Yongyan felt a chilling familiarity about the woman's tone of voice and the rhythm of her phrasing.

He stood there motionless, staring straight at the veiled woman.

Meng Siya walked down the stairs to meet his gaze and stopped in front of the two of them.

She could feel the gaze burning hot, as if it wanted to burn through her veil and strip away her disguise.

She lowered her eyes, curtsied, and performed a graceful curtsy, her movements fluid and flawless.

"This humble woman, Meng, greets Your Excellency."

Shangguan Yun'er felt very uncomfortable looking at the woman who had suddenly appeared in front of her.

She was just a merchant's widow, yet her overall demeanor was no less imposing than that of the Crown Princess, especially her eyes, which were so arrogant.

"Are you the owner of this shop?"

Shangguan Yun'er raised an eyebrow.

"Yes."

Meng Siya responded.

"How dare you!"

Shangguan Yun'er found an outlet for her anger.

"You dare to call yourself Meng in front of me? What clan name do you, a mere merchant's wife, have to speak of?"

This is blatant humiliation.

Meng Siya pretended not to understand, maintaining her bowing posture and speaking in a flat tone.

"My husband's surname is Meng, and I am naturally a member of the Meng family. May I ask what brings you to my humble shop, Madam?"

Her unyielding attitude left Shangguan Yun'er with a lump in her throat, unable to vent her anger.

She was about to say something more when Ji Yongyan interrupted her.

"Get up."

Ji Yongyan spoke, his voice hoarse.

He kept staring at Meng Siya, trying to find a familiar shadow in those unfamiliar eyes, but there was nothing there.

He's gone mad. Ya Ya is dead, a double tragedy. He killed her with his own hands. How could there possibly be another Ya Ya in this world?

Meng Siya straightened up and stood to the side with her hands at her sides, no longer speaking.

She could feel Ji Yongyan's gaze still lingering on her, and the probing, doubt, and pain in that gaze made her feel both relieved and heartbroken.

"Your Highness."

Shangguan Yun'er noticed that something was wrong with Ji Yongyan. Her heart tightened, and she quickly stepped forward to take his arm, her actions intimate.

"You see, I told you this shop was suspicious. A widow running such a large shop and selling such expensive items, the source of her money is unclear and highly suspicious. In my opinion, it would be best to hand it over to the Jingzhao Prefecture for a thorough investigation."

She's about to use her power to shut down the Flower Beauty Pavilion.

Meng Siya clenched her fists at her sides.

She waited for Ji Yongyan's answer, wanting to see if this man would personally destroy the first step she had finally managed to take to stand up, all for the sake of his Crown Princess.

Ji Yongyan pulled his arm back. He didn't look at Shangguan Yun'er, but said to Meng Siya, "Bring out the best stuff from your shop."

His voice was cold.

"I want them all."

The surroundings fell silent. Shangguan Yun'er's smug expression froze. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. Meng Siya also looked up.

Is Ji Yongyan... helping her?

why?

"Your Highness?"

Shangguan Yun'er's voice became shrill.

"how."

Ji Yongyan glanced at her.

"I'm buying things with my own money, why should the Crown Princess interfere?"

He took out his money bag and threw it directly on the counter, the heavy bag making a dull thud.

"Is this enough?"

The mute cousin came out from behind, picked up the money bag, weighed it in his hand, and then nodded to Ji Yongyan.

"go."

Ji Yongyan gave orders to the shop's employees.

"Pack up everything in your shop and send it to the East Palace."

After saying that, he stopped looking at Shangguan Yun'er and turned to walk out of the shop.

"Your Highness!"

Shangguan Yun'er was so angry that she trembled all over. She stomped her foot and, not caring about causing any more trouble for Meng Siya, hurriedly chased after her.

And just like that, the turmoil came to an end.

The shop assistants and customers all breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at the gold on the counter and then at their boss, they felt it was all a bit unreal.

The shop returned to calm, and Meng Siya remained standing motionless.

She looked in the direction where Ji Yongyan had disappeared, her face veiled, revealing no expression.

But her mind was in turmoil.

What did he mean? Did he recognize her?

No, that's impossible. If he recognized her, he wouldn't have reacted like that.

Why did he help her? Was it out of guilt, or because of Ya Ya, whom he thought was dead?

It's ridiculous to try to make up for his mistakes in this way.

"The boss?"

The waiter called her name.

Meng Siya came to her senses.

"Do as the Crown Prince says."

She left those words behind, turned around, and went upstairs alone.

The door to the private room was closed.

Meng Siya walked to the window and watched the carriage slowly drive away.

She raised her hand and removed the veil from her face.

"Ji Yongyan..."

She spoke to the street in a voice only she could hear.

Do you think this will settle things even?

"What you owe me has only just begun."