I started out with seven husbands, and I worked hard to support my family while crying.

The atmosphere in the Crown Prince's residence within the palace was oppressive and somber.

Pei Yan was sitting at the table, his eyes glazed over, with all sorts of wine pots and cups laid out in front of him.

He kept trying different kinds of wine, trying to make a wine that tasted the same as the one his second brother, Pei Changqing, had sent him last time.

The ground was a mess, with empty wine jugs and broken glasses scattered everywhere, the wine mixed with the residue, emitting a pungent smell.

Ever since he drank that pot of wine last time, Pei Yan has been absent-minded all day long, his mind filled with the mellow aroma of that wine.

He simply couldn't bear the feeling of that taste lingering in his memory but never being able to taste it again, but he was too ashamed to ask Pei Changqing for the recipe for the wine, so he could only try it again and again on his own.

As time went by, his body felt as if it were covered by countless ants, which were tearing at his body and causing him extreme discomfort.

Pei Yan's face was filled with pain and anger. Drunk, he slammed the wine jug in his hand to the ground with a loud bang. The jug shattered into countless pieces, and wine splashed everywhere. Some shards even flew onto his face, leaving a few small cuts, but he was completely unaware of it.

Just then, Pei Changqing, with a meaningful smile on his face and a pot of wine in his hand, slowly walked towards the room.

He walked with light steps, each step as if measuring the victory he was about to achieve.

Reaching the door, he first gently straightened his sleeves to ensure his posture was impeccable, then slightly raised his head, took a deep breath, and with his signature fake smile, pushed open the door.

The dim light in the room shone through the cracks in the window onto the mess on the floor, adding to the atmosphere of decay.

Pei Changqing walked into the room, first wrinkling his nose slightly, showing a hint of disgust at the pungent smell in the room, but quickly regained his smile.

His gaze swept around the room before finally landing on Pei Yan, who was slumped over the table.

Hearing the noise, Pei Yan slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with pain and confusion.

When he saw the wine pot in Pei Changqing's hand, his originally dim eyes instantly lit up, as if he had seen a ray of dawn in the darkness.

He made no attempt to hide it, leaning forward to snatch the wine jug and hold it in his hands as if it were the most important thing in his life.

Immediately afterwards, he eagerly tilted his head back and gulped down the liquor, which dripped down his chin and soaked his clothes, but he didn't care. He just swallowed it down in big gulps, as if only in this way could he relieve his physical and mental pain.

Looking at Pei Yan's disheveled appearance, Pei Changqing's smile grew even brighter, but that smile concealed endless mockery and smugness.

He deliberately dragged out his words, saying in a sarcastic tone, "Oh, my dear brother, what's wrong? It's just a pot of wine, how did you manage to turn yourself into this state?"

Pei Yan coughed a few times from the choking on the wine. After finally recovering, he said indistinctly, still drunk, "Second Brother, stop pretending here. Tell me quickly, how exactly did you brew that wine last time? I've tried countless times, but I can't get the taste right." As he spoke, he hugged the wine pot tightly, as if afraid that Pei Changqing would snatch it away.

Pei Changqing took two steps forward, leaned down slightly, stared intently at Pei Yan, and said softly with that fake smile still on his face, "Little brother, I went to great lengths to obtain the recipe for this wine. How could I tell you so easily?"

He paused, a sly glint in his eyes, and continued, "However... if you're willing to listen to me, you can have as much of this wine as you want in the future, no problem."

Upon hearing this, Pei Yan hesitated for a moment, but soon his desire for wine took over.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Second brother, just tell me what you want me to do. As long as I can drink this wine every day, I'll do whatever you say."

Pei Changqing nodded in satisfaction, straightened up, and a smug look appeared on his face.

He said slowly, "It's very simple. From now on, you must do everything according to my wishes in court. Some things should be said, and some things should not be said. You are not allowed to reveal a single word."

Pei Yan hesitated for a moment, and was about to speak when Pei Changqing seemed to see through his thoughts and continued, "Brother, you should know that once this wine is cut off, this unpleasant feeling will stay with you forever."

"Think about your current state. Without this wine, how long could you last?"

Pei Yan's face turned extremely ugly. He clenched his fists, and his body trembled slightly.

In the end, he gave in, nodded, and said, "Okay, I agree."

Pei Changqing looked at Pei Yan with a victor's smile on his face and said softly, "That's right. As long as you listen to me, you'll have plenty of good days ahead of you."

On the other side, just as dawn was breaking, Fang Xiaoxiao led Hongxiu toward Lingxi Pavilion.

The streets were still quiet in the early morning, with a few early-rising vendors setting up their stalls occasionally. Fang Xiaoxiao walked quickly, her mind preoccupied with the renovation of Lingxi Pavilion.

Upon arriving at Lingxi Pavilion, one is greeted by a bustling scene inside.

The craftsmen are working hard, the sounds of sawing and hammering mingling together.

Fang Xiaoxiao first carefully checked the progress of the store's renovation. She wandered around every corner, offering suggestions for improvement from time to time.

Seeing that the stage was beginning to take shape, she nodded slightly in satisfaction.

Then, she turned to Zhou Wenjian and instructed him: "Wenjian, while the store is being renovated, we also need to start advertising. Arrange for someone to make promotional flyers as soon as possible, highlighting the unique products of our Lingxi Pavilion after its transformation, to attract more customers."

Zhou Wenjian responded and immediately began making arrangements.

Looking at the bustling Lingxi Pavilion, Fang Xiaoxiao was filled with anticipation. She believed that as long as she worked hard, she could definitely revitalize Lingxi Pavilion in this new field.

Standing inside Lingxi Pavilion, Fang Xiaoxiao looked at the store being renovated and envisioned the future mall in her mind. She was determined to rebuild it into a mall that integrated clothing, cosmetics, skincare products, and modern medicine.

Lingxi Pavilion happens to have three floors, and she plans to renovate it according to the internal structure of a modern shopping mall from her previous life. The first and second floors will be used as commercial areas, with the first floor mainly selling cosmetics and medicines. Various exquisite cosmetics are displayed in bright display cases, and modern medicines are neatly arranged next to them for customers to choose from.

The second floor will primarily feature women's clothing, further divided into lingerie and outerwear sections to cater to diverse customer needs. The third floor will serve as office space for convenient management and operations.

Thinking of this, Fang Xiaoxiao couldn't wait to take out the design drawings she had worked on overnight from her bosom and hand them to Zhou Wenjian.