The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

However, because of the lesson An Xinhe taught him, he had to be even more cautious this time.

"Yes." A woman's voice floated out from under the black veil, which made Liu Zhan slightly surprised. The others also frowned. This woman's voice sounded very young.

Liu Zhanli narrowed his eyes, as if trying to see the woman under the black veil, but he couldn't be too abrupt. Just then, Madam Liu spoke up, "Zhan'er, quickly show this young lady that embroidered handkerchief. Is it the one she brought to consign?"

Liu Zhan realized something and hurriedly picked up the embroidered handkerchief that had fallen to the ground, eagerly handing it to the woman in black veil, "Miss, please take a look, is this the embroidered handkerchief you took to Liu's Embroidery Shop to consign for sale that day?"

The woman in black veil took the embroidered handkerchief, glanced at it briefly, and replied, "It is indeed what I brought. Where is my silver?"

Liu Zhan's face lit up with joy, and he couldn't hide his excitement. He turned to look at Madam Liu, who also had a smile on her face. However, she was very reserved and her expression was extremely subtle.

Madam Liu regained her composure and elegance. Having found the person they were looking for, her heart was at ease. She slowly walked to the woman in black veil and affectionately took her hand. "Miss, the money will naturally be given to you, but there's no rush. Today is my master's birthday. Since you're here, why don't you sit down and have a chat?"

"I don't have time." The voice came again from behind the black veil, its tone noticeably cold.

Everyone was stunned. This woman was showing no respect to Madam Liu!

Looking at Madam Liu, who had been rebuffed, I noticed that her smile froze for a moment, but she quickly recovered.

“Since you are in a hurry, young lady, let’s meet another day. I will have someone prepare the money and send it to you. However… it’s a bit of a distance to the accounting office, so you’ll have to wait a little while,” Madam Liu said with a smile, seemingly unconcerned about the black-veiled woman’s coldness.

"Then we'd better hurry. My young lady instructed me to go to Liu's Embroidery Shop to get the silver, but you brought me here instead. If I take too long now, my young lady will be unhappy, and I can't bear that." The woman in black veil said unhappily, her tone making no attempt to hide her resentment.

Upon hearing this, Madam Liu and Liu Zhan were slightly taken aback, then suddenly realized something. Madam Liu tentatively asked, "Your young lady?"

“Yes, my young lady!” The woman in black veil nodded.

Madam Liu frowned slightly. "You're here to collect the silver on your young mistress's orders?"

"I am my mistress's maid, so naturally I am acting on her orders. Do you expect me to obey you?" The woman in black veil snorted coldly, somewhat impatient.

Madam Liu's face stiffened, and a hint of embarrassment and displeasure flashed in her eyes. When had she, the wife of the richest man, ever been contradicted like this by a servant?

However, thinking of her and Zhan'er's current situation, she could only suppress her displeasure. "Hehe, miss, may I ask you, was the embroidered handkerchief that was consigned to Liu's Embroidery Shop embroidered by you or by your young lady?"

Madam Liu stared intently at the woman in black veil, awaiting her answer. However, the woman remained silent. The atmosphere in the banquet hall suddenly became somewhat strange. Everyone realized that the Liu family wasn't looking to marry a young mistress at all; they were clearly searching for someone! As for who they were looking for… Ha! No one present was stupid. Recalling the embroidery appreciation event held by the Liu family, they all understood. The Liu family was looking for someone skilled in embroidery, and that person was the one who had embroidered that handkerchief!

Some people even recalled the high-priced embroidered handkerchiefs sold by Liu's Embroidery Shop some time ago, which cost fifty taels of silver each, setting a record high. What was outrageous was that they were quickly sold out. Although it was rumored that the fame of Young Master Qinglan played a part in it, it must be extraordinary that even Young Master Qinglan would take a liking to them.

Now that the Liu family is so eager to search, what unknown secret does it hold?

The more they looked, the more unusual they felt. At this moment, their gazes toward the woman in black veils held a more inquisitive and other unusual intent.

After a long silence, seeing that the woman in black gauze still did not intend to answer, Madam Liu was still unwilling. She forced a smile and continued, "It's like this, I really liked that embroidered handkerchief, so I thought that if I were lucky enough to get another one, that would be great. Of course, you or your mistress can name your price."

Madam Liu knew that the most urgent task at hand was to find out who was the real embroiderer of the handkerchief. Once she found out who it was, she had plenty of ways to make that person work for her.

The woman in black veil frowned. "If Madam really likes it and wants another one, that's not difficult. It all depends on whether my young lady is in the mood to embroider it."

Madam Liu's eyes suddenly lit up, and Liu Zhan was also extremely excited. The person who embroidered the handkerchief was this woman's young lady. Now, they finally understood. This... this is wonderful! Liu Zhan couldn't wait to ask, "Miss, who is your young lady? Would you have the honor of meeting her?"

Liu Zhan was calculating in his heart that as long as he could see that person, he would do everything in his power, even if it meant marrying her, to obtain the lost embroidery technique. Thinking of his father's obvious hint when he left the banquet hall, Liu Zhan knew that whether he could turn the tables depended on whether he could subdue that woman.

To everyone's surprise, the woman in black veil said calmly, "Haven't you all seen this before?"

Liu Zhan and his wife were taken aback. Had they met before? When had they met? Their minds raced, searching for the possible person among them.

The surrounding guests became even more interested upon hearing this. After a moment, they saw the woman in black veil slowly raise her hand and point in a certain direction. "Isn't that my young lady? Since my young lady has come to the Liu residence to celebrate her birthday, Madam Liu and Young Master Liu should know her."

After saying that, before anyone could react, she walked in the direction she had pointed. Liu Zhan and Madam Liu looked in that direction and saw that it was the main table.

Seated at the main table, besides the King of Bohai, the King of Donglin, Young Master Qinglan, and a few other male guests, the only women were Yu Ling'er beside the King of Donglin, Liu Xu, the eldest daughter of the Liu family sitting next to the King of Bohai, and...

Liu Zhan's eyes narrowed, and a bad premonition arose in his heart. Of the three women sitting at the main table, Liu Xu was obviously excluded. So, whichever of the remaining two was the one who embroidered the handkerchief, it was not good news for him.

Especially... of the two women, Liu Zhan's first reaction was to choose the woman in white with a veil, but that woman in white with a veil was exactly the one he least wanted to accept.

Seeing the woman in black veil stop beside the woman in white veil, Liu Zhan's heart trembled, and his face stiffened. Then he heard the woman in black veil softly call out, "Miss."