Marrying the Crown Prince

Zhou Zhou continued, "You just need to forget about today's events, understand?"

I don't know you, and you don't know me. We only met briefly once in the Suifeng Weichang area, and then we had no further contact.

“I will remember your great kindness and never mention you to anyone,” Ding Dong immediately raised his hand and swore. “If I break this oath, I will be sent to the Hell of Tongue Pulling after death and be reborn as an animal in the next life.”

Such a vow was vicious. Jufang and Sizhu exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

After seeing the person off, Jufang, at Zhou Zhou's prompting, took a notebook from the bookshelf.

Zhou Zhou took the book and met her hesitant expression.

"Speak, what's wrong?" Zhou Zhou asked.

“The matter you asked me to do has been taken care of,” Jufang said with a worried look on her face. “That person has also agreed, but… can she be trusted?”

“Of course she doesn’t trust him,” Zhou Zhou chuckled lightly, speaking lazily. “But this matter can fulfill her ambitions, and she will seize it firmly.”

"Then...then we've given her leverage over us, won't that be detrimental to us?" This was Jufang's concern.

"Incrimination? The letter was sent in Ding Dong's name, without a personal seal or signature. Ding Dong is barely a witness, but he's just a witness, not a physical one. He's just talking nonsense, trying to drag me down with his words?"

"Jufang, have you been reading too many storybooks?"

Jufang choked, and Sizhu stood up again.

“That’s true, but Miss,” Sizhu voiced her biggest question of the day, “why did you get involved in this mess?”

Zhou Zhou had also pondered this question for a long time. The wrongful death of Ding Dong's brother had little to do with her, but when she saw Ding Dong, a weak woman, meticulously planning and willing to submit to her enemy in order to avenge her family, she was moved by compassion.

The brother and sister were born in a muddy place, and they had already tried their best to survive, but suffering still befell them.

If Heaven has the virtue of cherishing life, it will surely make those who disregard human life pay the price.

Such an idea could be described as naive, so Zhou Zhou's answer was—

"I just find it amusing, and besides..." Zhou Zhou's eyes flashed with a cold light, as sharp as knives, "They caused Second Sister such a terrible fate, what harm is there in me collecting some interest?"

After saying that, Zhou Zhou couldn't help but yawn. He was exhausted from the long journey and his body was really tired.

Jufang and Sizhu tactfully lowered the mosquito net and blew out the candles, saying, "Miss, go to sleep."

“Hmm,” Zhou Zhou responded softly, lying on the bed, not forgetting to remind her, “Jufang, Sizhu, you two have been working hard lately. Discuss it and take turns resting for three days.”

For working people, the happiest time is when they have a holiday. The two of them smiled brightly and answered happily, "Yes, Miss Xie."

The two women withdrew, and the maid on night watch stayed in the outer room. Zhou Zhou, exhausted from the past few days, slept exceptionally soundly tonight. When she woke up again, it was already bright daylight, and the sunlight streaming through the window was somewhat dazzling.

Zhou Zhou rubbed her sore shoulders and sat up. Hearing the noise, Sizhu immediately came in. "Miss, would you like to have a meal?"

Normally, Sizhu wouldn't ask, so...

"What time is it?" Zhou Zhou asked.

“It’s almost the end of the 9 AM,” Sizhu replied.

In other words, it will be lunchtime in half an hour.

"I can't believe I slept for so long." Zhou Zhou rubbed his temples, still feeling groggy. "Call water in, and go to the kitchen to ask the cook to make some porridge. I don't have much of an appetite."

"Yes."

Soon, Zhou Zhou finished washing up and sat down to look through the account books.

Over the past three months, Sizhu has kept meticulous and orderly records of Lingcui Pavilion's expenses, noting who made the purchases and what they were, and even affixing their fingerprints to the records.

Zhou Zhou read through the ledger quickly, closed it, and handed it to Sizhu, gesturing for her to put it away. At the same time, he sighed, "With your skills, being a bookkeeper would be a waste of your talents."

Sizhu nodded and agreed wholeheartedly, "This servant thinks so too, Miss has excellent taste."

Zhou Zhou was both amused and exasperated, and asked her, "Are you praising me, or praising yourself?"

“Yes, yes,” Si Zhu chuckled, fawningly massaging Zhou Zhou’s shoulders. “This is called killing two birds with one stone.”

Zhou Zhou was quite pleased, and he squinted his eyes comfortably as he looked through the ledgers of Yu Yan Fang.

They've already made a name for themselves, and now it's up to them to work hard. This is their first harvest, but as for how much they've earned, they haven't even broken even yet.

However, if things continue like this, it should be possible to break even within a year.

Zhou Zhou closed the ledger, and Si Zhu immediately chimed in, "The method for dyeing hair that Miss mentioned last time has been developed by Miss Qing Rong, who even sent over a small box."

Zhou Zhou's mind was a bit slow today. After listening to Si Zhu's words, it took him a while to realize, "They actually managed to do it."

What's with that incredulous tone?

"Let me see it." Zhou Zhou sat up straight.

Sizhu took a box out of the dressing table. The box was exquisite and small, consistent with the style of Yuyanfang.

She opened the lid, revealing the dark red paste inside.

Sizhu explained, "Miss Qingrong said that the color applied to the nails will be more vibrant than this, and you can't move around too much right after applying it; the paste will solidify after about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea."

After saying that, Sizhu was eager to try, "Miss, would you like to give it a try?"

“Okay,” Zhou Zhou readily agreed.

After a cup of tea, Zhou Zhou raised her hand and admired it closely. Her fingers were slender, her knuckles were distinct, and her fingertips were rosy. She looked to be in excellent health.

"It's nice, quite good-looking, and practical too." Zhou Zhou smiled and continued, "Is it available for sale yet? What's the price?"

“A few days ago, when Miss Qingrong brought the account book, she said that this Dankou oil was not yet in mass production. It was made into small items and given as gifts to regular customers,” Sizhu replied. “She said that the decision on mass production is up to you.”

"Very good." Zhou Zhou was even more satisfied.

The two talked for a while longer before the porridge was brought over from the kitchen.

Although Zhou Zhou only mentioned porridge, the kitchen dared not serve just porridge.

The porridge wasn't plain porridge, but rather porridge with shredded meat, ginger, and scallions. However, Zhou Zhou couldn't eat ginger because he preferred the taste of ginger, so the cook carefully picked out the shredded ginger.

In addition, there were two egg pancakes, a plate of shredded potatoes, and a plate of roast duck with the bones removed, sliced ​​thinly and arranged exquisitely.

However, Zhou Zhou had no appetite. He ate a simple meal, asked Sizhu and the others to share it, and then went back to sleep.

I slept until dusk, until the sound of silk and bamboo instruments startled me awake.

Seeing Zhou Zhou's flushed face, Si Zhu quickly reached out and touched her forehead, which was burning hot to the touch.