The Prince's Beloved Little Wife

Chen Mengyao smiled as she surveyed the room, a sense of satisfaction welling up within her as she saw all the employees working diligently and enthusiastically. She spoke briefly with several customers who came to inquire, answering their questions, before turning and returning to her office. As soon as she entered, she noticed that the Emperor and his entourage were all focused on her.

Chen Mengyao asked softly, "Would you all be interested in going out for a walk and experiencing the atmosphere here firsthand?" As soon as she finished speaking, the Crown Prince and the others all expressed their agreement, especially the lively and adorable little princess, who could no longer contain her excitement and danced around excitedly, shouting, "Yes, yes! This princess has been wanting to join in the fun for a long time!"

However, the Emperor and Empress gently shook their heads, indicating that it was more appropriate for them to remain in their office to avoid causing any discomfort or unease among the people. The Emperor turned to his concubines and said, "My beloved concubines, since you've made the rare trip, why don't you go out and have a stroll? If you see anything you like, feel free to buy it." He then gestured to his accompanying eunuch, who quickly pulled a thick stack of silver notes from his robes and handed them over.

Seeing this, Chen Mengyao quickly stepped forward and waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "Father, you're being too polite! If any of you ladies see something you like, just take it; there's no need to pay. The exquisite jewelry you bestowed upon your daughter-in-law earlier is quite valuable and could buy many items here. You ladies just need to find the shopping cart at the entrance and choose whatever you like. If you feel you haven't chosen enough, you can always go back for more. Make sure you have a great time!"

Upon hearing the news, Consort Li, Consort Lan, Consort De, and Consort Shu all beamed with joy, their smiles as radiant as spring flowers in full bloom. They were filled with gratitude for Chen Mengyao's generosity.

Consort Lan, in particular, was exceptionally affectionate. She warmly took Chen Mengyao's hands and said softly, "Oh my, you truly are my good daughter-in-law! So generous and poised, I am overjoyed! When you have free time, you must come to the palace to visit your mother often. Your mother will personally cook you delicious meals. Look at how busy you've been lately, you've lost quite a bit of weight. After you and Han'er get married, I will definitely order that rascal to take good care of you and give you some proper nourishment! Also, you might as well train some more people to help manage those shops, that way you can have a much easier time."

Feeling the concern in Consort Lan's words, Chen Mengyao felt a warm current welling up in her heart, as if she were basking in warm sunshine. She smiled and gently reassured her, "Mother, please rest assured. I will arrange suitable people to assist in managing the shop and will not allow myself to overwork. Tomorrow I will return to the Grand Tutor's residence for a few days to prepare for my wedding. During these days, I will rest and recuperate, doing nothing but focusing on becoming the most beautiful and charming bride."

"That's very good. I was really worried that you would damage your health by overworking yourself." Consort Lan gently patted Chen Mengyao's hand, her eyes full of tenderness.

After speaking, the ladies-in-waiting rose gracefully and, accompanied by their personal maids and matrons, headed outside to select their desired items. Princess Yongle, meanwhile, was overjoyed and wanted to join Chen Mengyao in the fun. She quickly ran to Chen Mengyao's side and pleaded sweetly, "My dear third sister-in-law, please take me to get a membership card!"

Chen Mengyao felt a pang of worry, but couldn't bear to refuse the adorable Princess Yongle. She could only sigh softly and cast a pleading look at the Emperor. However, the Emperor merely smiled helplessly and gestured for her to take Princess Yongle with her. So, Chen Mengyao had no choice but to take Princess Yongle's small hand and slowly walk out.

Meanwhile, seeing this, the Crown Prince and the others followed them out of the room. Only the Emperor and Empress remained in the office. Chen Mengyao knew she couldn't let the noble couple be bored, so before leaving, she had a sudden inspiration. She took out an exquisite laptop from her spatial storage and walked up to the Emperor and Empress, smiling as she said, "Father, Mother, this computer has many wonderful movies for your entertainment. Let me teach you how to use it and how to choose your favorite films."

Having said that, she patiently began to explain, detailing the basic operation of the computer, including how to turn it on, how to open a media player, and so on. The Emperor and Empress listened with great interest, occasionally asking questions, which Chen Mengyao answered clearly and concisely. Finally, seeing that the Emperor and Empress had mastered these skills, Chen Mengyao left with Princess Yongle, leaving the Emperor and Empress to enjoy this novel form of entertainment in the palace.

The group arrived at the department store from the office and found it bustling with people coming and going. Her employees handled the situation with ease, displaying both enthusiasm and politeness.

When the Crown Prince, the princes, and the princesses witnessed this grand occasion, they were all genuinely delighted for Chen Mengyao. They knew that the items introduced by their sister-in-law/third sister-in-law, with their ability to greatly improve the convenience of everyone's lives, would surely be very popular. So, they all took shopping carts and strolled among the dazzling array of goods, carefully selecting their favorite items.

As they walked, they noticed that every item on every shelf was clearly marked with its price. This detail drew admiring glances from everyone at Chen Mengyao's meticulousness and thoughtfulness. She truly was a business genius, considering everything so thoroughly; it was truly remarkable.

As they reached the second floor, a sign that clearly read "Women's Products, Men Not Allowed" came into view. At that moment, their admiration for Chen Mengyao grew even stronger. The sign cleverly avoided any awkwardness or inconvenience for men, naturally prompting them to stop there. Filled with admiration and respect, the prince and his entourage continued towards other areas, their respect for Chen Mengyao deepening even further.

Princess Yongle watched her older siblings stroll leisurely ahead, a burning anxiety coursing through her heart. Her large, bright eyes darted around, and she made up her mind to stop following them. Like a nimble little deer, she swiftly ran to Chen Mengyao's side, tightly grasping the other's soft hand, and then, like an arrow released from a bow, dashed off towards the dazzling array of goods.

Chen Mengyao was completely unprepared for Princess Yongle's haste and was caught off guard. She felt a tremendous force pulling her arm, and her body was involuntarily propelled forward. Despite her unsteady steps, a radiant smile bloomed on her face, and she didn't forget to kindly remind those around her, "Everyone, watch your step!"

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince and his brothers and sisters, who were walking ahead, felt a pang of anxiety upon seeing this scene, secretly groaning in dismay. They worried that the impatient little princess might cause some serious trouble in the bustling, noisy market, or suffer even the slightest injustice. Therefore, the group quickly quickened their pace, closely following Princess Yongle and Chen Mengyao, not daring to slacken their efforts in the slightest.

When the empresses witnessed this extraordinary scene, they each displayed strikingly different reactions. Consort Li lightly covered her lips with her hand, her eyes sparkling with surprise and vulnerability, seemingly both delighted and slightly bewildered by the sudden spectacle. Consort Lan, on the other hand, appeared confident, a smug smile playing on her lips, her expression clearly saying, "I knew it would be so popular." Consort Shu stood quietly to the side, appreciating the surrounding hustle and bustle with a gentle and profound gaze, her inner joy flowing like a gentle stream. Consort De's face was filled with barely suppressed excitement; her eyes shone brightly, as if she might break free at any moment and plunge into the jubilant crowd to share in this rare joy.

After a brief moment of surprise, the ladies-in-waiting slowly retrieved shopping carts from the entrance, instructing their servants to each take one as well, and together they ventured deeper into the mall to select their desired items. These beauty-loving women were first drawn to the skincare section. They were extremely attentive to their skincare, and the skincare products Chen Mengyao had gifted them were long gone. Unable to leave the palace, they could only hope to indulge in their shopping today. So, without hesitation, they filled their carts to the brim with skincare products before contentedly moving on to other areas.

The servants' shopping carts were filled with toiletries, pastries, fruits, and snacks—daily necessities. They also went upstairs to carefully select a variety of intimate items such as underwear and sanitary napkins. Only when all the carts were overflowing did they instruct their servants to ask the staff for a box to hold everything. When asking for the box, they specifically explained to the staff that these were generous gifts from their boss.

Afterwards, they had their servants carry their overflowing shopping carts back to their office, while they continued browsing to see if there was anything else they needed. Finally, they selected some recreational items like board games and stationery before heading to the service counter to register for membership cards. Although as members of the imperial harem they couldn't frequently go out, they could have their maids purchase the necessary items on their behalf.

Of course, they were well aware of Princess Jing's tolerance and generosity. Although she allowed them to choose freely, they were not overly greedy and only selected some daily necessities. They were filled with gratitude and satisfaction, after all, they were not without money, and if they needed anything in the future, they could simply send palace maids to buy it again.

Princess Yongle, on the other hand, was like a wild horse, excitedly pulling Chen Mengyao along as they raced outwards. Their hurried pace drew the attention of onlookers, but the princess paid no heed, her only desire to reach their destination as quickly as possible.

Finally, they ran breathlessly to the counter. Princess Yongle impatiently shouted to the employee behind the counter, "Quick! Quickly process a membership card for this princess!" The employee was initially startled by the princess's imposing manner, but quickly recovered and began processing the membership card for the princess.

When filling out the membership information, Princess Yongle did not hesitate to give the name of her palace maid, and instructed, "From now on, let my palace maids help me buy things. It will be much more convenient!" After saying that, she smiled smugly.

After getting her membership card, Princess Yongle immediately pushed a shopping cart and rushed into the merchandise area. As she walked, she looked around, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and excitement. Seeing something she liked, she tossed it into her cart without hesitation.

Not only that, Princess Yongle also called out to the palace maids, eunuchs, and nannies accompanying her, "Come and help me push the shopping cart! Also, you can pick out some things you need as a reward from me, to thank you for helping me push the cart!" Hearing this, the servants were flattered and quickly thanked her before starting to choose their desired items. For a time, the entire shop was filled with laughter and joy, a truly lively scene.

Before long, Princess Yongle and her retinue of servants had filled the shopping cart to the brim, with a mountain of all sorts of dazzling goods piled up, almost overflowing. Each person wore a satisfied smile, as if this cart of items was their greatest haul.

Finally, when the shopping cart could hold no more, Princess Yongle reluctantly stopped her shopping spree. She led the group back home with a smug air, her head held high like a proud peacock. Along the way, Princess Yongle would occasionally cast triumphant glances around, seemingly showing off her spoils.

Chen Mengyao, however, was exceptionally considerate. She not only helped Princess Yongle push her heavy shopping cart but also frequently reminded others to watch out for obstacles in the path to avoid knocking over their hard-earned treasures. Chen Mengyao instructed her employees to quickly fetch some appropriately sized boxes to properly pack all the items. The employees immediately sprang into action, quickly selecting a batch of sturdy and durable boxes from the warehouse. They then carefully placed the items from the shopping cart into the boxes, ensuring that each item was securely placed and would not be damaged during transport. Soon after, all the boxes were fully packed.

Princess Yongle smiled with satisfaction and nodded gently. She then generously bestowed some lavish rewards upon her employees. Upon seeing this, the employees looked surprised and slightly apprehensive, seemingly unable to believe this sudden favor, and hesitated to accept it. However, under Chen Mengyao's gentle yet firm gaze, they finally mustered their courage, respectfully accepted the rewards, and expressed their deepest gratitude to her.

Furthermore, the employees demonstrated great enthusiasm and initiative, proactively helping Princess Yongle and Chen Mengyao carry all the purchased items back to the office. They carefully arranged each item, afraid of damaging it in the slightest.

Back in her office, Princess Yongle was still deeply moved and eager to share her day's events with her father and mother. She immediately recounted her experiences in detail, including Chen Mengyao's intelligence, the employees' hard work, and the business's success. The Emperor and Empress smiled with satisfaction; their daughter-in-law was indeed remarkable, and her products were excellent, greatly improving the lives of the people.