The Prince's Beloved Little Wife

When Chen Mengyao entered the spacious and magnificent hall, she first greeted her godparents warmly, then obediently sat down beside Ouyang Han. Soon after, numerous ministers arrived with their families, all laden with gifts—rare medicinal herbs, dazzling jewelry, and more. After respectfully bowing to the Grand Tutor of Prince Jing, they found their seats, while the ladies, led by the Grand Tutor's wife, gracefully moved to the area where the ladies resided.

Once all the ministers had gathered, Chen Mengyao quietly rose, went to her godmother's ear, and whispered a few words, informing her that she had carefully prepared private gifts for these distinguished ladies, and asked her godmother to lead them to the courtyard where she had been resting. The Grand Tutor's wife then found an excuse to show the ladies around the Grand Tutor's residence, and so, the ladies, led by her, left the hall.

Soon, the Grand Tutor's wife led the women to the place where Chen Mengyao had been resting. Only then did Chen Mengyao speak with a smile, telling them that she had prepared some items specifically for women, which was why she had brought them here. As she spoke, she led them into the room, opened the boxes filled with gifts, and showed them each item, explaining its use.

Undoubtedly, the women blushed with embarrassment upon seeing these exquisite items. Those with relatives serving as concubines in the palace were familiar with these products; they had heard their relatives mention their wonders. They never imagined they would have the privilege of using them themselves, and their impression of Princess Jing improved even further. As for the women who were hearing about these things for the first time, they were even more astonished by the miraculous sanitary napkins after seeing Chen Mengyao demonstrate them herself, casting admiring glances at them.

Seeing this, Chen Mengyao smiled and told them that these items were for them to take home and try. If they were useful, she would sell similar products in her soon-to-be-opened department store, and they could buy them then. The group suddenly realized that she wanted them to help promote her products. However, they weren't angry at all; on the contrary, they were very happy, after all, they were the first to use them. They all expressed their willingness to do their best to promote her products, especially Su Jin, who was filled with admiration for Chen Mengyao. She thought about how Chen Mengyao's Yu Yan Fang business was thriving, and now she was opening a department store—she truly had a brilliant business mind.

From that moment on, Princess Jing, Chen Mengyao, became the person Su Jin admired most, and the other women shared the same sentiment. Their enthusiasm for Chen Mengyao was unprecedented, and they all invited her to visit their residences when she had time. Chen Mengyao was filled with joy; she hadn't expected to gain another group of loyal fans, and this feeling was truly wonderful.

Soon, the Grand Tutor's wife led her entourage of women into the hall, followed by their maids, each carrying a box or chest filled with what appeared to be treasures. The women quietly instructed their maids to load these items onto the carriages, seemingly preparing to leave. However, this was only a temporary rest. They sat down again, gathered around to enjoy tea and snacks, savoring this rare moment of tranquility.

About half an hour passed. Just then, a group of servants hurried over, their faces respectful, and carefully announced to everyone, "My lords and ladies, the meal is all prepared and is neatly arranged in the dining hall, waiting for you to take your seats and enjoy it!" Upon hearing this news, everyone who had been sitting or standing and chatting stood up, smiled at each other, and then slowly walked towards the dining hall together.

Chen Mengyao's eyes darted around in the crowd, and she secretly came up with an idea. She found an excuse and said to the people around her, "I suddenly remembered that I have some things to take care of. You guys go ahead, I'll be right there." After saying that, she turned around and left quickly, and no one suspected anything.

Chen Mengyao went to a secluded corner and quickly retrieved various fresh fruits she had stored in her spatial storage. The fruits were vibrant in color and emitted an enticing aroma, making one's mouth water. She arranged the fruits one by one on the table, carefully checked them to ensure everything was in place, and then quietly sat down at the table, patiently waiting for the other ministers to arrive.

Not long after, footsteps were heard, followed by the sound of the door being pushed open. Everyone stepped into the dining room, but the moment they saw what was before them, they were all speechless with astonishment.

Inside the dining room, long tables were neatly arranged, laden with a variety of dishes, both meat and vegetarian, all visually appealing and delicious. In addition, there was a dazzling array of pastries and fruits, each one looking so fresh, juicy, and sweet. Even more surprising, in one corner of the dining room, several large iron barrels were placed, filled with an unidentified liquid that emitted a faint fragrance, piquing one's curiosity about its contents.

All eyes turned to the Grand Tutor, hoping he could provide an answer. However, the Grand Tutor also looked bewildered. He shook his head helplessly and turned his gaze to Chen Mengyao. Seeing this, Chen Mengyao smiled and stood up, explaining to everyone, "This is called a buffet, a completely new way of eating. Everyone can freely choose their favorite food from these dishes, and those buckets contain various drinks, juices, and wines. This way of eating allows everyone to choose food according to their own tastes and preferences, making it more free and comfortable. Moreover, I will open a restaurant like this in the future, so that everyone can experience the joy of cooking for themselves."

After hearing Chen Mengyao's explanation, everyone suddenly realized that this was the legendary buffet! Some of them had heard the Crown Prince and several princes mention it before. It was truly novel and interesting. So, Chen Mengyao personally demonstrated how to eat at a buffet. First, she took out an elegant plate from the table, then walked around selecting her favorite dishes and placing some on her plate. Next, she went to the beverage dispenser, picked up a glass, and poured herself a glass of juice. As the brightly colored, crystal-clear juice flowed from the dispenser, everyone was deeply attracted and cast curious glances.

Chen Mengyao casually handed the poured juice to a minister to sample. Upon first taste, the minister found it refreshing and flavorful, exclaiming repeatedly, "Delicious! Delicious!" He then downed the entire glass of juice in one gulp. Seeing this, those around him followed suit, grabbing plates and filling them with food and drinks. The dining hall quickly became lively, everyone immersed in the enjoyment of the buffet.

Some of the women gathered in small groups, choosing their favorite foods and drinks, then sat together to eat and chat. They talked about the taste of the food, the novelty of this unique way of eating, and the trivialities of their daily lives. The entire dining room was filled with laughter and a warm, harmonious atmosphere.

Watching this heartwarming and amusing scene, the Grand Tutor couldn't help but look at Chen Mengyao with newfound respect: "Yao'er, is this the novel way of eating you were talking about? It's quite unique indeed." He then followed suit, picking up a plate and filling it with food, before heading over to chat with some of his close colleagues. The Grand Tutor's wife and her sons and daughters-in-law didn't want to be left behind, also picking up plates and filling them with food. The younger children had their favorite dishes placed in the plates by the nannies and taken to the side to eat. The entire dining hall was filled with an atmosphere of joy and contentment, everyone immersed in this rare and happy time together.

A meticulously prepared banquet slowly came to a close. This gathering seemed to possess an extraordinary charm, subtly bridging the gap between the ministers. Although they often attended various gatherings, they had never felt so relaxed and at ease as they had today. The buffet format allowed them to freely choose their favorite dishes, and the pleasure of cooking for themselves was novel and delightful. They all expressed that this buffet style was perfect for small gatherings like this, allowing them to enjoy a variety of delicious foods while fostering closer relationships and creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

The ministers secretly pondered that perhaps they could occasionally host such a buffet party at their own residences, allowing friends and family to share in the enjoyment. While they wouldn't have the extensive beverage selection of today, they could prepare some exquisite desserts or other drinks, which would surely satisfy their guests. Some were even eagerly inquiring with Princess Jing whether the fine tableware and beverage containers could be purchased at department stores, so they could host similar gatherings at home in the future.

Seeing this, Chen Mengyao felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She smiled and answered the minister's question, telling him that these items could indeed be purchased at department stores. The ministers, upon hearing this, all smiled with satisfaction and praised Chen Mengyao's thoughtfulness.

After all the dishes had been tasted, the ministers unanimously praised their excellent flavor, saying they had thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The wide variety of dishes prepared ensured their satisfaction. After the meal, they returned to the spacious and bright hall, where they sat and chatted, drinking tea to alleviate the feeling of fullness.

At this moment, Chen Mengyao gestured to her servants to open the box placed in the corner of the hall. As the box slowly opened, carefully prepared gifts were revealed to everyone. She personally delivered the gifts to each minister, and this meticulous care made the ministers admire Princess Jing's thoughtfulness and consideration even more.

After distributing the gifts, Chen Mengyao patiently explained to the ministers how to use the toiletries, and told them that these items could also be purchased at department stores. She said that these small gifts were just a token of her appreciation, and she hoped everyone would like them. If they found them useful, they were welcome to purchase them at department stores at any time.

The ministers were delighted to hear this. They hadn't expected Princess Jing to use this opportunity to promote her products, but they weren't angry. On the contrary, they thought it was a clever move, both bringing them closer together and finding more potential customers for their products. They all expressed their intention to use the products effectively and help her promote them.

Time flew by, and the ministers spent a pleasant evening amidst laughter and chatter. About fifteen minutes later, they rose to take their leave, once again thanking Princess Jing for her warm hospitality. They expressed their hope to have the opportunity to invite Chen Mengyao to their residence, so they could also properly entertain this virtuous and kind princess. Chen Mengyao smiled and nodded in acceptance of their invitation, her heart filled with warmth and anticipation.