My stepsister tried to steal the prince's hand in marriage, but little did she know I had been

The Cuiweifang was unusually quiet, and the appearance of the master and servant immediately drew shouts.

Those who can do business in Cuiweifang are all good at recognizing people. Just by looking at Wen Shuyao's clothes, one can tell that she is either rich or noble.

Especially the maid-like person standing to the side, who was also dressed in fine silk.

It's not surprising that the master is dressed well, but the fact that the maid is also dressed in fine fabrics shows that this family is quite wealthy.

Some of the more approachable female shopkeepers even tried to hand Wen Shuyao the jewelry they had on hand.

"Miss, why don't you come and take a look at my shop? The gems in our Jade Flower Pavilion are among the best in the entire Emerald Pavilion!" she shouted. "Everything in our shop was delivered directly from the Western Regions, untouched!"

Yuhua Pavilion was indeed somewhat famous in the capital, but that was four or five years later.

At this moment, Yuhua Pavilion was still gray and dusty, except for a few gems in the hands of the female manager that glittered in the sunlight.

Such a Yuhua Pavilion is indeed inconspicuous in Cuiweifang, no wonder the shopkeeper shouts like that.

However, Wen Shuyao stopped and walked into the jewelry shop, which did not look very high-end.

Upon seeing this, the female shopkeeper immediately beamed with joy.

"Miss, please feel free to take and enjoy these. Besides these, there are even better ones upstairs."

Wen Shuyao merely held and played with the gemstone for a moment before looking up at the shopkeeper: "The gemstone is quite nice."

The female shopkeeper smiled happily: "Of course, in our shop..."

How much for the shop?

Upon hearing this unexpected remark, the female shopkeeper was stunned for a long time.

"Buy a shop?"

She never expected that this young lady wouldn't be interested in the jewelry in the shop, but instead would take a liking to the shop itself.

The shopkeeper hesitated for only a moment before saying, "I'm just a shopkeeper; I can't make this decision."

As she spoke, she glanced at Wen Shuyao discreetly. Seeing that Wen Shuyao showed no displeasure, she continued, "However, if Miss really wants this shop, I will go and ask the owner for you."

"But..." she hesitated as she spoke.

This young lady doesn't look like someone to be trifled with. If we anger her, this shop might also be...

Wen Shuyao noticed her unease and said, "Don't worry, I was just asking. If the owner is unwilling to sell, I won't force them."

"A transaction should be based on mutual consent."

The shopkeeper breathed a sigh of relief as soon as she spoke.

Just then, a few more people walked into the shop.

The leader was tall and blocked out all the sunlight from the door, making the shop even darker.

Wen Shuyao felt a chill run down her spine and instinctively turned around.

However, the person who appeared behind him was Xie Jinghan.

"Your Majesty..."

She opened her lips, but the two words that were on the tip of her tongue remained unspoken.

What's Xie Jinghan doing here?

"Your Highness, it would be too formal for you to discuss whether or not to buy this shop."

Si Qing quickly spoke, breaking the silence in the room.

At that moment, the shopkeeper called out to Si Qing, "Master, what brings you here?"

As soon as the two spoke, Wen Shuyao's eyes widened—Yuhua Pavilion was actually Xie Jinghan's property. If so, why was the business so dismal?

With the name of Prince Jing, Yuhua Pavilion should have become the largest jewelry store in Cuiweifang long ago.

Her eyes were filled with surprise, making her doubt all the more obvious.

Xie Jinghan said calmly, "It's just a shop used for surveillance. If everyone knows I'm behind it, what use is it?"

“It’s just silver,” he added. “The Prince Jing’s mansion has no shortage of silver.”

Wen Shuyao blinked and said in a low voice, "Your Highness is indeed very wealthy."

The betrothal gifts were sent out without hesitation, and even in the prime real estate of Cuiweifang, a shop was specially set up for surveillance.

Her dowry included many shops, but none of them could compare to Yuhua Pavilion.

—The good shops were all quietly transferred to Madam Wen's name over the years, and the ones that were replaced were all dilapidated shops in nooks and crannies.

If she wants to cooperate with Su You and expand her shops to the scale of her previous life, she will inevitably face a lot of trouble.

This Jade Flower Pavilion...

Thinking of this, Wen Shuyao clenched her fists and mustered her courage to ask, "Then I wonder if this shop... is for sale, Your Highness?"

Xie Jinghan's peach blossom eyes fell on Wen Shuyao, with a hint of inquiry.

Si Qing, who was standing to the side, hesitated before swallowing the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

Her master was right in front of her, yet the princess only had eyes for this shop?

He pondered how to smooth things over.

But then, Xie Jinghan said, "It's just a shop. Take it if you want."

A hint of a smile appeared in Wen Shuyao's eyes. Before she could thank him, Xie Jinghan said, "You have a share in everything under the Jingwang Mansion."

Si Qing's eyes widened. How much silver must that be?

Wen Shuyao's eyes widened as well. How much silver is this worth?

In her past life, Wen Yitong lived such a life, yet she still had to cry every day.

She doesn't want this kind of life? Why does she insist on going to the Chen family to live a hard life?

She was so happy that even when she thanked them, her eyes and brows were full of smiles.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

To express her gratitude, she added, "Don't worry, I will take good care of this shop. As for what you said about surveillance... don't worry, I will never let anyone know that this shop is backed by our Prince Jing's Mansion."

The smile in her eyes was so sincere that even when she said "our Prince Jing's Mansion," there was a deep sincerity in it.

This was the first time Xie Jinghan had heard her speak to him in such a sincere tone. Their previous conversations had been more like business negotiations between two businessmen, and there had been no such intimacy between them.

Only now did he realize that the woman before him was about to become his queen.

But after only a moment of stunned silence, he nodded slightly: "You can do whatever you want."

"Now that this shop is yours, you can make all the decisions," he added. "As for the surveillance, I will have someone else handle that."

The Prince Jing's mansion has many capable people under its command, and this is not the only shop in Cuiwei Lane.

Wen Shuyao's impression of Xie Jinghan improved even more after hearing this.

She had already gained so many benefits from Xie Jinghan before they were even married.

That's incredibly generous.

She solicitously brought Xie Jinghan a chair: "Your Highness, please sit down."

Xie Jinghan glanced at her and saw that her thoughts were written all over her face. Even though he was as indifferent as he was, a smile appeared in his eyes.

Si Qing watched the two of them go back and forth, so shocked that her jaw almost dropped.

However, just as the atmosphere was harmonious, Xie Jinghan tapped the table, his peach blossom eyes as indifferent as ice, and swept over Wen Shuyao.

"Did the county princess come to Cuiwei Lane today just to buy a shop?"

There is another important clue inside Cuiwei Lane.