Note: If you want the continuity of this story consider to join Pãtreon/Flokixy to access advance Chapters and To Support The Daily Update
Pay one ti and unlock the full story and Future Chapters from the Shop
"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Jing."
Jun Mo smiled. "Today I am rely here to congratulate Li’er on her opening. No need for formalities."
Li’er? Wei Yuanyao glanced at Su Li with a faint smile that wasn’t quite a smile.
Su Li stood up, looked at Jun Mo, and said, "Why did you co?"
Jun Mo walked over uninvited. "Why can’t I co?"
Wei Yuanyao consciously stood up, yielding her seat to him.
Jun Mo sat down beside Su Li and glanced at Wei Yuanling.
Wei Yuanling smiled. "Zi Yan, you never used to attend these kinds of occasions, so we didn’t call you."
Ji Huaizhou poured him so wine. "Try this. Brewed personally by Miss Su. You can’t buy it outside even with money."
The group chatted and laughed while eating hot pot. The n drank wine, while the ladies had fruit tea.
An hour later, everyone sat satisfied on chairs nearby.
"Cousin, this Jin Zhao Zui of yours, I guarantee, will definitely earn more money than Aunt’s Zui Xian Ju," Wei Yuanling said while drinking tea.
Su Li smiled. "I see too many people waiting. I’m considering whether to open a branch."
Ji Huaizhou said: "Based on the current situation, I think you can."
When the group left Jin Zhao Zui, the shop was still exceptionally bustling.
Outside the door, hearing the guests praise endlessly, Su Li’s lips curled into a smile.
"This hot pot is truly excellent! The owner of this Jin Zhao Zui is truly divine, thinking up such a way to eat! No need to worry about dishes getting cold in winter!"
"Tastes good, and the wine is even better! I’ll bring my family to try next ti."
"I was still worrying about where to host my classmates for a banquet, and Jin Zhao Zui opened! This is the place."
...
On the carriage, Mo Hua handed Su Li a cup of hot tea. "Young Miss, I didn’t expect Jin Zhao Zui could be so successful."
Su Li took a sip of tea. "Indeed, I didn’t expect it either. Help keep an eye on things in the future; I’m afraid Young Master Xu will be too busy."
Mo Hua’s eyes lit up, and she nodded.
Si Qin and Zhi Shu exchanged a smile; everything was understood without words.
While things were harmonious here, soone else was going through fire and water.
"Wash these clothes, then sweep the snow in the courtyard!" a sharp shout ca from a small courtyard.
Su Yue looked up.
Zhao Yuyan yelled: "What are you looking at! Want to starve again?"
Su Yue lowered her head and carried the dirty clothes towards the backyard.
"Ptooey! Vixen!"
An orphan girl, growing up looking like that, who is she trying to seduce?
Zhao Yuyan glanced hatefully at Su Yue and walked into the house.
"What are you shouting so loudly for in the courtyard? Disturbing your brother’s studies! See if I don’t beat you to death!"
Zhao Yuyan retorted dissatisfiedly: "Mother, how did I disturb brother?"
Then she complained again: "This weather is freezing! Aunt is really sothing else! After staying just a few days, she made us move out to live here! This courtyard offers no protection from the wind and snow at all."
Mother Zhao’s face darkened. "Hmph! Wait until An’er becos the top scholar! Then she’ll be falling over herself to curry favor with us."
"Exactly! Isn’t it just taking so of Cousin’s pearl hairpins and dresses? Was it necessary to speak so harshly?"
Speaking of this, Zhao Yuyan beca angry.
Liu Jiao had so many clothes and accessories; what was wrong with her taking a little?
Aunt was also stingy. Going to banquets, only taking Liu Jiao and not her.
She knew it! She was good-looking, and Aunt was just afraid she would outshine Liu Jiao!
Hmph! Wait until brother becos the top scholar! Then she’ll make a stunning appearance, captivating all those princes and young masters, letting her pick and choose.
As usual, mother and daughter began to fantasize about their future days of glory.
In the ice-and-snow-covered backyard, Su Yue carried a heavy water bucket.
Her originally slender fingers were now red and swollen.
She gritted her teeth and scrubbed the clothes fiercely.
These days, she carried water, chopped firewood, started fires, and cooked als, living worse than the lowest servants in the Minister’s Manor back then.
When had she ever suffered such hardships? She had thought about escaping too.
But in this current icy weather, where could she go?
Zhao Huai’an indeed possessed so talent. If lucky, he could enter officialdom.
As long as he beca an official, his associates would all be people from the court.
At that ti, she would wait for an opportunity and surely be able to latch onto a powerful figure.
Only then could she take revenge!
It was just that the current days were truly hard to endure.
Zhao Huai’an’s attitude towards her was very strange.
Since she woke up, after he asked so strange questions, he had been lukewarm towards her.
He allowed that old woman and Zhao Yuyan to tornt her. When his mood was good, he would say a couple of words to help her. But most of the ti, he chose to turn a blind eye.
She had to think of a way to subdue Zhao Huai’an.
What she had now was rely her beauty.
She was confident that for soone like Zhao Huai’an, who ca from the countryside and hadn’t seen the world, he couldn’t escape her grasp.
She felt so regret internally. She had originally intended to save this body for a powerful man in the future; after all, it was her greatest bargaining chip.
But she had had enough of this current life!
After washing the clothes, she went to the kitchen.
She didn’t know how to cook anything delicious, and besides, the Zhao family was poor and didn’t have good ingredients. So, she made a bowl of congee.
Zhao Huai’an was reading in the study.
His study was very warm.
Although there was no Gold Thread Charcoal, wood charcoal was burning.
"Knock knock knock."
"Co in."
Su Yue entered the study carrying the softly cooked congee.
"Young Master, drink so hot congee and take a rest."
"Put it down. I’ll drink it later."
Su Yue had specially dressed up and applied makeup, yet she saw him looking at his desk, not even lifting his head.
She walked closer and put down the congee.
Seeing he was painting – the painting was already done, and he was preparing to add a poem.
"’White snow dislikes the spring colors’ late arrival, so it drifts through courtyard trees like flying flowers.’"
Zhao Huai’an finally looked up.
"This line fits perfectly. I didn’t expect Miss Su to also be versed in poetry and literature."
Su Yue thought of the past, a shadow of sadness in her eyes.
"Yue’er also used to be well-read. Who knew the family fortunes would decline, leading to..."
She didn’t tell him her true identity. If she did, he would know her disgraceful background.
Rather than that, it was better to let him think she was the daughter of a wealthy family who had fallen on hard tis.
Looking at the woman’s picturesque features, skin fairer than snow.
Brows slightly furrowed, eyes holding tears.
Then seeing her originally jade-like delicate hands in their current state, pity instantly arose in his heart.
"Since you are versed in poetry and literature, from now on, you shall attend to the ink in the study."
Su Yue felt triumphant internally. Sure enough, no man could escape her assault.
"But Old Madam..."
What Old Madam? Just a country bumpkin. Seeing the servants in soone else’s house call the mistress ’Madam’, she also put on airs, making her address her like that.
"I will speak to Mother about it."
"Yue’er thanks Young Master."
Su Yue wasn’t wearing much to begin with; this outer shirt was specially chosen.
As she bowed slightly, her collar imdiately opened slightly.
Zhao Huai’an’s breath hitched.
Su Yue pretended not to notice. Standing up, she saw him looking at her.
"Young Master?"
Zhao Huai’an regained his senses, turning his eyes elsewhere.
He constantly warned himself: he needed to pass the imperial examinations; he couldn’t be hindered by beauty!
"Young Master, the congee is getting cold."
User Comments
0 comments from readers