Ch 90: Interrogation
Qi Jiarou pointed at the fabrics on the shelves, her gaze fixed on the shop assistant. Her tone was haughty and laced with dissatisfaction: “It’s shameful that you’re a shop under the Crown Princess’s wing and yet dare to use such shoddy goods to deceive customers.”
“If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, others might misunderstand that the Crown Princess herself intentionally used substandard goods to deceive guests.”
The shop assistant calmly explained, “Miss, you don’t understand. That garment you pointed at is a display item, not for sale.”
“Hmph, even the display sample is full of flaws. How can anyone believe that the items actually sold will be any better?”
Qi Jiarou’s words were aggressive, inadvertently attracting curious glances from around her.
Seeing this, the shop assistant remained composed and continued his explanation: “All items sold in our shop, once damaged, will be compensated at double the original price. Our shop never uses inferior goods to deceive customers.”
Meng Tingyue and Princess Luo Jia stood at the entrance of the guest room, quietly watching the commotion outside.
Meng Tingyue saw through Qi Jiarou’s intentions at a glance. She clearly came prepared and deliberately caused trouble. Those goods displayed outside were carefully selected items with minor flaws, intended for display, not sale.
It seems Qi Jiarou harbored resentment from a past incident and deliberately sought her out to pick a fight.
“That shop assistant doesn’t seem very old, yet he remains calm and composed in the face of adversity,” Princess Luo Jia praised.
Meng Tingyue thought the same.
Seeing this, the shopkeeper seized the opportunity to introduce, “This young brother is a new shop assistant I hired a few days ago. Initially, he was eager to start work, but our shop has rules, new recruits must undergo training.”
“But his words were earnest, he said his family urgently needed money, so I felt sympathy and made an exception to let him try. After two days of careful observation, I saw his capabilities, so I officially hired him.”
Meng Tingyue understood the shopkeeper’s good intentions immediately.
For talented people, help when you can, this unites people and allows the shop to work together towards progress.
When it comes to money, Meng Tingyue has always been generous, never stingy with investing in capable people.
“If he is truly capable, I won’t be stingy with money. However, he’s new, if we rashly raise his pay, it might cause jealousy and dissatisfaction among others,” Meng Tingyue pondered.
Hearing this, a worried expression appeared on the shopkeeper’s face.
At this moment, Princess Luo Jia chuckled softly and suggested, “This is easily solved. If he sells a lot of fabric, you can give him a reasonable commission.”
Meng Tingyue looked puzzled, “What is a commission?”
Princess Luo Jia patiently explained, “A commission is a reward for diligent and hardworking shop assistants, and also a way to unite people.”
Meng Tingyue’s eyes flickered, as if she understood, and she softly said to the shopkeeper, “That’s a good idea, let’s do as the Princess suggests.”
She secretly calculated that if this method is effective, she can promote it to other shops under her in the future.
The shopkeeper’s face lit up with joy, he bowed and said, “I thank the Crown Princess and Princess on his behalf.”
Qi Jiarou was simply looking for trouble. The shop assistant handled it well, so Meng Tingyue and Qi Jiarou chatted briefly in the guest room before leaving together.
At dinner time, Princess Luo Jia took Meng Tingyue to Fragrant Full Building for dinner.
After dinner, Princess Luo Jia personally escorted Meng Tingyue back to her mansion.
As soon as she returned to her room, she asked the maid to prepare hot water for a bath.
It was still early, she leaned comfortably on the couch and casually browsed the account books, carefully examining each entry.
At this time, Yan Hong entered the room and softly reported the results of her investigation.
“When Zheng Steward and Miss Qiao were talking secretly, they avoided everyone’s attention. I could only catch a few words from Miss Qiao’s occasionally raised tone: ‘Chen Family’, ‘useless’, ‘tell’.”
Meng Tingyue gently supported her chin with her slender hand, her brows furrowed in thought, carefully considering the connection between these three words.
“This Palace understands, thank you for your hard work.”
Yan Hong bowed, “It is my honor to serve the Crown Princess.”
Having said that, she slowly retreated from the room, leaving behind a quiet atmosphere.
Chen Family…
“Qingdian, tomorrow you will send someone to secretly investigate whether the Chen family really perished in a fire,” Meng Tingyue instructed Qingdian, who stood beside her.
Qingdian responded, “Yes.”
Then, Meng Tingyue added, “Also, ask Ling Xiao if the Crown Prince took his medicine on time today.”
Qingdian left and returned shortly after with news.
“I have confirmed with Ling Xiao that His Highness the Crown Prince returned to the mansion at You time, but he hasn’t had dinner or taken his medicine yet.”
It was early You time, now it’s almost late Xu time, more than an hour and a half has passed.
Thinking of this, Meng Tingyue immediately put down the account book. “Qingdian, quickly go to the kitchen and prepare some hot soup and dishes. Also, the untouched medicine needs to be remade. I will personally take it to the Crown Prince, there must be no delay.”
With Qingdian’s assistance, she changed her clothes, took the food box from the kitchen, and hurried towards the Crown Prince’s study.
Ling Xiao and Ling Qi stood quietly at the door, their gazes passing through the soft candlelight, focusing on Shen Yunheng who was engrossed in his heavy official duties, both hoping that the Crown Princess would arrive soon.
At this moment, a gentle breeze in the night brought with it the distant winding lights and that striking blue figure, slowly entering their line of sight.
Both felt a surge of joy and stepped forward, their voices filled with unconcealed delight, calling in unison, “Crown Princess.”
Meng Tingyue nodded slightly, her gaze falling on Shen Yunheng, who sat at the writing desk in the study.
Shen Yunheng seemed to have heard the noise outside, and slowly raised his head. His profound eyes, illuminated by the candlelight, met Meng Tingyue’s.
One side, the eyes were as calm as a still lake surface, but ripples appeared after Meng Tingyue’s arrival.
The other side, however, concealed inexpressible emotions, a hint of resentment perhaps.
Meng Tingyue hurried forward, lightly passing Ling Xiao and Ling Qi, and entered the inner room filled with the scent of Dragon Scale Incense.
Shen Yunheng’s gaze involuntarily swept over the exquisite food box carried by the maid following Meng Tingyue, and he already guessed what it was.
“My Lord, did you perhaps forget something today?” Meng Tingyue spoke softly, her voice cold, her face devoid of any smile.
