Ch 123: Princess Jingbei
Mr. Meng’s voice was tinged with displeasure. He said in a deep voice, “Why don’t you ask Jiaojiao for help? Let her give you some pointers, teach you some methods of making money.”
Meng Tingyue smiled slightly, her eyes full of casual nonchalance. “Aren’t her methods of making money just about working against the clock, putting a little pressure on the workers to get the goods out early? Such simple matters, is it really necessary to learn them specially?”
Upon hearing this, Mr. Meng urged her even more. “Since you understand this clearly, why don’t you hurry up and learn, let your shop prosper, and add more income to the Crown Prince’s Mansion.”
Meng Tingyue gently shook her head, looking unconcerned. “Haste makes waste. Good things are never too late.”
Upon hearing this, Meng Qingjiao’s brows furrowed slightly, and a look of displeasure flashed across her face. “Sister, what do you mean by that? Are you implying that if I rush to produce new goods, I will cut corners on quality?”
“Even if Sister is dissatisfied with me, why insult me so? As a merchant, reputation is paramount. If Sister wants to blame me, I will accept it willingly, but please don’t tarnish my integrity and reputation as a merchant.”
Ripples arose in Meng Qingjiao’s heart, and she thought to herself: What does Meng Tingyue mean by this? Has she discovered some unknown secret? Or… did she secretly instruct someone to tamper with my Ningxiang Pills?
Countless thoughts flashed through her mind, and a strange sense of crisis quietly arose. She made up her mind that she would thoroughly investigate the shop later to see if there were any people secretly won over by Meng Tingyue.
Faced with her almost unreasonable words, Meng Tingyue lightly raised one eyebrow and smiled faintly. “I was just speaking casually. Don’t take it seriously.”
“Alright, alright, stop arguing,” Mr. Meng interrupted their quarrel with an annoyed expression.
Then he turned his gaze to Meng Tingyue, his tone slightly reproachful. “Tingyue, Jiaojiao is your sister after all. Can’t you be more tolerant and indulge her a little?”
Upon hearing this, the smile on Meng Tingyue’s lips faded slightly, and her voice carried a hint of imperceptible coldness. “If I have to consider her feelings before every word I speak, then I might as well keep my mouth shut and say nothing.”
After saying this, she remained silent, then gently took a sip of the green tea beside her, savoring it slowly.
It tastes worse than the tea at the mansion, she thought.
At this time, Meng Qingjiao was chatting and laughing with Mr. Meng and Madam Meng, the atmosphere extremely harmonious. Just then, a servant hurried into the courtyard, breaking the tranquility.
“Master, Madam, there is a person outside the mansion who claims to be an attendant of the Crown Prince, and he has come to invite Miss to return to the mansion.”
Upon hearing this, Mr. Meng’s gaze suddenly turned to Meng Tingyue.
Meng Tingyue slowly stood up and gave a slight bow to Mr. Meng. “Perhaps His Highness the Crown Prince has important matters to discuss. Daughter will take her leave.”
Mr. Meng nodded slightly, his tone gentle yet authoritative. “Since His Highness the Crown Prince has found what he desires, please return to the mansion early.”
Upon hearing this, Meng Qingjiao’s eyes flickered, full of sincerity, and she said softly, “I still have a few carefully crafted scented pills. Sister, if you don’t mind, please take a few.”
Meng Tingyue glanced sideways indifferently, her tone carrying a hint of imperceptible distance. “I appreciate my sister’s kindness, but those scented pills are more suitable to remain with my sister.”
“Seeing Father so fond of my sister’s things, I suppose my small trinkets wouldn’t catch your eye either. I’ll take them back.”
Having said that, Meng Tingyue slowly stood up, her steps light, and slowly left, followed by Qingdian and Qinglan, her two maids, each carrying two delicately carved small gift boxes.
Seeing her leave with the gifts untouched, a nameless fire burned in Mr. Meng’s chest.
“What kind of attitude is this? She took the gifts back untouched. Who is so bold as to teach her to treat her own father like this?” Mr. Meng’s tone was full of indignation and incomprehension.
Seeing this, Madam Meng quickly stepped forward, gently stroking his chest, and softly consoled him. “Husband, don’t be angry and upset your health. Tingyue is still young, and it’s natural for her to be a little willful. She certainly didn’t mean to do this.”
“She’s married, and still young? If we talk about youth, Jiaojiao is even younger than her by a few days, but Jiaojiao is much more sensible than her.” Mr. Meng still could not hide his displeasure, his words carrying a hint of reproach and disappointment.
…
Qinglan, holding a delicate box, muttered to herself, “I thought the Crown Princess would really keep such good things in the mansion.”
Meng Tingyue curled her lips into a faint sneer. “They don’t deserve them. I’ll keep such good things myself.”
She had only come for a formality; she hadn’t planned to leave the things behind.
She gently raised her hand, her fingertips lightly touching the exquisitely decorated box, and instructed, “Let’s go to Jingbei Prince’s Mansion.”
As the Crown Prince’s Mansion carriage slowly approached, finally stopping steadily in front of the imposing gate of Jingbei Prince’s Mansion, the guards couldn’t help but show a flash of surprise in their eyes, hurriedly letting someone go inside to inform Princess Jingbei.
Princess Jingbei was listening to Chen Luo play the qin in the mansion. Upon hearing this, she stood up in shock from her rocking chair.
“What did you say? The Crown Prince is personally visiting? But the Prince is not yet home.” Her voice was tinged with disbelief.
The servant bowed his head, his tone certain. “Reporting to the Princess, I saw it with my own eyes; it is undoubtedly the Crown Prince’s carriage.”
Princess Jingbei thought for a moment, then instructed, “Quickly bring them to the Main Hall; there must be no slightest negligence. Also, send someone to inform the Prince and the Prince’s son of this matter.”
“Yes.” The servant was about to go when he stopped.
“Wait.” Chen Luo softly called out to Princess Jingbei, who was about to turn around to change her clothes. His gaze was profound, as if he sensed something. “The person who came to visit may not be the Crown Prince himself.”
“Not His Highness the Crown Prince?” Princess Jingbei’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. “Do you mean the Crown Princess is here?”
Chen Luo nodded slightly, his expression calm, explaining, “Princess Luo Jia’s Perfume Tasting Banquet last time was held for the Crown Princess’s Ningxiang Paste. I spoke a few words for the Crown Princess at the banquet that day, so the Crown Princess may have come because of this matter.”
Upon hearing this, a large stone fell from Princess Jingbei’s heart. She gently patted her chest, and said with relief, “As long as it’s not the Crown Prince himself, that’s fine. But even if it’s the Crown Princess, I must change my clothes to receive her, to show respect.”
After the servant confirmed that it was the Crown Princess and not the Crown Prince, Princess Jingbei was completely relieved. She patted Chen Luo’s hand. “Go to the Main Hall to greet the Crown Princess first; I’ll be there soon.”
