The abstinent and powerful minister is cold and aloof during the day, but he adores her in his dream

Chapter 161 Tell my cousin to collect my body

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan looked up from the ledger and looked at her. "You've done a great job. Why did you stop? Besides, I already handed this shop over to you two to manage. You can decide such a small matter yourselves. There's no need for me to ask."

If it's beneficial to the shop, why would she object?

Moreover, the reason we bought them in the first place was to have them manage the shop.

If we have to ask her about everything, what's the point of having them?

The Yu family's approach is excellent.

They don't stick to old ways and know how to increase revenue and reduce expenses for their shops.

Seeing that she didn't blame her, Madam Yu breathed a sigh of relief, "It's good that the master doesn't blame me."

“As long as it benefits the shop, you can go ahead and do it,” Zhiwan said.

“We will follow the master’s instructions,” Madam Yu and Zhao Dong immediately agreed.

Zhiwan didn't stay in the shop long. She took half a salted goose, which was Wei's favorite dish, and planned to go back.

"Zhiwan?"

However, as soon as she and Shuang'er stepped out of the shop, they were stopped by a sharp female voice.

Zhiwan looked up and saw Xuanyuan Jing standing there on horseback, holding a riding whip and staring at her with an unfriendly expression.

"Princess Gaoyang." Zhiwan paused, then bowed to her from a distance without stepping forward.

Xuanyuan Jing gripped the riding whip, glared at her hatefully, and sneered, "It really is you! What a small world!"

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan straightened up and said calmly, "Your Highness is joking. This street can accommodate four carriages passing at the same time, how could it be narrow?"

"Don't play dumb with me. You made me lose face last time. Do you think I'll let you off the hook?" Xuan Yuanjing played with the riding whip, looked her up and down, and then raised her hand as if to lash her out.

“Princess Gaoyang, I am on my way to Princess Changle’s residence. Would you like to come along?” Zhiwan asked hurriedly.

Upon hearing her words, Xuan Yuanjing paused, looking at her suspiciously, "You're going to the princess's residence?"

“Exactly.” Zhiwan nodded calmly, showing no nervousness as if she were lying.

Xuan Yuanjing's expression turned ugly, and she narrowed her eyes, saying, "Don't think that just because you brought up my aunt, I'll be afraid."

“I didn’t mean that, Your Highness, you’re overthinking it. I did have an invitation with Princess Chang Le,” Zhi Wan said calmly. “If Your Highness has nothing else to say, please forgive me for taking my leave.” With that, she curtsied and left with Shuang’er.

Xuan Yuanjing gripped the whip tightly and warned coldly, "Zhiwan, don't think that just because you have your aunt as your backer, I, the princess, won't dare to touch you. If I wanted to crush you, it would be as easy as crushing an ant. However, today, I'm in a good mood, so I'll let you off for now. Tomorrow, I'll be waiting for you at my villa in the outskirts of the capital. If you don't come, then you can expect your cousin to collect your corpse!" With that, she turned her horse around and rode away with her entourage.

Seeing that she had really left, Zhiwan breathed a sigh of relief.

As expected, mentioning Princess Chang Le made Xuan Yuan Jing wary.

"Miss, what should we do tomorrow? That Princess Gaoyang is so domineering, she probably won't let this go easily." Shuang'er said worriedly. But the young master is not here. What should we do?
"At most, I won't leave the Duke's mansion anymore. Does she think she can break into the mansion and kill me?" Zhiwan wasn't very worried.

However, Xuan Yuanjing is indeed not someone to be trifled with, and she can't possibly hide in the Duke's mansion forever.

After thinking for a moment, she said, "Let's go back to the manor first, and then try our luck at Princess Chang Le's manor."

"You're really going to the princess's residence?" Shuang'er was taken aback.

“We must go.” Zhiwan nodded.

After returning to the Duke's mansion, she went back to the courtyard to retrieve a picture album, and then went out again.

"Miss, where are you headed?"

Chen Jiu, who had just returned from outside, saw her about to go out and immediately asked her what was wrong.

“I didn’t go anywhere, just wandering around,” Zhiwan replied.

"I'll accompany you," Chen Jiu said hastily.

Zhiwan shook her head and refused, "No need." "But the prince ordered his subordinates to follow you and protect you," Chen Jiu said anxiously.

Zhiwan was taken aback and looked at him in surprise, "Cousin gave the order?"

“Yes.” Chen Jiuzhong nodded.

Zhi Wan frowned. "My cousin is very busy with other matters. Don't you need to rush back to Yangzhou to assist him?"

"My job from now on is to protect you. There are other people around the young master," Chen Jiu said solemnly.

Zhiwan was extremely surprised. "You're not trying to shirk your duties and are using me as an excuse, are you?"

Chen Jiu said with a serious expression, "How could I do such a thing? It was really the young master's order. I hope Miss Biao will not make things difficult for me. Otherwise, when the young master returns and finds out that I have not done my best to protect you, he will surely punish me severely."

Seeing that he didn't seem to be joking, Zhiwan felt a little embarrassed. "But it's inconvenient for you to come with me."

"I will follow you from a distance and will certainly not overstep my bounds or make Miss Biao uncomfortable," Chen Jiu assured him.

After thinking for a moment, Zhiwan reluctantly agreed, "Alright then."

She wasn't afraid of Chen Jiu following her, but Chen Jiu was her cousin's man. If he kept following her, he would definitely find out when she sold her paintings next time, and then he might tell her cousin.

She didn't want anyone to know about selling her paintings, even though her cousin treated her well.

But Chen Jiu was only obeying his cousin's orders, and if she refused, it would put Chen Jiu in a difficult position.

Let's wait and see. At most, we can ask Shuang'er to deliver the painting later.

"Where is Miss going? I'll go prepare the carriage," Chen Jiu said solicitously.

Others may not know, but he does. The fact that the young master values ​​his cousin so much suggests that she might be the future mistress of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion.

He naturally had to be more attentive.

“Go to Princess Chang Le’s residence,” Zhi Wan said.

Chen Jiu was extremely surprised, but he didn't ask any more questions and quickly prepared the carriage.

Princess Chang Le's residence.

Zhiwan came today with only the intention of giving it a try.

To her surprise, after she handed the album to the gatekeeper of the princess's residence and asked him to pass it on, someone quickly came out and invited her in.

"The princess is waiting for you in the garden." The servant who led the way was very polite and respectful.

"Thank you for your trouble." Zhiwan nodded.

Shuang'er and Chen Jiu were left in the outer courtyard and did not come in.

Upon arriving at the Princess's Garden, Zhiwan spotted a young woman leisurely sitting in a rocking chair under the grape trellis, flipping through a picture book.

"Zhiwan greets Your Highness the Princess." Zhiwan approached and curtsied to the woman on the chair.

Princess Chang Le closed the painting album, her gaze falling on her, but her face remained expressionless. "This painting is quite good! But do you know that the person who tried to guess my thoughts last time is already buried with grass three feet tall?"

Zhiwan's heart skipped a beat, and she knelt down. "Your Highness, please calm down. I have never tried to guess Your Highness's thoughts. I have only dared to come here today because I had no other choice."

"What do you mean?" Princess Chang Le's interest was piqued, and she looked at her with amusement.

Zhiwan paused for a moment before saying, "Today I ran into Princess Gaoyang on the street. She held a grudge against me because of what happened at the last birthday banquet. She stopped me and wanted to teach me a lesson. I had no choice but to bring up His Highness."

Because of Your Highness, I was spared from disaster. However, Princess Gaoyang declared that I must go to the Prince's villa tomorrow, or she would have my cousin collect my body. My cousin is not in the capital, which is why I dared to come and ask to see Your Highness.

If I have offended you in any way, please forgive me, Your Highness!

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy Dragon Boat Festival!
(End of this chapter)