The saintess is pregnant, what does that have to do with me, a spoiled brat?

Wang Fugui's hands cramped from collecting money in the back, and his chubby face beamed with a wide smile.

In less than half an hour.

One hundred servings of iced milk tea sold out.

"Sold out! All gone! Sold out for today!" Xu Nuo knocked on the empty wooden barrel. "Everyone, hurry up tomorrow!"

Those who didn't manage to buy any left in despair, pounding their chests and sighing as they dispersed.

Xu Nuo stretched and was about to tell Wang Fugui to pack up when she turned around and found that the veiled woman was still there.

She stood by the stall, her beautiful eyes fixed longingly on Xu Nuo... and the empty bucket behind him.

Xu Nuo's lips twitched.

That look in its eyes is like a cat guarding its food, having failed to get the fish.

"Alright then." Xu Nuo sighed and turned to walk to the cutting board.

He picked up two clean glass cups, rummaged through the hidden compartment at the bottom and took out the last bit of crushed ice and milk tea, and quickly mixed them together.

"Here you go." Xu Nuo pushed two cups of milk tea in front of the woman.

"Here are two more drinks for you. If you want more, come back tomorrow. It's all you can drink."

The woman's eyes lit up, and she instinctively reached out to take it.

Xu Nuo pointed to the cup in her hand.

"If you like it, please recommend it to your friends."

The woman held a cool glass cup, a slight smile playing on her lips beneath her veil.

"Thank you." The voice was clear and crisp, revealing an undisguised joy.

The shop door was closed, shutting out the lingering heat from outside.

Xu Nuo leaned back in his armchair, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and slowly asked:

"Fatty, check the accounts. How much did we make today?"

Wang Fugui was bent over behind the counter counting money, his fat hands rummaging through the banknotes, his whole body trembling with excitement.

"Brother Xu! Two thousand taels!"

He suddenly raised his head, his small eyes wide open, almost popping out of their sockets.

"Exactly two thousand taels, no more, no less! And all in just half a day!"

Wang Fugui swallowed hard, scrambled over to Xu Nuo, and whispered:

"Could we get rich off this? It's faster than robbing a bank!"

Xu Nuo chuckled and tapped Wang Fugui's fat head with her folding fan.

"Look at you, so pathetic."

He waved his hand dismissively, looking disgusted.

"This is nothing! You're getting this excited over just two thousand taels?"

Wang Fugui covered his head, his face full of confusion.

Xu Nuo stood up and stretched:

"What this capital city has in abundance is clever people. Believe it or not, in a week at most, there will be a copy."

"Huh? What do we do then?" Wang Fugui asked anxiously.

"What's the panic?" Xu Nuo's lips curled into a sly smile.

"When they start following suit, we'll launch new products and always stay one step ahead of them."

After saying that, he turned to look at the maid who was tidying up the wooden bucket.

"Green willows".

"Yes, sir," Green Willow quickly put down her work and replied crisply.

Xu Nuo knocked on the empty wooden barrel.

"When we return to the manor tomorrow, find a dozen or so quick and efficient servants to come over."

"This milk tea is doing well; we need to increase the supply!"

……

Chang Le Palace.

The ice basin couldn't dispel the summer heat; the hall was so stuffy it made people feel uneasy.

"Mother!"

A crisp sound broke the silence.

The veiled woman strode into the hall, casually removing her veil and handing it to a palace maid, revealing a stunningly beautiful face.

Bright eyes and white teeth, skin as white as snow.

Li Wanning, the most favored ninth princess of Dali.

"Where have you been running around in this sweltering heat?" The Empress shook her head helplessly on the soft couch.

Beside him, the emperor held a teacup and looked at his daughter with a smile.

Seated to the left was Crown Prince Li Qian, dressed in an apricot-yellow python robe.

"Father, Mother, Imperial Brother!" Li Wanning's eyes lit up as he placed the food box on the table like a treasure.

"Your Majesty, I found an absolutely exquisite item while I was out of the palace today!"

The Empress smiled dismissively.

This girl always brings back local snacks whenever she leaves the palace, like sugar figurines and osmanthus cakes; it's nothing unusual anymore.

"What is it this time?"

Li Wanning mysteriously opened the food box and took out three icy glass cups.

Ice crystals floated in the caramel-colored liquid.

"milk tea."

"Milk tea?" The Empress looked puzzled.

She knows about tea, and she knows about milk, so what's the point of mixing them together?

"Mother, please try it! It won't taste good once the ice melts!"

The queen took a small sip, half believing and half doubting.

The next second, she suddenly opened her eyes wide.

The cool sensation explodes on the tongue, the milky aroma enveloping the rich black tea, sweet but not cloying, and incredibly smooth.

After swallowing it in one gulp, the heat all over my body seemed to dissipate.

"This..." The Queen's face was filled with disbelief. "It's so delicious? Where did it come from?"

"A small shop outside the city!" Li Wanning proudly raised his chin. "Your subject barely managed to snag it!"

The emperor became interested.

What delicacies hasn't the Empress tasted? For her to praise it so highly, she must be extraordinary.

"I'll have a taste too."

He picked up the second glass and tilted his head back to gulp it down.

So cool!

"Delicious!" The emperor slapped his thigh. "I possess the entire world, yet I have never tasted such a wonderful cold drink!"

He reluctantly put down his empty cup and looked at Li Qian:

"Godson, there's one cup left, you should try some too."

Li Qian stood up, took the tea, took a small sip, and nodded: "It's indeed refreshing and sweet, truly a delicacy!"

"See? Even my brother praised it!" Li Wanning was practically strutting around with pride.

The emperor waved his hand and said, "Go, take some men and buy more so that all the concubines in the palace can have a taste."

Li Wanning spread his hands: "Father, we can't buy them anymore."

"What's wrong?"

"Not only are they sold out, but they've also set a rule that each person can only buy one bowl, and they won't sell it to anyone for more money."

"Purchase restrictions?" The emperor paused, then stroked his beard and chuckled. "Interesting."

This is a common tactic used by merchants to whet people's appetites, but this shopkeeper is indeed clever.

Li Wanning grinned and moved closer.

"Your subject has to wait in front of the shop tomorrow, or it will be sold out again."

The emperor poked her forehead: "What kind of behavior is it for a princess to squat in front of someone's shop?"

"Is it even possible to get something good to drink?" Li Wanning asked matter-of-factly, turning to look at the Empress.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty, I'll line up early tomorrow and be the first to get you a bowl!"

The Empress was amused by her.

"Alright, then your mother will wait for your first bowl."

……

After talking for a while, Li Wanning got up and took his leave, satisfied.

"Brother, are you leaving or not?"

Li Qian put down his teacup, bowed, and took his leave. The brother and sister left Chang Le Palace together.

Under the palace corridor, a hot wind carrying the sound of cicadas swept over us.

Li Wanning suddenly slowed his pace:

"Your Majesty, on my way back to the palace I heard that...you personally led the Imperial Guards to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion to arrest someone today?"

Li Qian remained calm: "You're quite well-informed."

"Of course!" Li Wanning leaned closer.

"I heard that Xu Nuo kidnapped the Earl of Anyang's son at Chunfeng Tower and even beat up a royal guard? He's incredibly audacious! Didn't Father imprison him?"

"After an incense stick had burned, it was released."

"Release them?" Li Wanning's eyes widened. "They didn't even punish him for hitting a royal guard? Father is so biased!"

"There's more to this story than meets the eye."

Li Wanning pursed his lips and asked again:

"I also heard you rode in the same carriage as him? You two are quite familiar?"

"Not really."

"Then stay away from him from now on!" Li Wanning said seriously, her little face stern.

"Brother, that Xu Nuo is a notorious troublemaker in the capital, always loafing around, bullying men and women!"

She counted on her fingers, getting more and more excited as she spoke.

"What good reputation can you get by associating with him? You're the Crown Prince; countless eyes are watching you!"

"If the censors see you getting close to that纨绔 (playboy), they'll write another memorial impeaching you!"

She spoke until her throat was dry, and seeing that Li Qian was listening with a smile but not responding, she became anxious:

"Brother! Did you hear me?"

Li Qian stopped and ruffled her hair: "I heard you, but Wan Ning, you can't judge a book by its cover."

Li Wanning was taken aback: "What surface?"

Li Qian smiled and said, "You're still young. You'll understand in the future."

"I'm not a kid! I'm sixteen!" Li Wanning stomped her foot. "Anyway, that Xu Nuo is no good person, you should stay away from him!"

Li Qian shook his head helplessly as he watched his younger sister fiercely defend her, but a thoughtful look appeared in his eyes.

Xu Nuo... on the surface, he is indeed a playboy.

But from any perspective, this person's behavior last time didn't seem like that of a spoiled brat.