Chapter 836: Where Should We Go Shopping Next?

"Imperial Uncle is really great!" Tuan Tuan blinked: "Then where shall we go to buy?"

"Well," Xiao Ze took her little hand and walked out, "to an old acquaintance's place."

"Who?"

Xiao Ze laughed: "You'll know when we get there."

Xiao Er silently followed behind the two.

At the doorway, Xiao Ze placed Tuan Tuan onto his carriage, let her sit properly, and turned back: "Xiao Er, go to Qiao Su Pavilion."

"Yes!" Xiao Er flipped onto Red Cloud and rode beside the carriage.

Inside Qiao Su Pavilion, Xie Yunshu was seated behind the counter, leafing through the ledger.

A Xiao Tuanzi bounced in, crashed into her arms: "Snack Auntie!"

Xie Yunshu caught the soft little one in one hand, her face instantly blossoming with a smile: "Princess, why are you here today? What would you like to eat? Auntie will get it for you."

Tuan Tuan buried her face in her shoulder hollow and nuzzled: "Auntie, I miss you so much!"

Xie Yunshu's heart melted from the nuzzle, just as she was about to speak, she looked up and saw a tall, slender figure strolling in.

In brocade robes and jade crown, with a composed bearing, it was Jing Prince Xiao Ze.

Xie Yunshu quickly released Tuan Tuan, stood up, and performed a proper bow: "I, humble Xie of the Xie family, have the honor of meeting Seventh Prince."

Xiao Ze slightly raised his hand: "Shopkeeper Xie, no need for formalities. I, the Prince, have come here to purchase some items from you."

"Your Highness, please wait a moment." Xie Yunshu straightened up, took Tuan Tuan's little hand and walked to a nearby long table, "Good girl, your timing is perfect; we just have fresh pastries out of the oven."

"Sit here and eat obediently; Auntie will go fetch something for Seventh Prince."

She selected a few of the most delicate pieces, placed them on a small plate, poured a warm honeyed water herself, and pushed it in front of Tuan Tuan.

Tuan Tuan waved her little hand toward the newly arrived Xiao Er: "Uncle Xiao Er! Come quickly! There are fresh pastries! Want to eat too?"

Xiao Er smiled, walked to her side and sat down; Xiao Tuanzi grabbed a piece and shoved it into his mouth: "Uncle Xiao Er, eat first."

Xiao Er felt a warm surge in his heart; the miss never forgets to share good things with me.

Tuan Tuan's two little legs swung under the chair: "Is it tasty?"

"Very sweet! Miss, try this."

The two of them ate, each taking a bite in turn.

Only then did Xie Yunshu turn to Xiao Ze, composed herself, and said: "Your Highness, please speak."

Xiao Ze got straight to the point: "I, the Prince, wish to purchase a batch of fine porcelain, jewels, and tea."

"The tea must be this year's fresh harvest, the porcelain should have top‑quality celadon‑white glaze, and the jewels, their color must be excellent, fit for gifting."

He paused: "If there are any treasures from the Yun Que Trade Association, please also bring them out for me to see."

Xie Yunshu whispered: "May I ask, Your Highness, are these items being procured for Ning Prince's Mansion?"

"If so, Your Highness may select them yourself; no need to discuss purchase, I will take not a single coin."

She turned her head toward Tuan Tuan: "Not to mention the princess has saved my life twice; I have no way to repay."

"Recall the last time at Fangfei Garden, I helped everyone leave the capital, and the princess didn't forget to speak up for me before His Majesty."

She turned back, looking at Xiao Ze: "Now the Yun Que Trade Association has become His Majesty's imperial merchant, and if Ning Prince's Mansion has any needs, how could I discuss money?"

Xiao Ze slightly nodded; those Tuan Tuan has helped are all grateful.

He smiled faintly: "These items are not for Ning Prince's Mansion's personal use."

"I, the Prince, am acting on imperial order, brought Tuan Tuan along, simply because she loves the snacks here from Madam Xie."

"I see." Xie Yunshu nodded, thought briefly: "Your Highness, please wait a moment; I, a humble lady, will now select some for you to review."

Having said that, she turned and walked into the back hall.

Tuan Tuan finished the snacks, hopped down from the chair and walked to Xiao Ze's side: "Third Elder Brother, why hasn't Auntie come out yet?"

As soon as the words fell, Xie Yunshu lifted the curtain and emerged, followed by several workers, each cradling a few brocade boxes.

The workers placed the brocade boxes on the long table, and Xie Yunshu herself opened each box one by one.

"These pieces of porcelain are this year's newly made celadon‑white glaze, the glaze is warm and smooth, the body as thin as paper; you won't find better in the whole capital."

"Your Highness, look: beneath the glaze are faint ice‑crack patterns, most distinct when viewed against the light."

Xiao Ze, as instructed, picked up a tea cup and examined it in the sunlight by the window: "Indeed exquisite."

Tuan Tuan tugged his sleeve: "Third Elder Brother, I want to see too!"

"Alright," Xiao Ze crouched, raised the tea cup, "Third Elder Brother will show you."

Tuan Tuan stared unblinkingly: "Wow! So beautiful!"

Xie Yunshu pursed a smile, pointed at the jewels in the other brocade boxes: "These jewels' color and style are of the highest grade; I'm not bragging, even the palace's may not compare."

Xiao Ze picked up a string of pearls, slipped it onto his finger: "Each bead is round and smooth; Shopkeeper Xie's goods are indeed extraordinary."

Xie Yunshu again pointed at the remaining brocade boxes: "These jars are this year's newly harvested Mingqian Longjing, the buds tender, fragrance elegant."

"These cakes are Wuyi Rock Tea, stored for several years, the older the better."

"I wonder whether these can meet Seventh Prince's taste?"

Xiao Ze examined each carefully: "Not bad, exactly what I need; how much silver? I'll take them all."

Xie Yunshu quoted a total amount.

Xiao Ze slightly raised his eyebrows, not because it was expensive, but because it was much cheaper than he expected.

Xie Yunshu seemed to read his thoughts, smiled calmly: "Your Highness, to be frank, ever since the Yun Que Trade Association became the imperial merchant, this trade has only grown larger."

"Since Your Highness is conducting a proper procurement, I, a humble lady, will conduct a proper transaction; the amount shall be whatever it should be."

"But since the princess is here," she said with gentle eyes, reaching to rub Tuan Tuan's hair, "naturally I must give Your Highness the most appropriate amount."

Xiao Ze glanced at the brocade boxes on the long table, the corner of his mouth lifted: "Shopkeeper Xie is truly a generous person; I am basking in Tuan Tuan's glory."

Tuan Tuan lifted her little face and looked at her: "Snack Auntie, you are really great!"

Xie Yunshu crouched down, took a small embroidered box from her sleeve, and said, "Princess, I remember you like to pick up things; these are what your auntie has been saving for you every day—take a look, do you like them?"

Tuan Tuan took the embroidered box and opened it.

Inside the box lay a few loose pearls with broken strings and a few gold hairpins with slight flaws.

She stuck her little hand into the box and rummaged a bit, asking, "Auntie, you don't want these anymore?"

Xie Yunshu kissed her cheek and said, "No! Take them."

"Great!" Tuan Tuan beamed, neatly untied her small embroidered pouch at the waist, and stuffed everything inside it all at once.

She returned the embroidered box to Xie Yunshu, saying, "Auntie, if you have more later, don't forget to save some for me."

"Okay, auntie, I'll remember." Xie Yunshu stood up.

Xiao Ze handed her a banknote and said, "Thank you, Boss Xie."

Xie Yunshu reached out to take it and said, "Put the things on the princess's carriage."

"Pack every snack from the shop into a box, also load them onto the carriage for the princess to take away."

"Got it!" The assistants carefully lifted the embroidered box and sent it onto the carriage.

Xiao Er watched from the side, as usual, without even lifting an eyelid.

After the assistants had moved everything onto the carriage, the compartment was already packed full.

Xiao Ze held Tuan Tuan and squeezed into the carriage; Tuan Tuan clung to the window, waving her little hand at Xie Yunshu and saying, "Snack auntie, I'm off! I'll come see you again next time!"

Xie Yunshu smiled and nodded.

Tuan Tuan asked, "Third Elder Brother, have you finished buying?"

Xiao Ze shook his head: "We're still far from done, but these are all the things available for purchase in Jingcheng."

"Then where else should we go to buy?"

"Jiangnan Region."