Chapter 247: Chickens Pecking at Each Other

Over the past few days, business at Yunxiang Pavilion has been booming to the point of envy.

Chi Nan Yi watched the stack of silver notes grow higher, nodding with satisfaction: "Looks like Jingcheng's spending power is still decent."

"Miss, I never dared dream I'd ever see this much silver."

As Qing Mei's words fell, Madame Zhou entered carrying a tray.

On the tray lay a stack of silver notes.

Who puts silver notes in a tray!

"This is..."

"Miss, this is today's morning revenue."

After these days of tempering, Madame Zhou has grown somewhat numb to facing these silver notes.

"Good." She casually took out a few: "Take them and distribute."

Distribute... silver notes?

Madame Zhou and Qing Mei exchanged a glance, unable to help their surprise.

"Miss, these past few days you've been rewarding us servants; this... is really too much, we feel unworthy."

"It's fine, there isn't much silver; these days everyone has worked hard, and may work harder still—this little reward, take it."

Hearing her say that, Madame Zhou nodded, happily taking the silver notes.

"By the way, how's A Man lately?"

"Thanks to Miss's favor, A Man is quite liked by the master."

"Good."

Just then, a familiar voice came from downstairs; Chi Nan Yi looked down, her brows slightly raised.

Meng Qinghe?

Meng Qinghe's face had fully recovered, her beauty surpassing before.

Perhaps feeling her appearance outstanding, she became especially proud and aloof.

"Please come inside, sir." Seeing the visitor, Yu Zhu's eyes flickered slightly.

When Meng Jue fell down the stairs that day, the sisters were all present.

Meng Qinghe looked at the shop's interior decoration, slightly surprised.

In her previous life, she had never heard of such a shop opening in Jingcheng.

"What does the sir need?" Yu Zhu lowered her head, trying not to let her face be noticed by them.

"Our miss is here to buy Jade Face Cream." Cai Pin looked at Yu Zhu, feeling she was very familiar.

"Please come this way, sir." Yu Zhu turned and walked inside, a faint fragrance reaching Cai Pin's nose.

The same scent as that day made Cai Pin instantly recall.

She hurriedly leaned close to Meng Qinghe's ear and whispered a few words.

Meng Qinghe first startled, then her gaze toward Yu Zhu turned deep with resentment.

Since she is in this shop, it must be the Chi Family's shop.

Whenever she thinks of the Chi Family, her face aches uncontrollably.

She unconsciously touched her injured face; this movement was clearly seen by Chi Nan Yi.

Knowing Meng Qinghe had recognized Yu Zhu, Chi Nan Yi felt no panic, even a bit of anticipation for what expression she would show upon recognizing her.

Yu Zhu took out the Jade Face Cream and handed it over: "Here it is."

"Just this small jar, eight hundred taels?" Meng Qinghe snorted: "Are you trying to rob us of silver?"

"Sir, our Jade Face Cream differs from other shops'; you'll know its wonder once you try it."

"Hah, even if it were made of gold it wouldn't be worth eight hundred taels!"

Yu Zhu merely smiled, saying nothing.

Meng Qinghe took the Jade Face Cream, tossed it straight into Yu Zhu's bosom, and said lightly: "I heard you can apply Jade Face Cream directly in your shop; then you will apply it for me. If the effect deserves these eight hundred taels, I will not shortchange your reward; if not, not even this broken jar, nor your whole shop, can compensate for my face."

Yu Zhu heard her and said with a smile: "Yes, but to use it in the shop requires a membership; you only need to pay ten thousand taels."

"What? Ten thousand taels?" Meng Qinghe's voice was not low; many in the shop turned to look.

Chi Nan Yi leisurely watched Meng Qinghe's shocked expression.

She has caused so much trouble; with her current monthly silver, producing eight hundred taels is already her limit; ten thousand taels—no need to even think.

Sensing the onlookers' gazes, Meng Qinghe lowered her voice: "What if I don't pay these ten thousand taels?"

"No problem; if you don't become a member, buying the Jade Face Cream and taking it home to use is the same." Yu Zhu deliberately raised her volume so the whole hall heard clearly.

"I said what were you shouting about just now; turns out you can't afford the membership fee."

"Being able to produce eight hundred taels is already not bad."

"That sounds like the Left Minister's Residence miss!"

Hearing the surrounding chatter, Meng Qinghe's face turned extremely ugly.

Just then, a soft voice sounded: "Yo, isn't this the Meng Family miss?" Su Yu Qing entered, surrounded by maids.

Meng Qinghe turned to look at the comer, her face shifting to a dark green-black.

"Su Yu Qing? What are you doing here?"

"What can one do at Yunxiang Pavilion? Naturally, grooming!" She glanced Meng Qinghe up and down, smirking: "I suppose Miss Meng also came for grooming; after all, you've been in the countryside before, your skin is rough—you should take good care of it."

Meng Qinghe heard this, her face sank; being publicly reminded of her origins, still with such a mocking tone—if the occasion were right, she would love to rush over and tear her mouth apart.

"What does it have to do with you?" Meng Qinghe said coldly: "Miss Su claims to be talented and beautiful, yet you also resort to such means?"

"Hah, Miss Su and I are still somewhat different." Su Yu Qing raised her chin, half-smiling: "At least I don't need to be frightened by ten thousand taels of silver." After speaking, she waved to the maids behind her; they hurried forward and placed four silver notes on the table.

"Last time after grooming, Miss Su felt the effect was excellent; today she will add forty thousand taels to become a top-tier member."

Meng Qinghe stared at the forty-thousand-tael silver note slapped onto the table, the envy and jealousy in her eyes almost solidifying.

As fellow legitimate daughters of the Minister's Residence, Su Yuqing could produce fifty thousand taels, while I could barely scrape together the silver needed to buy this jar of jade beauty cream.

On what basis?

Su Yuqing watched her face grow ever uglier, feeling delighted beyond words.

This Meng Qinghe doesn't even look in a mirror to see what sort of person she's become, yet she still wants to compete with me for the Crown Prince.

Knowing the Meng Family intended to marry her off to the Crown Prince as a secondary consort, Su Yuqing had long taken a dislike to Meng Qinghe and wanted an opportunity to humiliate her thoroughly; now that she herself had come to the door, such a good chance, Su Yuqing naturally wouldn't miss it, and besides, she would use this opportunity to give her a good dressing-down, to let her know just how great the gap between them really was.

Su Yuqing stepped forward, her body slightly inclined, and spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear: "No matter how fine a jade beauty cream you use, it's useless; do you really think the Crown Prince would marry you? Yesterday I was still drinking tea and admiring flowers with the Crown Prince, and he said my scent… is quite pleasant."

Hearing her say that, Meng Qinghe's pupils contracted sharply and her face flushed crimson: "You… you shameless!"