When the two of them drove the carriage back to the Su Mansion, they saw from afar that Lord Shen's carriage was just leaving. On the table in the main hall, there was a full box of silver ingots.
Seeing that there was no one else around, Wei Dongling happily picked up an ingot and asked where the silver came from.
Old Master Su sat on the armchair without saying a word. Uncle Li looked rather grim. Rolling his eyes, he sneered, "The one in the palace sent an oral edict, saying that Old Master Su suffered injustice and imprisonment back then, and rewarded some silver as compensation."
Wei Dongling roughly estimated that there must be about five thousand taels of silver. Smiling, she said, "It doesn't matter. We have such a big family, and there are still many places to spend money! We won't pick a fight with silver!"
Uncle Li glanced at her and snorted without saying a word.
Old Master Su held the emperor's personal letter in his hands, his eyes slightly red. Murmuring, he said, "As long as the emperor still remembers the old affection in his heart, I'll be satisfied."
Wei Dongling clicked her tongue and said, "Grandpa, what are you thinking? If he really remembered you, how could he have let you suffer such unwarranted disasters for all these years?"
Uncle Li didn't want to poke at Old Master Su's sore spot. Looking away unhappily, he kept silent.
Wei Dongling walked up to Old Master Su and whispered, "Grandpa, I want to discuss something with you."
Old Master Su looked up at her and asked softly, "What is it?"
Wei Dongling smiled and said, "I want to open a branch near the Lanshan Temple."
Everyone exclaimed in unison, "A branch?"
Wei Dongling nodded and said, "The other day when I went to the Lanshan Mountain to offer incense, I found that there were quite a lot of pilgrims. I've thought it over carefully. The lake near the Lanshan Temple has a very nice view, and there are also many people boating. If we open a milk - tea shop there, the business will surely be booming. It's a bit far from the city center, so it probably won't cost much silver to rent a shop. We just need to say hello to the temple."
Uncle Li pondered for a while.
Wei Dongling continued, "Actually, I don't want our uncles to run horses and transport goods, traveling between the capital and the northern border. It's not only dangerous because of the long distance and high mountains, but also exhausting for them to be on the road all the time. Now that the milk - tea business in the capital is booming, I want to earn as much silver as possible so that our uncles can settle down in the capital, get married and start their own families. As for the northern border, they can just go back and enjoy the scenery when they miss home."
Old Master Su nodded and said, "These kids came all the way from afar with Li Lang to help in the capital. They are really loyal and kind - hearted people. Girl, just do what you want. Grandpa will support you."
"Grandpa, you're so nice!" Wei Dongling hugged Old Master Su and acted coquettishly. Then she looked at Uncle Li.
Uncle Li laughed gruffly and said, "Since Old Master Su has spoken, what objections can I have?"
So, everyone hit it off.
With Old Master Su putting aside his pride, Master Hongming, the abbot of the Lanshan Temple, readily agreed without hesitation.
Selecting the location, reporting to the government, decorating the shop, buying utensils... Wei Dongling was personally involved in every step of the process. After running around for more than ten days, she became tanned and thin.
Cuihuan, Luo Xunlong and Ruan Niang followed her around, afraid that the Crown Prince's people might show up and cause some trouble. If something went wrong, it would really be a great loss.
Fortunately, it was said that the Crown Prince had been put under house arrest for some unknown reason and had been quiet for quite a few days.
Wei Dongling thought that the milk - tea cups made of bamboo tubes were not only heavy but also quite wasteful. She then contacted some papermaking merchants and discussed the idea of making a prototype of paper cups. Unfortunately, the finished products were not very satisfactory. The oil - paper cones glued with glue were easy to separate.
Wei Dongling then discussed whether it was possible to make folding paper cups. She added folds to the side walls to increase their strength and durability.
The merchants agreed to give it a try. After making a few according to Wei Dongling's idea, they also thought it was just so - so. They had to agree to send over the improved ones for another look.
Seeing that Wei Dongling had been running around for days and was very tired, all the uncles couldn't bear it. They thought she was depressed because of the broken engagement, so she was working hard day and night to make money. So they took turns to bring her all kinds of delicious food and drinks to cheer her up. At night, they sent Ruan Niang to probe and ask what kind of noble sons she liked so that they could help her keep an eye out.
So, Ruan Niang would just hang around in Wei Dongling's room and refused to leave. She followed her when she took a bath, changed clothes, and even when she went to the toilet.
Wei Dongling was squatting in the toilet, pinching her nose and listening to Ruan Niang chattering outside, "I heard that His Royal Highness the Prince of Rui will hold a horse - racing event in the suburbs in a couple of days. Many noble sons from prominent families in the capital will go to participate. Shall we go and have a look?"
Wei Dongling sighed, "What's so interesting about horse - racing? The horses in the capital are not as good as the horses in your northern border."
Ruan Niang replied with a smile, "So Brother Long and the others all want to go and see the horses. By the way, we can also see which noble sons are outstanding."
"Uncle Luo and the others can go if they want. I don't understand horses! Besides, I'm still busy with the opening of the milk - tea shop near the Lanshan Temple!"
Ruan Niang coughed lightly and said, "It's not just about looking at the horses. We can just go and take a look at the noble sons in the capital. I also want to go, and Cuihuan said she wanted to go too!"
Cuihuan: I didn't say that!
Wei Dongling was speechless. "Fine, then let's go together."
So, two days later, Wei Dongling was dressed up beautifully by Ruan Niang and went out.
Luo Xunlong and Yu Haiming took them straight to Chongguan Ferry in the western suburbs.
When Wei Dongling got off the carriage, she was stunned. This was actually the former site of the Zhao Family's horse - training ground!
Now it had been redecorated and had become the private property of His Royal Highness the Prince of Rui.
The waiter at the gate stopped the carriage and asked, "May I ask which family's relatives you noble guests are? Do you have the invitation letter?"
Everyone looked at each other.
Wei Dongling lifted the curtain and said with a smile, "We are the relatives of Imperial Guards Commander Yun of the Prince's Mansion. We were in a hurry when we went out and forgot to bring the invitation letter. Could this young man be more accommodating?"
The waiter looked embarrassed. Seeing that Wei Dongling and the others were dressed very exquisitely, he didn't dare to offend them easily. Just when he didn't know what to do, a woman got off the carriage in front. Swaying her body, she walked over, covering her lips with a smile, "Oh, I wondered who it was. Isn't this Sister Dongling? You're dressed so nicely today. Are you here to look for your Mr. Right?"
He Yao?
When Wei Dongling saw her, her face instantly darkened.
The maid beside He Yao handed the waist token to the waiter at the gate. The waiter quickly came over, bowing and saluting, "Your Highness the County Princess of Rong'an has come from afar. I failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me! Your Highness, please come in!"
He Yao glanced at Wei Dongling with a smile. She told her maid to reward the waiter and said with a smile, "It's okay! This young man is so responsible. I'm sure he won't let in any idlers without an invitation letter easily. If by accident, some strange person gets in and there's an assassination during the horse - racing, I'm afraid he'll lose his head! Sister Dongling, am I right?"
Wei Dongling's face turned even darker.
The waiter at the gate had taken He Yao's silver. How could he not understand her intention? Thanking her profusely, he replied, "Your Highness is absolutely right! I definitely won't do such a thing!"
He Yao nodded and smiled faintly. Then she slowly walked in, swaying her slender waist.
Wei Dongling was furious. Damn it! You're everywhere!