That afternoon, Li Wanning had no idea what had happened at Liu's Silk Store.
It was not until two days later that she heard that Liu's Silk Store had become an overnight sensation in the capital.
All the young ladies and gentlewomen regarded it as a fashion to wear clothes from this store.
"I told you before that Liu Yiyi had become the teacher of Miss Lü and Miss Fang. There must be a connection between them. But you didn't believe me."
"I also heard that Miss Lü and Miss Fang only attended classes at that academy for a few days. I thought they were just going for fun. Who would have thought..."
"Miss Lü and Miss Fang bought ten clothes each at Liu's that day, ten pieces! If it hadn't been for Shopkeeper Yiyi's dissuasion, they might have emptied the whole store!"
"Oh, I heard that Liu Yiyi is on intimate terms with the now well - known Madam Cheng in the capital. Maybe she also has connections with Princess Chengping and the Langya Cheng Clan. I should have gone to their store to buy some satin earlier. Now it's so crowded that I can't even get in!"
"That's right. All their ready - made clothes have been sold out. I heard that the custom - made ones will have to wait for more than a month..."
...
Yes, after Li Wanning's grand and lavish opening ceremony, the hottest store in the capital was Liu's Silk Store.
Liu Yiyi came specifically to thank her, exuding an air of luxury:
She said, "The mascot is really useful!"
Li Wanning let out a long sigh, looking full of melancholy.
She wasn't jealous of her friend's booming business. She was happy that Yiyi was making money.
It was just that the development of her own three stores was a bit unexpected.
——————
On the second day of the fifth lunar month, after the opening ceremony, Changxing Inn, Wanfu Pawnshop, and the Paper - Craft Shop in the South City officially started their operations.
There were her mother - in - law and father - in - law at the pawnshop, and Qinglan and Tian Erya at the paper - craft shop, so Li Wanning didn't need to worry about them.
She mainly focused on Changxing Inn.
The opening show, "The Peony Pavilion", had to be a success.
At first, everything was normal.
There were relatively fewer customers who wanted to experience the back - yard rooms. Most people gathered in the ordinary rooms in the front yard, mainly just wanting to watch the excitement.
This was understandable. The rooms in the back yard of the inn were too expensive - ten taels of silver per room, which ordinary people couldn't afford.
Moreover, since it was related to the demon immortal, Empress Chenghuang, and the dream of a wandering soul, people were a bit scared and dared not go in. They wanted to wait and see first.
However, Li Wanning was already very satisfied that all the rooms in the front yard and half of the rooms in the back yard were rented out on the first day.
Generally speaking, things were progressing steadily and getting better.
However, when evening came and the lanterns were just lit, everything changed.
A carriage arrived outside the main gate.
The carriage was not very luxurious in appearance. It looked ordinary. However, the six servants clearing the way in front and behind it all had calm gazes, steady steps, and powerful arm swings.
Even the coachman had well - developed arm muscles. Sitting on the carriage, he naturally sank his shoulders and tucked in his abdomen. It was obvious that he was a martial artist.
After the carriage stopped, the person inside didn't get out. Instead, a low and slightly shrill voice came out, "Go and invite Madam Cheng here."
When Li Wanning and Xiao Jingnan came out, both of them were confused.
They had been running stores in the capital for some time and had met many high - ranking officials and dignitaries.
They had never seen anyone who was so arrogant that they wouldn't even get out of the carriage and insisted on having the couple come out to be summoned.
Who could be so overbearing?
The curtain of the carriage was lifted, revealing a familiar face.
He was young and had a fair complexion without a beard.
"Eunuch An?"
Li Wanning exclaimed.
An Fuquan hissed and said with a smile, "Madam Cheng, how have you been?"
Behind him, a small head wearing a jade crown and with sword - like eyebrows and starry eyes poked out:
"Madam Cheng, haven't seen you for so long. Do you miss me?"
He said with a smile as soon as he opened his mouth.
Zhao Yanke!!!
Li Wanning froze on the spot, as if she had been frozen.
The emperor leaving the palace at dusk...
Was he not going back tonight?
What if Empress Dowager Kang found out?
What if something happened to him?
What if he couldn't make it back to court tomorrow morning?
...
Damn it!
Was this fatuous emperor here specifically to exterminate her nine generations of relatives?
As soon as Xiao Jingnan saw him, he turned around and walked inside. Standing in the yard, he roared, "Feng Xiao, get your ass down here!"
Feng Xiao was going to play the role of Liu Mengmei that night.
Since it was Xiao Jingnan's new store opening and it had such a novel way of doing business, of course he came to support.
At this moment, Feng Xiao was changing clothes in the room. Suddenly, he heard his name being associated with the word "get out".
Moreover, the person who told him to get out was very imposing. His voice directly penetrated the hall from the front yard and reached Feng Xiao's ears. Obviously, he was extremely angry.
"What's going on?"
Feng Xiao had only put on half of his clothes, and the other sleeve was still hanging on his waist. He hurriedly ran out.
"I'm in the middle of changing. The show will start soon!"
"Also, you're shouting so loudly. Aren't you afraid of scaring the other guests..."
Xiao Jingnan sneered, "Scaring the other guests? If things go wrong tonight, this inn might never have any guests again!"
He grabbed Feng Xiao by the back of the neck and lifted him out of the main gate like a cat. Pointing at the person in the carriage, he asked, "Didn't you promise me that he would never come out?"
In the carriage, Zhao Yanke smiled at him and waved his hand, showing a row of dazzling white teeth.
"Hello, Third Master Feng!"
...
When Xiao Jingnan, Zhao Yanke, and Feng Xiao were young, they often played together. They gave themselves simple and easy - to - remember nicknames according to their age order: the Eldest Master, the Second Master, and the Third Master.
Later, when Zhao Yanke ascended to the throne as the emperor, since he occasionally needed to travel incognito, for the sake of convenience, he simply continued using the nicknames from his childhood.
So, they became Third Master Feng, Second Master Zhao, and Eldest Master Xiao.
Feng Xiao was also shocked when he saw him.
"It's already this late. Why did you come out?"
Zhao Yanke said, "I came out this afternoon, but there were too many people on the street. I couldn't get through!"
He pouted, looking a bit aggrieved.
"Come to think of it, it's all your fault. You didn't even tell me about today's opening. I almost missed your grand opening. Do you know that, strictly speaking, this act of not informing me counts as deceiving the emperor..."
Feng Xiao grabbed Xiao Jingnan's arm, hanging his head, "Brother, he promised me before that he would never come out to make a fuss until the inn got on track."
"Brother, I didn't know he would come out today."
"Brother, I'm telling the truth. I swear!"
Zhao Yanke was holding a paper fan and shaking his head in the carriage.
"What do you mean 'make a fuss'?
"Today is Mr. Cheng's grand opening. Of course, I have to come and be one of his first customers."
Xiao Jingnan was too lazy to listen to his nonsense. He pushed Feng Xiao onto the carriage, "Hurry up and send him back before the palace gates are locked..."
Zhao Yanke had occasionally left the palace before, but leaving the palace to play during the day was different from staying out all night!
Once this matter was exposed, not to mention Empress Dowager Kang's furious reaction, the blame from all the court officials would be enough to destroy the Li family in an instant!