In the blink of an eye, several more days had passed.
Seeing that their young lady still hadn't gone to check on the situation of the shop or prepared for it, even Cai Pu and Cai Zhi couldn't hold their nerves.
"Miss, those two branches have never had good intentions. This servant is afraid they'll take advantage of your inaction regarding the shop and find ways to make things difficult for you," Cai Pu said with a worried frown.
Cai Zhi couldn't help but offer advice: "Miss, if worse comes to worst, you could learn from other shops and open a teahouse or a restaurant instead of a silk or jewelry shop. It'll at least prove your ability..."
However, Jiang Fuying remained calm and waved her hand. "Don't bother about those two branches. As for what kind of business to start, I have other plans."
Cai Pu and Cai Zhi exchanged a surprised look.
What kind of shop could their young lady, who had been staying indoors these days, have in mind?
What Jiang Fuying didn't tell them was that she had noticed a rare item on the table of the playboy prince, Lu Huaizhou, earlier: a mirror that was a hundred times clearer and brighter than an ordinary bronze mirror, so shiny that one could see their reflection clearly.
Bronze mirrors always had a yellowish tint, making them less than satisfactory.
But this mirror was extraordinary!
Not only was there no annoying tint, but it could also magnify one's facial expression clearly.
In her previous life, as the mistress of the Pingning Marquis Mansion, she considered herself well - versed in rare items, but she had never seen such a practical and rare mirror.
So the moment she saw this mirror, she keenly sensed that the most suitable business opportunity had arrived!
Whether it was a silk shop, a jewelry shop, or a rouge shop, any shop related to women's clothing and dressing would definitely need mirrors.
If she sold this kind of mirror beside these shops, it would surely be a profitable business.
Of course, one mirror was far from enough to open a shop.
Jiang Fuying gently stroked the mirror, and an idea came to her mind.
On the day of her return to her natal home, he had easily taken out those self - made jade bracelets to humiliate Mrs. An and her daughter. Presumably, he had also had a hand in this mirror.
During the days she had spent with him, she had come to understand his character: on the surface, he was a good - for - nothing playboy, but in fact, he had many unique skills.
He always put on a cynical attitude in front of others. Presumably, he had his own plans.
If she wanted him to help and reveal the craftsmanship of this mirror...
A sly look flashed across her autumn - like eyes.
She thought she should find an opportunity to subtly take advantage of Prince Lu's soft - hearted and easy - going nature.
The opportunity came sooner than expected.
Lu Huaizhou had been wandering outside all day and returned home late at night as usual.
Since his wedding, there had always been a lighted lamp in the bedroom for him whenever he came back.
But today was different.
The bedroom was dark and the lamp was out.
He suspected something was amiss, but then he saw Cai Pu and Cai Zhi dozing off at the bedroom door.
The anxiety in his heart eased a bit. So she had already gone to bed.
In order not to disturb her, he tiptoed into the bedroom, holding his breath like a thief.
But the moment he stepped into the bedroom, a candle suddenly lit up.
Miss Jiang was sitting calmly in front of the table and softly called out to him.
"Prince Lu."
These three simple words made Lu Huaizhou's heart skip a beat, and he got goosebumps all over.
For a moment, he seemed to see the strictest teacher in the school, and a sense of panic and unease welled up in him.
"Miss Jiang, I..."
Before he could finish his explanation, he heard a low sob.
"Prince Lu, on the day of my return to my natal home, you said 'a family doesn't speak two languages', but look at you?"
Jiang Fuying covered her face and wept, every word a reproach.
"You've been bullying and deceiving me all this time. You don't even discuss anything with me. You disappear at dawn and come back home late at night every day."
Lu Huaizhou felt as if a boulder was blocking his chest.
He could never stand to see a woman cry, especially when this woman was his "wife".
Worst of all, it was indeed his fault and he hadn't done well enough.
"Miss Jiang, it's my fault today. I shouldn't have come back so late. I've made a mistake. Please, please don't cry," he said in a flurry, sincerely admitting his mistake while fumbling around for a handkerchief.
The handkerchief that was usually within reach seemed to have grown wings and couldn't be found for a long time.
Within a few breaths, beads of sweat had formed on Lu Huaizhou's forehead.
Jiang Fuying stole a glance at him.
Prince Lu's heart had softened. She just needed to add a little more fuel to the fire to gain his support.
So she deliberately raised her voice, and tears streamed down like broken beads. "My younger sister and I got married to the wrong people by mistake. I know the prince has no feelings for me, so I thought I'd rely on myself to open a shop to prove my ability."
"But opening a shop is not an easy task. The shop hasn't been opened yet, and my two aunts have many opinions about me. They even came to point fingers at me last time. I..."
Jiang Fuying lowered her head, surrounded by a sense of dejection.
"Miss Jiang, it's all my fault." Lu Huaizhou finally found a handkerchief and quickly handed it to her. He then comforted her, "On our wedding day, I promised that as long as I'm around, I won't let you be gossiped about by outsiders. Don't worry. Those two branches won't bother you anymore. I'll give the order right away..."
Being comforted like this, Jiang Fuying suddenly felt a pang of sadness.
Although she was just acting for him, she unexpectedly felt a real sense of sourness and grievance.
"My mother passed away early. My father dotes on my younger sister, and my step - mother is always dissatisfied with me. I've often heard that once a woman gets married, her husband will be her support. So I was looking forward to my wedding with joy, but who would have thought..."
Lu Huaizhou suddenly straightened his expression, leaned forward to look her in the eye, and said seriously, "Miss Jiang, that's not the right way of thinking. You're wrong about this."
"Even after a woman gets married, she is still herself. She doesn't need to rely on anyone, and she certainly doesn't need to pin all her hopes on a husband who may not be reliable."
Jiang Fuying stopped crying and stared blankly at him.
In her previous life, she had relied on her husband, and in the end, it turned out that he was indeed "unreliable".
But he was also a man. Would he...
Lu Huaizhou magically produced a cup of tea and handed it to her. "Moisten your throat."
Jiang Fuying took it subconsciously.
"Miss Jiang, since we're married, nominally you're my wife, and we're a family."
"As a family, when we encounter difficulties, we should face them together and work together to find solutions."
The warm tea seeped through her palm and spread throughout her body, making her heart feel warm.
"Are you currently unsure what kind of shop to open?"
Jiang Fuying hesitated for a moment and then nodded.
Actually, her original intention was to trick him into helping and revealing the craftsmanship of the mirror.
"Then I'll help you find a solution."
As if worried that she didn't understand, Lu Huaizhou added, "Please remember, Miss Jiang: a family should face difficulties together."