Capital Chapter: Devising Strategies Chapter 43: Physiognomy and Renting a Shop

This?

What does this mean?

Isn't this the vow made between the original self and Chen Bailei?

What is his intention in saying this?

Ye Qiaoqiao could not fathom his thoughts.

She folded the letter, placed it on the table, and for a moment her mind was racing with endless thoughts.

Overwhelmed by extreme fatigue, Ye Qiaoqiao dismissed the attendants and then changed into her nightclothes to sleep.

Her dreams were filled with complex and tangled affairs; Ye Qiaoqiao suffered through numerous nightmares—splattering blood, chaotic battlefields, and the roaring charge of warhorses.

These disturbances left her sleep profoundly unsettled.

When she finally awoke drenched in sweat, Hanxiang had already tidied everything away. Looking at her with a bright and charming smile, the maid softly said, "My lady, aren't we heading to the capital today?"

"Ah, yes." Ye Qiaoqiao rubbed her eyes, still veiled in the lingering weariness of sleep, and gave a casual, perfunctory response.

Hanxiang's eyes were clear and limpid, brimming with deep anticipation as she said, "Then let me help you dress and comb your hair, my lady."

"Mm." Ye Qiaoqiao did not refuse and nodded.

She then got up, submitting to Hanxiang's ministrations as her hair and accessories were arranged. By the time everything was finished, it was already noon.

Ye Qiaoqiao looked at the gorgeous aquamarine dress and fell quite in love with it.

She immediately told Hanxiang, "Let's go to the capital."

Hanxiang's wide eyes concealed a trace of eager expectation as she nodded heavily, "Alright, my lady!"

And so, the two of them boarded the carriage, which slowly set off toward the capital.

The wheels rolled forward, kicking up a trail of dust and leaving a winding trace along the road.

大约两日后 (About two days later), Hanxiang, Ye Qiaoqiao, and their entourage arrived in the capital.

As this was her first time in the capital, Hanxiang was quickly dazzled and delightfully overwhelmed by the capital's azure-tiled roofs, white-walled houses, and narrow alleys.

She couldn't help praising aloud, "My lady, as expected of the imperial capital of our Nanli! This capital is truly magnificent."

Wherever her gaze fell, there were scenes of prosperity and bustle. Shops lined both sides of the street, pedestrians wove through the thoroughfares like a dense fabric, and various cries of peddlers and sounds of laughter intertwined to form a vibrant tapestry of marketplace life.

"Indeed. As long as you like it." Ye Qiaoqiao wore a gentle smile as she looked at the delighted Hanxiang.

However, Ye Qiaoqiao was well aware in her heart that this trip to the capital was not purely for leisure; it carried a far more crucial objective—to find the person who had illicitly swapped the destiny of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Reflecting on her recent arrival, and recalling her promise to the Crown Prince that she would not go to the Eastern Palace, she knew she had to keep her word.

She decided to find a place to stay first.

That way, she could open a parlor to earn a living while securing a comfortable residence, providing a foothold for them all. What could be better?

Since the social customs of Nanli were quite open and women were permitted to run shops and engage in business, Ye Qiaoqiao quickly targeted a street-front store in the bustling market area, above which hung a sign reading: "Store for Lease."

A ripple stirred in Ye Qiaoqiao's heart; perhaps this was the very place she was looking for.

She decided to go inside, discuss the price with the shop owner, and rent the storefront.

Taking Hanxiang with her, she stepped into the shop, which was on the verge of closing.

The interior was somewhat dim, with light filtering through the half-closed doors and windows, casting patches of illumination upon the floor.

Scattered piles of scrap fabric lay about the shop, and at a single glance, Ye Qiaoqiao could tell that this establishment had previously dealt in fabrics and silks.

As for why the owner had failed to keep it running, Ye Qiaoqiao figured she would find out once the proprietor appeared.

She spoke up to explain her purpose to a clerk, saying, "Could you please inform your boss? I would like to purchase your storefront."

Hearing this, the clerk became extremely enthusiastic, repeating eagerly, "Right, right. Please wait a moment, miss; I'll go call our boss right away."

"Mm, I'll wait." Ye Qiaoqiao said, taking a seat on a wooden stool in the shop alongside Hanxiang, and quietly waited for the proprietor to arrive.

At the same time, her gaze swept across her surroundings, and she found the store's layout quite decent and spacious. With a little tidying and arrangement, it would be quite suitable for opening a parlor to practice divination and read fortunes regarding romance and wealth.

At that moment, a middle-aged man walked out from the inner room. He was slightly plump, and his face bore a look of deep exhaustion.

When his eyes landed on Ye Qiaoqiao and Hanxiang, a flash of astonishment crossed his gaze, which was swiftly replaced by a hint of disdain. He asked indifferently, "Young lady, do you have money? My storefront is not easy to buy."

Ye Qiaoqiao did not answer immediately, choosing instead to carefully observe his physiognomy.

She noticed that the center of the owner's forehead—the area known as the Yin Tang—was faintly darkened.

Understanding dawned upon her. With a smile, she politely replied to the store owner's question, "Rest assured. Since I dared to come to your establishment, I certainly have the funds to buy your shop."

"Is that so?" The middle-aged man clearly did not believe her.

Ye Qiaoqiao curved her lips into a slight smile and asked, "Indeed, you may set your mind at ease. Moreover, judging by your appearance, it seems someone among your parents is ill? Are you in urgent need of gold?"

The shop owner's pupils constricted slightly, as if he had not expected Ye Qiaoqiao to hit upon his family's private affairs.

His mother had fallen ill, losing her lucidity, and countless decoctions of traditional medicine had proved completely useless.

He was now in desperate need of money for her medical treatment.

Before he could harbor further suspicions about whether this young woman harbored ill intentions, he heard her curve her lips into a smile and say, "You and I share a degree of affinity. You need not worry too much about your mother's illness; I came here simply to rent a shop, but I can also lend a hand to help you."

"Really?" The shop owner still wore an incredulous expression.

Ye Qiaoqiao nodded and said, "Naturally it is true. I only wonder what price you are asking to sell this shop."

Seeing that the young woman was straightforward, the man stopped guessing and stated his price: "Fifty taels of gold."

"Is that so?" Ye Qiaoqiao frowned in contemplation.

Fifty taels of gold could not be considered an exorbitant price, especially in a place like the capital.

With this in mind, she instructed Hanxiang at her side in a soft voice, "Go fetch fifty taels of gold and give it to this gentleman."

"My lady," Hanxiang protested, not understanding. Even though the shop was in a decent location, the interior was cluttered, and most of the furnishings were old and dilapidated.

In her view, the price could easily be beaten down further.

Though she wanted to voice her objections, she ultimately obeyed meekly, responding with a soft assent as she went to retrieve the fifty taels of gold.

Before long, Hanxiang returned bearing an exquisite wooden box.

When she opened the lid, pieces of gleaming, golden bullion were neatly arranged inside, radiating an alluring luster.

Upon seeing the gold, the shop owner's eyes instantly brightened, though he quickly regained a semblance of composure.

Observing the middle-aged man's shifting expressions, Ye Qiaoqiao smiled and said, "Boss, what do you think of these fifty taels of gold?"

"Good, good." The shop owner hastily smiled and reached out to take them.

However, Ye Qiaoqiao withdrew the box toward her chest and smiled instead, saying, "Boss, we must first draw up a written agreement. Only then will this shop truly belong to me."

Noticing that this young woman, who appeared to be barely twenty years of age, possessed such wealth at her disposal and acted with such caution, the shop owner nodded repeatedly without hesitation and said, "That is only natural, naturally."

He immediately called the store clerk to prepare writing materials, intending to draw up the contract.

The clerk quickly brought brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone. The two parties drew up a contract clearly specifying the terms of the shop's sale.

Only then did the shop owner hand the deed and related documents over to Ye Qiaoqiao.

Seeing that the matter had been successfully settled, Ye Qiaoqiao handed the box filled with gold to the store owner and said, "These golden leaves are now yours. Furthermore, if your mother's illness requires it, you are welcome to come find me."