Lang Huan had a very good sleep last night. When the morning sunlight touched her bed, she opened her eyes with a bright smile and stretched slowly—like a lazy cat just waking up.
Outside the window, birds were chirping, and the fresh scent of flowers filled the air. Today, she planned to visit one of the teahouse restaurants that had been entrusted to her by the Duke of Huguo.
Since the Duke didn't want Lang Huan getting too involved in court affairs, she felt that building a career in business might not be so bad after all.
"A Cai, come with me today. We're going to Jinse Pavilion," Lang Huan said.
A Cai nodded and quickly went to prepare the carriage.
Jinse Pavilion stood proudly at the corner of a main street, with its golden name plaque now faded from age. But instead of music and a crowd of guests, the place was quiet—like an abandoned house.
Lang Huan stepped down from the carriage. She wore a simple blue scholar robe and tied her hair with a jade hairpin.
Inside, a young teahouse maid looked up lazily from the counter.
"Young Master, if you want to eat, wait a bit. We're not ready for customers this early."
Lang Huan raised an eyebrow. "Is this how you welcome guests?"
The maid kept chewing sunflower seeds, looking half-asleep. But the moment A Cai walked in behind Lang Huan—wearing the Duke of Huguo's emblem on his chest—
An older waiter carrying a tray glanced over, and his face instantly turned pale.
"That… that's Duke Huguo's personal servant!"
Suddenly, Teahouse employees started popping out from every corner like ants rushing to sugar.
"We're so sorry, Young Master! We thought you were just… a regular guest…"
Lang Huan's voice was cold. "I want to taste your signature dishes."
Soon, several small plates were placed before her—osmanthus cake, sweet glutinous rice balls, and tea-infused duck slices.
Lang Huan picked up a piece of osmanthus cake with her chopsticks. She tasted it.
Plok. She set it back down.
"Is this cake…?"
The head chef went pale. "Young Master, it was made this morning!"
Lang Huan clicked her tongue. "Morning when? Morning three years ago?"
A Cai, who'd been standing quietly nearby, eyed the glutinous rice ball. It looked… okay-ish. At least it hadn't exploded yet.
He picked it up and took a bite. Chewed. Then quickly drank water.
"Let's just fire the chef," he said, wiping his mouth. "For the safety of the guests."
Lang Huan folded her arms. "Let's check the accounting books!"
In the back office, Lang Huan opened a thick ledger. Her fingers moved through the numbers.
"Hmm. Why does this week's income look like it's on a diet? But the food expenses… they're enough to host a village-feast?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Something's not right. The ingredient purchases don't match the kitchen's records. And the daily income... they actually dared to fake the numbers."
She glanced at the record-keeper, then called in the shopkeeper—a chubby man who turned pale the moment he stepped in.
"How much did you steal from Jinse Pavilion?" Lang Huan asked calmly.
The shopkeeper dropped to his knees, ready to explain.
"Save your excuses," she said flatly. "Starting today, you're no longer part of Jinse Pavilion. A Cai, write down all the expenses. We're going to fix this teahouse."
"Yes, Young Master!" A Cai replied with a nod.
---
Lang Huan sat inside the carriage, her face serious as she looked over the renovation costs for Jinse Pavilion.
Tsk, tsk… This is going to burn a hole in my pocket. And this is just one restaurant. What if the others are in the same condition?
If she wanted to turn the tea house into something special, she'd need to hire beautiful girls who could play music, replace the chef, and fix many parts of the business.
"I need an investor… or maybe I should borrow money from the Duke first," she thought, leaning back in her seat with a sigh.
As the carriage rolled forward, she opened the window to enjoy the fresh air. When they passed Yun Xiang Tower—a grand and elegant building—her eyes paused. A memory flashed in her mind: Miss Qing, the famous courtesan of Luo City.
"A Cai, stop the carriage," Lang Huan said calmly. "I want to speak with Miss Qing Meier."
The carriage stopped in front of Yun Xiang Tower. Lang Huan stepped down and entered the building. Sitting inside, she politely asked Madam Hua if she could meet with Qing Meier.
Not long after, Qing Meier came down from the second floor. She looked a little surprised to see Lang Huan.
"Young Master Ye," she greeted softly.
Then she smiled gently. "Thank you for rescuing us during that kidnapping. How can I help you today?"
Lang Huan returned her smile and nodded. "Hmm, many people helped that day, not just me." Then her tone turned a little more serious—but still polite. "Miss Qing, I'm looking for beautiful, talented women to work at Jinse Pavilion. I've noticed there are many lovely ladies here at Yun Xiang Tower. Don't you think it's more peaceful to play music in a tea house than work as a courtesan?"
She paused, then added, "I'd also like to invite you, Miss Qing, to join Jinse Pavilion."
Qing Meier blinked, unsure whether to laugh or cry at the sudden proposal.
"Young Master is very kind," she said with a light chuckle. "But redeeming girls from Yun Xiang Tower is not that simple."
Then she asked, "Do you know who owns the famous brothel here?"
Lang Huan raised her eyebrows. "Isn't it Madam Hua?"
Qing Meier shook her head slowly. "Hmm… I think I should speak with the real owner first." She gave a mysterious smile. "Of course, we would be happy to join you, Young Master."
Lang Huan was pleased with Qing Meier's response.
"Once my boss gives an answer, I'll let you know right away, Young Master."
Lang Huan stood up, smoothing her robe. "Alright, Miss Qing. Thanks for your help. The sooner, the better," she said with a nod.
Qing Meier bowed slightly, her eyes still playful.
Lang Huan turned and stepped out of Yunxiang Tower. A Cai was already waiting by the carriage, holding the door open.
As the carriage rolled forward once again, heading toward the Duke's Mansion, Lang Huan leaned back against the cushion with a small sigh—half tired, half satisfied.
Qing Meier sat at her table, writing a letter with elegant strokes. Then, she folded the letter neatly and sealed it.
She turned to one of the maids standing nearby.
"Make sure it reaches them directly."
---
Snow was falling softly outside Yun Xiang Tower, covering the streets and rooftops like a white blanket. Inside, the room was warm. A fire crackled in the brazier, and the scent of plum blossom tea filled the air.
Qing Meier sat by the window, slowly sipping her tea. She leaned against the wooden frame, enjoying the peaceful winter afternoon.
Everything was quiet—until she heard footsteps in the snow.
A sedan chair stopped behind Yun Xiang Tower. Its curtains were dark blue, embroidered with white cranes. A noble lady stepped down from it, wearing a beautiful cloak and a soft veil that covered her face.
Qing Meier blinked in surprise. "So fast?" she murmured to herself.
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked at her door. Qing Meier stood up calmly and smoothed her dress.
She opened the door. The veiled lady entered silently. She removed her snow-dusted cloak and handed it to the maid who followed behind her.
Qing Meier bowed with grace. "Greetings, Your Highness."
She politely guided the guest to the low tea table and gave a gentle smile.
"Please, have a seat."
Then, the veiled lady finally spoke, her voice cold and steady.
"You can tell that brat to come here. Didn't he want to redeem courtesans?"
Her expression was hidden behind the veil.
Qing Meier nodded. She hadn't expected the Eldest Princess to personally involve herself in something like this. A playful smile curved her lips as she thought, Well now… this just got interesting.