Chapter 27
Before long, the plaque was hung, and the cook had finished preparing lunch.
After the meal, Qiu Jinning looked at Qin Chu for a moment. “Come with me.”
The study had not yet been cleaned, so they went directly to the eastern side courtyard. Qiu Jinning’s room had already been tidied by Luyao until it looked neat and new. There were just not many decorations, only the necessary furniture, making the arrangements seem somewhat simple.
“Qin Chu, this is the reply from Prince Xian’s residence that Guanzi brought back.” Qiu Jinning shut the door and took out a folded letter.
Qin Chu accepted it and opened it. There were only a few lines written on it. The general meaning was that they should not publicize that they came from Jiuqu County, should avoid going out as much as possible, and should quietly wait for the metropolitan examination next spring.
“Isn’t this Prince Xian managing too much? He even wants to control whether we go out or not. We’re not criminals.” Qin Chu’s face fell, making no effort to hide her dissatisfaction with the Second Prince.
She was a merchant. This trip to the capital was precisely so she could use beer to open up the capital’s market and help the Qin family’s wine shop establish itself as soon as possible. She would definitely need to go out often.
Qiu Jinning said faintly, “It only says to avoid going out as much as possible. We need not care.”
Qin Chu’s expression improved a little. “True. It’s not like anyone is watching over us. We can go out whenever we want.”
Her thinking was simple, but Qiu Jinning felt somewhat uneasy.
Since the Second Prince knew they had entered the capital, he certainly would not sit idly by. In secret, he would inevitably send people to watch them. After all, there were still two other princes in the capital searching for information about the phoenix maiden.
As for Gu San, whom the Second Prince had pushed out as a cover, she might not necessarily convince people that she was the phoenix maiden. As long as those two princes were not stupid, they would not fully believe it.
Suppressing the worry in her heart, Qiu Jinning still reminded her, “It is also inappropriate for you to only let Guanzi follow you when you go out. Why not buy a few guards?”
“All right. I’ll listen to you.” Qin Chu’s eyes held a smile, and the way she looked at Qiu Jinning carried a trace of almost imperceptible indulgence.
Qiu Jinning’s mind paused, and she lightly said, “Mm.”
The two suddenly had nothing to say. The atmosphere became just a little strange.
“Did you sleep well last night? Was your body uncomfortable? Was the love gu settled? Do you need me to come over tonight?” Qin Chu threw out several questions in succession, her heart tense.
What she actually wanted to say more was: Let me accompany you tonight.
Seeing Qiu Jinning silently pondering, Qin Chu rubbed her brow and looked toward the doors and windows. “Well, I’m just worried about you. I don’t mean anything else.”
Qiu Jinning looked at her and laughed softly. “I know. Miss Qin is an upright gentleman.”
That slightly teasing tone made the roots of Qin Chu’s ears burn.
“Then tonight—”
“There is no discomfort. You do not need to specially accompany me.” Qiu Jinning’s tone was gentle, her eyes hesitant and complicated.
Hearing her say this, disappointment passed through Qin Chu’s heart. She could only bid farewell and leave.
The residence opposite Shuntian Prefecture soon also had its plaque changed. Guanzi directed the hired servants and carried out a large-scale renovation of the residence. The beginnings of a winery gradually took shape.
“Miss, are we really going to use this residence as a winery?” Guanzi felt somewhat reluctant. This residence was even larger than the Qin residence they were living in now, and the location was even better. Wasn’t it a bit of a waste to use it for brewing wine?
Qin Chu glanced at the Shuntian yamen across the street and said leisurely, “You don’t understand. We have only just arrived, and this place is the most suitable.”
If they bought a manor outside the city like they had in Jiuqu County, not only would it be far away and impossible to watch at all times, but once they became famous, they would also easily attract covetous eyes. This world never lacked jealous people.
And she had spared no expense to arrange the Qin family’s first winery directly opposite Shuntian Prefecture precisely for safety.
After all, ordinary people would not dare make trouble right across from a yamen.
The Qin family did not lack capital. As long as she could establish the Qin family’s wine shop, the early expenses were just drizzle. The profits in the future would naturally be considerable, and it would be worth the investment.
The winery was also called Bailu Winery, and it was likewise on Hou-Song Street, right beside the bustling Zhuque Street.
Qin Chu thought of the shops she had taken note of yesterday, called Guanzi, brought silver notes, and went out.
The Qin family’s business was supplying wine. But in the capital, without anyone to introduce them and without word of mouth spreading, it would be very difficult to obtain large customers who would order wine.
The next thing to do was to first make the name of beer known.
More than ten days later, a new wine tavern opened on Zhuque Street. The shopkeeper was a young woman, and what she sold was a kind of wine no one had heard of before, called beer.
The tavern’s decoration was also different from ordinary wine taverns. A row of dim yellow lanterns hung at the entrance, and the doors only opened to welcome customers after noon. When passersby glanced inside, they saw that the wine tables were all set with glass cups, which looked expensive at first glance.
On the first day of opening, a table was placed outside the Qin family wine tavern, along with a bronze pot. A plump maid stood there shouting at the top of her lungs.
“Don’t miss this as you pass by! On the first day of the Qin family wine tavern’s opening, we are specially holding a pitch-pot wine giveaway event. Anyone who can land seven out of ten arrows may enter the shop and drink for free today, without paying a single coin!”
Passersby stopped. A wine lover asked, “May I ask, young lady, do you mean that if someone lands seven arrows out of ten, they can drink wine for free without spending a single coin? Is that true?”
Guanzi put her hands on her hips. “Of course it’s true. This guest is right. That’s exactly what it means. Today only. If you miss it, you’ll have to wait until next year!”
Although she confirmed it, no one was willing to be the first. They were afraid the shop might be deceiving them. Just then, a clear and otherworldly beauty stepped forward. “Please count out ten arrows for me.”
Guanzi froze for a moment, then quickly smiled. “Coming right up. Miss, please wait a moment.”
Boohoo. Miss Qiu was too loyal. If no one came, Guanzi had been thinking of hiring a few people herself.
Qiu Jinning took the arrows and stood outside the red line that had been drawn, calmly playing pitch-pot.
One arrow missed. Two arrows missed again. Three, four… out of ten arrows, only one landed.
The corner of Guanzi’s eye twitched. Miss Qiu’s hand had far too little accuracy. It would have been better to hire a few people.
Seeing that she had only landed one arrow, Qiu Jinning calmly walked toward the entrance. Guanzi instinctively stopped her. “Miss, you did not land seven arrows, so I’m afraid it cannot be free.”
So many people were watching. They could not cheat. Even if they were going to cheat, they had to do it when no one was around.
Qiu Jinning’s face turned cold. “What, am I not allowed in even if I spend silver? Today, I insist on trying your wine.”
Guanzi came back to herself. “Aiya, Miss is joking. Please come inside. Please, please.”
The watching crowd went quiet for a moment, then one after another began taking arrows and lining up. Free wine—if they did not drink it, it would be a waste.
“Give me ten arrows.”
“Give me ten too.”
The pitch-pot event finally officially began.
Inside the wine tavern, the first floor was the main hall, where several rows of long tables were arranged neatly. The second floor had private rooms, and there were also some small dishes available to pair with wine.
Qin Chu had been watching downstairs from the window on the second floor. Seeing Qiu Jinning enter, she hurried downstairs.
“Miss Qiu, why are you here? Hurry to the second floor.”
The first floor was full of the smell of wine. If it triggered the love gu, that would be bad.
She hurriedly led Qiu Jinning upstairs. Only afterward did Qin Chu belatedly react. What was bad about Qiu Jinning smelling wine? It seemed rather wonderful too…
Qiu Jinning looked over the furnishings in the private room and nodded slightly. “I heard Luyao say the wine tavern opened today, so I came to deliver a congratulatory gift.”
She took out a small brocade pouch. Inside was a jade tablet.
Qin Chu accepted it and took a look. It looked somewhat familiar. She instinctively looked toward Qiu Jinning’s waist. The jade tablet there had already been changed to a jade pendant, and that pendant looked somewhat familiar too. It seemed to be the birthday gift Qin Chu had given her before.
She stared at Qiu Jinning, her expression dazed. Had the female lead given her the jade Qiu Jinning carried close to her body?
Qiu Jinning’s face was slightly red, and her gaze fell on Qin Chu’s hand. “I only heard Luyao mention the tavern opening this morning, so I prepared it in a hurry. If you do not like it, I will prepare something else.”
As she spoke, she reached out to take the jade tablet back.
Qin Chu hurriedly drew her hand back and avoided her. She directly removed the jade ornament at her waist and replaced it with Qiu Jinning’s jade tablet. “I like it. I like anything you give me. I’ll wear it every day from now on.”
The atmosphere became inexplicably subtle. Qiu Jinning watched her treasure the jade tablet and put it on properly, and the crimson on her face deepened.
Qin Chu looked down with satisfaction at the newly hung jade tablet at her waist. When she raised her head, she saw Qiu Jinning’s face was flushed scarlet, like a beauty slightly drunk for the first time, her expression tipsy and her features moving.
Qin Chu’s heart tightened. She asked worriedly, “Did you smell the wine downstairs just now? Is the love gu flaring up?”
Qiu Jinning hesitated reservedly, then silently nodded. Mm. It was the love gu stirring.
Seeing her nod, Qin Chu immediately could not think of anything else. She directly pulled Qiu Jinning into her arms and comforted her softly. “It’s all right. I’m here. There’s no need to fear the love gu.”
She was much more useful than sobering soup.
Qiu Jinning pinched a corner of her sleeve and said nothing, gently leaning in Qin Chu’s arms. She was not afraid. If she truly feared anything, what she feared now should be what to do once the love gu was removed—how she could embrace the person before her again.
Perhaps she should make her feelings clear, yet she also feared being rejected…
“Miss, everyone is seated full—” Guanzi pushed the door open in a rush. After seeing the two people embracing inside the private room, her eyes instantly widened.
Qin Chu immediately felt as if she had been burned and quickly released the person in her arms, retreating half a step.
Qiu Jinning lowered her head, her face red with embarrassment, not daring to look at the little maid.
Meeting her young lady’s angry gaze, Guanzi immediately found herself neither able to advance nor retreat. “Um, this servant didn’t see anything. This servant didn’t mean to ruin your good moment.”
Boohoo. She had come in at far too bad a time. Ruining someone’s good moment would get one struck by lightning.
Qin Chu’s face darkened, and she gritted her teeth. “Don’t you know to knock before coming in? When we return, clean every latrine for me, and sweep the courtyard clean too.”
This troublesome little maid. She was truly impolite. She did not even know to knock. Sooner or later, Qin Chu would reward her with a beating.
Guanzi pouted. “Yes. But Miss, downstairs is completely full. Some people even brought their whole families to play pitch-pot. Are the small dishes still being provided for free?”
They would lose at least several hundred taels in a single day, right? Did Miss actually know how to do business?
Don’t tell her that before Master even arrived in the capital, they would earn nothing and spend away the entire box of silver notes first.
“Do not worry about that. Before the tavern closes, anyone who enters through pitch-pot gets everything for free.”
Guanzi acknowledged and withdrew, considerately closing the door for them.
However, the earlier atmosphere had already been ruined. The two looked at each other, then silently avoided each other’s gaze.
Downstairs, the drinkers held the precious custom-made glass cups and felt a burst of amazement. This wine actually had a few ice cubes in it, fine and sparkling, with a cool mouthfeel. It was perfect.
On such a blazing summer day, drinking one cup relieved heat and fatigue.
The small dishes were also flavorful. Spicy peanuts and other small dishes paired with wine—one mouthful of beer, one mouthful of food. The taste was marvelous.
Unfortunately, only today was free. The Qin family wine tavern’s wine was not expensive, strictly speaking. Such a large cup only cost fifty wen. Although the cup was large, drinking one cup was not enough. A few cups down, and it became several hundred wen. How could ordinary people bear to drink to their fill?
Some quietly calculated their savings. They could afford to come drink one cup every day, but they absolutely must not be greedy, or their pocket money would be gone.
The Qin family wine tavern’s name spread in a single day, mainly because ordinary people could afford it if they saved a little, and the shop was also generous enough to give small dishes.
The first to come place an order for wine was Upstairs Tower.
The Upstairs Tower branch in Jiuqu County had sent news days earlier that the local major wine merchant, the Qin family wine shop, had brewed a new wine. The taste was excellent, especially suitable for summer.
Unfortunately, transporting it over would take time and increase transportation costs. After the chief manager of Upstairs Tower reported this to the owner, they still decided to have the people in Jiuqu County send a batch of new wine over to try.
In the end, before the message could even be sent, the Qin family’s beer had already reached the capital. It truly was heaven’s favor.
For merchants, whatever they did, they sought the word “first.” Only by having sharp vision and daring to be first could one eat meat. Those who were a step late could only drink soup.
As the largest Upstairs Tower began offering the Qin family wine shop’s new wine, beer started falling short of demand.
But Qin Chu’s ambitions did not stop there. She was now burying herself in research on fruit wines. Only by constantly discarding the old and bringing forth the new could they remain undefeated.
The moment Eldest Young Master Gu arrived in the capital to seek out his sister from Jiuqu County, he heard news about the Qin family wine shop. He came outside the Qin family wine tavern and then looked at the Qin family wine shop dozens of meters away, his gaze dark.
One tavern for retail, one wine shop for supply. The Qin family had already established itself in the capital.
This time, he had come to the capital with the idea of opening a wine shop there as well. After all, his sister had attached herself to the Second Prince. With a great tree to lean on, one could enjoy the shade. Compared to the Second Prince, Lord Qiu, who was only a county magistrate, was no longer so important.
Unexpectedly, the Qin family had once again gotten one step ahead of him. What was hateful was that he still had not figured out how the Qin family’s new wine was brewed. Although he had bribed several of the Qin family’s brewing masters, he had only learned the taste and could not brew beer like the Qin family’s.
There was no other reason. The beer they brewed had no foam, making it seem like a failed defective product. As for the step involving hops, it was said Qin Chu personally handled it and never let anyone else do it.
Fortunately, heaven never blocked every path. His sister had caught the Second Prince’s eye, so things would be easier now.
On the day Eldest Young Master Gu entered the capital, he went to visit the Second Prince. Not only did he receive warm hospitality, the Second Prince even personally accompanied him for several cups of wine. It was clear his sister was currently favored.
After the meal, Gu San escorted Eldest Young Master Gu out of Prince Xian’s residence. Seeing his worried face, she could not help asking, “Elder Brother, why are you frowning? If you have any difficulties, just tell me.”
In the past, she did not have the confidence to say such words. But times were different now. The Second Prince valued her especially. Not only did he send people to protect her whenever she went out, he also served her with fine clothes and delicacies every day.
Gu San touched the golden buyao in her hair, her face full of pride, as if she were already Princess Consort Xian.
Eldest Young Master Gu let out a long sigh. “Third Sister, you don’t know. Father and I worry every day about the family business. We are afraid we won’t save enough silver in the future to prepare a proper dowry for you, causing the people of the prince’s residence to look down on you.”
Gu San had thought he was worried about something else. Hearing that it was the family business, she immediately boasted, “Elder Brother, don’t worry. Tonight, I will ask the prince to grant us a few good shops. Then our Gu family’s wine can be sold in the capital. Would we still need to worry about not earning silver?”
Eldest Young Master Gu shook his head. “You are thinking too simply. Now, the capital’s wine business has already been taken by the Qin family. Even if we have shops, it will be useless.”
If they opened empty shops and no one bought their wine, what use would that be?
“The Qin family? What exactly happened? Elder Brother, tell me.” Hearing news of the Qin family, Gu San instantly thought of her sworn enemy Qin Chu and of Qiu Jinning, who never gave her a pleasant expression.
Could that good-for-nothing Qin Chu have come to the capital? Good that she had.
Gu San had been afraid Qin Chu would not come. If she came, then Gu San could deal with her and avenge the humiliation from years ago.
After hearing Eldest Young Master Gu’s words, Gu San felt a surge of excitement. Back then, Qin Chu had said she was not even worthy of carrying shoes for the Qin family. But what about now?
Now, she would soon be Princess Consort Xian. What did a small Qin family count for?
She wanted to see what expression Qin Chu would have then, and whether she would still dare talk back to her.
Thus, that very night, the Qin residence received an invitation from Prince Xian’s residence.
The invitation was delivered by a servant of the prince’s residence, who plainly stated that Miss Gu of the prince’s residence was hosting a flower-viewing banquet for old friends, and had also invited many noble young ladies.
Qin Chu read the invitation twice and said uncertainly, “Miss Gu is Gu San?”
Qiu Jinning slowly nodded. “It should be her borrowing the name of Prince Xian’s residence to hold this flower-viewing banquet. I fear it is not a good banquet.”
Qin Chu frowned. “Then… does the Second Prince know?”
If he did not know, that was fine. But if he knew and still allowed Gu San to invite them, then what exactly was he planning? Did he no longer intend to hide their identities?
The moment anything involved the male lead, she felt a strong unease.
Qiu Jinning lowered her brows. “Whether he knows or not, it will be difficult for us to refuse. When the time comes, we must be extra careful.”
She always felt the Second Prince was not that easy to fool. In Jiuqu County, she had only lightly hinted at something, and the Second Prince had seized the opportunity to push out Gu San as a shield. This person’s scheming showed that he was not simple.
When they arrived at the flower-viewing banquet and saw the Second Prince standing beneath a pavilion, looking in their direction, Qiu Jinning knew she had guessed correctly. This Prince Xian truly knew about it. This banquet likely had some other purpose.
Gu San was surrounded by a crowd of noble young ladies like stars surrounding the moon. Compared to how she had been in Jiuqu County, she had changed completely.
Gold hairpins, jade ornaments, brocade clothes, and luxurious robes—she was covered head to toe in jewels and splendor.
“Sister Qiu, I finally managed to wait for you. Oh, and this is?”
The moment Gu San saw Qiu Jinning, she warmly linked arms with her. But when she saw Qin Chu, she raised her brows slightly, as if she could not recognize who Qin Chu was.
Qin Chu was inwardly amused by her pretentious manner, but none of it showed on her face. “This one is Qin Chu.”
Gu San pretended to ponder for a moment. Then she suddenly cried out in surprise, covered her mouth, and said, “Qin Chu! You’re that reckless Cripple Qin who kept a male concubine? Aiya, my mouth was too quick for a moment. Miss Qin, don’t mind me.”
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