Chapter 37

Early morning still carried a trace of coolness in the air, and that coolness reached Qin Chu’s heart.

Previously, with her serving as the shield, only the Second Prince had known Qiu Jinning’s identity, yet he had already forced her to such a state.

Now that the First Prince and Third Prince were also being dragged in, matters would probably become even more difficult.

After a brief hesitation, she asked, “Miss Qiu, should we accept these gifts or not?”

Qiu Jinning sat in the wheelchair, looking thoughtfully at the two rows of boxes in the courtyard. “After what happened on Zhuque Street, everyone knows that we have a grudge with the Second Prince. Why do you think those two princes would believe his words so easily?”

Qin Chu frowned. That made sense. “Then why did they send these gifts?”

Qiu Jinning coldly curved her lips, the ridicule at the corners of her mouth flashing by. “What else could it be? They simply do not intend to put all their eggs in one basket.”

Qin Chu understood instantly. Those two princes were thinking it was better to believe it might be true than to believe it was not, and planned to keep an eye on both of them.

Anger rose in her heart. “From today on, you must not show yourself even more. Wait until your leg injury recovers, then walk properly before them. Naturally, you’ll be able to stay out of it then. Before that, I’ll block things first.”

Qiu Jinning did not speak. She looked deeply at Qin Chu. How could things be bailiantales.com that simple? Since she had already drawn suspicion, it would be difficult for her to stay out of it now.

She sighed lightly in her heart and said calmly, “All right.”

On the first day of the sixth month, deep within Zhuque Street, the shop closest to the imperial avenue was decorated with lanterns and colored banners and reopened.

On the brand-new plaque were four gilded characters: Qin Family Wine Pavilion. Outside the wine pavilion stood a plump little maid. Just like when the Qin Family Wine Tavern had opened, she shouted at the top of her voice, “Don’t miss this as you pass by! Sisters, young ladies, aunties, madams, come take a look!”

The wine pavilion’s opening followed the same pattern as the wine tavern’s opening day. Those who played pitch-pot could enter the shop to drink and eat for free.

The difference was that this time, one only needed to land five out of ten arrows to enter and eat and drink for free, and only female guests were received.

Compared to the Qin Family Wine Tavern’s still somewhat traditional decoration, the Qin Family Wine Pavilion had a gilded signboard. The door curtain was decorated with green bamboo. From the pillars outside the entrance to the shop doors and the furnishings within, every detail carried an elegant, noble air.

The wine tables in the main hall were not large either. There were tables for two and tables for four. Each table was surrounded by screens on three sides, their height just level with the seated guests. On the remaining side, a beaded curtain hung from the upper half, so after sitting down, one could only see the lower body. The upper body appeared indistinct and shadowy, adding both mystery and a sense of reassuring atmosphere.

The glass cups in the Qin Family Wine Pavilion were also unlike the wide-mouthed large cups used at the wine tavern. These were slender and long, each paired with a bamboo straw. Even the small dishes were no longer spicy peanuts and various cold mixed dishes.

Instead, there were exquisite pastries, meatballs, and some seasonal fruits. The price of the wine was three times higher than when the beer had first been introduced.

On the first day of opening, any guest who succeeded at pitch-pot could eat and drink for free. Originally, just the wine and dishes from the wine tavern had already made those wine lovers yearn for them. Now that an even more precious-looking wine had been introduced and could also be enjoyed for free this bailiantales.com once, passersby who had been drawn over by the previous rumors immediately stopped in their tracks.

At that moment, a plainly dressed middle-aged woman walked forward with her seven- or eight-year-old daughter and asked quietly, “If I land the arrows, can I bring my daughter in to eat with me?”

She had not come for the wine. It was simply her daughter’s birthday today, and she had wanted to bring her into the city to eat something delicious. But after entering the city, everything she saw was expensive, and she could not bear to buy anything.

Guanzi smiled warmly at the middle-aged woman. “Big Sister, listen to me. As long as you land the arrows, not only will your food and drinks be free today, this little girl will never be charged in the future. Our owner instructed that whenever guests bring children, the adults pay according to the price, but children under ten may eat and drink to their heart’s content without paying a single coin. However, it’s best that children don’t drink wine.”

Perhaps infected by Guanzi’s friendly, enthusiastic attitude, the middle-aged woman no longer looked so nervous. She tightened her grip on her daughter’s hand. “Then please give me ten arrows.”

The woman worked in the fields year-round, and her aim had always been good. Out of ten arrows, she landed seven.

“Guest, please come inside.” From the row of maids waiting inside the shop, one stepped forward and warmly welcomed the mother and daughter in.

Sitting in such an elegant spot, the middle-aged woman looked at the glass cup on the table, as well as the dazzling variety of pastries, meatballs, and fruits. She could not help feeling nervous again.

“Niuniu, hurry and try these. See if they’re delicious. You’re not allowed to touch the wine.”

The middle-aged woman looked at the straw inserted into the glass cup, surprise showing in her eyes. “What is this? Am I supposed to suck with my mouth?”

The maid smiled and explained, “Guest, please don’t worry. This bamboo tube was specially custom-made by our wine pavilion. Not bailiantales.com only is it polished smooth so it won’t hurt your mouth, it is also thin and easy to use. The young ladies of the capital love delicate little items the most. Try taking a sip. I guarantee the taste is excellent.”

After speaking, the maid also saw that the middle-aged woman was somewhat restrained, so she tactfully stepped away. “If you need anything, whether more wine or more dishes, just call me.”

Unlike the wine tavern, which only had two or three waiters, the wine pavilion had more than a dozen maids. They were all dressed the same, wearing green dresses, their faces carrying warm and hospitable expressions. One stood every three tables, and their words and actions all made people comfortable.

The middle-aged woman took a light sip. Her expression instantly froze. The moment the fruit wine entered her mouth, she tasted the flavor of peach wrapped in a faint wine fragrance, with a slightly sweet mouthfeel. Threads of bubbles brushed past her throat, cool and not burning.

The delicate bubbles brought her tongue an unfamiliar yet stimulating experience. Her eyes immediately lit up, and she took several more sips, satisfaction showing on her face.

Beside her, her daughter held a wooden spoon and ate in big mouthfuls. “Mother, this meatball is so delicious. This one is salty, this one is spicy. There are vegetable balls and meatballs. This fruit is delicious too.”

Hearing this, the middle-aged woman hurriedly tried one. The meatballs were small and delicate, springy, smooth, and refreshing.

They were served on a large tray made from a single piece of wood. The tray had been carefully carved into many small dish-shaped compartments, with meatballs of different kinds sorted into each one. They were both beautiful and delicious.

On opening day, the wine pavilion was packed inside and out. Within a few days, however, women dressed like ordinary commoners became rare. Most of the guests who came were young ladies of noble families and daughters of wealthy households. For no other reason than one word: expensive.

Qin Chu stood on the second floor and looked downstairs. The main hall was already full, and the private rooms had all been reserved.

The sparkling fruit wines came in five or six flavors: peach wine, green plum wine, orange wine…

All this painstaking design and decoration had been for the purpose of earning money from the noble young ladies of the capital. But when she saw ordinary women pass by the wine pavilion and hurriedly glance inside, thoughts rose in Qin Chu’s heart.

Whether in the modern world or in this Baiyue Dynasty, the gap between rich and poor was very large. A single cup of wine for the rich might be several days’ or even a period’s worth of meal money for the poor.

She glanced at the account book and called Guanzi over. “Pass down the instruction. On the first day of every month, the Qin Family Wine Pavilion will be free to all female guests until the seats are full.”

In this way, the young ladies of noble families, who disdained free wine and food, would not come that day. That day would become one where ordinary people could happily and freely come to the wine pavilion without worry.

This action immediately made some men envious. They also wanted to taste what those fruit wines specially prepared for women were like. It was said that the flavor was indescribably wonderful. Unfortunately, the Qin Family Wine Pavilion only received female guests and did not allow takeout.

Of course, Qin Chu had not launched the Qin Family Wine Pavilion just to do business in the shop. She looked at the bottles of fruit wine packed in porcelain bottles and smiled faintly.

Tomorrow, the Qin family wine shop would begin selling fruit wine. Men and women alike could order it.

The porcelain bottles were exquisite. The peach wine bottles were carved with blooming peach blossoms, while the orange wine bottles were decorated with clusters of little oranges. All kinds of delicate patterns made them pleasing to look at.

One porcelain bottle held about the same amount as one cup of wine in the pavilion, yet the price was doubled again. Because the packaging was refined, guests still rushed to buy them.

When the sun was at its brightest, Princess Consort Wei, dressed in a splendid dress, entered the stolen content Qin Family Wine Pavilion with her maid.

Baiyue’s customs were open, and women were allowed to study and take the imperial examinations. Women could even marry each other.

But certain outdated customs had been passed down for hundreds and thousands of years, and in the end, they had still left an invisible shackle in people’s hearts.

A noble young lady like Princess Consort Wei had lived mostly within the inner residence and believed that it was somewhat improper for women to always show their faces outside.

The maid beside Princess Consort Wei asked Guanzi, “Is your owner, Miss Qin, here?”

Guanzi recognized that this was the First Prince’s official consort and hurried upstairs to inform her young lady.

Qin Chu watched as Princess Consort Wei entered the wine pavilion. Naturally, she knew about the invitations that the prince’s residence sent to the Qin residence every day. Princess Consort Wei had found an excuse and wanted to often invite her to Commandery Princess Anguo’s residence.

Recently, however, Qin Chu had always refused by saying she was not in the residence and was too busy with the wine pavilion to spare time.

So Princess Consort Wei had no choice but to personally come to the Qin Family Wine Pavilion to look for her.

Before Princess Consort Wei came upstairs, Qin Chu quickly went down to greet her. “Qin Chu greets Princess Consort Wei.” Her voice was deliberately raised a little, making the main hall go quiet. Some official young ladies quietly lifted the beaded curtains to look. It really was Princess Consort Wei.

In the future, if the elders in their families tried to stop them [read the original at bailiantales.com]again, they would say even Princess Consort Wei often went there. How was that improper? Coming to the wine pavilion would be even more convenient.

Princess Consort Wei’s expression stiffened for a moment, then she smiled. “Sister Qin, no need for such courtesy. Let us go upstairs.”

There were so many people in the main hall. Although they were separated by bamboo curtains and could not clearly see one another’s faces, her voice had spread, and everyone now knew she had come to the Qin Family Wine Pavilion. It was somewhat inappropriate.

“Princess Consort, please go upstairs.”

After entering the private room, Princess Consort Wei said reproachfully, “Sister Qin is being distant with me again. Why directly call out this palace’s title? Could it be that you dislike me as an elder sister?”

Qin Chu sat properly opposite her. “It was a slip of the tongue. Sister Chu, please don’t blame me. Did you come to find me for something important?”

Princess Consort Wei studied the red clothes on Qin Chu’s body and smiled. “What important matter could there be? I simply missed Sister Qin after not seeing you for several days, so I came to speak with you.”

Of course she had something important to do by personally coming to the Qin Family Wine Pavilion. A few days ago, a spy planted in the commandery prince’s residence had sent news that Qin Chu was not the true phoenix maiden, and Qiu Jinning was. Moreover, that Qiu Jinning used to love scarlet clothing, and now she had broken one leg, also matching the prophecy.

Princess Consort Wei did want to go to the Qin residence to investigate the news. Unfortunately, Qin Chu was never there, and Qiu Jinning claimed illness and refused to receive guests. Since she could not see either of them, it was difficult for her to determine whether the news was true or false.

Thinking of this, displeasure rose in her heart. They were merely lowborn commoners. If not for the phoenix maiden’s special identity, why would she need to tolerate them like this?

Hearing this, Qin Chu also smiled along unauthorized copyand turned to instruct Guanzi, “Bring up some wine and dishes. Let Sister Chu try the fruit wine I brewed.”