Chapter 37: Shopping and Spending Money
Since it wasn't easy to get a chance to go out, Yu Lingzhao was naturally going to fleece her two brothers for all they were worth.
On the surface, she sent Zhaoxing to inform her Third Brother, but her Second Brother was with him.
Given how much Second Brother doted on her, he would naturally have the silver and money prepared as well.
This was exactly what Yu Lingzhao told He Xuan when she arrived at Mengxi Garden.
He Xuan praised her for being a clever little spirit.
"It’s not just your Second and Third brothers, your Sister-in-law will spoil you today, too. Just tell me whatever you take a fancy to. Buy it!"
Aside from the allowance given by the Prince and Princess Consort for this trip to the capital, her husband had also prepared many banknotes for her to keep on hand.
Naturally, this included his own care for his younger sister. He Xuan was a generous person by nature, and she was even more generous toward Zhaozhao.
Yu Lingzhao happily took her Sister-in-law’s arm and gave it a shake. "Sister-in-law is the best! I like Sister-in-law the most."
He Xuan teased her on purpose. "Only your Sister-in-law is good?"
The Yu Lingzhao of today was not who she used to be, she wasn't afraid of He Xuan’s banter at all. Instead, she gave He Xuan a cheeky look.
"Of course, Eldest Brother is good too. You think Eldest Brother is very good too, don't you, Sister-in-law?"
He Xuan wasn't thin-skinned, but being teased like this by her sister-in-law for the first time made her inevitably a bit embarrassed.
"You naughty girl, making fun of me now."
As He Xuan spoke, she reached out to poke her, but Yu Lingzhao immediately let go of her hand and ducked behind Feiyu. "Can't catch me, can't catch me..."
The Second Young Master, performing his duty as a guard under the alias Yan Lou, arrived at Mengxi Garden to fetch them. Seeing his sister happily playing with their sister-in-law, the unease he felt last night eased considerably.
"Ahem."
Yu Qizhi, wearing a mask, leaned against the courtyard gate. "This subordinate requests the Heir's Consort and the Little County Princess to set out."
Seeing her Second Brother acting as a guard again, Yu Lingzhao purposefully walked up to him with her head held high. Her dainty, haughty manner brought a smile to the corners of Yu Qizhi's mouth.
"Hmm, since Guard Yan is here, please lead the way yourself, Guard Yan."
The Little County Princess pointed her jade-like finger, her bossy demeanor was exceptionally proud and aloof.
Yu Qizhi was amused and played along with his sister. He straightened up and nodded to her. "Little County Princess, after you."
Yu Lingzhao turned to look at He Xuan, who walked up quickly and nodded to Yu Qizhi.
Yu Lingzhao intentionally whispered to her Sister-in-law, yet loud enough for Yu Qizhi to hear: "Second Brother really looks the part as a guard."
Seeing what a little rascal his sister was being, Yu Qizhi felt relieved. As long as Zhaozhao was in a good mood, it didn't matter if he, as her brother, was teased a bit. "Looking the part" just proved that his acting skills were good.
Seeing that Yu Qizhi was also indulging Zhaozhao, He Xuan shook her head helplessly. The young girl was clearly addicted to the game. "Let's go."
Since they were going out for a stroll today, they wouldn't be having breakfast inside the Prince’s Mansion.
Upon learning they were going out, Yu Xunyang had prepared early. By now, he had already scurried to the mansion gates. Had Guan Xiao not held him back, he would have likely bolted out of the mansion by now.
When Yu Lingzhao and He Xuan arrived, Yu Xunyang urged them slightly, but the moment he saw Second Brother behind his sister, he immediately shut his mouth.
He even busied himself waiting on them, helping his sister and sister-in-law into the carriage, his attentive little manner truly made He Xuan laugh.
Yu Xunyang originally wanted to get into the carriage with them, but seeing that his Second Brother had already flipped onto his horse, Yu Xunyang felt too embarrassed to let him ride alone outside.
Playing a guard might be an act, but his Second Brother's status was real. He didn't want to face the consequences when they returned to the mansion tonight, so it was better to obediently accompany his Second Brother on horseback.
The capital was the nation's center, and its level of prosperity was far beyond what the Southern Border could compare to. Even though the South had trade between two regions, the foot of the Emperor's throne attracted visitors from all directions.
Using the Imperial Palace as the boundary, once you left the Censorate and headed West, you would find the Shi Family’s Gourd Soup and the Wan Family’s Steamed Buns, both considered the best in the capital.
Most of that area consisted of restaurants, teahouses, and amusement centers, which were incredibly lively day and night.
Heading North, there were various medical clinics, small trading firms, clock towers, as well as spice and medicine shops and official residences.
For instance, the Prince of Zhennan’s Mansion was in this vicinity, along with the homes of other high-ranking officials.
This area was a hundred times more flourishing than a provincial capital, busy with traffic and full of life. However, most people weren't allowed to linger too long, as it also housed the residences of important ministers.
To the East, along the city walls, were various inns and guesthouses to accommodate officials coming to the capital to report on their duties, wealthy merchants passing through, and military personnel.
While each direction had its primary trade, they naturally all had food, clothing, and transportation. It was much like how every district in modern society has various large shopping malls and entertainment venues.
The Jifang Garden Teahouse they had an appointment at today wasn't far, only two streets away from the Prince’s Mansion. It was a shop with an excellent location, always bustling with people coming and going.
However, since Yu Lingzhao wanted to browse, she naturally wouldn't go to Jifang Garden first.
She discussed it with He Xuan and decided to first visit a few of the most prosperous shops in the capital; she had already asked Luo Chuan to look into these beforehand.
He Xuan was an easygoing person who doted on Yu Lingzhao, so she naturally went along with her wishes—anywhere was fine.
Yu Lingzhao then had Feiyu head to Qinghe Lane first.
That place was a gathering spot for shops, with restaurants and teahouses lined up one after another in all sorts of styles; it was convenient no matter what one wanted to see. Hearing this, He Xuan also thought it sounded very good.
The carriage stopped at the trade district, and Feiyu helped the two mistrees down one after the other. Yu Lingzhao enthusiastically told He Xuan where they should start browsing, while Yu Qizhi and Yu Xunyang dismounted and walked to their side.
Feiyu, Huayue, Zhaoxing, Guan Xiao, and the others followed behind their masters. Looking at them as a group, there were quite a few of them.
As soon as Yu Lingzhao entered Qinghe Lane, she drew the attention of many people. It was simply because she was so beautiful and possessed such noble grace, dressed in splendid silken robes and flanked by maids and guards, one look was enough to tell she was no ordinary person.
Although people were looking, they didn't dare to stare. After all, one look at the young noble lady's posture told them she wasn't someone to be trifled with, so they only stole glances.
Yu Lingzhao didn't care about any of that, she was used to it. She even whispered smugly to He Xuan, "A beautiful person is the center of the crowd wherever they go."
He Xuan always indulged her, and naturally, it was partly because she was indeed beautiful, people are always extra lenient toward good-looking individuals.
Yu Lingzhao suddenly felt like looking at jewelry and squeezed He Xuan's hand. The two of them were the first to enter a jewelry shop called Ruicai Hall.
Ruicai Hall was one of the premier jewelry shops in the capital; it was said that even the ladies in the Palace favored their wares.
As soon as Yu Lingzhao and He Xuan stepped inside, the shopkeeper, who had been at the counter, rushed over to greet them, even faster than the errand boy at the door.
The shopkeeper’s sharp eye allowed him to keenly sense that these two noble ladies were of no ordinary status. "Greetings, noble ladies. May I ask what you would like to see?"
There was a reason Ruicai Hall had stood firm in the capital for so many years. Seeing how discerning this shopkeeper was, Yu Lingzhao sighed inwardly; they were all incredibly shrewd characters.
Yu Lingzhao glanced at Feiyu, who smiled and said, "Shopkeeper, jade pendants, hairpins, and rings, anything will do."
As soon as those words were spoken, the shopkeeper understood: the noble ladies didn't have a specific item in mind to buy, it all depended on whether the items in his shop could satisfy them.
The shopkeeper immediately bowed with a smile, gesturing with his hand. "Noble ladies, please come to the private room upstairs. I will make the arrangements for you."
Yu Lingzhao was just about to head upstairs when she unexpectedly caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in the mirror ahead.
The beautiful young man?
She turned her head to look, but saw nothing at all.
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