Chapter 1582: Chapter 1589: Zhao Gui’s Determination (5)
Cai Wei smiled and raised her eyebrows, laughingly said, “Tsk tsk, over on our side? Look at this—she’s not even married yet, and already treating the Meng slaves as her own people. Truly, a grown-up daughter can’t be kept home!”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yun’s face reddened and said, “Look at you! I was just speaking casually, there’s no other meaning. It’s you who are overthinking!”
Cai Wei teased, “I’ve heard some people are already preparing for their grand wedding, how could I not overthink?”
Zhao Yun’s face turned even redder, lowered her neck and sighed, “Miss, you know that I hadn’t wanted to get married… but in the end, I still have to…”
“This is what they call fate!”
Cai Wei smiled warmly and said, “Zhao Yun, sister, even with a face like this, you can make the Young Prince so devoted to you. If your original beautiful appearance is restored, imagine how overjoyed the Young Prince would be!”
In the past, every time Cai Wei mentioned restoring her beautiful appearance, Zhao Yun had always reacted indifferently, with a demeanor of not minding much. But this time, when she heard the four words “restore beautiful appearance,” her eyes immediately lit up and began to show much anticipation.
It must be because a woman adorns herself for her beloved. Once one has someone they love deeply, even those who didn’t care much about their looks become mindful.
Her emotions did not escape Cai Wei’s keen eyes. Cai Wei chuckled and said, “This time, I’ve come here to help restore your appearance. But don’t be anxious—I haven’t been here for several months, so let me first check the accounts, and then I’ll help you regain your beauty.”
“Mm, alright!”
Zhao Yun nodded, suppressing her excitement, and went to the inner room to fetch the account books…
Zhao Yun’s entries were meticulously detailed. The several hundred shops on the commercial street had every month’s ledger carefully recorded. Cai Wei spent all afternoon checking them and discovered that the street’s revenue had increased by approximately twenty percent compared to the same period last year. Together, the entire street had earned about more than two hundred thousand taels of silver in recent months. However, because Zhao Yun had used these funds to pay off the debts for colored glaze, there was no silver left in the cabinets.
Unknowingly, evening had arrived. The accounts were finally finished, and Cai Wei’s stomach started growling. She had practically eaten nothing the entire day except for her two bowls of breast milk, and now her stomach was noisily performing the “Empty City Stratagem.”
She stowed away the account book and said to Zhao Yun, “Are there any signature dishes on this street? Let’s go together and have something tasty!”
Zhao Yun said, “I don’t need you to remind me. I’ve already made arrangements. There’s a private restaurant in the north of the street that serves an excellent dish of fragrant lamb and lamb scorpion soup. I’ve instructed them to prepare a few specialty dishes there; later you can taste them and see if you like them.”
“Sounds great!”
Cai Wei stretched her neck and stood up, saying, “Since the food hasn’t arrived yet, why don’t I restore your appearance now?”
As she spoke, she took out an emerald-colored glazed bottle and handed it over. “Apply this to your face, then wash it off with clean water.”
Zhao Yun received the bottle, bowed slightly to Cai Wei, and turned to head into the inner room.
Taking advantage of her absence, Cai Wei brought out from her spatial storage a bracelet strung with eighteen Melo beads, a pair of gold-inlaid Melo bead earrings, a jade phoenix-shaped hairpin, and a pair of fine-grade white jade dragon-and-phoenix bracelets. These were prepared as her congratulatory gifts for Zhao Yun’s grand wedding next month.
She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to attend Zhao Yun’s wedding next month, so she delivered the gifts in advance to express her blessings and honor Zhao Yun’s diligence at work.
Just as she finished organizing these items, footsteps suddenly sounded outside. Cai Wei thought it might be the food being delivered. To her surprise, when the curtain was lifted, it was none other than the Young Prince Tuoba Hong who entered.
Seeing Cai Wei here, the Young Prince seemed mildly surprised but still politely said, “I didn’t expect the Empress Dowager to be here. Had I known earlier, I would have welcomed you properly!”
Cai Wei replied, “I heard the Young Prince would be marrying Zhao Yun next month, so I came specially to deliver congratulatory gifts.”
At this moment, the Young Prince noticed the items placed on Cai Wei’s table. He cupped his hands respectfully and said, “These items are truly rare treasures. They must have been very costly for the Empress Dowager. I feel truly guilty to accept them!”
Cai Wei said, “If you feel guilty, then take good care of Zhao Yun. She is a good girl; don’t let her suffer any grievances!”
Tuoba Hong solemnly replied, “This requires no reminder from the Empress Dowager. I will do just that. Zhao Yun is the finest woman in this world. Being able to marry her is my greatest fortune. I will cherish her and never let her endure the slightest grievance.”
Cai Wei laughed and said, “Perhaps Zhao Yun is even better than what you imagine!”
Tuoba Hong, puzzled, asked, “What does the Empress Dowager mean by this?”