CHAPTER 190: CHAPTER 190 FILIAL PIETY

The more booming the business of the ice shop, the colder the business of the Beauty Pavilion.

It was so cold that Su Jin wanted to ask someone to set up a charcoal brazier.

However, by the end of the morning, it wasn’t as if no business was done at all; some things were indeed sold.

Four discount cards were sold.

People came for the charcoal...

The Beauty Pavilion had a grand opening with special offers, introducing five types of discount cards.

Purple Jade Card, a 40% discount on purchases with four free services per month, priced at 500 taels.

Purple Gold Card, a 30% discount with three free services, priced at 200 taels.

Gold Card, a 20% discount with two free services, priced at 100 taels.

Silver Card, a 10% discount with one free service, priced at 50 taels.

Copper Card, a 5% discount, priced at 10 taels.

The buyers were a noodle stall vendor, the largest incense shop in the Capital, the shopkeeper of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, and a maid of Princess Fu Yun from Prince Yun Mansion.

The first two were indebted to Su Jin.

The Drunken Immortal Pavilion’s shopkeeper was afraid of offending Su Jin.

As for Princess Fu Yun, it’s likely that she felt guilty about the misunderstanding with Su Jin at the Great Buddha Temple and bought as a gesture of apology.

Except for the Purple Gold Card bought by Princess Fu Yun, everyone else bought Gold Cards.

They didn’t even enter the shop; they paid at the door and left with their cards.

Hmm.

Before leaving, they left a remark, saying they’d come back to buy charcoal when it gets cold.

Watching them leave, Xingxing was puzzled, "Why don’t they come in for a sit?"

"If I’m not mistaken, it’s probably because they’re worried about being caught and having their faces smeared with charcoal, so they hurried away," guessed the Heir of Marquis Beining.

"Our sister-in-law’s charcoal is indeed well remembered," Prince NanAn said with a sigh.

"..."

Another half an hour passed.

Xingxing touched her slightly hungry stomach and wondered if it was inappropriate to mention eating now.

A nearby servant came over and said to Xingxing, "The meal is ready."

"All set?" Xingxing asked.

"Yes."

Xingxing gulped, looked at Su Jin, and said, "Miss, it’s time for lunch."

"Then let’s eat first."

Su Jin got up and then sneezed.

Her nose was so sore that tears almost came out.

The sluggish business at the Beauty Pavilion brought joy to many.

First and foremost was Duke Chong’s Mansion.

A servant from Duke Chong’s Mansion had waited at a tea stall outside all morning, and seeing that the Beauty Pavilion truly had no business, he returned to Duke Chong’s Mansion.

He reported the cold reception of the Beauty Pavilion’s opening to the Duchess.

The Duchess couldn’t stop smiling.

The ice shop was too boastful before; now they face retribution.

Everyone knew how much was invested in the Beauty Pavilion; with the cold business, there was only one word to describe it—

A complete loss.

With her mood uplifted, her appetite increased.

At Duke Zhen’s Mansion, in Zilan Garden.

Xie Jinyu sat in front of the copper mirror, letting the maid help her with her hair.

After many days of recuperation, the cactus-induced injuries had healed, and with the Empress’s Bihun Ointment, no scars were left on her face.

Xie Jinxiu entered through the beaded curtain, smiling, "Elder sister, have you heard about the lack of business at our sister-in-law’s shop opening?"

Of course, Xie Jinyu had heard.

If not for her good mood, she wouldn’t be planning to go out and stroll around.

With a scornful smile, she said, "In this scorching heat, who would buy her charcoal?"

"But our sister-in-law’s Beauty Pavilion doesn’t sell charcoal," Xie Jinhuan remarked.

"What it sells doesn’t matter; what matters is what people believe," Xie Jinyu sneered.

The maid laughed, "When the ice shop opened last time, it was a roaring success, and the Eldest Young Madam and the others had a feast at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. Today, I fear they are not in the mood for that. The money made from selling ice can’t fill the hole of the Beauty Pavilion."

"Whether the ice shop loses money for the sake of popularity isn’t clear," Xie Jinyu said.

...

At the Beauty Pavilion.

Walking to the back door, they saw the large stone there.

Prince NanAn felt a bit emotional.

Yesterday, they were told not to enter after the opening, yet today they were allowed in again.

This might be the only good thing about the Beauty Pavilion’s poor business.

Approaching the dining area, they smelled the aroma of the dishes, making their stomachs rumble with hunger.

Once inside, everyone was stunned.

Four tables were pushed together, covered with dishes, at least fifty or sixty, all looking and smelling delicious.

"Why so many dishes?" asked the Heir of Marquis Beining.

"With no customers in the shop, the kitchen prepared a lot of food. I was afraid it would spoil, so I asked the Imperial Chef to make as much as possible," Xingxing explained.

"..."

Faced with so much delicious food, Xingxing smiled with crescent-shaped eyes.

The poor business of the shop didn’t affect her at all.

Hmm.

Not completely unaffected.

Su Jin’s bad mood affected Xingxing.

What she meant to say was—

What’s the big deal if business is bad and no money is made?

They’re bandits; it’s enough that others have money.

Making money isn’t their main business.

The worse the mood, the better and fuller one should eat because one needs strength to rob after eating and drinking well.

Su Jin chuckled and lightly tapped Xingxing on the forehead, "I see you’re really intending for me to close down."

Xingxing touched her forehead.

Behind her, two more servants brought four more dishes.

Prince NanAn said, "Don’t think too much now; let’s eat. We can’t waste this feast of delicacies."

Chu Shun and the others nodded.

Everyone sat down to eat.

Just as they were enjoying the meal, a steward came in and said weakly, "Eldest Young Madam, someone from the palace has come to buy charcoal."

Su Jin, "..."

Xie Jingchen, "..."

Prince NanAn choked on a mouthful of mapo tofu.

Coming to buy charcoal in the middle of the day, how can anyone enjoy their meal properly?

Xie Jingchen held his forehead.

The Emperor really sent someone to support Su Jin’s business.

The person buying the charcoal was a trusted subordinate of Eunuch Fu.

He followed into the restaurant and saw the feast on the table.

The little eunuch, "..."

His mouth twitched continuously.

The poor business at the Beauty Pavilion seemed to have no impact on the mood of the Eldest Young Madam.

Yet Eunuch Fu was worried about the poor business and instructed him to buy more to make her happy.

Eunuch Fu was overthinking the situation.

Seeing no response, the steward asked again, "Eldest Young Madam, are we selling?"

The little eunuch, "..."

Sell?

Even with a direct order from the Emperor to support the business, they were unwilling to sell.

This is too disappointing for the Emperor, isn’t it?

"We’re not selling," Su Jin decisively said.

The little eunuch, "..."

The little eunuch was stunned.

The Emperor had never been brushed off before.

How could the Eldest Young Madam do such a thing?

The little eunuch wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

Su Jin looked at him and said, "Please convey to the Emperor my thanks for caring for my business, but the Beauty Pavilion is not for selling charcoal."

The little eunuch, "..."

Not selling charcoal?

Hadn’t the Emperor awarded a plaque, and wasn’t it hung up?

Is this a case of false advertising?

No...

Such a big shop should be falsely advertising something else.

"If not selling charcoal, then what?" the little eunuch weakly asked.

"Charcoal soap," Su Jin replied.

Charcoal soap?

What is that?

The little eunuch wondered.

However—

No matter what it is, with the Emperor’s favoritism towards the Eldest Young Madam, she must be supported in whatever is sold.

The little eunuch decided to act first and report later, but Su Jin gave him no chance.

Su Jin instructed the steward, "Prepare one hundred pieces of charcoal soap for the little eunuch to take back, along with twenty pieces each of various scented soaps, and whatever else you see fit. These are my offerings to the Emperor."