There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 281 Never Done

Li Shuchen took it and eagerly licked it, mmm~, so refreshing.

Gu Ziying: "Now that the portrait is finished, it's almost time for lunch."

Li Shuchen nodded: "Yes, the menu is missing one last dish. We'll discuss it when we arrive at Baihua Manor on the fourteenth."

Princess Changning: "What's on the menu?"

"Tulip salad, peony beef, fried rose petals, chrysanthemum sea bass, fresh flower rolls, seven-color flower cakes, jasmine chicken breast, three-color sweet potato, lily and lotus seed soup."

Princess Changning tilted her head slightly: "Are you finished?"

Li Shuchen slurped up a mouthful of popsicle and replied, "Uh..."

"There are only nine dishes. Ten dishes and a soup, we're still short two dishes."

Princess Changning asked, puzzled.

Upon hearing this, Li Shuchen carefully counted the dishes, then his expression changed: "Damn, there really are two dishes missing. I thought there was only one."

Ye Bingli: "I remembered it wrong too."

Li Shuchen: "It's alright, there's still time. I'll think about it some more."

Princess Changning: "And after lunch?"

Li Shuchen: "The winner of the flower arrangement competition receives a big prize, then they sell flowers, flowerpots, and vases, and then it's time to go home."

Several people nodded upon hearing this.

Princess Changning said quietly, "After all that talk, the matter of the Tenth Prince is still unresolved."

Li Shuchen: "I already said, I'm keeping an eye on the Tenth Prince."

Liang Yuying: "I met the Tenth Prince when I entered the palace. He is arrogant and conceited, and he doesn't respect anyone except the Emperor."

After finishing the last bite of his popsicle, Li Shuchen said, "That's amazing?"

Liang Yuying: "I'm afraid that on the day of the banquet, the guests will be wary of the Tenth Prince and won't be able to play as they please, which will affect our income."

Upon hearing this, Li Shuchen abruptly stood up: "Affect making money? That won't do! I'm counting on the extra money from the banquet to renovate the inn's rooms!"

Gu Ziying reached out and pulled Li Shuchen to sit down: "Shuchen, don't panic. I've heard that the Tenth Prince developed this kind of personality because his mother, Consort Ru, was not favored."

"She gave birth to a prince, but she's still only a concubine. It seems she's indeed out of favor. But what can I do if her mother is out of favor?"

Li Shuchen scratched his head in frustration.

Princess Changning said calmly, "As if the noble lady has passed away."

"this,,,"

Li Shuchen remained seated, silent.

Liang Yuying said, "I don't have much to do on the day of the banquet, so I can accompany Shu Chen to receive the Tenth Prince. If the Tenth Prince makes any unusual moves, we can prepare in advance."

Gu Ziying: "That's feasible. If Shu Chen receives the Tenth Prince alone, the Tenth Prince might be angry. It would be much better if Yu Ying accompanied him."

Li Shuchen nodded.

Princess Changning said listlessly, "I have a feeling that the Tenth Prince will make a move against Shu Chen."

Liang Yuying stared intently at Li Shuchen: "I will protect Shuchen and make sure she doesn't get hurt."

"Hmm" *3

After the discussion, the group dispersed.

Li Shuchen lay sprawled on the octagonal table, lost in thought.

"Is Miss thinking about the Tenth Prince?"

Grape stood aside and asked

Li Shuchen nodded blankly.

"Miss, have some grapes. They'll make you feel much better."

Upon hearing this, Li Shuchen popped his favorite chilled grapes into his mouth one by one.

After eating a skewer, he suddenly stood up, startling Grape.

"Miss, what's wrong?"

Li Shuchen waved his hand: "It's nothing."

He then stood up and walked to the window.

An arrogant and conceited man—why not just go along with him? Whatever he says goes, whatever he tells her to do.

No matter how he tormented me, I held back my anger.

It's such a simple thing, why did she think so narrowly?

As for Changning's claim that the Tenth Prince would harm her, that's even less likely. The solution is simply to appease him; he'll find her boring and ignore her.

Once I put my mind at ease, life became much better. Before I knew it, it was July 13th.

"Miss, the Flower Robe Pavilion has delivered all the clothes you requested."

Grape happily walked into the Three Treasures Hall

Upon hearing this, Li Shuchen hurried downstairs. Arriving at the first floor of the inn, he was startled to see the innkeeper of the Flower Robe Pavilion drinking tea.

"Shopkeeper, why did you come in person?"

The manager of Huashang Pavilion put down his teacup, stood up, and said respectfully with a smile, "The master instructed that the clothes ordered by Miss Li must be delivered by me personally, without the slightest mistake. Miss Li, please take a look at these clothes and see if there are any problems?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shuchen stepped forward and glanced at the clothes of the five beauties and the eighty girls. The workmanship and details were all excellent.

"The clothes are all fine, thank you for your hard work, shopkeeper."

The manager of Huashang Pavilion said, "Miss Li, you flatter me. If there's nothing else, I'll head back now."

Li Shuchen: "Take care, shopkeeper."

After the group from Huashang Pavilion left, Grape laughed so hard she was shaking.

"What are you laughing at?"

Li Shuchen glanced at the grapes, then went to get his clothes.

Grape quickly grabbed a stack of clothes and caught up with Li Shuchen, whispering, "Miss, the owner of Huashang Pavilion is so kind to you. Grape has never seen the owner of Huashang Pavilion personally deliver clothes to someone before."

Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Li Shuchen put the clothes in the storeroom and said calmly.

"No, Miss, you believe Grape. Didn't you hear what the customers were saying? The manager of Flower Garment Pavilion never delivers clothes, not even to wealthy families. It's all done by the shop assistants. You can imagine how much Miss holds in Young Master Cheng's heart, hehehe."

"It's the change of seasons now, and there are a lot of people buying clothes. Perhaps the shop assistants can't keep up with the deliveries, so they asked the shopkeeper to do it for them."

Li Shuchen locked the storeroom door and walked towards the living room.

Grape stood there shaking her head. Why is Miss so clueless? Sigh~

"Manager Xu, I've come to deliver a plaque and a baking oven to your employer."

Li Shuchen, who had just reached the corner, overheard this and said, "Thank you for your hard work. Grape, bring me a pot of chilled tea."

"coming"

Grape brought over a tray and poured tea for each of Kong's apprentices.

"Miss Li, you're too kind. Please, Miss Li, take a look at the plaque and the oven."

Li Shuchen lifted the red cloth covering the plaque, revealing a glossy brown plaque with the three characters "Baihuazhuang" enlarged proportionally and flawlessly.

How much silver is needed for the plaque?

Twenty taels of silver

Li Shuchen walked to the oven to check the details, and after confirming that everything was correct, he asked, "How much silver does the oven cost?"

"Young Master Cheng has already paid for the oven."

Li Shuchen raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, and said he really meant it: "Uncle Xu, settle the bill for him."

Shopkeeper Xu: Yes

Li Shuchen: "I would like to trouble you strong men to help me carry the oven and plaque to the backyard."

"a piece of cake"

After they finished their work, they left.

Muqi looked at the oven from all angles, then exclaimed in surprise.

"Miss, this oven is far superior to the one Muqi applied to before. The workmanship and materials are of very high quality."

Li Shuchen: "Do you think it can roast a whole roasted lamb that tastes just like it did that day?"

Muqi confidently replied, "Of course I can. Even without cumin, I can still grill it."

Li Shuchen smiled and said, "Yes, we have cumin."

Upon hearing this, Muqi was slightly shocked: "Really?"

"What did I lie to you about?"

"Miss, would you like some roasted whole lamb? Muqi will roast it right away."

Muqi looked at the lamb with murderous intent in her eyes.

Li Shuchen waved his hand: "Don't bake this lamb cake yet, there are more important things for you to do right now."