Chapter 162 – The Dowry Shops Of Yue Family
Chapter 162 The Dowry Shops of Yue Family
Qu Moying did not stay long in Eastern Palace. After lunch, she left. Ji Youran did not come over and only asked someone to send the soft sedan chair over.
Qu Moying got on the soft sedan chair and was brought all the way to the place where the carriage was parked at the gate of the mansion.
After getting off the soft sedan chair and getting on the carriage, the carriage turned a corner. It did not return directly to Qu Mansion but went to the main street.
The main street was the same as Crown Prince’s Mansion. It was covered in snow-white banners waving in the air. The sound of crying could be heard from time to time. Although Ji Hanyue’s coffin had left the city gate, there were still crying sounds.
However, when this cry fell into Qu Moying’s ears, it sounded ironic.
People in Eastern Palace had already used the excuse of the Crown Princess’ funeral to seek their own fun. However, these irrelevant people were still crying. It could be seen how the ways of the world were.
The carriage stopped in a teahouse. Qu Moying put on a veiled hat and got out of the carriage with Yu Dong’s help.
She twisted her ankle. It was fine at this time. It was just that her foot was a little bit weak, and she did not dare to exert much strength. After using the ointment, she could still walk if she did not exert too much strength.
She did not go upstairs and only got a private room downstairs.
Today was the Crown Princess’ funeral, so the business in the teahouse was not very good. Many of the private rooms that were very fully booked in the past were also empty. Qu Moying took Yu Dong to get a private room facing the street.
After serving tea, the waiter left.
Qu Moying sat down and her gaze fell on the shop across the street.
Coincidentally, this teahouse was in the middle of the two shops across the street.
Of these two shops, one was a gold jewelry shop and the other was a clothing shop. The two shops looked like they belonged to the same owner. The architectural style was similar and the height was similar. Even the eaves that were raised had an identical Heaven Swallowing Beast with two rolling pearls.
However, Qu Moying knew that these two shops did not belong to the same owner.
The gold jewelry shop in the east now belonged to Crown Prince’s Mansion. To be more precise, it should have fallen into Ji Youran’s hands and become Ji Youran’s dowry. When Ji Youran first entered Eastern Palace, she was in such a hurry that there was not even a ceremony, let alone any dowry.
As for the clothing shop in the west, it should have fallen into Yu’s hands. Yu was not so powerful in Qu Mansion as she used to be, but it did not mean that Yu had been deprived of all the things she had. They could be still in her hands. It was also possible that they were now in Qu Qiuyan’s hands. It was even possible that Yu planned to use them as dowry for Qu Qiuyan in the future.
In the past, of these two shops, one was Yue’s dowry and the other was Second Madam Qu’s dowry. Now, both of them had fallen into the hands of others in an unfair way.
The ownership had changed, but the shops were still in good business.
“My lady, is there anything wrong with these two shops?” Yu Dong saw that she frequently glanced at the two shops across the street but did not say anything, and he could not help but ask.
“One is Cousin Hanyue’s dowry, and the other belongs to our mansion— it is Mother’s dowry,” Qu Moying said slowly. She did not say that it belonged to her.
Second Madam Qu’s dowry had never been given to her since she was driven to the village.
“No wonder!” Yu Dong immediately understood after thinking about it. No wonder the two shops looked like they belonged to the same family. Originally, they indeed belonged to the same family. It was the dowry that Yue Family gave to the two daughters when they got married. That was why the shops were next to each other. It was because they wanted the two sisters to be together and take care of each other.
However, things were different now. The two sisters were long gone, and now the two shops were not in the hands of the descendants as they should be. It was tragic.
“My lady, what should we do?” After figuring this out, Yu Dong immediately asked.
Qu Moying shook her head. “Wait a little longer!”
She didn’t have any evidence right now, and she couldn’t make a scene. If she made a scene at this time, it wouldn’t benefit her at all. She had to find a good opportunity.
Her watery eyes swept over the clothing shop in front of her. The shop was not small, and it was on such a lively street. There should be a lot of customers. In the past, when she came to visit the shops nearby, she would also take a look at this place. The business of this clothing shop was really good, but there was one thing—the shopkeeper was a relative of Yu.
She was still Ji Hanyue at that time, and she knew it by chance. However, the former Qu Moying didn’t say anything, and she was far away from the village. In this case, what could Ji Hanyue say?
A middle-aged man walked out with a cage in his hand. He had a fat head and big ears. She was very clear that this was the shopkeeper of the clothing shop, who was in charge of this shop. He was under the command of Yu. He was also surnamed Yu. He should be a member of Yu Family, but it was said to the outside that he was a relative of Yu.
“This person is a member of Yu Family. He is a relative of Yu. Get someone to check on him. Now, he is in charge of this clothing shop. He is the shopkeeper here.” Qu Moying came here today to bring Yu Dong to see him.
“Got it.” Yu Dong immediately understood what she meant. After taking a few more glances, he remembered the characteristics.
“I heard that this person is Yu’s elder cousin brother. In the past, he was an idler and lived an ordinary life. After he took control of this shop, his days began to change.” Qu Moying told him what she knew before.
“Don’t worry, my lady. This must be the Second Madam’s confidant. I understand.” Yu Dong understood immediately and nodded repeatedly. Now, he knew what to investigate.
Qu Moying glanced at the gold jewelry shop next to her. This shop used to be run by her subordinates. Now, it must be under the watch of Ji Youran. If the owner had changed, naturally the confidant would be changed too. Even if the shopkeeper did not change for the time being, it would happen sooner or later. It was just because Ji Youran did not want to attract attention for now.
Things were closely related. She could not directly interfere with Ji Hanyue’s affairs, but she could draw out the matter of Ji Hanyue based on Qu Mansion’s matters.
However, this matter was of great importance. Right now, she was not capable enough, so she could only gather evidence step by step.
The door suddenly opened. Yu Dong immediately turned his head and stared at the door. He wanted to see who was so ignorant of the rules. However, when he found that the person standing at the door was the familiar, smiling Eunuch Ji Hai, he was stunned for a moment and subconsciously turned to look at Qu Moying.
Qu Moying also saw Ji Hai. Seeing him bow to her, Qu Moying asked, “Is Lord Yun here?”
Ji Hai smiled and nodded. He moved to the side. Pei Yuanjun appeared behind him with a cold face. He strode into the room and sat down on the chair opposite Qu Moying. Ji Hai glanced at Yu Dong. Yu Dong then looked at Qu Moying. Qu Moying nodded to him silently. Only then did Yu Dong and Ji Hai leave.
Qu Moying gracefully bowed to Pei Yuanjun and then raised her head, waiting for Pei Yuanjun to speak.
After Pei Yuanjun sat down, his fingers gently tapped on the table. Suddenly, he looked up at Qu Moying and chuckled, “I bumped into you today for a reason.”
“Lord Yun, what do you want to say?” Qu Moying looked at Pei Yuanjun and asked in a neither servile nor overbearing manner. Her eyes were silent. She had thought that this matter would end here, but now it seemed that this was not the end.
Pei Yuanjun’s slender fingers tapped on the table a few more times, and his voice carried a bit of coldness. “My mansion lacks a Princess, and it just so happens that your engagement has been called off. Why don’t you come to my mansion and take charge of the internal affairs for me?”
Qu Moying’s pupils contracted slightly, and her gaze fell on Pei Yuanjun. She suppressed the uneasiness in her heart. The imperial family was out of her league. She should respectfully refuse.
“Lord Yun, you need a Princess?” Taking a deep breath, she suppressed the uneasiness in her heart and calmly asked.
“Yes, I need a Princess,” Pei Yuanjun said. His expression was lazy, but there was a bit of leisure in it. He casually said, but his eyes were tightly locked on Qu Moying. There was gloom in his eyes that Qu Moying could not understand.
“Lord Yun, even though you need a Princess, I am still young. I am still not of marriageable age,” Qu Moying said indifferently. There was no shyness on her face. It was as if she was talking about other people’s matters. There was no expectation or much rejection.
“I am not in a hurry. I just need to give you a title first, or maybe it is not even a title. It’s an agreement for the time being.” Pei Yuanjun tapped his fingers on the table a few more times before he put it down. The corners of his lips slightly curved, diluting the fierce aura he had. His beautiful eyes suddenly looked a bit enchanting.
“The Emperor was urging me so hard. I happened to bump into you, so he thought that I took a fancy to you, so he made this an excuse!” Pei Yuanjun explained, which was rarely seen.
After a moment of silence, Qu Moying’s watery eyes silently fell on Pei Yuanjun’s face. She understood Pei Yuanjun’s words. He did not really want her to be his Princess. It was just an oral agreement. The Emperor would not issue a decree at this time. As long as Pei Yuanjun expressed determined opposition in the future, this oral agreement would not take effect.
If Pei Yuanjun married his own Princess Consort in the future and did not want Qu Moying anymore, he could also not mention this oral agreement.
The matter of being his Princess was just a shield for the time being. It was just a report to the Emperor.
To Pei Yuanjun, this was a matter of great profit and no harm. It would not affect him much. However, it was not the case for her. Even if it were just a report to the Emperor, there would definitely be others who would know. Just like the Empress just now. The person behind the screen must have been the Empress.
The Empress spent much effort coming here definitely because of Pei Yuanjun. Since the Empress already knew about it, there would be more people who would know about it in the future.
Even if there was no decree, no one would dare to come and ask to marry her in the future. If Pei Yuanjun did not marry her in the future, her life would also be ruined.
Fortunately, she had never thought of marrying anyone in this life. It was good that no one came to ask for marriage at this time. At least no one would hinder her revenge. At present, she had to rely on Qu Mansion to investigate things. She did not want to have an engagement with anyone.
She had long known how heartless the men in this world were!
Pei Luo’an was such an “affectionate” person, but today, he had followed Empress over. While mourning for Ji Hanyue, he used the excuse of finding a lady for Pei Yuanjun to select a new Crown Princess for himself.
“Very well!” Since she had thought it through, it was a good thing that no one wanted to marry her. Qu Moying no longer hesitated and nodded with a sweet smile.
Her cherry lips curved into a smile, and the smile on her pale face was vivid. There was no hint of reluctance.
“Aren’t you afraid of having your reputation ruined? In that case, no one will ask to marry you in the future.” Pei Yuanjun found her calmness and decisiveness interesting. The gloom in his eyes faded away, and he smiled lazily.
