"Come on up then!"
When Li Jingyun saw Sister Xinxing in her ordinary attire, she couldn't help but sigh. Her elder sister was more and more like a civilian boss. That imposing look without showing anger was just like Sister Gaoyang's.
The waiters served up several home - cooked dishes and a bowl of hand - pulled noodles for each person, all exuding a delicious aroma.
"It smells so good!" Li Mingda praised. "Sister Xinxing's food is really extraordinary."
"If you like it, eat more. Third Brother, here."
Princess Xinxing personally handed a pair of chopsticks and a bowl to Li Ke. The two younger sisters had already started eating.
After the meal, Princess Xinxing showed them around the building. It was all about selling milk tea. The third floor was obviously the most magnificent and delicate, with private rooms.
In Princess Xinxing's own words, when the noble ladies of Chang'an got together to chat and have fun, it wouldn't be appropriate to do so in the main hall.
Li Jingyun and the others wandered around the yet - to - open warm building for quite a while. If it weren't for Emperor Li Shimin sending someone to call them back, they might even have wanted to spend the night there.
The next day, the warm building opened for business.
It had been sunny just the day before, but today it was drizzling. The cool wind blew, making it much colder than yesterday.
Despite this, the street where the warm building in Pingkangfang was located was still bustling. Before the store opened, two or three dozen people were eagerly waiting at the door, surrounding the front entrance tightly. They craned their necks to smell the fragrance wafting from inside.
These were all stewards from the mansions of high - ranking officials, here to buy milk tea for their masters.
Li Jingyun rushed out of the palace again. This time, Empress Zhangsun accompanied them.
Even though Empress Zhangsun had taken off her imperial robe and put on the clothes of an ordinary woman, she still had an indescribable air of nobility.
In the presence of everyone, the two warm buildings officially started business. Li Jingyun and Li Yin each held a cup of milk tea. One was the first cup produced by the warm building in Pingkangfang, and the other was the first cup from the one in Anyifang.
They really emphasized the sense of ceremony.
At a window table on the second floor sat two beautiful young ladies. They were exactly the two they had met yesterday, and there was also an acquaintance, Pei Mingli.
Seeing Li Jingyun and her mother and sisters, Pei Mingli quickly got up and saluted. "Your humble subject pays respects to the Empress and the Princesses."
The library in Hedongdao that he had supervised the construction of was already completed. He had returned to Chang'an to report his work and also brought back an adopted younger sister, Wanjun, whom he had met on the way. Wanjun got along very well with Heniang. They had only known each other for a few months but were as close as sisters.
"Paying respects to the Empress and the Princesses." The two young ladies quickly saluted.
It was really fate. They had just met and chatted yesterday, and now they met again.
Wanjun was the one with double - looped buns, and Heniang was the one with cloud - like buns.
"Get up," said Empress Zhangsun. "There's no need for so many formalities today. Just enjoy yourselves."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Empress Zhangsun had gone up to the third floor. Li Jingyun, who was the last one, was still looking outside. Pei Mingli had lost a lot of weight compared to before, and his clothes were not as bright as before.
She was very curious. She wondered what the library in Hedongdao looked like. Would Father fulfill his promise and let Pei Mingli become an official when he came back this time?
Don't think she was young. She had a good memory. She still remembered that Father had said he would appoint Pei Mingli as the junior员外郎 of the Ministry of Works.
In the future, Pei Mingli would work under Minister Yan.
"What are you still looking at? Hongxuan, come up quickly," Sister Gaoyang pulled Li Jingyun's hand.
"Coming, Sister!"
Li Jingyun sat cross - legged on the beauty's couch in the private room on the third floor. She sipped the rose and red - date milk tea casually. A sweet fragrance spread throughout the room. There were also several delicate snacks in front of her.
The imperial concubine red pastries were crispy and fragrant, the grilled bright shrimp was tender and delicious, the jade dew dumplings were full of glutinous rice fragrance, and the crystal dragon and phoenix cakes were alluring with the fragrance of red dates. Eating the snacks and drinking the freshly - brewed thick and fragrant rose and red - date milk tea was really a great enjoyment.
The windows were tightly closed, not a bit of cold wind could get in. Someone was playing the guzheng next door. With the melodious music, it was even more comfortable.
Except for the beginning when Sister Xinxing greeted Mother and her sisters and announced the official opening of the warm building, she hadn't shown up again. Even the manager of the warm building in Pingkangfang had disappeared.
"The snacks are really delicious, but why do they taste so similar to those in the ice building?" Li Mingda ate a jade dew dumpling and looked at Princess Gaoyang in confusion.
"The weather has turned cold. The business in the ice building is not good, and the warm building is short of manpower. I simply asked a few snack chefs to come and work in the warm building. They can also teach a few apprentices and go back in a year or two," Princess Gaoyang said with a smile.
Seeing that Li Jingyun was dressed thinly, she asked someone to get the hibiscus quilt from the cabinet and covered it on Li Jingyun's legs. She also carefully tucked in the corners of the quilt.
At this time, the waiter came to report. "My lord, Zhang Fengya from the mansion of the Duke of Yun insists on taking the private room next to yours on the third floor. I couldn't stop her, so I had to let her come up."
"My lord?!"
Li Jingyun and Li Mingda were both curious about this title. Sister Xinxing was the boss of the warm building. Why did the waiter call Sister Gaoyang the lord too?
"Actually, this place was prepared by Xinxing and me together," Princess Gaoyang explained. "She should have gone to Anyifang. Of course, I have to step in and help her."
"However, Zhang Fengya?"
Princess Gaoyang went through several faces in her mind before finally confirming who she was.
She was the only daughter of Zhang Liang, the Duke of Yun, and was raised by her step - mother, Li. She had once said during the Crown Prince's beauty - selection that she "was best at drinking and could hold a thousand cups without getting drunk."
She and her step - mother were both not easy people to deal with.
To avoid any trouble on the opening day, Princess Gaoyang decided to go and see what was going on.
When she went out, she saw Zhang Fengya standing at the door. There was also a heavily - made - up and charming woman beside her. It was hard to tell her exact age.
"Your humble servant, Li, pays respects to the Princess," Li said after saluting. Then she quickly tried to get on friendly terms. "Your Highness may not know. I'm also from the Li family of Longxi. Maybe we're even relatives."
"Yes, Your Highness. This private room next door is empty. It would be just right for us to go in," Zhang Fengya said with a big smile on her face, pointing at the private room.
"This private room is reserved for my elder brothers and younger brothers. Of course, I can't let you in. There should still be empty rooms on the second floor. How about going to the second floor?"
Princess Gaoyang simply and straightforwardly refused, using the princes as an excuse.
The smile on Zhang Fengya's face immediately froze. Before coming here, she had boasted to her companions that her father was highly regarded by His Majesty in the court, and even the princesses and princes would give their family some face.
She knew that the largest and most magnificent private room must be reserved for the royal family, but she only asked for the one next to it. Was that not okay?
Li looked very dissatisfied. "How can you talk like that? The second floor is not as good as the third floor! This room on the third floor is empty. Why can't we go in? Can't your elder brothers and younger brothers just stay in that room?"
"Mother!"
Zhang Fengya pulled Li. She still had a bit of sense. She knew that the person in front of her was a princess, and they couldn't act like shrewish women in the marketplace. Her mother's words were really too much.
"Why are you pulling me? So what if she's a princess? My husband is a great general who has fought on the battlefield with His Majesty for many years. He has made great military achievements! In principle, he's even her elder. Is she qualified to lecture me?"
Li was indignant and loudly scolded. Everyone couldn't even hear the sound of the guzheng anymore. All they could hear was her shouting.