"Your Highness, you mustn't!"
Su Gui quickly stepped forward to dissuade her. Advancing the opening time to Chenshi would indeed allow these old folks to buy sweaters earlier and go home sooner. However, the news that the store would open at the beginning of Sishi had already spread far and wide.
Not to mention the Turks and the Tubo people, even the Emperor and the Empress in the imperial city were aware that the opening time was Sishi.
"Just think about it. If the Emperor, the Empress, and the princes and princesses come tomorrow and find that we've already opened for business, it won't be appropriate!" Su Gui spoke in a hurry, his voice hoarse with anxiety.
Eunuch Feng, who had been distributing blankets and quilts to the old folks, quickly joined in the persuasion. "Your Highness, we can't let the Emperor and the Empress feel that they've made a fruitless trip."
An old man received the blanket and bowed deeply to Li Jingyun, almost bending at a ninety - degree angle. Li Jingyun was worried that he might accidentally break his back.
"Thank you, Your Highness, for your kindness. It's already a great favor for you to give us the blankets. If the opening time is advanced because of us, it will weigh heavily on our consciences. Please reconsider your decision."
The words were spoken with great sincerity.
Only then did Li Jingyun realize that her sudden decision could have such a far - reaching impact on so many people.
"All right, then I'll drop the idea." After saying that, Li Jingyun turned around and went back.
To be in better shape for tomorrow, she had obtained permission from her father to spend the night in the mansion behind the sweater store.
That night was one of the most miserable nights she had ever experienced. She couldn't fall asleep at first, and then she couldn't wake up. Finally, it was Eunuch Feng's words "The store is about to open" that jolted her awake.
The sky was bright, and the noise from outside could even be heard where Li Jingyun was.
"Your Highness, it's a quarter past Chenshi. The people waiting to buy things outside have lined up all the way to the corner of Zhuque Street." When Su Gui saw Li Jingyun coming out, he quickly stepped forward, his face beaming with excitement as he shared the good news.
Not only commoners but also the high - ranking officials and nobles in Chang'an, those who had already obtained sweaters, had come. They weren't here to buy sweaters but to get closer to Li Jingyun and gain her favor.
Li Jingyun was extremely surprised. The corner of Zhuque Street?
Had the customers who came to buy sweaters filled the longest street in Chang'an?
"I heard last night that you prepared blankets for the people queuing outside. A large crowd flocked here, and they've surrounded this area so tightly that not even a drop of water could get through." Eunuch Feng came over with a comb. Li Jingyun sat up straight and let him do her hair.
However, the more she listened, the more something seemed off. "No wonder I kept hearing noises outside and couldn't fall asleep. So that's what happened!"
"I just went to inquire. Since the sweater store is opening, more than half of the other stores in the marketplace have closed. The shop owners and their assistants have all come to queue up to buy sweaters." Duan Jia was also beaming with excitement.
Li Jingyun was shocked again. The successive pieces of news instantly woke her up.
In the past, it was always her two older sisters who opened new businesses, and she would go to join the fun. Now it was her turn.
Eunuch Feng served Li Jingyun as she got dressed and did her makeup. While he was doing her hair, Li Jingyun was still sipping half a bowl of porridge. By the time her hair was done, she had finished her breakfast. Li Jingyun specially changed into a gorgeous dress and went to the second - floor of the sweater store. From there, she could look down and see the moving heads in the distance, like countless tiny dots.
As soon as she stood up, someone with sharp eyes spotted her. He nudged his companion. "Is that Princess Chengyang?"
"Are you kidding? It's so cold outside. Why would the little princess come out instead of counting money upstairs?"
His companion instinctively denied it. But when he squinted and took a closer look, he said, "It really is the little princess!"
Just like that, the news spread from one to ten and from ten to a hundred. In just a few seconds, everyone knew that Li Jingyun had come out. Suddenly, it became quiet, and countless pairs of eyes stared at her.
"So many people have come today!" Li Jingyun waved and greeted them with a big smile.
"Your Highness!"
"Open the store quickly, Your Highness!"
"Right! We've already prepared the money!"
Li Jingyun smiled. "My father and mother haven't come yet. I came to take a look. In another quarter of an hour, my sweater store will officially open!"
Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun were stuck in a traffic jam at the cross - road of Guangji Street. At this moment, they were looking up at the sky and sighing. Hongxuan, would she blame them if they were late?
Who could have imagined that there would be a traffic jam on Guangji Street, the second - widest road after Zhuque Street?
Wang De had gone to the front to inquire and reported that the road ahead was packed with people, so crowded that not even an inch could be moved. It seemed that all the carriages in Chang'an were on the street.
The closest person to Li Jingyun was Li You, who couldn't sleep in the middle of the night and had sneaked out of the palace to seek pleasure. He had heard that there was a charming young lady who sang very well living nearby.
However, he didn't get to see the young lady. Instead, he had to wait in the cold wind in front of Li Jingyun's sweater store for the store to open.
He glared at Shi An. It was the same old story again.
Below, there was a burst of excitement. "Your Highness, does your sweater store still need employees? I'd like to work here!"
"What are you talking about? Trying to find another boss right in front of me? Your salary this month will be cut in half!"
"Don't do this, boss! I was wrong!"
Li Jingyun was amused by the conversation below. She shouted, "The sweater store doesn't need any more employees for now, but the new villa does! I'll soon have a new villa. When the time comes, sign up with him!"
Li Jingyun smiled sweetly. With a quick thought, she shifted the matter to Su Gui. Su Gui, who had been hiding in the back, was pushed out by Duan Jia and Eunuch Feng. He waved his hand helplessly.
There were still voices coming from below. "Your Highness, don't worry! If the Tubo or Turk people dare to cause trouble here, we'll push them out with one shove each!"
"Right! One mouthful of spit from each of us would drown them!"
Following the voice, Li Jingyun looked over. The person looked very familiar. Was he the youngest son of Uncle Cheng Yaojin, Cheng Chuxia?
He had come too?
But where were the Tubo and Turk people? Even her father and mother weren't there. After looking around, only the fifth brother, Li You, was there with the eunuch Shi An.
Li Jingyun couldn't help but feel a bit panicked. Why was everyone missing? Had they forgotten about the opening of the sweater store?
Cheng Chuxia noticed that Li Jingyun's face didn't look right. He was puzzled. Was there something wrong with his words? Why didn't the little princess look happy?
She couldn't be unhappy! It was a joyous occasion for the store opening. He had to bring out his trump card!
"Little Princess! We heard that sweaters are warmer than paper clothes and are just as cheap. That's why we've all come to buy them. Thank you, Your Highness, for setting the price so low, so that us common people can stay warm!"
"Right! Thank you, Your Highness, for your kindness!"
The voices of the people below were like a mountain - roaring and sea - howling tsunami. The shouts praising Li Jingyun echoed through the sky.
At this point, some people were already about to kneel down and kowtow. There were so many people that there wasn't even enough space to kneel.
Looking at the crowd in front of her, Li Jingyun's nose felt sour, and tears welled up in her eyes. She took after her father, Li Shimin, in being easily moved to tears.
Duan Jia quickly comforted Li Jingyun. Sheriff Xie from the yamen, leading all his subordinates, came to clear the crowd.
Thanks to Li Jingyun, the yamen runners in the Tang Dynasty were also doubling as future traffic policemen.