“So it’s Second Miss Lin’s family shop.” Princess Yi’an showed little surprise upon hearing this.

Wealthy families had many properties. Besides good farmland and houses, shops would naturally be plentiful as well.

Princess Lingque took a bite of the sugar cheese and looked at Lin Hao with increasing interest: “Is this dessert called Sugar Cheese with Cherries? I’ve been in Great Zhou for so long, and this is my first time eating it.”

Princess Yi’an glanced at her sideways. Though clearly amazed by the dessert she’d tasted, her face absolutely wouldn’t show it: “This sugar cheese is nothing special. In our country, we eat it all the time. If Elder Sister likes it, you can have a few more bowls.”

Princess Lingque set down her small spoon, her tone casual: “No matter how delicious it is, it’s just a dessert. Having tasted it and found it good, letting it put one in a good mood is enough. These things are valuable for their quality, not quantity. Actually, people are the same way—don’t you think, Younger Sister?”

Princess Yi’an felt the barb.

Was this slut gloating about stealing Yang Zhe away?

Princess Lingque was quite satisfied with Princess Yi’an’s reaction and rose leisurely to her feet: “Thank you for the hospitality, Second Miss Lin. I’ll buy all three flower essences.”

Seeing her about to leave, Princess Yi’an also stood up, refusing to show weakness: “Package the flower essences for me as well.”

Lin Hao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She saw the two of them to the door and watched as they entered a teahouse one after the other before turning back inside.

Chunni was lively by nature. Taking advantage of the temporary absence of customers, she asked curiously: “Miss, what’s the background of those two young ladies just now? They seemed so imposing.”

So many noble ladies had come on the flower essence shop’s opening day, but none were as proud as these two.

“No need to inquire about their identities. If they come again in the future, just don’t offend them.”

“Mm, understood.”

Lin Hao found the shopkeeper to discuss business: “The osmanthus essence is a new product. Pay attention to customers’ reactions.”

The shopkeeper of Wuxiang was still someone from the General’s Mansion. Lin Hao intended to have Hu Shi take over, but firstly, Little Stone was still recovering his health, and secondly, the flower essence shop had just opened not long ago, so there was no rush.

“Rest assured, Miss, I’m keeping track of everything.” The shopkeeper was in high spirits and mentioned customers’ suggestions: “Quite a few customers have asked why we don’t have rouge or face powder.”

“We only sell flower essences, and that’s how it will be in the future too.” Lin Hao thought of Princess Lingque’s words and said with a smile, “Variety is valuable for quality, not quantity. It’s impossible to earn all the money.”

The reason Wuxiang’s flower essences could surpass those old established shops was because of the purification and distillation method obtained from Daoist Mingxin, which made the flower essence’s fragrance last longer and smell more authentic. There was no such advantage in other areas. If they sold everything, the manpower and effort expended would far exceed the gains—completely unnecessary.

While Lin Hao chatted about business in a relaxed mood here, not far away at a teahouse, two young ladies who clearly had extraordinary status arrived.

“Two young ladies, please come inside. Are you together?”

The waiter’s words made Princess Lingque pause. Princess Yi’an looked at her with a smile: “Elder Sister doesn’t mind being together, does she?”

Provocation surged in her eyes, which instead made Princess Lingque smile: “Of course I don’t mind.”

How interesting—was Princess Yi’an actually looking to cause her trouble?

She was just bored with her days and lacking a cat or dog to toy with to pass the time.

“Do you have a private room?” Princess Yi’an asked.

“Yes, two young ladies, please go upstairs.” The waiter bowed and gestured invitingly.

Princess Lingque instructed the guards who had followed her to have tea in the main hall and brought only one maidservant up the stairs.

Princess Yi’an also brought only one maidservant up, leaving the others downstairs.

The private room wasn’t large, but at least it was clean. Princess Lingque sat down first, her posture leisurely.

Princess Yi’an wasn’t in such a good mood.

After having her husband stolen, she hadn’t had many opportunities to meet with Princess Lingque. Even when they did encounter each other, the occasions weren’t suitable for extended conversation. She had been holding back certain words for a very long time.

“Wait outside.” After the waiter brought fragrant tea and snacks, Princess Yi’an instructed her maidservant.

The maidservant complied and withdrew.

Princess Lingque also nodded at her attendant, indicating she should go out.

The private room’s door opened and then closed, leaving only the two princesses holding clear tea and facing each other.

Wisps of hot steam rose, blurring their beautiful or exquisite faces.

“Has Elder Sister still not remembered?” Princess Yi’an caressed her teacup, her gaze meaningful.

She suspected this slut’s amnesia was fake!

If she didn’t pretend to have amnesia, how could she disregard a princess’s dignity and steal someone else’s husband?

Princess Lingque raised an eyebrow, her tone languid: “Not yet.”

“When Elder Sister didn’t have amnesia, you were quite different from now.”

Princess Lingque rested one hand casually on the table, her body leaning forward slightly: “Oh, different how?”

“The thickness of your face is quite different.” Princess Yi’an looked directly into Princess Lingque’s rippling eyes, finally speaking the words she’d been holding back for so long with satisfaction.

The atmosphere inside the private room was tense with drawn swords, while outside the room, the two maidservants were also at odds like needlepoint against wheat.

“They say customs differ every ten li. I didn’t feel much about it before, but now I’ve really broadened my horizons. Hey, are all you Lingque women so open-minded?”

The Lingque maidservant was not to be outdone and immediately retorted: “We Lingque women all believe in fate—better to arrive at the right time than arrive early. Hey, are all you Great Zhou women so unable to let go?”

“Stealing from others and still acting righteous—shameless!”

“Can’t protect what’s yours—incompetent!”

“Shameless!”

“Incompetent!”

…

The two maidservants engaged in a war of words, arguing heatedly. Later, worn out from arguing with their throats smoking, they finally stopped, glaring at each other angrily.

Suddenly, the sound of a chair scraping against the floor came from inside the private room, sharp and grating, immediately followed by a scream.

Both maidservants’ expressions changed, and they simultaneously pushed at the door.

The door opened, and an unpleasant smell rushed out. Anyone who had been on a battlefield or regularly dealt with homicide cases would recognize it immediately as the smell of blood.

Princess Yi’an retreated step by step. Seeing the people at the door, she seemed to wake from a dream, screamed, threw down the dagger in her hand, and rushed outside.

“Princess—” Princess Yi’an’s maidservant anxiously chased after her.

Princess Lingque leaned back against the chair, blood gushing from a wound in her chest, soaking through her magnificent garments. Her beautiful eyes were wide open, having lost their captivating spirit.

After a brief moment of speechlessness, Princess Lingque’s maidservant screamed at the top of her lungs: “Someone come quickly! Princess Yi’an has killed our princess!”

She stumbled forward, embracing Princess Lingque and crying out: “Princess, Princess, please wake up!”

The tea drinkers in the hall downstairs heard the commotion and saw a young lady rush down like a gust of wind and run outside.

Then came the crying and shouting of Princess Lingque’s maidservant.

Guards from both sides rose to their feet almost simultaneously—some ran outside, but more rushed upstairs.

A group of tea customers looked at each other in dismay.

Someone was killed? It seemed to be a princess? Both the killer and the killed were princesses?

In a rush, a crowd of people followed up to the second floor.

After asking about the situation at the flower essence shop and eating a bowl of cold noodles, Lin Hao was preparing to go home. She had just stepped out of the shop when she saw a young lady running toward her in panic.

Princess Yi’an?