Madam Lou Sends People Again
"He... he won't run off without paying! He said he'd pay, just went home to get the money. He'll be back soon! Maybe something came up at home and delayed him, but he'll definitely come back." Princess Mingyu stammered.
"Princess, do you think you might have been tricked?" Su Li asked, feigning concern. "The sooner you report it to the authorities, the better. Why don't you go to the Six Doors Office and file a report? Maybe you'll get your spices back."
Bai Lu suddenly chimed in, "That's right, Princess, you definitely got swindled. Hurry and report it!"
Su Li and Bai Lu exchanged a sly smile. The more they urged Princess Mingyu to report it, the less likely she was to actually do it.
Sure enough, Princess Mingyu knew deep down she'd been duped, but was too embarrassed to admit it. She considered reporting it, since those spices were worth a fortune.
But after Su Li and her servant provoked her, Princess Mingyu became stubborn, raising her chin and retorting, "I’m conducting business as usual—why should I report it? Haven’t you ever handed over goods before getting paid? Besides, he left a deposit. He’s an honest merchant and will bring the money soon. You two should go, why are you meddling so much? I’m not wasting words on you. I’ll wait at Suxin Pavilion for him to bring the money."
Without another word, Princess Mingyu turned on her heel and marched into Suxin Pavilion, secretly fretting over how humiliating this whole ordeal was. She’d rather die than report it to the authorities.
Princess Mingyu thought for a moment, then told her attendants, "No one is allowed to gossip about today’s events. If anyone dares to spread word of this, you’ll have me to answer to!"
Meanwhile, in the carriage, Su Li said to Steward Xiao Yuan, "Find a few storytellers and have them turn Princess Mingyu’s business deal with the foreigner into a rhyming tale that spreads through the capital. Let everyone see just how talented the Princess of Chu is at doing business."
Steward Xiao Yuan covered his mouth and nodded quickly. "Alright, the whole capital will have fresh gossip now. Consider it a public service."
Su Li, Bai Lu, and Steward Xiao Yuan enjoyed a hearty meal at Eight Treasures Pavilion, then the three returned together to the Prince’s manor.
Just as they arrived, a servant came to report: Madam Lou had sent someone over again.
Su Li immediately frowned. "Why is she here again? What’s the story today?"
The servant replied, "Madam Lou says she’s not feeling well and misses the Prince and Princess Consort. She wants to invite them to the Lou residence for a meal. Oh, and the messenger brought quite a few gifts."
"How did you handle it?" Su Li asked.
The servant replied, "We followed the Princess Consort’s instructions and said that the Prince and Princess Consort are busy and not at home. We told them to wait for news, and we returned the gifts."
"Alright, got it." Su Li sat down and rubbed her brow. Madam Lou really wasn’t giving up.
Steward Xiao Yuan, seeing Su Li’s troubled expression, asked, "Princess Consort, are you worried about the Marquis and Madam Lou?"
Su Li nodded and gave a quiet "Mm." Both Bai Lu and Steward Xiao Yuan knew exactly what those two old troublemakers had been up to.
After a pause, Steward Xiao Yuan said, "Princess Consort, I’ve been running business errands in the capital with our master lately, and I’ve heard some news from the court about the Lou residence."
"What’s going on at the Lou residence?" Su Li asked curiously.
Steward Xiao Yuan explained, "Originally, the Marquis’s residence was well-connected in both official and social circles in the capital, thanks to Prince Xiao. But recently, Prince Xiao set up his own household and stopped associating with the Lou residence. Now there are rumors in the capital about discord between father and son, mother and son. The people who used to be close to the Marquis and Madam Lou have started to distance themselves. Unlike before, when they were welcomed everywhere, now their social standing in the capital has plummeted."