There Must Be a Scheme

From that day on, Princess Mira never dared to go near Suxin Pavilion again, terrified that the ghost might come for her life.

Just then, a buyer finally appeared, willing to purchase Suxin Pavilion.

Princess Mira couldn't wait to get rid of this hot potato. Seeing someone foolish enough to buy the genuinely haunted Suxin Pavilion, she hurriedly sold it off.

The final sale price was shockingly low, just thirty percent of the market value. Princess Mira rushed to the yamen with the buyer to complete the transfer, afraid they'd change their mind.

Having sold Suxin Pavilion, Princess Mira pocketed a modest sum of silver and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

All this trouble over Suxin Pavilion, buying spices, and competing with Lily Evans had worn Princess Mira out. Now, all she had left was the money from selling her shop.

News of the sale spread throughout the city by the next day.

The identity of the buyer was soon revealed: Arthur Evans, the big boss of Old Fortune Silver Shop.

Princess Mira found the name Arthur Evans familiar. After thinking for a moment, Green Luo said, "Princess, isn't Arthur Evans Lily Evans's fourth uncle? When we were in Haizi Village, I heard his name mentioned."

"Lily Evans's fourth uncle!?" Princess Mira shot up from her bed, her expression turning odd. "Arthur Evans bought my pavilion? But didn't the buyer claim to be from out of town?"

"Exactly, that's what's strange. The buyer claimed to be from out of town, just arrived in the Capital. That's why we tricked him—he didn't know the local gossip, nor that Suxin Pavilion was haunted, so the deal went through so quickly. But the buyer is Lily Evans's fourth uncle! Suxin Pavilion is right across from Lily's Bistro—how could Lily not know about the haunting? If she knew, why would she let her uncle buy Suxin Pavilion?" Green Luo nodded, her expression equally puzzled.

Princess Mira lowered her head, thinking for a moment. Suddenly, she exclaimed, "Come on, let's go check out Suxin Pavilion!"

Princess Mira immediately took a carriage with Green Luo to Suxin Pavilion, her face growing darker with every passing moment.

When they arrived outside Suxin Pavilion, they saw the old signboard had already been taken down and no new one put up yet. Inside the first-floor hall, a crowd was gathered around a big round table, eating, drinking, and laughing—everyone looked genuinely happy.

Princess Mira immediately spotted Lily Evans, and next to her, the man who had bought Suxin Pavilion!

"So he really is Lily Evans's relative!" Princess Mira gritted her teeth. "Lily is way too clever to let her family buy a haunted restaurant. There must be something fishy going on!"

Green Luo watched from the side, thinking, 'Finally, after all these days, Your Highness's brain is actually working.'

Princess Mira stormed in, shouting, "Lily Evans!"

Everyone at the table paused and turned to look at Princess Mira. She was just about to question Lily Evans—why let her relative buy a haunted shop—when she suddenly noticed another familiar face at the table: Mark Hunter, the owner of Zhang Family Spice Shop!

Green Luo also saw Mark Hunter, and as if something dawned on her, her face turned pale.

Now Princess Mira forgot all about questioning Lily Evans about Suxin Pavilion. She stared at Mark Hunter and demanded, "Aren't you the owner of Zhang Family Spice Shop? What are you doing here?"

Mark Hunter blinked, looking perfectly at ease. "I'm just the assistant manager. Our big boss invited everyone to a meal today, so I'm here as company."

"Who is the big boss of the Spice Shop?" Princess Mira felt a name rise in her mind, but she just couldn't bring herself to believe it.

Mark Hunter grinned and saluted Lily Evans. "Princess Lily Hayes is the big boss of Zhang Family Spice Shop! Princess, you've bought so many spices from us—did you never realize all your silver was going straight to her?"