Once she threatened him, Agu dared not resist and immediately ordered the coachman, "Go to Baohezhai right now."
Baohezhai is the largest antique shop in Beijing. In addition to jewelry and jade, it also has valuable calligraphy and paintings. It is a place that many literati and scholars like to linger.
The things there are good, but I heard they're all very expensive.
However, the things she was buying today were for His Highness the Crown Prince. Even if the people in the General's Mansion felt the pinch, they probably wouldn't dare not pay. In this way, she both struck a blow against Lady Liu and targeted the Crown Prince, which could be considered killing two birds with one stone.
The carriage headed towards Baohezhai. Inside the carriage, a look of understanding flashed across Rouge's face: "Miss, you've gone to buy things to give to the Crown Prince again."
Hai Ling smiled and said, "Tell me, isn't it a win-win situation to both make the Liu family lose money and anger the Crown Prince?"
Rouge, however, was not as optimistic as Hailing: "Miss, do you really think this is a good idea? What if we anger the Crown Prince?"
Hai Ling stopped talking and leaned against the wall, wondering if Feng Zixiao would break off the engagement or kill her if she angered him. In the end, she realized there were only two possibilities: either he would break off the engagement or he would marry her. He would never ruin the whole plan just to kill her.
"Don't worry, it's okay."
It's not that she wants trouble, but rather that trouble comes looking for her; even if she tries to avoid it, it won't help.
After traveling for some time, the carriage finally arrived at Baohezhai.
The midday sun shone on the golden signboard of Baohezhai. The three-room shop was open, and people were coming and going in a lively atmosphere.
Although the items inside were expensive, the place was still packed with customers, which shows that there were many wealthy people in the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Hai Ling led Yan Zhi down from the carriage, immediately attracting the attention of many people. The whispers were mostly about how this Crown Princess had defeated Ye Xiuying, the daughter of Grand Tutor Ye, and Jiang Feixue, the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, and had even broken the Zhenlong Chess game that no one else could solve. They never expected that this unassuming Crown Princess would be so talented and so capable in her first move.
If she had been seen here in the past, it would have been a laughing stock, but now people don't think that way. Because she is a talented woman and the future Crown Princess, it is normal for her to come to a place like this.
Hailing ignored those people and led Rouge, Agu, and other guards into Baohezhai.
The shopkeeper naturally recognized her and immediately ran out from behind the counter with a big smile, eagerly asking them what they needed.
Hailin asked with a smile, "What good calligraphy and paintings do you have here?"
"Yes, yes, Your Highness, please sit down here. I will go and fetch it right away."
The shopkeeper led the way and invited Hailin to have tea in a separate space next door, separated by a screen.
Just as Hailin lifted her foot, she heard a clear, pleasant greeting from the doorway.
"What a coincidence, we've run into each other here."
As the voice fell silent, she heard gasps coming from inside Baohezhai's shop, and couldn't help but look over curiously.
Three figures stood before the door. The one in the lead was the one who had set up the intricate chess game the previous night. In the daytime, he was even more radiant and dazzling, his frosty white robe accentuating his skin as smooth as ice. His slightly tipsy gaze was fixed on Hai Ling, carrying the rich fragrance of winter plum blossoms. His sensual lips curved into a beautiful smile, as bright and beautiful as summer flowers, making one feel as if they were seeing large, bright and vibrant blossoms.
This man was truly stunning; no wonder the female customers in the shop kept gasping, and many of them stared at him with blushing and pounding hearts.
He ignored her completely and walked straight up to Hailing. Hailing smiled and greeted her casually, "What a coincidence."
Is it really a coincidence? It seems this person deliberately followed her in. What exactly does he want?
After greeting the person, Hai Ling ignored him and turned to follow the shopkeeper behind the screen. Unexpectedly, the person who had greeted her followed her all the way in. Now it was hard for Hai Ling to ignore him, so she stopped and stared at him.
"Who exactly are you?"
"My name is Ji Shaocheng."
"Ji Shaocheng?" Hai Ling repeated, then raised her eyebrows in disbelief. Ji Shaocheng, a general from Beilu, was not only brave and skilled in battle, but also renowned for his beauty. Many people said he was a rare beauty in Beilu. He was indeed handsome, but was he really Ji Shaocheng from Beilu? Why was he on the land of Da Zhou?
"Are you Ji Shaocheng, a general from Northern Lu?"
"It is I."
Ji Shaocheng clasped his hands in acknowledgment of his identity. At this moment, the female guests in Baohezhai began to whisper among themselves, mostly praising General Ji. The rumors were indeed true. General Ji was so handsome, and he was also a general of a country. How lucky it would be to win his favor! Many women were infatuated and stared blankly at Ji Shaocheng.
Unfortunately, Ji Shaocheng had no eyes for anyone else; his gaze remained fixed on Hailing.
Although Hailin was surprised, she did not lose her composure. She nodded and then spoke politely.
"I wonder why General Ji is following me?"
"I wish to meet the Crown Princess's mother?"
Ji Shaocheng, unwilling to give up, spoke up. Although Hai Ling was chubby, he could vaguely tell from her eyebrows that she was actually a beauty in the making, but her plumpness made her lose her beauty. So he had to meet her mother to see if she really was his second mother.
"My mother?"
Hai Ling was extremely puzzled. Why did General Ji insist on seeing her mother? Had he mistaken her for someone else, or was there some connection between him and her mother?
"Why do you want to see my mother?"
"I have something to discuss with you."
“Oh,” her mother never left the house, so why did Ji Shao of Beilu want to see her?
As the two were talking, the shopkeeper, who had been standing to the side, cautiously asked, "Would Your Highness the Crown Princess like to come in and serve tea?"
“Okay,” Hai Ling nodded, turned to look at Ji Shaocheng, and generously invited him in. It would be too conspicuous for the two of them to talk here; they should go inside and say what they had to say.
Ji Shaocheng didn't stand on ceremony and followed Hailing into the screen. The two sat down separately, and the shopkeeper immediately called over a waiter to serve tea. Then he had the young waiter from Baohezhai serve him while he went in to fetch the valuable calligraphy and paintings from Baohezhai.
Agu ordered his men to go to the Crown Prince's residence to report the news, while he led the remaining men to guard outside the screen to prevent outsiders from disturbing them.
Outside the screen, the infatuated girls couldn't see Ji Shaocheng's figure, so they couldn't help but sigh and chatter. Some left dejectedly, while many others stubbornly stayed inside the shop, straining their ears to hear what was being said.
Hai Ling took a couple of sips of tea before raising her head to ask Ji Shaocheng.