Knowing she now had the status of a future princess consort, Jiang Yanyi was aware that if the new emperor infiltrated the city, he would likely target her.

To avoid causing trouble for Feng Shuo, she claimed to be ill and stayed home for the next few days, barely visiting Ruyi House, handling everything by instructing Yang Xiu to take charge.

Because Feng Shuo frequently skipped meals, Jiang Yanyi made sure to bring him food at every mealtime, only leaving after watching him finish eating.

Observing that Bing Shao could manage the noodle shop on his own and that Yang Xiu had things well in hand at Ruyi House, she began to plan ahead.

Once the funds were recouped, she thought she’d still like to explore the porcelain kiln business.

Though Feng Shuo had suggested that the porcelain industry might not be lucrative in the short term, she thought, “How would I know without trying?”

After all, in her original world, porcelain was extremely popular abroad.

If Yang Xiu wanted to keep working with her, she’d have to hire a manager to handle Ruyi House’s daily matters; however, if he preferred to stay at Ruyi House, she wouldn’t force him.

Yang Xiu was reliable and quick-witted, and she always felt at ease entrusting tasks to him.

When the sisters Chu Shubao and Chu Jiabao heard that Jiang Yanyi was ill, they came by with the youngest, Chu Huibao, to visit.

“Everyone in the family has ordered two new outfits for the New Year. I’m not only here to check on you; Sister-in-law asked me to get your and Yan Gui’s measurements, so the tailor shop can have them ready before the new year,” Chu Shubao said while stopping Chu Huibao from grabbing a walnut pastry. “Grandmother has also caught a chill recently and specifically reminded me to tell you to dress warmly.”

Feigning illness, Jiang Yanyi felt a bit guilty. “I understand. Grandmother is getting on in years; it’s her who should be taking care of herself. I’ll visit her once I’m feeling better.”

Chu Shubao nodded, “It’s almost the New Year. You and Yan Gui should come back then and stay through the holiday.”

Distracted for a moment, she didn’t notice Chu Huibao pick up a tangerine and start peeling it.

“Huibao, didn’t you just have two skewers of candied hawthorn on the way here?” Chu Shubao said, exasperated.

Chu Huibao looked innocently between her elder sister and Jiang Yanyi, her small round face showing nothing but innocence. “Candied hawthorn doesn’t fill me up.”

“Save some room for dinner,” her sister warned.

“But tangerines are mostly water; they don’t take up space,” said Chu Huibao, holding another tangerine.

The sisters all laughed at her words.

Chu Jiabao teased her, “Huibao, if you keep being so greedy, you might meet a mean mother-in-law someday who won’t let you eat.”

The little girl’s face turned to one of genuine fear, and she put the tangerine back on the plate.

Jiang Yanyi laughed, “Don’t scare Huibao.”

Chu Shubao added, “A-Yi, don’t spoil her like our second brother does. She already has two cavities and will regret it when they start to hurt.”

Unfazed, Chu Huibao said, “Nanny said those two teeth will fall out and new ones will grow in.”

Chu Shubao pinched her chubby cheeks, “But once your adult teeth grow in, if they go bad, they won’t grow back.”

Feeling nervous and a bit defiant, Chu Huibao made a silly face at her sister.

Holding her head in frustration, Chu Shubao said to Jiang Yanyi, “You see? At Ruyi House, I have to worry about the rouge business, and at home, this little girl drives me up the wall. I’m getting age spots!”

In truth, her so-called “spots” were just a tiny, barely noticeable dot.

Standing up, Jiang Yanyi said, “I made some honey pomelo tea, which is said to be good for skin. I’ll make you all a cup to try.”

Earlier, she had bought a few pomelos and made the tea as a treat for herself.

When Chu Shubao heard it could help with skin, she perked up, “There’s something like that? A-Yi, please get it for us.”

Jiang Yanyi quickly returned with a small porcelain jar, the aroma of sweet citrus with a hint of lemon filling the air as she lifted the oiled paper seal.

The sisters all gathered around the jar.

Inside, the golden syrup had a honey-like thickness, with fine strands of translucent yellow pomelo peel.

Just looking at it made one’s mouth water.

She boiled water in a small clay stove in the room, then poured it into a small white porcelain bowl with gold accents, adding cold water to bring the temperature down.

Finally, she scooped a full spoonful of honey pomelo syrup into the bowl, stirring it in.

She used warm water instead of hot to preserve the nutrients in the honey.

As the syrup dissolved, the tea turned a lovely pale golden color.

Chu Huibao took the first sip, smacking her lips as though trying to grasp the flavor.

Then, she drained the whole bowl in one go and said, “It’s sweet but with a light tangy taste. Delicious!”

Looking eagerly at the syrup in the porcelain jar, she asked, “Second sister, can this be eaten as a snack?”

Jiang Yanyi held back from admitting she often ate it as jam, sometimes spreading it on toasted bread.

Coughing lightly, she said, “You could, but you already have cavities, so you shouldn’t.”

Chu Huibao’s face fell in disappointment.

After drinking the honey pomelo tea, Chu Shubao and Chu Jiabao were full of praise.

Chu Shubao said, “A-Yi, why don’t you sell this tea at Ruyi House?”

Jiang Yanyi hesitated, “Pomelos are only in season in autumn and winter, and honey isn’t cheap.”

With Jiang Yanyi’s suggestion, Chu Shubao understood her point.

After a moment of thought, she said, “Ah Yi, how about this: I’ll give you a thirty percent cut from the sales of rouge, and you teach me this recipe. I’ll have the chef at my estate make it and see if we can popularize it among the prestigious ladies. What do you think?”

Jiang Yanyi smiled, “If you want to use the recipe, take it; there’s no need for a profit share.”

Chu Shubao, rarely serious, replied, “That won’t do. It’s thanks to the popularity of Ru Yi Lou that my rouge business has flourished. You’ve only been collecting rent without taking a share, and that already makes me feel indebted. This time, you simply have to accept it, or else…or else I won’t sell rouge at Ru Yi Lou anymore.”

The rouge business was run by Chu Shubao and Chu Jiabao alone, and Jiang Yanyi didn’t want to burden them too much.

Reluctantly, she said, “Ten percent will be enough.”

But Chu Shubao wouldn’t agree, and Chu Jiabao joined in to help convince her.

In the end, they settled on a compromise: besides the rent, Jiang Yanyi would take a twenty percent share.

She wrote down the recipe for honey pomelo tea for Chu Shubao.

The honey pomelo tea recipe was simple. After washing the pomelo, the outer yellow-green peel was carefully shaved off with a knife, as thinly as possible to avoid the bitter white pith.

This step required both knife skills and patience, and with her skill, Jiang Yanyi could cut it as finely as strands of hair.

Pomelo peel is a medicinal ingredient that soothes coughs and clears phlegm, so infusing it in tea has similar benefits.

After removing the skin and seeds, the pomelo flesh was mashed and added to a pot with the shredded peel.

Sugar and water were then added and brought to a boil, then simmered until soft.

The fruit mixture needed constant stirring to prevent burning, which would otherwise result in a bitter tea.

Once the pomelo peel turned a semi-transparent golden yellow, the heat was turned off.

When the mixture cooled, honey was added and stirred in.

Honey acts as a natural preservative, so the mixture could be stored for a long time.

Still, Jiang Yanyi only made a small amount each time.

She would use it for tea or as a snack, finishing a small porcelain jar within days.

The Chu sisters left, happy after a delicious meal, taking the honey pomelo tea recipe with them.

Although the Chu family planned to make new clothes for her and Chu Yangui, Jiang Yanyi still had Madame Chen from the tailor’s shop make two outfits for Chu Yangui.

The clothes from the Chu family were a gesture of care from their grandmother, but what she ordered was her own gift for her younger brother.

She personally selected the fabric and lining: fine Hangzhou silk and duck-down for warmth.

She also planned to provide new clothes for her staff at the bakery and Ru Yi Lou for the New Year.

Simple fabrics and cotton wouldn’t cost much, and these small holiday gifts not only boosted employee loyalty but also instilled a sense of pride.

After all, other places didn’t offer this kind of treatment.

It also made it harder for competitors to poach her workers, and some people even took pride in working at Ru Yi Lou.

Madame Chen at the tailor’s shop next door often joked with Jiang Yanyi, saying, “My shop stays afloat only because of the orders from your staff at Ru Yi Lou!”

Jiang Yanyi would occasionally visit Madame Chen to learn embroidery, which she found calming and meditative.

Her embroidery skills were only average. The knee warmers she made for Feng Shuo’s birthday had taken her a lot of effort, but the result wasn’t ideal.

Secretly, she hoped to improve her embroidery enough to someday make a garment for him by hand.

To her surprise, He Xingniang from the jewelry store across the street, who had previously always opposed her, heard about the success of Ru Yi Lou and the profits made by tenants, and was now eager to join in.

She pushed her way over with an embroidery hoop, making an effort to start a conversation.

Nine out of every ten things she said were compliments for Jiang Yanyi, while the remaining one criticized the rival Lai Fu Tavern.

“That Lai Fu soup shop is as shameless as a city wall, trying to imitate you. But look, your soup shop has expanded to a grand restaurant while theirs is losing customers by the day.” He Xingniang spoke in a sing-song tone, with deliberate rises and falls.

“And, oh, Shopkeeper Jiang—oh, look at me! I should say, Shopkeeper Chu now, soon-to-be Princess of Liaonan. You’re the one who truly knows how to make money. When I first saw you, I knew you were extraordinary, thinking, ‘Which family could produce such a distinguished young lady…’”

Jiang Yanyi seriously wondered if she had misremembered the past; this was the same He Xingniang who had once spoken so bitterly, yet now praised her as if she were unmatched.

She exchanged a glance with Madame Chen, who deftly continued her embroidery, shaking her head with a smile of amusement.

He Xingniang babbled on until her throat was almost dry, but Jiang Yanyi didn’t respond, acting as though she hadn’t even noticed her.

Surprisingly resilient, He Xingniang remained unphased by the cold reception, and without the slightest hint of embarrassment, she continued, “Shopkeeper Chu, could you give me a chance? I’d like to rent a spot at Ru Yi Lou to sell jewelry.”

Jiang Yanyi gently declined. “All the spots have already been rented out.”

“Oh, really? How could they all be rented? I just saw a notice outside Ru Yi Lou saying you were still leasing…” Before He Xingniang could continue, Qiu Kui approached, calling out, “Madam…owner.”