Chapter 576: The Crown Prince Won’t Spare Lu Shaoyuan?
Chapter 576: Chapter 576: The Crown Prince Won’t Spare Lu Shaoyuan?
Shen Ningning picked a day when she was free and went to find Lu Shaoyuan.
But he was exceptionally busy. To prepare for their marriage and take on the responsibilities of a family, he had taken over a good portion of the Meng family’s businesses from Mrs. Meng.
According to the Lu family’s servants, he had been very busy lately and only returned to the residence occasionally. He usually stayed at the family’s silver bank.
Shopkeepers from the area came to discuss business with him. Some were in charge of silks, others of jade. For all of Mrs. Meng’s various enterprises, they now came to the Young Master, Lu Shaoyuan, for consultation.
Shen Ningning wanted to see him but hadn’t sent a messenger ahead, so she decided to go to the silver bank and try her luck.
The moment she stepped into the silver bank, a waiter approached her. "Ma’am, are you here to deposit or withdraw silver? If you have a silver note, it needs an official government stamp."
Shen Ningning was dressed fittingly, her demeanor poised and graceful. She offered a small smile. "I’m looking for your Young Master, Second Young Master Lu. Is he in, by any chance?"
She didn’t give her name, afraid that Lu Shaoyuan was in the middle of something important.
The waiter paused, looking her over. "Are you one of the Shopkeepers here to discuss business with the Young Master? Please, come with me."
Shen Ningning followed him around the main hall to a two-story building in the rear courtyard. Highly skilled Protectors stood guard there. The waiter gave a simple explanation of her purpose, and they let him lead Shen Ningning inside.
As she entered, Shen Ningning thought to herself, ’A place as important as a silver bank shouldn’t let just anyone into the back courtyard. It’s really not secure.’
’I should find a chance to tell Lu Shaoyuan that he should at least verify people’s identities before having them escorted to the back.’
But as it turned out, Shen Ningning had underestimated the situation.
The moment she entered the two-story building, she found at least thirty Shopkeepers queuing in a line so long it snaked out of sight.
Only when one Shopkeeper came downstairs holding a pass could the next one go up to report their business.
Shen Ningning could faintly hear the voices of several people upstairs, deep in a discussion about business.
The waiter said from her side, "When it’s your turn, just show your token to the person checking them before you head upstairs. I’ll be taking my leave now."
Shen Ningning gave a strained smile and nodded.
’Just a moment ago, I was thinking Lu Shaoyuan’s management was lax,’ she thought. ’But from the looks of it, Mrs. Meng’s businesses are absolutely thriving.’
’I heard Lu Shaoyuan has only taken on three-tenths of the business, and he’s already this busy.’
’If he were to take over Mrs. Meng’s entire massive enterprise, would he ever get any sleep?’
Shen Ningning waited in line for a while, realizing everyone was there on legitimate business.
Important ledgers needed the Young Master’s review, and the jade shop needed his permission to dispose of a batch of low-quality jade.
Looking at the people ahead of her and behind her, Shen Ningning felt that her own reason for being there was, by comparison, too trivial to bring up.
She had come to tell Lu Shaoyuan that they should call off the engagement.
But since he was so preoccupied with important matters, she couldn’t possibly bring it up now. She would have to find another time.
After a moment’s thought, she turned and left with a helpless sigh.
Upstairs, Lu Shaoyuan sat at a gilded, jade-inlaid desk. Account books were spread all over it, and behind him stood four attendants holding ink brushes, ready to record his every important decision.
Six Shopkeepers sat in a circle, gathered around Lu Shaoyuan.
They were in a heated debate over the latest commodity prices. Lu Shaoyuan pinched the bridge of his nose, utterly exhausted.
Normally, he would have just dropped everything and walked away. But things were different now. Whenever he thought about his upcoming marriage to Shen Ningning, he felt a desperate urge to mature quickly and become a man who could stand on his own two feet.
Otherwise, how could he protect his wife once they were married?
In terms of power and influence, he was no match for the Crown Prince—not unless he was reincarnated. But he could at least ensure that his wealth, if it could rival that of a nation, would be enough to give Shen Ningning a life of unimaginable luxury.
Feeling especially weary, Lu Shaoyuan found a free moment and beckoned a nearby attendant to approach.
He ordered in a low voice, "Go to Moonview Pavilion and buy two boxes of desserts for me. Have them sent to Xiangyun Village. One box should be the sweet shortcrust pastries for Shen Ningning. The other should be the Cornelian Soup. It’s a bit bitter, which is suitable for Grandma Qin. And while you’re there, pass on my greetings. Be sure to be polite and respectful."
The attendant clasped his hands. "I understand, Young Master. I’ll see to it at once."
When Lu Shaoyuan looked up after giving his orders, he found all six Shopkeepers watching him.
These Shopkeepers had all been Mrs. Meng’s most capable and trusted aides. They were old partners who had, in a way, watched Lu Shaoyuan grow up.
Seeing them smiling and stroking their beards, Lu Shaoyuan felt a flush of embarrassment. "Esteemed uncles, where were we?"
The Shopkeepers exchanged glances and then burst out laughing. "Young Master, we old men can be so thoughtless sometimes. Look at you, about to be engaged to the Princess, and here we are, still holding you up with business matters. It’s really not right of us."
Another chimed in with a laugh, "That’s right! Especially something like delivering desserts to a young lady. You should take them to her in person so she’ll remember your thoughtfulness."
"Coincidentally, we’re all done here. We’ve discussed everything we needed to. Young Master, you should go and spend time with the Princess. You’re always cooped up doing business with us old timers; don’t let Her Highness feel neglected."
Lu Shaoyuan really did want to go.
He wanted to go to Xiangyun Village and see what Shen Ningning was doing.
Ever since he learned they were to be engaged, he looked forward to seeing her every day.
But Shen Ningning was very rational and independent; she had never once taken the initiative to visit him at his shops, and Lu Shaoyuan didn’t want to force her to do anything.
Since she wouldn’t come to him, he would have to go to her.
But then he thought of the engagement ceremony on the sixth day of the sixth month. He had to demonstrate some real capability by then, to give Mr. Xie a proper account of himself.
Lu Shaoyuan could only steel himself. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Forget it. Let’s get back to business. If I don’t establish a firm footing, I can’t give her a happy life."
Hearing this, the Shopkeepers all broke into hearty laughter.
Meanwhile, Shen Ningning, who had already left the silver bank, happened to run into Meng Wanning.
She was walking down the street with her maid, looking like a lost soul.
Shen Ningning wasn’t one to meddle, but when she saw Meng Wanning about to walk straight into a wok of boiling oil, she couldn’t help but call out a warning. "Watch where you’re going!"
The maid behind Meng Wanning, as if jolted from a daze, quickly yanked her young mistress back.
"That was close..." Meng Wanning came to her senses. Staring at the wok of BUBBLING hot oil, she patted her chest, her heart still racing.
Shen Ningning pressed her lips together. Not planning to say anything more, she started to walk past her.
Suddenly, Meng Wanning called out to her retreating back, "Princess! Do you actually love the Crown Prince or not?"
People were coming and going all around them. Her voice wasn’t loud, but it made Shen Ningning frown in discomfort.
"That has nothing to do with you," Shen Ningning said, unwilling to explain further.
But Meng Wanning just shook her head with a bitter smile. "Lu Shaoyuan is my relative, after all, and I’m part of the Meng Family. We prosper and fall together. I’m truly afraid that the Crown Prince will vent his anger on the Meng Family because of this business with you, Princess. He might even make a move against my Second Uncle."
Not long ago, Mo Lingwei had already gotten into a fight with Lu Shaoyuan at the National Academy.
Shen Ningning’s expression turned cold. "My brother wouldn’t do that again."
With that, she turned to leave. She and Meng Wanning truly had nothing to say to each other.
But Shen Ningning didn’t know that as Meng Wanning watched her retreating figure, she murmured thoughtfully, "I wouldn’t be so sure about that."