"Huaiyu, isn't running a business as a woman incredibly exhausting?"
He Jinyu asked as she followed Jiang Huaiyu into the hall and took a seat. Jiang's courtyard, though modest compared to the palaces of the capital, felt warm and inviting. It had a charm entirely unlike the cold, opulent halls where He Jinyu lived.
Jiang smiled faintly. "It's not so much exhausting as fulfilling. As long as you know what you're working for, the hardships don't feel overwhelming. Especially when the rewards are worth it." Her lips curved in a quiet, satisfied smile.
He Jinyu seemed lost in thought for a moment before nodding. "That's true."
Noticing the time, Jiang gestured toward the table. "How about some warm, light porridge for breakfast? It's gentle on the stomach and pairs well with some small side dishes."
He Jinyu nodded nonchalantly, though she felt the offering might be too plain. She was used to feasting on delicacies, so porridge didn't excite her. Still, she decided not to refuse, wanting to respect Jiang's hospitality.
When Aunt Xu and the others carefully arranged the table and brought in the food, He Jinyu picked up her chopsticks. Her indifference was quickly replaced with curiosity. "What kind of porridge is this?"
The milky-white dish gave off a sweet, mellow aroma with a faint hint of floral freshness that tickled her nose, making her eager to try it.
Jiang pressed her napkin to her lips to hide a smile. "It's apricot almond porridge. If you like it, I can have the recipe written down for you so your palace chefs can prepare it."
Momentarily showing a girlish innocence, He Jinyu nodded. "I'd like that."
The porridge, made with sweet apricot kernels, was smooth, creamy, and subtly fragrant. Aunt Xu had added toasted peanut crumbles and used lotus leaves during cooking to impart a delicate aroma. It was a dish that could easily make one forget the concept of extravagance.
After breakfast, Jiang considered striking up a casual conversation with the princess, but her thoughts were interrupted by Zhuzhu hurrying in. The maid curtsied and announced, "Madam, Young Master Jin has come to visit."
"...How unusual." Jiang frowned slightly. "Tell him I'm currently entertaining a guest and will visit his residence when I have time."
Zhuzhu nodded but was stopped by He Jinyu's raised hand. "Wait." Turning to Jiang with interest, He Jinyu asked, "Jin? Would that be the heir to the Jin trading house?"
Jiang glanced at the table and smiled lightly. "That's right. We're working together on a business venture."
He Jinyu's curiosity deepened. "They say the Jin family is wealthy enough to rival nations, but their fortune rests on a frail heir. I've never met him. Let's see what kind of person he is. Bring him in."
Zhuzhu hesitated, glancing at Jiang for approval before retreating to fetch their visitor.
Jiang shifted in her seat, faintly uneasy. Jin Chong was no pushover, and while she didn't doubt her ability to manage him, she worried about the Ninth Princess's unpredictable nature. Her only hope was that He Jinyu would exercise some restraint and avoid provoking Jin Chong unnecessarily.
"Such a formal welcome today," Jin Chong remarked as he stepped into the hall.
He was dressed in a green robe embroidered with a breathtaking landscape design, with silver threads shimmering subtly under the light. Though his complexion was pale, his sharp features and deep-set phoenix eyes exuded an air of refined elegance. If not for his often sarcastic demeanor, he could have been mistaken for a figure from a classic Wei and Jin dynasty painting.
"I didn't expect you to visit so early," Jiang greeted him neutrally, preemptively steering the conversation before He Jinyu could make any cutting remarks. "Allow me to introduce you. This is Her Highness, the Ninth Princess."
Jin Chong's expression showed faint surprise. He was familiar with the princes but had rarely, if ever, interacted with the princesses due to his habit of declining palace invitations.
He Jinyu, intrigued, had initially planned to mock him if he turned out to be weak and unimpressive. Yet, when she saw him, her heart skipped a beat, leaving her flustered in a way she couldn't quite understand.
Jin Chong politely cupped his hands in greeting. "Your Highness."
He Jinyu straightened slightly and, with a softer voice than usual, replied, "Mm."
Jiang, noticing the odd tension between the two, quickly stepped in. "Young Master Jin, would you care to join us for crab later? The princess is staying for lunch."
To her surprise, He Jinyu, who usually disliked sharing attention, didn't object. In fact, she seemed intrigued, stealing glances at Jin Chong before nodding. "I don't mind. The more, the merrier."
This uncharacteristic response might have left her usual attendants gaping in disbelief, but Jiang merely let out a silent sigh of relief and instructed Aunt Xu to prepare another setting.
In the courtyard, three low tables were arranged in a triangular formation, each adorned with fresh fruit and soft cushions. For the centerpiece of the meal, each guest was served a single large crab, paired with warm plum-infused rice wine, finely shredded ginger in vinegar, and a small red clay stove gently heating the drink.
Jiang showed her guests how to cleanly extract the crab meat without making a mess, her movements precise and elegant.
"This is quite an interesting method," Jin Chong remarked, his usually sharp eyes lighting up with genuine interest as he followed her instructions.
He Jinyu, her cheeks flushed—perhaps from the wine, or perhaps from something else—carefully dismantled her crab, tasting the meat with a dip of gingered vinegar. The unique combination of flavors delighted her. "This is even better than I expected! My instincts were right—this meal is extraordinary."
Jin Chong, too, was impressed. "It's certainly more flavorful than I anticipated," he admitted, sipping his wine as warmth spread through his chest.
Jiang smiled gently. "Crabs are cold in nature. It's best to enjoy them sparingly."
The two nodded, savoring the meal more carefully, as though the limited portion made every bite more precious.
By the time the sun hung high in the sky, the impromptu crab feast had drawn to a close. He Jinyu lingered, reluctant to leave even as a palace attendant arrived to summon her back.
"Huaiyu, would you like to go on a countryside outing in a few days? I'll send word ahead with the details."
Jiang blinked in surprise but smiled warmly. "Of course, I'd be delighted. Just let me know the time and place."
He Jinyu hesitated, then asked almost casually, "What about you, Young Master Jin?"
Jin Chong, who had been quietly sipping his wine, glanced at her. "Me? I appreciate the invitation, but I'm quite busy. I'm afraid I'll have to decline."
A flash of disappointment crossed He Jinyu's eyes, though she quickly masked it with a smile. "Very well, then. Huaiyu, I'll see you soon. Be sure to think of something delicious to do with the eels from the countryside!"
With that, she departed, declining Jiang's offer to escort her.
Once she was gone, Jin Chong chuckled lightly and sat back in his chair. "I didn't expect you to have such connections, Jiang. Befriending someone like the Ninth Princess—quite impressive."
Jiang responded with a serene smile, neither confirming nor denying his observation.
"Well then," she prompted, "you mentioned your caravan has returned. I assume there's good news?"
Jin Chong's expression shifted to one of amusement. "Indeed. The spices were a huge hit among the border tribes. So much so that they detained my caravan briefly, hoping to extort the formula from us. Of course, I didn't oblige."
Jiang's smile deepened. "Let me guess—you played them against each other?"
Jin Chong's eyes flashed with surprise before he nodded. "Exactly. I told the local merchants that the tribes needed the formula, and told the tribes that the merchants had it. The resulting chaos kept them at each other's throats, and we were released unscathed."
"Smart," Jiang remarked, her tone calm but impressed.
Jin Chong leaned forward, his eyes narrowing slightly. "And you, Jiang? You didn't even flinch at the possibility of betrayal. Weren't you worried I might have struck a deal with them?"
Jiang met his gaze steadily. "Why would I be? Your family has thousands of people to support. Mine has a handful. If you betrayed me, you'd stand to lose far more than I would. You're a businessman, Jin Chong. You'd never make a bad trade."
Dealing with someone like him was truly exhausting—scheming, calculating, and always weighing pros and cons.
Jiang Huaiyu sighed lightly and said, "At the end of the day, all this comes down to securing better-quality spices from the tribal nobles while maintaining a steady supply from the merchant caravans. The two sides will balance each other out. Unless they both decide to cut off supplies simultaneously—an unlikely scenario—whoever stops first loses."
From the very beginning, opening up trade with the four border tribes had been just the first step. Ensuring a stable and uninterrupted supply chain was the foundation for her plans to dominate the spice market in Dayun.
Her mind drifted to the day she first arrived in this world.
A crumbling, leaky house.
Low, uneven walls.
A shabby, uncomfortable bed.
And now? She was well on her way to becoming a spice magnate. The thought almost made her laugh. What a strange title to aspire to in this era. Yet, here she was.