"My lady was afraid there would be no one to watch the shop, so she specifically asked me to bring some lunch for Brother Mo Yan," Xichun said, handing the basket to the young clerk.
Mo Yan's face turned slightly red. "Thank you, Miss Xichun."
"No need for such formality!" Xichun replied generously. She then turned to Lixia. "Miss Mo, shall we go? I'll fetch Xiqiu and Hongshang to follow us."
Lixia nodded and led Mochen out of the pharmacy toward the back entrance of Leng Xue's shop.
"Master, are you sure Sister-in-law didn't cook this time?" Mochen whispered, looking traumatized.
Lixia ruffled his hair with a chuckle. "Xichun wouldn't lie to us."
"That's a relief. Sister-in-law's cooking is... truly unforgettable," Mochen muttered, his teeth practically aching at the memory of the salt. "I'm being pampered by your food, Master. I'm becoming as picky as A'Mu... Speaking of which, where has that little thief gone lately?"
"Probably looking for wild treats since I forbade him from eating the rare herbs in my study," Lixia said. She felt a pang of worry, but she knew the chinchilla was smarter than most humans.
A Clash of Personalities
Just as they reached the side door of the embroidery shop, a sharp argument from the front hall caught their attention. Lixia paused to watch.
In the shop, two young ladies stood together. One was a delicate beauty in a green pleated skirt, and the other, Princess Mutong, was a plump but incredibly cute girl with sparkling eyes and deep dimples. They were holding a "Dragon Cat" (Chinchilla) pillow.
Opposite them stood Micui, the arrogant maid of the Prime Minister's daughter. "The First Talent saw it first; it belongs to our household!" Micui barked.
"But we were already at the counter paying for it!" the green-skirted girl, Yang Yufu, protested weakly.
Standing behind the maid was Beiye Yinman, dressed in an ethereal white gown that made her look like a goddess. She watched the scene with a faint, enigmatic smile before stepping forward. She bowed gracefully to Mutong. "Princess, my maid has been unruly. Please forgive her."
But then, her expression shifted into one of profound sadness. "It's just... I've visited this shop every day and always missed out. I finally found this 'Dragon Cat' pattern, and it's meant to be a birthday gift for my mother. Her birthday is tomorrow... but it seems I was a step too late."
Her act was so convincing that the two gentle girls felt like the villains. Mutong, being soft-hearted, immediately relented. "Oh... since it's for your mother's birthday, you should take it."
Beiye Yinman offered a thankful, virtuous smile. "Thank you, Princess. Thank you, Miss Yang. I have truly 'stolen' your treasure today. If there is anything else in the shop you like, please let me pay for it as an apology."
"There's no need for that," Yang Yufu replied politely.
Mo Lixia, watching from the shadows, let out a cold snort. So this is the 'First Talent' of the Capital? What a masterful performance.
Lunch and Legends
When Lixia and Mochen finally sat down for lunch, Leng Xue noticed their delay. "Li'er, why the long face? The food is getting cold."
"Sister-in-law, I just witnessed a 'theatrical performance' at the front door," Lixia joked. "A certain lady was quite determined to get a Dragon Cat pillow."
"It must have been Beiye Yinman," Leng Xue said with a trace of mockery. "Xichun just told me. She's famous for being a 'high-minded' genius, but in reality, she's a master of manipulation. Li'er, stay far away from her. Girls like Mutong and Yufu are too innocent; they get tricked by her every time."
"I agree," Lixia said, signaling her maids to sit and eat with them.
"Sister-in-law," Lixia whispered during the meal. "I heard that Miss Beiye used to be... very fond of Prince Kang?"
"Fond? She was obsessed!" Leng Xue replied, leaning in. "Back when Prince Kang was the Crown Prince and was winning battles at the border, she was the first to know every time he returned. She would 'accidentally' cross his path every day, send him gifts, and have her father take her to every victory feast. The whole Capital knew she wanted to be the future Empress."
"And Prince Kang?"
"He treated her like air," Leng Xue laughed. "He never even looked at her. It's strange, really. Such a beauty, and he wasn't moved at all. People even rumored back then that something was... wrong... with him. He had no concubines, no mistresses, nothing."
"Maybe he already had someone in his heart," Lixia mused.
"Who knows? But now that he's crippled and scarred, she's jumped straight into Prince Su's arms. Talk about practical!" Leng Xue lowered her voice further. "By the way, your brother and Prince Kang are quite close."
Lixia froze. In the brutal world of imperial succession, her brother's friendship with a fallen prince was a dangerous "political alignment." If the current power balance shifted, her family could be pulled into the abyss.