Chapter 974: A Storm Is Coming

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Yu Youyao made a decision. She looked for Bai Kui and Qing Xiu to discuss the style and label of the makeup box. In the end, they unanimously decided that all the makeup boxes and packaging would be marked with the word “rouge” written in seal script.

The seal script included oracle bone script, bronze script, and so on. Although there were many types of scripts in the Pre-Qin Dynasty, the words were all modified from the oracle bone script and were generally similar.

After the label of the products was confirmed, Bai Kui spent a large sum of money to send it to the government office for registration, bookmaking, and filing.

As long as one had money, there was nothing that couldn’t be done in the government office. For many things, as long as they pa.s.sed through the government office, it would save a lot of trouble.

For example, the product label was a mark of goods circulating outside. However, if one could make such a mark, others could also imitate or even forge it.

Spending a large sum of money to register, bookmark, and file their label in the government office was equivalent to this label being protected by the government office. If similar things were discovered on the market, they could ask the government office to set up a case and interfere. Anyone who was not brainless and blind would basically not do such a thing that would hurt the enemy 800 times and harm themselves 1,000 times.

Of course, sometimes, even if one spent a large sum of money, they might not be able to enjoy the protection they deserved.

Most ordinary people could only enjoy some protection of public security and the rule of law. Most of their rights were to serve the rich and powerful. For example, in the Jade Pavilion, as soon as Qing Xiu entered the government office with the Yu Garden token, she received the highest treatment. All the registrations, bookmaking, and records were of the highest level.

The government office even issued an official letter. This official letter was the voucher for the circulation of the Jade Pavilion in the future.

If the Jade Pavilion wanted to open a branch elsewhere, they only needed to take the official letter and register at the local government office to enjoy the

same treatment as they did in their local area.

At the same time, Bai Kui personally went to Anshan and contacted the local craftsmen who were good at carving to discuss matters related to the supply of makeup boxes and outer packaging.

As it was a business under Princess Eldest Shaoyi’s name, Yin Huaixi had specially found a servant who worked in the army to bridge the gap.

Everything was logical.

With the opening of the Jade Pavilion imminent, Yu Youyao looked for Yin Huaixi, who specially wrote a couplet for the Jade Pavilion. “The bright pink ‘rouge’ reflects the treasure. The graceful ‘jade’ is hidden behind an emerald green veil.”

It was also the origin of the name of the Jade Pavilion.

A veiled hat was used to cover the entire body, blocking the woman’s jade face that had pink makeup on and her graceful figure. A woman’s n.o.ble and beautiful appearance was vividly described. It also implicitly revealed her hazy beauty, making one’s imagination run wild.

Her beauty was also reflected in her pink rouge.

By the time the Jade Pavilion officially opened, it was already late May.

Just this couplet alone attracted the wives, madams, and young misses of many wealthy families in Xiangping City.

In this world, who didn’t want to be the n.o.ble, beautiful, and dignified woman in the poem?!

It had to be said that Yu Youyao had grasped a woman’s spending mentality from the outside to the inside.

As soon as the Jade Pavilion opened for business, it received widespread attention. In addition, the products were exquisite, the service was thorough, and there were many types of products. The style of the products was also different from other rouge shops. They were novel goods that were not available on the market. A few days after it opened for business, they were bought.

In the blink of an eye, it was the end of May.

There was news from the capital that Yu Shuangbai was the “destined phoenix girl” and had received a reward from the Empress.

The script that Empress Ning had arranged for Yu Youyao played out again.

Not only that, but the Empress had also personally chosen two decent nannies from Yi Kun Palace and sent Auntie Dan Hong to the Second Mansion of the Yu Residence.

To the public, it was to teach Yu Shuangbai rules and etiquette.

However, anyone with discerning rules knew that she would be taught the rules of the palace. The etiquette also referred to the etiquette of the palace.

Everyone knew what the Empress was thinking.

Yu Youyao suddenly felt that it was finally here.

As expected!

Yu Shuangbai’s acceptance of the “phoenix fate” made the battle for the throne even more intense. The Fourth Prince’s suggestion to inspect the North was raised again and obtained the support of a large portion of the royalists.

Previously, Empress Ning had plotted for the Fourth Prince to inspect the North. This was an act with a hidden motive.

This time, the same suggestion was made at different times, but the meaning was already completely different.

With the support of the royalists, the Fourth Prince was no longer the same as before. Previously, he had copied Buddhist scriptures for the Empress Dowager, fulfilling his “filial piety” and becoming famous.

However, he still needed an opportunity.

This opportunity was to patrol the North.

Since ancient times, the royal family had sent princes to patrol. This was to reflect that the royal family observed the hearts of the people, showing the benevolent side of the Imperial Court.

This was undoubtedly the best opportunity to win over the hearts of the people and acc.u.mulate reputation.

Therefore, patrolling was a huge undertaking of the country.

At the same time, he could also use the excuse of the patrol to further rope in the “n.o.bles” and officials in the North. This would become the Fourth Prince’s strongest support.

Once the Fourth Prince completed his patrol and returned to the capital, he would be praised by the Imperial Court. At that time, the Fourth Prince’s reputation would be great, and Empress Ning would naturally be able to marry Yu Shuangbai to the Fourth Prince.

Once the Fourth Prince had obtained the “girl with the phoenix fate”, the Yu Clan would become his supporter. It was the best time for Empress Ning to ignore everyone’s objections and take over to make the Fourth Prince the heir.

Now that the Fourth Prince had become the legitimate son, the Second Prince and the Third Prince had nothing to do with this matter.

However, this move was met with an unprecedentedly intense objection from the Xu Residence, led by Imperial Concubine Xu, and the Second Prince’s party, led by Concubine Lan.

The court officials argued in the royal court, their saliva flying everywhere.

For a moment, there was a stalemate.

Yu Youyao couldn’t tell exactly how she felt.

Yin Huaixi had never believed the ridiculous words “phoenix fate” and “phoenix girl”. It was just like how she had never believed that Da Ji had brought disaster to the country.

All of this was just a ploy by the higher-ups to control the hearts of people and human nature.

Seeing that she did not look too good, Yin Huaixi said worriedly, “The Fourth

Prince can’t come to the North.”

Yu Youyao shook her head. “I’m not worried about that.” She opened her mouth, wanting to say something but hesitated. She pursed her lips slightly and said, “The adult Yao Yao was manipulated and fooled by the phrase ‘phoenix fate’. Her life was in vain. I’m a little worried about my Second Sister.”

The matter of the phoenix fate was led by Madam Yao, and Empress Ning helped to encourage it. However, what did a thirteen-year-old girl like Yu Shuangbai know?

In the nightmare, there was very little about Yu Shuangbai.

However, there was no doubt that Yu Shuangbai was the same as her. Madam Yao had arranged her entire life and Empress Ning had manipulated her fate. No one would ask her if she was willing, and no one would care about her feelings.

Yu Youyao did not know if Yu Shuangbai was innocent in the nightmare, but in reality, Yu Shuangbai had done nothing wrong to her.

After all, it was not so easy to completely cut off their sisterly relationship that had lasted for many years..