Chapter 412

Chapter 412 The First Interaction

The lad servant stepped forward and opened the door, seeing Yu Dong in front and a woman with a drapery hat standing behind, her figure delicate.

Yu Dong also noticed the servant and approached him. “This is our Lady.” she said.

“Our master is already waiting inside,” the servant smiled and took a step back, making way.

In his heart, he couldn’t help but think, “Lucky.” The young master had no plans to go out originally, knowing that no one from Earl Ling’an’s Mansion would come. But coincidentally, the young master had something to attend to, so he decided to stop by here first and then go about his business.

Unexpectedly, someone from Earl Ling’an’s Mansion actually arrived.

Qu Moying followed Yu Dong inside and glanced up at the young master sitting by the window. He was in his twenties, with handsome features and a strong, firm appearance that didn’t quite match the delicate aura of a refined scholar, even though he wore a dashing brocade robe.

His gaze swept over and landed on Qu Moying.

Qu Moying was certain she hadn’t seen him before, but there was an unusually familiar feeling, as if she had encountered him somewhere.

Her slender eyebrows furrowed as she mentally reviewed the men she had met. In truth, she hadn’t come across many men, just a few, but she was certain that none of them were the man in front of her.

This young master was an entirely different type from Lord Wei Pei Qingmin.

He had a rugged, sturdy build, with slightly darker skin.

Their eyes met silently through the veil. The difference was that Qu Moying clearly saw the other person’s appearance, while the other person couldn’t discern Qu Moying’s features, hidden beneath the veil. His eyebrows furrowed slightly, revealing a hint of displeasure.

Then he averted his gaze, looking at Yu Dong, but he paused for a moment upon seeing her. Although the surprise was fleeting, Qu Moying still caught that momentary astonishment.

Had this person seen Yu Dong before?

“Now that the young lady is here, please have a seat.” The young master gestured to the side but remained seated.

Qu Moying gracefully performed a curtsy before taking a seat across from him. Yu Dong stood behind her and also glanced at the young master before lowering her head.

“May I ask if you are the owner of the ruby involved in the Yue’s Gold Pavilion matter?” Qu Moying set aside her doubts and went straight to the point.

“May I inquire who you are?” The young master didn’t provide a direct answer and instead replied with a question.

“The owner of Yue’s Gold Pavilion.” Qu Moying stated calmly. Although the formalities at the Yamen were not yet completed, once they were done, she would rightfully be the owner. Furthermore, Madam Duan had already acknowledged her position as the store owner. It felt only natural to state this in advance.

“I recall that the owner of Yue’s Gold Pavilion is associated with the Earl Ling’an’s Mansion. I wonder which young lady from the Earl Ling’an’s Mansion you are? As far as I know, none of the three young ladies fit the description,” the young master said coolly, his gaze scanning Qu Moying with a hint of severity.

The three young ladies of the Earl Ling’an’s Mansion were well-known throughout the capital. First Lady was now the Crown Prince’s Princess Ji, the second was originally the Crown Princess but was gone, and there were various rumors surrounding the third young lady’s fate—some said she had died, while others claimed she had escaped. Moreover, the ages didn’t match up.

Although Qu Moying still appeared youthful in stature, she was fourteen years old, distinct from Ji Yanyue, who was merely ten.

“I am not a young lady from Earl Ling’an’s Mansion,” Qu Moying smiled faintly, unruffled. “The ownership has been transferred to me. Therefore, I will be handling all future matters with you.”

“What do you mean?” The young master’s eyes narrowed dangerously as he leaned back, emanating a formidable aura.

The young master in front of her didn’t look like a merchant, but rather resembled a scion of a noble family, and one from a prestigious background at that. He carried himself with a certain grace and demeanor, as observed by Qu Moying.

Ji Hanyue, as the future Crown Prince’s Princess, had been trained rigorously in her every move. The current master before her gave her a similar impression as before.

A man like this couldn’t possibly be a merchant; Qu Moying couldn’t bring herself to believe it.

There was a small detail that caught Qu Moying’s attention when she entered the room. The Yue’s Gold Pavilion belonged to Earl Ling’an’s Mansion. When she entered, whoever saw her would assume she belonged to Earl Ling’an’s Mansion. A merchant, upon seeing a young lady from a noble family, would certainly rise and greet her. It was common courtesy.

Even if one was plotting against Madam Duan’s property, he would surely maintain a pleasant demeanor. It was the code of conduct instilled in the merchants since childhood. Yet here he sat, so casually and nonchalantly.

His demeanor and appearance were far from ordinary. Therefore, this supposed plot against the property of Earl Ling’an’s Mansion couldn’t be as simple as she had initially thought.

“Madam Duan has already transferred ownership of the store to me,” Qu Moying stated frankly.

“This store still has pending matters. Are you daring enough to take it on, Lady?” The young master narrowed his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through them and landing on Qu Moying’s veil.

However, he couldn’t see her face, only faintly discerning a woman of remarkable appearance.

“Although this store currently belongs to Madam Duan, it is reasonable for her to sell it to me. After all, it was originally owned by my grandfather’s family,” Qu Moying calmly explained.

This matter couldn’t deceive anyone. Since she had taken it on, she wasn’t afraid of the other party discovering her identity.

Taking over it also meant taking on this troublesome matter.

“Mr. Zhao’s ruby is indeed a precious gem, but it is impossible for the entire Yue’s Gold Pavilion to be used as collateral. I kindly request that Mr. Zhao propose other terms. If I can fulfill your requests, I will do so,” Qu Moying straightforwardly conveyed her intentions.

“Lady, do you think that’s reasonable? The Yamen hasn’t officially transferred ownership of the store yet, has it?” Mr. Zhao smirked coldly, posing a counter-question.

“It’s true that there is no official documentation from the Yamen. However, Madam Duan and I have already completed the handover. The store is now mine, and the Yamen has processed some paperwork. There are still a few procedures pending, which can only be finalized once this case is completely resolved. That’s why I need to address the issue with you first.”

Qu Moying explained without hiding the truth. If this Mr. Zhao brought up this point, he must be aware of it. Concealing it any further would serve no purpose.

It was true that her status as the store owner was somewhat questionable, but only to a certain extent. If he insisted on using this against her, she could simply not see herself as the owner but rather as a representative of Madam Duan.

She had full authority to handle the matter because the store would be hers in the future. As the representative, she could exercise complete autonomy and wouldn’t need to seek further approval from Madam Duan.

The contract was already halfway completed, with the portion transferred by Madam Duan. Only the part confirmed by the Yamen remained.

Mr. Zhao’s gaze remained fixed on Qu Moying, as if reevaluating her. He furrowed his brow slightly. Her words sounded calm, but they preemptively thwarted all the arguments he had prepared. Her meticulous approach took him by surprise.

The young lady appeared incredibly fragile, almost delicate to the point of vulnerability. When she entered the room earlier, a gust of wind blew at the entrance, lifting her long drapery veil and swirling her dress. She exuded an ethereal and otherworldly aura, resembling a delicate treasure that should be carefully guarded in seclusion.

“What will you suggest we do?” He spoke in a gentle tone, acknowledging Qu Moying’s status.

“And what do you think? Since you came to the capital for business, it would be best to maintain harmony. If there is any need for the Yue’s Gold Pavilion, I will undoubtedly cooperate. However, I cannot hand over it to you. It is an ancestral store; its value cannot be measured in mere silver.”

Qu Moying said softly. She felt a slight relief as his question confirmed her initial assumptions.

All her previous thoughts were mere conjectures, and no matter how many conjectures she had, they might not have been accurate. However, his question provided her with some peace of mind.

He lightly tapped his fingers on the tabletop, pondering for a moment before saying, “I understand your suggestion, but I need some time to consider this matter.”

“Very well. If you make up your mind, you can inform the shopkeeper of the Yue’s Gold Pavilion.” Qu Moying stood up. Today’s discussion was merely a test for both parties. Since the other party had shown interest, it was clear that the matter couldn’t be resolved immediately. Qu Moying anticipated that Young Master Zhao would contact Xiao to ascertain the truth after he returned home.

The originally favored store had changed ownership, so it would not be easily agreed upon.

“Alright, I appreciate your help, Lady.” He nodded, indicating that they would discuss the matter further at a later time.

Qu Moying bid him farewell and left with Yu Dong. Mr. Zhao stood up and walked to the window, looking down. He saw Qu Moying descending from the upper floor, her maid removing her veil and shielding her from the light. She then boarded the carriage parked nearby.

“Master, who is that lady?” a servant approached, curious, and also looked down, catching a glimpse of the Qu Mansion’s carriage.

“Go and find out. There shouldn’t be many young ladies in the capital with eye ailments and the surname Qu.” He said as he observed the distinct emblem of Qu Mansion on the carriage. Being new to the capital, he was unaware of some of the lesser-known families.

To be able to receive Yue’s Gold Pavilion from First Madam Duan of Earl Ling’an and claim it was an ancestral store, knowing that the case was unresolved, and still daring to take over the shop, it indicated that this lady’s status was extraordinary, more than just the daughter of a merchant family.

She seemed to resemble a lady meticulously cultivated by a prominent family.

Is this how daughters from prestigious families in Great Zhou were raised? It was quite different from the image of a fragile young lady who required much assistance. She appeared delicate, the kind of person one would want to protect in their hands. However, her demeanor was sharp and decisive, suggesting she had a calculated plan…