freenovelworld Chapter 43 Admitting Defeat
Chapter 43 Admitting Defeat
A week later, Su Yuning finally brought the finished osmanthus-scented soap to the city and gave it to the shop owner. This time, the shop owner didn't fuss and happily admired the soap.
"The design and the quality are absolutely top-notch!"
Su Yuning gently reminded her, "Boss lady, you can take it to wash your hands and try out the soap's effects."
The proprietress reluctantly put the soap into her pocket, saying, "I can't bear to use it. I want to keep this precious item to show off to my relatives!"
Su Yuning couldn't help but chuckle, "Don't worry, I made a lot of soap this time. Just use it. Even if you wash your hands and face with soap every day, it can last for two or three years."
The proprietress was so surprised her jaw almost dropped. Her eyes widened, her mouth gaped open, and an expression of disbelief crossed her face. "Are you serious?"
Su Yuning nodded affirmatively, "Of course!"
Then, the receptionist came over to announce, "Madam, your cousin has arrived. She's having tea upstairs and waiting for you."
The proprietress smiled and nodded, then instructed Su Yuning and the front desk staff, "You all go about your business, I have to take care of the guests."
"Okay," they both said in unison.
Afterwards, the proprietress walked into the lobby with a beaming smile, then went up the escalator, greeting my cousin as soon as she saw her.
"Oh dear, I had no idea my cousin was coming! I'm so sorry for not greeting you properly!"
My cousin responded with a forced smile, "It's nothing."
Immediately afterwards, the shopkeeper deliberately waved the soap in front of her cousin, "Oh my, this osmanthus soap is really nice. It smells good and it works well too. I'm so lucky to be able to use soap like my cousin."
At this moment, my cousin's lips curled up into a contemptuous smile, her eyes revealing disdain and indifference. Then, she responded in a mocking tone, "Hmph, you think you're worthy?" Her words were full of provocation and contempt, sending a chill down one's spine.
The shop owner, who was the cousin's wife, felt very wronged. "Why are you saying that to me? Do you really think I can't afford soap? I didn't have that kind of money before, but it's different now. My soap can last me two or three years without any problem! Don't judge me by my own standards!"
My older cousin, dressed in bright clothes, chuckled. "Really? Are you still dreaming? I can get a bar of soap every month, what about you? Do you even have that kind of ability? You want to compare yourself to me? What do you have to offer? You're just a mantis trying to stop a chariot, overestimating yourself!"
At this moment, the proprietress stormed downstairs, then returned with her assistant carrying a full box of osmanthus-scented soaps.
Her previously arrogant and domineering cousin suddenly lost her arrogance, and she couldn't help but sigh.
"What kind of fortune did you strike it rich with? How come you have so much soap?"
The shop owner was too busy admiring her soaps to pay any attention to her, completely ignoring her as if she didn't exist.
"Your soap is so nice! I can smell the fragrance from far away. Since you have so much soap that you can't use it all, and we're such good friends, please give me a few bars, please!" my cousin said with a fawning expression.
Without a second thought, the shop owner refused outright, "No way! These are all my soaps, I'm not giving them to anyone."
"Oh, I'm not a stranger, I'm your cousin. Why don't you give me a few bars of soap? I'll give you mine back later." The cousin pleaded and begged, and the shopkeeper finally relented.
"Okay, but I have a condition. I don't know if you'll agree."
"Tell me, tell me, as long as it's within my power, I'll definitely agree!" My cousin readily nodded in agreement.
"You must bow down and admit your mistake to me before I will forgive you," the proprietress replied, enunciating each word clearly.
"Okay, I was wrong. I'm willing to admit defeat. I'll never pretend to be rich in front of you again. Please forgive me!" My shameless cousin immediately replied.
At this moment, the proprietress gave the waiter a wink, and the waiter left two bars of soap and took the rest away.
"Oh dear, why are you so stingy? You only gave me two bars of soap? If I had known you would treat me like this, I wouldn't have come, hmph!" my cousin retorted angrily.
The shop owner calmly replied, "Since my cousin doesn't like the soap I gave her, I'll have to take it back!"
"No, let's talk this out! Don't be impulsive!" My cousin rushed over and snatched the osmanthus soap back. "Although there are only two bars, it's enough for me to use for half a year. I'll have the maid send you a few rose-scented soaps later; they smell nice too!"
"Okay, thank you, cousin. Please leave if there's nothing else!" the proprietress replied indifferently.
My cousin, having received the soap, quickly nodded, "Okay, okay, see you later!" and then dashed home.
Although the proprietress's cousin was rather snobbish, she kept her word. Before long, her maidservant bowed respectfully to the proprietress and brought over two beautifully designed rose-scented soaps.
The proprietress looked at the soap she had longed for, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Relationships between people aren't built on mere words like "sister," but on substantial gifts and promises. She had always dreamed of owning the same soap as her cousin, and now it had finally become a reality. She knew it was all thanks to Su Yuning, so she secretly resolved to give Su Yuning a raise.
In the palace garden, Nangong Xue'er was leisurely strolling when Princess Wan'er approached.
Hi! I'm here!
"Greetings, Princess Wan'er!" Nangong Xue'er greeted with a bow.
"No need to be so polite. How have you been lately? Are you getting used to the food and accommodation?" Princess Wan'er approached with concern and asked.
"Don't worry, Your Highness, Xue'er is doing very well. The Emperor and Empress take great care of me, and I am living very well here."
"By the way, has anyone come to the palace to see you recently?" Princess Wan'er asked tentatively.
Nangong Xue'er thought that her secret return home had been discovered, so she quickly replied, "No, why is Your Highness asking about this all of a sudden?"
Princess Wan'er smiled slightly and replied generously, "The thing is, a couple of days ago a girl named Nangong Xiawu came to my door and said that she was your sister. She wanted to meet you and asked you to help her find a job."
Nangong Xue'er replied irritably.
"I wondered who it was, but it's her, my arrogant and domineering older sister. I have a very bad relationship with her and I don't want to see her at all."
"Oh, I'm relieved to hear that," Princess Wan'er replied softly. "Su Yuning asked me to come find you and remind you that Nangong Xiawu is not a good person, and to stay away from her!"
Nangong Xue'er quickly nodded, "Don't worry, I've never had a good relationship with her since we were little. I won't see her, and I certainly won't help her. Thank you for your concern!"
"You're too kind. You're my sister-in-law; it's only right that I care about you," Princess Wan'er replied with a smile.
"Has your sister-in-law made any clothes for the baby recently?"
Nangong Xue'er answered truthfully, "I did have that idea. During the long pregnancy, I could make all kinds of clothes for the baby. After the baby is born, I would dress the baby up beautifully every day. But, there are many rules in the palace. Pregnant women cannot go to the well to draw water or use scissors, so I didn't continue doing handicrafts."
"I see. Pregnancy is really not easy. Not only will your body change, but there are also many rules. Sister-in-law, you've had a tough time!" Princess Wan'er responded with a look of sympathy.
"Of course, who told me I want to spend my whole life with your royal brother?" Nangong Xue'er replied with a smile. "By the way, Princess Wan'er, I haven't had a chance to ask you yet, are you married and pregnant?"
"Not yet," Princess Wan'er shook her head and said. "These things can't be rushed. Please help me keep this a secret and don't mention it to outsiders. After all, it's not something to be proud of."
Nangong Xue'er replied confidently, "Don't worry, I know what to say and what not to say. We're family now, so we should be considerate of each other."
Princess Wan'er was deeply moved. She offered, "Since it's inconvenient for you to do handicrafts right now, then let me do the clothes and blankets for the baby. As the baby's aunt, it's only right that I do what I can."
Nangong Xue'er was very happy and gratefully replied, "Okay, then I'll trouble you, Your Highness."
No sooner had Princess Wan'er left than the leader of the grassland alliance arrived at the palace with his entourage to propose marriage.
When the Emperor and Empress saw their former leader standing before them, they were both dumbfounded. They never imagined that their former leader could not only reclaim their territory, but also remember their engagement to Princess Wan'er…
Seeing that the Song emperor remained silent, the leader of the grassland alliance took the initiative to respond.
"Your Majesty, I am Cade, the leader of the grassland alliance. I have gone through many hardships and finally ushered in my moment of glory, becoming the leader of the alliance again. I know that Princess Wan'er is a talented girl, so I want to marry her and take good care of my family."
The Song emperor responded with a troubled expression.
"I'm sorry, leader of the grassland alliance, I'm sorry to disappoint you, my Princess Wan'er has already married."
The leader of the grassland alliance laughed heartily, “Hahaha! I didn’t expect the Emperor of the Great Song to be so humorous. He started joking with me as soon as I arrived. I know Princess Wan’er is still waiting for me. Otherwise, why would she rather give up her dowry than marry the future leader of the alliance? I knew she had feelings for me, so no matter what, I will marry Princess Wan’er.”
After listening to the impassioned speech of the leader of the grassland alliance, the emperor of the Song Dynasty wished he could leave the hall immediately and pretend that he knew nothing about it.
At this moment, the Empress, who was sitting to the side, could no longer sit still. She came to the leader of the grassland alliance and kindly reminded him, "Leader of the grassland alliance, the Emperor is a man of his word. How could he joke with you? To tell you the truth, Princess Wan'er has really married, so please take your men back."
Now, the leader of the grassland alliance was furious. "What do you mean? You promised to send her to marry into the royal family, how can you change your mind so easily? Where is your sincerity?"
The Song emperor stammered in response, "I'm so sorry, Princess Wan'er thought you had no future, so she had no choice but to marry someone else. It was all a misunderstanding, please understand."
The leader of the grassland alliance retorted angrily, "Since that's the case, I'm not leaving here! I'll only leave when Princess Wan'er is willing to come back with me, otherwise I'll wait for her here!"
Seeing the unreasonable leader of the grassland alliance, the emperor and empress were at a loss. The old couple discussed it privately and decided that one of them would deal with the leader of the grassland alliance first, while the other would go out and find a girl to replace Princess Wan'er, so as to ease the conflict between the two sides.
"The leader of the grassland alliance has come from afar. Shall I treat you to wine, food, and a performance?" the Emperor asked with a smile.
The aloof leader of the grassland alliance nodded. "Alright."
At the princess's residence, the Empress was like an ant on a hot pan, anxiously pacing back and forth.
Princess Wan'er greeted the Empress excitedly, "Mother, what brings you here? Did you come to ask me to go shopping together?"
The Empress glared at her angrily, "What time is it? You still have the mind to go shopping?! Let me tell you, the leader of the grassland alliance is right over there in the main hall. He insists on marrying you and taking you home. Tell me, how are you going to resolve this?"
Princess Wan'er, at a loss, clutched the hem of her dress and replied, "How could this happen? Wan'er doesn't know what to do either. I will follow Mother's arrangements."
At this moment, the Empress replied, "Your father instructed me to find a girl to marry the leader of the grassland alliance in your place, so that the conflict could be resolved. But how easy is it to find a girl who looks like you and is about the same height? I'm speechless. How could I have encountered such a person and situation!"
Princess Wan'er said frankly, "I think it's better to talk things out face to face. It's not good to find a substitute to marry. You can hide it for a while, but you can't hide it forever."
"What if he insists on taking you away?" the Empress asked with a worried expression.
Princess Wan'er replied confidently, "Don't worry, he won't do that."
Afterwards, Princess Wan'er followed the Empress into the palace in a luxurious carriage, and then approached the leader of the grassland alliance with a smile.
"Hello, leader of the grassland alliance! I am Princess Wan'er. I have long admired your name! It's a pleasure to meet you!"
"My purpose in coming here is to marry you. Has your mother told you?" The leader of the grassland alliance asked, sizing up Wan'er.
Princess Wan'er nodded in response, "I did. But I'm already married, and we're not a good match. Even if we were to get together, we'd be destined to become strangers or separate."
The leader of the grassland alliance responded dismissively, "What's past is past. Let's not bring it up anymore. Wouldn't it be better to just live peacefully?"
Princess Wan'er responded decisively, "No!"
Immediately afterwards, the prince consort hurriedly arrived at the palace to express his stance to the leader of the grassland alliance.
"Greetings, Alliance Leader. I am Princess Wan'er's husband. I will stay with her for the rest of my life and we will never be separated. Please grant us your blessing."
"What if you compensate me for my emotional distress, and give me a large amount of gold and silver jewelry?" the leader asked with a sneer.
“I’m willing! I’ll be with Princess Wan’er for the rest of my life anyway,” the prince consort replied resolutely.
"It's clear you're a loyal and compassionate person. The princess won't suffer any injustice marrying you," the grassland alliance leader patted the prince consort on the shoulder and replied. "I'm late. I withdraw. I wish you both happiness and a blissful life together!"
"Yes, thank you, Alliance Leader!" the princess and her consort replied in unison.