There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 473 The Wedding Date is Set

This time, Li Shuchen didn't refuse; she knew Liang Yuying's concerns were valid.

"Okay, Yuying is so thoughtful. She saved me the money of hiring a caretaker. Meals will do."

Cheng Zhi'an put down his spoon and said gently.

"If you need any revisions or verifications regarding the land deeds and employment contracts of Qianhua Manor, please feel free to contact me. With recent legal changes, it's best to update the relevant deeds to reflect the new regulations to avoid future disputes."

"Good, good, good. You've both been thinking of me, one scholar and one warrior."

Li Shuchen raised his glass, "Then... let's toast to the smooth sailing of my Thousand Flower Manor, to your early capture of that 'King,' and... well, to all of us having our wishes fulfilled!"

The three wine glasses clinked together gently, making a crisp sound.

Outside the window, the night deepened and the dew grew heavy.

Inside the window, the light was inviting.

A single meal revealed three different thoughts, yet unexpectedly, it also achieved a new balance.

Li Shuchen munched on a duck leg, looking at his two comrades-in-arms, so different in style yet equally outstanding. The pressure he felt from the enormous debt and the mysterious case seemed to be lessened by the complex yet warm atmosphere of everyday life.

The road must be walked step by step, flowers must bloom season by season, debts must be repaid one by one, and cases... must be investigated layer by layer.

It can't be rushed, nor can it be chaotic.

At least for now, with a satisfying meal and friends by my side, the future may be shrouded in mist, but it is not without light.

"Grapes!" she called out, "and cut half a duck, a fatty one."

……

Before the autumn winds had completely dispelled the summer heat in Beijing, another wave of heat had already swept through the streets and alleys.

The marriage between the Seventh Prince Xiao Xiuyuan and Princess Gu Ziying of Ning'an County is settled!

The news spread like wildfire, arriving at the Happiness Inn just as Li Shuchen was busy checking accounts on an abacus.

"Seventh Prince? Which Seventh Prince?" she asked Grape without looking up.

"It's that one who just regained her identity, who made a meritorious contribution on her diplomatic mission, and is going to marry Miss Gu Ziying, oh no, Princess Ning'an," Grape said excitedly, her little face turning red.

Li Shuchen paused, his finger pausing: "Surname Xiao? Could it be..."

"It's that young master Xiao Xiuyuan, the third-ranked scholar in this imperial examination!"

A group of regulars at the next table chimed in loudly, their voices filled with pride and admiration, "Oh my, what a perfect match! A marriage made in heaven! It was even bestowed by the Emperor himself! The wedding date is set for September 28th!"

Xiao Xiuyuan? Gu Ziying?

Li Shuchen suddenly raised his head, his eyes shining brightly, and a big smile instantly bloomed on his face. The weight in his heart lifted with a "thump."

"It's him! Great! That's wonderful!" She slammed her hand on the table, startling Grape. "Now I can finally relax!"

"Grapes," Li Shuchen said, closing the ledger with renewed vigor. "Our goals have changed for the next period of time!"

"Oh? Miss, aren't we saving up to buy the rich young master's glass vase?" Grape whispered a reminder, "The flowers will be blooming in about a month."

"We'll buy the glass bottle, but we need to maintain our sisters' image even more!"

Li Shuchen waved his hand, his heroic spirit soaring to the heavens.

"Slightly adjust the money-making plan! Prioritize saving up a sum of money to dowry for my Ziying! Gold and silver are the most practical, but silk and satin are also necessary. In short, make it as glamorous as possible! Let the whole capital know that our County Princess Gu has a formidable sisterhood!"

just do it

Li Shuchen devoted himself even more diligently to the inn's business, greeting guests with double the smiles, enthusiastically promoting the dishes, and even the kitchen seemed to be producing new items at a faster pace.

Happiness Roast Duck launched a "Joyful and Perfect" set meal, and renamed its golden fried chicken wings "Wings of Love," making its business even more prosperous.

The money flowed in like water, but she didn't send a single penny to the system. Instead, she secretly deposited it all into a separate account, euphemistically calling it the "Ziying Happiness Fund."

Besides her busy business during the day, she also designs wedding dresses at the Sanbao Temple in the evenings.

She had promised Gu Ziying that she would give her a wedding dress she designed herself, and now it was time to fulfill that promise.

Liang Yuying, Princess Changning, and Ye Bingli were also busy, each incredibly occupied, and Li Shuchen saw them less and less each time.

As September arrived, Li Shuchen began arranging the dowry.

She ignored the flashy antique ornaments and headed straight for the most reputable gold and silver shops in the capital, carrying the grapes with her.

"Shopkeeper, ten pairs of solid gold bracelets, heavy and well-made! Yes, the kind that feel heavy in your hand and look like they bring good fortune to your home!"

"Silver ingots? Not official ingots, but the freshest, finest snowflake silver you have here. Make me two hundred auspicious little silver ingots, engraved with 'Perfect Match'!"

"Make another set of red gold headdresses, the patterns should be festive but not tacky, peony? Phoenix? Yes, that's the one with the good meaning!"

"Also, here are some ready-made gold leaves and silver melon seeds, each in a large bag!"

The shopkeeper of Jinlou was dumbfounded. While hurriedly instructing his assistant to fetch the goods, he tentatively asked...

"Miss Li, who is this important person who has arranged this? Such a grand gesture!"

Li Shuchen paid with a smile, quite proud, as he handed over the silver notes (most of the inn's profits had come from this recently).

"This is for my sister, the Princess of Ning'an's dowry! It's genuine stuff, I can use it with peace of mind!"

Grape followed behind, carrying large and small brocade boxes and cloth bags filled with gold and silver, both tired and happy, muttering to herself.

"Miss, this...this is too practical. Won't people say we're materialistic?"

"Tacky?"

Li Shuchen raised an eyebrow

“This is the confidence to live a good life! Our Ziying is married to a prince, and there will be many places where she will need money in the future. Whether it's inside or outside the palace, or arranging relationships, having enough money is better than anything else. Can those fancy decorations be used as money?”

Besides gold and silver, Li Shuchen also didn't forget practical items.

They ordered ten bolts each of the finest Jiangnan brocade and Shu brocade, all in auspicious colors like bright red, pomegranate red, and rouge red, as well as wisteria purple, which Gu Ziying liked; a complete set of official kiln porcelain; and even several cartloads of the finest silver frost charcoal for autumn and winter.

On September 26th, Li Shuchen picked up the wedding dress and delivered it to the Gu residence.

"Ziying, look, the wedding dress is finished! Quickly try it on to see if it fits."

She unfolded her wedding dress as if presenting a treasure, "The outermost layer is still a bright red robe, that's the rule, it can't be changed, but we won't use ordinary brocade, we'll use 'Red Cloud Brocade,' this kind of brocade will have a faint purple hue under different lighting, like the sunset reflecting on wisteria."

"Look at the embroidered robe," Li Shuchen said, pointing to the magnificent shawl hanging down from the shoulders in the picture.

"Instead of using pure gold to embroider dragons and phoenixes, we'll combine 'coil gold embroidery' and 'seed stitch embroidery,' using different shades of purple and silver silk threads to embroider entwined and spreading wisteria branches! They meander from the shoulders all the way to the hem of the skirt, with small golden mimosa flowers adorning the branches, symbolizing 'auspicious purple clouds coming from the east, and a hundred years of joy and happiness.'"

"And the inner robe, made of pale lilac-colored silk, with delicate wisteria blossom and leaf patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs, so that when moving or when a breeze stirs the robe, the elegant purple underneath can be seen through, like wisteria blossoms peeking out from the rosy clouds."

"So beautiful!" Gu Ziying exclaimed.

"Hey, look, this is the best part!"

Li Shuchen pointed to the junction of the hem of the shawl and the skirt, "Here, extremely fine pearls and pale purple tourmaline are used to create tassels, mimicking the drooping posture of wisteria flowers. When you walk, the pearls sway gently, as if wisteria flowers are swaying in the wind, releasing a subtle fragrance."

"Don't just stand there, give it a try!"

The moment Gu Ziying put it on, everyone held their breath.

Her bright red overcoat was dignified and luxurious, with subtle purple hues that resembled divine light. The wisteria blossoms on her shawl were so lifelike that one could almost smell their fragrance. As she moved, a hint of pale purple lining was revealed, and pearl and tourmaline tassels swayed gently. She possessed both the grandeur and majesty of a prince's principal wife, and perfectly incorporated her beloved wisteria motif, making her even more beautiful than the flowers, elegant and refined.

"It fits perfectly and looks beautiful. This is the first time I've seen a wedding dress that incorporates wisteria elements. Thank you, Shuchen."

"No need for thanks. In the day after tomorrow, you will be the most dazzling woman in the Purple Star Dynasty."