Have You Written Your Will Today?
Chapter 146: As Long as You’re Alive, Everything Else Comes Second

Chapter 146: Chapter 146: As Long as You’re Alive, Everything Else Comes Second

Soon, the farce dispersed as Wei Zhuzhu fled in panic.

She left behind a harsh threat.

"I’m going to tell father right away. Sister, you may have found it satisfying to hit someone, but you’ll suffer the consequences later."

This caused Wei Yingying to become very silent.

Meanwhile, Yicui, having learned of the news, hurried back.

"Madam, the embroidery event has not yet started inside; the commotion arose because Juchao Pavilion’s Shopkeeper has invited twelve popular prostitutes and an exceptionally reclusive Oiran from Yanguifang to perform a dance as the opening act."

Shen Hua’s expression remained calm.

No wonder.

In the mad rush of people pressing inside, most were men.

Wei Yingying could not comprehend, "Usually, buyers of embroidery are women. Isn’t Juchao Pavilion putting the cart before the horse by arranging such a setup?"

Women, when they go wild, can spend even more money than men.

However, now, most women wanting to buy embroidery were blocked outside.

"Miss Wei may not know, Juchao Pavilion offers complimentary snacks and tea, but one must pay for seats. The better the view for the embroidery, the more expensive the seats. These prostitutes will not leave after their dance; they will be taken to the second floor. And the men interested in getting close to the prostitutes will also have to pay for seats."

Upon hearing this, Shen Hua lowered her gaze, "Would businessmen ever make a losing deal?"

She adjusted her clothes, her fingertips curled, "This is just the beginning. The novelty alone will bring in a significant amount of silver. Don’t forget, it lasts for three days."

"Women aiming to buy embroidery are splurging on the first floor, and the wealthy young men of Shengjing are spending money to watch prostitutes on the second floor. Both can proceed without hindrance; just you watch, it won’t be long before those who can’t buy seats will be asked to leave."

If the Shopkeeper is shrewd, they wouldn’t fix the seat prices too early but will let the highest bidders have them.

Not unusual for traders.

Yicui complained, "That’s rather cunning, selling embroidery but doesn’t seem like selling embroidery; they used to sell refinement, now it’s just tacky."

Shen Hua turned her head, "Did you find out anything else?"

Yicui’s voice lowered: "There are more than twenty embroidery ladies here this time."

She glanced at Wei Yingying cautiously and whispered close to Shen Hua’s ear.

"Manager Cheng of the embroidery workshop has also come."

Shen Hua frowned.

Manager Cheng is a smooth operator and has long been aligned with Shen Qu’s people.

"I think, Madam, you should sit in the nearby teahouse for a while until the crowd thins out a bit. I will spend some silver and take a look for myself," the servant proposed.

Though she is far from knowing as much as Shen Hua about embroidery, she has learned enough over the years to notice something fishy.

Madam has been unwell, you should find a place to sit early. Should you really wait here in the cold wind until Juchao Pavilion’s auction for seats and then clears out?

How inappropriate.

After some thought, Shen Hua didn’t refuse: "Alright."

She looked around and saw a teahouse just ahead. It didn’t look particularly conspicuous, even a bit old, but Shen Hua, unusually, didn’t mind.

"I’ll go with you." These words were spoken by Wei Yingying.

Shen Hua glanced at her; Wei Yingying looked very dejected, barely spirited.

Is this... Worry about what Wei Zhuzhu said earlier?

Upon reaching the teahouse, they asked for a private room upstairs. Shen Hua leaned back, occasionally peeking outside through the window, her hand resting on the tea table and the other propping up her smooth delicate chin.

"What kind of tea would the two ladies like?" the waiter asked with a smile.

Wei Yingying in melancholy: "I want to drink alcohol."

"Bring us the best liquor you have."

The waiter looked perplexed, a bit troubled: "This is a teahouse."

Shen Hua: "Calm down a little."

Wei Yingying covered her face: "But I feel so miserable."

"I really feel awful."

"I..."

Annoyed, Shen Hua threw a silver ingot: "With this, do you have liquor now?"

"Yes, yes, I will go buy it right away."

After the waiter left, Shen Hua didn’t look at the girl opposite her, her tone unusually steady.

"There’s no need to borrow trouble."

Wei Yingying was startled, her fingertips turning white as she clutched the handkerchief. Her words came with difficulty.

"You don’t understand."

"The glory I had before, I never imagined there would come a day when anyone could trample on me."

Shen Hua’s expression briefly became distant.

She softly said, "All the glory you had was given to you by Mr. Wei, what he can give, he can also take back."

"Did the slap earlier feel good?"

Wei Yingying was startled again.

"Since it felt good, then it’s worth it."

Shen Hua: "Even if she goes back and complains, or makes trouble, as long as you do not resist this marriage, the Minister of the Ministry of Industry will by no means treat you harshly."

She reasoned logically: "Raising her to the principal position was already a grievance to you and your mother, if he harms you again, it would be difficult to explain to your maternal grandfather."

Wei Yingying’s maternal grandfather agreed to this matter for benefits, and similarly, the greatest benefit between the two households stems from the Minister of the Ministry of Industry and his wife being married.

As for Wei Zhuzhu.

Her only support is the Minister of the Ministry of Industry.

She only has her obedience, at least until she successfully affiliates with someone with power, the Minister of the Ministry of Industry won’t spill blood with Wei Yingying and her mother over her.

Shen Hua murmured: "It’s just that these years you have never suffered setbacks. But as long as you are healthy, that is your capital. Live longer than your father, everyone says that poor couples suffer a hundred woes, but are rich households perfectly happy? Just that if people are wrong, it might lead to even more rot inside. How the Third Prince is as a person, I do not know, if he is a good match, then all is well, if not, living freely and comfortably yourself is what truly matters. What is there to worry about?"

"As long as you have life, everything else can take a step back."

She spoke very slowly and softly but it was enough to make Wei Yingying shudder.

This really didn’t sound like something Shen Hua would say.

Shen Hua was supposed to have an unfettered and assertive character.

Listening to this made Wei Yingying very uncomfortable, yet she agreed profoundly with what Shen Hua said.

Could it be, could it be, is Shen Hua even more miserable than her?

"You—"

Wei Yingying asked very cautiously: "Are you—"

Shen Hua suppressed the emotions in her eyes. Her dark eyes glanced across.

She pursed her lips.

"What’s wrong with you?"

"I’ve said so much, and you didn’t even offer me tea?"

Shen Hua arrogantly: "Hurry up, I’m thirsty."

————

This teahouse is not soundproof. The girl’s voice was light, but a martial artist could still hear it clearly.

"Marquis." Someone softly called.

Cui Yun came to his senses. The tea in his cup gently swayed, he no longer paid attention to the affair next door. He put down the tea cup.

"The Third Prince asked me to come here, what for?"

Opposite him, Ji Teng was dressed not thinly at all, even affording a look of richness.

The outfit was the warmest and finest one given to him by the Empress on the day Ji Ge got married.

He embarrassedly said: "Marquis, you usually drink tea at the Mingting Pavilion, I don’t have much money on hand, only enough to invite you here."

He knew that besides Ji Ge, Cui Yun seldom accepted invitations from other princes. Yet he didn’t expect, Cui Yun really came.

Ji Teng: "I came to thank you."

His lips carried a bit of bitterness.

"Thank you for the favor of seeing me off eight years ago."