Chapter 1

In the third month of the 37th year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, during the mid-spring season, in the capital city.

In the afternoon, the warm sun made people drowsy, as if the world had become quiet. The Dong'e Bo's residence in the western part of the city was no exception.

Shushu sat in the study, facing two celadon-glazed covered bowls, carefully tasting them.

One bowl contained milk tea, and the other contained green tea. The milk tea was rich and fragrant, while the green tea was of a lower grade, with a slightly astringent taste from fermentation.

She smiled, her almond-shaped eyes glistening with a hint of excitement, as if she was one step closer to financial freedom. Thinking about this, she picked up a brush and ink and began to record in her little notebook: tea shop... supplies...

Hangzhou — West Lake Longjing, Suzhou — Taihu Biluochun, Huizhou — Huangshan Maofeng, Yunnan Pu'er... and Fujian... I wonder if Oolong tea has been produced yet...

Lacking capital, she could only choose to send people to purchase, otherwise, buying a tea plantation for self-production and sales would be the best option.

With the peace in the world, tea houses in the capital were becoming more and more numerous.

However, the famous teas that were well-known in later generations either had not yet appeared or were not popular, presenting great potential.

Shushu was pondering how to gather silver and select personnel when a maid named Xiaochun came in to relay a message: "Miss, Mr. Hou, the manager of Shun'an Silver Shop, is waiting to see you in the front courtyard..."

Shun'an Silver Shop was originally a property under the name of Shushu's birth mother, Jueluo. At the beginning of the year, it was transferred to Shushu's name along with the teahouse, becoming part of her future dowry. Shushu was learning to manage it, so Mr. Hou came to see her directly.

In the side hall of the front courtyard, Mr. Hou, a man in his forties, sat on a stool, looking both shrewd and anxious. Upon seeing the young mistress enter, he quickly stood up: "Miss, Gui Dan has filed a complaint with the Northern City Military Office, accusing the silver shop of 'substituting inferior goods' and 'selling fakes'... Are we really going to fight this lawsuit..."

Shushu sat down and did not rush to respond. Instead, she pondered and asked: "What about Wang Da? Has he provided a confession and evidence..."

Mr. Hou replied with a bitter smile: "It has already been recorded, and he has signed it... The ungrateful wretch has betrayed the trust of the master and the young mistress. His indenture is still under the master's name, yet he has acted dishonorably for eighty taels of silver..."

Wang Da was an old-timer at the silver shop, responsible for the workshop where most of the silversmiths were his apprentices.

Shushu was not surprised. When she took over the silver shop at the beginning of the year, she discovered its flaws, primarily the excessive loss in the workshop, with a monthly loss of seven to eight taels of gold and six to seven taels of silver.

In reality, the loss in gold and silver processing was limited, as both gold and silver shavings could be reused.

According to Jueluo, "Clear water does not hold fish," meaning one must allow subordinates to have some benefits.

Shushu did not agree with this view, believing that clear rewards and punishments were better.

The more indulgence, the greater the potential for future problems, especially in the silver shop business where the so-called "losses" were real gold and silver.

In early February, Shushu reformed the reward system in the workshop, setting the standard of "the more you work, the more you earn" and defining the range of losses.

This was beneficial for other craftsmen but left no room for Wang Da to embezzle, leading to private complaints and recent neglect of his duties.

Shushu then planned to reorganize the personnel and address Wang Da's embezzlement. However, just as she was about to do so, someone came forward with the audacious intention of acquiring the silver shop. This person was none other than Guoluolu, the nephew of Empress Yifei, a new noble in the capital.

It turned out that in the first month, a new "Gold and Silver Workshop" opened across from Shun'an Silver Shop, also selling gold and silver jewelry. Business was not as good as the established Shun'an Silver Shop, so Gui Dan, using the name of the Ninth Prince, wanted to swallow Shun'an Silver Shop.

If the Ninth Prince had come forward, it would have been a clear case of forced acquisition, and she would have had no choice but to accept it, given the power of the emperor.

However, a young man from the Guoluolu family, who had only recently been elevated to the banner system, wanted to buy the bustling shop on Drum Tower Street at half price, which was a dream.

If even a newly elevated banner family could be so bold, who would not dare to challenge the Dong'e family in the future?

In recent years, Shushu had not only studied the "Great Qing Code" in detail but also thoroughly understood the banner system.

The banner system was both a military and a household registration system, divided into eight banners. Each banner was further divided into Manchu, Mongol, Han, and bondsmen, with the core being the Manchu banners.

A "zhaoling" is the Chinese translation of "niulu," the basic unit of the banner system, with each zhaoling consisting of about one hundred households. Above the zhaoling was the canling, and above the canling was the dutong, the highest official of a banner, responsible for the household registration, military records, duties, weddings, funerals, and support of the banner.

The Dong'e family was a founding noble, and when they joined, their clan occupied several zhaolings in the Right Red Banner.

The Right Red Banner Manchu dutong was usually selected from the Jueluo and Dong'e clans, and the current dutong was Shushu's father, Qi Xi.

There were different levels among the banner people: the imperial family, nobles, officials, and ordinary banner people. As the daughter of a top noble, Shushu naturally did not take Gui Dan, a young noble, seriously.

At the beginning of the month, Gui Dan brought the Ninth Prince, disguised as "Mr. Jin," to Shun'an Silver Shop, demanding to see the owner.

Shushu went, even though she had seen through the Ninth Prince's identity, she pretended not to know.

The Ninth Prince did not directly mention buying the shop at a low price but asked for the manager, which naturally led to an unpleasant meeting.

Gui Dan, not willing to give up, continued to lurk around Shun'an Silver Shop.

There are only "thousand days of thievery," not "thousand days of vigilance."

Shushu, annoyed, set a trap.

If Gui Dan had no ill intentions, he would not fall for it. If he had malicious intentions, he would only suffer the consequences.

Shushu was bold, but Mr. Hou, being "older and more cautious," had many concerns and whispered: "It's better to reconcile if possible. If we go to court, it will not look good for both families, especially since it's the empress's family, with two princes as her grandsons..."

Shushu thought for a moment but still shook her head: "Even if we want to reconcile, it's not now... Without going through the court, they will only think of forced acquisition and will not understand the severity of the law..."

Adhering to the law is a good habit, and like silver, the law gives Shushu confidence.

As they were talking, a steward came to report: "The Northern City Military Office has sent someone to see the owner of Shun'an Silver Shop. The lady asks if the young mistress should go or if she should see them herself..."

"I will go..."

Shushu looked down at her half-new, half-old light purple silk robe with a small stand collar and a silk jacket with bat motifs. It was not inappropriate to receive guests, so she dismissed Mr. Hou and went to the front courtyard with a maid.

In the small hall of the front courtyard, the deputy commander of the Northern City Military Office had been waiting for a while but did not show any impatience.

After all, this was the residence of the dutong!

Not only was it the private residence of the Dong'e family, but with Qi Xi serving as the Right Red Banner Manchu dutong, it was also the dutong's office!

Although the eight banner dutongs were first-rank military officials, they did not have permanent offices. They usually worked from home except for their duties in the palace.

Those who entered the dutong's residence included second-rank deputy dutongs, third-rank canlings, and fourth-rank zhaolings, with the lowest rank being sixth-rank qijiao.

Even a steward coming out to greet him would not make the seventh-rank deputy commander feel slighted, let alone meeting the eldest young mistress of the Dong'e family.

When Shushu and her maid arrived, they exchanged greetings, and the host and guest took their seats.

The deputy commander glanced at Shushu and quickly looked away, showing great respect: "Our superior said that there might be a misunderstanding... The eight banners are closely connected, and we are not outsiders. It would be better to mediate rather than go to court..."

Shushu's expression was solemn, and she nodded: "The superior is right, but the reputation of the silver shop is crucial. We cannot let our name be tarnished without cause... If we are to mediate, the complaint must be withdrawn and compensation provided first..."

The deputy commander immediately broke into a sweat. If the plaintiff were willing to withdraw the complaint, his superior would not be worried.

This morning, upon receiving the complaint, the superior sent him to the Guoluolu family to try to persuade Gui Dan's elders to stop the matter, but the elders were in Shengjing, and the remaining stewards and servants did not have the authority to discipline the young master.

With no other options, the superior sent him to the Dong'e family to see if they would take a step back and mediate first.

Who knew that this Dong'e young mistress would be so firm, demanding not only the withdrawal of the complaint but also compensation.

The deputy commander's mouth was bitter, but he still struggled: "This is a matter involving the reputation of both families. Should the young mistress consult with the dutong and his wife?"

Shushu replied calmly: "Sir, please rest assured. The silver shop is my private property, and I can make the decision..." She then picked up her teacup.

The deputy commander had no choice but to stand up and take his leave.

Shushu, however, frowned and tapped her forehead, realizing she had inadvertently forgotten her current age and status. In reality, she should not act on her own.

It would be better to report and seek approval.