Chapter 240: Chapter 240: Why Not Rely on My Influence Now?
The streets were bustling, but the private room was eerily quiet.
The man had distinct contours, a jawline that exuded a chilly hardness, maintaining a detached silence, his presence filled with an air of aloof indifference.
He was unworried.
But...
Shen Hua took a moment to reflect very consciously.
It was the peddler who cursed someone, not Shen Yangyang from the Shen Family.
The result of her reflection.
She cheerfully asked, "Why isn’t the food being served yet?"
Shen Hua: "I’ll have a portion of the ’White Lantern Tender Beef’."
Utterly carefree.
Cui Yun snickered softly.
Cui Rong silently buried his head lower, munching on his pastries.
In the middle of this, Ying Yi came in. He respectfully brought his head close to Cui Yun’s side and whispered something.
Only then did Cui Yun slightly lift his eyelids, his eyes calm and unruffled.
"Call him in."
"Yes."
Soon after, Ying Yi led the person inside.
The individual was dressed in black, his body hunched, his face hidden in the hood of his cloak, indistinct.
"Marquis." The newcomer’s voice was shrill, almost childlike, making it difficult to distinguish their gender momentarily.
Cui Yun furrowed his brows slightly.
Without wasting words, and certainly not daring to reminisce with Cui Yun, the visitor took out a needle and pricked his fingertip, drawing blood.
"The Third Elder of the Southern Border Miao Clan is the best at crafting poison and Gu."
Cui Yun raised the teacup with his well-defined fingertips, inside was freshly brewed Maojian tea, clear and fragrant, its aroma gentle and refreshing.
"Let him take a look at you."
Upon hearing of the Miao Clan, Shen Hua slightly pursed her lips.
The Third Elder then respectfully took out a box from his bosom, inside which wriggled the Gu King. He finally brought his pricked fingertip close, letting the Gu Worm fiercely suck the blood.
This was the Gu King of the Southern Border, pressing down on other Gu worms by bloodline. There are various kinds of Gu, each different. But should Shen Hua’s body be afflicted by any, once exposed to the Gu King, it would surely be drawn out.
The Third Elder murmured incantations while the body of the Gu Worm simultaneously swelled and expanded.
The bell on his robes, which never jingled while he walked, was now shaking violently on its own.
Shen Hua, with her big round eyes, propped her chin and showed no reaction.
The outcome was as expected.
After the duration of one cup of tea, the Third Elder cautiously settled the now sleeping Gu King.
Just as he was about to speak, Ying Yi stepped forward: "Please, Third Elder."
As the person left, Shen Hua dawdled and said, "There’s something I’ve been holding back for a long time."
"The Gu King looks quite ugly."
"I can’t stand those squishy worms."
Cui Yun: "You still have the mood to joke."
Shen Hua chuckled lightly: "Living day by day is also lessening day by day, it’s better to be clear-headed. This way, there can be more things to be at ease with, and fewer regrets."
The private room was warmed by a charcoal brazier, the heat intoxicating, the little girl’s face flushed with warmth, and Shen Hua conveniently took off her mink.
Shen Hua fiddled with the bracelets on her wrist, since yesterday it emitted a warm temperature, and still did so today. She really wasn’t bothered by it and didn’t take it off.
"Actually, I’ve thought that should my health recover, I must return to Fengzhou to reclaim and revive the embroidery workshop."
"The workshop is the life’s work of my Daddy and Mama after all."
"I may not understand the way of business, but I do have a craft, and the embroidery ladies would respond to my call. I want those side branches of the Shen Family and those pretentious clan elders to see with their own eyes, how under Shen Qu’s care, the workshop struggles and tarnishes its reputation. Their choice was wrong, and they can only keep being wrong for the rest of their lives. If in the future the workshop thrives, these people should not dream of sharing in its success."
"I don’t care about those feudal constraints, about how women should not show their face in public. The success of the embroidery room today owes half to my Mama’s effort."
Shen Hua’s eyes curved with a smile: "No matter how upset I am, I have to admit that under the law and regulations, Shen Qu’s takeover of the embroidery workshop, though foul, was justified. As a weak woman, I can’t overpower him by force, but I have thought it through."
Cui Yun narrowed his eyes.
He listened as Shen Hua without any guilt said.
"I’ll borrow the influence of my cousin. Changing the owner of the embroidery workshop is but a mere word from you."
"They pressed me with their power initially, so naturally, I can press back with power. If I can have my wish fulfilled, indeed, there’s no need for honor in tactics. Who doesn’t want to be a villain?"
Shen Hua’s tone lightened: "But for now, I dare not even think about it."
Cui Yun finished listening, his brows creasing.
Even if he could pull strings from behind the scenes, he couldn’t guarantee absolute safety for the girl. Such hollow reassurances, if he offered them, Shen Hua would not believe.
Shen Hua: "Cousin, why aren’t you saying anything?"
His lips parted and pressed together before finally forming a sentence: "Do you still want to eat the tender beef with white lanterns or not?"
"Eat!"
The girl revived entirely upon hearing this.
Instantly after, Shen Hua lamented, "But First-tier Sky Restaurant only sells ten plates a day. At this hour, they’re definitely gone."
Cui Yun whispered, "You’re wrong."
"At this moment, why not think about leveraging my influence?"
Cui Rong suddenly looked up: ???
She clearly remembered.
——Uncle, the shark fin’s bird’s nest is gone again.
——Come earlier next time.
——I can’t command...
——If everyone did as they pleased, what rules would the restaurant have left?
Why! She can’t, but Shen Hua can! Jealousy twisted her!
She! She is a Commandery Princess after all!
Shen Hua lifted her eyes, still considerate of Cui Yun’s position, "They say the restaurant’s Boss behind the scenes is not simple, and Shengjing, at the feet of the Emperor, is quite different from Fengzhou. If it offends someone because of this..."
At this time, the waiter came in to take the order.
"What would the guests like to eat today?"
Shen Hua blinked her eyes, her little finger raised, "Tender beef with white lanterns."
The waiter: "Today’s batch has been sold out, perhaps the lady can come earlier tomorrow?"
Shen Hua banged on the table, arrogant and imperious.
"Do you know who he is, huh? Has First-tier Sky turned the world upside down? How dare you say it’s not for sale when the Marquis wants to eat?"
"It’s not that we’re not selling, it’s just that I..."
"Then use tomorrow’s portion today in advance."
"No matter how the kitchen plans it, they must serve it even if it’s impossible."
She embodied decadence and shamelessness perfectly.
The waiter struggling under the pressure, "Would the lady like to order anything else?"
Shen Hua couldn’t help but feel elated, she even felt a bit of joy.
"All the limited dishes and signature dishes of the restaurant, especially those with only one portion left, grab them all for the Marquis!"
The waiter: You’re really going too far.
Cui Yun chuckled lightly.
The waiter carefully glanced at Cui Yun.
Cui Yun gave a slight nod.
The waiter got a shock.
The Boss had laid down rules earlier, saying that in the future, there was no need for privileges when dining—even if it were the little princess, the same rules would apply, whatever the rule should be, it remains the rule. But now, rules are being broken just like that.
Shen Hua urged, "So, is it not possible?"
"It’s possible!"
"If the Marquis wants to eat, of course, it’s available."
"Please wait a moment, I’ll go speak to the kitchen right away."
Shen Hua never thought that Cui Yun’s name carried such weight.
She even began to regret coming over early for a dish, just to compete for a slot.
"Wait."
Shen Hua couldn’t help but feel emboldened.
"Does the guest have any other instructions?"
Shen Hua: "Remember my face."
The waiter was taken aback.
If Shen Hua had a tail behind her, it would already be wagging crazily: "In the future, when I come alone, I’m afraid it’s going to be quite the trouble for the kitchen."
Shen Hua: "I only eat the dishes that are sold out!"