The Empress was surprised to hear that perfume could be produced year-round, but upon remembering that it was invented by Chu Chen, it was not difficult to accept, even if it required flowers from all seasons.
In the Empress's eyes, Chu Chen was someone who could turn the incredible into the conceivable.
"In that case, I am relieved," the Empress nodded and smiled, "With these added to the Royal Merchant Guild as goods for sale, I believe the magnates will be very willing to join."
"Naturally, with Your Majesty as our backing, even if the Royal Merchant Guild did not sell these unique goods, but only ordinary items, the magnates would still be very willing to join and serve Your Majesty."
Chu Chen flattered with a smile.
Even though the Empress knew it was flattery, she still felt pleased.
She smiled and said, "For the next steps, Xin Yue, you will cooperate with Chu Chen in operating the Royal Merchant Guild. Do not act on impulse as you did before and ruin important matters. Do you understand?"
"Rest assured, Mother! Your daughter is not what she used to be. I have not read the books of sages in vain."
Princess Xin Yue replied with a giggle, showing no concern.
Managing a merchant guild? She didn't understand that. Squandering and showing off? She was an expert at that.
The so-called plan for the Royal Merchant Guild was simply for her, a royal princess, to use the products from the guild to visit people everywhere. It was very easy!
Princess Xin Yue was very happy. It was wonderful to have fun while also doing important work.
The Empress did not ask about the price of the perfume, nor did she inquire how Chu Chen and Princess Xin Yue would cooperate to complete the task. After understanding the situation at the Tucheng factory area, she left in a hurry.
The Empress was very relieved to leave these matters to Chu Chen.
Afterward, Chu Chen and Princess Xin Yue each took a batch of goods and also departed.
The next morning, at the milk tea shop in the west of the city.
Shao Lili and Chen Shengnan were drinking milk tea and waiting.
"Xin Yue sent someone yesterday to say she has a gift for us here. I wonder what it is," Chen Shengnan said with some curiosity.
"No need to guess, we all know it must be Chu Chen, who is always by her side, inventing something new and coming to show off to us," Shao Lili said. Then, her eyes twinkled, and with a mischievous smile, she added, "We can't let her get away with it this time. No matter what novel thing she brings, we must pretend to be knowledgeable and remain calm, understand?"
"Huh? But isn't that a bit much?"
"What's wrong with that? She hasn't been looking for us to play lately. After being busy all last year, she's relaxed now and still doesn't look for us. We'll deal with her like this."
"Alright," Chen Shengnan agreed to Shao Lili's suggestion with a conflicted expression.
Soon, a carriage stopped outside the milk tea shop.
Princess Xin Yue alighted from the carriage, dressed in a luxurious outfit, her movements and demeanor exceptionally elegant.
Inside the milk tea shop, the other young women looked at the beauty with surprise.
"Whose young lady is this? She looks so unfamiliar."
"I don't know. Perhaps a noble from another country has come to taste the milk tea?"
The milk tea shop was located next to the soap shop. In reality, both were managed by Chen Shengnan, not the indifferent Princess Xin Yue or the busy Shao Lili.
Milk tea, invented by Chu Chen around the same time as soap, was slightly too sweet for everyone's liking, but young ladies and noblewomen were undoubtedly fond of its delicious taste.
Coupled with the rumored backing of a princess, and the absence of any men, it gradually became a place for young ladies to gather with their close friends to chat.
Listening to the discussions from the not-completely-closed private room, Princess Xin Yue smiled, appearing even more beautiful and charming.
She walked upstairs and pushed open the private room specially reserved for them, entering it.
Shao Lili and Chen Shengnan turned to look, and were immediately surprised.
"Huh? The sun is rising in the west today! Why aren't you wearing men's clothing, but instead dressed so beautifully? Are you perhaps going on an outing with that kid Chu Chen later?" Shao Lili exclaimed, stepping out of the milk tea shop and scrutinizing her with a "tsk tsk" sound, teasingly.
"Not at all, not at all. It is precisely this attire that can best showcase the effect of the gift." Princess Xin Yue shook her head and recited, imitating the Grand Tutor.
"Ugh~ Xin Yue, you know what you're like, and so does Shengnan. Stop pretending and revert to your usual self!" With that, Shao Lili stepped forward, tugged at her, and closed the door of the private room.
The private rooms on the second floor had doors that could be closed to form a small space and were quite soundproof.
"Quick, take out the gift you mentioned and let us see it." As soon as they sat down, Shao Lili said impatiently.
"Don't rush," Princess Xin Yue smiled and carefully took out three completely transparent glass bottles from her sleeve, placing two of them on the table.
"Huh? Is this glass? How can it be so transparent? Did that kid Chu Chen improve it, or did he invent a new type of glass?" Shao Lili picked up one of the bottles, held it up to the light, and asked, "And what is inside? It's stored in a glass bottle, so it must be expensive, right?"
"Naturally. What's inside is the perfume invented by Chu Chen!" Princess Xin Yue replied proudly.
"Why are you so proud? It was invented by Chu Chen, not you," Shao Lili retorted, but she couldn't help but ask curiously, "This perfume sounds like a very fragrant liquid? Is it a drink like milk tea?"
"A drink?" Chen Shengnan's eyes lit up.
"It's not for drinking, absolutely do not drink it. This is for applying to the body." Princess Xin Yue was startled by Chen Shengnan's reaction and, forgetting to keep it a secret, said directly, "This glass bottle containing the perfume is ingeniously designed to control the flow. Pour a little into your hand and apply it to your neck, and you'll know."
Shao Lili, with a look of curiosity and exploration, followed Princess Xin Yue's instructions. She pried open the cork of the perfume bottle and saw a membrane with tiny holes embedded between the glass, unsure of what it was made of or how it was placed there.
She tilted the bottle and shook it slightly, and a drop of perfume poured out.
Instantly, a faint fragrance filled the enclosed private room from her palm.
"This scent, it's the fragrance of peonies!" Shao Lili exclaimed, recognizing the scent immediately. She then gently rubbed the drop of perfume onto her neck.
After applying it, Shao Lili's nose twitched. She soon discovered that the fragrance did not dissipate with the liquid but instead spread further after being applied, making her entire neck fragrant with the scent of peonies.
"This is perfume?!" Shao Lili's eyes glazed over, her nose twitching slightly.
"How is it? Isn't it very good?" Princess Xin Yue was very pleased with Shao Lili's expression and asked triumphantly.