Shopkeeper Hu waited until Leng Ruo Li and the other two stopped laughing before saying, "Your Highness, ever since the kitchen started using the seasonings you brought, the dishes at our Drunken Immortal Tower have risen to a new level. Although the dishes are the same, they smell better, taste more delightful, and look more appetizing than before. In short, they are so much better that our business has improved considerably."
Shopkeeper Hu gestured enthusiastically to Leng Ruo Li.
"Good, good. When I have free time, I will teach you how to make new dishes, and then our business will be even better," Leng Ruo Li said with a slight smile, her expression sweet and approachable.
"Your Highness, you are truly capable and know everything. Our Drunken Immortal Tower will surely prosper," Shopkeeper Hu praised with a smile.
"You all work hard, and I, your Highness, will not mistreat you," Leng Ruo Li encouraged him.
"Your Highness, rest assured. These days, even if you were to drive them away, they wouldn't want to leave because the monthly salaries and benefits you and His Highness provide are several times better than those in any other restaurant in the capital," Shopkeeper Hu said with a hearty laugh.
Upon hearing this, Leng Ruo Li nodded.
"That's good. If any of the restaurant staff encounter any insurmountable difficulties, you can report them to me. I will extend my assistance to them if I can," Leng Ruo Li offered.
"Yes, yes, Your Highness, I understand!" Shopkeeper Hu replied respectfully.
Then, Shopkeeper Hu took out the account books detailing income and expenditure from the past six months from a drawer under the counter, handed them to Leng Ruo Li, and led them to their former private room on the second floor to review the accounts.
After entering and sitting down, Leng Ruo Li carefully examined the ledgers. The two account books were meticulously kept, with detailed records of the source of every inflow and outflow of funds. She had to admit that Jun Mohan's people were truly reliable. She finished reviewing the ledgers in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
"Shopkeeper Hu, you have done an excellent job. From now on, retain sufficient funds for the restaurant's operations each month, and the remaining profits should be handed over directly to the steward of the Leng Prince's Mansion and recorded in the mansion's accounts," Leng Ruo Li instructed.
"Yes, Your Highness!" Shopkeeper Hu replied respectfully.
Next, Leng Ruo Li inspected every position in the restaurant, from the hygiene standards to the morale of the staff. She was very satisfied.
Following that, Leng Ruo Li left the Drunken Immortal Tower, boarded her carriage, and proceeded to inspect other shops under the Leng Prince's Mansion. She spent the entire morning visiting all dozen or so shops. In general, every shop under the Leng Prince's Mansion was managed very well, and the shopkeepers were all very easy to manage.
"Your Highness, are we going to Jinxiu Pavilion next?" Xing'er asked.
"Yes, I haven't seen Shi Zhenghe and the others for several months. Since we have time this afternoon, let's go and see them," Leng Ruo Li said with a smile.
"Your Highness, you don't know how well Jinxiu Pavilion is doing now. Every time they release a new product, it sells out instantly. Most of the wealthy ladies in the capital are proud to wear clothes from our Jinxiu Pavilion," Ling'er said with pride.
"Yes, Your Highness, Ling'er is right. Our ready-made clothes from Jinxiu Pavilion are indeed very popular in the capital. I heard Ye Ying tell me last time that even the concubines and princesses in the palace have come to pre-order new designs from Jinxiu Pavilion, and they even paid a hefty deposit to get our new clothes as soon as possible," Xing'er said excitedly.
In fact, Leng Ruo Li already knew about these matters, but when Xing'er mentioned Ye Ying's name, it reminded her of something.
Ever since she returned to the mansion, Xing'er's expression seemed odd whenever she saw Ye Ying – either her face would be flushed, or she would avoid eye contact. At first, Leng Ruo Li thought Ye Ying had bullied Xing'er. Without a word, she summoned Ye Ying to question him, but Xing'er begged her not to blame him, saying it was her own fault. At the time, Leng Ruo Li, not understanding the situation, let it go.
Thinking about Xing'er's unusual behavior now, Leng Ruo Li wondered if this little girl had fallen for Ye Ying but was too shy to let anyone know.
However, Leng Ruo Li wasn't surprised. After all, in this ancient era, girls of sixteen or seventeen were already married and had children, with very few remaining with their parents. Hadn't she herself married Jun Mohan at sixteen?
"Xing'er, what do you think of Ye Ying?" Leng Ruo Li asked curiously.
"Ye, Ye Ying? Your servant thinks he is quite good," Xing'er replied, her face instantly turning red, stammering.
"Oh, so do you like him?" Leng Ruo Li asked, feigning ignorance.
"Your servant, your servant..." Xing'er's face grew even redder, and she stammered for a long time without forming a complete sentence.
Ling'er, sitting on Leng Ruo Li's other side, saw Xing'er's reaction and immediately let out a chuckle, bursting into laughter.
"Alas, Ye Ying is already of an age where he should be married. His Highness has asked me to find a wife for him recently. Given Ye Ying's temperament, it's truly difficult for me to find a suitable wife. You and Ling'er get along well with Ye Ying usually, why don't you two consider it?" Leng Ruo Li said deliberately.
"Your Highness, although Commander Ye Ying is a good person, Ling'er only regards him as a big brother. Ling'er has no romantic feelings for him, and moreover, Ling'er is still young and doesn't want to get married so early," Ling'er immediately declined.
"Then what about Xing'er? Xing'er, do you like Ye Ying?" Leng Ruo Li asked intentionally.
Xing'er's small head gradually lowered further, her face so red it could drip ink, and she nodded twice.
"Your Highness, Xing'er has fallen for Ye Ying," Xing'er admitted.
"Haha, that's more like it! If you like someone, say it boldly. Neither Ling'er nor I will laugh at you. As the saying goes, a man grows up to marry, and a woman grows up to wed. What's more, I have never treated you two as servants, but rather as sisters. If you find a suitable man one day, be sure to tell me. I will vet his character for you. If he is truly suitable, I will also prepare a generous dowry for you to have a grand wedding. But the premise is that I will not allow you to be a concubine to anyone, nor will I allow you to break up someone else's family. If you marry, you must be the principal wife," Leng Ruo Li said with a serious expression.
"Yes, Xing'er (Ling'er) will remember Your Highness's words!" Xing'er and Ling'er said respectfully, cupping their hands.
After hearing them, Leng Ruo Li nodded with satisfaction, hoping they would not choose the wrong life partners in the future.