"Second Young Madam, time is precious, let's go, leave this alley," Jiang Shangyun glanced at the alley entrance.
Xu Yuqing nodded and was about to move forward when Jiang Shangyun stopped her.
"Second Young Madam, please wait!"
Xu Yuqing frowned and looked at him displeasantly. "Didn't you say we should go? Why are you stopping us now?" she asked curiously.
"Second Young Madam, with your unparalleled beauty, you are like Chang'e descended to earth. If you don't cover your face and walk on the street like this, you will certainly cause a sensation and attract the gaze of all the men on the street, making them all go crazy for you. This way, Miss Yue will definitely know you've gone out, so please wear a bamboo hat."
Jiang Shangyun explained, flattering Xu Yuqing's beauty excessively, making Xu Yuqing overjoyed, her lips almost splitting to her ears.
Xu Yuqing, in a great mood, raised an eyebrow slightly when she saw that the bamboo hat Jiang Shangyun handed her was a man's. "Is this your bamboo hat?"
She recognized the hat; it was the one Huangfu Yue had given to all the men to wear. Jiang Shangyun wouldn't steal someone else's hat, so it must be his.
"Yes. Please don't mind, Second Young Madam. My hat is very clean, not dirty at all. Please wear it with confidence." Jiang Shangyun bowed reverently.
Xu Yuqing hesitated for a moment before reaching out and taking the bamboo hat from Jiang Shangyun.
She was usually very disdainful of things he had worn. She never liked using things others had used, let alone something from an unfamiliar man she had just met, especially someone of lower status.
However, seeing the awe and adoration, and even fervor in his eyes when he looked at her, as if he were looking at a goddess, made her feel strangely pleased and filled with a sense of immense satisfaction. She decided to make a small concession and wear his hat.
Jiang Shangyun was secretly delighted. She had accepted. He was becoming more confident in his ability to win her over.
Xu Yuqing put on the bamboo hat, obscuring her beautiful face, and then left the alley with Jiang Shangyun, arriving on the street. Although it was still morning, it wasn't that early. The street had become lively, with all the shops open and roadside stalls set up, and quite a few pedestrians on the street.
Because Xu Yuqing wore the bamboo hat, concealing her beautiful face, she and Jiang Shangyun did not attract much attention.
Xu Yuqing peered around curiously through the thin veil. This was her first time strolling down the street in Mudian Town, so she was filled with anticipation. However, she soon felt disappointed.
The streets here, and everything on them, could not compare to the capital. They were far inferior to the capital. However, some of the goods sold by the street vendors were things she had seen in the capital, indicating that some items from the capital were also sold here.
She hoped that the cosmetic shops here would have the rouge and powder sold in the capital...
Found it! Xu Yuqing's beautiful eyes suddenly lit up. She saw a cosmetic shop she had been looking for about five to six zhang ahead.
"Let's go to the cosmetic shop ahead," Xu Yuqing said to Jiang Shangyun, quickening her pace and walking towards the shop with a joyful heart.
Jiang Shangyun watched her retreating figure, a flicker of realization in his eyes.
Although she was wearing a bamboo hat and he couldn't see her face, he could tell a lot from her voice. It was likely that her desire to go out and stroll on the street was driven by her wish to visit a cosmetic shop to buy rouge and powder.
Ha, it hasn't been that long since her husband died, and she already has the leisure to buy rouge and powder to adorn herself. It seems she isn't that grief-stricken over her husband's death, nor does she care that much about it.
Someone like her would certainly not remain chaste and live as a widow for life.
He was becoming more and more confident!
Jiang Shangyun quickly caught up with Xu Yuqing and followed her into the cosmetic shop.
"What would you like to buy?" The shop owner, a middle-aged woman adorned in a flamboyant manner, immediately stepped forward with a smile to welcome Xu Yuqing and Jiang Shangyun as soon as they entered.
"I want to buy some skincare balm, and some rouge and powder," Xu Yuqing said.
"Bring out all the best and most expensive skincare balm and rouge and powder in your shop for Second Young Madam to choose from," Jiang Shangyun instructed the shop owner, his face beaming with generosity.
As soon as he finished instructing the shop owner, he looked at Xu Yuqing and said respectfully, "Second Young Madam, if there's anything else you desire, feel free to ask the proprietress to show it to you. Buy with confidence, I've brought enough money, you don't need to worry about the payment."
A hint of surprise flashed across Xu Yuqing's face. "Are you going to pay for me?"
Jiang Shangyun nodded. "Second Young Madam, buy with confidence."
You can't catch a tiger without going into its den!
To deal with a woman like Xu Yuqing, one must be good at pleasing her. Not only must one be eloquent, but one must also have the money.
He was just an ordinary commoner, not from a noble family, nor an official, not even a minor official. He was just a regular constable. In the eyes of a noble lady like Xu Yuqing, his status was surely low and humble.
Therefore, he had to spend generously on Xu Yuqing, making her feel that although his status was low, he was wealthy and, more importantly, very generous and willing to spend money on her, which could compensate for his low status.
Fortunately, his family's business had been doing better and better over the years, earning quite a lot of money. He had also skimmed some oil and water from his position in the government, so he had money to spend on Xu Yuqing.
"Since you've said so, I really can't refuse your kind intention. I'll indulge you then. I'll buy with confidence," Xu Yuqing said happily with a smile.
As the legitimate daughter of a marquis's mansion, she had not only lived a life of luxury since childhood but had also never lacked money. Later, she married into the Prince Dai's mansion and lived even better, with more money to spend. Therefore, she was not stingy, someone who liked to take advantage of others and was reluctant to spend money, only wanting to spend other people's money.
However, things were different now. Although she had secretly hidden some gold, silver, and banknotes on her person on the night her family was raided, it was still incomparable to her past.
She could no longer spend money carelessly as before; she had to be calculating and avoid spending her own money if possible, as the money on her person would only decrease with each spend.
Although Huangfu Yue seemed very wealthy, Huangfu Yue's money was ultimately not hers. It was safer to have money herself and keep it on her person.
Therefore, hearing Jiang Shangyun proactively offer to pay for her, allowing her to spend not a single coin, she was naturally very happy.
"Thank you, Young Madam, for indulging this humble servant," Jiang Shangyun said with a look of gratitude, bowing to Xu Yuqing.
The proprietress standing nearby watched with quiet amazement. The woman in the bamboo hat spoke quite shamelessly. She didn't even say thank you, and she said words that sounded rather shameless. And this man was actually grateful to her. How pathetic.
She wondered what their relationship was.
Listening to his address to her, he seemed to be her servant, but she felt they were not like ordinary masters and servants; something was a bit strange...
Did he have feelings for this woman?
The proprietress was extremely curious, but she dared not ask. She thought to herself, what does it matter? Earning money is important.
Thinking this, she busied herself in bringing out the best and most expensive skincare balm and rouge and powder in the shop for Xu Yuqing.
She also took out lip rouge and other cosmetic products to introduce to Xu Yuqing, desperately trying to sell them to her.
She had heard Jiang Shangyun's words and knew that a big business had come to her door. It would be foolish not to seize the opportunity to sell more to Xu Yuqing and earn more of Jiang Shangyun's money.