spoke up, but now everyone is chiming in to agree with the youth.When Zong Hu saw this, he was furious.“Such nonsense! You actually have the audacity to say such things.”"He survived and made a living...Fang Jinshu didn't linger, she directly lifted her foot and went upstairs.

The shopkeeper of Bai Ba Lou was still eager to accompany her, afraid that if Fang Jinxiu were unsatisfied, she would go back and complain to the King, possibly causing them to shut down their shop.

Better to offend a wealthy merchant than an official.

Especially when it comes to imperial relatives, that's just asking for trouble.

The guests on the fourth floor and above were indeed different from those on the lower three floors. Everyone was dressed in exquisite clothing, each more elegant than the last. Most importantly, almost none of them were alone.

Most people, more or less, carried maidservants and female attendants with them, traveling in pairs or threes as companions.

Only Fang Jinshu appeared from head to toe in plain clothes, and as the only one who did so, she stood out among the crowd, attracting attention.

It's hard not to be noticed.

She didn't care about the gazes of others. Fang Jinshu looked at the jewelry with composure and calmness, treating those curious glances as air.

Soon, whispers began to circulate.

"Whose family member is this"

"He looks very inexperienced, I've never seen him before."

"Dressing like that is so low-class, you have the audacity to come to the fourth floor and shop Shame on you for embarrassing yourself."

They thought they were speaking very quietly, but Fang Jinshu's hearing was exceptional and she heard their conversation clearly.

She picked up the white jade Guanyin before her. Baibao Lou, as its name suggests, was a place that housed many treasures.

This place not only sells women's jewelry, but also accessories for both men and women, antique ornaments, and valuable calligraphy and paintings.

However, compared to those antique ornaments, which cost tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of silver taels, Baibao Building might not sell a single item in several months.

Most of the time, jewelry sells better. Their designs are also favored by women in Beijing.

Therefore, when Fang Jinxiu picked up the white jade Guanyin, the surrounding sounds abruptly ceased, as if someone had hit the pause button. After a few seconds, a woman suddenly let out a giggle.

The laughter wasn't kind, rather it held a hint of scorn in its tone.

"I advise you to let go of this Guanyin statue now."

"If you accidentally break even a tiny bit, it's an amount you won't be able to afford for the rest of your life."

Although others didn't speak, their eyes conveyed the same sentiment.

"My lady, this jade Guanyin is quite valuable. You shouldn't touch it carelessly."

The woman who spoke next had a much kinder tone. Fang Jinshi turned to face her and gave her a slight smile.

She unveiled her entire face, possessing a unique and stunningly beautiful aura. Coupled with her flawless complexion and impeccable facial features, she delivered quite a shock to this group of wealthy ladies.

A woman dressed plainly, in no way as well-turned out as them, how could she possess such a face that was enviably beautiful.

Simply put, she's a fox spirit reincarnated!

"How much does this statue of Guanyin cost"

After all, she was going to the palace to see the Seventh Prince's mother. It wasn't much different from visiting a friend's house; she couldn't go empty-handed.

Even if she is out of favor, she is still the Emperor's concubine. Bringing fruits and vegetables would be too common, so bring some medicinal herbs instead. She was originally going to visit the Dowager Empress for her health, and the herbs are prescribed for her, so they can't be considered a gift either.

Fang Jinshi thought the jade Guanyin before her was quite suitable for gifting to the Empress.

According to the Seventh Prince, his mother often practiced Buddhist rituals in her free time. It seems she was quite devout.

This is just the thing.

Price was never an issue for Jinxiu. Over the past three years, she had poured most of her earnings into developing Jinshi Villa and Yěcun Village.

Fortunately, Chang He, this money-making whiz kid, helped her save a lot of money.

She could still afford to buy a jade Guanyin.

The lady was taken aback by the question. She did know the price of this Guanyin statue, after all it had been on display for half a year. Many people had inquired about the price and then turned away.

She was just surprised that this woman would actually ask about the price.

Could she really be buying it

The lady hesitated for a moment, and suddenly her words were interrupted by someone else.

It was the previous woman who had mocked Fang Jinshu's overreaching ambition as a rich girl that interrupted her.

"Hmph, do you even qualify to ask about the price of this Guanyin statue"

"You're probably going to faint when you hear the numbers!"

"What a bunch of incompetent fools! How can the owner of this Hundred Treasures Pavilion run things like this Now anyone and everyone, even stray cats and dogs, are allowed on the fourth floor! This makes it impossible for us to choose jewelry properly!"

The noise from upstairs grew louder, and soon the shop assistants of Baibao Building called over the shopkeeper.

This kind of situation is usually beyond the capability of ordinary staff, and only the shopkeeper can come out to resolve it.

"My esteemed guests, what is the matter"

The woman being questioned by Fang Jinshu's face stiffened, and she awkwardly took a step back.

She was interrupted by the daughter of the Minister of War, named Wen Xiaorou.

Although she lacks the backing of a high-ranking official like the current chief minister, word travels fast in the circle of wives of government officials. Everyone knows that the daughter of the Minister of War is betrothed to the second son of the Master of Ceremonies.

All of them were children of ministers of the third rank. This minister's family had Yuan, the Grand Secretary, as their backer; it was obvious who anyone would choose to attach themselves to for advancement.

Even marrying the second son, it was an excellent match. No one here would dare offend Miss Wen.eady had such a plan; he was a promising student of military strategy.Ever since he noticed his son's little mannerisms, Zong Yu had been planning in his mind to take Yuan Bao to the military camp for...