After leaving the palace in the evening, Gu Jupu went straight to the County Princess's estate to deliver the results of the day's routine pulse diagnosis.
Song Jinzhao looked at the first sheet and found no issues. "I will write down the warming and nourishing prescription tonight. Please come and pick it up tomorrow morning, Director Gu."
Gu Jupu breathed a sigh of relief. "No problem, I will come over tomorrow morning."
As the metropolitan examination approached, both Prince Qi and Prince Ying focused all their attention on the imperial exams, paying no mind to matters of the inner palace.
As for the imperial concubines, the ones involved were merely low-ranking women who had been out of favor for years. To put it harshly, they were little better than palace maids, so the higher-ranking consorts paid them no heed.
Instead, it was Xiao Chengjing's high regard for the Empress that sparked their jealousy, leading them to make many sour remarks behind her back.
...
After classes ended at the Imperial College, Dongfang Yukun grabbed Song Qiming's arm and said, "I went to the Cui residence last night to see Cui Zhengyang. His complexion looked much better than it did two days ago. Many thanks to your sister."
Song Qiming closed his book. "Shixue said that although Cui Zhengyang's illness will be cured before the metropolitan examination, his physical strength definitely won't fully recover in such a short time."
"The exam lasts for nine consecutive days, and candidates are not allowed to leave during each session. The conditions in the examination hall are relatively poor. I'm just worried his body won't be able to handle it, which might affect his performance."
Dongfang Yukun's eyes drooped, his expression turning somewhat dejected.
"We have done all we can. When the time comes, we can only let him leave it to fate."
Song Qiming joked, "Aren't you afraid that people will say you won an unfair victory?"
Dongfang Yukun replied, "People can say whatever they want. I can't stop them."
Song Qiming smiled and shook his head.
Rather than proving to outsiders that he was more talented than Cui Zhengyang, Dongfang Yukun was more worried that Cui Zhengyang wouldn't achieve a good rank due to his illness.
To put it plainly, he genuinely cared about Cui Zhengyang as a person, rather than finding a doctor for him out of mere competitiveness.
On the last day of the first lunar month, the managers of the five shops brought their account books and profits to the County Princess's estate to report their recent business operations to Song Jinzhao.
The tea shop manager reported, "Since the tea shop opened, the foot traffic for the first three days was between eight hundred and a thousand. After the promotions ended, the number of customers started to drop. Now it has stabilized at around four hundred and fifty to five hundred and fifty a day. In the twenty-three days since opening, we have made a total profit of two hundred and thirty-six taels."
The braised food shop manager said, "Our daily braised food is never enough to meet the demand. We have already increased our staff twice. Excluding costs, our daily profit is now around sixteen taels of silver. This month, we have earned a total of three hundred and twelve taels."
"However, a few days ago, I saw a newly opened braised food shop in the outer city. They sell exactly the same things we do, but the taste is much inferior."
The barbecue shop manager stepped forward. "I also discovered a barbecue shop in the outer city that opened by copying us. If this continues, someone will definitely open a shop in the inner city, which will surely affect our business."
...
The five of them talked one after another, spit flying as they spoke in front of Song Jinzhao.
Every single one of them was worried that the emergence of competitors would affect their shops' business.
The incessant chatter made Song Jinzhao's ears ache.
"Enough," she said. "It is impossible to run a business without competitors ever appearing. You just need to protect your recipes and make sure they don't leak out."
"In the short term, no matter how well they copy us, their taste cannot surpass ours. Since the business in the shops is good, what you should be thinking about is opening branch stores as soon as possible to gather all the customers in the capital."
"I want to see new stores open within a month. You will decide everything yourselves, from selecting locations to hiring staff. The profit of the first month after opening will be your evaluation standard. Show this County Princess your capabilities, and absolutely do not disappoint me."
The five men straightened their backs, their nerves instantly tensing.
During their training, it was mentioned that there was a grading system among the managers. This affected their monthly salaries and year-end dividends. If they performed poorly, they would be trampled by the others, so they could not afford to take it lightly.
A few days later, Song Jinzhao entered the palace. First, she went to diagnose the Empress, and then she was taken to the Funing Hall to examine Xiao Chengjing.
"Please rest assured, Your Majesty. The tonic has already taken effect, and everything is proceeding according to plan."
Xiao Chengjing gently raised his eyebrows and smiled calmly. "I naturally trust the medical skills of County Princess Linghui."
"The metropolitan examination is in a few days. How is your younger brother preparing?"
Song Jinzhao calmly curled her lips and replied, "My younger brother has been studying at the Imperial College these past few days. The chancellor and instructors responsible for teaching are not only highly knowledgeable but also diligent and responsible. I haven't had to worry much."
In a good mood, Xiao Chengjing did not hold back his praise. "I heard that your brother gets along quite well with Dongfang Yukun. I suppose talented people find it easier to appreciate one another."
"The officials in the court are all advancing in age. It is time for some fresh blood. The vitality of youth is much more pleasing to my eyes."
After leaving Funing Hall, Song Jinzhao sat in a sedan chair and was carried toward the palace exit. This was arranged by Eunuch Zhao when she entered the palace today.
It was said that the distance from the inner court to Kunning Palace was a bit far, so the Emperor specially rewarded Song Jinzhao with a sedan chair for transportation.
Walking out of the inner court gates, Song Jinzhao was just about to board her carriage when Princess Yongjia chased after her from behind.
"Song Jinzhao!"
Song Jinzhao pulled back the leg she had lifted to step up, turned around, and curtsied to Xiao Yongjia, who was running toward her.
"Your subject Song Jinzhao pays her respects to Princess Yongjia."
Panting heavily, Xiao Yongjia asked, "Where did you go? The guards said you hadn't left the palace, and I've been looking for you for ages."
Song Jinzhao replied, "The Emperor was concerned about Her Majesty the Empress's condition, so he sent someone to bring me to Funing Hall to inquire about it."
"Is there something Your Highness needs from me?"
Her breathing calming down, Xiao Yongjia's chest wasn't heaving as much anymore. She asked, "Have you been to the estate of Duke Zhenguo recently?"
Song Jinzhao answered, "I went there four days ago for a follow-up consultation with Duke Zhenguo."
Duke Zhenguo's injuries were recovering very well. In another half month, she wouldn't need to go there anymore.
A trace of worry colored Xiao Yongjia's eyes. "Not long ago, the Duke Zhenguo estate went to the Imperial Academy of Medicine to request an imperial physician, saying that the Dowager Duchess is not doing well."
Her hand grabbed, Song Jinzhao asked, "Has the imperial physician gone?"
Xiao Yongjia pulled Song Jinzhao onto the carriage. "The imperial physician has already gone, but aren't your medical skills even better than theirs? Hurry up and come take a look with me."
Xiao Yongjia's carriage was both spacious and fast. It didn't take long for them to arrive at the gates of the Duke Zhenguo estate.
Seeing that the arrivals were Princess Yongjia and Song Jinzhao, the gate guards hastily knelt to pay their respects.
"Greetings to Princess Yongjia."
"Greetings to County Princess Linghui."
