"Can Suiyun Pavilion really keep my identity a secret?"

  "Absolutely."

  Bai Qingqing gritted her teeth. "Then, I'll trouble you with this, Miss."

  She wanted to make money.

  Once upon a time, silver and gold were nothing more than mundane objects to Bai Qingqing. She had never lacked spending money since childhood. Even after marrying Fu Yi and entering the gilded cage of the royal mansion’s inner court, she had never worried about food or clothing.

  However, after the Bai family was convicted, for the first time in her life, Bai Qingqing truly experienced the fickleness of human relationships. Without money, even the simplest matters were impossible to handle.

  A flicker of admiration flashed in Qiyue’s eyes. Bai Qingqing looked delicate and fragile, yet she was so decisive—far superior to the pampered noble ladies of Xuancheng she had encountered.

  Now that the decision was made, things moved quickly. All the necessary contracts had been prepared in advance.

  Suiyun Pavilion purchased the fragrance formula at an astonishingly high price and agreed to send a portion of the monthly profits to Bai Qingqing. Though she had never done business before, she could tell she was being given special treatment.

  When Bai Qingqing voiced her doubts, Qiyue responded calmly, "No other reason—just because we're wealthy."

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Bai Qingqing: "..." Alright then, maybe she was just inexperienced.

  …

  A few days later, Suiyun Pavilion’s fragrance shop in Xuancheng indeed launched a new product. They made no attempt to conceal its purpose, openly claiming it could calm the mind and soothe the spirit.

  Rumors had already spread about previous cases where fragrances had been used to manipulate others. People believed that carrying a sachet from Suiyun Pavilion would prevent them from being deceived. Demand surged, and the product quickly sold out.

  Despite its extraordinary effects, the sachets were sold at regular market prices—affordable for everyone. Bai Qingqing let out a breath of relief and bought one herself.

  Upon examination, she confirmed it was indeed made from her formula. Only then did her last bit of doubt finally fade.

  If nothing else, Bai Qingqing had confidence in her own fragrance-making skills. Since Suiyun Pavilion had faithfully followed her recipe, she considered it a way to make up for her previous carelessness.

  True to their word, Suiyun Pavilion promptly delivered her share of the profits. Faced with such a large sum of money, Bai Qingqing felt something unfamiliar stir within her.

  In two lifetimes, this was the first time she had earned money with her own abilities.

  It felt as if… something had been unlocked.

  After a moment of contemplation, Bai Qingqing lifted her skirts and left her courtyard in search of Madam Qiao.

  Madam Qiao was reviewing account books when Bai Qingqing arrived. She had intended to teach her daughter some financial skills, but upon hearing Bai Qingqing’s request, she set the books aside entirely.

  "You want to open a shop? That’s no problem. Our family owns plenty—just pick one. But why the sudden interest?"

  Bai Qingqing twisted the silk handkerchief in her hands, feeling uncertain. Struggling to come up with a reason, she finally admitted, "It was just a whim."

  "…I see."

  Madam Qiao couldn’t help but laugh. She pulled Bai Qingqing close and smiled warmly. "Then go ahead. I’ll accompany you tomorrow to pick one out. You spend too much time cooped up at home—having something to do is good for you."

  Bai Qingqing hadn’t expected such an easy approval. Her eyes widened. "Mother agrees? But I have no experience managing a shop…"

  Madam Qiao casually adjusted the hairpin in her bun. "We have more than enough shops for you to experiment with. Even if you fail completely, it’s not a big deal."

  …For a moment, Bai Qingqing thought she saw Qiyue’s shadow in her mother—both exuding an air of sheer financial dominance.

  Opening a shop had been a sudden idea, but the more Bai Qingqing thought about it, the more it seemed like a great plan.

  The reason was simple. Ever since news spread that the esteemed Princess Huaifu favored her, people had been flocking to ask for her fragrance formulas.

  Bai Qingqing was too soft-hearted to refuse outright. Making fragrance wasn’t difficult, so she had been giving them away. But as the number of requests grew, her patience wore thin. Even the most patient person had limits.

  With a shop, anyone who wanted her fragrances could simply buy them there.

  How convenient!