Cuddling with the Cold Female Protagonist – Chapter 41
by Little PandaVolume 2: The Captivating Splendor of Jingdu
Su Rich Woman Yi
The little Imperial Daughter’s expression was quite serious; she genuinely seemed to want to find a handsome Fulang for her elder sister.
But Su Yi could only manage an awkward laugh. “But I’m a woman.”
The Eleventh Imperial Daughter didn’t understand. “Can’t women be Fulangs? But why can the women in Imperial Aunt’s residence be Fulangs?”
She was referring to the current Emperor’s younger sisters, the Eighth Princess-Royal and the Tenth Princess-Royal1. Although both had proper Fulangs, they also had quite a few favored female companions in their residences.
Su Yi once again felt like that meme of the old man on the subway staring at his phone.
Had she just stumbled upon a royal secret? She hadn’t meant to! Heavens preserve her! If this little Imperial Daughter’s Imperial Aunts heard about this, would she be silenced2?
The Seventh Imperial Daughter corrected her, “Those in Imperial Aunt’s residence aren’t Fulangs, they’re called female favorites3.”
The little Imperial Daughter asked innocently, “What are female favorites?”
The Seventh Imperial Daughter started to explain, “It’s just…”
The Third Imperial Daughter grabbed her younger sister, clamping a hand over her mouth, and said to Su Yi with an embarrassed smile, “Apologies, Miss Su. This sister of mine tends to spout nonsense.”
The Second Imperial Daughter was laughing so hard beside them her stomach hurt.
“It’s alright, kids say the darndest things,4 after all.” Su Yi waved her hand, indicating she didn’t care about female favorites or Fulangs; she just wanted to make money.
Although the Eleventh Imperial Daughter was young, she was good at reading people. Seeing the odd expressions on her sisters’ faces, she obediently shut her mouth and said no more.
Su Yi pretended the previous exchange hadn’t happened and handed the clothes to Ji Qingchi. “Ninth Miss, would you like to try this on?”
Ji Qingchi glanced at her, took the clothes, and suddenly said, “If I liked someone, I wouldn’t wrong her by making her a favored concubine.”
Su Yi was utterly confused, but still echoed her sentiment, “Right, right, Ninth Miss is a person of deep devotion.”
Yeah, right!5 A woman who’s gathered a whole harem6 is called devoted? Then what does that make those of us who genuinely yearn for one partner for a lifetime7? Great Sages of Sentimental Derangement?8
Ji Qingchi paused for a long moment, then suddenly added softly, “Right now, I don’t even have any Attendant Lords9 in my residence.”
What’s this? Is the female protagonist lonely? Does she want me to send her an Attendant Lord?
But I’m still single myself, where am I supposed to find someone for her?
Wait, isn’t Su Tianci quite fond of the female protagonist? Maybe… the female protagonist likes his type?
Su Yi thought for a moment, then said, “This commoner woman thinks that Su Tianci is actually quite good.”
As soon as she said it, she felt the female protagonist’s gaze stab towards her, sharp as a sword.
It startled Su Yi. Could it be the female protagonist thinks I want to fight her for a man?
She quickly distanced herself. “No, no, Ninth Miss, please don’t misunderstand! I don’t like Su Tianci at all! Besides, we’re from the same clan, we can’t get married. I absolutely hate his guts!10”
Only then did Ji Qingchi’s gaze soften somewhat. She looked at Su Yi, seeming to want to say something but hesitating. Su Yi watched her strange behavior, wondering what she was up to. “Ninth Miss, is there anything else you require?”
“…It’s nothing.” Ji Qingchi sighed softly and turned to try on the clothes.
After trying them on, she found they fit exceptionally well, especially at the shoulders and waist, as if they were tailor-made.
A slight stir occurred in her heart. Could it be that Su Yi deliberately observed my figure to make this?
While Ji Qingchi was trying on the clothes, the Seventh Imperial Daughter walked over and looked Su Yi up and down curiously. “Judging by your attire, you don’t look like a seamstress, do you?”
Su Yi immediately stated her identity, “To be honest with Your Highness, I am the Pingyang Marquis’s collateral great-granddaughter from a concubine’s line. I suppose I’m the proprietor of this shop.”
“Pingyang Marquis’s collateral great-granddaughter… Ah, I remember now.” The Seventh Imperial Daughter clapped her hands. “Wasn’t it you who came up with that… that mov… mova…”
“Movable type printing?”
“Yes, yes, that’s it!” The Seventh Imperial Daughter smiled. “That thing is incredibly useful! I heard that many new bookshops have opened in the capital recently. Officials from various regions report that book prices have dropped significantly, and the number of students in local areas has increased quite a bit. You’re amazing!”
Su Yi quickly lowered her head. “Your Highness praises me too much.”
“No, no, I genuinely think you’re amazing. You can make clothes and come up with all sorts of ideas.” The Seventh Imperial Daughter was straightforward and immediately took out a one thousand tael silver bank note. “I really like the clothes here. How about this: for spring, summer, autumn, and winter, make me four outfits for each season. How’s that? Is this enough money?”
“It’s enough.” Actually, it should be more than enough. But considering the Imperial Daughters are rich and she’s poor, a bit of ‘robbing the rich to help the poor’ probably wouldn’t be minded by them.
“If it’s not enough, tell me. If it’s too much, no need to inform me; just consider it a token of our friendship.” The Seventh Imperial Daughter laughed heartily. “I think you have a good temper. I like making friends like you.”
Su Yi immediately bowed her head. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
Actually, she also really liked rich friends like her11. Please, let more of them come quickly! She wouldn’t mind having more.
At this moment, the Third Imperial Daughter also took out a one thousand tael silver bank note and smiled. “Same as Seventh Sister. We’ll trouble you then.”
Look, look! Speak of the devil! Aren’t the little monies12 rolling in? Su Yi was ecstatic internally, nodding vigorously. “Okay, okay, Your Highnesses. This commoner woman has noted it down.”
The Second Imperial Daughter also took out five hundred taels. “I don’t need that many, just two sets for each season will do.”
“Alright, thank you, Your Highnesses.” Su Yi was happily busy collecting money and recording orders. The Eleventh Imperial Daughter walked up to her, tilted her head back to look up at her, and said pitifully, “Jiejie, I want clothes too.”
When designing clothes, Su Yi had only considered adult women. She had never thought about making clothes for someone as young as the Eleventh Imperial Daughter.
Besides, children grow quickly; they basically shoot up every few months, or even days. Clothes bought the day before might not fit today. That’s why people usually bought children’s clothes several sizes too big, so they could be worn for a few years. Since this used more fabric than usual, the price would also be higher. So, if she sold children’s clothes, perhaps she could earn a bit in this ancient era too?
Her thoughts turned rapidly. Su Yi had already made up her mind. She smiled at the Eleventh Imperial Daughter. “This commoner woman’s shop doesn’t have clothes Your Highness can wear right now. Once they are made, this commoner woman will bring them to Your Highness, is that alright?”
The Eleventh Imperial Daughter nodded aggrievedly, making Su Yi feel as if she had committed some heinous, unpardonable crime13, overcome with guilt.
Make them! Definitely make them! I must make a couple of extra sets for the little Highness later!
When Ji Qingchi came out holding the clothes, she heard their conversation and said coolly, “My clothing quantity is the same as Seventh Sister’s. Eleventh Sister doesn’t have her own residence outside the palace. Miss Su, when you’ve finished making them, just send her clothes along with mine to my residence. I’ll give them to her then.”
“Understood.” Su Yi nodded, looking at her eagerly. So, where’s her money?
Ji Qingchi seemed oblivious to her expression, turning away. “When everything is ready, Miss Su can deliver the items to my residence. It won’t be too late for me to pay then.”
The Third and Seventh Imperial Daughters both stated they didn’t need home delivery and would send someone to pick up the clothes themselves when the time came.
No comparison, no pain.
They were all born from the same mother, why is only the female protagonist so special?
Su Yi really wanted to curse, but she didn’t dare. So, she could only meekly play along with a smile.
The Imperial Daughters chatted for a while longer. Just as Su Yi’s face was about to stiffen from maintaining the forced smile, they finally realized it was getting late14 and bid Su Yi farewell.
Ji Qingchi walked last. The other Imperial Daughters’ carriages had already departed; only hers and the Eleventh Imperial Daughter’s hadn’t moved. The Eleventh Imperial Daughter saw her own elder sister lift the carriage curtain and look outside, so she curiously squeezed over. “Ninth Imperial Sister, what’s out there? I want to see too.”
“It’s nothing.” Ji Qingchi lowered the curtain, picked her up, called for the coachwoman, and said with lowered eyes, “Let’s go.”
Finally seeing off these few ‘great Buddhas’15, Su Yi was incredibly happy. Counting the silver notes, she called over everyone in the shop and gave each person three taels of silver as a reward.
Su Yi was generous. Originally, the shop assistants and seamstresses worked for Su Yi but also had farming chores at home or did odd jobs elsewhere. Because the monthly wages and bonuses Su Yi gave them were sufficient, they had pushed their household chores onto their Fulangs and focused solely on working for Su Yi.
With high monthly wages and bonuses, the seamstresses’ output was exceptionally high. They quickly finished the clothes ordered by the Imperial Daughters.
The three Imperial Daughters sent their own people to collect theirs. As for the female protagonist’s order, Su Yi sent someone to deliver it to her residence. She was very busy and had no time to go personally.
The promotional effect from the five Imperial Daughters was extremely potent. Soon, many high officials and noble dignitaries learned about Su Yi’s small shop. Those wanting to curry favor quickly came to inquire. Others saw people wearing her clothes out and about, thought they looked genuinely good, and also came to Su Yi’s place to place custom orders.
High officials and nobles were simply wealthy. Soon, Su Yi’s small shop was netting over 4,500 taels per month. As income increased, Su Yi swiftly secured a shop in a relatively bustling part of the city, three times larger than the original one. Then, she reached agreements with five fabric shops to supply her, including that Geng Rong they had met in the restaurant previously.
Su Yi had a good head for business. Before designing clothes, she specifically inquired about the preferences of those high officials and nobles, ensuring her creations perfectly suited their tastes.
After nearly three months of careful management, Su Yi’s shop quickly became the largest ready-to-wear clothing store in the capital. Adding the money earned from securing the contract to manufacture military uniforms for the entire Yanxue Kingdom army, Su Yi herself became quite the rich woman, having earned a fortune16.
The name of the Su family’s Nineteenth Miss rapidly spread throughout the capital.
So, it was absolutely reasonable that Su Yi was very busy.
Ji Qingchi had been training troops during this period. She was also very busy, but she had subordinates to help share the burden, so she could still squeeze in17 some rest time. She had been eagerly anticipating Su Yi delivering the goods in person, hoping to keep her for a chat, but who knew Su Yi would just send a little maidservant to deliver the items.
This directly nipped her idea right in the bud18.
After that, every day before heading to the training grounds, she specifically had her carriage detour past Su Yi’s shop entrance, yet she never once saw her.
Not once in three consecutive months.
Don’t ask; the answer was just that Su Yi was a very busy person.
Ji Qingchi felt a place in her heart ache badly. It could be said that during this period, apart from Su Yi herself—who hugged the self-heating packs19 she made every night and would laugh in her sleep—no one else was happy.
Those who envied Su Yi, those jealous of Su Yi, and those like Su Tianci, who was grinding his teeth, wishing Su Yi would just die, seeing her business flourish with eyes red with jealousy—they all wished Su Yi would drop dead on the spot.
Su Tianci had been waiting for an opportunity. Finally, three months passed. Just as his mother had told him before, Su Ban was heading to the old capital city, Linchuan, to prepare sacrificial supplies20 in advance.
Footnotes
- 八亲王和十亲王 | Bā Qīnwáng hé Shí Qīnwáng | 亲王 (Qīnwáng) typically translates to Prince of the Blood (First Rank). Its use here for the Emperor’s sisters suggests either a specific world-building element where women hold this rank, or it might be a shorthand/error in the source. Translating as Princess-Royal to convey high, direct imperial relation.
- 灭口 | mièkǒu | Lit. “extinguish mouth”; To kill someone to prevent them from revealing information.
- 女宠 | nǚchǒng | Lit. “female pet/favorite”; A female companion kept for pleasure, implying a lower status than a formal wife or consort, often lacking rights or security. Contrasts with the more formal status of 夫郎 (fūláng).
- 童言无忌 | tóng yán wú jì | Lit. “children’s words carry no harm/taboo”; Meaning that children speak frankly without malice or understanding social consequences, so they shouldn’t be taken seriously or punished.
- 毛线啊 | máoxiàn a | Lit. “wool yarn, eh?”; A colloquial, mild exclamation expressing disbelief, disagreement, or dismissal. Akin to “Nonsense!”, “My foot!”, or “Yeah, right!”.
- 后宫 | hòugōng | Lit. “rear palace”; Refers to the imperial harem or, more broadly, the collective concubines/consorts of a powerful individual.
- 一生一世一双人 | yī shēng yī shì yī shuāng rén | Lit. “one life, one world, one pair of people”; An ideal expressing the desire for a monogamous, lifelong partnership.
- 情癫大圣 | qíng diān dà shèng | A humorous, likely coined term. Lit. “Emotionally-mad Great Sage.” Suggests someone ridiculously, perhaps foolishly, devoted or obsessed with pure love, playing on the title of Sun Wukong (齐天大圣 | Qítiān Dàshèng, Great Sage Equal to Heaven).
- 侍君 | shìjūn | Male attendants or consorts, similar in function to concubines but male. Status can vary.
- Original: 讨厌死他了 | tǎoyàn sǐ tā le | Lit. “hate him to death.”
- 土豪朋友 | tǔháo péngyǒu | Tuhao (土豪) originally meant local tyrant/bully, but evolved online to mean “nouveau riche,” often implying flashiness or extravagance.
- 小钱钱 | xiǎo qiánqián | A cute, colloquial way of referring to money.
- 十恶不赦 | shí è bù shè | Lit. “ten evils, no pardon”; Refers to the ten most serious crimes in traditional Chinese law.
- 时辰不早了 | shíchén bù zǎo le | Lit. “the shichen is not early.” Shichen (时辰) is a traditional Chinese unit of time equal to two hours. The phrase means it’s getting late in the day.
- 送走了几座大佛 | sòng zǒu le jǐ zuò dà Fó | Lit. “sent away several great Buddhas.” Figuratively refers to seeing off important, demanding, or troublesome guests whom one must treat with great respect.
- 赚了个盆满钵满 | zhuàn le ge pén mǎn bō mǎn | Lit. “earned pots full and bowls full”; To make a huge profit, to earn a fortune.
- 见缝插针 | jiàn fèng chā zhēn | Lit. “insert a needle wherever there’s a crack”; To make use of every single opportunity or bit of free time.
- 扼杀在摇篮里 | èshā zài yáolán lǐ | Lit. “strangle in the cradle”; To destroy something at its very beginning.
- 暖宝宝 | nuǎnbǎobǎo | Lit. “warm baby/treasure”; Disposable self-heating packs used for warmth, a modern convenience.
- 祭祀用品 | jìsì yòngpǐn | Items used in sacrificial rites or ancestor worship.
Man, I really like novels like this! Especially the money grabber protagonist!!!