The family happily finished sharing a cake that didn't taste very good, then packed up and headed straight to Shuiyunjian.
Many guests had gathered outside Shuiyunjian. Ning Youan mingled among the crowd and chatted with everyone. When he saw Shen Qingqing and others approaching, he hurriedly greeted them.
"Auntie, you are finally here. Everyone is waiting for you to unveil the plaque and set off firecrackers!"
Shen Qingqing glanced at him and said, "Why are you waiting for me? Don't you have any skills?"
"Who in the entire capital doesn't know that the emperor personally left a couplet at the Princess's Mansion. The couplet clearly states: The star of good fortune will shine brightly throughout the ages. You are the lucky star of Da Qi, so you must lift this plaque.
It means that our business in Shuiyunjian will also become more prosperous!"
Shen Qingqing couldn't laugh or cry, "You are lying."
"I don't care if it's unreasonable or not, you can do it if I ask you to!" Ning Youan took action directly and pushed her to the ladder, "Princess Linghui, let's get started."
It would be pointless to refuse at this time. Shen Qingqing climbed up the ladder and turned around to ask, "I'm coming up, but I can't light the firecrackers anymore."
"I'll have some!" Meng Qi jumped out of the crowd, raising his arms high.
Shen Qingqing laughed, "Okay, have some."
Amidst the crackling sound of firecrackers, Shen Qingqing neatly tore off the red silk covering the plaque.
The wind blows, and the red silk flutters. Under the bright red silk, there are pure smiling faces and sincere blessings.
The guests entered the store under the hospitality of Ning Youan and the waiter. The store quickly became empty. Shen Qingqing climbed down the ladder and smiled at the family waiting nearby, "Let's go in too."
"Wait a minute, another guest is here!" Meng Qiyu pointed at the gorgeous sedan chair not far away and exclaimed.
Soon, the sedan chariot stopped at the entrance of Shuiyun Stream. The Queen Mother opened the curtain and jumped out nimbly, followed by the Emperor and Concubine De.
Meng Yuan and Shen Qingqing hurried forward to salute, but the Queen Mother helped one by one and pulled them up, "We are not in the palace, so there is no need to go through all these red tapes."
With that said, he turned around and waved to Grandma Kong and said, "Quickly bring the Ai family and the gifts prepared by those annoying people, so Princess Linghui can see them."
After a moment, a group of palace attendants in casual clothes came to Shen Qingqing one after another holding dozens of boxes. Shen Qingqing was stunned again, "So many gifts?"
"The first three belong to the emperor, the last two belong to the concubine De, the third one belongs to the Ai family, and the rest belong to the other concubines. They can't get out, and they have to pester the Ai family for help after they know that you are going to open a restaurant.
Bringing gifts is so annoying."
The Queen Mother held her forehead with her hands, looking miserable.
Shen Qingqing smiled, "Then you should eat more today and try to get their share back."
The Queen Mother laughed heartily, "Don't tell me, the Ai family really means that."
Several people looked at each other and smiled, and were about to walk into the store when they heard Zhao Ying's bold voice in the distance: "Wait for me, I'm late!"
Looking back, Zhao Ying and He Wei were running in front of them in a panic with gift boxes in their hands. Gu Jiali was following behind them in a hurry. Standing next to them was Zhiyi who was scratching his head and head anxiously.
Shen Qingqing raised her lips and smiled softly, "Now everyone is here, let's go sit upstairs together."
The private room upstairs is spacious, and with a large round table set up, it is not a problem to seat more than ten or twenty people. For the sake of excitement, Shen Qingqing simply arranged everyone together. As for the dishes, there is no need to choose, and whatever dishes are available will be served.
As soon as the pots and bowls were served, the atmosphere became lively. At first, some people were worried about the emperor's identity, but when they got excited, they forgot about everything.
In the meantime, Ning Youan came over and complained to Shen Qingqing with a grimace: "You are enjoying your meal here, but you are making me miserable. You haven't had any time since the opening!"
Before Shen Qingqing could speak, Qi Rui, who was sitting at the top, spoke first: "You are Princess Linghui's friend, right? Princess Linghui has many things to do, and sometimes she may not be able to take care of the business in the store. Please be more considerate."
Ning Youan didn't know Qi Rui's true identity. He raised his head and looked at him. He felt that the person in front of him was very noble and his words were very important. He was wondering in his heart when he heard Shen Qingqing lower his voice and said: "He is the emperor."
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty?" Ning Youan's legs softened and he knelt down.
Everyone in the room burst into laughter.
Qi Rui smiled and waved to him, "Get up, this is not important outside the palace."
Ning Youan stood up with a pale face and shook her legs. She was so excited that she couldn't even speak: "Your Majesty, your Majesty, I will do my best to prevent Princess Linghui from getting hurt."
Shen Qingqing suppressed her laughter until tears came out. Qi Rui over there was also smiling, "Well, you work hard, and from now on you will deliver food to the palace in the middle and end of every month. You will definitely get the benefits."
Ning Youan nodded vigorously, he was so happy that he felt like floating in the sky. From now on, he will have the support of the emperor. Let's see who dares to bully him and the Ning family!
Shen Qingqing tugged at the corner of his clothes and pointed to the wine that had just been poured, "Stop being silly, raise your glass, and let's drink together."
Qi Rui stood up first, and the others also stood up one after another, the wine glasses clinking and clinking.
Shen Qingqing's cheerful voice sounded in the room: "I wish Shuiyunjian's business will prosper, and I wish our Daqi will always be prosperous!"
Qi Rui laughed: "Well said, I wish our Daqi will always be prosperous!"
At night, the guests dispersed.
Meng Yuan helped the waiter in the store organize the unused ingredients, but as soon as he went out, he found that Shen Qingqing was missing.
He felt a little panicked and looked back and forth several times. When he was anxious, a chuckle suddenly came from above his head.
Shen Qingqing sat alone on the roof and laughed at him: "It's such an obvious ladder, can't you see it?"
Meng Yuan chuckled, "I was in a hurry to find someone, so I didn't pay attention."
As he spoke, he jumped up to the roof and sat next to her.
Shen Qingqing turned around and handed the blue and white porcelain vase in front of him, "Want a couple of sips?"
Meng Yuan lowered his eyes and said in a more serious tone: "Wine?"
Shen Qingqing shook her head, "No, it's homemade sparkling water, which tastes similar to Coke."
"Really?" Meng Yuan was curious, raised his head and took a big sip, but was hit by the bubbles inside and burped loudly.
Shen Qingqing chuckled, "Does it taste good?"
"The taste is a bit weird, but it feels pretty good." Meng Yuan nodded very approvingly, then put the porcelain bottle aside and held her hand.
Her palms felt cold, and something round and made of metal fell into her palms.
Shen Qingqing lowered her head and saw a small and exquisite ring. The ring was made of gold and inlaid with two gemstones. One was a deep and translucent blue, and the other was a fresh and lovely light red.
The two gems are like a pair of lovers, tightly dependent on each other.
Shen Qingqing couldn't help but raise the corners of her lips and asked, "Why did you think of giving this as a gift?"
"Didn't you say that when you get married, the man will give a ring to the woman? I didn't have time to give it to you before, so I will give it to you now."
Meng Yuan looked at her with deep eyes, thousands of stars reflected in his eyes, shining brightly.
"Happy birthday, Qingqing, I hope I will be by your side on every birthday in the future."
"I will definitely do it." Shen Qingqing leaned forward and hugged him, her heart filled with happiness and emotion.
Meng Yuan clasped her shoulders and said softly: "By the way, you haven't made a wish yet. Isn't it said that birthday wishes are the most effective?"
Shen Qingqing smiled, "I have promised you a long time ago, and I have promised more than one."
May the country be peaceful and the people be safe.
Second, I wish my family health.
I wish that the person beside my pillow will be with me every year. This chapter has been completed!