"Why that expression?"
"Pardon?"
The Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Works was caught entirely off guard. He had not expected Her Highness the Crown Princess to suddenly stop mid-step and turn back just as she was about to head toward the side courtyard. His face had not yet schooled itself into neutrality, and now she had caught him red-handed.
He hesitated for a moment, then offered a dry, awkward laugh as he scratched his cheek. "Your Highness, this humble official was merely thinking about the head of the Xuzhou Merchants' Association. He struck me as... rather unusual."
"Unusual?"
How unusual could he possibly be? Did he have two noses or three eyes?
Yun Shu raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued, then turned and continued toward the side courtyard.
She had barely reached the door when a sharp, panicked scream suddenly rang out from within. Her gaze sharpened, and she quickened her pace, only to see Yun Chuhuan sprinting straight at her, eyes wide with terror.
"Fifth Sister, run! There's a ghost in there!"
Yun Shu blinked. "What?"
"What nonsense was he spouting this time?"
As Yun Chuhuan dashed past her, she grabbed him by the collar and hauled him back.
Sensing that he still intended to flee, Yun Shu's mouth twitched as she sighed and chided him quietly. "Weren't you supposed to follow right behind me? Why are you running around like a headless chicken?"
"There's something in there. There's... Ah! He's coming out!"
Just as he began to stammer out an explanation, Yun Chuhuan glanced back toward the room, then immediately shrieked and bolted behind Yun Shu, shaking like a leaf.
Yun Shu furrowed her brow and looked in the same direction.
From the doorway emerged a middle-aged man, his face caked in white powder, clearly in a fluster as he fled the room with his attendant. He kept glancing nervously over his shoulder.
Could something truly strange be inside?
Though she favored rational explanations, she had transmigrated after all. Who was to say ghosts weren't real?
"Ahhh! Why is he still coming this way!"
Yun Chuhuan's voice trembled behind her.
"His face is so pale... How long has he been dead?!"
Yun Shu stared blankly. Then the tension that had momentarily seized her heart eased.
She dragged Yun Chuhuan out from behind her and pointed at the pale-faced man.
"All that screaming... don't tell me you meant him?"
"W... was I wrong?"
Hearing the doubt in her tone, Yun Chuhuan swallowed hard and looked again at Ming Pixu.
"No living person should look like that!"
Ming Pixu, who had been just as frightened and assumed something sinister was in the room, now realized the so-called ghost was... himself.
It took quite a bit of effort and confusion before both sides managed to piece the situation together.
Yun Shu pressed her fingers against her brow, too speechless to offer any comment.
"This Princess failed to consider the situation thoroughly. Had We known, We would have advised Head Ming to rest a few more days before making the journey."
"Your Highness bears no fault! This humble official's constitution simply cannot withstand the strain..."
Ming Pixu instinctively wiped the sweat from his brow, only to leave a white patch on his sleeve.
He froze.
He didn't even need to look in a mirror to know his complexion must now resemble a painted mask.
His already stiff smile grew even more awkward. Clasping his hands in a bow, he asked with embarrassment,
"Might Your Highness permit this official to first... wash his face?"
"By all means."
Yun Shu waved her hand dismissively. If she had to look at that face for the rest of the conversation, it would certainly test her patience.
Ming Pixu looked as though he had received a royal pardon. Clutching his face, he hurried off to fetch water.
Meanwhile, Yun Chuhuan lingered by Yun Shu's side, sneaking glances at her expression.
"Fifth Sister, that was just a total accident, alright? I wasn't trying to cause trouble! You're not going to ban me from coming out with you, are you?"
"Did I say that?"
While Ming Pixu was off washing, Yun Shu patted Yun Chuhuan on the shoulder and said with a rare smile,
"You did well."
"Wait, me?"
The praise caught him completely off guard.
Yun Chuhuan blinked in disbelief and cautiously studied her face.
"You're not just being sarcastic, are you?"
"I'm entirely serious."
Yun Shu gestured for him to lean closer and whispered,
"Here's what you should do next..."
"That'll work?"
Yun Chuhuan whispered back, eyes lighting up with excitement.
"Then can I get a cut when it's all done?"
...
By the time Ming Pixu returned, face freshly cleaned, Yun Shu had already taken her seat at the head of the room and was sipping tea calmly. Her expression was neutral, revealing neither approval nor disapproval.
Yun Chuhuan, on the other hand, looked distinctly sour. He glared at Ming Pixu the moment he entered, clearly still upset about having been frightened.
Offending a prince was no small matter. Ming Pixu began to sweat again. He wanted to apologize but had barely opened his mouth when Yun Shu set down her teacup and spoke first.
"Head Ming, please be seated."
"Yes, Your Highness."
He quickly found the nearest seat and sat down, still holding himself with rigid formality.
"May Your Highness permit this humble one to ask the reason for today's summons?"
"There is no need for formality. This Princess did not summon you today in the capacity of Crown Princess. Rather, I come before you as the Chair of the Grand Merchants' Association, to discuss a matter of business."
Yun Shu smiled faintly, dispensing with pleasantries as she spoke plainly.
"Head Ming, during your journey into the capital yesterday, did you notice anything unusual about the main roads?"
"Your Highness refers to... the cement roads?"
"Indeed. It seems you have already made inquiries."
Compared to the pothole-ridden paths of the past, the new cement roads were a revolutionary upgrade. Even an ordinary commoner could not help but be curious about such a dramatic improvement, let alone someone in business.
So Yun Shu was hardly surprised that Ming Pixu had already looked into it. She lightly tapped her fingers against the low table beside her, her manner unhurried and composed.
"No doubt you already understand how remarkable this cement is. There is no need for further explanation from This Princess. What This Princess wishes to know is: has Head Ming ever considered entering the cement business himself?"
Ming Pixu's pupils shrank. He had spent all of yesterday brooding over how the cement factory was under tight government control, with a golden opportunity right before his eyes that he could not touch.
And now, that same opportunity had been handed to him directly by the Crown Princess herself.