CHAPTER 896: CHAPTER 349: SCREW YOUR TRAGIC BEAUTY (PART 19)

The rise in status brought the wealth and honor she had longed for, and Qiu Yuying became somewhat overconfident.

Aside from Prince Wei, she didn’t even regard the Princess Consort.

A common trope in romance novels: the noble main wife who is not favored, and the low-born favored concubine who harmonizes like a lyre with the husband.

The main wife must mind rules, propriety, and keep up appearances despite grievances.

The favored concubine doesn’t have to worry about these things, acting arrogantly and wilfully, even if it doesn’t end well, she would’ve fully enjoyed and indulged, without any grievance.

If Prince Wei could ascend to that throne, she might even become the cherished Demon Concubine in the harem.

The thought of it was exciting.

Qiu Yuying felt inflated, her heart and mind filled with ambitions for the future.

Of course, Qiu Yuying did not forget about the serious matters.

For example, closely monitoring the female lead and continuing to snatch opportunities that belonged to her.

Moreover, those who have harmed or humiliated her in the past, she wouldn’t spare them.

Although the female lead Han Dongdong never bullied her, and she had even attacked her, inexplicably, Qiu Yuying just disliked Han Dongdong.

In the past, she was powerless, but now, she was no longer a lowly maid, but a Prince’s Consort of high standing, dealing with upstart families like the Han Family, it’s really no trouble!

"...What? The shop on East Street was smashed by hooligans?"

Having stayed with her family in the Capital City for quite some time, Han Dongdong didn’t want to be a girl trapped in the inner courtyard; she admired strong women like Eldest Princess Yongan.

Thus, with her parents’ consent and using her own savings, she opened a shop on East Street with the help of Eldest Princess Yongan.

While escaping, Han Dongdong had once helped an unfortunate wealthy young lady out of kindness.

This lady didn’t survive the epidemic, and on her deathbed, in gratitude for Han Dongdong’s kindness, she gave her a few inherited rouge recipes.

With secret recipes and some retired and disabled female soldiers gathered from Eldest Princess Yongan, Han Dongdong started a rouge shop specializing in women’s business.

The secret recipes were excellent, Han Dongdong’s materials were genuine, and the shop assistants and manager were all well-trained female soldiers, giving the shop its unique charm.

With the secret support of Eldest Princess Yongan, the rouge shop became an instant hit in the Capital City after opening.

Business was great, not making money hand over fist, but the profits were substantial.

However, just as Han Dongdong was secretly delighted, trouble arose.

"Yes, someone deliberately caused a disturbance, claiming our rouge ruined faces."

The informer was a shop attendant from the rouge store, young, about fourteen or fifteen, but already had two years of experience fighting alongside female soldiers.

With the establishment of the new dynasty, Eldest Princess Yongan no longer led troops into battle, keeping only a few veterans and main force female soldiers.

Young women like the attendant were settled through the efforts of Eldest Princess Yongan.

As Eldest Princess Wei Huanyan said, "In the past, it was out of necessity; insufficient forces forced us to send women to the battlefield."

"Now that the world is peaceful, young ladies should return to their desired lives, no longer licking blades for survival."

Though marriage and having children weren’t the destination for women soldiers, it was the era’s expectation for women.

Eldest Princess Yongan couldn’t completely change the so-called "rules"; she could only slowly help her subordinates adapt, reducing criticism, and ensuring them a happy, stable later life.

Han Dongdong employed these former female soldiers, helping them return to a normal woman’s life, both for her shop and to ease worries for Eldest Princess Yongan.

Though Han Dongdong didn’t claim Eldest Princess Yongan’s name, observers could easily guess the shop’s connections with the princess given the staff.

Therefore, no one should have been troubling the rouge shop.

Even street thugs knew who they could bully and which shops to avoid.

Han Dongdong was puzzled, but the urgency of the situation allowed no time for questions, she quickly followed the attendant to East Street.

On East Street, while dealing with the scammers, Han Dongdong demonstrated her calm, composure, and cleverness, leaving the thugs speechless, resorting only to shamelessness.

During the incident, a young handsome gentleman in the crowd happened to witness Han Dongdong’s cleverness and couldn’t help but smile admiringly.

If Qiu Yuying saw this scene, she would undoubtedly gnash her teeth in envy: "I had already approached the male lead first, even using the female lead’s way to show myself, yet the male lead was indifferent to me, but had a soft spot for the female lead!"

Yes, the male lead had appeared, though Qiu Yuying disrupted the rhythm, he still encountered the female lead, leading to mutual admiration and budding affection...

The true plot of the novel officially unfolded...