The Princess Who Married The Crown Prince(GL) - Chapter 23

In her previous life, Su Qiuqiu was a dedicated information technology and cybersecurity major, a quintessential homebody whose greatest passion was admiring beautiful women—all kinds of beautiful women. When real-life beauties weren’t enough, she would draw her own. She was also deeply committed to enhancing her own beauty. During her senior year internship, she found herself working in a company staffed entirely by men. The hectic workday left her constantly “starved” for beauty, which led to her becoming so engrossed in gazing at a Goddess billboard after work that she was crushed beneath it.

Her field of expertise required a certain level of societal and technological advancement to truly thrive. As a result, the ideas she could realistically implement were relatively simple—things considered common knowledge in modern times but unknown in this ancient era due to limited understanding.

Arriving in this new world with grand plans for wealth, Su Qiuqiu diligently observed the differences between life here and her previous existence. Beyond her ongoing experiments with beauty, cosmetics, and skincare products, and her proposed clothing innovations, she made several other noteworthy discoveries.

For example, in this world, coal wasn’t used for heating; charcoal was the sole fuel. Movable-type printing hadn’t been invented, so books were printed using woodblock printing, making them incredibly expensive. Gunpowder existed, but it was only used for simple fireworks displays. Pawnshops thrived, but there were no banks or financial institutions, and public transportation was nonexistent. These were just some of the differences Su Qiuqiu observed.

As for more advanced technologies like the steam engine and the various industrial revolutions, those would require extensive experimentation. After all, Su Qiuqiu was a software engineer by trade; her knowledge of these ancient technologies was only superficial.

Su Qiuqiu’s greatest frustration was the absence of glass mirrors in Great Chu. The blurry copper mirrors made it impossible to admire her own radiant beauty clearly. Creating a glass mirror involved a complex manufacturing process, including glass production and mercury extraction—knowledge she had almost entirely forgotten. Still, desperate to see her “fair countenance” clearly, she racked her brain, even losing a few strands of hair in the process, and wrote down every step she could remember. This ambitious project would require collaborative experimentation, and the timeline for success stretched indefinitely.

When Su Qiuqiu discussed her plans with Lu Fangting, she naturally didn’t reveal the full extent of her ambitions. She merely mentioned a few vague ideas, such as a cosmetics store, a ready-to-wear boutique, and a printing factory.

Lu Fangting herself harbored many secrets and knew little about Su Qiuqiu. When she first married into her family, she had confessed that she had worn a mask while living with the Su Family. Therefore, when she heard her novel ideas, she felt no suspicion, only astonishment.

Initially, she had only married her to appease external pressures, unknowingly taking in a substitute secretly swapped in by others. Yet now, she had unexpectedly gained a treasure. Even if she pursued just one of her many ideas diligently, it would be enough to make her one of the wealthiest women in the region.

“Qiuqiu, if you want to build a sustainable and thriving business, you’ll need to partner with others,” Lu Fangting advised after hearing her plans. “Relying solely on the Prince’s estate won’t suffice.”

In the political landscape of Great Chu, expanding a business required more than just skill. Success often attracted unwanted attention, and powerful figures could easily crush vulnerable merchants with arbitrary pretexts.

“Sister, do you know anyone we can trust?” Su Qiuqiu asked, frowning. “I understand we need partners, but I don’t know anyone. The only ones I know are my aunt and my eighth sister’s family, and they can only handle sourcing supplies. If we tried to partner with them, anyone who dared to suppress us would likely target them too.”

“You can start some small businesses openly, like a clothing store or the beauty shop you mentioned. I can ask Imperial Consort to recommend a few connections for you,” Lu Fangting said calmly. “For larger ventures like a printing press or glass factory, we’ll need to find separate partners. I heard that the owner of Tianbao Pavilion  is from Great Jin and has powerful influence. They’re a reputable silver merchant. If you’re looking for a reliable collaborator, they might be worth approaching.”

Lu Fangting had previously explained to Su Qiuqiu that the imperial family’s suppression of the Lu Family, including their financial restrictions, stemmed from their fear that the family might accumulate enough wealth to rebuild their strength and potentially raise an army. Given the extreme suspicion directed at the Lu Family, they naturally wouldn’t passively accept their fate. If even Su Qiuqiu could devise secret ways to earn money, how could they not have thought of it themselves?

The Lu family’s “poverty” was merely a facade, a performance for the public. They possessed their own hidden power, and the Tianbao Pavilion (Heavenly Treasure Pavilion), mentioned by Lu Fangting, was one such manifestation of this secret influence.

Lu Fangting, having the advantage of proximity, recognized the potential Su Qiuqiu described and understood that collaboration would benefit both parties.

“Okay, I’ll check it out when the time comes,” Su Qiuqiu said, nodding. “Sister, I mentioned earlier that I make comfortable undergarments. I’d love to make some for you too. May I take your measurements?” Su Qiuqiu rubbed her hands together, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Lu Fangting.

She had been feeling dizzy and drowsy for the past few days, but today she felt much more energetic. As she spoke with Lu Fangting, she couldn’t help but drool at the sight of her waist-cinching robe, worn without a chest wrap. She had been longing to take her measurements for ages…

“Alright,” Lu Fangting said, relenting. “Qingli also mentioned how comfortable your creations are. I’ll give it a try.” She didn’t quite understand Su Qiuqiu’s intense fascination with measuring her chest, waist, and hips, but seeing the gleam in her eyes, she couldn’t resist. He was also curious to try undergarments tailored precisely to her measurements for a perfect fit.

“Alright, I’ll have Lingxiang bring the measuring tools,” Su Qiuqiu said, her pale face flushing with renewed energy.

She took the measuring tools Lingxiang brought in and shooed out the gaggle of “lightbulb” maids. Then, she instructed Lu Fangting to remove her outer robe, leaving just her nightgown for her to measure.

“Sister, have you really never taken any br3ast-enhancing tonics? And hasn’t your chest binding hindered their growth?” Su Qiuqiu measured Lu Fangting’s bust: a C cup, several sizes larger than her own!

“That’s precisely what’s been bothering me,” Lu Fangting said after a moment of speechless awkwardness. “These past few years, going out or meeting people has become increasingly uncomfortable…”

Su Qiuqiu burst into tears inwardly. She wished she had such a “burden”! She was almost sixteen, yet her chest remained stubbornly underdeveloped, so flat that she didn’t even need a chest binder when dressing as a man. This was partly due to Su Qiuqiu’s individual constitution, but also because Seventh Miss had endured poor nutrition and prolonged depression during her growth years, stunting her physical development and leaving her slender.

After measuring Lu Fangting’s waist and hips, Su Qiuqiu couldn’t help but imagine her unclothed. The image was so alluring that her cheeks flushed crimson, and she couldn’t meet her gaze.

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” Lu Fangting asked, noticing Su Qiuqiu fidgeting with the red measuring cord, her eyes glazed over and her face flushed. She assumed her fever had returned.

“Cough… I’m fine, I’m fine…” Su Qiuqiu shook her head, snapping out of her reverie. But a daring thought had taken root in her mind: When will I have the courage to make my husband wear the seductive lingerie I’ve been designing? A European-style corset? A one-piece swimsuit…?

Stop these wild fantasies! How could you harbor such indecent thoughts about someone so pure and kind?

If only I could bathe my husband, towel her dry, or soak with her in a hot spring… “Sister, put your clothes back on quickly, or you’ll catch a cold,” Su Qiuqiu said, pinching herself to regain composure and hastily draping Lu Fangting’s robe over her shoulders. Despite the charcoal brazier and incense burner, the room still felt drafty.

Due to the cold weather outside, the two stayed indoors after Su Qiuqiu had recovered. They chatted, and occasionally Lu Fangting would play the qin for her.

Lu Fangting had memorized the nonsensical tune Su Qiuqiu had haphazardly hummed the other day. Gong Luoyun had requested the sheet music, so Lu Fangting wrote it down for her, not bothering to answer any further questions she might have.

Su Qiuqiu was genuinely impressed by Lu Fangting’s casual declaration that she had transcribed her random melody. His memory was truly remarkable, a testament to her exceptional talent—yet alas, fate often envies the gifted…

Lu Fangting’s musical prowess was extraordinary. She could instantly play any tune Su Qiuqiu hummed, even smoothing out her off-key notes to make them sound beautiful. Her innate musicality left her in awe.

Seizing the opportunity, Su Qiuqiu asked Lu Fangting to teach her the zither and flute. Gong Luoyun had already spread rumors of their combined mastery of these instruments, and Su Qiuqiu feared embarrassment if asked to perform later without any skill.

Su Qiuqiu especially loved when Lu Fangting taught her zither fingering. They would sit side by side at the instrument, their shoulders touching, with Lu Fangting guiding her hands. It was pure bliss.

Before long, Su Qiuqiu’s infatuation blossomed into blissful distraction. She struggled to grasp even basic techniques, yet remained cheerfully oblivious, puzzling Lu Fangting. How could someone so sharp sometimes be so utterly clueless?

******

One day, Lingxiang delivered Su Qiuqiu’s latest creations, including a peculiar insole with an elevated heel.

“Lanxiu, try this insole in your shoe and walk around,” Su Qiuqiu instructed, calling Lanxiu in and handing it to her.

Lanxiu, puzzled but obedient, inserted the insole. After putting on her shoe, she took a few steps in front of Su Qiuqiu and Lu Fangting. To everyone’s surprise, her usual limping gait vanished, replaced by a normal stride.

“Husband, look!” Su Qiuqiu’s face lit up with delight. She had long been sympathetic to Lanxiu, knowing her limp stemmed from an injury sustained while protecting her family. When Su Qiuqiu was brainstorming items that the Great Chu lacked, such as high heels and hidden heel lifts, she had a sudden inspiration. After carefully measuring Lanxiu’s feet, she crafted a custom-made elevating insole.

Lanxiu’s leg bones had healed unevenly after a fracture, causing a length discrepancy that led to her limp. By using the insole to compensate for this imbalance, Su Qiuqiu had restored her natural gait.

“Qiuqiu is truly clever and kind,” Lu Fangting remarked, amused by Su Qiuqiu’s eager expression, clearly fishing for praise. “Lanxiu, hurry and thank the County Princess.” Though the principle was simple, no one else had thought of it.

“Thank you, County Princess!” Lanxiu exclaimed, overjoyed after taking a few steps and realizing the insole’s effect. Hearing Lu Fangting’s words, she quickly thanked Su Qiuqiu again.

“No need to thank me,” Su Qiuqiu replied with a smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “I should be thanking you for taking care of my husband.”

Hearing Su Qiuqiu speak with such familiarity, as if she were family, Lu Fangting felt a strange warmth in her heart.

Having spent several days with Su Qiuqiu, Lu Fangting found herself increasingly drawn to her. Though she longed to stay by her side constantly, Su Qiuqiu had to leave briefly to earn money. Her “delicate constitution” couldn’t withstand the rigors of her business trips, so she would have to wait for her return.

“Sister, rest well at home,” Su Qiuqiu said as she prepared to leave. “I won’t be gone long. Don’t miss me too much!”

“Don’t worry about me, Qiuqiu,” Lu Fangting replied. “I’ll ask Imperial Consort to send Qingli to accompany you for safety.” In truth, she planned to disguise herself as Qingli and follow Su Qiuqiu to help with her business negotiations.