Dismissed

Huang Xing suddenly stood up from his seat.

Isn't this beautiful woman the lady who came to their shop to look at jewelry that day and later bought the jewelry design drawn by Miss Xu? Miss Xu later said that she was the County Princess of Qingyang, born into the Prince of Zhennan's Residence, and married to the heir of the Duke of Ying.

Later, Huang Xing asked around and found that Xu Xi was absolutely right. Moreover, this Madam Xiao was a calligraphy teacher invited by the Beining Women's Academy this year.

Could this shop belong to the Prince of Prince of Zhennan? Or perhaps the Duke of Ying?

He immediately shook his head, sat down, and chuckled at himself for overthinking things.

County Princess of Qingyang was born into the Prince of Zhennan's Residence and married the heir of the Duke of Ying. Even though the shop belonged to both mansions, she didn't need to manage it personally.

Judging from the jewelry she bought and her identity as a teacher at the academy, she and that Miss Xu had some connection. Perhaps she knew she was here and came specifically to meet with her to discuss something.

With that thought, he relaxed. However, he remained seated by the window, his eyes fixed on the view outside.

Inside the Gathered Treasures Studio, Shopkeeper Wang was quietly reporting Xu Xi's itinerary to Madam Xiao: "... She went to the workshop to observe the craftsmen's techniques for carving and inlaying jewelry. She said she was worried that if she didn't understand the details clearly, the craftsmen wouldn't be able to recreate the designs she drew."

As he spoke, he opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something.

"What's wrong? Just say what's on your mind." Madam Xiao glanced at the closed door.

Xu Xi was inside, engrossed in drawing jewelry designs, so when she arrived, she didn't disturb Xu Xi. Instead, she asked Shopkeeper Wang about the situation beforehand.

"I wonder if the county magistrate knows the man Juren Meng in the jewelry world?" Shopkeeper Wang asked.

Xiao Ruotong frowned and thought for a long time before finally remembering that Shopkeeper Wang seemed to have told her that he had invited a scholar surnamed Meng to draw jewelry designs.

She shook her head. "I have a vague recollection, but I don't know the specifics."

Seeing that Xiao Ruotong didn't quite understand, Shopkeeper Wang explained Juren Meng's situation again.

Juren Meng's father, was a jewelry craftsman who spent a fortune sending his son to school. Although Juren Meng intelligent, he didn't like studying but loved drawing, especially jewelry designs.

Later, as his father grew old, and after failing the imperial examinations several times, he gave up on pursuing a career in the civil service and devoted himself to drawing jewelry designs. Because he was a scholar, his vision and imagination were broader than those of the jewelry craftsmen; and with his painting skills, his jewelry designs were novel and inspired. He gradually gained fame in the jewelry industry and even became a master.

Xiao Ruotong wanted to open a jewelry store, so she naturally couldn't expect Xu Xi to draw jewelry designs for her, given Xu Xi's different status and his status as a student. Therefore, Shopkeeper Wang specially spent a lot of money to invite this Juren Meng to design jewelry for Gathered Treasures Studio.

"What's wrong with him? Was he rude to Miss Xu?" Xiao Ruotong asked, frowning.

Shopkeeper Wang blushed and bowed deeply to Xiao Ruotong: "It was my fault for not handling things properly. When Miss Xu's jewelry was carved, Juren Meng saw it and asked the craftsman. Someone claimed that the designs were bought at a high price, one hundred taels of silver for each piece, and Juren Meng was indignant. Today, when Miss Xu visited, Juren Meng learned that the jewelry designs were drawn by Miss Xu, and he made a few sarcastic remarks about her. When I left with Miss Xu, Juren Meng asked someone to say that the jewelry designs he drew should be priced higher, at least a significant amount higher than Miss Xu's."

Knowing that Xiao Ruotong was unaware of the market price, he added, "Juren Meng originally charged one hundred taels of silver for each jewelry design. Now he feels Miss Xu a young girl like Miss Xu is on par with him, and he feels he has lost face, so he is demanding that the price be raised to one hundred and fifty taels."

As the manager, he could have handled this matter himself without consulting Xiao Ruotong. However, since Juren Meng had offended Xu Xi, and Shopkeeper Wang knew how much his master valued Xu Xi, he brought it up.

"Resign him," Xiao Ruotong said without hesitation.

Seeing Shopkeeper Wang's surprise, she repeated, "Fire him. Our jewelry store doesn't need him."

Shopkeeper Wang could only manage a wry smile.

He knew that if he asked the county magistrate about this matter, he would inevitably get this answer.

This mistress, born with a silver spoon in her mouth and granted the title of county princess from the time she could walk, has never lacked money. How could she know how to do business? She only cares whether she Gao Xing or Gao Xing.

A mere scholar who had passed the imperial examinations dared to give her favors to her student, the young lady of the Marquis of Suiping's Residence's household, and even used this as leverage to demand a price increase. In the county princess's eyes, this was absolutely intolerable.

Remembering the princess's words, "Making money or not doesn't matter; the important thing is to make the county princess happy," he bowed and replied, "Yes, county princess."

However, he quickly cheered up and said to Xiao Ruotong, "Princess, dismissing Juren Meng really hasn't affected us much. Miss Xu is incredibly fast at drawing jewelry designs. Usually, she comes over in the evening and can draw a complete design in half an hour. This morning and evening, she's already drawn several more. Every single one is a masterpiece. These are all for inlaid jewelry. Adding to the ones she drew before, we've already made about twenty new pieces of jewelry, more than enough to attract customers when we open our shop."

Xiao Ruotong nodded in satisfaction. "She's really capable." The jewelry designs she drew were so perfect that even she, with her discerning eye, couldn't find any fault with them; she couldn't be more satisfied.

After understanding the situation, Xiao Ruotong did not disturb Xu Xi. Instead, she asked someone to order food from a restaurant. Once the food was delivered and the maids set it on the table, she then asked Xiaoru to invite Xu Xi to dinner.

During the meal, she suddenly said, "Your paintings have caused quite a stir in the art world. I've heard that Noble Consort Cen in the palace is very interested in your style and might invite you to the palace to paint her portrait."

"Huh?" Xu Xi almost spilled the soup.

She put down her soup bowl, her eyes wide. "Master Kang... how could he do this?"

She assumed Master Kang would only exhibit it on a small scale and it wouldn't attract much attention. After all, the painting was rather ugly, and Master Kang wouldn't want to show it to everyone, right?

She seriously underestimated Master Kang's confidence in his appearance.

Furthermore, although she knew the painting would eventually be seen by the royal family and might even be invited to the palace to paint portraits of them, she was a little panicked that things hadn't even progressed before they went straight to the main base.

Although she possesses beauty-enhancing and plastic surgery skills, what if? What if the people in the palace aren't satisfied with the result and she's executed? Could she still be reborn in another world?

Just as she was about to summon the system, Xiao Ruotong said, "Don't panic. This is just something the Imperial Concubine heard about at a royal banquet and jokingly mentioned to my mother and the others. Maybe she'll forget about it afterward? Getting a portrait of them in the palace isn't that easy."

"Yes, it's best not to let strangers into the palace; it's safer." Xu Xi quickly nodded in agreement.

Xiao Ruotong couldn't help but laugh, pointing at Xu Xi and saying, "You silly girl. Others would kill for something like this, but you're avoiding it like the plague."