Traveling through the busy farmland of a peasant girl

Chapter 253: Grand Opening of Fuxilou in Beijing

On the day when Fuxilou opened, the streets and alleys of the capital were filled with a bustling atmosphere.

The brand new pavilion stands in the bustling street, with carved beams and painted buildings, vermilion pillars and golden glazed tiles complementing each other, sparkling brightly under the sunlight, like a shining pearl, attracting the attention of passers-by.

Before the hour of noon, the building was already crowded with people. People gathered around, pointing and talking, their eyes full of curiosity and anticipation for the new building.

Street vendors also took the opportunity to sell all kinds of snacks and gadgets. The noisy sounds intertwined together, adding a bit of bustling atmosphere.

Shen Li, who is only nine years old, has a petite figure, but she exudes a dignified and elegant demeanor that is not in line with her age.

She was wearing a moon-white brocade dress with a light pink tulle cape on the outside. Her hair was neatly combed into two buns and tied with a jade-inlaid headband. A few strands of hair hung down beside her fair cheeks, making her look even more delicate and lovely.

Her eyes were bright and determined, and she kept explaining the final preparations to the butler beside her. She looked so serious, like an experienced adult, and every move she made ensured that the opening ceremony could go smoothly.

The square in front of Fuxi Building was spotlessly clean. A red carpet stretched from the building entrance to the street, and both sides were filled with flowers. The colorful flowers competed with each other in beauty and emitted bursts of fragrance, adding a festive atmosphere to the opening ceremony.

Above the gate of the building, there are red lanterns hanging, swaying gently in the wind, like elves dancing happily.

Just as everyone was looking forward to it, a noise came from the distance.

The emperor's personal eunuch, Eunuch Li, came marching in with a team of guards in yellow jackets.

Eunuch Li held a golden plaque in his hand, on which were written three powerful characters "Fuxilou", which were written by the emperor himself.

The plaque was inlaid with a circle of dazzling gems, shining with colorful light in the sun, making it look particularly noble and majestic.

"County Lady Fuxi, please accept the order!" Eunuch Li shouted in a shrill voice.

Shen Li hurriedly led everyone to kneel down to receive the order.

"By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: Fuxilou opens today, and I am deeply pleased. This building, gathering the finest goods from all corners of the globe, is a blessing to the capital and a delight to the people. I hereby grant you this personally inscribed plaque, hoping that Fuxilou will uphold its original aspirations, prosper, and benefit the people. I decree this!"

"Your Majesty, I accept your order and thank you for your grace!" Shen Li respectfully took the plaque, her eyes full of gratitude and honor.

She knew very well that the emperor's move was not only a favor to her personally, but also a high recognition of Fuxilou, which would undoubtedly bring great help to the future development of Fuxilou.

Shen Li stood up and went to greet Eunuch Li. She smiled and said, "Eunuch Li, it's really hard for you to make this trip in person today. This Fuxilou is so kind to the emperor. I will manage it with all my heart and will not let the emperor down. I hope that after you return to the palace, you can thank the emperor for his grace on my behalf."

Chu Qiu, who was standing behind him, took out a purse and handed it to Li Quan with great tact.

Eunuch Li bowed slightly, took the purse, and tucked it into his sleeve. He smiled and replied, "You are too polite, County Lady. The Emperor attaches great importance to Fuxilou. We are here today because of you. Seeing how magnificent this Fuxilou is, I am sure it will become a grand attraction in the capital in the future."

As the emperor's gift arrived, the already lively scene became even more lively. The wives of officials who were familiar with Shen Li also presented their own gifts.

Zhao Yaqin, the wife of the Minister of Rites, presented a pair of exquisite jade ruyi. The jade was warm and smooth, and the carvings were exquisite, symbolizing good luck and good fortune.

Shen Li hurried over and said with a smile, "Madam Zhao, your gift is truly precious. You have always taken care of me, and today you came in person to give me a gift. I am truly grateful."

Zhao Yaqin patted Shen Li's hand gently and said, "County Lady, what are you talking about? The opening of your Fuxilou is a great event in the capital, so I naturally want to join in the fun and send you a token of my appreciation. This jade ruyi is my blessing to you. I wish you all the best."

Su Ling, the daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo, presented a screen that she had embroidered herself. The embroidery was exquisite, and the flowers and birds on the screen were lifelike, full of vitality and lively beauty.

Shen Li took the screen and exclaimed, "Sister Su Ling, this screen is so beautifully embroidered! I've heard that your embroidery skills are amazing, and seeing it today, it's really as good as the reputation. This must have taken a lot of effort from you, I really like it."

Su Ling blushed slightly and said with a smile, "As long as the county lady likes it, I'm glad. I heard that Fuxilou has opened, and I thought that nothing could be more thoughtful than giving someone something I made myself, so I embroidered this screen, hoping it would add a touch of elegance to Fuxilou."

Bai Xuanzhou, the deputy director of the Ministry of Revenue, also sent a gift on behalf of his son Bai Jin, which was a set of precious four treasures of the study.

The inkstone was made of top-grade Duan stone, with a fine texture, allowing the ink to be ground smoothly;

The brush is made of the highest quality wolf hair, which is very elastic; the rice paper is as white as snow and has a fine texture; the ink stick exudes a faint fragrance and is of superior quality.

When Shen Li saw the gift, her heart moved slightly. She knew that her aunt Shen Shaoxue was pregnant and her uncle Bai Jin could not come, so this gift must have been carefully selected by him.

She said to Bai Xuanzhou, "Master Bai, thank my uncle for this kind gift. These four treasures of the study are so exquisite, I can tell at a glance that they are rare treasures. I will definitely cherish them."

Bai Xuanzhou smiled and said, "You are so polite, my lady. I heard that Fuxilou has opened, so I thought of giving you this gift. I hope it will be helpful to you. If you need anything in the future, please feel free to ask."

At this moment, Bai Yu also stepped forward and presented his gift. Seeing him, Shen Li couldn't help but think of a previous transaction. She whispered, "The last time you bought the fairy pet, you still haven't paid me one thousand taels of silver."

Bai Yu waved his hand nonchalantly, saying, "It's just a small amount of money. Consider it a lucky charm for the opening of Fuxilou. I don't want it."

As he spoke, a subtle shrewdness flashed in his eyes, and he hinted secretly, "If the County Master's Fuxi Tower has any more rare fairy pets in the future, please send someone to inform me. I have no interest in the Bai family's vulgar things. I only love this novelty."

Shen Li's heart moved, and she thought to herself: Bai Yu, isn't he the younger brother of that uncle Bai Jin, the son of that vicious stepmother? Looking at his behavior today, he is generous and seems to have a special obsession with novel things. He is not as simple as he seems.

What is even more surprising is that Zhuiyue, the leader of the mysterious organization "Cangyue Pavilion" which is well-known in the martial arts world, also sent a gift.

It was a pitch-black sword with a few gemstones emitting faint light inlaid on the scabbard, and the words "Chasing the Moon" were engraved on the hilt.

When this gift was presented to everyone, there was an uproar in the crowd.

Shen Li herself was completely baffled. She had no dealings with this "Cang Yue Pavilion," so why would the Pavilion Master send her a gift? What was the reason behind this?

Just as everyone was discussing this, a man in black stepped forward, handed the sword to Shen Li, and said, "County Lady Fuxi, my Pavilion Master heard that Fuxi Tower has opened, so he specially ordered me to give you this small gift as a token of his appreciation."

Shen Li took the sword and examined it carefully, her heart full of doubts, but she still said politely: "Thank you for your kindness, Pavilion Master of Cangyue Pavilion, but this gift is really too precious. I have no connection with your pavilion, so I am really unworthy of accepting it."

The man in black bowed slightly and said, "Don't be polite, County Lady. We may have our paths crossed in the future." After saying that, he turned around and disappeared into the crowd.

At the same time, when the officials from various departments who had not sent any gifts heard that the emperor had sent a plaque, they all speculated in their hearts that there might be some deep background behind Fuxilou?

They did not dare to neglect it and quickly sent people to deliver gifts. In a short time, the gifts in front of Fuxi Building piled up like a mountain, with all kinds of precious antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and jewelry, which were dazzling and overwhelming.

At 9:00 PM, with the sound of firecrackers, Fuxilou officially opened. Shen Li stood in front of the building, a bright smile on her face. She bowed deeply to everyone, expressing her gratitude.

“Dear fellow villagers, today is the opening day of Fuxilou. I am grateful for your kindness and also thank you for the gifts you sent.

Fuxilou will definitely live up to everyone's expectations and provide everyone with the highest quality products and services. Today, Fuxilou has prepared many surprises, not only discounts on various products, but also wonderful performances for everyone to enjoy."

Shen Li's voice was clear and pleasant, and it could be heard clearly by everyone in the noisy crowd.

Everyone applauded and cheered, then poured into Fuxilou like a tide.

In the square in front of the building, a wonderful opening ceremony performance is in full swing.

First was the dragon and lion dance performance. Two majestic dragons and two lively and cute lions tumbled and leaped in the square. The scales on the dragons' bodies sparkled with golden light in the sun, and the eyes of the lions' heads were bright. To the rhythm of the drums, they sometimes circled and sometimes played, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Then, a gorgeous fashion show kicked off. Models dressed in exquisite clothes from Fuxilou took to the catwalk one after another.

The first piece on display is a gorgeous phoenix wearing a peony embroidered long skirt. On the red skirt, golden silk threads are embroidered with lifelike phoenixes and peonies. The phoenix spreads its wings as if ready to fly, and the peony is graceful and luxurious, like a beautiful painting.

The model walked slowly wearing it, her figure graceful, showing nobility and elegance. In her hand, she also held an exquisite round fan with equally exquisite flower and bird patterns painted on it, which complemented the long skirt.

Next was a moon-white chiffon Confucian dress with delicate orchids embroidered on the neckline and cuffs, and a light blue ribbon tied around the waist, fluttering in the wind, like a fairy descending to earth.

The model spins gently, her skirt fluttering in the air, looking like a dream. The pearl and jade hairpins on her head sway gently with her movements, making crisp sounds, adding a touch of lively beauty.

There is also a royal blue brocade men's suit, embroidered with dark cloud patterns, and the collar and cuffs are trimmed with black mink fur, showing nobility and grandeur.

The model wears it with vigorous steps and heroic posture. She wears a jade pendant around her waist. The jade is warm and smooth, and is carved with ancient patterns, which adds a sense of elegance to the overall look.

The people gathered around the stage, watching intently, exclaiming in admiration from time to time, and were particularly yearning for the costumes in Fuxilou.

Some young girls had eyes full of envy as they discussed these beautiful clothes with their companions, looking at the handsome men and beautiful women on the stage with admiration. Some were even planning to go upstairs to pick out a few pieces of clothing they liked.

Inside the building, various promotions were in full swing. The clothing section was offering a grand opening discount, with all clothing items discounted by 20%, and an additional 10% off on purchases of three or more. The racks were filled with a wide variety of clothing, from gorgeous dresses to everyday casual wear, each piece meticulously crafted and made of the finest fabrics.

The food area has launched a special set meal, which includes the signature dishes squirrel mandarin fish, rose bean paste pastry and a pot of refreshing jasmine milk green tea, and can be enjoyed at only half the original price. The table is filled with delicious dishes and snacks, the aroma is overflowing, and it is mouth-watering.

In the toy area, if you spend a certain amount of money, you can get a small exquisite gift. The shelves are filled with various novel and interesting toys, including exquisite wooden building blocks, cute plush dolls, movable mechanical toys, etc., which attract children's attention.

While everyone was busy selecting products, Shen Li fell into deep thought.

The gifts from Bai Yu and Cangyue Pavilion made her feel uneasy. She always felt that there seemed to be some unknown secret hidden behind them.

She decided to find an opportunity to investigate the reasons behind this so as not to bring any unnecessary trouble to Fuxilou.

In a corner of Fuxi Building, a man in a black robe stood there quietly, watching Shen Li's every move. His eyes were deep and mysterious, and the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, as if he was planning something.

This person is Zhuiyue, the leader of Cangyue Pavilion. His sending of gift is not accidental, but has a deeper purpose.

If Shen Li turned around, she would find that the person standing here was none other than her own teacher Su Ran.