My Sister Insisted on Swapping Marriages, and I Became a Marchioness Instead

Chapter 36: Chapter 36: All Just Prince Qi’s Whimsical Ideas

There are many nobles in the Capital City, but for Manager Leng to show such caution and respect towards someone, that person must certainly be extraordinary.

Qin Yuan nodded and said, ”Perhaps Manager Leng could call over a clerk. I’ll just ask a few trivial questions and then leave.”

Manager Leng hurriedly objected, ”Ranxiang Inn is a shop owned by the Marquis Mansion, and I count myself as half a member of it. How could I possibly slight the owner’s interests? Prince Qi is here today, merely to inquire about perfumes, and he’ll leave shortly.”

Seeing his apprehension, Qin Yuan decided not to argue further.

The store of Ranxiang Inn was very large, about three to four times the size of ordinary shops. The interior was vast, with many cabinets made of nanmu set against the walls, reaching from floor to ceiling, neatly divided into numerous small drawers, each labeled with a light-colored wooden tag indicating the name of the incense stored within.

Just by looking at this setup, one could tell that Ranxiang Inn dealt only in top-grade incenses.

Everywhere the eye could see, the range of incense was comprehensive, stored in an orderly manner that prevented any mingling of scents or deterioration.

Noticing the look of admiration on her face, Manager Leng smiled and said, ”Ranxiang Inn boasts a complete variety of incense, including those from the Western Regions and overseas. If Madam wishes to blend a perfume, simply take a list from the store and choose as you please; I guarantee it can be matched.”

Qin Yuan asked, ”Manager Leng has managed Ranxiang Inn excellently. May I know where the incense master in the shop is hired from?”

For an incense shop to be successful, it must first have a sufficient stock of incense and second, good incense masters who can create fashionable scents that are sought after. Otherwise, they must be able to cater to the peculiar demands of prestigious clients.

Although Qin Yuan excelled at blending perfumes, she focused mainly on medical incense. Seeing the well-stocked incense at Ranxiang Inn, she couldn’t help but feel intrigued and wanted to inquire about the background of the incense master to potentially seek guidance in the future.

Manager Leng gave a few dry chuckles and said, ”I haven’t found a suitable incense master yet, so I’ve been handling it myself.”

Qin Yuan immediately felt a desire to make his acquaintance.

To be both a perfumer and handle the affairs of the shop, such a manager is hard to come by in the entire Capital City.

As she followed Manager Leng into a private room, a refreshing, cool fragrance filled the air, instantly sweeping away the summer’s stifling heat, uplifting the spirit.

”What a wonderful fragrance,” Qin Yuan praised with a smile.

Hong Ye and Cui Ming couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise.

Manager Leng smiled modestly.

A clerk brought in fragrant tea and snacks and then stood aside, saying, ”Manager, the Chief Historian from Prince Qi Mansion has arrived.”

After Manager Leng excused himself, Qin Yuan sat patiently waiting in the private room. The decor was simple yet elegant, with a few calligraphy paintings by renowned contemporaries on the walls and several exquisite bonsai on the shelves for admiration.

”Why does Manager Leng say that he’s half a member of the Marquis Mansion?” Qin Yuan asked.

Gu Shiliu replied, ”Manager Leng is Nanny Rong’s son-in-law; isn’t he thus half a member of the Marquis Mansion?”

”Oh?”

Qin Yuan was a bit surprised.

Gu Shiliu continued, ”Nanny Rong is the most trusted attendant by the Old Madam’s side, and her son is also highly valued. No one in the mansion dares to disrespect her. Nanny Rong was once the Old Madam’s personal maid. After marriage, she became a housekeeper, and after her widowhood, she returned to continue serving the Old Madam. This ’serving’ is more about companionship.”

Qin Yuan nodded, taking note.

Gu Shiliu said, ”If Madam has the time, it’s good to get closer to Nanny Rong, as she has a good grasp of the mansion’s relationships.”

”Hmm,” Qin Yuan lifted her eyes and glanced at Gu Shiliu.

Being gazed upon by those clear and bright eyes, Gu Shiliu felt inexplicably uneasy, saying, ”This is what the Marquis wanted me to tell Madam.”

Qin Yuan chuckled and said, ”The Marquis has good intentions. I understand he’s worried due to my young age and lack of experience in handling household affairs, fearing I might make a fool of myself, so he’s offering advice.”

Gu Shiliu said in surprise, ”Madam is indeed remarkably clever. You anticipated everything without needing me to say it.”

This was not entirely flattery.

The Marchioness is beautiful, good-natured, skilled in handling people and matters, and speaks flawlessly. Truly, she is excellent in every way.

Qin Yuan didn’t say another word, listening carefully to the sounds outside.

The private room was separately partitioned, not entirely soundproof, a clear male voice echoed faintly, seemingly complaining about something.

Hong Ye, with sharp ears, whispered, ”Miss, the one speaking is likely Prince Qi himself. He says that although the perfume Manager Leng made is good, it’s not the one he desires.”

Gu Shiliu glanced over at Hong Ye using ”Miss” for Madam.

Hong Ye, entirely focused on listening, paid no attention.

Yet Cui Ming noticed this exchange.

Qin Yuan couldn’t help but wonder about the unique fragrance Prince Qi sought.

In her past life, Prince Qi had the opportunity to ascend the throne but fell ill with an unknown ailment, growing weaker over time, and passed away before reaching thirty.

She once accompanied Lin Ziqi to pay respects during his tour of Jiangnan.

Indeed, he was graceful and charming, a gentleman as radiant as the moon.

Behind closed doors, Lin Ziqi also heaped on praises, saying Prince Qi was refreshing and clear, as if a jade mountain would fall, a refined gentleman, bearing the mien of a wise monarch.

Who would’ve thought such a person would end up with such a fate?

Truly, the good things in this world are fragile and fleeting, like scattered clouds and brittle glass.

Hong Ye interrupted her thoughts: ”The fragrance Prince Qi seeks should help people sleep deeply without dreams, and also invigorate their spirits. Manager Leng says he cannot create such a fragrance, and there are likely very few in the Capital City who can.”

Qin Yuan felt her heart skip a beat.

The Chen family’s secret incense formulas, passed down through the generations for medicinal purposes, contained such a fragrance, which was never to be made hastily or divulged.

She wondered from where Prince Qi had heard of it.

In her past life, she had tried to seek out the descendants of the Chen family and had tried to investigate her grandfather’s case, but in the end, she had to set it aside, which she deeply regretted.

After a while, Prince Qi took his leave.

When Manager Leng re-entered the private room, he appeared displeased, bowed, and apologized, ”Sorry to have kept Madam waiting.”

Qin Yuan understood he was troubled by not being able to produce the fragrance Prince Qi desired and thus impatient, so she smiled and asked, ”No matter. What rare fragrance does Prince Qi seek?”

Manager Leng, unable to contain his frustration, complained, ”Prince Qi has heard somewhere about a medicinal incense that can calm one’s mind to sleep peacefully at night and invigorate and focus one by day. Moreover, it has a lingering and faint aroma that remains. It’s possible to create such a scent, but I cannot achieve such effects.”

Qin Yuan sighed and said, ”This is the first time I’ve heard of such a fragrance too.”

Manager Leng immediately said, ”Indeed, I honestly cannot make it, and there’s likely no one in the Capital who can. Although incense materials can be used medicinally, most incense masters only have a rudimentary understanding of medicine, yet mastery is rare. Those skilled in medicine might not be knowledgeable in the art of incense, making it truly difficult.”

The implication was that Prince Qi’s desire was a flight of fancy.

Qin Yuan shared a few lamentations, and once Manager Leng had calmed down, she proposed the intention of purchasing pepper.

Manager Leng, indeed well-informed, said, ”We have some in the store, but not enough to meet Madam’s needs. Although pepper has been increasingly costly over the years, a few large merchants are now planning to jointly venture overseas to trade it, with the potential to sail three times a year. If Madam buys a small amount, it’s fine, but buying a lot may be hard to sell quickly.”

The implication was that there would certainly be a loss.

Qin Yuan only asked him to inform her if he heard of any large quantity up for sale.

Manager Leng had no choice but to agree.

When Qin Yuan returned to Wutong Garden, it was already past lunchtime, and as she entered the courtyard, she noticed Marquis Gu, who always avoided facing her, leaning against the corridor railing, looking displeased at them.