The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 143 Your Majesty, if you don’t return to the palace soon, the Khan will become anxious (Second watch)

Chapter 143: 143 Your Majesty, if you don’t return to the palace soon, the Khan will become anxious (Second watch)

Li Xianyun looked at the strong men who were working in the room and said, "I have some matters to take care of, continue your work, and just follow Habu’s instructions afterwards."

The strong men, each holding two roasted buns, replied with a smile, "Alright, young master, you go ahead and deal with your matters, leave this place to us, don’t worry."

Li Xianyun smiled and said, "Leaving it to you, I have complete trust."

At the doorway, Li Xianyun said, "The waste material outside needs to be cleaned up after you finish working, to prevent bugs and flies."

"Okay," the strong men said.

After giving instructions for the Drying Room, Li Xianyun went outside with Bater.

She saw that the queue had lessened considerably, it seemed that Habu had already informed the village chiefs from miles around about the grape purchasing schedule.

Li Xianyun approached Habu and said, "Uncle, I still have matters at home and need to leave, I’ll leave this place to you."

"Alright, don’t worry, young master."

Li Xianyun hummed in acknowledgment and said, "When it’s the hour of You, don’t allow any new villagers to join the queue. We need to strictly follow the schedule we’ve set, have clear rules and a bottom line; only then can the grape purchasing proceed orderly, otherwise it will be very difficult to manage."

"Okay," said Habu.

"Also, the wages should be settled every day. This will keep the workers motivated. Once the work here stabilizes, we can pay wages monthly."

"Alright, I’ll keep that in mind."

Li Xianyun continued, "Every night, we need to arrange for two strong men who can fight to guard this place. Those ruffians who came to cause trouble today and didn’t get what they wanted will surely bear a grudge and will definitely come to cause damage at night. If we aren’t careful, all of our efforts these past days will have been in vain."

Habu said, "Okay."

Li Xianyun grew up in a village where everyone seemed harmonious on the surface, but a trivial matter could lead to a feud, and eventually, huge fights could break out.

You must not harbor intentions to harm others, but you can’t be without precautions against potential threats. It’s always right to be careful.

Li Xianyun said, "There are quite a few dogs in the village, right? We can bring two over at night, and those intent on mischief won’t dare to come."

"The young master thinks of everything, I am impressed," said Habu.

Habu looked at Li Xianyun with admiration. Despite her young age, she was thoughtful and considerate of the future, and one couldn’t help but respect her.

Li Xianyun gave some more trivial instructions and then took Bater, Youlan, and Zhuo Ma onto the carriage.

Since the afternoon, Youlan and Zhuo Ma had been training capable people to take over their roles, as per Li Xianyun’s instructions.

So there was no problem leaving now.

The carriage soon left Shitoutun, and Li Xianyun said to the outside, "Bater, to the Ice Porridge Shop in East Market."

Bater looked at the setting sun in the western sky, puzzled, but still respectfully said, "Yes!"

Zhuo Ma couldn’t help but ask, "Master, aren’t you returning to the palace?"

The Khan must be waiting anxiously.

Li Xianyun said, "There is one important matter I have yet to tend to."

Youlan asked, "What matter?"

Li Xianyun smiled and said, "You’ll know when we get there."

The group arrived in front of the Ice Porridge Shop and saw a long queue.

Li Xianyun had just stepped off the carriage when an argument erupted from the queue.

A man standing at the front of the line looked at a woman who had cut in line and said discontentedly, "Why are you cutting in line? To buy ice porridge, you need to queue up, go to the back of the line!"

The woman who cut in line said, "Please be kind, I have an emergency at home, and I need to buy it and return quickly."

"Who doesn’t have urgent matters at home? If you’re too late to buy, you can always come another day."

"Exactly, if everyone cuts in line, when will those of us who’ve been queuing properly ever get a chance to buy?"

Everyone started talking, one after the other, and gradually, the scene began to get out of hand. It looked like it was about to come to blows.

Bater wanted to go up and help.

Li Xianyun said, "Don’t worry, it’s just a small matter. Nata and the others will handle it."

Sure enough, hearing the commotion, Nata and Ali came out.

Nata understood the situation and separated the two people who were entangled with each other.

He had a military background, and although he had a limp, he had skills. In just a moment, he had pulled the two people apart.

Nata looked at the woman who had cut in line and said, "Our Ice Porridge Shop only sells to those who queue up honestly. If you cut in line, even if you reach the front, we will not sell to you."

Praises came from the crowd.

"That’s how it should be."

"Yes, we can’t sell to those who cut in line."

The woman, unable to save face, said with her neck stiff, "Fine, don’t sell it then. I don’t bloody want it anyway."

After saying this, she cursed and grumbled as she left.

Nata said to the queue, "As the shopkeeper of the Ice Porridge Shop, I thank you all for your patronage. Please queue orderly and do not cut in line. We will not sell our products to those who do, as it’s fair to everyone."

The people nodded in agreement.

Watching Nata, Youlan said to Li Xianyun, "My lord, Nata used to be so timid, but now he seems to have undergone a transformation, like he’s become a completely different person."

Li Xianyun’s lips curled up as she said, "He has always been like he is now. Any timidity before was due to the pressures of life."

Back when Nata was being bullied by two thugs, his eyes showed defiance and resilience.

Li Xianyun saw all this and knew he was a man they could use; he just lacked an opportunity.

Now it seemed she had not been wrong about him.

Ali was the first in the crowd to spot Li Xianyun. After Nata had clarified the queuing rules to the public, he went to Nata’s side and said, "Shopkeeper, the lord has arrived."

Nata looked up and indeed saw Li Xianyun standing not far away, smiling at them.

Nata quickly walked down the steps and, along with Ali, greeted her with a smile.

Approaching her, Nata said with a smile, "My lord, what brings you here today?"

Li Xianyun always seemed as elusive as a dragon, always busy.

Li Xianyun smiled and said, "I was out handling some business and passed by, so I thought I’d drop in to see how things are going."

Nata smiled and said, "My lord, the business at the Ice Porridge Shop is doing even better than the past couple of days. Today, I reckon we’ll clear about a hundred taels. Let me bring the account book for you to see."

As the reputation of the Ice Porridge Shop spread, it was natural that the number of customers would increase.

As Nata turned to go back into the shop, Li Xianyun said, "No need."

Hearing this, Nata stopped.

"I trust the way you handle things. At the end of the month, I’ll check the profit and loss," said Li Xianyun. "Have there been any problems in the past couple of days that were difficult to resolve?"

Nata replied, "There haven’t been any big issues, just minor nuisances like the one we just dealt with."