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Ye Xiaohan's romantic life was filled with troublesome relationships, yet her career was progressing exceptionally well.
After returning home that night, she spent a long time alone in her room, ultimately deciding to venture into business.
In an era where women were barred from politics, this was her only way to gain real power.
Ye Xiaohan's plan quickly received strong support from Dye House and Xia Zhanggui.
"Boss Ye, you finally figured it out!" Xia Zhanggui said cheerfully. "With your brilliant mind, you were born for this line of work! I’ve advised you many times before; it’s a pity you only wanted to make ends meet without any ambition!"
Long ago, Xia Zhanggui had suggested opening a branch to expand their operations. However, at that time, Ye Xiaohan had no significant material desires; as long as her family could live comfortably and indulge occasionally, that was enough for her.
But now, having experienced the real harm that life could bring, she would no longer think that way.
She needed to become stronger—strong enough to ensure her own safety and protect those around her.
Of course, Ye Xiaohan wouldn’t share these thoughts with anyone; outwardly, she only aimed to make money. And that wasn’t a lie; her goal truly was to earn a profit.
With Xia Zhanggui's help, things progressed smoothly.
First, they planned to start with the Ready-to-Wear Store. They had already begun selecting and training embroiderers and tailors. Under strict training, each had become highly skilled in their craft.
In addition, they hired several of the most fashionable designers from the capital at high salaries.
Every era has its own aesthetic, and Ye Xiaohan was not arrogant enough to believe she could grasp the trends of an entire generation.
Among these fashion designers were some who originally made clothes for noblewomen and others who designed outfits for the girls of Flower House—talents of all kinds were represented.
Ye Xiaohan did not look down on workers based on their social status; in her eyes, as long as one had the ability, they deserved proper treatment.
As a result, the workers of lower social standing admired Ye Xiaohan even more, and they worked harder, striving to do better.
With the collective brainstorming of these craftsmen from different statuses, the inspiration they gained became more abundant than before, and their scope of thinking expanded significantly, no longer limited to a single area.
As a result, their ready-to-wear clothing surpassed that of other shops in the capital in both style and quality.
In no time, crowds flocked to their store, and almost every new arrival was snatched up immediately.
Amidst the customers' urgings for items they could not purchase, Ye Xiaohan tantalized them before announcing the opening of a branch store.
Once the news spread, it received overwhelming support and backing from everyone.
The arrangements for the branch had been underway for quite some time; Xia Zhanggui had started preparing long ago. If it weren't for Ye Xiaohan's intervention back then, the branch would have already opened.
Now everything was ready, and implementation was swift. Within just a few days, everything was organized, waiting only for an auspicious day to launch.
Before the grand opening, Ye Xiaohan began promoting the branch.
This time, she chose not to spend time and effort running all over the capital but instead planned to leverage the influence of the upper-class nobility directly.
To a large extent, the aesthetic preferences of the nobility greatly influenced societal trends. "The King of Chu favors slender waists; many starve in the palace." As long as the nobles wore clothes from her store, she was confident that people in the capital would follow suit.
As for opportunities to connect with the nobility, Ye Xiaohan set her sights on the recently enigmatic Shangyang Princess.
As the favored princess, she was undoubtedly the best candidate. Moreover, Ye Xiaohan was not one to owe favors to others, but when it came to the Shangyang Princess, she had no qualms about it.
After all, the last time the Shangyang Princess had nearly gotten her killed at the hands of Liu Susu; helping her out this time would be a way to balance the scales.
Furthermore, the Shangyang Princess had been visiting the tavern and her residence far too frequently lately. So much so that Ye Xiaohan had begun to get used to her presence, perfectly integrating into this environment.
Thus, when it came to choosing someone, Ye Xiaohan immediately thought of the Shangyang Princess.
At first, Ye Xiaohan believed that the Shangyang Princess was still harboring feelings for Gu Bei and was merely waiting for an opportunity here.
However, as time passed, she gradually noticed something amiss.
The Shangyang Princess clearly no longer clung to Gu Bei as she once did. Several times, Ye Xiaohan had deliberately acted close to Gu Bei in front of her, but the princess showed no reaction.
Instead, when Lo Cheng arrived, the princess's eyes sparkled with excitement, and she radiated joy.
Being in love herself, Ye Xiaohan quickly understood the princess's feelings.
On the other hand, Lo Cheng was taken aback by the Shangyang Princess's enthusiasm. Each time he came, he instinctively checked if she was around before he felt at ease, often avoiding her altogether.
Although she didn't know why the Shangyang Princess had suddenly changed her affections, this shift was nothing short of a surprise for Ye Xiaohan.
Silently cheering for Lo Cheng in her heart, she actively sought ways to create opportunities for the Shangyang Princess to encounter him.
Sorry, but for our happiness, you'll just have to make a sacrifice!
Poor Lo Cheng sneezed twice in quick succession, feeling an inexplicable chill behind him.
"Princess, I have something I would like to ask for your help with," Ye Xiaohan said, pulling the Shangyang Princess aside and explaining the situation to her.
The Shangyang Princess readily agreed. She felt guilty towards Ye Xiaohan and was determined to help in any way she could. Especially after seeing the samples Ye Xiaohan presented to her, she was thrilled and immediately fell in love with the garments.
"This dress is beautiful! It's much nicer than anything made in the palace!" The Shangyang Princess exclaimed, patting her chest. "Don't worry, as soon as I wear this dress and walk around the palace, all those concubines and princesses will rush to the store to buy their own clothes!"
Ye Xiaohan opened a box and said, "These are the first batch of finished products. Take them back and give them to people in the palace." Just a few sets of clothing would yield promotional effects that were absolutely worth it.
The noblewomen didn't care about money; as long as the quality of the clothes was good, both sides would be very satisfied.
As Ye Xiaohan had anticipated, after the Shangyang Princess brought the clothes back to the palace and gifted them to her close associates, a frenzy ensued. Many rushed to her quarters to inquire about them.
"You won't believe it! They nearly tore the clothes off my back!" The Shangyang Princess recalled with a shiver at the memory of those women’s eager eyes. "When is your shop going to open? If it doesn't open soon, I'm really going to be driven crazy by them!"
Ye Xiaohan smiled and replied, "Soon."
Indeed, it was very soon. Within a few days, the branch store officially opened. In just one month, the Ready-to-Wear Store's reputation soared, becoming the most popular shop in the capital.
Even Xia Zhanggui's silk shop and dye house saw their business multiply several times over. Xia Zhanggui was so busy counting money that he hardly needed to do anything else.
Thus, Ye Xiaohan's first attempt was a resounding success. She monopolized the ready-to-wear market among the upper class in the capital and successfully cultivated her own brand.
From then on, her clothing was no longer just something anyone could make; it became an exclusive brand.
"Cheers to the success of our first business venture!" Ye Xiaohan raised her glass at the end of the month, inviting everyone who could make it to celebrate and express her gratitude for their help during this time.
It was impossible for her to achieve such results on her own. The success was a collective effort.
Gu Bei, despite his busy schedule, took the time to help promote her business, even sending people to assist her out of concern that she might overwork herself.
Then there was Yang Liu, who was even more attentive to the shop's progress than Ye Xiaohan herself. Many dealings with suppliers had already been entrusted to him.
Shangyang Princess and Lo Cheng also contributed wholeheartedly.
Even at home, the Freeloader Trio—Luo Jingxian, Murong Xi, and Liu Qi—behaved themselves, taking care of each other so that Ye Xiaohan could focus more on her business without worrying about home.
"Cheers!" Even if some didn’t fully understand the meaning of the phrase, it didn’t dampen anyone's spirits.
Though it was a family gathering, the food was not inferior to that of a restaurant; some dishes were even brought back from one. Nevertheless, everyone enjoyed the meal immensely.
Throughout the gathering, Shangyang Princess made subtle attempts to get closer to Lo Cheng. He dodged her advances but showed no signs of disgust—just a hint of helplessness.
Ye Xiaohan observed this quietly, noting it in her mind.
However, Gu Bei was too busy to attend, which left Ye Xiaohan feeling a bit regretful. Nonetheless, he brought news that he hoped they could have another gathering when he had more time and that he would bring a guest along.
Aunt Gu.
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