Originally, Yelyu Lie wanted Little Princess to ride in the carriage, but then he remembered the strange dream about that bustling place he once visited.
Bianliao, perhaps only during New Year can she experience some excitement.
Tonight is the thirtieth, Bianliao’s custom is that this day is the most lively.
The two of them left the Royal Palace and quickly moved from the main street to the upper street.
The ten-mile-long street was bustling and lively, with various lanterns lighting up the entire marketplace, bright as daylight. Shops lined both sides of the street with tea houses, taverns, pawnshops, and vendors outside calling out tirelessly, their voices penetrating.
Just hearing them makes one want to step forward and take a look.
Yun Chunnuan held the man’s big hand, her beautiful phoenix eyes becoming even more dazzling under the bright lights, "Husband, shall we go over there for a walk? I’ve been in Bianliao for so long, and you haven’t taken me shopping yet!"
"That’s my fault." Yelyu Lie smiled apologetically, "Then tonight, do I have the honor to invite this beautiful little fairy for a stroll?"
"Foolish! Quick, let’s go! Today I’m going to make your wallet bleed, did you bring enough silver?"
"Don’t worry, even if I didn’t bring enough, I can charge it."
"That’s certainly not necessary!"
Little Princess laughed and pulled his big hand, and together they crossed the bridge to a marketplace filled with lights and people.
Wanting to wander around everywhere was unlikely.
There were too many people, walking required forming a line, let alone wandering freely.
They could only stop and look when they reached a place.
Soon, Yun Chunnuan arrived at the lantern exhibition that attracted her from afar.
All kinds of lanterns, with diverse styles, including crystal-clear palace lanterns, lifelike small animals, and rotating lanterns depicting dancing beauties inside.
Yun Chunnuan pointed with her small hand, ordered a little rabbit, and a rotating lantern.
After that, she went to the mask stall and bought two wolf-shaped half masks, putting one on the man’s face.
Just as she was about to put on the other one, he took it and exchanged it for a little white rabbit half mask from the vendor.
"Why are you the wolf, and I’m the rabbit?" Yun Chunnuan was dissatisfied, even though the long-eared rabbit mask suited her face perfectly, she still felt dissatisfied.
He whispered next to her ear, his voice deep and husky, "Because what wolves love to eat most are rabbits, especially little white rabbits."
If not for the mask, the little princess’s face would have been visibly red.
Afraid the vendor might hear, she pinched the man’s waist.
They wandered around for a bit longer, and soon completed the walk along the upper street.
Even with so many people, the walk took only about an hour.
Seeing Little Princess looking back repeatedly at the upper street, Yelyu Lie felt a surge of guilt, "Nuannuan, is Bianliao too poor? Even during the New Year, it’s only this lively."
Yun Chunnuan instinctively raised her head to look at him, "It is very poor."
Just as the man was about to say more, she removed her mask and asked seriously, "Can I do business?"
"Business?" Yelyu Lie was somewhat surprised, "What business?"
"I noticed Bianliao has several places like taverns and pawnshops, but no stores specifically selling women’s cosmetics, only vendors with some that look relatively poor in quality. Bianliao has many poor people, but there are also many wealthy ones living on the main street. Would they use those sorts of things?"
Yelyu Lie furrowed his brows, never having thought about this issue before.
He pondered for a moment and suddenly said, "No, Bianliao has another trade market outside the city gates, where neighboring countries bring their goods to Bianliao for bartering.
I’ve never exchanged anything for women, but I’ve heard soldiers say that the trade market happens twice a month, and one soldier even took a leave three days early to buy high-quality cosmetics for his wife."
"So, not only wealthy families, but even ordinary soldiers with wives want to give them the best cosmetics, right? So why should we let other countries earn this money, instead of earning it ourselves?"
Seeing his wife’s bright shining eyes, Yelyu Lie actually wanted to say, "Then try it."
However, he worried Little Princess might face setbacks, so he could only tell her the harsh truth, "Nuannuan, what you said is only a small possibility.
There used to be shops selling expensive cosmetics, but they might sell only a few pieces a month, and over time, the shop would close.
Don’t be fooled by the lavish illusions in the Royal Palace, the people of Bianliao are still very poor, and when survival is an issue, most people don’t care what they’re putting on their faces.
However, let me make my position clear, if you want to open a shop, I’ll support you wholeheartedly. If business isn’t good, don’t be upset; I’ll let you try."
Yelyu Lie thought his words would have Little Princess reconsider or change her mind.
To his surprise, her dark eyes shone even brighter, "Really?! Then I’ll take that seriously!"
"Really, as long as you don’t end up crying..."
"I won’t! It’s just a plan! Right now, my greatest wish is for everyone in Bianliao to be wealthy, and for there to be no poverty in Lower Street!"
The idea is robust, but reality is harsh.
Yelyu Lie smiled wryly, ruffling Little Princess’s head covered by her hat.
She looked up suddenly asking, "After the New Year, spring will soon arrive. Can that fertile grassland you took me to last time be reclaimed for mass planting?"