There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 207 I'll Sleep with You

"Yes, miss"

Li Shuchen said so much in one breath, and fearing they wouldn't remember it, he asked again.

Is there anything I haven't explained clearly?

All three replied

No, we understood.

"Okay, then you can go."

The three left excitedly.

After saying these words, Li Shuchen had no strength left, so he lay down and closed his eyes to rest.

Soon after, the three women each brought out a dish. Li Shuchen tasted them, found nothing wrong, and then told them to go back. He turned to Grape and said...

"Grape, tell Uncle Xu that fried sweet potato balls are 500 coins a serving, three-color sweet potato cakes are 300 coins a serving, and three-color taro balls are 200 coins a serving."

"Yes, miss"

After giving his instructions, Li Shuchen fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, the inn was packed with customers due to the arrival of new winter seasonal items. Hearing the lively sounds downstairs, Li Shuchen was overjoyed. He picked up a book and began to read carefully.

Princess Changning was enjoying fried sweet potato balls at the table, completely content.

"Li Shuchen, what's wrong with your brain? How can you always come up with such delicious recipes? These purple sweet potato balls are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, sweet and delicious, I can't stop eating them. Selling them for 500 coins a serving is such a rip-off. If you ask me, you should sell them for 5 taels of silver a serving."

Li Shuchen glanced at Princess Changning, who was enjoying her meal, but didn't reply. The sugar and oil mixture was certainly delicious, and the price was one she had already decided on. Currently, her popularity was still far from sufficient, so setting the price lower would allow her to generate more buzz.

Princess Changning ate another purple sweet potato ball and said regretfully.

"Li Shuchen, aren't you sure you won't lose money selling at such a low price?"

Li Shuchen smiled and replied.

"Sweet potatoes have a high yield, and I grow a lot. With small profits but quick turnover, I naturally make a profit."

Princess Changning nodded, glancing out the window as she ate.

"Qianqian's business is really good. There's a long line of people buying roasted sweet potatoes, and she can't even roast enough to sell. All the children you've been raising have gone to help Qianqian. By the way, are you planning to keep these children at the inn forever?"

Li Shuchen sighed.

"Given my current capabilities, I can only temporarily house them at the inn."

Princess Changning frowned upon hearing this.

"We're currently supporting six children, but there are quite a few homeless children in the capital. Are you going to adopt every one you encounter? The inn won't be able to accommodate them all!"

Li Shuchen looked at Princess Changning and answered seriously.

"My original plan was to build a courtyard when I had money, specifically to take in these children, hire teachers to teach them to read and write, and help them grow up well. If any kind-hearted childless people wanted to adopt them, I would charge them a fee and let them adopt the children. In this way, these children could have a warm home, and childless adults could also enjoy the joys of family life."

Princess Changning nodded deeply in agreement upon hearing this.

"That's a good idea. How about I build it? I have plenty of money and status. I can get some high-ranking officials to donate some silver to cover the children's daily expenses and hire tutors. That should be enough. It's not a long-term solution for you to support them like this."

Li Shuchen smiled upon hearing this, her eyes sparkling.

“Sure, that’s what I was thinking too. Your and Ziying’s identities combined are enough. Since you’re willing to pay for the house, how about I draw up the blueprints? We can come up with a name for the house together, and once it’s built, we can adopt a child.”

Princess Changning smiled upon hearing this.

"Alright, alright, right now your only task is to rest well and get healthy. We can talk about drawing blueprints after the New Year."

"Uh-huh"

With this matter settled, she felt a little relieved.

夜晚

Li Shuchen checked the system progress while everyone was away.

We are still short 8,000 taels of silver and 300 popularity points.

At this rate, she'll definitely be able to finish the task before the Lunar New Year, which puts her mind at ease.

Closed my eyes and fell into a deep sleep

As the days went by, Li Shuchen gradually regained some strength.

She'd been lying in bed for over half a month and her back was practically broken; she was so tired.

Her previous wish was to stay in bed forever, with plenty of food and drink. Now that it had actually come true, she really didn't want it anymore. She felt terrible, so she said...

"Changning, I want to get out of bed and walk around."

Princess Changning refused without hesitation.

"No, the imperial physician said you must remain in bed for a month before you can get out of bed; not even a day less."

Li Shuchen ignored her words completely; she was just asking about a procedure.

I threw off the covers, my feet left the bed and touched the ground—wow, that feels so good! It feels so good to have my feet firmly on the ground.

Princess Changning's eyes widened at Li Shuchen's actions. She quickly stepped forward, pressed Li Shuchen back onto the bed, and covered him with the blanket again.

Li Shuchen's lips curled into a smile. Princess Changning's strength? She thought she could subdue her? She was a martial artist, with considerable strength, and immediately began to resist.

Resist with all your might, resist with all your might, resist repeatedly.

He used all his strength, but couldn't break free even a fraction.

Princess Changning sighed.

"Li Shuchen, don't waste your energy. You haven't recovered yet, how could you possibly resist me? Just lie down."

Li Shuchen glared angrily at Princess Changning. How could she be so useless? Changning was so thin, and she couldn't even push her away. She was truly weak, utterly weak.

Princess Changning tucked the blanket around Li Shuchen and said

"You must listen to the imperial physician. You can't be so willful, okay?"

Li Shuchen nodded obediently.

"Okay, I'll listen to you, Changning. I'm craving fried sweet potato balls, just sweet potato balls."

"Okay, I'll go get it for you. You just lie there quietly."

"Uh-huh"

After Princess Changning left, Li Shuchen chuckled and immediately threw off the covers and got out of bed.

He stood up straight, stretched, and said happily.

"Oh, it feels so much better to stand up. Let me try walking a few steps."

One step, two steps, three steps

With a "crunch," she collapsed to the ground.

Li Shuchen?

Only able to take three steps? You're exhausted after just three steps? You're that weak.

Oh no, how am I going to explain this to Changning when she comes up here?

Princess Changning brought in a plate of fried sweet potato balls. She looked up and saw Li Shuchen lying on the ground. Startled, she put the plate down and rushed to help him up.

"Li Shuchen, didn't I tell you not to get out of bed? Why did you sneak out again? Don't you want to get better?"

Li Shuchen smiled awkwardly.

"I didn't get out of bed. The bed was too slippery, and I accidentally rolled off when I turned over. I didn't mean to."

Princess Changning was skeptical upon hearing this, and spoke...

"Then I'll sleep with you tonight. You can sleep on the inside, and I'll sleep on the outside. I'll block you so you won't fall down."

Li Shuchen paused for a moment upon hearing this. Changning already worked very hard taking care of her, and it wouldn't be good if he got up at night and disturbed Changning's rest. So he started making things up.

"Changning, I'm a restless sleeper. I grind my teeth, snore, talk in my sleep, and fart a lot. It really disturbs your rest. I'd better sleep by myself."

Princess Changning was furious when Li Shuchen rejected her, and frowned as she asked...

"Li Shuchen, are you lying to me? You got out of bed by yourself?"

Li Shuchen lay back down on the bed, pulled the covers up, and said ingratiatingly.

"I promise I won't get out of bed again, Changning, please don't be angry."