Empress in her second playthrough: Something's not right with this plot!

Chapter 45 Buying Photo Paper

West Market.

What would you like to order?

"photographic paper."

"Photographic paper?" The paper shop owner looked thoughtful. "What is that?"

This question made Wei Xiang fall into deep thought.

All she knew was that the thing in her hand was photographic paper.

However, I don't know where to buy it.

"So big."

After a while, she gestured with her finger in the air to indicate the size of the photographic paper.

"A piece of paper."

"Oh!" The shop owner exclaimed, "No matter how big the paper is, we can cut it for you."

As he spoke, he took out a sheet of fine Chengxintang paper.

"Do you think this kind of paper will do?"

The finest Chengxintang paper is smooth and dense, as smooth as spring ice and as dense as a seal.

Wei Xiang recalled the photograph she had seen last night and shook her head.

"No."

"Then take a look at this one, it's top-grade jade slab Xuan paper."

"No."

The shop owner looked somewhat gloomy.

"It's not this kind of paper. That's the kind of paper used for writing Buddhist scriptures?"

Looking at the yellow paper in his hand, Wei Xiang shook her head again.

"No."

"This isn't it, that isn't it, what kind of paper do you want?"

Wei Xiang looked very serious.

"photographic paper."

"Get out! Get out!"

Before long, Wei Xiang was kicked out.

The shop owner couldn't help but add a comment.

"Are you trying to cause trouble? There's no photographic paper here."

Wei Xiang wasn't annoyed; she continued asking at each store with her Polaroid camera in hand.

……

"The photographic paper will be available in a few days, I promise you."

"When have I ever gone back on my word?"

"Why don't you teach me a couple of moves first?"

"Teach me a trick, just the one for silencing people."

Li Yunsheng talked for a long time inside the house, but there was still no response. Only then did he realize what was going on.

"Wei Xiang".

"Wei Xiang?"

Ok?

He went outside and looked around.

"Liu Quan!"

Upon hearing the shout, Liu Quan responded from afar.

"Prime Minister!"

A moment later, he came running over, panting.

"Your Excellency, you wanted to see me."

Where is Wei Xiang?

"Oh." Liu Quan gestured with his hands. "I just saw her leave with that thing from last night, saying she was going to buy—"

"Buying photographic paper?"

Liu Quan slapped his forehead.

"Yes, buy photographic paper!"

Li Yunsheng laughed in exasperation. What exactly was she planning to film that made her so impatient?

The Empress will be back in a few days, and then I can go to the palace and take advantage of her to boost my morale.

Moreover, given the Empress's wariness, my early return to the capital would definitely make her uneasy.

The autumn hunt usually ends early, and they'll be back soon.

Li Yunsheng simply said.

"Let's go out for a walk."

Since entering the world of the book, he has never properly gone shopping.

The last time I went to Xishi, I went straight to Shangpin Shop to make a cheongsam for the Empress.

Liu Quan asked.

"Prime Minister, shall we go to the East Market or the West Market?"

Li Yunsheng thought for a moment.

"Let's go to the West Market first; she should be there by now."

There were only two places in the capital where merchants gathered: the East Market and the West Market.

Because the East Market was close to the Imperial Palace, many mansions of high-ranking officials and nobles were built around it.

Therefore, "luxury" shops can be seen everywhere in the East Market, which is a business district for high-end consumers, and the people coming and going are mostly powerful officials and nobles from the capital.

The West Market was essentially a large commercial market, a gathering place for ordinary people, as well as a large number of merchants from the Western Regions and other countries.

Overall, compared to the East Market, the West Market is more down-to-earth and accessible to the general public, and its customer base is also more diverse.

In addition to merchants from all over the world, there are also business travelers from various countries. The goods sold are mainly daily necessities and small-amount consumer goods.

Dancers, actors, and performers of various arts and acrobatics were everywhere, coming and going in an endless stream.

However, the market only opens at noon, so whether you go to the East Market or the West Market, you only have an afternoon to explore.

After all, the Great Chu had a curfew. Once the sun set and the six hundred drumbeats to close the gates were finished, no more pedestrians were allowed on the streets.

Li Yunsheng was also unaccustomed to this; he longed for the bustling scene depicted in the Qingming Scroll and the vibrant city that never sleeps.

Unexpectedly, the self-improving aspects of the world in this book were completely contrary to his expectations.

The greatest function of the market system was to create a legally regulated urban commercial space.

When it achieved strict separation between the neighborhoods (residential areas) and the city (commercial areas), and officially established and managed the "city" under surveillance, a closed city system was formed.

However, this also creates many restrictions and inconveniences for ordinary people.

The Li residence is not far from the West Market; even on foot, it takes only the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Liu Quan spotted Wei Xiang from a great distance.

"Prime Minister, over there."

Following the direction Liu Quan pointed, Li Yunsheng saw Wei Xiang's back.

At that moment, she was walking into a paper shop with a Polaroid camera in her hand.

"Let's go take a look."

When the two reached the shop entrance, Wei Xiang was about to come out.

But before he could even leave the shop, he was stopped by a man in a brocade robe.

"Don't go! You haven't paid yet!"

Wei Xiang turned her head and looked at the stack of neatly cut square sheets of Xuan paper in the man's hand.

"It's not photographic paper."

The shop owner, dressed in a brocade robe, stood menacingly at the entrance.

"You just gestured that you wanted this much paper, and after I cut it up, you said you didn't want it?"

"Not this kind."

"Regardless of whether it's this kind of paper or not, it's already been cut for you. You have to take it whether you want it or not, so pay up!"

boom.

With a slight exertion of her arm, Wei Xiang shook the shop owner's hand away.

Then, he walked straight out of the store.

"Stop her!"

As soon as she finished speaking, two young shop assistants rushed out of the store and blocked Wei Xiang's way.

The shop owner stood at the door with his hands on his hips.