Volume One, Chapter 18: The True Heiress Is the Boss 18

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An Qianqian listened to the system’s task and pressed her lips tightly.
“In this scorching heat, you want me to go out and buy ice?”
[Host, I don’t see you feeling hot at all. Look at your fifth brother—he’s drenched in sweat, but your hair isn’t even damp.]
The system was puzzled. How could the host stay so fresh in such heat?
[Hurry up and complete the task, or… it will be multiplied tenfold!]
Before An Huantuo could react, An Qianqian dragged him out of the mansion.
“Xia Tao, go inform Mother that Fifth Brother and I have gone out. We’ll visit her after we finish.” An Qianqian sent Xia Tao away.
An Huantuo followed, trying to break free from her grip but found himself completely unable to move.
Unexpectedly, his little sister was quite strong.
“Little sister, what are we doing out in this heat?”
He spoke while fanning her.
“Buying ice.”
Hearing this, An Huantuo’s face brightened with joy.
His sister must care for him, accompanying him to buy ice.
Today was definitely a day to love his sister more!
An Qianqian pulled him into the grandest ice shop in the West Market. Behind the store, there were stacks of ice half a person’s height, and several workers were chiseling ice into copper basins.
The shopkeeper noticed their fine clothes and hurried over. “How much would you like, young ladies? We just received fresh ice from the Zhongnan Mountain ice cellar. It’s guaranteed to chill you to the bone.”
An Huantuo counted his remaining money, planning to buy a little to help his sister cool down.
But when An Qianqian spoke, he was immediately shocked.
“I want to spend ten thousand taels. How much ice can I get for that?”
An Huantuo was so startled he dropped his fan with a “slap” and hurriedly grabbed her sleeve, his voice trembling, “Little sister! Maybe… buy less? Mother has already stocked up on ice early. We’re not in such a rush to use it.”
He really couldn’t afford ten thousand taels.
“No, I want to buy ten thousand taels worth! The pavilion corridors in the mansion must have ice ready; otherwise, it’s just too hot when stepping outside.”
Seeing he couldn’t persuade her, An Huantuo reluctantly took off the jade pendant he wore and placed it on the counter.

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“Let’s put a deposit—”
Before he finished, An Qianqian interrupted.
She took out a ten-thousand-tael silver note and slapped it on the counter with a crisp sound.
“Bring the ice.”
The shopkeeper’s smile froze into wrinkles. He rubbed his hands and forced a smile. “Miss, are you joking? To be honest, even with the ice stored in the back alley and what can be brought from Zhongnan Mountain, we only have about eighty thousand pieces in total. Your ten thousand taels can buy six hundred thousand pieces of ice.”
He glanced at An Qianqian’s expression, then lowered his voice. “To be frank, the Crown Princess is hosting an ice banquet and has already placed orders. Currently, the entire capital’s circulating ice barely reaches five hundred thousand pieces. Gathering six hundred thousand pieces is simply impossible.”
“If you can’t meet the quota, that’s your problem. I’m spending this ten thousand taels today. Deliver two hundred pieces daily to the Mansion of the Duke of Rong and the An family’s relatives in the capital, until autumn.”
The shopkeeper’s eyes lit up instantly.
It wasn’t about moving all six hundred thousand pieces at once, but delivering two hundred pieces per day until autumn—that was much easier!
His heart settled with a “thud,” and his face broke into a broad smile as he bowed repeatedly.
“Thank you for your kindness, Miss! I’ll arrange it right away! If the Zhongnan Mountain ice cellar isn’t enough, I’ll have men fetch ice from neighboring provinces overnight to ensure daily timely delivery to the Duke of Rong’s mansion and his relatives. Not a single piece will be missed!”
He rubbed his hands with an ingratiating eagerness, as if wanting to cling to An Qianqian. “Rest assured, Miss, I’ll select the best ice. Let the servants deliver fifty pieces to your mansion first to help cool you and the young master. Please, take care on your way. I’ll personally escort the delivery!”
He hurriedly led the way out of the ice shop.
After a few steps, An Qianqian suddenly stopped, her finger lingering on the silver note.
She recalled Si Chengnian’s secluded mansion—summer there must be even more stifling.
“Wait.”
She turned back to the shopkeeper, still bowing, and pulled out five more thousand-tael notes, slapping them on the counter.
“These are for daily delivery of one hundred pieces of ice to His Highness Si’s mansion. Remember, it must be the cleanest.”
The shopkeeper, clutching the fresh silver notes, was overjoyed.
“You mean His Highness Si of Yan Kingdom?”
“Yes.”
“Oh! So it’s His Highness Si’s mansion! Don’t worry, Miss, I’ll personally select the ice and have the most reliable men deliver it at dawn every day.”
As he spoke, he edged closer to An Qianqian, eager to show his devotion. “You truly care for His Highness! I’ll mark the order for His Highness’s ice separately, wrap it in the thickest brocade, and guarantee it will still be steaming when delivered! If you ever need anything, just send word, and I’ll rush over immediately to serve!”
An Huantuo listened absentmindedly, still wondering why his little sister cared so deeply about Si Chengnian.
Could it be that she had taken a liking to him after that last heroic rescue?

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An Qianqian nodded calmly at the shopkeeper’s words. Her gaze swept over the counter and suddenly she remembered something. She turned and picked up the jade pendant An Huantuo had just placed there, handing it back to him casually.
“Your jade pendant. You forgot it.”
An Huantuo finally snapped out of his daze and took the pendant, staring blankly at An Qianqian.
Just then, Liu Shan bumped into him, knocking him to the ground before anyone could react.
“Where do you think you’re going, bumping into me like that?”
An Qianqian helped An Huantuo up and glared coldly at Liu Shan.
“Apologize.”
Liu Shan not only didn’t stop but deliberately stepped on the tassel of An Huantuo’s fallen pendant, glancing sideways with a sneer. “Watch where you’re going, bumping into me and still dare to complain?”
His servants immediately gathered around, all scowling fiercely, like a pack of bullies.
Supporting the staggering An Huantuo, An Qianqian’s gaze fixed on Liu Shan, her voice icy as if tempered with ice.
“Apologize.”
“What did you say?”
Liu Shan laughed as if hearing the greatest joke. He raised his hand to shove An Qianqian’s shoulder. “I gave you a chance to complain the other day. You think I’m scared of you now? My sister is the Empress. You really think I’ll apologize?”
An Qianqian sidestepped smoothly, caught his wrist with her fingers, and applied a little pressure. Liu Shan winced in pain.
“Just because you’re the Empress’s brother, you think you can bump into people without admitting fault?”
Her eyes swept over the gathering crowd. “Or is the Prime Minister’s family’s education just to teach sons to act tyrannically? I’ll have to pay the Prime Minister’s mansion a visit then.”
Liu Shan’s wrist was squeezed so hard it felt like his bones would shatter. His face flushed red and white in turns, but he still resisted.
“Let go! Or the Duke of Rong’s mansion will make you regret it! I was lenient last time, but this time I won’t let you off!”
“Apologize.”
An Qianqian increased the pressure. Liu Shan’s screams drew the attention of passersby.
Eventually, fearing public humiliation, he shouted hoarsely, “Sorry!”
His voice was full of reluctance, his gaze poisonous as if ready to devour her.
An Qianqian released her grip. Liu Shan clutched his reddened wrist and stepped backward, just as Lady Heqin arrived, fanning herself as she rounded the corner. She instantly spotted Liu Shan’s disheveled state, glanced at An Qianqian, and curled her lips into a mocking smile.
“Well, well, isn’t this Miss An? Just now sending ice to Si Chengnian? I truly admire you—giving up your dignity for an outsider like him. You really are a fool.”