"Besides," Lihua said offhandedly as if she forgot to include another interesting remark. "Why would I leave my own business?  I obtain the deed to this tea house this morning and decided to come here to see the operations to my business.  Why should I leave this room?  Why should I leave this establishment?  Why should I never come back when I own this establishment.  From every tea leaf that is stored in this building, to every teapot that steeps the tea leaves, to the teacups that the tea is poured into, they all belong to me. I own every chair, table and rag in this building, every food, dish, and chopstick.  Hell, I even own the servants who work in this establishment." 

Lihua looked at the owner as the owner immediately kneels to Lihua.  

"It should be me who tells the five of you to leave this room, leave this establishment and never come back." 

Red faced, full of embarrassment and resentment, the five of them and their entourage leave quickly down the stairs.  

"I warned you to watch your words."  Lihua said loudly to the backs of the five noble ladies.  Lisa stops and whips her head to look at Lihua with red rimed eyes. "I told you, you would regret it." 

The five of them left with as much dignity as possible.  When they left the room looked back at Lihua standing by the railing.  

"I must apologize for the scene you just witness.  As an apology, everyone will get a 10% discount on your bill."  Lihua announces to them. "Please continue to enjoy yourselves here at Winter Rain.  There should be no more disturbances from me today." 

The crowd chuckled at her jab at the five ladies who started a fight. They turned back to each other and continued to talk to their own group about what they just saw.  Trying to find out the background of the new owner of Winter Rain, the fiancee to Hell King himself.  She surely deserved to be his fiancee, seeing how she handled the situation calmly and gracefully.  Her scary aura matched his.  They all agreed that Hell King and Lihua would make tiger babies* together.  

"Let us talk in my office, shall we?" Lihua tells the old owner as she makes her way to her office. 

By the time Lihua comes out of her office, word has already spread about what happened at Winter Rain Tea House. But rumors also ran rampant.  Like how Lihua lectured Concubine Lei as her future Imperial Aunt to remember manners and propriety when out in public for it reflects on the Crown Prince.  Rumors also sprouted out of Concubine Lei coming to Winter Rain to meet a lover behind Crown Prince's back, sneaking out with the help of her sister and friends to meet him, but upon seeing Concubine Lei, future Imperial Aunt Lihua was able to intercept Concubine Lei and was able to convince her to go back to the palace. Another rumor started that the Prime Minister's daughter, Cindy Lei was as shameless as her brother that she didn't even stay home to reflect the dishonor her brother brought to the Lei Clan, so instead she took her sister to go flirt with men at Winter Rain Tea House. One rumor ran after another ruining the reputation of Concubine Lei and Cindy Lei.

By the end of the day, all of the servants were replaced by trustful people with loyalties to Takeshi.  Winter Rain Tea House, now also serves wine to their customers.  The number of tables and chairs were reduced in the main hall so it wouldn't be so full and noisy and a fresh coat of paint have been put on the wall.  With a new chef came new dishes to complement the tea and wine.  

The next day Winter Rain Tea House opened with a line around the block.  The changes that they made was a smashing success.  The business was kept busy all day long and continued to be a success for the future. 

------------------

When Lihua came home very late that night, after telling the new manager, Winger her instructions, did she finally leave.  She and Winger went through all the account books and audited them.  Then the both of them went through their inventory to make sure it was correct before signing off on them.  They went into town to search and pick up the new paint they would be painting on the walls, then they went to sign contracts with wine dispensaries to deliver their wines to the tea house.  

Lihua went straight to Takeshi's room and sees that he is alone in his bathing room.  She sheds her clothes and joins him.  Takeshi lets her sit between his legs as he starts to massage her shoulders.  

"I heard you had an exciting day."  Takeshi said as he massaged the knot on her shoulder. 

"Emmm." Lihua said tiredly.  

"We now own the Winter Rain Tea House?" 

"Gather information." Lihua said with the most minimal response.  "Some truths in rumors." 

"True."  Takeshi agrees as he takes the soap and starts to wash her back.  

They stay quiet as Takeshi washes her from head to toe.  Once clean he towel dries her off then brings her to bed, tucking her in before drying himself off and joining her.  As they lay in bed together, they talk about their day.  

"After court ended, I heard some rumors that Akira fell out of favor with my brother.  He was seen dragging her to her courtyard.  They say that all night long into the morning, he punished her.  There were sounds of crying, pleading and screaming the whole night."  Takeshi tells Lihua. 

"Like our crying, pleading and screaming or of a different kind?" Lihua asked. 

"Maybe a little of both?"  Takeshi tells her.  "Heard the servants talking about how much blood they found in her room and how beat up and battered her body was that the imperial doctor had to come check up on her.  They also talk about how he broke her.  How she hallucinates and sees him as a dragon.  She thinks her servants are different animals and hides under the covers all day. King Nao moved her to a smaller court, closest to him. Her monthly salary has been cut in half as well as her servants." 

"What about her father and mother?" Lihua asks.  

"I'm working on it."  Takeshi tells her.  "Sleep.  We have had a long day.  The future days coming will be longer." 

Lihua kisses Takeshi's chin before scooting closer to him and squeezing him tighter before relaxing and going to sleep. 

***********

*tiger babies- refers to making children that will one day become strong/scary aura/ ferocious children, like their parents.