The cake was placed in a special wooden box and kept chilled with ice. She had it custom-made yesterday afternoon at a high price, and the craftsman had stayed up all night to deliver it to her door early this morning.

Yan Xia had dark circles under her eyes; she was almost drowsy.

But she couldn't sleep. She had to attend a banquet soon, so she had to hurry up and wash up, change her clothes, and put on some ugly but not out of place makeup.

"Baodong, boil water, I want to take a bath—" Yan Xia called out.

After waiting for more than twenty minutes, Yan Xia finally sat down in the bathtub.

"Bang bang—" There was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Yan Xia was almost asleep when the knocking woke her up.

“It’s me, Master. Deng Bizhong, the son of Manager Deng, is here to see you. I’ve asked him to wait in the pavilion,” Bao Dong replied.

"Deng Bizhong? Okay, I understand. I'll be down in a bit."

After soaking for ten minutes, Yan Xia got up, dried herself off, got dressed, casually tied her hair up, and went downstairs.

His body was still damp.

"Aunt Yan, please take me to the prison to see my father—"

As soon as she reached the pavilion, a young man knelt down in front of her.

He exudes a scholarly air.

I suppose he must be Deng Bizhong, Deng's son who is studying at the school.

"Nephew, get up quickly. We're all family, there's no need for this."

Yan Xia quickly helped him up. "I went to see your father yesterday, and he's fine. It's not appropriate to go two days in a row. Don't worry, I'll get your father out."

“Thank you, Aunt Yan. When I got home yesterday evening, I found that the house had been sold. I went to the shop to find my father. Xinbao told me everything. Then I went to the county government, but I was driven out by the officials. I had no other choice. Aunt Yan, please, you must rescue my father. I will repay you with my whole life.”

Deng Bizhong looked haggard, indicating that he hadn't slept all night.

"I have to attend a banquet today, so I won't keep you any longer. When I get back, I'll come to the shop to find you. Remember, your father's imprisonment is due to your maternal family. You must learn to distinguish right from wrong. If you run into your mother, don't be foolish and betray me. Otherwise, I can't guarantee that I can rescue your father, understand?" Yan Xia warned him, afraid that he would do something foolish.

"I know, I know everything, Aunt Yan, don't worry, I won't tell. My parents are divorced. I know my father's character. If it weren't for my maternal grandmother's family pushing him too hard, he would never have divorced. My father came to Jiangnan County for me. Aunt Yan, I will never forgive my mother. She went too far, too far!!"

Deng Bizhong's eyes were red, and tears welled up but did not fall.

A real man doesn't easily shed tears, but he was truly heartbroken.

The mother who gave birth to him and raised him was actually this kind of person.

He murdered his own father for money.

"Why don't you just sleep here? I'll have Baodong prepare a guest room for you so I don't have to go to the shop to find you when I get back. You must get some rest, nephew."

Yan Xia saw that he looked somewhat distraught and was afraid that he might do something foolish.

"Okay." Deng Bizhong didn't know where he should go either.

I compromised and went to sleep in the guest room.

Yan Xia went back upstairs and started putting on makeup. She asked Bao Dong to give her an old-fashioned updo.

Then she applied some spots to her face and used makeup powder on her lips, making her originally rosy lips look bloodless. She looked in the bronze mirror and realized she had gone too far, making her look like a patient.

So she wiped off the makeup powder from her lips.

He drew three forehead wrinkles on his head and then added a mole between his eyebrows.

The makeup and hairstyle were paired with an aging brown outfit.

Yan Xia looked at least ten years older in an instant.

She looks to be around 45.

"Perfect!"

After everything was done, Yan Xia carried the wooden box out.

They went straight to Magistrate Xu's house.

According to Zhu Changji, when Yan Xia arrived at that street, she immediately saw the Xu residence, as its storefront was almost five times larger than the one across the street.

At this time, the gates of the Xu residence were wide open, and guests came in an endless stream.

Yan Xia slowly walked over as well.

Just as I was about to go in, the gatekeeper stopped me.

"Who are you? State your name."

Even the dogs under the feet of high-ranking officials eat better than those of ordinary people, so the gatekeepers' attitudes are naturally outrageously bad.

The two men held their heads high, like victorious roosters.

unattainable.

"I am the owner of Yan's Pastry Shop. I have come here specifically to wish the old lady a happy birthday. I would be grateful if you two could make an exception for me."

Yan Xia took out two silver ingots, each weighing five taels. Such a generous gesture immediately got her released.

After entering the Xu residence, I followed the flow of people.

We arrived at a garden.

There is a stage in the garden.

An old woman was sitting in the middle of the audience seats next to the stage.

Her hair was completely white, and the wrinkles on her face resembled dry mud. Her eyelids drooped, and when she smiled, the corners of her mouth turned down. It was impossible to see any trace of her former beauty. It seems that her appearance in her youth was only average to below average.

Yan Xia approached and observed her attire. She was wearing embroidered landscape gold satin, a sapphire cloud shoulder cape, and her hair was styled in a peony bun. She was adorned with various jewels and jade ornaments that looked heavy. On each wrist, she wore two openwork lantern-shaped gold bracelets. She was radiant with precious stones. Even her shoes were made of white jade and blue brocade.

This must be Madam Xu.

As expected of a corrupt official's mother, her lifestyle is incredibly extravagant.

The people standing around were all different, and without exception, they all wore expressions of flattery and ingratiation.

Madam Xu sat on a hexagonal chair made of yellow pear wood, looking extremely arrogant.

Yan Xia didn't rush over to strike up a conversation, but instead stood aside and listened to their chat.

"The old lady is truly blessed. Everyone knows that our county magistrate is the most filial son. Look at this grand spectacle! He's even invited the best opera troupe in town. I heard that the popular Qingyan even performed for the Empress Dowager!"

"You're ignorant. Not only that, the jade hairpin in the old lady's hair was also a gift from the emperor. Every noble person who wore it was of high status. It's truly enviable."

"Oh my, really? No wonder I spotted this hairpin from afar. It's so elegant. Madam, if we could have a son as capable and filial as you, we would have no regrets in this life."

"Haha, of course you don't have that ability or luck. Our Old Madam Xu is one of a kind; no one can imitate her!"

Yan Xia listened with awe.

That's some serious flattery.

She really wanted to say "Awesome!"

"However, one thing is still missing."

A sudden sound rang out.

Everyone looked at the person who had spoken.

Even the expressionless Old Madam Xu looked over.

"I heard there's something that's been especially popular this year. You know the newly opened Yan's Pastry Shop in the city, right?" the man continued.

"Of course I know. I'm tired of the flower cakes and peach shortbread inside, but they are indeed delicious."

"Yes, it costs half a tael of silver a bag, it's not cheap. At the beginning of the month, they released a new product called ice jelly, it's even more refreshing than herbal tea, I really want to eat it every day."

"Really? I haven't been there for quite a while. I'll go see tomorrow and see if it's really as delicious as you say."