A gentleman finds peace.

The bookstore owner wasn't surprised by Pei Qingwu's request.

"It's no problem, it's no problem. It's just that the Crane Shadow Mountain Man has a strange temper. Even if I talk to her, she might not be able to see you, Master Pei."

"It's alright."

It's normal for talented people to have eccentricities.

Moreover, such caution can also deter some people with ill intentions.

When Pei Qingwu was in modern times, she once shared legal exam knowledge points on Xiaohongshu for a period of time. The posts were all cold legal provisions, but because she was a woman, she attracted a lot of strange men.

When Pei Qingwu received the message "Miss, can you show me your legs?" for the nth time, he couldn't take it anymore. He randomly found a few pictures online, chatted for a few minutes, and successfully extracted the other person's information.

Then, she took screenshots of his flirtatious online chats and sent them to the confession wall at his school.

After changing my Xiaohongshu profile to male and my signature to "Men, don't come near me," things finally calmed down for a few days.

"If I were a woman, would she be willing to meet me?"

"I think they would be willing..." The bookstore owner was somewhat uncertain.

Pei Qingwu thought for a moment, then borrowed a piece of stationery from the shopkeeper and wrote a poem in one stroke.

"Plum blossoms and snow vie for spring's favor, neither willing to yield; poets struggle to find words to describe them. Plum blossoms must concede three parts whiteness to snow, but snow loses a touch of fragrance to plum blossoms."①

While writing, she felt her face burning.

As she wrote, she silently apologized to the great poet Lu Meipo: "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry. I only wanted to expand my circle of friends. I would never steal this poem for myself. Please forgive me, sir."

After finishing writing, she handed the note to the shopkeeper: "Please give this note to Heying Shanren."

"Alright." The boss glanced at it hurriedly and sighed, "Master Pei is truly a hidden talent; this poem is really remarkable."

"No, I..." Pei Qingwu felt her face burning, and after stammering a vague answer, she left with Gu Heng.

But this kid, oblivious to the danger, deliberately asked, "Master, did you really write that poem about plum blossoms?"

"Why bring up something you shouldn't talk about!" Pei Qingwu said, embarrassed and annoyed. Seeing that there were osmanthus cakes for sale by the roadside, she bought a few pieces and stuffed them into Gu Heng's mouth: "Eat! Eat them and don't talk anymore. If you talk again, I'll deduct your wages!"

Gu Heng, munching on a osmanthus cake, saw Pei Qingwu's appearance—her small face flushed red and her eyes darting around—and found her exceptionally adorable, so he chuckled.

"Okay, I won't ask anymore."

Back at the shop, Pei Qingwu distributed the gifts he had bought to everyone.

Then he handed the fabric to Jinniang and told her to remember to make the garment.

"The master bought me some fabric too..." Jinniang looked at her own bolt of cloth, both surprised and delighted: "I... I have enough clothes to wear..."

"Anyway, I'm rich, so why not change my clothes a few more times?"

Pei Qingwu washed her hands and saw Mingyi lying on the couch with his big eyes wide open and his little legs kicking back and forth. Her heart softened, and she went over and pinched his little face.

“Our Ming-ge’er is growing up so fast, these clothes are too small again.”

After a short rest, Pei Qingwu began working on the desserts ordered by private clients.

Princess Shouchun was pregnant and had no appetite. Suddenly, she craved some sour snacks, so she sent someone to order them.

This put Pei Qingwu in a bit of a predicament.

Throughout history, the food given to pregnant women has always been handled with utmost care, let alone when the pregnant woman is a princess.

After much deliberation, Pei Qingwu finally decided on two kinds of desserts.

Also known as Plum and Hawthorn Stuffed Jade Dumplings, these dumplings have a soft and chewy outer skin made from glutinous rice flour. The filling consists of pitted dried plum flesh and hawthorn puree, mixed with a small amount of honey. They are then rolled into thumb-sized balls, lightly boiled in boiling water until they float, and then rolled in a layer of fine cooked glutinous rice flour to prevent sticking.

Another dish called Sour Plum Jelly is made by boiling fresh green plums to extract a concentrated sour plum juice, then adding a little agar and simmering until melted. The juice is then poured into a shallow dish to cool and solidify into a jelly. The jelly is cut into cubes. Fermented milk is mixed with a little honey to make it slightly sweet and then poured over the plum jelly.

After preparing it, Pei Qingwu carefully placed it in a food box and followed the servants of the princess's residence to the palace by carriage.

When I last came, it was freezing cold, but now, in the sweltering summer, the princess's residence presents a completely different scene.

As you walk through the corridor, the summer heat dissipates somewhat. Light blue gauze curtains hang under the corridor, rustling in the breeze and bringing with them the fresh scent of grass and trees throughout the courtyard.

A lotus pond was created in the courtyard, with green lotus leaves rising gracefully above the water. Pink and white petals were covered with morning dew, and a few red carp swam by, shattering the shadows of clouds at the bottom of the pond.

The pomegranate tree by the pond is laden with fruits that look like red lanterns, and the cicadas chirping noisily among the leaves add a touch of summer vitality.

Turning past the artificial hill, you see a pavilion in front of the main hall. Inside the pavilion, bamboo mats are laid out, and on the table is a half-foot-high ice basin, emitting a faint coolness.

The maids all wore thin, half-sleeved shirts and held round fans, gently waving them. The fans were embroidered with lotus patterns, and the breeze carried the fragrance of jasmine and mint from the steps below, making even breathing feel cool.

The princess had not yet arrived, so she instructed her maid to lead her to wait in the pavilion.

Pei Qingwu gazed at the lotus leaves swirling in the pond and felt that the summer courtyard was much more refreshing than the outside.

Not long after, several maids escorted the princess as she gracefully approached.

Perhaps due to the taboos associated with pregnancy, the princess did not wear any makeup today, and her eyes revealed a hint of fatigue. She wore a lilac-colored gauze dress embroidered with peonies, which made her look quite refreshing in the summer.

"This humble servant greets Your Highness. May Your Highness be blessed with good fortune and peace." Pei Qingwu hurriedly bowed and clasped her hands in greeting.

"No need for formalities." The princess spoke listlessly: "Ever since I saw Xi, I've had no interest in anything, my mouth tastes bitter, and I can't eat anything..."

“What you’re saying, Princess, is heartbreaking… During pregnancy, your body becomes heavier and your tastes change. It’s just your child’s way of being affectionate, perhaps hoping you’ll try something fresh and delicious.” Pei Qingwu quickly added, “Hearing that you were craving desserts, I specially selected the mildest ingredients. The plums and hawthorns are pitted, and the yogurt is slowly simmered and strained. It’s sweet and sour without being overpowering, relieving any bitterness in your mouth without harming your stomach…”

"Take a small bite first. If you like it, I will send you fresh food often in the future, changing the dishes to whet your appetite, and also let the little master in the womb share some of the delicious goodness with you."

Upon hearing this, the princess smiled with satisfaction, and the maid beside her immediately understood and stepped forward to take the pastries from Pei Qingwu's hands.

The food box was delightful to look at once – Pei Qingwu knew the princess loved peonies, so he specially used a peony mold to press out a unique shape.

The maidservant cut a small piece for the princess, examined it with a silver needle, and then respectfully served it to the princess to eat.

Upon first bite, you're greeted by the sweet and soft texture of glutinous rice. Once you bite through the outer skin, the slight astringency of the dried plum and the fruity acidity of the hawthorn instantly spread across your tongue.

A delightful blend of sweet and sour flavors, refreshing and appetizing.

"Great, let me try this one too."

The rich, creamy aroma of the buttermilk neutralized the tartness of the plum jelly, resulting in a smooth, refreshing taste with a gentle tartness that effectively relieved the bitterness in the princess's mouth during her pregnancy.

"Not bad, not bad at all, as expected of Master Pei." The princess smiled and said, "After suffering these past few days, I finally have an appetite."

The maid understood again and stepped forward to hand Pei Qingwu a purse: "Master Pei, our princess invites you to have tea."

Held in his hand, it already felt quite heavy. Upon closer inspection of the satin surface of the purse, he discovered it was a piece of shimmering brocade, a tribute from the Kingdom of Gaochang.

Under the rising sun, the radiance trembled.

It was Fu Guangjin who made An Xiaoniao start to break ties with Huanhuan.

Pei Qingwu was so overwhelmed by the display that she almost dropped her hand. She quickly thanked the princess for her kindness, saying, "Thank you for the gift, Princess. I am truly... unworthy of such a favor."

As soon as he stepped off the carriage after receiving the princess's reward, Gu Heng came to greet him and naturally extended his hand, allowing Pei Qingwu to take his hand and help him down.

"Master, the Hermit of Crane Shadow Mountain you're looking for has arrived and is waiting inside."

"Ah? You're here already?" Pei Qingwu was taken aback and quickly tidied her hair. "Aheng, do I look strange? Have I done anything rude?"

"No, the employer is great in every way."

"Really?" Pei Qingwu asked uncertainly.

“Absolutely true.” Gu Heng was very certain.

She was slightly relieved and walked into the courtyard, first handing the purse to Wu Niang: "This is a gift from Princess Shouchun, remember to record it in the account."

"Yes, Master..." Fifth Sister hurriedly took it, weighed it in her hand, and muttered, "A princess is indeed a princess; her generosity is truly remarkable..."

Pei Qingwu was not there; Qian Tao was the one who received her. She was sitting in the main hall, where tea and snacks were served.

Just as Pei Qingwu had expected, He Yingshanren looked to be around twenty years old, with a slender figure like bamboo. He wore a moon-white linen dress with only a few bamboo stalks embroidered on the collar, simple and without any redundancy.

Her skin was porcelain white as snow, her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes were slightly drooping, her pupils were as pale as if they had been soaked in a cool spring, and her lips were thin and without grease.

Her cloud-like black hair was tied up with a simple wooden hairpin, with a few strands falling beside her cheeks. She seemed to be shrouded in a layer of light smoke, aloof and indifferent, yet possessing an otherworldly air.

Pei Qingwu hurriedly stepped forward: "Greetings, sir. I have long admired your name. I am Pei Qingwu, the manager of Sushan Market."

The other party also stood up and returned the greeting: "Greetings, Mr. Pei. Thank you for buying my painting. I really like the poem about plum blossoms that came with it."

Pei Qingwu pursed her lips guiltily.

“Master, there’s no need to be so polite. My surname is Zheng and my given name is Youning. You can call me Madam Zheng.”

"Zheng..." This surname is quite something.

Seemingly sensing her thoughts, Zheng Youning smiled gently: "Master is indeed wise. My Zheng is indeed the Zheng of Xingyang Zheng family."

"Then, then how did you..."

Pei Qingwu suddenly stammered.

The Zheng family of Xingyang was a prestigious family that rivaled the Li family of Longxi. They had produced an empress and a prime minister. Even their collateral branches were not easily accessible to ordinary people.

“My father was originally a secretary in Chang’an. Unfortunately, my parents died early, and after I got married, my husband also passed away. That’s why I’m in such a sorry state. Please don’t blame me, Master Pei.”

Although it was a story of a noblewoman from a high-ranking family falling on hard times, Zheng Youning showed no sign of sorrow when she mentioned it, which earned Pei Qingwu's respect.

In addition, the two had similar experiences, and Zheng Youning was also talented, which added a sense of mutual appreciation.

“Not at all. Life is unpredictable and beyond our control,” Pei Qingwu said with a smile. “My parents died early, and I lost my husband shortly after my marriage. But I’m doing alright now.”

Zheng Youning nodded: "I have heard about Master Pei and admire him greatly."

Seeing that the time was right, Pei Qingwu seized the opportunity to reveal his true purpose in inviting her.

“Madam Zheng, there is a little girl in my shop named Nianci. Her family was poor before, and she never went to school, but she is a studious and intelligent child. It’s just that the tutors we’ve hired from other places are unwilling to teach girls properly…”

"If Madam Zheng doesn't mind, could you perhaps teach Nianci a thing or two? Please feel free to ask for the tuition fee."

Upon hearing this, a trace of sadness finally flashed across Zheng Youning's eyes.

“How could I refuse Mr. Pei’s kind invitation? Besides, I have no relatives or friends in Qinzhou and face many difficulties. All I rely on is my skill in calligraphy and painting. I am willing to teach children.”

"However, Mr. Pei, your daughter will eventually get married, so it's best not to get too involved with people like me."