Upon hearing this, Zheng Bo nodded, then frowned and said, "Let's set off quickly, it's getting late."

...

They arrived at the Ningyuan Marquis's residence without any obstacles. As soon as the carriage stopped, Jiang Shichen jumped out.

"I'm bursting! I'm bursting!" he said as he rushed into the Marquis's residence to find a chamber pot.

"Go and follow him, but don't offend the distinguished guests in the manor," Zheng Bo hurriedly instructed a servant to follow Jiang Shichen.

...

Xu Yuehuai and Zhang Ting were quick on their feet and soon arrived at Maimaiti's residence.

To make it seem like she was begging for help, she even bought a bunch of gifts and delivered them to the door, instructing the doorman to keep them.

Although the servant didn't recognize Xu Yuehuai, he did recognize Zhang Ting. Upon seeing the newcomers, he immediately ran to the backyard to announce their arrival, which made Zhang Ting even more nervous. She couldn't help but speak again, "Manager Xu, if we come here like this, I'm afraid General Maimaiti will think we're too ostentatious. Perhaps we should go back first and come another day."

"That won't do!"

She's already at the door, how could she possibly go back?

Xu Yuehuai immediately explained, "My shop is about to open, and if I don't please General Maimaiti, he might try to trip me up, which I can't handle."

As soon as she finished speaking, the servant came out from inside.

"Miss Xu, Miss Zhang Ting, my general is currently unavailable to receive guests. Please leave." The servant said, preparing to see them off.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ting immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Xu Yuehuai was not one to give up so easily, and immediately stuffed silver into his hand: "Brother, please inform them again that we came from the palace, and it was the little princess's idea. If we don't see General Maimaiti today, we definitely won't be able to explain to the little princess."

She may not have much face in the Dark Moon Kingdom, but she has a little princess behind her.

The servant took the money and, upon hearing that it was the little princess's wish, dared not hesitate and immediately went back inside to report.

Zhang Ting's face had turned black.

Xu Yuehuai naturally noticed this, but still continued to speak: "Miss Zhang Ting, don't be nervous. We are now the little princess's people. They say even when beating a dog, you have to consider its owner. General Maimaiti also has to consider the little princess's face and would never dare to touch you or me."

"Hmm." Zhang Ting forced a bitter smile.

On another note, when General Maimaiti heard that Zhang Ting was accompanied by a woman who looked like she came from the Central Plains, he knew it was Xu Yuehuai. He was afraid that he and Zhang Ting would look foolish in front of people, so he did not intend to meet her. However, he did not expect that Xu Yuehuai would bring out the little princess, which made it impossible for him not to meet her.

He immediately went out to greet her, a smile on his face: "What brings you here, Manager Xu? This little princess is quite picky about food. I'm afraid she'll start making a fuss again if she doesn't get to eat your cooking."

His words were a clear order to leave, but he addressed them to Xu Yuehuai without looking at Zhang Ting at all.

Xu Yuehuai, however, felt that this move was an attempt to cover up the truth.

"I didn't expect General Maimaiti to care so much about the little princess. However, I have a request for General Maimaiti today." She didn't expose him, but spoke directly, "What? Is the general hiding people in the mansion? Why don't you invite us in?"

"It was my oversight—please come in, both of you." Maimaiti had no choice but to bite the bullet and invite them in, but as they entered, he didn't forget to glare fiercely at Zhang Ting.

...

After everyone was seated, Xu Yuehuai pushed the gifts out and said with a smile, "General Maimaiti, I am new here and do not know the rules. I have offended you in the past. Today I have brought these gifts to your door. I hope you can be magnanimous and not hold my past mistakes against me."

Maimaiti was completely bewildered by her sudden visit, and now seeing these things, he was even more confused.

Almost instinctively, he looked at Zhang Ting beside him.

Zhang Ting pursed her lips, afraid that the other party would lose his composure, and still said: "Maimaiti, we can be considered childhood sweethearts. You can't kill me just because of someone's character. Today, Miss Xu and I came to your door together, so please forgive our mistake."

Maimaiti saw the look she was giving him and knew that Xu Yuehuai was up to no good.

However, he still waved his hand and laughed, "Miss Xu, you are too kind to me. Although we haven't spent much time together, I have always remembered your excellent cooking. Whatever grudges I may have, I would forget them all after just one bite of your food. Besides, it's not a big deal. I can forget everything over a cup of wine in the future. Why would I still come to your door so eagerly?"

"Oh? If that's the case, then let's do as the general says. It's settled then. You must come to my Tianxianglou's Mingyue branch for a drink tomorrow," Xu Yuehuai said, seizing the opportunity.

"Mingyue branch?" Maimaiti was completely confused.

However, he quickly realized that he had fallen into Xu Yuehuai's trap.

Xu Yuehuai continued, "That's right. Although the barter system is being prepared, the dishes are something the people of Mingyue Kingdom have never seen before, and they probably don't know how to eat them. I've decided to open Tianxiang Restaurant here so that the people of Mingyue Kingdom can enjoy food from the Central Plains. General Maimaiti, I'll have to trouble you to give me your guidance in the future."

"Okay, okay." Maimaiti's eyes showed reluctance, but he still agreed.

"I know how skilled Manager Xu is, I will definitely patronize him."

Hearing this, Xu Yuehuai felt that his goal had been achieved. He would then ask Zhao Yinfang to find him a suitable manager, and the branch would be fully operational.

"In that case, we won't bother the general any longer and will head back now." She said, standing up.

However, just as Zhang Ting and Maimaiti were about to breathe a sigh of relief, she turned around again and said, "I heard from Lord Zhao that the general and Miss Zhang Ting were betrothed as children. Now that they have let bygones be bygones, why not put the marriage on the agenda?"

She wouldn't forget her main purpose for coming here.

Zhang Ting's face immediately darkened, fearing that Maimaiti might say something.

“It was just a joke.” Maimaiti immediately waved his hand. “I don’t have any relationship with Miss Zhang Ting anymore. Please don’t bring up this childhood betrothal again, so as not to ruin Miss Zhang Ting’s reputation.”

"Oh? I didn't expect General Maimaiti to be so chivalrous." Xu Yuehuai's gaze swept over the two of them, and she laughed, "You care so much about Miss Zhang Ting's reputation, yet they still say that the two of you are like oil and water. I don't believe such nonsense."