Tao Wanniang didn't entirely believe what Shishi said. When Zhang Liang returned, she went to the restaurant again and instructed him to find out where Shishi was staying.

She didn't need to worry too much about home. Zhou Xiaoyun was a bit dim-witted, but Gao Cuiniang would keep an eye on her. When she arrived at the restaurant, Tao Wanniang no longer saw Qian Feng and Hailan, so she put them out of her mind and went to the kitchen to get busy.

Besides the dishes she made, Zhaixinglou's signboard now also features pastries and desserts from Liu Yueniang's shop. Although the Prince Rui's mansion is gone, its prestige remains, and Zhaixinglou still firmly holds its position as the number one restaurant in the capital.

That day, Liu Yueniang pulled Tao Wanniang aside with a strange expression.

"Manager Tao, today Li Zhaodi secretly asked me if I wanted to go to other restaurants. She said she'd pay double whatever Zhaixinglou offered," Liu Yueniang said, frowning. "You know, they're really bold to poach people from Zhaixinglou like this."

With the Prince Rui's Mansion gone, some people felt that Zhaixinglou had lost its backing.

"Let Li Zhaodi go if she wants to, but she's only been learning for a few days and she already wants to change employers?" Tao Wanniang said casually. Li Zhaodi was an apprentice under Liu Yueniang, helping to make desserts.

"Manager Tao, Lu Neng is too busy, I haven't had a chance to talk to him. You should also keep an eye out, there might be someone trying to harm Zhaixing Tower," Liu Yueniang reminded her.

"Okay, I understand!" Tao Wanniang had thought about it. It was only a matter of time before something happened to Zhaixinglou. Whether it was poaching people or causing trouble, it was all possible.

Ziyang Tower has always considered Zhaixing Tower a thorn in its side. After the Prince Rui's Mansion lost power, Zhao Changgui wanted to get rid of Zhaixing Tower, but he had been warned both openly and secretly. The manager of Zhaixing Tower, Tao, had someone behind him!

However, when he heard that a new restaurant had opened in the city and was trying to undermine the Zhaixing Tower, he immediately felt like he was watching from the sidelines.

At the Chamber of Commerce President Jin Danyang's office, Zhao Changgui was inquiring about the new Chaoyang Tower.

"Old Jin, this Chaoyang Tower was built rather quickly. Do you know who owns it?"

Jin Danyang shook his head and reminded Zhao Changgui, "No matter whose it is, don't get too involved."

“I’m not going to get involved in this mess, but I’m still curious. Anyone who dares to mess with the Star-Picking Tower is either a hothead or a cunning strategist,” Zhao Changgui said. “But it would be best if we could take something from the Star-Picking Tower in the end.”

"You know what, Zhaixinglou has more ideas than any of your restaurants can match," Jin Danyang said. "I especially love their bowl of icy, sweet mung bean and milk shaved ice. On a hot summer day, having a bowl of that, paired with some spicy duck neck, is really, really refreshing!"

"It's simply outrageous that such low-class snacks are appearing in a first-class restaurant," Zhao Changgui said. "Doesn't this look more like street food?"

"That's because you're narrow-minded, Manager Zhao. This is a new product launched by Zhaixinglou this afternoon, which has brought in more customers," Jin Danyang said with a smile. "If you want to wait for a cheaper deal at Zhaixinglou, you'd better be patient!"

This means… Zhao Changgui felt that Jin Danyang seemed to know something. “Can Chaoyang Tower fight?”

Jin Danyang chuckled but didn't say anything.

The Chaoyang Tower, which suddenly appeared, was even more magnificent than the Zhaixing Tower, and the owner poured money into it as if it were free.

The Star-Picking Tower was built with money poured into it by the Prince Rui's Mansion. What about the Sunrise Tower? Some of the restaurant owners were speculating whether it was another member of the imperial family opening a restaurant.

Tao Wanniang also overheard some things about Chaoyang Tower among the waiters.

"Manager Tao, I have something to tell you." Lu Neng took a moment to call Tao Wanniang into an empty room. "The owner behind Chaoyang Tower is most likely the Princess."

Tao Wan's mother was taken aback. Was this a deliberate challenge to her? "Are you sure?"

"It's pretty much certain that the Princess's illness has been cured, and she seems to have been working on it for a while now," Lu Neng said solemnly. "Now that the Prince Rui's mansion has lost power, Manager Tao, the restaurant is counting on you."

Tao Wanniang blinked. What did that mean? Wasn't her job just to cook? But thinking of the Princess, she felt a little frustrated. Why couldn't Lingyunzhou make the Princess give up?

"I understand. Actually, it's okay if business slows down, Manager Lu. Don't work yourself into a strenuous routine." Tao Wanniang remained quite calm. During this period, Zhaixinglou had earned more money than she had previously saved. "If you have some free time, things will be easier to handle with Liu Yueniang."

"What do you mean by that, Manager Tao? What, is someone trying to poach her from under her feet? Don't worry, Manager Tao, Yue Niang and I have a relationship, she won't leave."

"You know your relationship is special, so why don't you get married when you have some free time?" Tao Wanniang teased. "That way, no one will be foolish enough to try and persuade Liu Yueniang."

Shandong Luneng thought about it seriously for a moment, and finally nodded and said, "That's acceptable."

Tao Wanniang was only making a suggestion, but she didn't expect Luneng to accept it, so she immediately congratulated them.

As for the matter of the eldest princess, if it were just a normal competition between restaurants that were closing down, she wouldn't be afraid at all. If something really happened, she wouldn't worry either, since the emperor still owed her a request!

Speaking of Luneng and Liu Yueniang's marriage, Tao Wanniang thought of Bai Yumei and Chen Liansheng, wondering when those two were planning to get married.

The restaurant continued to operate smoothly, with some staff coming and going. Tao Wanniang didn't think there was anything wrong with this. Back home, Shishi had finished her postpartum confinement and was about to leave. However, Tao Wanniang heard from Gao Cuiniang that Shishi had successfully appeased Zhou Xiaoyun.

On this day, Tao Wanniang took a break and simply called Zhou Xiaoyun to the front.

"Zhou Xiaoyun, shouldn't you go back to your own home?" Tao Wanniang said directly, "You've been staying with me for almost a month now."

“Mother, I know, I will go back. But we should also go and find out which village Dapeng is in,” Zhou Xiaoyun said obediently.

"Us!" Tao Wanniang thought that "us" from Zhou Xiaoyun must refer to Shishi. So, these two became good sisters?

"Are you planning to take the child to the village?" Tao Wanniang asked.

“No, Mother, can we let Dapeng come back?” Zhou Xiaoyun said. “Although Dapeng isn’t very capable, it’s not good for him to stay in the manor all the time! We’re thinking of using the money we have to do some small business. Wouldn’t that be better than staying in the manor?”

Here it comes, finally here! Tao Wanniang felt that Zhou Xiaoyun was finally restless again, all talk and no action.

“Alright, then you can go home. I’ll have Zhang Liang bring Dapeng back to you and send him over,” Tao Wanniang said decisively. She dared to say that this was probably brainwashed by Shishi.

Zhou Xiaoyun immediately smiled and said, "Mom, thank you. I'll go pack my things right away."

Tao Wanniang urged Zhou Xiaoyun to hurry up, while wondering to herself what Shishi was planning to do.