Yun Pingting pulled Hongzhu into the house, and then poured out her heart for a long time.

"So, Miss, you brought a guard with you to Youzhou with Sister Tao?" Hongzhu was also surprised after hearing this. It was one thing to hear it from Tao Wanniang, but after hearing Yun Pingting say it herself, she felt a bit more admiration for Yun Pingting.

"You really do have a lot of guts," Hongzhu remarked in the end.

"Hehe, I've met some good people too. Sister Hongzhu, you're the first person I admire, and Sister Tao is the second." Yun Pingting chattered on and on, finally sighing, "I've been living too comfortably before. I've made up my mind, I'm going to help Sister Tao open a restaurant in Sifang City!"

Hongzhu was surprised; the young lady had changed quite a bit. She jokingly said, "On the way here, I asked Sister Tao how you met them. She mentioned your... um... the embroidered ball marriage contest with the four gentlemen?"

Yun Pingting was a little embarrassed, but she still honestly told Hongzhu, "It's just that I can marry any of the four of them, so... I can't decide!"

Hongzhu looked at Yun Pingting curiously. How could liking someone be like this?

"Pingting, when you see those four people, do you blush and your heart race? When you can't see them, do you feel like something is on your mind, thinking about them day and night, unable to sleep? And when you see them, do you feel happy, afraid of saying the wrong thing in front of them, afraid that they will have a prejudice against you?"

"Haha, I grew up with my four older brothers. They always tried their best to please me. If I liked something, they would find a way to get it for me. So, I am naturally happy to see them."

Yun Pingting thought for a moment, then said frankly, "Sister Hongzhu, I know what you mean, but I think I will never treat anyone the way you treated the Prince. I'm used to their kindness to me, so kind that I can't refuse. So... if you want me to choose one of them, it should be that the other three have given up on me!"

"They wouldn't bear to give you up when you're so beautiful!" Hongzhu teased. "You should rest first. You look a little tired. If you need anything, just tell the servants."

"Okay, Sister Hongzhu," Yun Pingting replied.

The banquet at the Prince of Youzhou's mansion was a family affair, where they sat together and ate the antique hot pot.

Tao Wanniang and Yun Pingting were both invited over. Looking at the various ingredients and the boiling copper pot, Tao Wanniang fell silent. This... isn't this just hot pot?

"Since arriving in Youzhou, I've developed a fondness for this, especially when it's cold. A pot of this warms me up completely." The King of Youzhou was as hearty as ever. Although Tao Wanniang's arrival involved someone he disliked, it had nothing to do with Tao Wanniang herself. "This mutton, just a quick dip in the broth, and it's cooked!"

“Sister Tao, don’t be shy. After we arrived in Youzhou, we’ve abandoned some of the bad habits from the capital!” Xiao Yi said when he saw that Tao Wanniang hadn’t touched her chopsticks.

“Yes, you can cook whatever you want yourself, it’s very convenient!” Princess Youzhou also said.

“That’s really good. It’s given me a new idea,” Tao Wanniang said, “I’ll borrow the Prince’s kitchen later.”

"That's wonderful!" Princess Youzhou exclaimed in delight. "Manager Tao, to be honest, Youzhou is quite different from the capital. After arriving in Youzhou, even the cooks can't make the desserts from your Zhaixinglou restaurant."

“The location is different, so the flavor is naturally different. I’ll take a trip around Youzhou later and see what unique dishes I can come up with,” Tao Wanniang said without any modesty.

"Manager Tao, you've come to Youzhou, so feel free to have fun. How could we let you into the kitchen?" King Youzhou said. "Yi'er, you and your husband should take Manager Tao and the others around Youzhou sometime. After all, we might never be able to go back in this lifetime!"

"Yes, Father." Xiao Yi suppressed all his emotions and replied gently.

Tao Wanniang didn't have to worry about whether Chen Lian and the others would have enough to eat. Here, she was able to have the most reassuring meal she had since leaving the capital.

Even after arriving in Youzhou, Xiao Yi's family remained a loving family. She didn't inquire whether Xiao Yi and Hongzhu were truly together, but by observing the relationship between the King and Queen of Youzhou, she could tell that Zhao Zhe hadn't disrupted the family's happiness.

Even though they were far from the bustling capital, and he went from being the Prince of Rui to the Prince of Youzhou, his family was always together!

The following day, Xiao Yi and Hongzhu took Tao Wanniang and her family for a stroll around Youzhou.

“Youzhou has some goods from other ethnic groups that are quite different from those in the capital. If Sister Tao is looking for something new, she can go and take a look,” Xiao Yi explained.

“Sure!” Tao Wanniang thought so. She wasn’t interested in things from other tribes, but once she returned to the capital, she could plant some seeds from her space. If anyone asked, she could just say they came from another tribe.

Spices and furs are specialties of Youzhou, and Tao Wanniang really found quite a few things. The brightly colored carpet, which she said she got from foreign merchants, she could tell at a glance that it looked like it came from Persia in some other dimension.

There were also some seeds that the shopkeeper didn't know what they were or whether they could be grown.

"Give me all of these, and these too." Tao Wanniang looked around and randomly picked out a lot of things.

When it came time to pay, Cheng Feng tried to step forward, but Tao Wanniang stopped him.

"Lord Cheng, there's no reason for you to pay for this."

“I asked Cheng Feng to pay,” Xiao Yi said gently. “Sister Tao has come to Youzhou, so there’s no reason for her to spend money.”

“Really, there’s no need.” Tao Wanniang smiled and refused. “Young Master, this little bit of money is nothing to trouble you with. Don’t worry, if it’s a large sum of money, I won’t argue with you.”

Xiao Yi smiled slightly. He admired Tao Wanniang's unconventional personality. He was actually quite moved that she was able to come to Youzhou under Zhao Zhe's coercion and enticement.

"My mother said you want to open the Star-Picking Tower in Youzhou. Are you confident?" Xiao Yi asked, using another excuse to start a conversation with Tao Wanniang.

“How do you know it won’t work if you haven’t tried it?” Tao Wanniang replied. “In my opinion, I should modify this antique pot and launch it at the Zhaixinglou Restaurant in the capital first to see how it goes.”

Xiao Yi was taken aback, not expecting that Tao Wanniang had already thought so much.

"Sister Tao, you really can't stay idle," Xiao Yi exclaimed.

“I’m in business, and if there’s profit to be made, I’ll try to figure it out,” Tao Wanniang said. “And I’m also thinking that one day I won’t have to be controlled by others!”

Xiao Yi was taken aback again, immediately thinking of this trip to Youzhou, where Tao Wanniang had been forced into it. A north wind blew, the shop curtain was lifted, and a gust of cold wind came in. Xiao Yi instinctively stepped in front of Tao Wanniang to shield her.

Hongzhu turned around and happened to see the look in Xiao Yi's eyes as he shielded Tao Wanniang from the wind. Suddenly, her heart sank and an uncomfortable feeling welled up inside her.