"Mr. Qing, we have Qingjiang fish today. Would you like one?"
Qingxu nodded, "Then have one. Oh, and pack me a portion of your signature dish before you leave..."
The four kids next door pressed their ears against the wall to eavesdrop, but they couldn't hear anything at all.
There is a one-meter-thick wall between the two private rooms, and Jintai Building has undergone special treatment to ensure excellent sound insulation.
Boom boom boom…
There was a knock on the door, and the four little ones were so scared that they quickly sat back at the table.
Nie Jiu pursed his lips and smiled, then opened the door.
The shopkeeper personally brought in the food with three waiters.
"Dear guest, your food is here." The shopkeeper looked at Su Xingyi in amazement, then quickly looked away.
All the visitors to Jintai Tower were dignitaries. This was the first time he had seen someone with Su Xingyi's temperament. He wondered which noble family in Beijing he belonged to, or if he was a newly-promoted noble?
The waiter placed the food on the table and bowed, retreating behind the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper leaned forward slightly, holding the tray and looking at Su Xingyi respectfully. "I am Fang Zhoufang, the shopkeeper of Jintailou. This Qingjiang fish is one of our Jintailou's specialties. We give it to our distinguished guests who are dining at our restaurant for the first time. Please accept it."
Su Xingyi smiled and nodded. Nie Jiu quickly placed the plate of delicious Qingjiang fish in front of Su Xingyi and turned to the shopkeeper, saying, "You can leave now. My master is about to have dinner."
"Then please enjoy your meal."
Shopkeeper Fang was about to close the door when Nie Jiu hurried over and said, "I'll do it."
Fang Zhou didn't dare to stay, for fear of offending the big shot inside whose background he didn't know.
Nie Jiu left the door ajar so that he and Meng Chuan could observe the door of the next room.
"Children, have your meal."
Su Ningjie tasted the Qingjiang fish for a few times and said, "Dad, it tastes pretty good."
"Yes, it's good. Dad thinks the food at Luyuan Qionglou is still delicious."
"Yes, second brother, Luyuan Qionglou must be opened in the capital."
"That's right, second brother." Su Ningwen echoed with blind confidence, "Luyuan Qionglou is definitely better than Jintailou."
Shangguan Jinnian ate quietly without expressing his opinion.
"Don't be like that." Su Ningjie felt a little embarrassed when he saw his family boasting so much. "It's not easy for Luyuan Qionglou to gain a foothold in the capital. When I first arrived in the capital, I investigated all the restaurants, big and small. Each restaurant has its own characteristics, especially Jintailou, which is run by retired imperial chefs. To be honest, Luyuan Qionglou's chef can't compare."
"Second brother, this is nothing." Xiao Xier smiled and blinked. "Doesn't Jintai Tower have a retired imperial chef in charge? We can also have an imperial chef at Luyuan Qionglou. From now on, when the dignitaries of the capital dine at Luyuan Qionglou, they won't just eat Beiyi's dishes."
Xiao Xier stopped talking after saying that. Her second brother was smart enough to understand what she meant.
At this time, Shangguan Jinnian spoke up, "Brother Jie, Xiao Xier is right. I'll take a letter home and ask my father to send a chef over."
"Then I..." Xiao Xier just opened her mouth, then realized something and swallowed the rest of the words back.
She couldn't let Shangguan Jinnian know her identity.
"...Then we'll ask our eldest brother and see if he can ask his grandfather to send a cook over."
Su Ningjie's eyes widened. Wouldn't the Luyuan Qionglou in Beijing serve specialties from four countries? "It's great to have you guys. This way, Luyuan Qionglou will have an advantage. If we make money, we'll give you a share of the profits..."
The four kids were happily talking about business in low voices, while Su Xingyi's attention was always on the outside of the door.
It's been so long, is it possible that no one will come to meet us today?
Nie Jiu and Meng Chuan felt disappointed when they saw that the guests in other private rooms had left one after another after their meals, and no one came from the next room. Could it be that they would show up only after dinner?
Qingxu couldn't help feeling anxious when he saw that the time had passed and Peilan hadn't shown up.
Did something happen?
Maybe something happened in the palace that delayed him?
Qingxu calmed down and continued to wait.
Half an incense stick later, Qingxu stood up and left the private room, took the special dishes packed by Manager Fang, and left Jintai Tower through the back door.
Qingxu looked like he was drunk, and he was staggering in the back alley as usual, but this time he was slower than usual.
Soon, he noticed several unusual auras in the dark.
He was really careless. Someone was watching him in the dark.
No wonder Perrin didn't show up today.
"Your Majesty, Qingxu has returned to his own house."
Su Xingyi closed his eyes, took out a hundred taels of silver, and placed it on the table. "Continue to book this room and keep an eye on it. If the children can't finish the food, you should eat it all up. Don't waste it."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Xiao Xier walked out of Jintai Building and looked up at the roof.
"Houhuang, you have to keep an eye on it!"
Don't worry, he can't run away.
"Xiao Xi'er, let's go back."
Xiao Xier quickly ran over, held Su Xingyi's big hand, and got on the carriage.
"Dad, are we coming for dinner?"
"No, we have to accompany your mother. If the contact person doesn't show up tonight, he will definitely show up tomorrow."
After returning to Youhuangyuan, Su Xingyi honestly told Xiao Lingyu what happened in Jintai Tower.
"Xingyi, what's the name of the owner of that house?"
"Qing Xudong."
"Qing Xudong, Qing Lian..." Xiao Lingyu muttered to himself, "Are these two brother and sister?"
"That shouldn't be the case. Meng Chuan found out that Qing Xudong is just a small merchant, an only son. His parents died early. He's thirty-three now and still unmarried. Qinglian is old enough to be his daughter."
"What if it's really a daughter? Do they look alike?"
Su Xingyi thought about it and said, "I didn't see his face clearly, but Nie Jiu should have seen it clearly, Nie Ying!"
Soon, Nie Ying came in, "Your Highness, I am here."
"Go to Jintai Tower now and look for Nie Jiu. Ask Qing Xudong what he looks like and see if he resembles Qing Lian."
"Yes, my lord."
After Nie Jiu heard what Nie Ying conveyed to Su Xingyi, the image of Qinglian appeared in his mind. He had no impression of Qing Xudong, and he had not paid close attention to him.
"Boss, go back and tell the prince that Qing Xudong is coming out for dinner. I will definitely take a close look at his appearance."
Nie Ying's face darkened. "What if we wait until night and delay His Majesty's important work? And are you sure you can see clearly at night?"
Nie Jiu was speechless after being confronted. After a while, he said, "Then should we just barge in?"
Nie Ying shook his head helplessly. "He's been staying in the house all this time, so let's find a way to get him out on his own."
“Knock, knock, knock…”
Meng Chuan, Nie Jiu and others, dressed as small vendors, knocked on the door of Qing's house.
"Who is it? Stop knocking!"
The housekeeper opened the door and saw a few peddlers. He said in a stern tone, "Go away! We don't need goods of unknown origin."
"This old man." Meng Chuan quickly lifted the oilcloth covering the cart, and a pleasant aroma of wine filled his nose. "This is our home-brewed wine, and it's no worse than the ones in the winery."
The butler smelled the aroma of the wine and a gentle smile appeared on his face. The master of their family loved to taste wine, especially good wine.
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