Chapter 82 The Secret of Following the Trend: Yes, this mountain of stuff is indeed true...
The tenth day of the first lunar month has passed in the blink of an eye.
As dawn broke, the door panels of Kang's Soup and Pancake Shop were removed, and a cold wind rushed in. Manager Kang couldn't help but tighten his cotton robe. He leaned against the door frame, gazing wistfully at the street where pedestrians were already coming and going.
With the Lantern Festival approaching, lanterns have begun to be hung in the streets of Bianjing (Kaifeng), and bamboo and wood are being transported to the Imperial Street. Craftsmen are working tirelessly day and night to erect a magnificent lantern tower, sixteen zhang high and three hundred and sixty-five steps wide. At that time, the lantern tower will be adorned with colorful silk and hung with hundreds of lanterns, creating a dazzling spectacle. [Note]
But Manager Kang wasn't really interested in seeing the lanterns this year.
He fetched a dustpan and broom from the back room and slowly swept the snow off the steps in front of the door. By this time, peddlers, their clothes adorned with lanterns, were already weaving back and forth on the road, carrying their wares on their shoulders. There were also some mischievous children who had come out early in the morning to set off firecrackers, throwing small fireworks that made a loud bang when they hit the ground.
With each sweep of his hand, one could hear a crackling sound as sparks flew up and exploded with a bang. Children chased and laughed like flocks of lambs, running past him.
Manager Kang swept the floor, straightened up, and returned to the deserted shop. He stood there for a while, then wiped down the counter and chairs. Since the Lantern Festival wasn't over yet, many of the shop assistants and cooks were unwilling to work, so he had to do these chores himself.
At the same time, Chef Wang, with a tie-dyed satchel draped over his shoulder, yawned as he turned from the street corner. Seeing that Kang's shop was already open, he quickened his pace and stepped inside, where he saw Manager Kang busy at work alone.
Even his broad-shouldered, thick-waisted back, wrapped in silk, seemed somewhat lonely.
Chef Wang hurriedly stepped forward to take the rag from Manager Kang's hand. He glanced at Manager Kang's worried face and couldn't help but ask, "Manager, why did you call me back so early this year? The Lantern Festival hasn't even passed yet."
In previous years, construction would officially begin after the Lantern Festival.
Many shops remained closed for days after the Lantern Festival. Chef Wang was the closest of Kang's five chefs to work, as his home was in the inner city. Therefore, when Manager Kang invited him to work, he agreed, considering that he had nothing to do at home for the time being and could earn more money.
But he was truly perplexed. Starting work earlier would certainly give him an advantage, as he would be paid a day's wages regardless of the amount he produced. However, it was during the peak season for visiting relatives and friends, so how could he expect to attract any customers?
Manager Kang simply sighed, "Do you think I wanted to?"
He didn't want to either!
Chef Wang was completely baffled by what he heard.
"Shopkeeper, what are you talking about? It's incomprehensible. If you don't want to open for business so early, then just rest for a few more days. This is your own shop; you can open for as many days as you want. Nobody's holding a knife to your throat and forcing you to open, is he?"
Manager Kang rolled his eyes upwards and pointed to his ears: "Who said there isn't? Listen?"
Chef Wang shut his mouth and listened attentively, just like Manager Kang.
Daylight had broken and the snow had stopped, so the streets were becoming increasingly lively, with the sounds of storytelling and singing drifting from the entertainment districts. Chef Wang, not recognizing anything amiss, asked, "What?"
"Listen carefully, can you hear the sound of a bell?" Manager Kang said, walking to the door.
Chef Wang followed and patiently continued listening.
Sure enough, he heard it this time; a faint ringing of a bell reached his ears. Just as he was about to ask what was wrong with the bell, he saw Manager Kang raise his chin towards the outside and say weakly, "Here it is. You'll know once you see it for yourself."
With the clear sound of bells, a man dressed as a waiter arrived in a strange-looking donkey cart.
The guy was nothing special; he was dressed like an ordinary person and looked quite average.
The donkey pulling the cart was a proper chestnut donkey, but its owner was probably not very respectable—the donkey wore a specially made brown cloth hat with auspicious patterns embroidered on it in apricot-yellow silk thread, and the words "Eleven" were embroidered in the corner.
The donkey also wore a triangular scarf of the same material and embroidery around its neck, and under the scarf was a large bell with a name tag, which jingled as the donkey walked.
This made the donkey dress up like a respectable young man, making it look even more like a donkey with a human appearance.
"What a bored donkey owner," Chef Wang thought, his eyes twitching.
Moreover, the donkey-drawn cart resembled a large box, with wooden planks on all four sides of the two-wheeled flatbed cart, tightly fitted together with mortise and tenon joints, and a lid on top with a handle that could be opened.
Behind the box were places to put large umbrellas and signs. The umbrellas were decorated with large celadon bowls with a meander pattern, filled with various kinds of food. The signs next to them, fluttering in the wind, read "Chen Ji Fast Food Restaurant" in large characters.
The cart's box was emblazoned with the words "Delicious and Affordable, All at Shen's Fast Food," painted a bright red, and accompanied by the sound of a donkey's bell, it immediately caught the eye. The peculiar donkey, the strange beak, and the unique cart itself drew attention. Indeed... Chef Wang stood there, staring intently for a long time, unable to tear his eyes away.
Only after the donkey cart had driven past did he turn around blankly, looking at Manager Kang's ashen face in surprise, and ask, "Is this the donkey cart from Shenji Soup Dumpling Shop?"
Manager Kang nodded silently.
Chef Wang, who could read some words, asked in bewilderment, "What is a fast food restaurant?"
Manager Kang sighed softly, "It's a long story..." He turned around with a weathered look on his face and beckoned to Chef Wang, "Come in, and I'll tell you all about it."
Chef Wang entered as instructed, and saw Manager Kang dragging over two benches. After the two sat down, Manager Kang's first words shocked Chef Wang: "Since the first day of the Lunar New Year, Madam Shen has not had a single day of rest. Until today, she has been busy with her new business of fast food and group meals."
They haven't closed down! Chef Wang was deeply shocked.
It's Chinese New Year! The biggest day of the year, and she's still open for business?
"Actually, the meals she prepared were just simple stir-fries, nothing special. It's just that these meals were initially intended for the local soldiers, and the price was quite reasonable, a few coins cheaper than the restaurants outside. She first supplied them to the area around the bridge north watchtower, cooking and delivering them, taking on the business of the idle men as well. Unexpectedly, she made a name for herself, and later the instructors under the jurisdiction of the state bridge also came looking for her, so she was busy in both places. After that, I heard that she was hiring cooks and waiters everywhere during the first month of the lunar year. Although she couldn't find a cook, she managed to temporarily hire two half-grown boys to help deliver the meals. Now it's even more remarkable. A few days ago, as soon as the brokerage shop opened, she immediately went to Yaoluoge to rent a new shop."
Chef Wang finally understood. This business did sound good. Many people hire idle men to deliver meals when they are busy, which is both troublesome and expensive. This Mrs. Shen... Chef Wang admired her from the bottom of his heart. Ever since the incident with the grilled fish in the summer, she has loved to do things.
At that time, Manager Kang wanted to teach her a lesson, but unexpectedly he ended up suffering the loss instead.
Later, Kangji tried to emulate Shenji's innovative approach, but ultimately failed miserably, becoming a laughingstock for its imitation. Kangji now offers VIP cards, but few people sign up, and even fewer reserve dishes. Ultimately, Kangji lacks both Shenji's irreplaceable culinary skills and a signature dish that is irresistible and instantly popular. Therefore, its efforts to promote these activities fail to achieve the same success as Shenji's.
Even without grilled fish in winter, Madam Shen has created roasted duck, which still sells briskly every day. Nowadays, there are probably more people storing ducks than fish, since the number of ducks is limited each day. If you can't eat them on the day, you can pay to store them, and if you come early the next day, you will definitely be able to eat them. This is because Madam Shen is good at flattering her customers, often saying, "You are a distinguished platinum member of Shen's Restaurant, so you naturally have priority."
It made those customers who came to eat duck with their cards feel like they were a cut above the rest, walking with their chests out, bellies puffed out, and heads held high.
I heard that she also bought ten acres of pond land in the suburbs, intending to raise ducks herself.
Before the duck farm was even built, she was already busy opening a branch and starting a fast food business. Chef Wang shook his head, wondering how she had developed such a brilliant mind. How was she so different from ordinary people like them, coming up with one novel idea after another, and yet she could actually make it work?
However, after careful consideration, Chef Wang wasn't so surprised that Madam Shen wanted to make fast food. Perhaps when she first created the instant soup noodles, she had already envisioned making fast food in the future? She might have used the instant soup noodles to test the waters for demand for this type of convenient food in Bianjing. She must have discovered a considerable market potential and accumulated enough wealth to immediately put it into action. Now that the fast food restaurant has opened, it seems like part of a long-term plan.
After figuring it out, Chef Wang and Manager Kang both sighed in unison.
Shopkeeper Kang was silent for a moment, then said with regret, "I have a relative who works as a clerk in the yamen. He's my niece's husband's cousin. He came to the shop for dinner the other day and mentioned that Lady Shen's fast food was being delivered to the yamen. They also said that Magistrate Wang often buys Shen's roasted duck to share with everyone at the yamen. There are even rumors that Shen's roasted duck was served at the palace banquet on New Year's Eve this year. Lady Shen has caught the eye of the officials and nobles; it's really hard for us commoners to challenge her. In the future, I'm afraid Kang's business will become increasingly difficult. This shop is rented, and if things really don't work out, I'm afraid I'll have to close it down and go back to my hometown."
Chef Wang was shocked: "How did it come to this? Before the New Year, our shop was quite bustling with customers." Although there were indeed far fewer customers than before Shenji opened.
Manager Kang, however, was not optimistic: "Shenji is different from Fanlou. Fanlou is unattainable; it's a place frequented by wealthy families. Shenji and we both make a living in this marketplace, close by, and serving the common people. We and Shenji are both soup noodle shops. Now that we're not as successful as them, we're bound to decline. You don't know until you look at the accounts, but after reviewing the accounts for the first half of last year, after deducting rent, wages, and the cost of vegetables and grain, there's almost nothing left. That's why I feel this way. Since you've come early today at my invitation, I'll have a heart-to-heart talk with you. Seeing that there are fewer and fewer customers, I won't need so many cooks in the future. After the Lantern Festival, I'll probably lay down two cooks and a waiter."
Chef Wang also felt somewhat uneasy. Although Manager Kang had said these words to his face, he figured he wouldn't be fired. But he still felt a little uneasy. If Kang's restaurant continued to decline, he feared he would have to find another owner in the future.
A heavy feeling settled over him.
"There's nothing I can do if we can't compete. If Madam Shen weren't a match for Kangji, I would genuinely admire her. For a woman, especially a divorced wife, to achieve what she has today is truly remarkable. Besides, her skills are so good, yet she's never satisfied with the status quo and is incredibly diligent. What can I do?"
I can't compete with her in terms of skill, and I certainly can't compete with her in terms of diligence.
He gave up!
Manager Kang shook his head helplessly, then patted Chef Wang on the shoulder, "I won't say anything more. Go to the kitchen and prepare some dishes. I just hope that some customers will come."
Chef Wang didn't move. He thought for a moment. Manager Kang had been kind to him and, seeing Manager Kang's desolate appearance, he couldn't help but tug at Manager Kang's sleeve: "Manager, please wait."
Manager Kang turned around: "What's wrong?"
"Shopkeeper, have you ever considered following Chen's example and starting a fast food business?" Chef Wang suggested incisively. "Business at the shop isn't good. We have chefs and staff, so why not start a fast food business? Don't you know quite a few people in the workshops, shopkeeper? You said that Madam Chen has already secured business with the local military and government offices, so we won't compete with her. No matter how good her fast food is, she can't deliver meals to all of Bianjing. She'll handle this area, and our fast food will handle the rest. That way, we won't have to close down."
Manager Kang was taken aback: "Is this appropriate? Won't Madam Shen come knocking on our door and beat us up?"
Chef Wang, however, thought it was no problem: "This isn't about stealing someone else's ancestral recipe or secret formula. Although we always imitate others and end up with inferior results, which doesn't sound good to us, there will definitely be other shops that follow Madam Shen's example in the future. If it's not us, it will be someone else. So why should we hold onto our pride and starve? While Madam Shen is just starting out, we can take a share of the pie. Once Madam Shen's new shop opens and she's hired a chef, I'm afraid we won't even have a chance to get involved."
Manager Kang thought about it and realized it made sense. He excitedly grabbed Chef Wang's hand and said, "You're so clever! Luckily, I have you! I'll go ask the silk reeling workshops I know about this today."
After saying this, Manager Kang went back into the house to get his hat, changed into a nice outfit for receiving guests, and left in a hurry.
Chef Wang watched his retreating figure and breathed a sigh of relief. He hoped that Manager Kang's last gamble would also be successful. He had been with Kang's restaurant for a long time, gotten used to it, and didn't want to change employers.
Shen Miao was unaware that others had already followed suit. She was currently accompanying Yao Luoge to inspect the shop.
This time, the shop was located on the street between Yujie and Jinliang Bridge. To the north, it leads to the Kaifeng Prefecture government office, and to the south, it is convenient to deliver vegetables to the Xiangjun Watchtower.
However, she had a premonition from the beginning that she would follow the trend.
Fast food cannot be monopolized; it is bound to become an industry, especially in dynasties with highly developed commerce. Therefore, she was not anxious about it, because doing a good job in group catering is not so easy either.
Group catering may seem like fast food, requiring little technical skill. However, the key is meticulous and attentive service. The value lies not only in how delicious the food is—though the taste is important—but more importantly, in the "customer experience."
Because the market for group meals is small, it targets a very specific demographic.
Cooking good food can win over people's stomachs; paying attention to details can win them their hearts!
To outsiders, it might seem like she's just hiring someone, cooking, and delivering food—it's an easy job. But she takes every step with extreme care, striving to perfect every detail.
Besides, she's only just begun, feeling her way across the river, and doesn't know what the future holds. She's learned from her mistakes in her past life. If the group catering isn't done well, the losses can be severe, and it might even drag her into a deep pit.
This is why Shen Miao immediately sought to change the tableware issue as soon as she noticed it.
The quality of the food containers is also important for fast food. After making a name for herself in the local militia, she immediately went with Lawyer Deng to bribe several high-ranking officials in the Kaifeng government, and successfully gained their approval. The official in charge looked down on Shen Miao with an air of superiority, and stroked his beard as he repeatedly instructed, "This is only because of Mr. Deng. Although I have heard of Madam Shen's reputation, there are still some things I need to say. Your food must be clean. If it's messy, it's not allowed to be sent in again."
Shen Miao smiled and curtsied, assuring him that he could rest assured.
She then upgraded the lunchbox ceramic plate to the second generation—the plate was deeper, and a place to put spoons and chopsticks was designed on the far left. Next was a round compartment and a square compartment, one for eggs and one for meat. In the middle, there was a very small square compartment for dipping sauces or side dishes such as pickled vegetables or sauerkraut. After that was the largest compartment for rice, and above the rice compartment were two equally sized compartments for vegetables.
She then requested that the pottery kilns use white clay, so that the plates produced would be clean and beautiful. The second generation of plates was mainly piloted in government offices and entertainment districts, specifically designed for this demographic, and it proved to be extremely popular.
When Si Cao later saw the spotless white ceramic plate that Shen Miao had sent, with its clearly categorized dishes, a balanced mix of meat and vegetables, and a perfect combination of color, aroma, and taste, he couldn't find a single fault with it.
Although the minor officials were secretly struggling financially, they still had to maintain a respectable appearance. Therefore, by allowing them to retain the sense of superiority of "having the life of a maid but the attitude of a young lady," we could win their hearts.
Moreover, Shen Miao now offers customized dishes, frequently asking the soldiers and clerks what they would like to eat. The high-end, exquisite lunch boxes combined with the customized dishes perfectly suit the needs of an ancient government office.
Besides the government office, Shen Miao also set his sights on the largest entertainment venue near Jinliang Bridge. It housed many actors and storytellers who also needed this kind of "theater crew" meal.
Popular actors naturally have maids to serve them, but many lesser-known actors are already exhausted from performing every day, so it would be even better if someone could deliver meals to their door.
Shen Miao was multitasking, thinking about one thing while also looking at several shops with Yao Luoge, all of which she found a bit too expensive. The shops on Yujie Street were even more expensive than those on Jinliang Bridge!
Indeed, regardless of time or place, the prices of goods and housing in capital cities are always quite alarming.
"Are there any smaller shops?" Shen Miao asked after thinking for a moment. "They don't need to be that big."
This stumped Yao Luoge. He stood there for a moment, then suddenly thought of something that seemed to fit Shen Miao's requirements. He immediately turned to ask, "Does Madam Shen mind sharing a shop with someone else? A shop owner's business is not doing well, and he wants to rent out half of his shop. He has divided the shop in two with wooden planks, and even the kitchen can be divided into two. In this way, Madam Shen only needs to pay half the rent."
Isn't this the usual practice in later generations? Shen Miao thought it was a good idea: "We can go and take a look."
The two then headed towards the Imperial Street. From afar, Yao Luoge pointed out the location to her. Shen Miao tiptoed to take a look, and the shop's location was quite good—it was very close to the Donghua Gate of the Imperial Palace and only a few hundred steps away from the Fengfu Yamen, only a bit far from the Jinliang Bridge.
Shen Miao glanced at the palace gates; this was the first time she had been so close to the inner palace. Normally, she wouldn't come here unless there was something urgent. She and Yao Luoge avoided a group of craftsmen transporting bamboo and timber. In the very center of the Imperial Street, a lantern was being erected, and the ground was littered with bamboo, timber, and hemp rope, making it somewhat chaotic.
"This is it, Madam Shen, come in and have a look," Yao Luoge said, leading the way.
Shen Miao stepped inside out of curiosity.
Just as she was looking at the shop, the aroma of roast duck wafted through the Wan'an Palace, where the Empress Dowager resided.
The Empress Dowager was well-preserved; though she was in her fifties, she looked no more than forty. She was extremely beautiful, and even as she aged, one could still see traces of her youthful beauty.
Especially her eyebrows and eyes, which were as clear as autumn water.
Inside the hall, the delicate fragrance of roses wafted from the jade incense burner. The palace maids standing on either side of the hall's entrance held their breath, and deep within the inner hall, layers of beaded curtains hung down, vaguely revealing the Empress Dowager's figure seated at the head of the table.
Today she was dressed in casual clothes and without any heavy headdress, only a few pearl hairpins adorning her coiled dragon bun. She sat leisurely in a rosewood armchair, smiling as she watched the palace servants wrap duck meat for her, instructing, "Add a thin strip of hawthorn. No scallions."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The palace maid bowed and used chopsticks to pick up duck meat, duck skin, cucumber, and hawthorn strips. She rolled them up in a thin lotus leaf pancake, turned the opening of the pancake over and pressed it to the bottom, carefully raised it above her head, and then slightly bent her knees to present the roasted duck to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager then took the plate, maintaining her upright posture, and ate slowly and methodically with chopsticks.
This roasted duck is truly delicious, but it's a bit troublesome and not very elegant to eat.
Since becoming Empress Dowager, she has paid great attention to health preservation. She usually eats only light meals and meditates for a while before meals, and rarely eats meat.
The whole transformation started with this year's palace banquet.
At the palace banquet, Emperor Zhao Boyun gave each of his close ministers and important officials an extra plate of roasted duck. The plate was small, enough to wrap about three duck rolls, and there was no room for more.
A plate was also placed in front of the Empress Dowager. She initially found it too greasy and was reluctant to touch it. However, the Emperor ate it with great relish, the aroma filling the air and lingering around her nose.
She glanced at the throne at the head of the table, and Zhao Boyun's expression of wanting to swallow his tongue made her feel a little hungry. So, with some doubt, she ordered a palace maid to serve her a piece.
Unexpectedly, I ended up eating the whole plate without even realizing it.
This greatly surprised her—she hadn't eaten such delicious meat in a long time.
Zhao Boyun was halfway through his meal when he glanced to the side and saw that the Empress Dowager had also finished her entire plate. He was equally astonished. Later, when he secretly asked Liang Qian to go out and buy roasted duck, he instructed him to buy an extra half duck to present to the Empress Dowager daily.
My aunt doesn't like to eat meat, so buying half a carton should be enough. Wouldn't it be a waste if she couldn't finish it?
So today, the Empress Dowager also ate half a roasted duck sent by the Emperor.
She didn't get tired of it at all; on the contrary, she found the duck even more delicious.
In particular, when Zhao Boyun came to pay his respects early in the morning, he explained in detail how Madam Shen had improved the way she made the roasted duck, and even added hawthorn cake strips to wrap it together to eat.
The Empress Dowager initially thought this combination of salty and sweet would taste strange, but to her surprise, at Zhao Boyun's urging, she tried it and found it exceptionally delicious and refreshing. The duck meat and the sweetness of the hawthorn didn't clash at all; on the contrary, they seemed to be a match made in heaven, a perfect pairing.
The Empress Dowager swallowed the last piece of roast duck in her mouth, rinsed her mouth with satisfaction, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief offered by a palace maid, and seeing that her trusted eunuch was hesitant to speak, she asked him to come forward and ordered the others to leave.
"Speak, have you found out anything about Chen Ji?"
Although the Empress Dowager knew that the Emperor must have already sent people to investigate Shen Ji and that there must be no problem before she could eat the roasted duck made by Lady Shen, she was used to having everything under control before she felt at ease, so she sent people to secretly investigate again.
Unexpectedly, Madam Shen was indeed fine, but she managed to uncover old stories related to her ex-husband.
After the eunuch finished speaking about Shen's parents in a low voice, he silently took two steps back.
She looked dazed and murmured, "You mean, the deceased parents of Madam Shen were among the vendors implicated in the Xu family case three years ago? What a coincidence..."
"Indeed, back then, the cruel official Jiang Cong was ordered by the late emperor to secretly kill Xu Sheng's entire family. However, he slipped up and was relentlessly pursued by Xie's third son. Left with no other choice, he had to find a way to cover it up again. But this time, it was Marquis Lejiang who failed in his duties, causing the incident of riding his horse recklessly in the street and even killing innocent people. The late emperor was so angry at him that he vomited blood in front of the imperial physician, and his health deteriorated afterward," the eunuch said in a low voice.
The Empress Dowager's eyes flickered slightly. She knew all about these things. At that time, Prince Jin was already impatient, and the late Emperor had no time to deal with these matters. He could only forcefully convict the Xu family first, without punishing Marquis Lejiang. He only threw his servant who had been riding a horse into prison, claiming that the horse had been startled. It was an accident, and that was considered a gloomy affair.
The late emperor had no other choice at the time. Because the Princess Consort of Jin was a daughter of the Xu family, the Xu family naturally stood behind the Prince of Jin, so the Prince of Jin naturally gained the favor of the powerful and aristocratic families. Moreover, he was adept at social maneuvering and had close relationships with many powerful families, all of whom wanted to recommend him as the crown prince.
The late emperor had no legitimate son, and the Prince of Jin was the eldest son. His mother, Consort Xue, was also from a prominent family. However, the late emperor did not want to be controlled and suppressed by these families any longer. During his reign, he was unable to exercise his imperial power, and the prominent families formed their own factions in the court, leading to increasingly fierce factional struggles.
Despite strong opposition, he arranged for the current emperor, Zhao Boyun, to be raised by the Empress Dowager, insisting on giving him the status of a legitimate son. This angered the previous court, which was extremely dissatisfied with the policy of "establishing the youngest son over the eldest," and repeatedly petitioned him to retract his decision.
From the beginning of his reign, the late emperor constantly fought against the powerful clans. When he was on his deathbed, he was still worried about them, so he wanted to use bloodshed and human lives to deter the arrogance of the powerful clans and prevent them from causing any more trouble.
Targeting the Xu family would also weaken the Prince of Jin, a two-birds-with-one-stone strategy. It is said that even tigers do not eat their cubs, but even the imperial family has no fathers and sons... The Empress Dowager couldn't help but shudder as she recalled the bloodshed caused by the Prince of Jin's rebellion.
But the plan worked. If her ex-husband hadn't been so stupid and messed things up, she wouldn't have left any evidence and implicated other innocent people.
The late emperor was furious and intended to severely punish the Xie family as well, but Consort Xie preemptively declared her intention to commit suicide. The other members of the Xie family were also quite clear-headed, aware of the tense situation, and immediately retreated to show their loyalty.
Thinking of Xie Jieyu, the Empress Dowager also felt a pang of sadness, silently recalling the woman who was as graceful as a gentle breeze and a slender bamboo: "She was so beautiful and gentle, yet resilient and decisive. She was able to see the situation and the late Emperor's thoughts earlier than others, and she was ready to sacrifice herself and her entire family. She was truly admirable."
After a pause, the Empress Dowager looked at the empty roast duck plate and thought, "Actually, the Emperor and the late Emperor are quite similar." Both have the cold-heartedness of an emperor.
She thought of the Marquis of Lejiang who had pawned her away. This ex-husband was also a source of heartache for her. He was short-sighted and dull-witted, like a stain that stuck to her and she couldn't get rid of.
Back then, the late emperor deliberately kept him alive and even put him on a pedestal... Now the emperor is doing the same thing, neither exonerating the Xu family nor punishing him. Could it be that he is also keeping a handle to control her?
She raised Zhao Boyun for five years, from age eleven to sixteen, and they nearly went through life and death together. But once someone sits in that position, no matter how filial and obedient they appear on the surface, they are no longer truly her son. She didn't dare to truly treat Zhao Boyun as her own child.
He is an official.
The Empress Dowager turned the prayer beads in her hand, a smile on her face, but a chill ran through her heart.
Fortunately, she never thought of trusting men in her entire life.
The Emperor has grown up. This year, he secretly recalled Generals Yue and Xi without telling anyone, which was a signal of this. At the palace banquet, the two generals, Yue and Xi, were in full armor, following behind and flanking the Emperor, which startled all the civil and military officials in the capital.
Needless to say, the Yue family was not a powerful clan, and the Xi family was not exactly aristocratic either. They were promoted during the reign of the previous emperor, and were people whom the previous emperor had entrusted to the government with great care. In the past, they were looked down upon by high-ranking families such as Xu, Xue, Guo, and Jiang as "commoner generals," which was almost an understatement to say that the Xi family had no background.
The Empress Dowager's eyes darkened slightly as she recalled Empress Guo, the first to be deposed. The Emperor had been filial to her, but... while he was wary of powerful families, wasn't he also wary of powerful maternal relatives?
Otherwise, why would the current Imperial Concubine be a musician who doesn't even have a maternal family?
Perhaps it's time to find an opportunity to bring up this old issue again.
Even if the Xu family is not exonerated, the innocent people who were wrongfully killed deserve an explanation.
She was once a wife sold by her husband, a lowly maid in the royal palace, and an insignificant concubine... She had gone through so many hardships to get to where she is today. The Marquis of Lejiang must not be allowed to use this weakness against her.
The Empress Dowager lowered her eyes, slowly turning the prayer beads in her hand, pondering to herself.
***
While the snow cleared in Bianjing, a light drizzle began to fall in Chenzhou.
Xie Qi and Shiyi Niang stood under the eaves of a small shop along the street to take shelter from the rain. Shiyi Niang held a piece of sesame candy cake in her hand, tilting her slightly rounder face up to watch the rain fall in fine threads, chatting with Xie Qi while waiting for her family's carriage to come and pick her up.
She took a bite of the sweet cake and couldn't help but glance at the pile of miscellaneous things behind her brother: there were dried cattail shoots from Chenzhou, dried daylily buds from Huaiyang, and large, spicy garlic from Chenzhou... In addition to these local products, there were also two boxes of Chenzhou black pottery utensils that were "as black as lacquer and as shiny as a mirror".
That's not all. My brother even went so far as to look for Chenzhou "mud dogs," which are toys for children, and bought a whole box of animal clay figurines, thus completing the collection of all twelve zodiac animals.
Not only that, but because the Lantern Festival is approaching, they also bought two boxes of various lanterns from Chenzhou.
It is said that Zhou Da drove to his family's estate where he raises cattle and sheep today, tied up two Huai Shan cattle, and also picked out a servant who knows how to raise cattle to take with him.
The elder brother also gave Zhou Da detailed instructions: the cows must be chosen to be both male and female, so that Lady Shen could keep them near the duck farm and have the servants take care of them. Soon they would be able to produce milk and reproduce, plowing the fields for Lady Shen, and Lady Shen and her younger siblings would all be able to drink cow's milk.
Why go to all this trouble? Eleven-Niang remembered her brother saying this: One day, when he accompanied Madam Shen to the market to buy groceries, they came across a farmer selling milk along the street. Madam Shen looked at it but ultimately didn't buy any, only muttering to herself that milk was too expensive, otherwise she could make milk tea.
He kept this in mind. Now that he had the chance, he decided to bring her two cows back.
That's right, all these things, piled up like a small mountain, are also meant for Lady Shen.
Shiyi Niang took another bite of the sugar cake and suddenly remembered what her second aunt often said.
My second aunt always says that her daughters are outgoing and only think about their husband's family after they get married. Regardless of whether this is right or wrong, my second aunt rarely says anything reasonable; she just treats it as a joke.
But how come... it seems to be the opposite when it comes to my brother? My brother hasn't even gotten to know Madam Shen yet, but he already wants to move everything he can to her.
Even when he came back for the New Year, he was absent-minded. When asked to set off fireworks with him, he just stared blankly at the small sparkler in his hand. His body was still in Chenzhou, but his soul had wandered off somewhere else. In the end, he didn't even realize that he had burned his hand.
Shiyi Niang shook her head inwardly, took another bite of the sweet cake, and turned to ask Xie Qi, who was lost in thought, "Brother, are you really not going to spend the Lantern Festival at home?"
Xie Qi snapped out of his reverie and nodded: "Mother has agreed. I'll set off once Zhou Da returns. He'll come to pick you up on Tuesday, then you can go home by yourself."
Shiyi Niang pouted.
In her opinion, it's men who are more outgoing.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
