Turning point
The fifth daughter of the Prefect of Qin Prefecture was named Yinzhu. Her mother was Aunt Hu, a concubine of Prefect Li. Aunt Hu's family had been merchants for generations, and the Taibai Tower was her brother's property.
More importantly, Li Yinzhu readily opened her purse and paid money at Zhao Niangzi's banquet that day, making her one of the major shareholders of Sushan Xiaoji.
Upon hearing this, Pei Qingwu forgot about his food and hurriedly put down his chopsticks and got up.
The waiter lifted the curtain, and Li Yinzhu walked in.
It was the New Year's holiday, and she was dressed in brand new clothes. She wore a light yellow short jacket with gold peony patterns, and the collar and sleeves were trimmed with snow-white rabbit fur, which made her small face look even more radiant. She wore a pomegranate red silk skirt with scattered flowers, and the gold thread patterns shimmered as she walked. She also wore a gold and red peony floral cloak over her clothes.
Her long black hair was tied into a fashionable drooping bun, with a red gold and kingfisher feather hairpin and a few small silk red plum blossoms inserted diagonally in her hair.
She was already blessed with willow-leaf eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes, and her skin was as white as snow. Now, thanks to the warmth of the room and the festive atmosphere of the New Year, her cheeks glowed with a light pink like hibiscus, and a touch of rouge on her lips added to her radiance.
"Madam Li," Pei Qingwu greeted her hastily.
Li Yinzhu met with Zhao Xu first, and then, while taking off her cloak, she said to Pei Qingwu with a smile, "Master Pei, I've been looking for you everywhere. I went all the way to Anyefang, but your maid said you were out watching the lanterns. Luckily, you came to Taibai Tower, otherwise, I really wouldn't know where to look for you."
Pei Qingwu smiled faintly, and quickly took Li Yinzhu's cloak from the waiter and folded it neatly: "May I ask what brings you here, Madam Li?"
“It’s naturally a business matter.” Li Yinzhu looked at Zhao Xu: “Young Master Zhao, would you mind if I spoke a few words with Master Pei here?”
Zhao Xu smiled warmly and gestured for them to proceed: "It's alright."
As soon as Li Yinzhu sat down, a waiter came forward and poured her a warm mulberry wine.
Pei Qingwu also sat down, and after seeing Li Yinzhu slowly drink a cup, he said slowly, "I came to help Taibai Tower order a batch of pastries."
"What kind do you want? And why? Please tell me quickly, Madam Li, so I can remember it and make it when I get back."
Despite having been unable to open for several days and having resolved to take a good rest during the New Year, Pei Qingwu was overjoyed to hear that business had come to his door and hurriedly inquired about it.
"You've seen it yourself, Taibai Tower only makes good food and drinks, and the snacks are just the same few kinds over and over again. I've also heard about those wicked people who framed you. Anyway, I've already invested money with you, and since your business isn't doing well, I won't get any money either." Li Yinzhu picked up a piece of Guifei Red wine and sighed, "I'll do a business for you first, so you can open for business."
Upon hearing this, Pei Qingwu's heart stirred slightly.
Li Yinzhu's idea was for her to become a supplier for Taibai Tower first. Anyway, her business wasn't doing very well, so this way she could at least earn some money, which was better than just sitting around doing nothing.
"Thank you so much, Madam Li, you've truly relieved my distress." She quickly stood up and thanked her with her hands clasped.
Li Yinzhu chuckled: "I said it was for my own sake, but besides Taibai Tower, I have another business deal. I wonder if you dare to do it?"
What is it?
Pei Qingwu was puzzled, but Zhao Xu smiled knowingly: "With Master Pei's skills, why wouldn't you dare to accept it?"
Li Yinzhu said, "The Emperor's sixteenth daughter, Princess Shouchun, will soon be going to Qinzhou with her husband due to his official position being transferred. This princess has a sweet tooth and loves to eat snacks. If you serve her well, wouldn't that be your hope for turning your life around?"
Pei Qingwu's eyes lit up as he listened.
The current dynasty does not prohibit the consorts from entering officialdom. This princess's consort, Wu Cheng, comes from a military family and is promising at a young age. He has been promoted to Left Guard General and concurrently holds an important position in the Qin Prefecture military government. The princess has only recently married into the family, and the young couple has a very deep affection for each other, so he naturally has to accompany her.
The emperor already had more than twenty daughters. Princess Shouchun's birth mother was not favored and had a low status, only a third-rank concubine. But no matter what, she was still a princess, a golden branch and jade leaf, and a member of the imperial family.
They are definitely difficult to please, but if they succeed in winning the princess's favor, those villains will no longer dare to make any open moves.
"So? Dare to accept?" Li Yinzhu asked with great interest.
“Of course, if possible, I would like to ask Lady Li to introduce me to the princess,” Pei Qingwu said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Li Yinzhu clapped her hands and laughed, "Well done, Master Pei! I knew you would dare to take this job. Alright, I'll put in a good word for you with the princess."
"Thank you, Madam Li."
As soon as they got back, Pei Qingwu excitedly grabbed Yin Lan and Qian Tao on either side: "Yin Lan, Qian Tao, we have business again! If we do well this time, we'll never have to worry about business again."
Yinlan and Qiantao were overjoyed to hear this.
"Really? That's wonderful, boss!" Qian Tao clapped her hands and jumped up. "What kind of big deal is it?"
“It was Lady Li who asked us to supply goods to Taibai Tower,” Pei Qingwu nodded with a smile, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement. “Moreover, not only that, there is also a tremendous opportunity to make pastries for Princess Shouchun, who is about to accompany her husband to Qinzhou!”
"Princess?!" Qian Tao's cheer caught in her throat, turning into an incredulous exclamation, her beautiful eyes widening in disbelief.
Yin Lan's smile froze instantly, turning into deep worry.
She instinctively gripped Pei Qingwu's sleeve, her voice tense: "Master, you want to make pastries for the princess? This...this is really alright! She's a princess! What if...what if something doesn't suit her taste, what if there's the slightest mistake, then...but..."
She dared not continue, her eyes filled with fear of the unknown risks.
Working for someone important often comes with hidden dangers behind the glory.
Pei Qingwu looked at Yin Lan's worried expression and knew that her concerns were very realistic, but the dual pressure of her own adventurous spirit and the real predicament left her with no other choice.
She grasped Yinlan's cold hand in return, lowering her voice: "Yinlan, don't be afraid! As the old saying goes, 'The bolder the man, the greater the harvest!' We can't always rely on small businesses to make a living. Besides, fortune favors the bold; the greater the risk, the greater the potential reward! That's when you have to—"
She paused, then blurted out an extremely modern phrase: "Take a gamble, and you might just turn a bicycle into a motorcycle!"
Gu Heng, Yin Lan, and Qian Tao were stunned and looked at each other in bewilderment.
"A bicycle turned into a motorcycle?" Qian Tao repeated blankly, completely not understanding what that was.
Pei Qingwu quickly said, "You can think of it as taking a gamble. Originally, you were traveling by mule, but now you're traveling by carriage."
After this explanation, the three seemed to understand somewhat, and seeing Pei Qingwu's resolute and confident demeanor, their panic was somewhat dispelled.
The employer always has a plan...
As they thought this, they all looked at Pei Qingwu.
"In short, I'll hold the sky up if it falls!" Pei Qingwu patted his chest confidently. "Right now, let's secure the Taibai Tower order. This is a great start and the first step in proving our strength to the princess!"
In the following days, the kitchen of Sushan Xiaoji was bustling with activity once again.
Pei Qingwu ordered three kinds of Chinese pastries that did not exist in this dynasty. Li Yinzhu said that the pastry chefs at Taibailou were not innovative, so that was perfect and she could do it.
The first one is egg yolk pastry.
Select the best salted duck egg yolks, spray with a little rice wine to remove the fishy smell, bake until oily and sandy, then use lard to make flaky pastry with layers upon layers, as thin as cicada wings.
The red bean paste filling is stir-fried until it is smooth and oily, with a moderate sweetness that perfectly balances the salty and savory flavor of the salted egg yolk.
Finally, brush on the golden egg wash and sprinkle with a few black sesame seeds for garnish.
When they come out of the oven, they are golden and round, with a fragrant aroma. When cut open, the layers are distinct, with red bean paste wrapped around orange-yellow egg yolk, making them extremely tempting.
The second item is Ruyi Lianggao (a type of cold rice cake).
Mix high-quality glutinous rice flour with a small amount of rice flour, add a pale yellow sugar syrup dyed with gardenia flowers, and mix to form a smooth and delicate rice paste.
Take another portion of rice milk, add crushed hawthorn jam, and adjust to a pink color.
First, a layer of yellow rice batter is poured into the bottom of a specially made mold, steamed until set, and then a layer of pink hawthorn rice batter is carefully poured in and steamed again.
After steaming, remove and let cool to set. Once unmolded, cut into small rectangular pieces.
The finished product has a lustrous, jade-like color with distinct layers of yellow and pink. It is cool and soft to the taste, with the slight tartness of hawthorn perfectly blended with the sweetness of rice cake, making it refreshing and not greasy. Its shape resembles a small ruyi, symbolizing good fortune.
The third item is coconut glutinous rice balls.
Steamed glutinous rice is pounded into a soft and chewy skin, which is then wrapped around a sweet filling made of roasted peanut crumbs, sesame seeds, and sugar.
The most crucial step is to roll the round glutinous rice ball several times in a thick layer of shredded coconut, so that it is evenly coated all over.
The finished product is snow-white like a fluffy ball. When you bite into it, you are first filled with the aroma of coconut, followed by the soft and chewy texture of glutinous rice and the crispy and sweet flavor of peanuts and sesame seeds, creating a rich and layered taste.
The pastries were carefully packed in boxes and personally delivered to the kitchen of Taibai Tower by Pei Qingwu.
After inspecting the product, the shopkeeper and head chef were both amazed by its exquisite design and novel taste, and immediately signed a supply contract.
Pei Qingwu finally felt relieved after receiving the signed contract. Just as he was about to take his leave, he heard a clear, cheerful, and familiar voice coming from outside the door: "Master Pei! What a coincidence!"
The beaded curtain was lifted, revealing Li Yinzhu, dressed in splendid attire and radiant with beauty.
She walked in with light steps, her gaze sweeping over the unpacked pastry box on the table, her smile deepening: "Oh, these new products look so novel! Taibailou is in for a treat."
As he spoke, he casually picked up a small snowball covered in coconut flakes, put it in his mouth and savored it. His eyes immediately lit up: "Mmm! Soft, sweet and fragrant, and these white strands... What a wonderful aroma! Boss Pei, you never disappoint."
She abruptly changed the subject, grabbing Pei Qingwu's wrist: "Leave the pastries to the shopkeeper. Come on, come on, come with me!"
"Lady Li? Where are you going?" Pei Qingwu stumbled as she pulled him.
"Where else could we go?" Li Yinzhu turned around and gave her a reproachful look, her bright red nail polish lightly poking her arm. "Of course, we're going to see the princess! I sent out a letter yesterday, saying that I've found a skillful pastry chef. The princess heard that several novel pastries in Qinzhou City were made by you, and she also heard about your experiences and novel ideas. She's quite interested, and since she's free now, she's allowed me to take you to meet her. It's a rare opportunity, so hurry up and get in the carriage!"
Without saying a word, Li Yinzhu pulled the still somewhat dazed Pei Qingwu and walked out.
Sure enough, a small blue painted carriage was parked outside the gate. Although the decoration was not luxurious, it was exquisite in every way. It was obviously prepared by the Li family for the women.
Pei Qingwu's heart jumped into his throat.
She had previously said that "fortune favors the bold," but now that she was actually facing the imperial family, the tension overwhelmed her instantly.
She took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, turned around and hurriedly gave a few instructions to Qian Tao who was accompanying her, before boarding the carriage with Li Yinzhu.
The wheels rolled on, leaving the bustling streets and heading towards the residence where the princess was temporarily staying in Qinzhou City.
The carriage curtains blocked out the view outside, and Pei Qingwu could only feel the carriage moving steadily and quickly, getting closer and closer to the place that would determine her future fate.
They drove into a quieter area, where the hustle and bustle of the city receded like the tide, and the carriage stopped. Pei Qingwu got out of the carriage with Li Yinzhu, and the view suddenly opened up before them.
This is not the main gate of the mansion, but rather a side gate or the entrance to the inner courtyard, yet the imperial grandeur is already palpable.
Looking up, one sees high walls and deep courtyards, vermilion gates with golden nails, and several eunuchs and palace maids dressed in palace attire, with solemn demeanor, standing silently at the entrance.
Stepping into the mansion, one finds winding corridors with exquisite palace lanterns hanging beneath them. The candlelight inside the glass lampshades illuminates the intricate carvings and paintings on the pillars.
The courtyard is spacious, paved with white stones, and spotless. In the corners, there are oddly shaped Taihu stones and a few gnarled ancient plum trees. The main hall can be seen in the distance, with flying eaves and brackets. The glazed tiles shimmer with a warm luster in the thin winter sunlight. Golden bells hang under the eaves, making a clear and melodious sound in the breeze.
Even in a corner of the courtyard, the carved beams and painted rafters, the furnishings and objects are all exquisite and luxurious, exuding a royal heritage that weighs more than a thousand pounds, which is incomparable to ordinary wealthy families.
The closer Pei Qingwu got to the princess, the more nervous he became. His palms were slightly sweaty, his heart was pounding like a drum, and he took each step carefully, afraid of disturbing the solemnity of the silence.
Li Yinzhu was clearly more composed than her, walking with ease. Led by an older female official dressed in a blue-green palace gown and wearing a silver hairpin, she passed through several moon gates and arrived at a more elegant and warm flower hall.
Upon entering the hall, a warm and inviting atmosphere, accompanied by the fragrance of flowers, greets you. The interior is beautifully furnished yet elegant, with the rosewood furniture as smooth as a mirror, the floor covered with thick, soft Persian-patterned carpets, and wisps of incense rising from the gilded Boshan censer.
Seven or eight palace maids stood in the hall, all dressed in the same light blue palace dress, with their hair styled in double buns. They were respectful, with their eyes lowered and breath held, like a still painting of court ladies.
In the main seat of the flower hall, a beautifully dressed woman was surrounded by palace maids like stars around the moon. Pei Qingwu dared not look closely, only feeling that all the brilliance in the room was concentrated on that one person.
She dared not be negligent in the slightest. Following Li Yinzhu's steps, three or four steps away from the main seat, she bowed deeply according to the court etiquette she had hastily learned earlier, stepped forward, and performed an extremely respectful and proper bow: "This commoner, Pei Qingwu, greets Your Highness. May Your Highness be blessed with ten thousand years of good fortune and peace."
She was extremely submissive, her forehead pressed against the cold back of her hand, holding her breath and not daring to move.
After a brief silence, a clear and melodious girl's voice broke the stillness in the hall: "No need for formalities, raise your head to speak."
"Thank you for your grace, Your Highness." Pei Qingwu kowtowed again to express his gratitude before slowly raising his head. According to etiquette, his gaze was slightly lowered, not daring to look directly at her, but it was still enough to see the face of this noble lady.
Princess Shouchun was about sixteen or seventeen years old, the prime of a woman's life. She sat gracefully on a large bamboo couch, with a thick sable fur rug beneath her, her posture dignified.
She wore a crimson brocade palace dress with narrow sleeves and gold thread, embroidered with butterflies and flowers. The collar, sleeve edges and hem were inlaid with snow-white silver fox fur, and the dress was embroidered with extremely exquisite gold thread embroidery, densely embroidered with a pattern of intertwined passionflowers, with the gold threads flowing and shining under the light.
She wore a matching silk brocade shirt with cloud and phoenix patterns, the edges of which were adorned with tiny, round, and lustrous pearls the size of rice grains.
She wore a ten-panel, lake-blue, floor-length gown made of extremely rare peacock feather brocade. As she walked, the hem rippled like water, subtly revealing a blue, green, and gold sheen as the light changed, shimmering and dazzling, breathtakingly beautiful. The edges of the skirt were also outlined with continuous cloud and water patterns in gold thread.
A white jade openwork lotus pattern belt was tied around her waist, which made her waist look even more slender.
Her black hair was not styled into an overly complicated high bun, but rather into a gentle and elegant "Suiyun" bun. At the center of the bun was a dazzling red gold filigree hairpin inlaid with rubies and kingfisher feathers, depicting a phoenix and peony. The phoenix was about to take flight, with a string of slender gold filigree tassels in its beak, the ends of which were adorned with teardrop-shaped pigeon blood rubies. It swayed gently with her subtle movements, shimmering with light.
A small, exquisite red gold hairpin inlaid with pearls and a begonia flower was tucked diagonally into her temple, and around her neck she wore a necklace of round, full pearls, each about the size of a thumb, with a lustrous sheen.
Looking at her appearance, she truly had snow-white skin and a beautiful face, naturally beautiful. Her skin was delicate and fair, as fair as snow. Her oval face had soft and smooth lines, and her willow-leaf eyebrows were long and thin, reaching her temples. The color of her eyebrows was like distant mountains with dark eyebrows. Her most outstanding feature was her pair of phoenix eyes, which were slightly upturned at the corners and had clear and bright pupils. At this moment, she was looking down at Pei Qingwu with a bit of inquiry.
Her lips naturally have a slight upward curve, as if she is smiling even when she is not smiling. Her cheeks naturally have a healthy blush, like peach blossoms in early spring, without the need for excessive rouge.
She casually rested one hand on the armrest, her fair wrist adorned with a pair of exquisite jade bracelets, while her other hand gently held a silk peony fan with an ivory handle. Her entire demeanor was breathtakingly elegant and noble, like a phoenix looking down upon the mortal world from the heavens, making people dare not look directly at her.
Pei Qingwu's heart pounded even faster as he deeply felt what true imperial grandeur was all about.
Princess Shouchun's gaze lingered on Pei Qingwu for a moment, but she did not speak immediately. Instead, she picked up a delicate, white porcelain teacup from the gilded stemmed plate beside her and gently skimmed off the foam with the lid.
The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, except for the faint, crisp sound of the teacup lid lightly touching the rim of the cup.
After a long silence, the princess finally spoke slowly: "You are the Pei Dongjia that Yinzhu praised so highly?"
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