Chapter 165 Clues to Hibiscus Cake
Wu Yumin then asked, "Yu'er, why are you asking these questions? You're jumping from one topic to another."
Before Xie Yunyu could speak, Gu Yu opened her mouth and said:
"Miss, there's a famous old shop called Li Si on Nanshi Old Street that makes delicious hibiscus cake."
Business used to be pretty good, but in recent years our Jiuzhou Dim Sum Shop has become too popular.
Other shops rushed to imitate it, so fewer people ate the old-fashioned hibiscus cake.
Xie Yunyu nodded and said, "Okay, take me there tomorrow when you're free, let's go take a look."
"Here you go."
Gu Yu responded softly.
Wu Yumin was distracted by Gu Yu's words and instantly forgot what she wanted to ask.
The clatter of mahjong tiles echoed all morning.
In the afternoon, Wu Yumin was really worried about her child at home, so she took Xue Weiyang home early.
Xie Yunyu was preoccupied with the matter of the hibiscus cake, so she had a carriage prepared and took Gu Yu to the hibiscus cake shop.
The carriage drove through a narrow alley and saw a drooping, limp banner at the crossroads ahead.
It says "Li Si Pastry Shop" on it.
Xie Yunyu got off the carriage and went into the shop. From a distance, she saw the waiter in the hall dozing off in front of the counter.
Gu Yu stepped forward and knocked on the table, startling the waiter awake.
"What would you two like to order?"
Xie Yunyu looked at her and said, "I heard that the hibiscus cake here is the best in the whole capital?"
The waiter was wide awake as soon as he heard this.
"This lady has good taste; our shop is a fifty-year-old establishment."
The hibiscus cake in this shop is the first of its kind in the entire capital.
The recipe for our family's hibiscus cake originated from the imperial kitchen of the palace.
Xie Yunyu laughed upon hearing this: "Oh, I see. No wonder it has been able to operate for fifty years without failing."
The waiter was even more delighted and said, "Two catties, sir?"
"Okay, then two jin it is."
Xie Yunyu was easy to talk to.
"Brother, why does the business seem a bit slow?" Xie Yunyu asked.
"Alas, isn't it still before the season for hibiscus flowers?"
Hibiscus flowers bloom as early as July each year and continue to bloom until November.
Those were the seasonal flowers, and the hibiscus cakes made from them were the most delicious.
It's only May now, and we're using last year's dried flowers, which are already a bit less appealing.
But its advantage lies in its unique flavor.
Xie Yunyu replied, "Then I want four jin, two jin per pack, and I'll keep them separate."
The waiter was delighted when he heard that he wanted two more pounds.
"Alright, please wait a moment, sir."
The waiter happily wrapped up Xie Yunyu's pastries and handed them to her.
Xie Yunyu then asked, "I heard that many princes and nobles in the capital like to come here to buy pastries, and some even have them delivered to their residences."
The young man's hands moved nimbly and continuously, and he said with a smile:
"This is not hearsay, it is a fact."
"Places like the Prince Cheng's Mansion, the Marquis Cheng'en's Mansion, and the Marquis Changping's Mansion are all frequent visitors here."
Xie Yunyu was startled when she heard the words "Changping Marquis's Mansion".
He quickly asked, "When did the Marquis of Changping's residence start having things delivered to their door?"
"Last year... the year before last, when the new flowers were in season, they were delivered to me every day. But last year they were delivered less, only occasionally this year."
The waiter rarely encountered such a kind lady, so he naturally answered all his questions without reservation.
Xie Yunyu thought for a moment and realized that the Third Prince had married Feng Ling Shuang, a daughter of the Marquis of Changping, in November of the year before last.
Is it a coincidence that the imperial decree for marriage was issued on the Dragon Boat Festival, and then the Marquis of Changping came to buy hibiscus cake?
Whether it's a coincidence or not, we should investigate this lead.
Where did all these hibiscus cakes end up?
Did the Feng family eat it themselves, or did it end up in the palace?
Xie Yunyu brought the hibiscus cake back to the mansion, and when she arrived home, she found Xiao Ling already sitting there.
Since their marriage, Xiao Ling went to the government office every day while Xie Yunyu lay on the bed.
Sometimes when he came back early, Xie Yunyu was still lying on the couch reading storybooks.
So when he came back, he would go directly to the dormitory to see Xie Yunyu first, and then change his clothes and go to the study.
After returning today, I searched around but couldn't find Xie Yunyu.
He then asked Xia Zhi, "Where did the princess go?"
On the summer solstice, he knelt in greeting and bowed his head in response:
"After the Xie family's eldest and second wives left this afternoon, the princess took Gu Yu out and hasn't returned yet."
Xiao Ling asked again, "Do you know where to go?"
"Guyu said she was going to buy hibiscus cake."
Xiao Ling felt relieved when he heard that they were going to Furong Cake, because it was still about what happened yesterday.
He went to the study without even changing his own clothes, and only after a while did he hear from outside that his wife had returned.
Xiao Ling ran back to the dormitory from the study like a gust of wind.
When they arrived, they saw Xie Yunyu changing clothes, so they smiled and went up to take the work from Gu Yu's hands.
He personally helped Xie Yunyu put on her clothes.
Seeing that he was still wearing his official robes, Xie Yunyu asked, "You just got back too?"
Xiao Ling pursed his lips and said, "I've been back for a long time, but my wife is nowhere to be found. What's the point of being alone in an empty room?"
Xie Yunyu reached out and punched him lightly: "You're being unserious again."
Xiao Ling lowered his head and kissed Xie Yunyu's lips, then said:
"Alright, now it's your turn to help your husband get dressed."
As she spoke, she stretched out her arms, waiting for Xie Yunyu to help her undress.
Helpless, Xie Yunyu had no choice but to help him undress.
No sooner had he taken off his outer robe than Xiao Ling reached out and pulled Xie Yunyu into his arms.
"Stop fooling around, put your clothes on quickly. The servants are watching. Aren't you ashamed?"
Xie Yunyu reached out and pushed against his chest.
Xiao Ling whispered in his ear, "There are no servants here. There are clearly only the two of us in this room."
Xie Yunyu turned her head with difficulty and looked around; indeed, no one was there.
But one cannot indulge in lewdness in broad daylight.
So he changed the subject, saying, "Don't you want to know what I found out today?"
Upon hearing Xie Yunyu mention this, Xiao Ling promptly released his grip.
Xie Yunyu took the opportunity to help Xiao Ling change into an outer robe, tie his belt, and tidy his hair.
Then, standing on tiptoe, he kissed Xiao Ling on the lips.
"Let's go to the study to talk."
The two walked out of the room hand in hand, and the servants outside were used to it.
Silently, I lifted my foot and followed along.
Upon entering the study, Gu Yu tactfully served tea and water.
Qingfeng then tidied up the mess on Xiao Ling's desk.
The two sat on a small couch by the window, with a small table between them, drinking tea and chatting.
"What did the Empress say from the palace? Have there been any new discoveries?" Xie Yunyu asked.
Xiao Ling turned to Qingfeng and said, "Bring me the booklet I was just looking at."
Upon hearing this, Qingfeng took the booklet over.
Xie Yunyu looked at the detailed information about the various concubines in the palace recorded on it.
Then he picked up a pen and wrote "Consort Xin" on the paper.
A while later, he wrote down the name of Consort Rong.
Finally, he put down the booklet, wrote "Hibiscus Cake," and then linked the Hibiscus Cake with Consort Rong.
But a question mark was drawn in the middle.
Then the character "琴" (qin, a stringed instrument) was written, followed by "符山长" (Fu Shanzhang, Headmaster of the Fu Mountain Sect), then "荣嫔" (Rong Pin, Consort Rong), and finally a question mark.
Xiao Ling was completely confused.
"My lady, what do you mean?"
Xie Yunyu thought for a moment and said, "The evidence we have now is not clear enough, and we need to investigate in more detail."
After saying that, he added, "Why do I feel like it's Consort Rong?"
“Consort Rong? How is that possible?” Xiao Ling shook his head.
"Why not?" Xie Yunyu asked.
“Consort Rong doesn’t have the guts.” Xiao Ling waved his hand.
Seeing this, Xie Yunyu sighed: "She pretends to be incapable when she is capable, and pretends not to use what she has. Perhaps she is good at disguising herself?"
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