But Xu Yuehuai knew very little about Qi Guze. The capital city was vast, with a single street stretching endlessly, lined with shops on both sides, and countless houses behind the inns and shops.
Even across the moat, rows and rows of houses rise from the ground. The capital city has a population of 90 million, so finding one person among 90 million is like finding a needle in a haystack.
"Brother Qi is an official, did he leave you a specific address?" Seeing Xu Yuehuai pondering something, Zhou Wan quickly leaned closer.
Xu Yuehuai didn't even know Qi Guze's identity. She clutched the white jade blankly, lost in thought: "How would I know all these intricacies?"
"So how do we find it?"
“There are many people here, and there must be countless people with the same name. Finding one person is like finding a needle in a haystack.” Xu Yuehuai looked at everyone. “We need to settle down.”
"But we are penniless."
Zhou Wan rubbed her hands together awkwardly.
Xu Yuehuai said, "Don't worry, we'll figure out how to make money."
But no matter what business you do, you always need capital, and unfortunately, they didn't even have any capital left.
Just as everyone was lost in thought, Chun San Niang arrived.
She rushed over anxiously and stood right in front of Xu Yuehuai.
Xu Yuehuai was surprised and before she could speak, Chun Sanniang knelt down in front of her with a thud, "Oh no, please help me save my life, young lady."
"how?"
Chun San Niang immediately burst into tears and collapsed in front of Xu Yuehuai.
Now, on the bustling street, Xu Yuehuai noticed that many people were staring at them. She hurriedly helped Chun San Niang up, saying, "Please speak your mind. Don't be like this. Look how many people are watching us."
"Young lady, my whole family's lives are in your hands, please have mercy on me."
Chun San Niang cried so hard she could barely breathe, choking back sobs: "Does the young lady know about the Imperial Kitchen?"
What "Shangshiju"?
This new term left Xu Yuehuai completely bewildered.
Seeing Chun San Niang's heartfelt crying, Zhou Wan felt uneasy and leaned closer to Xu Yuehuai to remind her, "Mother, we need to hurry on our way. We're new here, what's with all this talk about the Imperial Kitchen?"
Chun San Niang was worried that Xu Yuehuai would run away, so she grabbed Zhou Wan's hand and wiped away her tears. She sobbed, "You have no idea how serious this is. Princess Anning, the daughter of Marquis Huaiyuan, is sick. She grew up in western Sichuan and has no appetite at all. The Emperor ordered the Imperial Kitchen to make Sichuan food for her, but the little princess is so picky and nitpicky that she can't eat a single bite."
"Now, the young princess is terminally ill and refuses to eat or drink anything. She insists on eating this 'Old Bowl Fish from the Pond.' Girl, you've really put us in a difficult position. Your 'Old Bowl Fish' is delicious and beautifully presented, as many people have witnessed. Today, Wei Kouxiao, the chief steward of the Imperial Food Bureau, happened to come here. If we can't make it now, we'll lose our heads. Please, we beg you."
Xu Yuehuai finally understood the whole story.
So that's where it all started.
"If I cook, will the little princess eat it?"
In fact, Xu Yuehuai has a lot of experience with Sichuan cuisine.
In his previous life, he apprenticed under a master who personally taught him his unique skills. That master was a native of western Sichuan, and he could make any dish into a five-star level by simply adding chili peppers, Erjingtiao peppers, and rattan peppers.
Xu Yuehuai was the master's last disciple.
That master chef is a big name in the Sichuan cuisine world, with countless students and disciples.
However, only Xu Yuehuai truly inherited his master's unique skills. The old master even praised Xu Yuehuai for surpassing his master. Now, Xu Yuehuai had no intention of getting involved in this mess.
But Chun San Niang's pitiful sobs on the other side moved her to pity.
Just as Xu Yuehuai was about to give it a try, Zhou Wan politely declined.
"We know neither any prince nor any princess nor anyone from the Imperial Kitchen. Please find someone else."
Chun San Niang looked pitifully at Xu Yuehuai, and it seemed she was about to kneel down again.
Xu Yuehuai touched a strand of hair at her temple, pondered for a moment, and asked, "How much will you pay me if I cook for you?" Now she was preparing to go find Qi Guze, but she couldn't be too pathetic.
Secondly, we still don't know where Qi Guze is.
At present, Xu Yuehuai needs to solve not only the problem of food and clothing, but also the problem of housing.
In the capital, after nightfall, the military commanders would conduct searches everywhere. Homeless people would be taken to prison. To live in the capital, one needed money.
"How about I give you twenty taels?"
Chun San Niang spoke, her eyes earnest and sincere.
Xu Yuehuai stared at that look, seemingly lost in thought. Chun Sanniang burst into tears again, "Miss, our shop is small and our profits are meager. As you saw before, this twenty taels is more than half of our savings. Please, have mercy on us, Heavenly Bodhisattva!"
Seeing Chun San Niang's pitiful state, Xu Yuehuai nodded and said, "I don't need twenty taels, but I have a favor to ask."
"Please speak, please speak."
Chun San Niang smiled.
In fact, as long as Xu Yuehuai was willing to help her escape her misery, she would do anything. After all, those guys in the palace were always unpredictable, and who knew what they would do next?
Xu Yuehuai pointed to the people behind him, "We'll consider it an obligation since you provided us with accommodation. We'll pay you back when we have the money, how about that?"
"Good girl, why are you being so formal? Come on, from now on you're my sister. You can stay here as long as you don't mind."
Xu Yuehuai solved the accommodation problem for everyone before following behind Chun San Niang.
When we arrived at the inn, the entrance was heavily guarded.
Inside the shop, the shopkeeper was terrified. He knelt tremblingly before a man in a python robe. The man's face was ashen, as if he hadn't seen the sun for years. He had prominent eye bags and was full of energy, but his eyes were fixed on the shopkeeper kneeling before him with evil intent.
Several attendants dressed as guards stood behind the man.
Xu Yuehuai had just entered the inner hall when she saw this scene.
He immediately realized that this person was Wei Yixiao, the chief steward of the Imperial Food Bureau.
"Grand Steward, Your Excellency," Chun San Niang hurriedly knelt before Wei Yi Xiao, leaving Xu Yue Huai behind. "We have found our cook. The best Tangba Old Bowl Fish is made by this young lady. Please don't make things difficult for her. Let her make it for our little princess."
Wei Yixiao turned to look at Xu Yuehuai.
His gaze was cold and ruthless, and Ah Qi immediately stepped in front of Xu Yuehuai to protect her.
Xu Yuehuai smiled and pondered for a moment before bowing with her fists clasped. "I am the cook of Tianxiang Restaurant. I know that the young princess wants to eat her hometown dishes. Perhaps the young princess is longing for her hometown food. Fortunately, I am also from western Sichuan, and I am afraid that my Sichuan dishes can satisfy Your Highness's appetite."
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