On that clear morning, Qi Guze decided to go to the palace to ask Qi Hanlin about whether or not to cooperate with the Dongsang Kingdom.
He knew the matter was of great importance and that he needed to proceed with caution.
Xu Yuehuai, as his wife, naturally gave her full support.
"Then I'll go to the palace first. You stay here and be careful." Qi Guze looked at Xu Yuehuai with a firm gaze.
Xu Yuehua nodded with a smile, "Okay." Her eyes were full of trust; she knew Qi Guze would make the best choice.
Then they embraced tightly, as if trying to etch each other deeply into their hearts.
They said goodbye in the morning sunlight, as if the clear weather at that moment foreshadowed a bright future for them.
After Qi Guze left, Xu Yuehuai sent servants to fetch Lu Mu and Chu Guangbai. She waited in the mansion's council hall, the atmosphere somewhat tense.
Soon after, Lu Mu arrived first: "Your Highness, what brings you here?"
A hint of doubt crossed his face; he clearly didn't know why Xu Yuehuai wanted to see him.
Chu Guangbai followed closely behind, looking at Xu Yuehuai with curiosity in his eyes.
Xu Yuehuai took a deep breath: "Since Wuling Kingdom is unstable recently, let's go to the main building of Tianxiang Tower here to check the situation."
Her tone was firm, clearly indicating that she already had a plan.
Lu Mu's face immediately lit up with a look of delight: "Great!"
He had long wanted to visit the main building of Tianxiang Tower, but had never had the chance. Now that Xu Yuehuai had invited him, he was naturally very happy.
At this moment, Xia Sen, the little princess, Qi Ziang, and Tie Chunsheng also ran over.
They looked at Xu Yuehuai with expectant expressions on their faces.
"Mother, take me with you!" Qi Zi'ang said.
"Okay, let's all go together!"
Xu Yuehuai smiled and stepped forward to hug Qi Ziang, and then the group left the palace.
Sunlight slanted across the streets of the ancient capital, and a gentle breeze swept away the heat. The square in front of the Prince's Palace was deserted; the once bustling scene had vanished in an instant.
Meanwhile, inside the Prince's mansion, the group was quietly preparing to leave. The carriage slowly drove out of the mansion, and compared to the surrounding hustle and bustle, the interior of the carriage was exceptionally quiet.
The sound of the wheels rolling is like the whisper of time, telling the story that is about to unfold.
Inside the carriage, Xu Yuehuai, Qi Ziang, Xia Sen, and four others sat side by side, their eyes fixed on the view outside the window, seemingly savoring every blade of grass and tree in the capital.
"The capital has changed so much; it's becoming more and more prosperous," Xia Sen exclaimed, his eyes revealing a nostalgia for the past.
“Yes, the rapid development of the capital is astonishing,” Qi Ziang added, his words revealing his deep affection for this land.
The little princess sat to one side, her hands supporting her chin, her eyes sparkling with curiosity: "What new changes do you think Tianxiang Restaurant will have in its menu this time?"
Her words were filled with anticipation for the upcoming delicious food.
"Tianxianglou has always been known for its superb culinary skills, and every visit brings new surprises. I wonder what the main building will look like now that Miss Xu is no longer in charge?" Chu Guangbai said with a smile, his eyes revealing his love for food.
"Yes! I'll have to give them a good test later," Xu Yuehuai said slowly.
The carriage traveled through the streets of the capital, the scenery along the way like a flowing painting. Soon after, the carriage stopped in front of an antique building—Tianxiang Tower.
The shopkeeper was waiting at the door early, and when she saw Xu Yuehuai, a joyful smile appeared on her face: "Master! You're finally back!" Her voice was full of excitement.
Xu Yuehua smiled slightly and nodded: "Manager, please prepare the best wine and dishes so that everyone can taste Tianxianglou's signature dishes."
"Yes! Master, please follow me upstairs. I have prepared the best private room for you." The innkeeper replied respectfully, leading everyone upstairs.
The group followed the innkeeper upstairs to a private room. The room was elegantly and comfortably furnished, with lush greenery outside the window, a stark contrast to the opulent interior.
Xu Yuehuai sat down and said softly, "Please make yourselves at home. Let's enjoy ourselves today."
Everyone took their seats, and soon, plates of delicious-looking dishes were served one after another.
The manager of Tianxianglou personally explained the characteristics and cooking techniques of each dish.
"This is one of our signature dishes—Golden Broth Dragon Scale Fish. It's made with fresh fish meat, carefully prepared to perfection, resulting in a rich broth and tender, juicy meat," the manager explained, pointing to the first dish.
Everyone took a bite and immediately praised it highly. The golden broth emitted an enticing aroma, and the fish was fresh, tender, and had an excellent texture.
Then, one delicious dish after another was served: steamed lion's head meatballs, braised sea cucumber, stir-fried pork kidneys... Each dish was carefully prepared and left a lasting impression.
As everyone savored the food, they shared their insights and feelings about it. Sunlight streamed through the gauze curtains, casting dappled shadows on the table.
At this moment, time seemed to slow down.
After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, everyone's faces were filled with satisfaction and joy.
Xu Yuehuai suddenly said to the shopkeeper next to her, "The taste seems a little different."
The shopkeeper was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Master, this... it was made by the same cook as before. This old servant didn't change anyone."
"Then why is the fish not fresh and the kidneys smelly?" Xu Yuehuai took a bite and put down her chopsticks.
"This..." The shopkeeper also picked up a piece of fish and tasted it, then his eyes widened. "How could this be, how could this happen..."
Having said that, he immediately stood up. "I'll go and call the cook over right now!"
Xia Sen and the little princess were still eating slowly and carefully, completely unaware of this sudden change.
Chu Guangbai's eyes flickered slightly, and his gaze toward Xu Yuehuai became even more complicated.
Lu Mu's eyes lit up, and he greatly admired Xu Yuehuai.
Qi Zi'ang, however, was already used to it and calmly continued eating his meal. Of course he knew how powerful his mother was.
Soon, the cook was led over by the manager. He was an elderly man, about fifty years old, and his eyes twitched when he saw the dishes on the table in such a mess.
"What's going on?" the shopkeeper glared at him. "Have you been slacking off?"
"Shopkeeper, don't you know me?" the old cook said, looking wronged. "Even if I had ten mouths, I couldn't explain myself!"
He knew there would be a problem with this meal, but he never expected that it would actually cause problems!
The shopkeeper also vaguely sensed that something was wrong.
At this moment, Xu Yuehuai said calmly, "Go and get the vinegar."
"vinegar?"
The shopkeeper was taken aback. Soon, the vinegar was brought over. Xu Yuehuai poured some into a bowl, then took out a silver needle and dipped it in the vinegar.
Everyone stared at her in disbelief. Chu Guangbai vaguely understood.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com