Complaints could be heard from the crowd.
"Why aren't they here yet! I came all the way from another prefecture overnight just to taste this unique, strongly flavored dish."
"I bought a portion yesterday, intending to try it, but I couldn't forget it after eating it. Today I want to buy a few more to share with my family. I hope I don't make a wasted trip."
"Why isn't the stinky tofu beauty here yet? Doesn't she know the saying, 'If you're not proactive in making money, there's something wrong with your thinking'?"
Among the waiting crowd, a young man dressed in a deep red wedding robe attracted everyone's attention.
One of the gossipy old ladies couldn't help but ask, "Groom, you're buying stinky tofu to eat? Aren't you afraid of bothering your bride-to-be with the smell when you go to pick her up later?"
Everyone else burst into laughter upon hearing this.
The groom's face flushed instantly. He lowered his head and said somewhat embarrassedly, "My wife insisted on eating stinky tofu, so I came here to queue up."
His wife said he was very similar to stinky tofu in character. Stinky tofu smells bad but tastes good; he may not look like much, but he is kind and considerate on the inside.
So he has the patience to wait in long lines for the things his wife likes to eat.
The middle-aged man with a long beard, seeing the groom's shy expression, couldn't help but praise, "So he's a good husband who dotes on his wife!"
Upon hearing this, the people around nodded in agreement.
Everyone started talking at once, and soon the topic of "If you love her, buy her a serving of stinky tofu!" spread.
Just then, Qi Yize rode his horse to the gate of the Sixth Prince's residence. When he saw the large crowd gathered at the gate, he was immediately startled.
He looked at the people with a puzzled expression, wondering to himself: Had I gone to the wrong place? Why were there so many people?
What exactly happened these past few days? He had only gone to Jiaxing Prefecture on official business.
Upon entering the mansion, Qi Yize hurried along, heading straight for the study with a clear purpose.
His signature loud voice, as if it had a built-in megaphone, carried from afar: "Yun Jin, I'm back. Did you miss me?"
Upon hearing that familiar voice, Zhao Yunjin raised his left eyebrow slightly, closed the official document in his hand, looked towards the door with his dark eyes, and said in a deep and magnetic voice, "Let's get down to business."
Seeing this, Qi Yize shook his head helplessly.
Why is this guy always so businesslike? He has no human touch at all. I really want to see him fall from grace.
I wonder who has the ability to make him show a different side of himself.
Qi Yize walked to the desk and sat down, then said, "The prefect of Jiaxing has been escorted back to the capital by us. Qin Zihao has interrogated him several times, but this man is particularly cunning. He readily admitted to embezzlement, but he has always denied bribing for murder."
Zhao Yunjin frowned, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "Have you found any important clues?"
Qi Yize sighed, a hint of helplessness in his voice: "Our people are still searching. I guess it's because this matter involves people in the capital that he's been refusing to admit it."
The Emperor took this matter very seriously. He and Qin Zihao tried every possible method, but they still couldn't get the man to talk. In desperation, they had no choice but to send him back to the capital.
It's estimated that only Zhao Yunjin, the stern-faced Censor-in-Chief in charge of the Censorate, has the ability to deal with him.
After finishing his business, Qi Yize started gossiping: "What exactly happened outside? Why is it so lively in front of your mansion? Anyone who didn't know better would think you had some kind of treasure here."
Otherwise, who would dare to approach the gate of the Sixth Prince's residence for no reason? Do they have a death wish?
Zhao Yunjin knew his friend's personality well; if he didn't tell this gossip-loving big mouth about it, he would probably keep pestering him.
Left with no other choice, he could only signal to Zhao Yi beside him.
Before long, Qi Yize finally learned what had happened, and he couldn't help but ask curiously, "Zhao Yi, is that stinky tofu really that delicious?"
Although Zhao Yi had never tasted it, Zhao Wu and his master had both tried it and ate the entire serving of stinky tofu.
"I haven't tried it myself, but it's certainly highly regarded by outsiders."
"No way, I'm going to line up and buy one to try too. I just don't believe that the usually spoiled and domineering Yu Zhizhi has such excellent cooking skills."
After saying that, Qi Yize hurriedly walked out.
However, when he arrived outside, he found that many people were still standing under the apricot tree waiting, but Yu Zhizhi was nowhere to be seen.
After waiting at the door for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he gradually lost patience. So he instructed the guard at the door, "When Yu Zhizhi comes to set up her stall later, buy me a serving of stinky tofu and bring it in."
"Yes, Vice Censor-in-Chief Qi."
He then turned and went back into the mansion.
After returning to his study, Qi Yize couldn't help but complain to his friend, "Yu Zhizhi is still so willful. If she doesn't want to set up a stall, she just won't."
A hint of surprise flashed in Zhao Yunjin's eyes. He gently tapped the table a few times with his slender, well-defined fingers. "You mean she hasn't come to set up her stall yet?"
"Yes. There are still many people waiting for her outside. I'm not trying to criticize her, but with business so booming, and she's no longer the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's family, how come she doesn't feel any sense of crisis? She's lost all power and influence, yet she still doesn't know how to earn more money to protect herself."
He wasn't the only one; many ordinary people were also worried about Yu Zhizhi.
It's true what they say: the emperor isn't worried, but the eunuchs are!
By midday, most of the early arrivals had already left, but a small number remained, patiently waiting.
As for why Yu Zhizhi didn't tell them in advance, it can only be said that ancient times and modern times are different.
If this were modern times, she would definitely create several online groups for her stall, so that if she were to stop setting up her stall one day, she could inform her regular customers in advance through the group.
But it was different in ancient times.
Firstly, due to the lack of advanced communication, she could only tell a few people.
Moreover, since she sets up her stall randomly, she doesn't even know when, how long, where, or what she'll sell next time.
If I tell those customers in advance that I will only be selling stinky tofu for three days, will they believe me?
I might believe it, but I'll keep nagging in her ear.
Wouldn't that be asking for trouble?
What is Yu Zhizhi doing at this moment?
She was sitting in a private room at Fuju Restaurant, enjoying a feast of delicious food.
"Xiao Tao, quickly try this braised roe deer meat. We don't usually have the chance to taste it for free."
She was woken up by Xiao Tao.
She had originally planned to skip lunch, but when she learned that the owner of Fuju Restaurant was treating her to a meal, she immediately perked up and got up to go.
This is a free feast delivered right to my doorstep; I'd be a fool not to take it.
Moreover, she already knew the reason why her employer was treating her to a meal.
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