Chapter 90 – Inn

Chapter 90 - Inn

Upon seeing Rong Bi, Yuan Yixue was startled and immediately sought out Yuan Zhen. Indeed, they had uncovered much information – the other party hadn't even tried to conceal their tracks.

Indeed, it was acceptable for Princess Yi Yang to send a maid and a servant to the capital to manage her princess's mansion, interact with her maternal uncle, the Marquis Cheng'en, and her former in-laws, the Duke of Song, and represent the princess in sending gifts. These were all legitimate actions, and any investigation would reveal nothing suspicious.

The Rong siblings were from an upright family, with a clean slate and no blemishes. The Rong siblings even had military accomplishments to their names.

Even if this matter were brought before the emperor, without concrete evidence, the emperor would only deal lightly with it, considering Princess Yi Yang and the Jingbei King behind her. Even if there were suspicions, the emperor wouldn't hold it against the princess or the crown prince; instead, the accuser might face scrutiny. If not careful, they could be accused of attempting to sow discord between the emperor and his son.

But if the ministers sensed the Jingbei King's attitude, would they not lean more towards the crown prince?

Zheng Tanhua already had feelings for Princess Yi Yang. Now that she had sent such a stunning beauty to the capital to cultivate relationships with officials, her intentions were too obvious.

Suppressing the jealousy that grew stronger by the moment, Yuan Yixue looked at her mother and saw the same deep concern on her face: "How did you know?"

Yuan Yixue smiled. "Second Brother found out. I won't hide it from Mother, but when you said you disagreed with Zheng Tanhua as a match, I was somewhat reluctant. So I asked Second Brother to investigate Zheng Changyuan, hoping to convince you again. But Second Brother discovered that this Concubine Rong has already arrived in the capital. That Zheng Tanhua even recommended her third brother to prominent scholars at a literary gathering, just to secure a good ranking in the upcoming imperial examination."

By admitting her ulterior motives, Empress Luo found her daughter more believable: "I told you before that Zheng Tanhua had a certain connection with Yuan Yiqing. Huh, now he's sent a beauty to continue winning over his former admirers? See if you still want to marry Zheng Tanhua. A person like him..."

Yuan Yixue said, "Mother, everything you do is for your daughter's sake; how could I be ungrateful? Now that I've learned of this matter, haven't I hurried to inform you? This Beauty Rong was originally an accountant bestowed by Mother to the Crown Prince. I've inquired, and her palace records are still held in Han Palace. Furthermore, she can be considered someone close to Elder Sister. Think about it, Mother—if the person you sent is met with the Crown Prince's disapproval, it would surely cause him reservation. But if it's Princess Yi Yang's person and he still finds fault, wouldn't that no longer be your concern?"

Empress Lao said, "Well done, my child. Let me ponder on how to proceed."

Yuan Yixue felt a surge of delight, knowing that when the Empress dowager acted, she seldom missed her mark—a realization that helped quell the twinge of jealousy within her. She stepped forward to clasp the Empress Lu's arm affectionately, engaging her in warm chatter and jests. Yet, her mind unexpectedly wandered back to the fleeting glimpse of the cold, youthful profile from that day: a face pale as jade, carved with divine detachment. She suddenly sensed an uncanny resemblance between this girl and her elder brother, the Crown Prince.

Since childhood, she knew that her brother, the Crown Prince, was their enemy, yet she always had to submit to his cold and indifferent demeanor. Both the Crown Prince and Princess Yi Yang were very similar, cold and haughty. Even though their mother was apprehensive, she never dared to provoke them openly. Therefore, when she saw Rong Meiren, who bore a striking resemblance to both Yi Yang and the Crown Prince in her demeanor, a strong sense of vigilance welled up within her heart.

Such a person exudes irresistible charm. Beside her, she would surely pale in comparison when standing before Zheng Tanhua.

Unaware of these minor incidents, after the New Year break, court sessions resumed, and the Crown Prince was back to his routine of reviewing official documents. As a result, their soul-swapping ceased, with the Crown Prince becoming increasingly proficient at it. Rong Bi, on the other hand, had yet to master the technique but had a general understanding of that mysterious moment: a moment of intense desire and utmost concentration when her mind felt both empty and profound.

Determined to prepare for Rong Mo's upcoming imperial examination, she soon accompanied him to the exams, which consisted of three rigorous sessions. Upon returning home, they eagerly awaited the results. Rong Mo's face radiated with joy, "I answered everything, filled up every page!"

Rong Yi shared in the happiness, "I've heard that since this is an imperial favor examination, some serious scholars have chosen not to participate, waiting instead for next year's regular examination where competition will be less fierce."

Although Rong Bi didn't fully grasp the intricacies, she understood that it was a matter of bringing honor to their family, and she was delighted. To celebrate, she personally prepared several dishes with meticulous care, even attempting new recipes that she hadn't had the chance to make before due to time constraints. Plans for their small restaurant also picked up pace, and they began to lay the groundwork for the venture.

The tiny establishment was situated not far from a nearby Guan Gong temple, right by the canal dock – an ideal location. The place had been freshly painted, appearing brand new. Though the entrance seemed small, the interior was spacious, with several small halls upstairs, catering to guests seeking tranquility or those who needed private dining rooms for banquets or gatherings.

The shop was named "Big Pot Dishes," aiming for generous portions, affordability, and cleanliness. The menu consisted of everyday home-cooked meals, but with ample servings, prepared fresh and deliciously. Of course, much of this success was due to the direct supply of fresh produce from Princess Rong Bi's manor. Whatever was harvested each day from the manor was sold to the shop at a slightly lower price than the market rate.

Initially, Rong Bi felt a bit hesitant about benefiting from this arrangement. Bai Ying reassured her, "Why should Fourth Lady be concerned about this? The vegetables from the princess's manor are meant to provision the princess's residence. Since the princess is not currently here, it makes sense to sell these goods through your shop. Otherwise, they would just go to waste."

Rong Bi realized the logic in this and began directing the chefs to prepare the Big Pot Dishes based on the available ingredients.

Soon, patrons near the canal port, dock workers, and sailors noticed the newly opened small eatery with its endearing name, "Big Pot Dishes." Even those who couldn't read could easily spot the sign, depicting a steaming cauldron that seemed to emit the aroma of hot dishes cooked in a wok over a roaring flame. For customers who had been eating cold food on boats for days, this was an irresistible temptation, especially since the place appeared quite affordable.

Upon entering, one would see several large, clean stoves with pots bubbling with mouthwatering dishes like mutton stewed with carrots, cabbage braised with meat shreds, pickled cabbage with white meat, sautéed eggplant, pork knuckles, braised pork head meat, roasted duck, and braised goose. The skilled staff wielded spoons, serving up these richly flavored, visually appealing concoctions.

A serving of meat dish cost ten copper coins, a vegetarian dish two, and a half-meat, half-vegetable option five. The hearty, free-of-charge beef bone soup was perfect for sipping alongside the food, with a few solid steamed buns to dip in it. A cup of wine, a plate of peanuts, and one could enjoy a substantial meal.

If a group of friends wished to celebrate or simply share a drink, they could ascend to the upper floor and order some homely dishes along with a jar of wine, ensuring an equally delightful experience. Of course, families with children and womenfolk could also purchase their meals downstairs before retreating to the cozy private rooms on the second floor, enjoying their time together without disturbance.

In no time, the restaurant drew a large crowd, inevitably attracting the attention of the dockside gangsters who came to collect their protection fees. Some patrons, wishing to maintain good relations, not only paid the fee but also offered a discount of 20% to gang members dining at the establishment.

Impressed by the owner's astuteness, the gang members were more than happy to bring their fellow brothers for meals. As a result, business boomed to the point where the daily supply of food was exhausted every day. Moreover, since the dishes were prepared in large pots, customers could see what was available and order accordingly, limiting waste and keeping costs down compared to other restaurants that relied on set menus.

Of course, there were envious troublemakers and competitors who sought to cause problems. However, Rong Yi, accompanied by his disciples from the Imperial Guard, visited the restaurant a few times, effectively deterring any potential issues. Thus, "Big Pot Dishes" flourished peacefully.

Even Rong Mo sighed with admiration, "That's a clever idea. With the money they have, people can buy a simple meal of vegetables, free soup, pickles, and steamed buns, or they can splurge on two pieces of meat and some wine. It caters to all budgets."

Rong Bi chuckled, "Back in Jingbei, I saw women carrying food baskets to sell at construction sites where walls were being built. They offered just a few common dishes and some steamed buns or dumplings, but their low costs made them popular. I thought if we opened a small restaurant with tasty and clean food, we wouldn't have to worry about customers. And it seems I was right."

Rong Yi flipped through the ledger and suggested, "If that's the case, we should write to our parents and ask them to come to the capital. With their help running the restaurant, we'll be much more at ease."

Hearing that her parents would soon arrive, Rong Bi's eyes sparkled with joy. Rong Mo then said, "I'll write the letter! There's a fellow villager who's coming to the capital for business and will be returning home soon. I can entrust the letter to him."

The plan was settled, and Rong Mo indeed wrote the letter, sending it back to their hometown. Rong Bi, who had been away from home for many years, eagerly anticipated her parents' arrival.

Amidst the excitement of managing the restaurant and awaiting their parents, the day of the exam results arrived. Amidst the hustle and bustle of carriages and horses, Rong Mo astonishingly passed, securing the eighty-fifth position in the second rank. Though it was a modest accomplishment, barely qualifying as a jinshi, it was still better than the third rank. Naturally, there were rewards, banquets, and participation in the Qionglin Feast to celebrate.

The courtyard brimmed with joy, and Rong Bi recorded this happy news in her notebook. She was surprised, however, as the prince hadn't switched souls with her for several days. He was in the palace, but could he have seen Rong Mo's name among the successful candidates while reviewing official documents? Was he considerate enough to let her enjoy the joy of her brother's achievement with their family?

She didn't dwell on it too much but instinctively knew that the palace was likely at a critical juncture. The prince, holding his ground and waiting for the right moment, allowed her to relax and savor this reunion with her family.

Perhaps one day, she would hear good news from the palace - the prince ascending the throne or gaining power. At that point, when the prince regained his freedom, he would no longer need her body to venture outside, and he would release her from her imperial status.

With her family reunion on the horizon, her brother's promising future, and her own thriving little restaurant, along with the acquisition of land and houses, a beautiful and blissful life seemed within reach. All the hardships she had endured in her early life would ultimately prove worthwhile.