Chapter 82: Following the Trend Secret

Chapter 82: The Secret of Following Trends

Before they knew it, the tenth day of the first lunar month had passed.

As dawn broke, the wooden planks of Kang's Dumpling and Noodle Shop were taken down, and a biting cold wind swept in, causing Proprietor Kang to tighten his cotton robe. He leaned against the doorframe, gazing with a sense of melancholy at the bustling streets where pedestrians were already coming and going.

The Lantern Festival was approaching, and the streets and markets of Bianjing were beginning to be adorned with lanterns. Along the imperial avenue, bamboo and wood were being transported, and craftsmen toiled day and night to erect an Aoshan Lantern, sixteen zhang high and three hundred and sixty-five paces wide. When completed, the lantern would be draped with colorful silk and hung with thousands of lanterns, creating a dazzling spectacle of gold and jade.

But this year, Proprietor Kang had little enthusiasm for the lantern festival.

He fetched a dustpan and broom from the storeroom and slowly swept away the snow on the steps in front of the shop. By now, vendors laden with festive lanterns were already bustling about, carrying their wares on shoulder poles. Some playful children had also come out early to light firecrackers, tossing small firecrackers that exploded with a bang upon hitting the ground.

With each sweep of his broom, he could hear the crackling of sparks and the sharp pops of firecrackers. The children, like playful lambs, chased each other, laughing and running past him.

After sweeping the area, Proprietor Kang straightened up and returned to the chilly and deserted shop. He stood for a while, then wiped down the counter and tables. Since the Lantern Festival hadn't yet arrived, many of the shop's staff and cooks were reluctant to return to work, so these menial tasks fell to him.

Meanwhile, Chef Wang, with a tie-dyed cloth draped over his shoulder, yawned as he turned the corner. Seeing that Kang's shop was already open, he quickened his pace. Upon entering, he found Proprietor Kang alone, busy with chores.

The broad, sturdy figure of Proprietor Kang, wrapped in silk, seemed somewhat lonely.

Chef Wang hurried over and took the rag from Proprietor Kang's hands. Glancing at the worried and downcast expression on the proprietor's face, he couldn't help but ask, "Proprietor, why have you summoned me back so early this year? The Lantern Festival hasn't even arrived yet."

In previous years, work would only officially begin after the Lantern Festival. Many shops remained closed for days after the festival. Chef Wang, being the closest of Kang's five chefs, figured there was nothing urgent at home, so he might as well earn some extra money when Proprietor Kang had asked him to return.

But he was genuinely puzzled. Starting work early was advantageous for him, as he would be paid for the day regardless of how much work he did. However, during this time of visiting relatives and friends, who would come to dine at the shop?

Proprietor Kang sighed, "Do you think I want to?"

He didn't want to either!

This left Chef Wang even more confused.

"Proprietor, what do you mean by that? I don't understand. If you don't want to open the shop so early, then just rest for a few more days. This is your own shop; you can open whenever you want. No one's holding a knife to your throat, forcing you to open, right?"

Proprietor Kang rolled his eyes and pointed to his ears, "Who says no one is? Do you hear that?"

Chef Wang closed his mouth and, following Proprietor Kang's example, tilted his head to listen.

The day had brightened, and the snow had stopped, making the streets increasingly lively. The sounds of storytelling and singing from the entertainment houses drifted out. Chef Wang didn't hear anything unusual, "What?"

"Listen carefully, do you hear the sound of bells?" Proprietor Kang said, walking to the door.

Chef Wang followed and patiently continued to listen.

This time, he indeed heard it—a faint, intermittent ringing of bells. Just as he was about to ask what the bells meant, Proprietor Kang weakly gestured outside with his chin, "There, it's coming. You'll understand when you see it."

Following the clear sound of bells, a man dressed as a shop assistant arrived, driving a peculiar donkey cart.

The assistant was unremarkable, dressed plainly and of average looks.

The donkey pulling the cart was a typical chestnut-colored beast, but its owner was likely anything but typical—the donkey wore a specially crafted brown cloth hat, embroidered with peony patterns in apricot-yellow thread, with the characters "Eleven" stitched in the corner.

Around the donkey's neck was a triangular scarf of the same fabric and embroidery. Beneath the scarf hung a large bell with a name tag, which jingled as the donkey moved.

The donkey was dressed up like a dignified gentleman, making it look more like a person than a donkey.

The owner of the donkey must have had too much time on his hands. Chef Wang's eye twitched as he watched.

Not only that, but the cart pulled by the donkey resembled a large box. The two-wheeled flat cart was enclosed on all sides with wooden planks, tightly secured with mortise and tenon joints, and topped with a lid featuring a handle for easy opening.

At the back of the box, there was a place to insert a large canopy and a sign. The canopy was painted with a circle of blue-and-white porcelain bowls, each filled with various overflowing dishes. The sign, fluttering in the wind, displayed the large characters "Shen's Fast Food Shop."

The body of the cart was also engraved with the words "Delicious and Affordable, All at Shen's Fast Food," painted in bright red lacquer. The jingling of the donkey's bell added to the striking impression. The peculiar donkey, the bizarre sign, and the unique cart indeed drew attention. Chef Wang stood there, staring for a long time, unable to tear his eyes away.

Only after the donkey cart had passed did he turn back in confusion, looking at Proprietor Kang's ashen face and asking, "Is that the donkey cart from Shen's Noodle Shop?"

Proprietor Kang nodded silently.

Chef Wang, who could read a bit, asked in confusion, "What is a fast food shop?"

Proprietor Kang sighed deeply and said, "It's a long story..." He turned with a weathered expression and beckoned to Chef Wang, "Come inside, and I'll explain it to you in detail."

Chef Wang followed him inside. Proprietor Kang pulled over two benches, and once they were seated, his first words shocked Chef Wang: "Since the first day of the New Year, Madam Shen hasn't taken a single day off. She's been busy with her new fast food catering business until today."

No break! Chef Wang was deeply shocked.

The New Year! The biggest holiday of the year, and she didn't take a break?

"Actually, her catering consists of simple stir-fried dishes, nothing extraordinary. Initially, the meals were exclusively for the Garrison Troops, and the prices were quite affordable, a few coins cheaper than outside eateries. She started supplying near the watchtower north of the bridge, handling both cooking and delivery, even taking over the business of idle men. Unexpectedly, she made a name for herself. Later, the drill instructor in charge of the state bridge came looking for her, and she started managing both places. Then, I heard she was hiring cooks and helpers all over the place during the New Year. Although she didn't manage to hire any cooks, she at least temporarily hired two young boys to help with deliveries. Now it's even more impressive. A few days ago, as soon as the building services shop opened, she immediately sought out Yao Luoge to rent a new shop."

Chef Wang finally understood. The business indeed sounded good. Many people, when busy, would hire idle men to deliver food, which was both troublesome and costly. This Madam Shen... Chef Wang couldn't help but admire her. Ever since the grilled fish incident in the summer, she had been full of ideas.

Back then, Proprietor Kang had wanted to discipline her, but instead, he ended up suffering a loss.

Later, Shen's also tried to imitate Shen's by coming up with some innovations, but it ended in a dismal failure, becoming a laughingstock. Shen's now also has a VIP card, but few people apply for it, and even fewer store dishes. Ultimately, it's because Shen's lacks both Madam Shen's irreplaceable skills and a signature dish that captivates people and becomes an instant hit. Therefore, these activities can hardly achieve the same effect as Shen's.

Even without grilled fish in winter, Madam Shen came up with roasted duck, which still sells like hotcakes every day. Now, there are probably more people storing duck than fish, as the duck is limited in quantity each day. If you don't get it today, you can pay to reserve it for tomorrow—because Madam Shen is good at sweet-talking customers, often saying, "You are Shen's esteemed platinum member, so of course, you get priority."

This makes the card-carrying customers who come to eat duck feel superior, walking with their chests puffed out and heads held high.

It's said that she has also purchased ten acres of pond land in the suburbs, planning to raise ducks herself.

Now, with the duck farm not yet built, she's busy opening a branch and starting fast food. Chef Wang shook his head, wondering how her mind works. How is it so different from ordinary people like them, coming up with one fresh idea after another, and somehow managing to make them all work?

But after thinking it over, Chef Wang wasn't too surprised by Madam Shen's fast food venture—perhaps when she first made instant noodles, she had already thought of doing fast food in the future? Using instant noodles to test whether there was a demand for such convenient food in Bianjing. She must have found a considerable market and saved up some money, then immediately took action. Now that the fast food shop is open, it seems like a step in a long-term plan.

After understanding this, Chef Wang and Proprietor Kang both sighed in unison.

After a moment of silence, Proprietor Kang said with regret, "I have a relative who works as a clerk in the yamen, a cousin of my niece's husband. He came to the shop for a meal recently and mentioned that Madam Shen's fast food is being delivered to the yamen. They also said that Prefect Wang often buys Shen's roasted duck to share with everyone at the yamen. There are even rumors that Shen's roasted duck was served at this year's New Year's Eve banquet in the palace. Madam Shen has caught the eye of the officials and nobles. We common folk can hardly compete with her. In the future, Shen's business will only become more difficult. My shop is rented, and if things really don't work out, I might have to close it and return to my hometown."

Chef Wang was shocked, "How did it come to this? Weren't our shop's customers quite lively before the New Year?" Although compared to before Shen's opened, it was indeed much less.

But Proprietor Kang wasn't optimistic, "Shen's is different from Fan Tower. Fan Tower is unattainable, a place for the wealthy. Shen's and we are both trying to make a living in the market, close by and both catering to ordinary people. We and Shen's are both noodle shops. Now that we're not doing as well as them, naturally, we'll slowly decline. You don't handle the accounts, so you don't know. I went through the accounts for the past six months, and after deducting rent, wages, and the cost of buying vegetables and grains, there was almost nothing left. That's why I'm feeling this way. Since you happened to come early today at my invitation, I'll be frank with you. Seeing fewer and fewer customers, I won't need so many cooks in the future. After the Lantern Festival, I'll probably let go of two cooks and some helpers."

Chef Wang also felt a bit down. Although Proprietor Kang had said this to his face, he probably wouldn't fire him. But he still felt uneasy. If Shen's continues to decline, he might have to find a new employer in the future.

He felt a heaviness in his heart.

"There's nothing we can do if we can't compete. If Madam Shen weren't Shen's competitor, I would genuinely admire her. A woman, and a divorced one at that, to have achieved so much today is truly remarkable. Moreover, her skills are so good, yet she's never satisfied with the status quo, and her diligence is astonishing. What can I do?"

He couldn't match her skills, and he couldn't match her diligence either.

He admitted defeat!

Proprietor Kang shook his head helplessly and patted Chef Wang on the shoulder, "Enough said. Go to the kitchen and prepare some dishes. Let's just hope some customers show up."

But Chef Wang didn't move. He thought about it. Proprietor Kang had been kind to him, and seeing Proprietor Kang's desolate expression, he couldn't help but grab Proprietor Kang's sleeve, "Proprietor, wait a moment."

Proprietor Kang spun around: "What's the matter?"

"Has the proprietor ever thought of venturing into fast food like Shen's?" Chef Wang bluntly suggested, "Our shop's business isn't doing well. We have chefs and staff; why not also venture into fast food? Doesn't the proprietor have many contacts in the workshops? You said that Shen Miao has already taken over the business of the Garrison Troops and the yamen, so we won't be stepping on her toes. Even if her fast food shop thrives, it can't possibly cover the entire city of Bianjing. She handles this area; we can take care of other parts of the city, so we won't have to shut our doors."

Proprietor Kang was stunned: "Is this really okay? Will Shen Miao come after us?"

Chef Wang, however, thought it was fine: "This isn't about stealing anyone's family recipes or trade secrets. Sure, we're copying, which isn't the most honorable thing, but others will definitely follow Shen Miao's lead soon enough. If not us, then someone else. So why cling to our pride and go hungry? While Shen Miao is still getting started, we can grab a piece of the pie. Once Shen Miao expands and hires more staff, we might miss our chance."

Proprietor Kang thought about it and found it reasonable, excitedly grabbing Chef Wang's hand: "You're a sharp one—glad I have you on my side! Then I'll head over to the silk workshop today and talk to my contacts about this."

After saying that, Proprietor Kang went back to his room to get his hat, changed into a good outfit for meeting guests, and hurried away.

Chef Wang watched his back and breathed a sigh of relief. He hoped Proprietor Kang's final push would pay off. He'd been with Kang's for years, was comfortable there, and didn't want to switch bosses.

Shen Miao didn't know that there were already followers appearing. She was out with Yao Luoge scouting locations.

This time, they were looking at a spot on the street between Yujie and Jinliang Bridge. It was conveniently located—north to the Kaifeng yamen and south to the Garrison Troops' watchtower for meal deliveries.

Still, she'd seen this coming from the start.

Fast food can't be cornered—it's destined to become its own industry, especially in more commercially developed dynasties. So she wasn't worried; after all, pulling off group meals isn't a walk in the park.

Group meals might seem like simple fast food, but there's more to it than meets the eye. The real trick lies in the details—meticulous, thoughtful service. It's not just about the food tasting good—though that's a must—it's the overall 'customer experience' that really matters.

Because the market for group meals is narrow, it's a precise targeting of a specific group.

Making good food can capture the stomachs of this group; paying attention to details can capture their hearts!

Outsiders see her doing this as just hiring someone, cooking, and delivering meals, seemingly easy, but every step she takes is extremely cautious, striving to do every detail well.

Moreover, even she is just starting, feeling her way across the river, and doesn't know what will happen in the future. She has also stepped into pitfalls and seen things in her previous life. If group meals are not done well, the loss can be severe, and it might drag her into a big pit.

This is why Shen Miao immediately thought of ways to change when she noticed the problem with the tableware.

Whether the lunch box is exquisite is also important for fast food. After gaining a reputation in the Garrison Troops these days, she immediately sent gifts to several major officials in the Kaifeng yamen with Deng Lawyer and got their approval. The official, holding an official stance, looked down on Shen Miao, and repeatedly stressed: "This is for Mr. Deng's sake, although I have heard of Shen Miao's reputation, I still have to say something, your food must be clean, if it's messy, you are not allowed to send it in again."

Shen Miao smiled and bowed, asking him to rest assured.

She took the opportunity to update the lunch box ceramic plate to the second generation—the plate was deepened, with a place for spoons and chopsticks designed on the far left, followed by a round grid and a square grid, one for eggs and one for meat, with a particularly small square grid in the middle for dipping sauces or pickles, sour vegetables, etc., and then the largest grid for rice, with two equally sized vegetable grids above the rice grid.

She also required the pottery kiln to use white clay to make the plates, so the plates made were clean and beautiful. The second-generation plates were mainly piloted in the yamen and Wazi, specifically made for this group, and indeed very popular.

When the official later saw the clean white ceramic plates Shen Miao sent, with clear classifications, meat and vegetable combinations, and full of color, aroma, and taste, he really couldn't find any fault.

Although the clerks were privately strapped, they still had to maintain a glamorous appearance, so allowing them to retain the superiority of "having the fate of a maid but the illness of a lady" could capture their hearts.

Moreover, Shen Miao now also offers customized dishes, often asking the Garrison Troops and clerks what dishes they want to eat. High-end exquisite lunch boxes plus customized dishes are very suitable for the needs of the ancient yamen.

Besides the yamen, Shen Miao also set her sights on the largest Wazi near Jinliang Bridge. There are many actors and storytellers inside who also need this kind of "crew" meal.

The popular actors naturally have maids to serve them, but a large part of the less famous actors are very tired from singing every day, and it would be great if someone could deliver meals to their door.

Shen Miao multitasked, thinking about things while following Yao Luoge to look at several shops, all of which she found a bit expensive. The shops on Yujie were even more expensive than those on Jinliang Bridge!

Indeed, regardless of ancient or modern, Chinese or foreign, as long as it's the capital, the prices of goods and houses are quite frightening.

"Is there a smaller shop?" Shen Miao thought and asked, "It doesn't need to be that big."

This stumped Yao Luoge, who stood still for a moment, suddenly thought of a place that seemed to meet Shen Miao's requirements, and immediately turned to ask: "Does Shen Miao mind sharing a shop with others? A shop owner whose business is not doing well wants to rent out half of his shop, he uses wooden boards to divide the shop into two, even the kitchen can be divided into two. This way, Shen Miao only needs to pay half the rent."

Isn't this how people usually do it in the future? Shen Miao thought it was good: "Let's go and take a look."

The two of them then made their way to Imperial Street. From a distance, Yao Luoge pointed out the location for her. Shen Miao rose on her toes to get a better look. The shop was in a prime location—it was very close to the Donghua Gate of the palace, just a few hundred steps away from the Kaifeng Government Office, though it was a bit far from Jinliang Bridge.

Shen Miao glanced at the gates of the palace. It was the first time she had been so close to the palace. She rarely came here unless she had a reason. She and Yao Luoge avoided a group of craftsmen transporting bamboo and wood. The heart of Imperial Street was bustling with preparations for the Aoshan Lantern Festival, with bamboo and ropes scattered everywhere, making it quite chaotic.

"This is the place, Shen Miao, come in and take a look," Yao Luoge led the way.

Shen Miao curiously stepped inside.

While she was looking at the shop, inside the palace, in the Wan'an Palace where the Empress Dowager resided, the scent of roasted duck filled the air.

The Empress Dowager, well-preserved and in her fifties, looked no older than her early forties. She was strikingly beautiful, her youthful charm still evident despite her age.

Her eyes, in particular, resembled the serene waters of autumn.

Inside the hall, a faint scent of roses wafted from the jade incense burner. The palace maids standing on either side of the hall doors held their breath in silence. Deep inside the hall, layers of beaded curtains hung down, faintly revealing the figure of the Empress Dowager sitting upright at the head.

Today, she was dressed in casual clothes, without the heavy headdress, only a few pearl hairpins in her coiled dragon bun. She reclined comfortably in a rosewood armchair, smiling as she watched the maid wrap the duck meat for her, and directed, "Include a sliver of hawthorn. Hold the scallions."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the maid bent forward, deftly using chopsticks to gather slices of duck, its crispy skin, cucumber, and hawthorn. She flipped the opening of the pancake to the bottom, carefully lifted it above her head, and then slightly knelt, presenting the roasted duck to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager took the plate, still sitting upright, and slowly ate with her chopsticks.

The roasted duck was indeed delicious, though eating it was a bit troublesome and not very elegant.

Since becoming the Empress Dowager, she had been very focused on health, usually following the principle of not overeating and maintaining a light diet. She would also meditate for a while before meals and rarely ate meat.

The change in her habits started with this year's palace banquet.

At the palace banquet, Emperor Zhao Boyun gave each of the attending ministers an extra plate of roasted duck. The plate was small, enough for about three duck rolls, and one couldn't ask for more.

A plate was also placed in front of the Empress Dowager. At first, she thought it too oily and hesitated to try it. Yet, the Emperor, seated next to her, was savoring every bite, and the aroma wafted directly to her nose, lingering there.

Her gaze shifted to the throne, where Zhao Boyun's enthusiastic eating sparked a flicker of hunger in her. She hesitantly ordered the maid to serve her a piece.

Unexpectedly, she ended up finishing the entire plate.

This surprised her—it had been ages since she'd enjoyed meat this much.

Halfway through his meal, Zhao Boyun turned his head and saw that the Empress Dowager had also finished a plate, equally shocked. Later, he discreetly sent Liang Qian to purchase roasted duck, instructing him to buy an additional half duck daily for the Empress Dowager.

Since the Empress Dowager didn't like meat, half a duck should be enough. Buying more would be wasteful, wouldn't it?

And so, today the Empress Dowager was also eating the half duck sent by the Emperor.

Far from growing weary of it, she discovered the duck to be even more delectable.

Especially since Zhao Boyun had come to pay his respects earlier and had explained in detail how Shen Miao had improved the method of roasting the duck, adding hawthorn strips to wrap with it.

The Empress Dowager had anticipated that the mix of salty and sweet flavors would be odd, but spurred by Zhao Boyun's urging, she sampled it and was delighted by its exceptional taste and refreshing quality. The duck and hawthorn flavors harmonized seamlessly, as if destined to complement each other, a flawless union.

The Empress Dowager swallowed the last piece of roasted duck, satisfied, rinsed her mouth, and wiped her lips with the handkerchief offered by the maid. Seeing her trusted eunuch hesitating to speak, she motioned for him to come forward and dismissed the others.

"Speak, have you found out the details about Shen's establishment?"

Though aware that the Emperor had likely vetted Shen's establishment and would only consume the duck if it were safe, she was accustomed to maintaining control and had discreetly dispatched someone to investigate once more.

Unexpectedly, Shen Miao indeed had no issues, but she had uncovered some old matters related to her ex-husband.

The eunuch finished speaking in a low voice about the matters concerning Shen Niang's parents and silently stepped back two paces.

She looked dazed and murmured softly, "Are you saying that the deceased parents of that Shen Niang were one of the small vendors implicated in the Xu family incident three years ago? What a coincidence..."

"Exactly, back then, the cruel official Jiang Cong, following the late emperor's secret decree, killed Xu Sheng's family. Unexpectedly, his actions left traces, which led to the relentless pursuit by Xie Qi. In desperation, he had to devise another way to cover it up. This time, however, it was the Marquis of Lejiang who failed in his duties, causing a street horse incident that also took the lives of innocent people. The late emperor was furious at the time and spat blood in front of the imperial physicians, and his health deteriorated further thereafter," the eunuch whispered.

The Empress Dowager's eyes flickered faintly. She was aware of these events. At that time, the Prince of Jin was already impatient, and the late emperor had no time to deal with these matters, so he had to forcefully convict the Xu family. He did not punish the Marquis of Lejiang but only imprisoned his horse-handling servants, claiming it was a startled horse incident, an accident, thus vaguely passing it off.

It was a helpless move by the late emperor. Since the Prince of Jin's wife was from the Xu family, the Xu family naturally stood behind the Prince of Jin, and thus the Prince of Jin naturally gained the favor of prominent noble families. Coincidentally, he was also very adept at social maneuvering and had close relationships with many noble families, all of whom wanted to support him as the crown prince.

The late emperor had no legitimate son, and the Prince of Jin was the eldest, with his birth mother, Lady Xue, also from a noble family. But the late emperor did not want to be further constrained and suppressed by the noble families. During his reign, imperial power was difficult to exercise, and the court was divided into factions by the noble families, with political strife intensifying.

He defied public opinion and had the current emperor, Zhao Boyun, raised by the Empress Dowager, insisting on giving him the status of a legitimate son, which caused great dissatisfaction in the court over "establishing the younger over the elder," with repeated petitions urging him to retract his decision.

From the beginning of his reign, the late emperor had been in constant struggle with the noble families. By the time of his death, he was still worried, so he used bloodshed and lives to intimidate the noble families, making them dare not stir up trouble again.

Using the Xu family as a scapegoat also weakened the Prince of Jin, a strategy that killed two birds with one stone. It is said that even a tiger does not eat its own cubs, but in the royal family, there is no such thing as father and son... The Empress Dowager recalled the bloody storm triggered by the Prince of Jin's uprising and couldn't help but shiver.

But the strategy indeed worked. If it weren't for her ex-husband being as foolish as a pig and messing things up, there wouldn't have been any evidence left, nor would other innocent people have been implicated.

The late emperor was furious at the time and wanted to severely punish the Xie family as well, but Lady Xie Jieyu preemptively offered to commit suicide. The rest of the Xie family was also quite clear-headed, knowing the tense situation, and immediately took a step back, expressing their loyalty.

Thinking of Lady Xie Jieyu, the Empress Dowager also felt melancholy, silently recalling the woman who was as pure and resilient as bamboo: "She was so beautiful and gentle, yet with a strong and decisive character, able to see the situation and the late emperor's intentions earlier than others, and immediately prepared to sacrifice herself for the sake of her family, truly admirable."

After a pause, the Empress Dowager looked at the cleanly eaten plate of roast duck and thought, "Actually, the emperor and the late emperor are quite alike." Both have the coldness of an emperor.

She also thought of the Marquis of Lejiang, who had sold her off, her ex-husband, who was also a sore spot in her heart. He was short-sighted and foolish, like a stain that she couldn't shake off.

Back then, the late emperor deliberately kept him and propped him up... Now the emperor is doing the same, neither overturning the Xu family's case nor punishing him. Could it be that he is also keeping a leverage to control her?

She raised Zhao Boyun for five years, from the age of eleven to sixteen, and they almost went through life and death together. But once a person sits on that throne, no matter how filial and obedient they appear on the surface, they are no longer her son. She dared not truly regard Zhao Boyun as her own child.

He is the emperor.

The Empress Dowager turned the prayer beads in her hand, smiling on the surface, but her heart was slightly chilled.

Fortunately, in her life, she had never thought of trusting men.

The emperor had already grown up. This year, secretly recalling the two generals, Yue and Xi, was a signal. At the palace banquet, Yue and Xi, fully armored, followed the emperor on his left and right, which certainly shocked the civil and military officials in the capital.

The Yue family need not be mentioned, and the Xi family was not from a noble family either. They were promoted during the late emperor's reign, and the Xi family was someone the late emperor cherished and handed over to the emperor. They were previously despised by high-ranking families like the Xu, Xue, Guo, and Jiang as "low-born military officers," almost directly stating that the Xi family had no heritage.

The Empress Dowager thought of the first deposed Empress Guo, her eyes slightly darkening. The emperor treated her with filial piety, but... while the emperor was wary of the noble families, wasn't he also wary of the relatives of the empress?

Otherwise, why is the current imperial consort a courtesan without any family connections?

Perhaps it's time to bring up old matters again.

Even if it's not to overturn the Xu family's case, it's necessary to give an account to the wrongfully killed common people.

She had been a wife sold off by her husband, a lowly maid in the prince's mansion, an insignificant concubine... She had gone through so many hardships to reach this day. The leverage of the Marquis of Lejiang must never fall on her.

The Empress Dowager lowered her eyes, slowly turning the prayer beads in her hand, pondering secretly.

***

The snow had cleared in Bianjing, but in Chenzhou, a fine drizzle was falling gently.

Xie Qi and Eleventh Niang stood under the eaves of a small street shop to avoid the rain. Eleventh Niang held a piece of sesame sugar cake in her hand, looking up at the fine rain falling, chatting idly with Xie Qi while waiting for their family's carriage to pick them up.

She took a bite of the sugar cake and couldn't help but glance at the pile of miscellaneous items behind her brother: dried Chenzhou cattail, dried Huaiyang daylily, large and spicy Chenzhou garlic... Besides these local food products, there were also two boxes of Chenzhou black pottery, "black as lacquer, bright as a mirror."

These were all fine, but what was even more surprising was that Xie Qi had also managed to find Chenzhou's "clay dogs," a toy typically for children, and bought a whole box of animal clay figurines, essentially completing the set of the twelve zodiac animals.

Not only that, but with the Lantern Festival (a traditional Chinese festival celebrating the first full moon of the new year) approaching, he had also purchased two boxes of various Chenzhou lanterns.

It was said that Zhou Da had even driven the cart to the family's livestock estate today, tied up two Huai Mountain cattle, and picked out a servant who knew how to take care of cattle to take along.

Xie Qi had even given Zhou Da detailed instructions: the cattle must be one male and one female so that Shen Niang could raise them near the duck farm, with the servant assisting in their care. Soon, they would produce milk and breed, providing Shen Niang with help for plowing, and she and her younger siblings could also enjoy fresh milk.

Why go to such lengths? Eleventh Niang remembered Xie Qi explaining it like this: one day, while accompanying Shen Niang to the market to buy groceries, they encountered a farmer selling milk on the street. Shen Niang glanced at it but ultimately didn't approach to buy, murmuring to herself that milk was too expensive, otherwise she could have brewed some milk tea.

He had kept this in mind. Now, with the opportunity, he decided to bring two cattle back for her.

Indeed, this pile of stuff was all meant for Shen Niang.

Eleventh Niang took another bite of the sweet cake, suddenly recalling what her second aunt always said.

Her second aunt always claimed that daughters were outward-looking, thinking of their in-laws once married. Whether that was true or not, her second aunt rarely spoke any sense, so it was best taken as a joke.

But why... did it seem the opposite was true for Xie Qi? He hadn't even made anything official with Shen Niang, yet he was already eager to move everything he could to her.

Even during the New Year, he seemed distracted. When asked to set off fireworks, he just stared blankly at the little sparkler in his hand, his body in Chenzhou but his mind elsewhere, to the point where he didn't even notice when he burned his hand.

Eleventh Niang shook her head inwardly, took another bite of the cake, and turned to ask Xie Qi, who was lost in thought again, "Brother, are you really not spending the Lantern Festival at home?"

Xie Qi snapped out of his reverie and nodded, "Mother has already agreed. I'll set off once Zhou Da returns. When Zhou Er comes to pick you up later, you can go home by yourself."

Eleventh Niang pouted.

If you asked her, it was the men who were the ones looking outward.