The disfigured face and the gleaming kitchen cleaver undoubtedly dealt Tao Hong a tremendous shock.

When someone had become this ugly and consumed such a terrible insect, perhaps she was no longer afraid of death?

No, she should be more polite.

Her original arrogance wouldn’t work here. Tao Hong wisely switched to a gentle tone: “Xiu Gu, please put down the kitchen cleaver first.”

Xiu Yue glanced at the cleaver and casually tossed it onto the cutting board, saying calmly: “Sister Tao Hong, go ahead and speak.”

Tao Hong quietly clenched her fists and laughed dryly: “Does Xiu Gu remember that cup of plum juice you drank when you entered the palace last time?”

Xiu Yue nodded.

Tao Hong tried her best to straighten her spine and took half a step back: “Your abdominal pain is indeed related to that.”

Before Xiu Yue could react, Tao Hong hurriedly handed over a small porcelain bottle: “Don’t panic. The pills in this porcelain bottle can suppress the abdominal pain. There are three pills total. Taking one pill each month will relieve the pain…”

After hearing Tao Hong finish, Xiu Yue’s already frightening face was shrouded in a layer of shadow. With the kitchen cleaver lying quietly at hand lending its威慑 power, it was even more unsettling.

“I don’t understand Her Ladyship’s meaning,” Xiu Yue said with furrowed brows.

Tao Hong forced a smile: “Our mistress’s meaning is very simple. Xiu Gu just needs to stop giving that medicinal cuisine recipe to anyone else.”

“So it’s because of this.” Xiu Yue’s tone was so flat it was impossible to detect joy or anger.

Tao Hong stared intently at her eyes: “So do you agree?”

Xiu Yue smiled faintly: “When I gave that medicinal cuisine recipe to Her Ladyship, it was because I had a request. Now that my wish has been fulfilled, why would I invite trouble by giving the recipe to others? The Noble Consort is overthinking things.”

Tao Hong’s lips curved with satisfaction: “It’s good that Xiu Gu thinks this way. Then I won’t disturb your cooking. Her Ladyship is still waiting for me to bring the beggar’s chicken back to the palace to report.”

Xiu Yue nodded slightly and silently picked up the kitchen cleaver that had been at hand.

Tao Hong froze for a moment before managing to ask her remaining question: “Does Miss Luo know about Xiu Gu having the medicinal cuisine recipe?”

Xiu Yue’s expression didn’t change in the slightest, her tone equally calm: “Such an important matter—how could I let unrelated people know about it?”

Having conveyed everything that needed conveying, Tao Hong finally breathed a sigh of relief and hurried out.

Carrying the beggar’s chicken back to Yuhua Palace, Tao Hong rushed to report to Noble Consort Xiao.

Noble Consort Xiao, who had not yet emerged from confinement, looked extremely weak. Her originally hibiscus-like charming face had become pale and haggard, as if she had aged several years all at once.

“How did it go?” Noble Consort Xiao spoke, her voice carrying fatigue.

Setting aside the disappointment of not having given birth to an imperial prince, the shadow of her prematurely born daughter possibly dying at any moment had been tormenting her sleeplessly.

Tao Hong quickly relayed her conversation with Xiu Yue.

“It’s good that she knows her place,” Noble Consort Xiao said after hearing the report, then closed her eyes.

At a time like this, she absolutely couldn’t let others get ahead of her. She could only hope to recover her health soon and, with the help of the medicinal cuisine, receive good news as quickly as possible.

Seeing that Noble Consort Xiao seemed to have fallen asleep, Tao Hong quietly retreated to the side.

Although the spreading flames of war cast a shadow over the prosperous capital, it was all happening in distant places. People’s lives seemed unchanged, merely becoming topics of conversation over tea and meals.

The wine shop also opened its doors peacefully. The fragrance of wine and meat wafted outside, often making passersby drool and curse inwardly about this overpriced establishment.

On this day, just after opening, Minister Zhao arrived with Lin Teng.

Luo Sheng, sitting by the counter, came over to greet them and couldn’t help glancing at Lin Teng a few extra times.

They hadn’t seen each other for some time. This Young Master Lin, whether from being too busy or something else, had rather alarming dark circles under his eyes.

Noticing Luo Sheng’s scrutiny, Lin Teng’s stern face flushed slightly.

Minister Zhao, on the other hand, couldn’t wait to sit down and asked with a cheerful smile: “Miss Luo, have you introduced any good dishes recently?”

Luo Sheng smiled: “Minister Zhao and Young Master Lin can both eat spicy food. You’re just in time to try our newly introduced sauce-pepper fish head.”

“Sauce-pepper fish head?” Minister Zhao’s eyes lit up.

“It’s made with a secret sauce-pepper recipe. You two can give it a try.”

“We’ll have the sauce-pepper fish head then!” Being able to try a new dish, Minister Zhao immediately felt his visit hadn’t been in vain. Only after speaking did his expression change slightly.

Oh no, he forgot to ask about the price.

The old minister’s heart pounded nervously. He silently consoled himself: Don’t worry, you haven’t been here in so long—your purse is full.

Kou’er helpfully added from the side: “The sauce-pepper fish head is thirty taels of silver per serving.”

Minister Zhao completely relaxed and waved his hand grandly: “Also bring a plate of sauce-braised duck tongue, a platter of braised beef, and two pots of burning liquor.”

As the food and wine were brought to the table, Minister Zhao started lecturing the dark-circles-sporting Lin Teng: “Lin Teng, work is never-ending. You can’t neglect your health just to investigate cases. If your body breaks down, you’ll have nothing left.”

Lin Teng gripped his wine cup with a bitter smile: “I understand everything you’re saying, sir, but this case is different—”

As for how it was different, when he noticed several gazes burning with the fire of gossip, Lin Teng silently swallowed his words.

Hong Dou muttered: “Why only say half of what you’re going to say?”

This was killing people with curiosity.

Hong Dou glared at Lin Teng in dissatisfaction. Her gaze inadvertently swept past the window and she froze.

That young lady standing outside looked somewhat familiar.

Taking a closer look, Hong Dou recognized her: it was Second Miss Wang from Prefect Wang’s household.

Oh, she couldn’t call it Prefect Wang’s household anymore. According to what Kou’er said, Prefect Wang had been dismissed from office due to being implicated by Prince Pingnan’s household.

Second Miss Wang seemed to notice Hong Dou had seen her. She stepped toward the wine shop entrance and soon walked into the main hall.

Hong Dou greeted Second Miss Wang to sit down and asked: “What would you like to eat, honored guest?”

Second Miss Wang looked rather downcast and said softly: “A bowl of plain noodles and a serving of… cape-style cucumber.”

The first time she and her elder sister came to this wine shop, that’s what they had eaten.

“I’m sorry, we don’t have cape-style cucumber available right now.”

“You don’t?” Second Miss Wang’s eyelashes trembled lightly. She bit her lip and said: “Then just a bowl of plain noodles.”

The plain noodles were brought to the table before long. Second Miss Wang thanked them and slowly ate the noodles with her chopsticks.

Luo Sheng’s eyes flickered slightly.

Second Miss Wang seemed very sad—tears were falling into her plain noodles.

Could something have happened?

Second Miss Wang had come to the wine shop several times, and each time she had come together with First Miss Wang. Thinking about how she had come alone this time, Luo Sheng felt uneasy.

After brief consideration, she stood up and walked toward Second Miss Wang.

But just then, Second Miss Wang suddenly put down her chopsticks and stood up.

Luo Sheng couldn’t help but stop and watch to see what Second Miss Wang would do.

Second Miss Wang seemed completely oblivious to Luo Sheng. She quickly walked up to Lin Teng and curtsied: “Excuse me, are you Magistrate Lin?”

The overlooked Minister Zhao calmly picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks.

The fish meat had absorbed the flavor of the secret sauce-pepper and was tender, smooth, and fragrant—absolutely delicious.

He had felt bad watching this foolish boy Lin Teng work himself to death for so many days, so even without the half-price discount, he’d gritted his teeth and brought the boy for a meal. Who would have thought that in the time it took to eat, he’d get caught up in another matter?

“I am. May I ask what business you have, miss?”