Compared to the bustle outside, one of the private rooms on the second floor was conspicuously quiet.

Had Gu Yanxi been there, he would certainly have had a great shock — for the one seated at ease within was none other than the Emperor himself. At his side was not his usual attendant, Lai Fu, but rather a perfectly unremarkable man — plain features, average height, average in every possible way. This was Dark One.

At this moment, the Emperor was eyeing the plate of fried yellow croaker that had been set before him. It smelled wonderfully enticing. He picked up his chopsticks and prodded it, then peeled away a small piece of flesh from the belly — the area with the fewest bones — and was about to bring it to his lips.

Dark One startled. In his alarm, he reached out without thinking and pressed the Emperor’s hand down. “Your… sir, please allow me to test it first before you—”

The Emperor paid no mind to the breach of etiquette. If anything, he found a certain comfort in it. The less he trusted those around him, the more he cherished even these small, instinctive gestures of care — even when they were nothing more than duty. “She’s running an open establishment. If she were to try anything here, would that be business, or would it be suicide?”

With that, the Emperor brought the piece of fish to his mouth. It was salty, crisp on the outside, soft within — not bad at all. Without thinking, his chopsticks drifted down again, this time toward the belly of another yellow croaker. Dark One, at a loss, set down his own chopsticks and clumsily attempted to serve the Emperor instead.

When the Emperor saw the loosely scattered mess of fish flesh Dark One had managed, Dark One set his chopsticks down in embarrassment and prepared to kneel in apology — only to watch the Emperor pick up each piece, one by one, and eat them without a word.

Dark One dared not let his thoughts wander further. He lowered his gaze and did not look again.

At that moment, the curtain of the private room was lifted. In stepped a young server dressed in a blue short jacket and small cap, a cloth apron tied at the waist, carrying a tray with a easy smile — neither fawning nor overeager. “Welcome, honored guests. Hai Wei has only just opened today — we are grateful for your patronage. This is a fish broth, a small token of our appreciation.”

The Emperor looked at the bowl of broth, milky white and clearly the product of long, careful simmering. He smiled — the smile of an old man in an ordinary household — and made easy conversation: “Sending fish and broth both — isn’t your proprietress afraid of running at a loss on opening day?”

“Our First Young Miss says that quality speaks for itself. If something is good, the customer will come back on their own. If it isn’t, then you could all but give it away and still no one would darken the door.”

“That’s a sound way of thinking.”

“It certainly is. Our First Young Miss has a way of making every business she touches a success.” The server bowed with tray in hand. “It’s a busy day today — if the food is a little slow in coming, please forgive us. Also, our First Young Miss has just announced that everything is half price today — we hope you enjoy your meal.”

The curtain fell back into place. The Emperor bowed his head over the pale broth and let out a quiet, unhurried laugh. Makes every business a success, does she?

Completely unaware that a formidable figure had taken up residence on her second floor, Hua Zhi had made her way to the kitchen. On the first day, there was inevitably some chaos, but once the rhythm was found, things settled considerably. She moved through the space, glancing this way and that — the pungent briny smell made her wrinkle her nose. “Someone go fetch Nanny Chen.”

Nanny Chen was already in the kitchen lending a hand. At the summons, she hurried over. “First Young Miss, is something wrong?”

“Take a breath — isn’t this smell a little sharp?”

Nanny Chen drew in a deep sniff. “There is a bit of a fishy smell…”

“Not a bit — it’s a very strong fishy smell. Guests are more likely to want to come and choose their seafood by looking at it directly, rather than just ordering from a table out front. A smell this strong might frighten them off entirely.”

“It was remiss of me, old servant that I am. I’ll see to it at once.”

“Rinse everything thoroughly. What can be gathered up, gather up; what needs to be cleared out, do so promptly.”

“Yes.”

Hua Zhi was still not entirely satisfied. She made a note to herself to find Cao Cao later and ask her to put together some kind of remedy to neutralize the odor.

Outside, a commotion suddenly broke out. Hua Zhi had a fair idea of what it might be but didn’t rush. She finished issuing a few more instructions before making her way out.

Drawing closer, she caught the words being shouted: “The food in this place is poisonous — what else would explain these things on my body?”

A disdainful voice fired back: “Now that’s interesting. Does the First Young Miss have some personal grudge against you specifically, that she’d poison you and no one else? The rest of us ordered plenty — and not one of us has had any such reaction.”

“How do I know whether you’ve been paid to say that? I’m not arguing with you. The evidence is right here in front of everyone — I’ve broken out in these red welts. And now my head is starting to pound again.” The speaker was dressed in the manner of a scholar. He clutched his head and pointed at Xu Biao with an accusing finger. “Tell me what you put in that food! And get me to a physician at once!”

“Please look here, honored guest.” Xu Biao, composed and unruffled, directed the man’s attention to a notice posted in plain view behind the counter. It read, clearly: If you experience headache, welts or bumps appearing on the face or body, accompanied by itching, this is an allergic reaction. There is no cause for alarm. Guests who trust the establishment may obtain a remedy from the counter to ease the discomfort; those who prefer to consult a physician will find a medical clinic a short distance away, and all expenses will be borne by the establishment.

Once it was clear everyone had had a chance to read it, Xu Biao spoke before the scholar could launch into another tirade. “Just as some people cannot eat mushrooms, and others cannot eat taro, there are those whose bodies do not agree with seafood. Honored guest, please rest assured — with prompt treatment, there will be no lasting harm. Other guests who have any such concerns are welcome to collect a packet of the remedy as well. Should an allergic reaction occur, it will help ease the symptoms.”

“How marvelous — you know this can cause reactions and you still sell it. What exactly is your intention?”

Hua Zhi was reasonably satisfied with how Xu Biao had handled things. But this scholar had obviously come with a purpose, and letting him drag the confrontation on would only damage Hai Wei’s name. She stepped forward from the back of the crowd.

Before she could speak, a scholar among the crowd had already turned toward her and bowed respectfully. “This student pays his respects to the First Young Miss.”

It was Yu Xiasheng. She hadn’t expected him to come as well. Hua Zhi returned the courtesy, and the others, catching on, followed suit one by one. Gazes — some obvious, some veiled — all settled on this woman who had eluded sight the last time, yet appeared so effortlessly now.

As the rumors had said — exceptional. Not only in appearance, but in bearing, even more so.

Hua Zhi returned each greeting in turn, then looked toward the scholar whose face was mottled with red welts. “The clinic is right next door. Please, honored guest — do go and have yourself seen to. There is no need to delay at the cost of your health.”

“If you knew this would injure people, why would you dare to sell it? What is your intent?”

Hua Zhi’s lips curved faintly. “Anyone in business is there to make money — not to invite a lawsuit over someone’s death. Or is the honored guest suggesting that the Hua Family would move against so many of the realm’s finest men? Perhaps the honored guest can tell me — what would we possibly stand to gain?”

“Hmph. You know perfectly well.”

“It seems you know even better than I do.” Hua Zhi smoothed her sleeve calmly. “Shall we make a wager?”

The scholar looked at her with narrowed eyes. “What sort of wager?”

“I’ll first have a physician treat the honored guest’s allergic reaction. Then I invite the honored guest to dine at the Food Studio, where a full mushroom feast and a taro feast will be served. As for the wager itself…” Hua Zhi smiled. “We’ll wager on whether the honored guest is allergic to those as well.”

“What on earth does that have to do with what I ate today?”

“Eat and find out.”

The scholar jabbed a furious finger at her. “This is outright sophistry!”

“Yes, I am being sophistic. So — honored guest, do you accept the wager or not?”

Someone nearby was already struggling to suppress a laugh. The First Young Miss really was… there was simply no finding the right words for it, yet somehow it was impossible to feel any ill will toward her.