Early the next morning, Zhao Hanzhang first had Ting He send out the letter, then went with hands clasped behind her back to have breakfast. Passing by Zhao Ji’s courtyard, her body veered as if to enter, but recalling the letter she’d written last night, she paused.

She controlled herself inwardly, and finally left with some regret.

Never mind, she wouldn’t provoke him today. Let him recover from his injury properly. She was a broad-minded person.

During the meal, Fan Ying came over to report quietly, “Governor, at first light this morning Zheng Mingzhu was sent out of the city. The Tan family and Zheng family were sent out yesterday. They should have left Yuncheng’s jurisdiction by now.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded slightly and said in a low voice, “Keep watch these next few days. If anyone else comes seeking refuge, investigate thoroughly and then detain them. Don’t be afraid of Gou Xi’s influence.”

“Yes!”

After breakfast, Zhao Hanzhang went to the guest courtyard. Ming Yu and the officials she’d brought were already waiting. Today she would join them in receiving etiquette training from officials of the Ministry of Rites.

The Emperor would offer sacrifices to Heaven, and Zhao Hanzhang had decided to bring everyone she could. But most of the officials here, like her, were fine with ordinary etiquette but still lacking when it came to the ritual for sacrificing to Heaven. Since learning of the ceremony, they’d been studying continuously.

However, to prevent them from losing face, Zhao Zhongyu had specially found officials from the Ministry of Rites for a final review. If there were errors, they’d correct them; if not, they’d make their performance more elegant.

Ming Yu wouldn’t go. His coming to Yuncheng was one thing, but he shouldn’t openly appear and provoke Gou Xi.

They still needed to show some respect to the current number one power minister of Dajin.

Zhao Hanzhang and her officials spent two hours learning the etiquette. Only after the Ministry of Rites officials confirmed they had no omissions did Zhao Hanzhang breathe a sigh of relief, twisting her stiff and aching neck as she walked out.

Ting He hurried to catch up. “Young Lady, about the clothes and accessories for tomorrow…”

“Didn’t we try them on in Chen County?” Zhao Hanzhang quickened her pace.

“But I see you’ve lost some weight these past few days. I’m afraid the waist will need to be altered. And accessories—you’re only bringing one piece of jade, which is far too few…”

Zhao Hanzhang walked faster. She actually quite enjoyed trying on new clothes, but after trying on the same outfit more than ten times, no matter how beautiful it was, she’d grown tired of it. She said, “Everyone will be watching His Majesty at the sacrifice to Heaven. They won’t notice me. I’ve only lost a tiny bit of weight—it won’t show.”

Zhao Hanzhang walked faster and faster. “I’m going out to find something to eat first. Whatever it is can wait until this afternoon when I return.”

Ting He could only stamp her foot. She looked at Fan Ying, hoping she could help persuade, but Fan Ying was also trotting toward the exit. “I, I’m also going to find something to eat.”

She was one of the officials being brought to the sacrifice. If Zhao Hanzhang had to try on her ceremonial robes again, wouldn’t she have to as well?

Save me! She didn’t want to try on ceremonial robes again either.

Usually their official robes didn’t need to be so perfect—why did this set require constant alterations?

Both of them fled. The remaining officials naturally scattered as well. Ting He couldn’t help but look at Master Ming.

Ming Yu smiled at her encouragingly. “Miss Ting He’s thinking is thorough. When the Governor returns this afternoon, plead with her again. She’ll agree eventually.”

Then he stood and left as well. After taking two steps, he turned back and picked up the plate of pastries from his low table to take with him.

Ting He was left speechless.

Zhao Hanzhang took two personal guards and went out, intending to eat at a tavern, but seeing a new stall set up diagonally across from the tavern with quite a few people eating there, she couldn’t help stopping to observe.

Seeing the stall owner’s efficient movements—continuously stirring the dough in the basin, then ladling it spoonful by spoonful into the soup, and soon the dough dumplings floated up and the broth became rich.

Zhao Hanzhang sniffed and thought it smelled quite good. The stall was also clean, so she approached with her guards and found a seat. “Proprietor, three bowls of drop dumpling soup.”

“Right away!” The stall owner responded and immediately cooked three bowls for them.

By coincidence, the three of them were the last to order, so after finishing these three bowls, the stall owner was free. He occasionally added water and heated the broth, leaning to the side watching them eat.

Behind the stall, a woman was washing bowls.

Zhao Hanzhang first took a sip of the soup. The clear fragrance of meat broth and flour broth entered her throat together. The dough dumplings were very smooth, sliding directly into her mouth. Zhao Hanzhang chewed and was delighted. “This is sheep bone broth!”

Seeing she was knowledgeable, the stall owner immediately moved closer, smiling. “Exactly! We started cooking it in the middle of the night. This broth is properly flavored. To eat soup like this elsewhere would cost money.”

Zhao Hanzhang looked at his location, pointing to the wall behind her. “Whose place is this? They let you set up a stall here?”

“We’re renting. As long as we don’t block their entrance, it’s fine. See, from there to here, it’s all wall. We’re just renting this spot—eighty coins a month.”

Though he’d rented it, the stall owner still felt it was expensive, so he complained, “We only charge five coins per bowl of drop dumpling soup. How many bowls must we sell to earn it back…”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and asked, “Then why still choose to set up your stall here?”

The stall owner brightened somewhat, saying proudly, “See that tavern diagonally across?”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded.

“That’s the best tavern in our Yuncheng—the Jiang family’s. With the Emperor sacrificing to Heaven, many people have come to the capital recently. Those high officials and nobles all come to this tavern to eat,” the stall owner said. “But while the nobles can spend big money to eat inside, their attendants can’t all afford such prices, right? They can’t go hungry either, so they have to find food outside. That’s why I set up my stall here.”

He said proudly, “I may have only been here half a day, but in just this half day I’ve sold over sixty bowls.”

Zhao Hanzhang heard this and laughed heartily, congratulating him. “You’ve earned back a whole month’s rent in just one day!”

“Exactly! But the landlord is too stingy. I only wanted to rent for half a month, paying by the day, but he refused. He insists on renting for a full month. Sigh, those generals and governors can’t possibly stay here for a month. This business will only last these few days.”

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Can’t you do business normally? There will always be nobles from Yuncheng bringing attendants to eat at the tavern.”

“Ay-ya, normally we wouldn’t dare set up a stall on the main street like this,” the stall owner lowered his voice. “If the Young General happened upon it and was in a bad mood, we might be charged with ruining the capital’s appearance. Being beaten with rods would be minor—what’s frightening is being thrown in prison. Even if we don’t die, our family would be ruined.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s smile faded slightly. She also lowered her voice. “But I see quite a few stalls on the main street now…”

“Other streets are one thing—the Young General doesn’t often go there. But on this main street, in the past few people dared set up stalls,” the stall owner wasn’t afraid to speak ill of Gou Chun. Among common people, they often whispered such things, and some even made dolls to hide at home and stick with needles as curses. Unfortunately, it didn’t help much.

He said quietly, “A few days ago the Young General offended the female Governor from Yuzhou and was punished to stay in the General’s Mansion and not come out. Only then did everyone’s courage grow a bit.”

Otherwise he wouldn’t have set up his stall today. Actually, he’d spotted this business opportunity earlier but hadn’t dared act. Only after confirming that Gou Chun truly couldn’t leave and that stalls on the main street weren’t being driven away did he dare to proceed.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, praising him. “Good courage. With your skill, you’ll surely make a fortune in the future.”

Everyone likes to hear pleasant words. The stall owner was so happy his eyes crinkled.

Just as he was about to speak, a handsome young man approached with two attendants and said to the stall owner, “Three bowls of drop dumpling soup.”

Then he looked at the seated Zhao Hanzhang and asked with a smile, “Governor Zhao, would I have the honor of sharing a table with you?”