Yu Wan was very confident in her uncle. Not to mention Chef Bao, even ten of them were not his match! She had no idea that her uncle’s legs had gone weak from fear.
“Is Chef Bao really that powerful?” Yu Feng asked in confusion. He had never taken anyone seriously with his father’s culinary skills.
Uncle held his chest and said, “This Master Chef’s not the best at the dishes on the market.”
“Then what is?” Yu Feng asked.
“Medicinal cuisine,” Uncle said. “It’s rumored that eating a mouthful of his medicinal cuisine can extend one’s lifespan by ten years. It’s more effective than any miracle medicine. Do you think your father, me, can compare?”
Yu Feng was speechless. “Isn’t that exaggerated?”
Uncle sighed helplessly. “How would I know? He doesn’t cook medicinal cuisine easily, and I’ve never tried it before. However, even if it’s a home-cooked meal, not everyone can compare to it.”
Yu Feng began to worry about his business. Since Chef Bao was so powerful, wouldn’t they lose for sure? If they lost, the price of the stinky tofu would be reduced. S-so painful!
Yu Wan still did not know that her stinky tofu was facing the danger of a discount. She had agreed to supply to Master Qin, and it was not only limited to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion in the Capital. There were also a few branches in the nearby cities. Master Qin’s meaning was that Yu Wan could start delivering at any time. He would send someone to collect the goods no matter how much she supplied. The price would be the same as before, and they would discuss a more formal contract after the competition.
Yu Wan went to the storeroom and found that they did not have much stock.
Putting aside the bad ones, there were only a total of 700 pounds of stinky tofu and 30 jars of fermented bean curd. These were barely enough to supply them for a day. Their production could not go up. Other than the fact that they were all inexperienced and not skilled enough, the tools were also a problem. For example, they used bricks to press the tofu. In Yu Wan’s opinion, it was far inferior to a jack.
She wondered if there were any jacks sold in ancient times. If not, she would have to go to an iron shop to customize them. At the mention of iron, Yu Wan thought of the iron bead Bai Tang had sent over. She had been busy rushing goods these few days and had forgotten to show the bead to Yan Jiuchao.
It was already nighttime. She wondered if that guy was asleep.
When she approached the house, Yu Wan paused. In the end, she walked over and knocked on the Ding family’s door. However, there was no response.
Yu Wan went to the back door again. She and the three little lads often went in and out of the back door, so this place had never been closed. Unexpectedly, when she walked closer to take a look, she found that the back door was locked.
Is he… gone?
Yan Jiuchao had indeed left in a hurry. The reason was none other than that the Emperor was sick.
A few days ago, he had a cold, but he could barely hold on to the morning court. After the morning court today, his condition worsened and he suddenly fainted on his bed.
The unconscious Emperor kept shouting Yan Jiuchao’s name. Eunuch Wang immediately went to the Young Master Manor, and the guards of the Young Master Manor came to Lotus Flower Village. At that time, Yu Wan was discussing business with Master Qin, so she didn’t know that Yan Jiuchao and the others had left in a hurry.
Yu Wan raised her eyebrows strangely and returned to her room.
Little Bruiser had unknowingly slept on her bed again. Yu Wan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Wasn’t it good to sleep on the big bed? Why did he have to squeeze in her small bed? Besides, she had felt very hot while sleeping recently. She would always be woken up by the heat in the middle of the night.
Yu Wan carried the warm Little Bruiser back to Madam Jiang’s house and lay on the bed, only covering herself with a thin blanket.
“It’s really hot.”
The wind was cold on a spring night, but Yu Wan was so hot that she even lifted the blanket.
… .
In the palace, the Emperor lay on a bright yellow bed.
The Empress was not favored. Now, the one who was serving the Emperor was the second prince, Yan Huaijing, who was born to the powerful Worthy Consort Xu.
Worthy Consort Xu brought the imperial physician away and asked about the Emperor’s condition in detail. Yan Huaijing brought a bowl of steaming hot medicine to the bed.
Eunuch Wang went to fetch Yan Jiuchao. The people guarding the hall were all trusted palace maids and eunuchs.
“Juncong… Juncong…”
Juncong was the courtesy name of Yan Jiuchao. It was said that the Emperor had personally named it for him. Cong meant beautiful jade, and Jun meant a gentleman that is as beautiful as jade. The Emperor’s love for Yan Jiuchao was obvious.
The palace maids and eunuchs looked down as if they had heard nothing.
Yan Huaijing glanced at everyone and said angrily, “You guys retreat first.”
“Yes.” Everyone left respectfully.
Yan Huaijing scooped the medicine in his bowl and called softly, “Father.”
The Emperor opened his eyes slightly and looked at Yan Huaijing, who was sitting on the bed. He called out weakly, “Juncong…”
Yan Huaijing, who had been recognized wrongly, opened his mouth. “I’m not Juncong.”
The Emperor grabbed Yan Huaijing’s hand. “Juncong…”
Yan Huaijing spilled the medicine in his hand. He took the bowl with his other hand and placed it on the stool at the side.
The Emperor’s dry lips quivered.
“What did you say?” Yan Huaijing leaned over to listen.
The Emperor treated him as Yan Jiuchao. “Juncong, I, I want…”
What do he want? Did he want to appoint a successor?
Before Yan Huaijing could understand, Eunuch Wang walked in excitedly. “Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Young Master Yan is here!”
Yan Huaijing quickly straightened his body and quietly picked up the medicine bowl on the table.
This action happened to let Yan Jiuchao, who had entered the room, see it. Yan Jiuchao ignored him and walked to the bed.
Eunuch Wang looked at Yan Huaijing awkwardly. “Your Highness…”
Yan Huaijing understood that he had been chased away. Although he was the Emperor’s most valued son, he would never be as proud as Yan Jiuchao in front of his father. His mother, who had power in the harem, can stop his father’s biological sons, but she could not stop Yan Jiuchao, his nephew.
Yan Huaijing put down the bowl of medicine and stood up. “I’ll go see how the imperial physician is doing first. I’ll have to trouble my cousin to feed Father the medicine.”
Yan Jiuchao didn’t even look at the medicine on the table, nor did he look at Yan Huaijing.
Yan Huaijing left coldly.
Eunuch Wang’s earnest advice came from behind. “… Young Master, why bother…” Why bother? Why bother to offend a prince like him? Eunuch Wang had never been so sincere with him.
Yan Huaijing went to the side hall.
Worthy Consort Xu was discussing the Emperor’s illness with the imperial physician. When she saw her son’s expression change, she asked the imperial physician to leave first.
“What’s wrong?” Worthy Consort Xu asked.
Yan Huaijing stopped in his tracks.
Worthy Consort Xu smiled faintly and said, “Did your father say something?”
Yan Huaijing said, “He did, but I didn’t hear him.”
Worthy Consort Xu walked down from her seat and stood in front of Yan Huaijing. She raised her hand to adjust Yan Huaijing’s clothes. “Then what’s troubling my son?”
“Mother.” Yan Huaijing looked at her steadily. “Is Yan Jiuchao Father’s son?”
Worthy Consort Xu’s hand that was tidying his clothes paused. “Where did you hear that from?”
Yan Huaijing said, “No one dares to say it in front of me. I guessed it myself.”
Worthy Consort Xu smiled disdainfully. “So what if he is? So what if he’s not? An invalid who can’t live past 25 is destined not to be a stumbling block for you!”
