Steward Shen paused for a moment, a look of bewilderment in his eyes.
“Which Miss Jiang?”
“You just ate her candied haws the other day, and you’ve forgotten already?” Steward Fang picked up a piece of crispy fried pork.
“Oh, it’s her. I heard you mention her, her name seems to be… Jiang Mo?”
Even though it wasn’t freshly made, it still maintained its crispy texture, fragrant with Sichuan pepper, and was very chewy.
If it was this good even when cold, the hot ones must be even more delicious.
“It’s surprisingly good, hurry up and try some,” Steward Fang urged.
After taking a few bites, Steward Shen didn’t comment on how the crispy pork tasted, but instead wore a solemn expression.
“Madam, did you know that a small restaurant opened on Sajin Bridge today, attracting the favor and patronage of the future Princess Consort of Qin, and in just a single day, it has become immensely famous?”
“I stay at the villa every day, when would I have the time to listen to such idle gossip?” Steward Fang rolled her eyes at him, but then remembering his strange expression, she suddenly paused. “You wouldn’t happen to be telling me that restaurant is called Peach Blossom Haven, would you?”
“Not only that, but the owner of Peach Blossom Haven is reportedly a young woman, her face covered with a white veil, with a single red mole between her eyebrows, possessing exceptional beauty. Her signature dishes are precisely crispy fried pork and sweet and sour fish.”
Steward Fang’s heart skipped a beat.
Doesn’t this description sound exactly like Jiang Mo herself?
“That’s just what people are saying, who knows if it’s true? Don’t tell me you actually went there yourself?”
Steward Shen wore a peculiar expression. “I didn’t go, but my Lord did.”
He only found out today when Han You was dropping my Lord back at the residence and they were chatting.
It truly was a rare occurrence. Usually, whenever my Lord went to restaurants, it was for banquets and business talks; he rarely ever went just to eat.
Steward Fang shot him a casual sideways glance.
“Speaking of which, those dozen or so women at the villa, has my Lord ever mentioned how they will be arranged in the future?”
Steward Shen was also quite astute. Hearing this, he glanced back at her. “Never.”
“These women were all sent by their families to serve my Lord, and my Lord doesn’t like them either. Why keep them in the manor to waste their youth? It’s quite a pity,” Steward Fang sighed softly.
Steward Shen chuckled.
“How many years have we been married, and you’re still beating around the bush when something’s on your mind? Did Miss Jiang ask you something? Since she was able to figure out a way to open a restaurant, she surely doesn’t want to stay at the villa forever.”
Steward Fang pursed her lips and smiled. “Yes, she asked me about ways to leave. I figured since I’ve eaten so many good things she made, I might as well ask for her.”
“There is no way to leave for now. Tomorrow when I go before my Lord, I’ll look for an opportunity to ask around.”
Judging by Steward Shen’s understanding of Shen Zhengze, he probably wouldn’t delay these women for too much longer. After all, my Lord wasn’t going to stay in Jiangzhou forever; sooner or later, he would receive an imperial decree to return to the capital.
With matters weighing on his mind, Steward Shen brought the expense ledger of the Pear Blossom Villa the very next day and arrived at Shen Zhengze’s study.
“My Lord,” he bowed and presented the account book. “These are the ledgers for the villa over the past month. After my Lord requested to cut down on expenses, we truly have saved a lot.”
Shen Zhengze casually placed the ledger on the desk without opening it.
The atmosphere in the room was dead silent—truly not a good time to speak.
Steward Shen’s lips moved, but in the end, he bowed and withdrew.
As soon as he stepped out of the courtyard, he ran straight into Han You, who was happily carrying a food box. He grabbed the young man by the arm.
“You rascal, coming to see my Lord this early?”
Han You looked surprised. “As if! My Lord instructed me yesterday to go to Peach Blossom Haven this morning for breakfast and bring some food back for him. Look, signature soup dumplings and chicken soup wontons.”