Zhao Yunjin raised a brow slightly, his voice low and steady. “Mother, have you forgotten? My marriage is something I can decide for myself.”
When he was young, after learning that his marriage had already been arranged, he once thought he would simply spend his life in an emotionless union.
But then, an opportunity came.
Three years ago, the Grand Tutor Lin knelt before the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, begging to cancel the childhood engagement. Zhao Yunjin had agreed without hesitation.
At the same time, he seized that rare opportunity to place his own marriage entirely under his control.
Since then, his life had become much quieter—no more nagging about his marriage, no more pressure.
That was the life he wanted: free, unrestrained.
If he never met a woman he loved, remaining single wasn’t so bad.
“It’s just a meeting,” the Empress said gently, a hint of expectation in her eyes. “No one is forcing you to be together. In half a month, there will be a palace banquet. Yunjin, just do your mother a favor and attend on time.”
She knew he often used state affairs as an excuse to refuse invitations, but this time she hoped he would agree.
Seeing that he did not refuse outright, the Empress finally felt reassured.
“Stay for dinner with me later, alright?” she asked softly.
“Mm.” Zhao Yunjin nodded slightly.
The sky gradually darkened as night fell.
Inside the Grand Tutor’s residence, lanterns were lit brightly.
Lin Qianyu sat in a wooden bath, eyes closed, enjoying the warmth of the water. Her maid stood beside her, gently wiping her shoulders while reporting everything she had learned that day.
“Miss, the Empress plans to invite the young ladies from the Minister of Revenue’s household and the Grand Tutor’s household to the palace banquet. The Sixth Prince has also agreed to attend.”
Hearing this, Lin Qianyu suddenly opened her eyes, a flash of calculation crossing them.
“Good, I understand. Send someone to the Fourth Prince’s residence. Invite him to go boating with me tomorrow.”
“Yes, Miss.”
It seemed that if she wanted to enter the palace banquet smoothly, she would have to rely on the Fourth Prince first.
Lin Qianyu’s lips curved slightly.
Even after all this time, she still hadn’t forgotten him.
When she learned she would one day be married to the talented, valiant Sixth Prince, she had been overjoyed. From then on, she devoted herself to mastering music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, all to be worthy of him.
But fate had other plans.
Not long after she gained the reputation of being a “great talent,” news came from the battlefield: Zhao Yunjin had been severely injured and disfigured.
To Lin Qianyu, it was like a bolt from the blue.
When she learned the scar might never fully heal, her family suggested breaking off the engagement.
But she firmly refused.
In truth, she had her own calculations.
She was still young—there was time to wait. Perhaps one day, his face could be restored.
Moreover, breaking off the engagement at that time would make her appear shallow, a woman who valued appearance over everything. Worse, it could offend the imperial family.
So she chose to keep the engagement.
And indeed, her decision paid off.
Rumors spread that she was a virtuous, noble woman who did not judge by appearance. Her reputation soared, and countless young men admired her.
She became the center of attention she desired.
Her goal was achieved.
Later, when she came of age, she officially broke off the engagement—on her grandfather’s arrangement—leaving herself entirely uninvolved in the matter.
Again, her goal was achieved.
She gave herself three years. If the Sixth Prince’s face still had not recovered, she would settle for the Fourth Prince instead.
Now she was eighteen. Only a few months remained.
There was no more time to delay.
“Any news about the divine physician?” she asked.
“Not yet.”
Lin Qianyu frowned, tightening her grip on the flower petals in the bath. “Increase the manpower. Find them before anyone else does.”
She knew clearly: if she found the divine physician first and cured his face, she could still reclaim her place beside him.
But if not, she would have to marry the Fourth Prince.
So she had to act quickly.
No one—especially not the Minister of Revenue’s daughter or the Grand Tutor’s daughter—was allowed to take what belonged to her.
She admitted she was clever.
She even admitted she was scheming.
But she believed she was not wrong.
Since breaking off the engagement, Zhao Yunjin had shown no interest in any woman. She was certain—he still had feelings for her.
Thinking of this, Lin Qianyu smiled.
The day before the stall opening, Yu Zhizhi bought ten blocks of tofu and prepared to slice them before bed, soaking them in fermented brine overnight to absorb color.
She also arranged for pork bones and chicken frames to be slowly simmered overnight, extracting all their flavor and nutrients into a rich broth.
That thick, fragrant broth would later be poured over the stinky tofu, paired with garlic chili sauce—guaranteed to be unforgettable.
“Ping’an, are the wooden cart, bamboo skewers, bamboo tubes, and oil paper ready?” she asked while working.
“Yes, Miss. Everything is prepared,” he replied.
Yu Yang also came to report new information. “Boss, I found out that the Sixth Prince usually returns from court around mid-to-late Si hour.”
“Boss, why are you asking about this?” he asked curiously.
Yu Zhizhi smiled mysteriously. “You’ll know tomorrow.”
In modern terms, Si hour was roughly 9 to 11 a.m.—so the Sixth Prince would return around ten.
She calculated carefully.
She would set her stall from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m., right at his doorstep.
Even if the smell didn’t reach his private residence, he would definitely pass by it.
Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but complain about the system again.
That lousy system.
It chose such a location on purpose just to mess with her.
Yu Yang, meanwhile, asked again, “So what are we selling tomorrow?”
“Food,” she replied lightly.
“What kind of food?”
“You’ll know tomorrow.”
Yu Yang puffed his cheeks. “Always this answer…”
On his way home, his right eyelid kept twitching.
Left eye brings fortune, right eye brings disaster.
He really hoped his boss wouldn’t pull off anything too outrageous tomorrow.