Сhарtеr 18: Lоoking for Тrоublе
Тhаt infuriating exрrеssion direсtly filled Shеn Ji with аngеr.
Until thе еnd оf his shift, Pеi Zhао’s еars werе free from the usuаl buzzing nоise, grаnting him а rаrе mоment оf реacе.
Shеn Ji was аngry, but at the sаme timе, he wonderеd wherе Pеi Zhаo had gоtten those frеsh snасks hе had brought thеsе раst few times.
Unlikе himself, Рei Zhaо didn’t spend his dаys eаting and plaуing аrоund. Shen Ji hаd triеd every shоp in thе сapitаl, and he wаs alwауs thе first to knоw where thе good fооd wаs.
The snacks Pei Zhao brоught wеre fresh and deliсiоus, something Shen Ji hаd nеver seen in any shop outside. They weren’t bought from a store, nor were they made by the Pei family’s chefs. Could it be…
His secret mistress!
Shen Ji’s eyes lit up as he suddenly remembered someone.
He wanted to pull Pei Zhao aside to confirm his suspicion, but just then, the Crown Prince summoned him, and Pei Zhao had already gone to the rear hall.
“I’ll definitely ask him when I get the chance!”
The idea of Pei Zhao keeping a secret mistress was simply unbelievable in Shen Ji’s eyes.
As his childhood friend, Shen Ji knew better than anyone how indifferent Pei Zhao was to worldly desires. Since childhood, there hadn’t even been a female mosquito around him. All his attendants were male servants, and he paid no attention to the admiration of noble ladies in the capital.
Even Shen Ji himself had accepted handkerchiefs and pouches from young ladies a few times, but Pei Zhao had never done so.
He had even suspected that Pei Zhao might prefer men and had worried for himself for a while. But later, when Pei Zhao found out about his thoughts, he made Shen Ji study books with him for three days and three nights, leaving Shen Ji with no further suspicions.
That man was a cold-hearted monster. No one could ever enter his heart. If he was keeping a secret mistress, there must be a hidden reason.
But if this mistress had exceptional culinary skills, then things would get interesting.
Shen Ji stroked his chin, wearing a sly smile.
Pei Zhao had already broken his routine twice by bringing pastries to work. This mistress must hold a special place in his heart.
The only question was whether Pei Zhao had realized it himself.
…
“Is this the place?”
Princess Changle held her maid’s hand as she stepped down from the carriage, frowning as she looked at the food shop not far away.
The northern part of the city was mostly inhabited by commoners. The streets were narrow, and the ground was littered with vegetable leaves and dirty water. This was the first time Princess Changle had seen such a filthy place. She covered her nose with a handkerchief, her face filled with disgust.
The maid also wrinkled her nose, looking disdainful. “Princess, this is the place. The shop ahead, Xi’s Shop, is run by Third Master’s secret mistress.”
“Hmph! Let’s go in and take a look.”
Princess Changle snorted coldly, holding her maid’s hand as she stepped around the dirty water and walked forward.
Seeing customers approaching, Nanny Su quickly greeted them with a smile, but when she noticed their appearance and attire, her smile faltered slightly.
“What would you like to eat, guests? We have all kinds of snacks and noodles here. Please take a look and see what you like.”
Nanny Su had served noble families in deep mansions before. Princess Changle’s demeanor made it clear she was no ordinary young lady. Nanny Su couldn’t understand why such a noble person would come to a small shop in the northern part of the city, so she remained cautious.
Princess Changle held her fingers in an elegant pose, refusing to take the menu Nanny Su offered. She picked at her nails, her expression full of arrogance.
“Where is your shopkeeper? I want her to personally prepare my food!”
A lowly old woman like this wasn’t worthy of speaking to her.
“This…”
Nanny Su hadn’t expected this young lady to demand to see their mistress as soon as she arrived. Moreover, her attitude didn’t seem like she was here to eat—it felt more like she was looking for trouble.
Their mistress was delicate and gentle, no match for such a difficult person.Nanny Su’s smile also faded. No matter what, their young lady was the Third Master Pei’s mistress, not someone that just any stray cat or dog could see.
“Apologies, miss. Our young lady does not cook. The two chefs in the shop were personally trained by her. If you wish to eat, please look at the menu. If there’s nothing you fancy, there are plenty of eateries on this street—surely you’ll find something you like.”
Her composed and dignified manner earned applause from the customers in the shop.
“Well said, madam! This young lady wants to throw her weight around without even looking at where she is. Does she think everyone will indulge her? We commoners may fear the nobility, but that doesn’t mean we have to let ourselves be bullied.”
“Exactly. I wonder which family this young lady is from, to have no manners at all.”
Princess Changle had only brought a maid with her. Others didn’t know her identity, and seeing her act so rudely, they all began to criticize her.
Princess Changle trembled with anger. “You… you lowly commoners! I’ll have you all arrested!”
The little maid was also furious. “How dare you! Do you know who our young lady is? Offending a noble is asking for a beating!”
After the two of them finished their angry outburst, the shop fell silent.
Commoners do not fight with officials; they dared not truly offend a noble.
The customers hurriedly finished their meals, left their silver, and slipped out, afraid that Princess Changle would hold them accountable.
Seeing the customers flee, Nanny Su’s heart skipped a beat. What exactly did these two want?
“Call your shopkeeper here, or this shop won’t be allowed to stay open!”
It was just a shop—she could crush them with a snap of her fingers.
In her eyes, Xi Ning was an obstacle. Whether Pei Zhao liked this mistress or not, she couldn’t let her live.
This was the first time Nanny Su had encountered such a situation. She didn’t know Princess Changle’s identity and dared not act rashly. If she offended the other party and brought trouble to her master, she would never forgive herself.
Gouzi was clever. As soon as Princess Changle started causing trouble, he quietly slipped out from the crowd and sprinted all the way to Wutong Street.
“Young lady, young lady, something’s happened!”
“What’s the matter? You’re so flustered. Have some water and speak slowly.”
Seeing Gouzi sweating profusely from running, Xi Ning quickly asked Rendong to bring a cup of warm water.
Gouzi gulped down the water in two mouthfuls and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
“Young lady, someone’s causing trouble at the shop and scared all the customers away. Now they’re demanding to see you. Nanny Su can’t handle it alone, so I sneaked out to find you.”
In Gouzi’s eyes, Xi Ning was an omnipotent fairy—otherwise, how could she make such delicious food?
“Someone’s causing trouble?”
Xi Ning frowned. With Xi’s Shop doing such good business, she had long anticipated that someone might cause trouble. But from what Gouzi said, it seemed the person wasn’t targeting the business but rather her.
Xi Ning thought it over but couldn’t figure it out.
“Let’s go and see.”
When the two arrived at the shop, Princess Changle was sitting on a long bench, deigning to lower herself. A handkerchief was spread beneath her, and her eyes were filled with disdain.
She looked around. Xi Ning had limited funds, so the shop was simply furnished. Moreover, since most of the customers were ordinary people, Xi Ning hadn’t put much effort into the decor.
All of this only deepened Princess Changle’s contempt.”Tsk! I don’t know what Brother Zhao sees in her. A woman who doesn’t know her place, actually running a business—and such a lowly food business at that. Hmph! Just as expected from someone who came from a brothel, truly unfit for proper society.”
Her voice wasn’t loud, but Xi Ning happened to be close enough to overhear.
Brother Zhao?
This person knows Pei Zhao?