Mad Queen Leaves the Palace

As they spoke, they arrived at Chunfeng Tower. Two carriages stopped one after the other in front of the tower. The area in front of Chunfeng Tower in the capital was bustling with people. This top-tier restaurant in the capital was famous for its abundant dishes and high prices. As soon as Xiao Lan alighted from the carriage, Wu Yuyu immediately ran over and grabbed her sleeve. Xiao Lan smiled at her younger sister, and the two sisters, hand in hand, followed behind Wu De and Jiang Xiuzhi, walking forward with Xiao Mu'an.

As you step through the vermilion gate of Chunfeng Tower, a rich aroma wafts towards you, instantly captivating you. The first thing that catches your eye is the spacious and bright hall, large enough to accommodate hundreds of people dining at the same time.

The entire hall was decorated in a magnificent and opulent style. Exquisite crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, emitting a soft and warm glow; the walls were adorned with works of calligraphy and painting by renowned artists, adding to the cultural and artistic atmosphere. The floor was covered with a thick, soft carpet, making walking on it feel as light and comfortable as strolling on clouds.

The hall was furnished with exquisite tables and chairs, all crafted from the finest wood and meticulously carved and polished by skilled artisans, exuding elegance and luxury. Guests sat in small groups around the tables, or in pairs facing each other, enjoying the delicious dishes prepared by renowned chefs while chatting and laughing with great interest. Some guests savored their fine wines, their faces beaming with satisfaction and contentment; others were captivated by the spectacular performances on stage, frequently erupting in cheers and applause.

Chunfenglou Restaurant offers a rich and diverse menu, featuring various delicacies from land and sea, chicken, duck, fish, meat, vegetables, and fruits. Each dish is meticulously prepared, boasting excellent color, aroma, and flavor, making it incredibly tempting. However, the prices here are not cheap, averaging at least two hundred taels per person, making it unaffordable for the average person.

Despite its high prices, Chunfenglou Restaurant remains incredibly popular. Every day, many customers come specifically to savor its cuisine. Some are high-ranking officials from the capital, others are wealthy merchants from other regions, and still others are scholars and artists. They exchange their experiences and feelings here, enjoying the pleasure brought by the delicious food and wine.

After entering the restaurant, Wu De asked the waiter for a spacious and elegant private room. After all, he was the host of today's banquet, so he couldn't afford to be rude. Once everyone had entered the room, Wu De took the seat of honor without hesitation. To his left sat Jiang Xiuzhi and her daughter Wu Yuyu, while to his right sat Xiao Mu'an and his sister Xiao Lan.

Once all five of them were settled in, Wu De greeted Xiao Mu'an and Xiao Lan with a broad smile, "Mu'an, and Lan Lan, you two little ones, just order whatever you like to eat, don't be shy with your uncle! Your uncle is treating everyone to dinner today so that everyone can have a good time and be satisfied!"

Upon hearing Wu De's warm and generous words, Xiao Mu'an and Xiao Lan quickly stood up and respectfully replied in unison, "Thank you, Uncle!"

At this moment, Xiao Lan suddenly remembered something. She turned to look at Wu De and said softly, "Uncle, it's like this. Tonight, my little sister Yu Yu plans to come back to Dingxiang Hutong with me to stay. Tomorrow morning, we can go to the academy together. I'm telling you in advance so you won't blame me if you don't know."

Xiao Lan thought that her aunt Jiang Xiuzhi had only returned a day ago, and probably hadn't had time to fully mend her relationship with Wu De yet. So, clarifying things now would be better than nothing, to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings.

At this moment, Jiang Xiuzhi also said with a smile, "General, Yuyu is a sleepy child. These days, he and I in Shaozhou have been left unattended. It's good to have Lanlan keep an eye on him for us. It will save this naughty boy from being disobedient."

Wu De was quite pleased to hear Jiang Xiuzhi speaking to him so softly.

When Wu De learned that Chen had remarried with her child, he was depressed for a while. Later, because the Great Xia army won a great victory on the border, those with even a little official rank went to the capital to await the emperor's rewards. It was at that lantern festival that Wu De saw Jiang Xiuzhi and was immediately captivated by her beauty, never forgetting her. Actually, Jiang Xiuzhi had come to the capital to meet Xiao Daren with her sister, Jiang Nihuang. Not wanting to be a third wheel for her sister and future brother-in-law, she went to the lantern festival alone with her maid. Unexpectedly, Wu De took a liking to her; there was no romance involved. It was entirely Wu De's cunning and forceful seduction. By the time Jiang Nihuang found out, Jiang Xiuzhi was already Wu De's woman.

Later, Xiao Daren led a fight with Wu De's men. Although he won, he was reprimanded by the emperor and demoted three ranks. Wu De escalated the situation, forcing Jiang Xiuzhi to marry into a lower-ranking family. This explains why Jiang Xiuzhi had always been indifferent to Wu De. Later, Chen Shi returned and became Wu De's concubine. Wu De hadn't clearly explained his two previous children to the Jiang family, and Chen Shi became pregnant again within months of entering the general's mansion. This caused Jiang Xiuzhi to have a difficult childbirth, further straining their already precarious relationship. Over the years, Wu De had become accustomed to Jiang Xiuzhi's coldness. If Wu De hadn't been firm a few times, Wu Yuyu might not even exist. Therefore, Wu De was very happy that Jiang Xiuzhi wrote to him to discuss his daughter's schooling, feeling that she still had feelings for him. So when Xiao Lan mentioned obtaining a recommendation letter, Wu De immediately opened his private coffers, determined to get it done.

"Then we'll have to trouble Lanlan! We hope you can take good care of Yuyu at the academy. Yuyu is still young and can be a bit mischievous and willful at times. If she misbehaves, Lanlan, please don't hesitate to discipline her, but be mindful of your methods. Also, if you're short of money, remember to tell your aunt, and I'll have the steward send it to you." After giving these earnest instructions to Xiao Lan, Wu De turned to Jiang Xiuzhi and said gently, "Xiuzhi, take some time to go back to the storeroom and prepare plenty of daily necessities for the children. Especially for Mu'an, he's new to the capital and unfamiliar with the place; he might not have had time to get everything he needs. If our main storeroom doesn't have the right items, go to my private storeroom and make sure you get everything they need."

Xiao Lan listened quietly to these words, and couldn't help but feel a sense of感慨 (gan3kai3, a complex emotion encompassing both admiration and reflection). She knew that her uncle was usually fond of fine wine and women, but judging from what he had just said, he must have some feelings for Jiang Xiuzhi.

Just then, the manager of Chunfeng Restaurant, beaming, led several waiters over. They deftly placed the eight dishes ordered by Wu De and his companions onto the table. Once all the dishes were served, the manager personally carried four exquisitely presented dishes to Xiao Lan, speaking softly, "Miss Xiao, I overheard you mention your fondness for the local snacks of Lingnan. We recently hired a chef from Lingnan, and he has carefully prepared several dishes. I specially sent them over for you to try. We hope you will do us the honor of tasting them and see if they suit your palate?"

Xiao Lan's eyes widened as she stared intently at the dishes laid out on the table—fragrant minced meat and steamed egg, steaming hot ribs, tender and juicy stuffed tofu, and tempting sweet and sour pork. These were all her favorite delicacies! For a moment, her mouth was practically watering.

Xiao Lan quickly stood up, a broad smile on her face, and walked towards the shopkeeper. Reaching him, she gave a slight bow and said sincerely, "Thank you so much, shopkeeper! I'm so grateful to have prepared so many of my favorite dishes!"

The shopkeeper quickly waved his hand, a fawning smile on his face, and replied, "Oh dear, Miss Xiao, you're too kind! Your enjoyment of the meal is the greatest affirmation for our shop. If you think the food is good, please come here often!" As he spoke, he couldn't help but steal a glance at the woman with extraordinary bearing before him, secretly thinking: This girl seems quite extraordinary.

"Of course, of course. Chunfenglou is one of the top restaurants in the capital. The food is excellent; no wonder it's always packed with customers and so popular." Xiao Lan smiled, thinking that in such a prime location as Chunfenglou, the owner must know at least a hundred taels of silver worth of dishes. If it weren't for maintaining her image, Xiao Lan would have liked to say a few more flattering words to the manager. However, coming here often was out of the question; she worked so hard to earn her money, not to spend it on places like this.

The shopkeeper smiled, greeted Mr. and Mrs. Wu again, and then left.

Xiao Mu'an looked at Xiao Lan and asked in a low voice, "Lanlan, are you acquainted with the manager of Chunfeng Tower?" Xiao Mu'an thought that his sister had only been in the capital for a month.

"No, I just had a meal here with a friend once before. I wouldn't have known he was the manager if he hadn't told me." Xiao Lan didn't seem to care and told the truth.

"That's because he was eating with you," Xiao Mu'an said. The innkeeper had first looked for his sister, and only then did he greet Wu De and Jiang Xiuzhi before leaving. It seems Lanlan's friend is no ordinary person.

At this moment, Wu De also realized what was happening and asked, "Lanlan, who is your friend? I've been eating at Chunfeng Restaurant for a long time, and this is the first time I've seen the manager be so polite, bringing dishes and coming over to greet me."

Xiao Lan didn't really want to mention Yan Nan Hui, but after thinking it over, considering that Yan Nan Hui lived in the same courtyard as her in the academy, she felt she had to explain this to Wu De and Jiang Xiuzhi. So, after a slight hesitation, she replied, "Well... it's that Fifth Prince! This time, it was His Majesty's decree that all the princes were required to study at Minglu Academy. As a result, due to the limited accommodation, the Fifth Prince was naturally assigned to Lanyue Residence, where we live. I thought to myself, he is, after all, a prince, with a noble status, so I gave him the main room. Perhaps it was because of this gesture that the prince thought I was alright, and he even invited me to have a meal with him." After speaking, Xiao Lan cautiously raised her eyes to observe the changes in Wu De and Jiang Xiuzhi's expressions. Although she herself wasn't afraid of living in the same courtyard as Yan Nan, after all, they were in the Great Xia Dynasty, and the strict rules of propriety between men and women still existed. She was genuinely worried that if she didn't explain the matter to Wu De in person, it might cause some unnecessary misunderstandings that would be difficult to resolve.

Fortunately, Wu De didn't notice anything amiss at the moment. He smiled and said, "Oh my, it has to be our Lanlan! She's only been here a short time, yet she's already made friends so quickly, and the other party is even the esteemed Prince. Truly impressive!" After saying that, he turned his gaze to Wu Yuyu beside him and earnestly instructed her, "Little Yuyu, you must learn a lot from your cousin in the academy. No matter what happens, you must obediently follow your cousin's arrangements and instructions. Do you understand?"

Wu Yuyu hadn't really thought about anything complicated; after all, she'd always loved following her older sister Lan around since she was little. Hearing her father's words, she didn't even bother to look up, simply nodding obediently and replying, "Okay, Dad! Don't worry, I'll definitely listen to my sister!"

In truth, while others present might not have grasped the deeper meaning behind Wu De's words, Xiao Lan understood perfectly. Wu De's reason was simply to encourage her to help Wu Yuyu interact more with the royal family. Currently, Wu De was merely a fourth-rank official, and even if he were to rise further, he would only reach the third rank at most. Moreover, for military officers like him, promotion and salary increases largely depended on outstanding military achievements. However, the current situation on the Great Xia border was stable and peaceful, with virtually no battles to fight. Even if war were to break out, given Wu De's age of over forty, it was unlikely he would have the opportunity to fight and earn merit. But if Wu De were fortunate enough to become the father-in-law of a prince, that would truly be a meteoric rise! At that time, regardless of whether he has made any contributions, he will receive some special care and protection. As for things like promotion and wealth, those will naturally become insignificant matters!