Who understands? He traveled through time with a high-spec spatial ability.

Princess Dongping was deeply resentful after Qiao Jingjing publicly humiliated her.

Upon returning to the inn, she angrily smashed a teacup: "Who does that Qiao Jingjing think she is! How dare she treat this princess like that!"

Xiao Jingye had already learned the whole story from the guards, and frowned, saying, "You went and caused trouble on your own, and you still think you're right?"

"Royal Uncle!" Dongping stamped his foot. "She humiliated me!"

Xiao Jingye sneered: "You smashed up her shop, and she's already being lenient by not turning you over to the authorities. I'm in Daliang on important business. If you keep causing trouble, I'll send someone to take you back to Northern Qi."

Dongping dared not contradict the Imperial Uncle any longer, but secretly vowed to take revenge on Qiao Jingjing.

However, less than an hour after returning to the inn, Qiao Jingjing brought people to the inn again.

"How dare you come here!"

Qiao Jingjing crossed her arms. "What, you don't dare to challenge me to my face, you just cry and make a scene behind my back?"

Princess Dongping stamped her foot in anger: "You...you dare to speak to me like that! Guards, throw her out!"

However, the Northern Qi envoys around them all looked hesitant, and none dared to step forward. The older envoy whispered, "Princess, this is, after all, a county princess of Liang. We shouldn't..."

Having just been warned by her uncle, she dared not say anything more this time and could only angrily pay another hundred taels in compensation.

The next day, Dongping changed into the clothes of an ordinary rich young master and went to Qiao Jingjing's bookstore with two guards, intending to cause trouble.

"Princess, the prince forbids you from going out. You should go back."

Dongping said impatiently, "Stop rambling. My uncle only told me not to cause trouble, not that I can't go out. Lead the way."

When she arrived at the bookstore, she deliberately picked out the most expensive ancient book and then "accidentally" spilled tea on it.

"Oh dear, the book is wet." She blinked innocently. "But it's just a tattered book, so it's okay if it gets wet."

The shop assistant, sweating profusely, said anxiously, "Young master, this book is worth fifty taels of silver..."

Dongping dismissively tossed out a silver note: "I'll compensate you."

At this moment, Qiao Jingjing came down from the second floor, glanced at the book soaked in tea, then looked at Dongping's face, which was trying to remain calm but couldn't hide his smugness, and suddenly smiled: "This book is a unique copy of 'The Records of Mountains and Rivers,' and even the Northern Qi imperial palace's library doesn't have a complete version. Is the princess sure she wants to destroy it?"

Dongping was taken aback: "How did you know I was...?" Then, realizing he had been exposed, he retorted angrily, "So what if I am!"

Qiao Jingjing calmly had the waiter bring another identical book: "Luckily, I have a backup. But since the princess enjoys destroying books, how about I give you a few banned books that aren't available in Northern Qi? Burning them for fun wouldn't be bad."

Dongping was speechless after being rebuffed by her soft retort, and stormed off in a huff.

The next day, Princess Dongping, unwilling to give up, went out for a stroll and saw several thugs bullying an old man who sold candy.

She didn't want to get involved, but then she heard one of them arrogantly say, "I'm the man of the Princess of Yongding! I can do whatever I want on this street!"

Dongping's eyes lit up—she had caught Qiao Jingjing red-handed! She immediately ordered her guards to arrest the thugs and personally escorted them to the bookstore for a confrontation.

Qiao Jingjing wasn't at the bookstore. After learning her location, Dongping led his men to the hot pot restaurant.

Having been away from Beijing for a while, although Jiang Xuhui was a good person, as the boss, she still needed to review the accounts.

"Qiao Jingjing!" She kicked the waiter away. "Your people are bullying ordinary people in the street, what do you have to say for yourself!"

Hearing the noise, he looked up and saw the thugs tied up like dumplings and Dongping looking smug. He immediately understood what was going on.

She stood up and walked up to the thug: "You said you're one of my men?"

The thug stammered and dared not look up.

Qiao Jingjing sneered and said to Dongping, "I don't know this person at all. But since he's impersonating me to do evil, let's hand him over to the authorities for severe punishment."

Dongping was stunned: "You...you're not protecting him?"

"Why would I protect a villain who oppresses the people?" Qiao Jingjing retorted.

Dongping was speechless.

She thought Qiao Jingjing would try to argue, but she didn't expect her to be so straightforward.

She suddenly felt something was off—this Lady of Daliang seemed quite different from those hypocritical nobles of Northern Qi.

"Little girl, don't be so impulsive in the future. Figure things out before causing trouble," Qiao Jingjing said with a half-smile.

This attitude instantly infuriated Dongping again.

Seeing this, a guard quickly advised, "Princess, since this matter has nothing to do with you, you should return to the inn. Otherwise, the Prince might find out and punish you..."

"Shut up!" Princess Dongping shoved the guard aside, stormed up to Qiao Jingjing, and glared at her with her small face upturned: "What makes you so arrogant? So what if you can recite a few books?"

Qiao Jingjing looked at the little girl who was a head shorter than her and suddenly found it a bit funny.

She crouched down to meet Dongping's gaze: "Little brat, do you know why I can be so 'arrogant'?"

Dongping was taken aback: "Why...why?"

“Because I never use my status to intimidate others.” Qiao Jingjing took out a small wooden mechanical toy from her sleeve. “Look, this is a nine-linked ring puzzle I designed. Can you solve it?”

Dongping took the toy suspiciously, fiddled with it for a few moments but couldn't quite grasp it. Her little face gradually turned red, but she stubbornly refused to admit defeat: "This...what's so difficult about this!"

Qiao Jingjing smiled slightly: "Would you like me to teach you?"

"Who needs you to teach me!" Dongping said, but his eyes remained fixed on the toy.

It was around 10:30 in the morning. The kitchen began preparing the dishes and soup base. A powerful aroma wafted from the kitchen, and Princess Dongping sniffed, her mouth full of freshly secreted saliva.

"What's that smell? It smells so good!" Princess Dongping couldn't help but ask.

Qiao Jingjing smiled and said, "This is the aroma of the hot pot broth from our restaurant. Would you like to try some?"

Princess Dongping hesitated for a moment. She didn't want to show weakness in front of Qiao Jingjing, but the fragrance was too tempting.

"Hmph, this princess will try it and see how delicious your hot pot is."

Qiao Jingjing had a hot pot set up, with tomato and seafood broths, and various ingredients were served.

Princess Dongping's eyes widened instantly after taking a bite.

"This...this is so delicious!"

The initial anger dissipated considerably in the face of delicious food.

While eating, she mumbled, "I never knew your hot pot was so special."