This woman was none other than Xia Zheng’s mother, Princess Anle.
Xia He and Qiu Ju exchanged a glance, smirking with pursed lips. Madam was hardly here to just look at a few taverns; it was clear that she had hastened here upon hearing from the Third Prince that her second son had made the acquaintance of a young lady.
Shopkeeper Liu was absorbed in devising new recipes when he suddenly felt an intense sense of pressure bear down upon him from above, signaling the arrival of an esteemed guest. He hurriedly raised his head, greeting her with a beaming smile.
Unexpectedly, it was a woman, a single woman at that, accompanied by a maid but conspicuously lacking a male escort. Such a sight was rare in Zhuma Town, where women did not often dine out unaccompanied. If they did, they would be in the company of family or at the very least another woman.
However, years of observation allowed Shopkeeper Liu to discern that the lady before him was no ordinary person; her gentle and gracious smile and her poised demeanor as she walked gave her away.
"Madam, may I inquire if you have come to dine?" Shopkeeper Liu asked with a bow and a welcoming smile.
Upon entering the establishment, Princess Anle surveyed the surroundings, inwardly praising her son. Despite his apparent lack of interest in serious matters, he had a knack for business. She wondered whom he took after; the skill didn’t seem to run in the family.
Hearing Shopkeeper Liu’s words, Princess Anle nodded with a smile. She looked around but did not see her son, thinking he was either not present or hidden away in a room. Thus, she decided to wait and find him later to surprise him.
Xia He caught on to Princess Anle’s intentions and said to Shopkeeper Liu with a smile: "Shopkeeper, our lady has had a tiring journey. Please arrange an elegant room for her and prepare some of the specialties your establishment is known for."
As she spoke, she pulled out a silver ingot and placed it on the counter.
Shopkeeper Liu immediately recognized their accents; they weren’t locals but from the Capital city. He thought of the lady recuperating on the second floor, who also hailed from the Capital. This woman before him not only exuded a fine air and disposition, but even her maid spoke with courteous politeness.
"You’re from the Capital city, aren’t you? Madam, please follow me upstairs. Coming to our establishment was the right choice. Our Fuman Building has several branches, and each one’s business is booming," Shopkeeper Liu said enthusiastically as he led the way for Princess Anle.
Since Fuman Building was established by Xia Zheng himself, as his mother, she felt both proud and curious. She followed Shopkeeper Liu and casually asked, "I must confess, Shopkeeper, it was the renown of your establishment that led me to choose to stay here. I’ve heard that your restaurant offers tofu and potatoes unlike any other place. Is that true?"
With a beaming smile, Shopkeeper Liu opened the door to an elegant room and ushered her in: "Yes, our restaurant’s tofu and potatoes are definitely signature dishes; they’re almost more popular than the Four Joys Fortune Bag. If Madam is interested, I’ll have my staff prepare one for you in a moment?"
Princess Anle nodded: "Good, then I’ll trouble the Shopkeeper to do so."
Shopkeeper Liu repeatedly insisted it was no trouble at all before departing to have the staff take her order.
In the room next door, a head peeked out for a long while before quickly retracting. Speaking softly to Su Qiuyu, who was lying in bed to recover, the person said, "Miss, you were right; Princess Anle is truly here. She’s right next door to our room!"
Su Qiuyu had rarely fallen ill from childhood until now, and this particular illness was especially severe and unbearable. Fortunately, Doctor Hu from Shande Hall had come to administer a pulse diagnosis personally. After consuming a large bowl of very bitter and unpleasant medicine, she broke out in a sweat and her eyelids began to droop.