"Your Highness, you have returned?" The shopkeeper's eyes were red.
"Rise," Xiao Yi said, his expression unchanged as he reached out a hand to the shopkeeper.
Duoduo looked at the shopkeeper with curiosity.
The shopkeeper scrambled up from the floor with great excitement and led the group inside.
They were guided into a large private room.
Yun Xiao pushed Xiao Yi to the seat of honor, while the shopkeeper stood respectfully by Xiao Yi's side.
"Serve the food first. I have returned to the capital and will be staying for a few months before leaving."
After spending half the day dealing with matters in the palace, it was already past mealtime.
"Yes, this subordinate will go arrange it right away." The shopkeeper hurried out.
"Father, is this your restaurant?" Duoduo asked curiously.
"Yes, this is Ling Yu's territory," Xiao Yi explained calmly.
"Then where is Ling Feng's territory?" Duoduo looked around.
Xiao Yi glanced at Duoduo. "Where do you think he should be?"
Duoduo actually frowned and thought about it for a moment.
"I think it's best if he stays by your side, Father. He has a better mutual understanding with you."
Guarding the door, Yun Xiao looked up in surprise.
If Ling Feng came back, what would happen to him?
Xiao Yi did not speak.
Even though Duoduo had repeatedly said that there was no problem with Ling Feng, Xiao Yi had no intention of keeping someone with suspicious points by his side.
Employ a man and trust him; doubt a man and do not employ him.
Although he was indeed very unaccustomed to not having Ling Feng around.
However, just as Duoduo had said, Ling Feng was too in sync with him, and this was fatal.
What was more, he now had a secret.
"I plan to have Ling Feng do more important things," Xiao Yi said lightly.
At the door, Yun Xiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Great, he wouldn't have to leave the Prince!
At this moment, the shopkeeper led the waiters in, carrying the dishes.
Duoduo forgot about the previous topic, her eyes captivated by the dazzling array of dishes.
The first dish served was in a vessel resembling a bronze cauldron.
Next came several cold dishes, all beautifully plated.
Just looking at them was a feast for the eyes.
Duoduo thought of their barbecue, which had no visual appeal at all.
She couldn't help but worry whether their grilled fish shop could make any money.
After the cold dishes, plates of hot dishes were brought in like a flowing stream.
Finally, the shopkeeper personally served the last dish.
"Your Highness, Princess Consort, all the dishes have been served."
Xiao Yi picked up his chopsticks, took a piece from a dish in front of him, and tasted it carefully.
The shopkeeper watched Xiao Yi anxiously until Xiao Yi reached for another dish, at which point he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Duoduo buried her head and ate happily.
On the boat, although everyone tried different ways to make delicious food.
However, the ingredients on the boat were limited, so no matter how they cooked, it was always the same few things.
After arriving at the manor yesterday, everyone was very tired and didn't have much of an appetite for anything.
Because they had to enter the palace today, Duoduo had only eaten a little bit to fill her stomach.
In truth, she had been hungry for a long time.
She had even secretly eaten all the pastries Lüdou had given her.
Duoduo ate fast, but her table manners were not unsightly.
Xiao Yi just glanced at Duoduo and then slowed down his own eating pace.
When Duoduo was almost finished, Xiao Yi finally put down his chopsticks.
"The taste is not bad." Xiao Yi picked up a handkerchief nearby and elegantly wiped his mouth.
Hearing this, the shopkeeper beamed with joy. "Thank you, Your Highness!"
The shopkeeper had the table cleared and served hot tea.
Su Xian knew that Xiao Yi had matters to discuss with the shopkeeper, so she took Duoduo's hand and stood up.
"Your Highness, please attend to your business. I will take Duoduo out for a stroll."
Xiao Yi gave Su Xian a mild look. "Yun Xiao, accompany the Princess Consort and the Commandery Princess."
"Yes," Yun Xiao complied. "Then when should this subordinate come back to pick you up?"
Hearing this, the shopkeeper's face immediately fell.
"Yun Xiao, we will naturally escort His Highness back. Just make sure to protect the Princess Consort and the Commandery Princess well!"
Yun Xiao didn't listen; he looked stubbornly at Xiao Yi.
"Is an hour enough?" Xiao Yi looked at Su Xian.
Su Xian nodded hurriedly.
"It's enough. I am just going to buy some fabric and will be back very soon."
Xiao Yi nodded. "Be careful."
"Yes, I understand." Su Xian curtsied and left with Duoduo.
Duoduo and Su Xian got into the carriage. Without Xiao Yi around, Duoduo became noticeably more lively.
"Mother, where are we going to buy fabric?"
"Well, right on the next street, there is a place called Jinxiu Pavilion."
"Their fabrics are the most fashionable in the entire capital."
"We can just go directly there to choose, no need to go anywhere else."
Seeing a hint of disappointment on Duoduo's face, Su Xian rubbed her head.
"We will be staying in the capital until after your Imperial Grandfather's birthday passes, which is several months away!"
"Are you worried you won't have time to stroll around? As long as His Highness doesn't stop you, you can come out every day!"
Duoduo's eyes lit up.
"Really?" But right after saying that, her face fell.
"Mother, you're teasing me again! We couldn't even go out every day in Xianyang, let alone here in the capital!"
Duoduo looked greedily at the scenery outside, trying hard to memorize everything she saw.
A hint of a smile appeared in Su Xian's eyes.
The tone Duoduo just used was exactly like Xu Jinxin's back in the day.
The carriage stopped in front of a shop.
Duoduo noticed that there were many carriages parked at the entrance of this shop.
Shop assistants were holding fabrics with both hands, delivering them to the various carriages.
"Let's go. We should also take a look at what fabrics are popular in the capital these days."
Su Xian took Duoduo's hand and stepped down from the carriage.
Duoduo followed Su Xian inside with great curiosity.
This was the largest fabric shop Duoduo had ever seen.
As soon as she entered, she felt surrounded by a dazzling array of fabrics.
There was also the sound of the assistants talking, as well as the scent of rouge and powder from the ladies and misses.
Seeing Su Xian enter, an assistant hurried over in a flash, his face covered in a broad smile as he bowed.
"Greetings to the Madam and the Young Miss. Welcome to Jinxiu Pavilion."
"Madam, would you like to choose fabrics, have ready-made clothes tailored, or perhaps pick out some jewelry?"
Su Xian was a bit surprised. "You have jewelry now too?"
Hearing this, the assistant knew immediately that Su Xian must be an old customer.
He explained with a beaming smile.
"To answer Madam, yes. The second floor has special private rooms opened up just for jewelry."
"If you would like to take a look, this humble one can take you upstairs."
Su Xian shook her head.
"I want to look at the fabrics first. By the way, what are the newest fabrics in your shop?"
The assistant smiled broadly. "Madam, please follow this humble one over here."
Su Xian held Duoduo's hand, while Lüdou and Lianxin followed closely behind.
"Madam, this batch contains the newest fabrics in our shop: Xiangyun gauze and Xiaying gauze."
Su Xian let go of her hand to feel the texture of the fabric.
"Assistant, what is the price for these two types of fabric?" Su Xian liked them very much and asked for the price.
"Shopkeeper, we'll take all of these fabrics!" an arrogant voice rang out from behind Su Xian.
