Zhang Nuofu and her companions had already been expelled from the imperial retreat. Qin Saizhu and Qi Daiyu's trip could be considered over, but having finally left the palace and still not having tasted the long-awaited "Yan Du Xian" (a bamboo shoot and pork stew), Qin Saizhu was naturally unwilling to leave.
She claimed she needed to inspect the retreat's palaces once more to prevent further incidents, which would also allow her to stay a few extra days.
That day, the two women dressed in light, comfortable attire and went to dig for bamboo shoots in the hills behind the retreat.
Of course, attendants like Putao wouldn’t let them do the actual labor. Their "digging" mostly involved watching Lu Song and Little Cheng work hard, occasionally pointing out where the shoots were.
"It rained last night, so there seem to be more shoots today," Qin Saizhu remarked cheerfully.
Qi Daiyu was about to reply when she spotted something darting past, startling her. "What was that?"
"A bamboo rat!" Little Cheng exclaimed. Agile as he was, he lunged forward with his hoe and pinned the creature to the ground.
"Such a plump bamboo rat—must have eaten its fill of bamboo!" Little Cheng said excitedly. Noticing the two noblewomen recoiling in alarm, he quickly hid the rat behind his back, sheepishly adding, "My ladies, bamboo rats are delicious, and their fur can be used for clothing. They’re quite valuable!"
Lu Song chimed in, "As the saying goes, 'Pheasant in the sky, bamboo rat on the ground'—both are rare delicacies."
Qi Daiyu had heard the saying before, but in her mind, both pheasants and bamboo rats were protected animals—not to be hunted or eaten. Besides, the rat looked far too rodent-like for her to stomach the idea of eating it.
Qin Saizhu, however, was eager to try. "When I was in Shu, roasted bamboo rat was all the rage for a time. I’ve had it once before, though I didn’t realize it was this creature. Today’s perfect—not only will we have Yan Du Xian, but we’ll also get to enjoy such a delicacy."
She instructed Lu Song and the others to search for more, reasoning that where there was one bamboo rat, there must be others nearby.
Their bamboo shoot expedition was a resounding success.
Following Qi Daiyu’s instructions, Qin Saizhu successfully prepared the Yan Du Xian. When the lid was lifted, the rich, savory aroma filled the air, making everyone present swallow hard in anticipation.
Even the retreat’s servants were impressed. Though they lived near the southern hills and had bamboo shoots every spring, they’d never imagined the humble ingredient could be transformed into such a dish. Truly, the ingenuity of palace consorts knew no bounds.
Qi Daiyu avoided the roasted bamboo rat, focusing instead on the Yan Du Xian. The tender meat and crisp, fragrant bamboo shoots were utterly satisfying.
After the meal, Qin Saizhu pulled Qi Daiyu into the courtyard for a stroll to aid digestion. Hesitation flickered across her face before she finally seemed to reach a decision.
"Noble Consort Hui, I’d like to buy your recipe."
Qi Daiyu looked up, puzzled. "It’s just a recipe. If you wish to use it, Noble Consort Zhuang, you’re welcome to."
Qin Saizhu shook her head. "No, I don’t want it for personal use. In fact, it’s not just today’s Yan Du Xian—I’d also like to purchase the recipes for the beef hotpot and osmanthus glutinous rice balls from before, all for my restaurant in the capital, Hundred Flavors Pavilion."
"The capital is full of imperial relatives and noble families. Running a business there isn’t easy—without a unique selling point, a restaurant can’t survive. Hundred Flavors Pavilion has managed to stand out with its Sichuan-style dishes, but the tastes of the capital’s elite differ from those in Shu. Novelty wears off quickly, so the restaurant’s business is merely passable—just enough to cover my personal expenses."
Qi Daiyu barely registered the rest of Qin Saizhu’s explanation.
"You own a restaurant in the capital? Consorts are allowed to run businesses?!" That was the real shocker—she’d had no idea!
Qin Saizhu blinked in confusion. "The restaurant was an asset I acquired before entering the palace. His Majesty knows about it and hasn’t forbidden it, so I assume it’s permitted?"
"Moreover, as far as I know, both the Empress and Concubine Shu have their own ventures. Even His Majesty has private holdings—the Four Directions Bank is his personal enterprise, with profits going straight to his private coffers."
She found Qi Daiyu’s surprise odd. Without private income, how could consorts maintain their lavish lifestyles? The palace stipend alone was barely enough for tipping servants.
"No wonder you were puzzled before about how I knew so much of the capital’s gossip. You didn’t realize I had outside connections." Qin Saizhu chuckled. As a woman confined to the inner palace, her restaurant was one of the best sources of information.
Qi Daiyu still had doubts. "But Concubine Mei and Concubine Cao don’t seem like they have outside businesses." Especially Concubine Cao—her modest attire perfectly matched her rank, with no hint of extra income.
Qin Saizhu explained, "Not everyone can run a business, especially in the capital. Every reputable establishment has powerful backers or unbeatable advantages. My Hundred Flavors Pavilion was acquired by my family years ago and transferred to me when I came to the capital. If I hadn’t become a consort, it would’ve been swallowed up by competitors long ago. Even now, do you know what percentage of profits I have to pay in taxes?"
Qi Daiyu couldn’t guess.
Qin Saizhu held up five fingers. "Fifty percent! Half the profits go straight to the Ministry of Revenue! That’s the price of not having a powerful patron."
She sighed. "Of the remaining half, thirty percent covers operating costs. I’m left with a mere twenty percent—at most four or five thousand taels a year. Such a pittance probably isn’t worth His Majesty’s notice, which is why it’s allowed."
"Concubine Shu has the Yuan family’s backing, and the Empress’s position speaks for itself—their businesses pay far less in taxes. Besides connections, you also need business acumen. Do you think Concubine Mei or Concubine Cao have either?"
Thinking of Concubine Mei’s temperament, Qi Daiyu had to admit she didn’t seem the entrepreneurial type.
Despite the revelations, Qi Daiyu’s heart stirred with ambition.
Her limited understanding of ancient consorts had led her to assume they couldn’t own property after entering the palace. Yet this dynasty was surprisingly progressive—not only could consorts run businesses, even the Emperor had private enterprises.
So what if half the profits went to taxes?
Four or five thousand taels a year was nothing to scoff at—her annual stipend as a Noble Consort was a mere six hundred!
No wonder the other consorts had such fine possessions. She’d assumed it was all family support or imperial favors. How naive she’d been!
The urge to start her own venture surged within her, but Qi Daiyu forced herself to stay calm. This required careful planning—she couldn’t rush in blindly.
Calming her nerves, Qi Daiyu thought for a moment before saying to Qin Saizhu, "If that's the case, you want to buy the recipes to attract more customers?"
"Naturally. Baiwei Lou must adapt—preserving its unique identity while embracing the essence of other culinary traditions. Having innovative and exceptional dishes would naturally serve as the best advertisement."
Qi Daiyu now had a clearer understanding. She had no intention of venturing into the restaurant industry herself, as it was fraught with complex rules and potential food safety issues. Moreover, she didn’t want to compete with Concubine Zhuang.
However, those recipes weren’t her own creations but rather the masterpieces of later generations. Still, if she could earn some silver from them now, there was no reason to pass up the opportunity.
She could only sheepishly pass them off as her family’s secret recipes.
Mentally offering an apology, Qi Daiyu said, "I can sell you the recipes, but I wouldn’t recommend introducing hot pot at Baiwei Lou. While delicious, its bold aroma is overpowering. If one table orders it, the entire restaurant will smell it. Though it might attract some customers, it could also offend those who value privacy and cleanliness."
Qin Saizhu, reminded of this, nodded in agreement, though she looked regretful. "Then it can’t be promoted among the common folk. Such a delicious and convenient dining style would surely draw many customers." In her homeland of Shu, nearly every household enjoyed hot pot. If the spicy beef tallow hot pot spread there, it would likely spark a new trend.
Qi Daiyu smirked slyly. "If it can’t appear in Baiwei Lou, why not open a separate branch?"
Qin Saizhu’s eyes lit up. "You mean a branch dedicated solely to hot pot? But wouldn’t that be too limited..."
"With constant innovation, customers will come. Besides the beef tallow hot pot, there’s also mutton hot pot, lamb spine hot pot..." tomato hot pot, mushroom hot pot, even tom yum hot pot! The capital favors sesame paste and nourishing mutton—likely more people would choose mutton hot pot over beef tallow.
Qin Saizhu clapped her hands. "You’re right! The more I think about it, the more brilliant your idea seems. But you’re helping me so much—surely you don’t just want to sell me a few recipes?"
Qin Saizhu was sharp. She immediately realized Qi Daiyu had another motive. After all, even the beef tallow and tomato hot pots were her "creations." Future innovations would still rely on her, and Qin Saizhu already guessed what Qi Daiyu was about to propose.
"I can give you the recipes, but I want 10% of the new branch’s profits," Qi Daiyu stated plainly. She would provide the hot pot base recipes and future innovations in exchange for a share of the earnings. The other two recipes would be complimentary.
According to Concubine Zhuang, Baiwei Lou’s final profits to her amounted to only 20%, and the branch would likely be the same. Since it would focus solely on hot pot, its profits might not surpass the main restaurant—perhaps just two or three thousand taels.
A 10% share would cut Qin Saizhu’s own profits in half.
Yet Qin Saizhu didn’t hesitate long. "You’ll get 10% of the branch’s profits, and 10% from the sales of ‘Bamboo Shoot and Pork Stew’ and ‘Osmanthus Glutinous Rice Balls.’ If you provide more recipes in the future, the same terms apply. But my condition is exclusivity—you can’t sell them to anyone else."
She wanted a monopoly!
"Deal!" Qi Daiyu agreed without hesitation. Why turn down extra money? As for whether she’d have more recipes later—that was a problem for the future.
These were just verbal agreements. In reality, the Zhao Kingdom had strict regulations on profit-sharing. If Qin Saizhu wanted to open a branch and allocate specific dish profits to Qi Daiyu, they’d need to draft new contracts and register them with the authorities.
That would have to wait until they returned to the capital.
Who would’ve thought a trip to the imperial retreat would yield such a windfall? Qi Daiyu was in high spirits.
Just then, a palace attendant arrived to announce, "Concubine Zhuang, Noble Consort Hui, the selected lady Ye Qiong has awakened and requests an audience."
Both women were momentarily surprised. Ye Qiong was certainly dutiful—rushing to pay respects the moment she woke up.
Qin Saizhu said, "Let her in, then."
