A few days later, Jiang Yanyi wasn’t met by Qiu Kui’s troublesome aunt but instead by Luo the blacksmith.

She was checking the accounts at the counter when Luo lifted the bamboo curtain, a small bag draped over his shoulder.

He was tall and muscular from years of blacksmithing, with clearly defined arm muscles.

Even on a cold day, he wore only a lightly lined single-layer coat and showed no signs of being cold.

Thinking he came to eat, Jiang Yanyi greeted him politely, “Master Luo, what would you like to eat?”

His gaze swept around, seemingly searching for someone, then he looked back at her and said, “Shopkeeper Jiang, may I speak with you in private?”

Since Jiang Yanyi trusted his craftsmanship, most of the ironware in her shop came from him.

They were practically acquaintances by now.

She asked Chu Shubao to look after the counter and led Luo to the backyard.

The old rooms had been converted into a simple flower hall where customers waiting for a seat could rest or where she could meet guests.

Aunt Guo, noticing how imposing Luo looked, followed them to ensure Jiang Yanyi’s safety.

Inside, before Jiang Yanyi could say a word, Luo took down the bag from his shoulder and emptied a pile of silver fragments and copper coins onto the table.

Startled, Jiang Yanyi asked, “Master Luo, what’s this about?”

Luo, usually straightforward and reserved, had never been one for pleasantries. Whenever he delivered items to her, it was always a simple exchange, with no small talk.

But now, he spoke earnestly, “I wish to redeem someone’s freedom from you. This is my life savings—57 taels. I hope it’s enough.”

Jiang Yanyi had a hunch about what he meant, but she still asked, “I’m not quite sure what you’re asking, Master Luo.”

Luo, a man of few words, blushed slightly, though his bronze skin helped conceal it. “I’d like to propose a marriage. I wish to redeem Qiu Kui’s indenture and marry her.”

Aunt Guo looked surprised, clearly not expecting such a development.

In contrast, Jiang Yanyi remained calm and said, “You know Qiu Kui is different from most people. I never intended for her to marry.”

Since Qui Kui had no family and had suffered brain damage as a child, though not to the point of dullness, she was still mentally slower than most.

Jiang Yanyi worried that if Qui Kui married, she might be mistreated.

Upon hearing Jiang Yanyi’s concerns about Qui Kui, Luo the blacksmith frowned deeply and countered, “She’s not slow. She’s no different from others, just a bit stubborn.”

Jiang Yanyi could tell from his tone that he was protective of Qui Kui, which made her secretly pleased.

There were times when Jiang Yanyi thought Qui Kui might be foolish, but in truth, Qui Kui understood people’s warmth and coldness well.

She even tried not to trouble others, bearing many things alone.

Qui Kui’s struggle wasn’t with the obvious rules but with society’s unspoken conventions—things that seemed unreasonable to her.

Jiang Yanyi asked Luo, “Do you know about her past?”

Luo nodded. “None of it was her fault.”

One day, while delivering goods on the flower street, he had run into Qui Kui and learned about her past from her aunt.

Her aunt claimed that Qui Kui had wandered off, but Qui Kui insisted she had been sold.

Luo, having worked as a blacksmith in Xizhou for many years and crafted shackles and tools for the government, had connections in the jail system.

He managed to confirm the truth from someone inside.

The old brothel owner, who had committed a crime, was still imprisoned.

She recalled Qui Kui vividly, as the brothel had been raided on the very day Qui Kui was sold.

Qui Kui had been forced by her aunt to sign a contract, leaving a fingerprint as a seal.

If the brothel owner agreed to testify, Qui Kui’s aunt would face serious consequences for human trafficking.

Luo had gone to great lengths to convince the brothel owner to testify.

Jiang Yanyi was taken aback by all that Luo had quietly done for Qui Kui, feeling a mixture of emotions.

She asked, “Do you know why her aunt tried to lure her to the flower street?”

Luo’s face showed anger. “I gave that old woman a piece of my mind and got the truth. Someone had offered fifty taels of silver, asking about Qui Kui’s whereabouts. Her aunt brought her over as instructed, knowing that if she was the person they were looking for, she’d receive more money.”

Fifty taels was a significant amount, explaining why Qui Kui’s aunt had repeatedly come looking for her.

And if she was simply being asked to locate Qui Kui, it made sense why her aunt hadn’t been concerned with who held Qui Kui’s contract.

Whoever was willing to spend so much to find Qui Kui likely had a hidden agenda, especially by choosing the mixed crowd of flower street as the meeting place.

Jiang Yanyi asked, “What did they want with her?”

Luo spat in disgust, “Her relatives were greedy for money. They said there was an old miser, gravely ill, who wanted someone with compatible luck to lift his misfortune.”

Jiang Yanyi found this suspicious.

They hadn’t even known Qui Kui’s birth date and time, so how could they be sure her fortune was compatible? It was clearly an excuse.

Feeling uneasy, Jiang Yanyi rubbed her right eyelid, which was twitching.

She realized Luo’s sudden marriage proposal was likely a move to protect Qui Kui from marrying that miser.

She said, “I see Qui Kui as my sister and won’t let her suffer any mistreatment. But it’s her choice. The matter between you and Qui Kui depends on her decision.”

Luo’s face lit up with joy upon hearing her softened stance.

He clasped his hands and said, “Thank you, Manager Jiang!”

“There’s no need to thank me. And take your silver back,” Jiang Yanyi replied.

Madam Guo, who had been listening all along, finally understood Luo’s intentions and handed him a cup of tea with a smile. “Have a sip.”

Luo took the tea with both hands, though his mind was clearly elsewhere. “Manager Jiang, are the knives in your shop still sharp? I could help you sharpen them.”

Jiang Yanyi remembered the praise her mother-in-law had once given the knives and chuckled. “Thank you, that would be helpful.”

With that, Luo headed toward the kitchen.

As Jiang Yanyi and Madam Guo left the room, Jiang Yanyi glanced toward the kitchen with a smile. “If they can be together, I’d be happy for Qui Kui.”

Knowing Qui Kui’s past hadn’t dissuaded Luo; rather, he’d tried to help her get justice for the injustices she’d faced.

That was rare indeed.

Just as she was about to return to the front of the shop, Yang Xiu walked in briskly, his face grim as he said, “Manager, there are officials outside. They say the blacksmith committed murder and they’re here to arrest him.”

Jiang Yanyi frowned. “Who did he kill?”

“A peasant woman, according to the officers.”

The deceased was Qiu Kui’s aunt.

Not long ago, the blacksmith had a confrontation with her, so the authorities assumed he was likely the culprit.

As the blacksmith was taken away by officials, he repeatedly turned back, assuring Qiu Kui, saying he had only hit her but not killed her.

Faced with this sudden situation, Qiu Kui was visibly stunned, tears streaming down her face. “Hua Hua, what should we do?”

Jiang Yanyi patted her shoulder in comfort and said, “The authorities will handle this fairly.”

Qiu Kui nodded obediently, but her eyes were still brimming with tears, unable to stop sobbing.

Jiang Yanyi considered asking Feng Shuo for help to investigate this matter.

It seemed that Qiu Kui’s aunt’s death was related to the people who were after Qiu Kui.

Unexpectedly, Feng Shuo came to find her first.

To avoid attention, Jiang Yanyi took Feng Shuo to a guest room in the west courtyard.

“The Marquis of Xing’an has been persuaded. The Yuzhou garrison has allied with your uncle’s forces to rescue your cousin, and they should be back in Xizhou soon.”

This was the best news she had heard in days.

The Chu family was safe, and they had gained a powerful ally in the Marquis of Xing’an.

However, Feng Shuo did not seem pleased. He said, “Once your uncle returns, we’ll settle the engagement, and after your mourning period ends in a year, we’ll marry.”

In the Daxuan Dynasty, mourning periods lasted from one to three years.

Even if Feng Shuo was eager, he couldn’t disregard Jiang Yanyi’s mourning obligations and arrange the marriage immediately.

But by announcing the engagement, it would be clear to all that she was set to become the Princess of Liaonan.

Marrying into an alliance was the most solid form of a pact, and many noble families were eager to send their daughters to the prince’s residence.

By declaring his choice, Feng Shuo would end their ambitions.

Relieved that Chu Changping and his family were safe, Jiang Yanyi felt a weight lift from her heart.

She understood Feng Shuo’s intent for the quick engagement.

Touched, Jiang Yanyi replied, “Alright.”

Lately, he had been working late into the night, and there were signs of exhaustion on his face.

Jiang Yanyi, concerned, asked, “Have you not been eating well recently? You seem thinner.”

At the mention of food, Feng Shuo thought of the skewers his mother had intercepted.

He nodded firmly. “No.”

Jiang Yanyi: “…”

The tender moment was abruptly interrupted by his blunt reply.

He mentioned wanting to eat a yin-yang hotpot, so Jiang Yanyi went to the kitchen and asked Chef Yao to prepare it.

The broth had been simmered overnight, and the spice mix she had prepared was ready to go.

They only needed to add boiling water and let it simmer over silver charcoal on a small stove.

Knowing Feng Shuo didn’t like vegetables, Jiang Yanyi deliberately prepared more meat.

Outside, a customer ordered a plate of sweet garlic, and Yang Xiu sent word to hurry the kitchen.

The jar of pickled garlic Jiang Yanyi had prepared in late autumn was now ready and popular as a side dish in the shop.

Aunt An took a head of garlic from the pickling jar and peeled it.

The garlic cloves, translucent and jade-like, exuded a sweet and sour aroma, making them very appetizing.

Sweet garlic pairs well with hotpot to balance the richness.

Jiang Yanyi thought of this and personally peeled a small plate for Feng Shuo.

When she brought the hotpot and sides to the room, Feng Shuo noticed that the meat wasn’t skewered like last time and remarked, “It’s a bit different from the one you sent before.”

Jiang Yanyi said, “The taste is the same if you cook it this way. The bamboo skewers are all used up, and I haven’t had time to sharpen new ones.”

The silver charcoal in the stove burned brightly, and the water in the pot started to bubble.

Feng Shuo used wooden chopsticks to pick up a slice of pork shoulder and dipped it into the spicy broth.

Pork shoulder is one of the finest cuts, with 90% lean meat and a thin layer of interwoven fat, which adds flavor without being greasy and avoids the toughness of pure lean meat.

It stays tender even after prolonged cooking, providing an exceptional texture.

As they ate, Jiang Yanyi brought up the matter of the blacksmith. “The West Street Willow Alley is rather suspicious. Qiukui has been with me ever since leaving the Xizhou camp, yet someone went to great lengths to find her. After questioning her aunt, the blacksmith’s aunt mysteriously died. It’s all very strange.”

Qiukui was one of Jiang Yanyi’s trusted people, and Feng Shuo worried someone might try to harm Jiang Yanyi through her.

He replied immediately, “I’ll have Xing Yao personally oversee the investigation.”

With his agreement, Jiang Yanyi felt partially relieved and added, “You might also want to notify the authorities there; I’m worried they might use coercion to get a confession.”

Feng Shuo glanced at her.

It dawned on Jiang Yanyi that her suggestion sounded a bit like pillow talk.

Her face warmed, though she reasoned with herself that this wasn’t Feng Shuo bending the rules for her.

The blacksmith was indeed innocent; she simply wanted to ensure he wouldn’t suffer because of his connection to Qiukui.

Straightening her posture, she met Feng Shuo’s gaze confidently.

Seeing her shift between bashfulness and boldness, Feng Shuo couldn’t help but smile slightly. “As you wish.”

Jiang Yanyi, having prepared herself mentally, felt a bit embarrassed when Feng Shuo gave in so easily.

Noticing that Feng Shuo was only eating meat from the spicy broth while the mushrooms she’d added to the clear broth at the start were still floating untouched, Jiang Yanyi said, “Don’t just eat meat! The vegetables cooked in clear broth taste good too.”

Feng Shuo didn’t respond, but his expression made his disdain for vegetables clear—he didn’t enjoy eating them.

Jiang Yanyi sighed, picking up a clove of sweetened garlic, peeled it delicately, and handed it to him. “Try this.”

Instead of taking it with his hand, Feng Shuo took the garlic directly from her hand with his lips.

The first taste was sweet, followed by a mild sourness that filled his mouth, along with a faint spiciness from the garlic itself.

But since it had been marinated for so long, the spiciness was subtle, with a primarily sweet and sour taste.

Surprisingly, it was quite good.

Although he hadn’t tasted much in years, Feng Shuo knew that garlic was usually just a seasoning.

He’d never thought to eat it whole, and this was his first time trying it.

Could this really be eaten as a cold dish?

Not wanting to appear too astonished, Feng Shuo gave a calm nod. “Not bad.”

Unsure how to explain the occasional return of his taste, Feng Shuo decided it was best to wait for the right moment.

He didn’t want Jiang Yanyi to misunderstand and think that his feelings for her were tied to his taste.

That night, Feng Shuo instructed Xing Yao to investigate Qiukui’s aunt’s case.

As they looked into it, they uncovered quite a bit.

The people secretly inquiring about Qiu Kui were sent by the Emperor.

Previously, at Jiang Yanyi’s request, Feng Shuo had sent a letter to the capital asking for Qiukui’s status to be reinstated.

The Emperor hadn’t approved it, but it did make him suspicious.

Why would a prince advocate for a woman assigned to the military camps?

This raised the Emperor’s interest.

The Emperor had placed spies in Xizhou to investigate and discovered that Qiu kui lived near the Duke’s residence, where there were fortified defenses to protect Jiang Yanyi and the Dowager Empress even when Feng Shuo was away.

The Emperor concluded that Qiukui must be Feng Shuo’s weakness.

Since Feng Shuo was pressuring the Emperor by holding Jiang Yanxi, the Emperor decided to capture Qiukui as leverage against him.

The spies’ hideout was raided, and under intense interrogation, they revealed the reason for Qiu Kui’s aunt’s death.

The spies learned that the blacksmith intended to file a complaint against her, so they silenced the aunt to prevent her from revealing too much.

When Feng Shuo shared the outcome of the investigation with Jiang Yanyi, she felt a wave of regret.

She had never anticipated that her request to help Qiu Kui regain her status would nearly cost Qiu Kui her life.

After he finished speaking, Feng Shuo started drinking the chicken soup Jiang Yanyi had made, and then he spotted an unusual cold dish in the food box—what looked like… grass roots?

The roots were an off-white color, cut into inch-long segments with brown knots, from which hair-thin fibers sprouted, making them look unappetizing.

Feng Shuo frowned, “You want me to eat grass?”