Chapter 222 1/3

On this particular day, Li Qingzhi got up early as usual.

After Juewei Zhai opened in the capital, one of Chang Zhan’s apprentices started working there regularly, helping to manage the shop. Consequently, there was only one person left to handle cooking at their house. However, since there weren’t many people in the household and Zhang Zao helped out, they managed to get by.

When Li Qingzhi went to the kitchen, two teenage boys were cooking, and Li Laogen was sitting behind the stove, tending the fire. Li Laogen, being elderly and having trouble sleeping, would wake up early and go to the kitchen to help with the fire.

As he stoked the fire, he muttered continuously, “The food you make isn’t as delicious as Ah Qing’s. Ah Qing is a reincarnation of the literary star, and the taste of his dishes is just heavenly…”

What does cooking have to do with a literary star? Li Qingzhi found it amusing.

He noticed that today’s breakfast was flatbread. Ever since they arrived in the capital, they had been eating more wheat-based foods, which fortunately, his family enjoyed and didn’t mind.

The flatbread was stuffed with minced pork, pickled vegetables, and dried tofu, then fried until fragrant.

Li Qingzhi grabbed one without hesitation and said, “I’ll go out and buy some tofu pudding.”

Eating just flatbread would be too dry, and tofu pudding would complement it nicely.

“Sir, are you going to buy tofu pudding? We were planning to make some soup,” Zhang Zao said.

“Let’s get the tofu pudding. I’m craving it,” Li Qingzhi replied.

Better that than cabbage soup again… tofu pudding it is.

Compared to modern times, the variety of ingredients available was indeed limited! In Chongcheng County, they could eat fresh greens and radishes even in winter, but in the capital, it was mainly cabbage, pickled vegetables, dried vegetables, or sauerkraut.

Near Qingshi Lane, there was a family that made tofu. Li Qingzhi went over and bought two buckets of tofu pudding, then hired a porter to carry it back for him. Though he had the strength to carry it himself, doing so might attract too much attention.

By the time he returned to Qingshi Lane, everyone was already up, with some people gathered and chatting about Lu Mingshan.

“I heard that yesterday, Master Lu happened to meet Assistant Minister Wang from the Ministry of Works and instantly saw that there was a thief in his house!”

“I heard that too. Master Lu is truly amazing!”

“Previously, there was a case in the yamen where they couldn’t find the culprit, but when Master Lu passed by, he immediately identified the culprit!”

“Master Lu is incredible!”

…

Seeing Li Qingzhi, they paused their conversation and greeted him.

Li Qingzhi said, “Everyone, I bought two buckets of tofu pudding. My family can only eat one. Would anyone like to share some?”

Of course, they did. The people chatting hurriedly went home to fetch bowls to get some tofu pudding from Li Qingzhi.

They also started talking to him about Lu Mingshan: “Mr. Li, has Master Lu ever told your fortune?”

“Mr. Li, did you hear about what happened yesterday?”

“Mr. Li…”

Li Qingzhi chatted with them with a smile.

Recently, many events in the capital were related to Lu Mingshan.

First of all… Minister Wei Dongzheng of the Ministry of Revenue was infuriated and fell ill, even submitting a resignation letter.

He genuinely loved his concubine, but she didn’t love him at all. She had an affair, and the child she bore wasn’t his! That child looked exactly like her lover!

If it were just this, it wouldn’t have led to his resignation. The crucial point was… many people witnessed the spectacle, even the emperor’s guards were present, so he couldn’t keep it under wraps, and it became widely known.

He was utterly humiliated! The whole capital knew he had been cuckolded!

Furthermore, it was discovered that his concubine had committed several acts that could strip him of his official hat!

Wei Dongzheng was so furious that he vomited blood and had no choice but to resign. He voluntarily submitted his resignation and sent his concubine to prison.

If he hadn’t… he might not have escaped unscathed!

Master Lu was truly extraordinary!

He didn’t know whether to feel grateful or bitter.

After Wei Dongzheng resigned, the emperor did not pursue him further, but his concubine, her brother, and even her lover were destined to rot in prison.

Besides Wei Dongzheng’s incident, the case of Fan Weiyan was also resolved.

At the plum blossom banquet, several scholars sent Fan Weiyan to the yamen, which then investigated the matter of him harming his daughter.

Fan Weiyan didn’t kill his daughter with his own hands; it was done by a servant under his father’s orders. However, with Lu Qingxi’s involvement, the punishment was severe. Fan Weiyan was stripped of his title and beaten with boards, his father was imprisoned, and Li Zhu’s dowry was confiscated by the yamen.

Li Zhu didn’t collect the money, so it went to the yamen, which she didn’t mind.

Her dowry was worth thousands of taels back then, which was a lot, but now it didn’t mean much to her.

The people of the capital applauded the outcome once they knew the result.

Then there were other incidents, like the cousin staying at Assistant Minister Wang’s house who stole from him.

One official was particularly unlucky, having someone impersonate him to extort money from merchants, which Master Lu also “saw” through.

Li Qingzhi greatly admired Lu Qingxi.

He knew a lot and managed to elevate Lu Mingshan to legendary status.

Now, everyone in the capital believed Lu Mingshan was a true sage.

Lu Mingshan was so popular that he overshadowed another event.

A few days ago, new stores opened next to Prince Yan’s profitable jewelry and cosmetics shops. These new stores were opened by Shopkeeper Mu.

This wouldn’t have been notable except… the jewelry in Shopkeeper Mu’s shop was stunning! The pieces were set with clear, exquisite gemstones in innovative designs, and they weren’t expensive.

It was said these gemstones came from the south and could bring good luck to the wearer. Concubine Liu in the palace was particularly fond of them.

The child in the palace was severely burned and nearly died, but Concubine Liu wore a full set of this jewelry to pray for him, and he miraculously survived!

Such jewelry was a must-have!

Previously, people thought the jewelry in Prince Yan’s shop was beautiful and willingly bought it, but now…

The jewelry in Shopkeeper Mu’s shop was more popular.

Moreover, these pieces were affordable; the price of one gold hairpin in Prince Yan’s shop could buy a gemstone-encrusted gold hairpin and a gemstone necklace in Shopkeeper Mu’s shop!

Many officials’ families in the capital were not wealthy, but they could still afford a few gemstone-encrusted silver pieces from Shopkeeper Mu’s Gold and Shopkeeper Jin.

Apart from jewelry, Shopkeeper Mu’s cosmetics shop also sold a type of soap that could clean exceptionally well.

It was said that using this soap for washing hands and face left the skin clean and white, with a pleasant fragrance!

Bath beans were useful but not as effective as this soap.

Even the concubines in the palace liked using this soap.

In short, since these two shops opened, business in Prince Yan’s shops plummeted.

Moreover, Prince Yan had bought a large stock of goods when business was good, and now, with unsold inventory and no revenue, he was short of money.

“Mr. Li, the jewelry in Shopkeeper Jin is beautiful. You should buy some for your wife.”

“Mr. Li doesn’t need your advice. I’ve seen his wife wearing jewelry from Shopkeeper Jin before.”

“That’s expected. Being from Jiangnan, they must have seen it before.”