The Tofu Queen: A Modern Woman's Ancient Kingdom Journey

"How could an ordinary family raise someone like me?"

Jiang Huaiyu's voice was calm and steady. She knew Jin Chong wouldn't believe her. In this flourishing era, reading wasn't confined to the privileged few, and opportunities for advancement were available to everyone. Equality was within reach for those who dared to grasp it.

Jin Chong merely chuckled, saying nothing more. Rising to his feet, he let out a slow breath. "Now that the details have been settled, I'll have my people send the accounts to your residence. With your cleverness, I'm sure you'll catch any tricks I might try to pull. But rest assured, Jiang Huaiyu, I won't stoop that low."

"With those words, Jin Gongzi, I can rest easy," Jiang Huaiyu replied, smiling warmly.

Jin Chong gave her another long look, clearly disappointed that she remained so composed. He had anticipated some fluster or indignation, but she didn't give him the satisfaction. Irritated, he swished his sleeves, the sound of his ornate jade ornaments chiming softly as he turned to leave.

Once he was gone, Qi Jue remained quiet for a long while, the shop enveloped in silence. Finally, he couldn't hold back his curiosity any longer. "Madam, why aren't you angered by Jin Gongzi's schemes? And why don't you seem concerned that he might trick you again in the future?"

Jiang Huaiyu glanced at him, a hint of amusement flickering in her eyes. "Because Jin Chong is a smart man. He knows exactly what he wants. More importantly, he's still young."

Qi Jue tilted his head, clearly not understanding.

Jiang Huaiyu chuckled softly, explaining, "Youth brings ideals and bottom lines. He has boundaries he won't cross. His intelligence and vision won't allow him to kill the goose that lays the golden egg. Listen, Qi Jue, whether you're working for someone else or being used as someone's pawn, there are no permanent enemies and no eternal friends. But genuine friendships—those built on trust—are another matter entirely."

Her serene expression and measured words struck Qi Jue with unexpected clarity. He nodded thoughtfully, as if awakening to a new understanding. After a moment, he sighed deeply. "I used to think burying my nose in books was enough. Outside of farming and studying, I knew nothing of the world. Only now do I realize how small my perspective truly was."

Jiang Huaiyu smiled faintly. "Don't overthink it, Qi Jue. Learning about the world will do you no harm, but don't stray too far from the right path. Balance is key. For now, focus on managing the shop. Handle communication with Jin Chong's people. I have a feeling he'd rather not see me again anytime soon."

She wasn't wrong. Jin Chong's temper and delicate health made him particularly susceptible to stress, and she didn't want to be responsible for making him sick.

As they spoke, a figure appeared in the doorway, casting a long shadow.

It was Qin Ziqin, dressed as flamboyantly as ever. Today, he carried a silver-threaded folding fan embroidered with a scene of a lone traveler in a snowy night—a surprisingly elegant choice.

"Who's this?" Qin Ziqin's tone carried a tinge of jealousy as he flicked his gaze toward Qi Jue.

Jiang Huaiyu rolled her eyes. "My shopkeeper."

Qin Ziqin scanned Qi Jue from head to toe, scrutinizing him as though evaluating livestock. After a long moment, he nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Not bad. He's plain enough not to cause trouble, and he looks honest. Why not hire a female shopkeeper? I could lend you Lin Guanshi—she's quite capable and has nothing better to do."

"Are you suggesting my shop isn't busy enough?" Jiang Huaiyu shot him a look.

Qin Ziqin ignored the barb and waved his fan dramatically. "I'm here for you today, not for idle talk."

To her surprise, there was a rare trace of genuine worry in his typically carefree expression. Qin Ziqin, for all his maturity and experiences, was still a young man in his twenties. Despite his usual bravado, moments like this revealed the weight he carried.

"Go on, what's the matter? Just so you know, I'm not lending you money."

"Borrow money? Please." Qin Ziqin scoffed, though his smile faltered. "I've just been summoned back to the capital because the emperor plans to arrange a marriage for me. It's a political match—a union with the daughter of the Minister of Revenue. That's not the worst part. The woman showed up at my house yesterday, screaming and crying, threatening to smash her head against a pillar to 'prove her resolve.' Tell me, Jiang Huaiyu, what am I supposed to do?"

"Shouldn't you be thrilled?" she quipped, noting the faint smugness on his face despite his words.

Qin Ziqin tilted his chin arrogantly, his dark hair swishing as he moved. His finely chiseled features were perfectly matched with his smug tone. "Thrilled? A man as exceptional as I am—if I get married, it'll break countless hearts."

"...The Minister of Revenue's daughter was ready to break her head, not her heart," Jiang Huaiyu said dryly.

Qin Ziqin froze mid-sentence. "…That's different. She already loves someone else. I'm not about to play the villain who steals her happiness."

Qi Jue, diligently packing spices nearby, pretended not to hear. He knew Qin Ziqin's reputation well—anyone who visited the capital had heard of the flamboyant young marquis who spent his days causing a stir. Seeing him bantering so casually with Jiang Huaiyu was… unexpected, to say the least.

"Enough nonsense. If you've got something to say, spit it out. Do you think my time is free?" Jiang Huaiyu asked, exasperated.

"You exaggerate. Your soap business barely makes a few hundred taels a day." Qin Ziqin smirked but quickly relented when Jiang Huaiyu shot him a cold glare. He sighed. "Fine. It's just… I feel like I can breathe a little easier when I'm here."

For someone who had lost so much, Qin Ziqin carried an immense burden. The responsibility of maintaining the Qin family's honor and ensuring the loyalty of the Qin Army weighed heavily on his shoulders. In court, he was forced to wear the mask of a drunken fool to keep his enemies at bay.

Jiang Huaiyu understood the loneliness of bearing such a weight, but she didn't offer words of sympathy. Instead, she glanced at the cluttered counter. "The shop's not big, but you can help Qi Jue pack up orders. I'll even reward you."

"Reward? You're just trying to make me work." Qin Ziqin grumbled, but he crouched down next to Qi Jue anyway, his tall, imposing figure looking rather comical as he tried to handle the delicate task.

Confident in his abilities, he scoffed at Qi Jue's precise method of wrapping the packages. "How hard can this be?" he muttered. Moments later, his first attempt fell apart, spilling spices everywhere.

"Oops, it's leaking. No problem—you can pay for it," Jiang Huaiyu said without even glancing up from her ledger.

Qin Ziqin's eye twitched as he stared at the scattered spices. Begrudgingly, he cleaned up the mess and set about learning the task properly.

"You're here to prepare for next year's imperial exams?" Qin Ziqin asked, his tone casual as he wrapped a new package.

Qi Jue nodded. "Traveling to the capital closer to the exam season can be difficult, so I came early."

Qin Ziqin gave him a sidelong glance. "So you're one of those dreamers, huh? Refusing to 'follow the tide of corruption,' yet hoping to bring glory to yourself with your books?"

The cynicism in his voice wasn't lost on Qi Jue.

He paused, his usually kind expression hardening as he replied softly, "I refuse to believe that true justice can be forever eclipsed by corruption."

His words were quiet but resolute, ringing with the conviction of someone who still believed in the promise of a righteous world.