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

From the second-floor window of the restaurant across the street, Li Qingru watched as Qin Ziqin—noble, unruly, and well-known in the capital—sat humbly on a small wooden stool, packing spices with increasingly adept hands. Her teeth pressed into her lower lip, her expression wavering between grievance and melancholy.

"Qingru, if you like someone, you should be bold enough to fight for him," Murong Feixue coaxed gently, lifting a teacup to her lips. Her voice held an air of sincerity, though her words dripped with venom. "You're graceful, virtuous, and respectable—everything a lady should be. Meanwhile, this Jiang woman has no shame at all, spending her days surrounded by men. Now she's even drawn the Marquis to her doorstep constantly. You should speak to him, let him see sense. You're not just fighting for yourself—you're helping him avoid making a mistake."

Li Qingru closed the window with a soft click, the noise muted by her delicate fingers. "But Father would never agree…"

She had already tried to fight for Qin Ziqin once. A reserved and well-bred lady, she had nonetheless confessed her feelings to her mother, hoping to gain support. Instead, it earned her father's furious rebuke and a firm command: she was to stay away from Qin Ziqin and never dream of marrying him.

Despite the fact that the Dowager Lady of the Qin family was her aunt—her father's sister—Li Qiushun, the head of the Fu Rui Trading House, was adamant about severing all ties with the Qin family.

Murong Feixue's gaze flickered with cunning before she sighed in feigned sympathy. "Is it right for two people who love each other to suffer in silence while an outsider tramples on what's yours?"

"What am I supposed to do?" Li Qingru murmured, uncertainty and confusion clouding her soft features.

"Undermine Jiang Huaiyu's business," Murong Feixue said matter-of-factly, the sweetness in her voice a sharp contrast to her suggestion. "Force her to leave the capital. This will show your father your resolve, prove to the Marquis how capable and special you are, and get rid of the nuisance in one stroke. Three birds with one stone—what's not to love?"

Li Qingru frowned slightly, hesitation flickering across her face. "But Jiang Huaiyu is alone with a child. Running that shop can't be easy. If I use my family's trading house to go after her, it could ruin her completely. Feixue, I can't do that."

Murong Feixue's smile froze briefly before she forced it back into place. "You're too kind, Qingru. But ask yourself this—has she ever spared a thought for you? You've loved the Marquis for so many years, silently and selflessly, yet she dares to come between you. Does she deserve your pity? You're helping her, really. The Marquis is playful by nature; he'll tire of her soon enough. But if Jiang Huaiyu takes things too seriously… well, she's already a widow or a castoff, isn't she? What future does she have, especially with a child? Send her away with some silver—it's more charity than she deserves."

Li Qingru's brows furrowed, her conscience battling against her emotions. "Is it really for her own good?"

"Of course it is!" Murong Feixue assured her, her tone firm and unyielding.

"…What should I do?" Li Qingru asked at last, her voice soft and uncertain. She felt guilty, but Murong Feixue's words rang with logic. Perhaps Qin Ziqin's interest in Jiang Huaiyu stemmed from her bold and carefree ways, traits often seen in border towns.

As Li Qingru considered Murong Feixue's plan, she comforted herself with the thought that she was doing what was best for everyone—especially Qin Ziqin.

"Twenty-one taels and six hundred seventy copper coins." Jiang Huaiyu tallied up the accounts with a satisfied smile. "Not bad for just over a week's work."

She had once calculated that one tael of silver was roughly equivalent to six hundred modern dollars. Twenty-one taels meant they'd brought in over twelve thousand. For a small family, that was enough to last a year on basic expenses alone.

Qin Ziqin, who had been loitering in the shop all day, curled his lip in disdain. "Is that all? I could spend that much on a single night out at the pleasure houses."

Jiang Huaiyu shot him a withering look. "And what a noble accomplishment that is."

Realizing his mistake, Qin Ziqin quickly adjusted his tone, flashing a bright, fawning smile as he leaned on the counter. "I was only joking! A frugal gentleman like me has never even seen so much silver in one place. Jiang Huaiyu, you're a true genius in business!"

"Well said. Keep the flattery coming, and maybe I'll reward you," Jiang Huaiyu replied, distractedly tidying the counter.

Qin Ziqin's eyes lit up with curiosity. "What kind of reward?"

"A single copper coin."

"Get out of here!" Qin Ziqin's expression darkened comically, the playful banter lifting his spirits momentarily before he turned serious. "I actually need your advice. How do I get His Majesty to call off this marriage he's arranged for me?"

The sound of porcelain shattering broke the moment. Qi Jue, usually calm and unflappable, had dropped a spoon. He hurriedly bent down to clean up, his face red with embarrassment.

Jiang Huaiyu, however, remained unbothered. "How could a humble commoner like me possibly know what His Majesty is thinking?"

Qin Ziqin's gaze faltered under her direct stare, and he laughed awkwardly. "Come on, you're full of clever ideas. This marriage—it's with the Minister of Revenue's daughter. She looks dignified, sure, but she's flirted with more actors and penniless scholars than I can count. I don't want to marry someone like that."

"And yet you're no better," Jiang Huaiyu retorted, her voice cool. "Maybe you'll have something in common—she can teach you a few bedroom tricks. Who knows? You might learn something."

Qin Ziqin sputtered, his face turning red. He jumped back, his tall frame knocking into the counter. "What kind of person do you take me for?!"

Jiang Huaiyu smirked, narrowing her eyes. "What's the matter? Still a virgin?"

Crash.

Qi Jue dropped another spoon.

"That's coming out of your pay," Jiang Huaiyu said evenly, not even looking up as Qi Jue scrambled to clean up. He decided it was safer to hide in the back room with his books.

Qin Ziqin was bright red, waving his fan defensively as if it could shield him from Jiang Huaiyu's words. "You—you can't just say things like that! It's improper!"

"I have a child. What's improper?" Jiang Huaiyu replied casually. Seeing him flustered was amusing, but she decided to let him off the hook. "If you want the emperor to cancel the marriage, the solution is simple: ruin your reputation further."

"Ruin it further?" Qin Ziqin looked genuinely perplexed. "Isn't it bad enough already?"

Jiang Huaiyu's smile turned sly. "Not nearly. A little drinking and gambling? His Majesty probably thinks that's just harmless fun. You need to change direction—subtly, of course, so it doesn't look deliberate."

"…Change direction?" Qin Ziqin repeated, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. The faint smirk on her lips made him uneasy. Suddenly, it clicked, and his face turned pale, then red, then white again. "You're… you're suggesting that?"

"Why not? It's harmless enough. Worst case, the men at the border will look at you funny. What's a little gossip to a great man like you?"

Qin Ziqin glared at her, clenching his fan tightly.

A few days later, a shocking rumor spread like wildfire across the capital:

The infamous Marquis Qin, known for his debauchery and extravagance, had been caught dragging a handsome young servant into a private room at the pleasure house. The next morning, the Marquis emerged looking refreshed, while the servant was carried out pale and trembling, too weak to stand.

"Did you hear? They say the boy's back was… well, let's just say it was a bloody mess!"

"Impossible! You're making that up!"

Qin Ziqin sat in his study, seething as he overheard the gossip from outside. His carefully staged act had succeeded—His Majesty had summoned him for a scolding but conveniently avoided any mention of marriage. Yet the rumors had taken on a life of their own, becoming more lurid with each retelling.

"I didn't even touch that servant!" Qin Ziqin grumbled, clutching his chest dramatically.

Jiang Huaiyu sipped her tea, entirely unbothered. "Sometimes the truth doesn't matter. People will believe what they want to believe."

She tilted her head, her lips curving into a smile. "So? Did it work?"

Qin Ziqin sighed, but his annoyance had faded. "His Majesty called me a disgrace and gave me a lecture, then sent me home with a dozen beautiful maidservants. No mention of the marriage."