I won't be a prince's concubine; I'll cook delicious food and raise two villainous cu

The manager's Adam's apple bobbed suddenly, and he swallowed back the refusal that was on the tip of his tongue, a look of determination after careful consideration flashing in his eyes.

"Give me as many mushrooms as you have, no matter what kind!" His voice suddenly rose, carrying an unyielding force. "But there's one condition—not a single poisonous mushroom can be mixed in. If anything goes wrong, you'll be held responsible!"

"Also, leave half a pound of mushrooms in her basket."

Shen Yu's fingers, which had been hanging by her side, quietly loosened, her tense shoulders slumped slightly, and the heart that had been in her throat finally settled back into place, making her breathing a little lighter.

She took the bag of loose silver from the steward with both hands. As her fingertips touched the cold silver ingots, a sense of comforting warmth welled up in her heart.

She nodded slightly to the steward before turning around, taking Ya'er and Li Erlang's hands, and stepping lightly out of the Mingyue Tower.

The manager stood there, stroking his goatee, watching Shen Yu and the other two disappear around the street corner before slowly turning around and calling out to the waiter behind him, "Go, call the manager here!"

The shopkeeper rushed over upon hearing the news. As soon as he stepped into the kitchen, he was so astonished by the mountain of mushrooms piled on the cutting board that his eyes widened and his mouth remained agape for a long time.

"Manager, what... what is this?"

"What are you standing there for!" Manager Fang waved his hand, his tone filled with urgent excitement. "Quickly have someone write up a sign saying that starting today, Yue Lou is launching a seasonal limited-edition cured pork and mushroom hot pot!"

The shopkeeper snapped out of his daze, his joy instantly replaced by worry. He rubbed his hands together and hesitated before speaking, "Manager, these mushrooms are good stuff, but... but what if the Li family comes knocking and causes trouble?"

In previous years, the Li family had been thrown into turmoil by mistakenly eating poisonous mushrooms, a fact known to everyone in Shanqing Town. The patriarch of the Li family was particularly furious that someone was selling mushrooms in the town.

"Causing trouble?" Manager Fang raised an eyebrow, his voice full of disdain. "Who do you think my Bright Moon Pavilion is? Do you think we're afraid of a mere Li family?!" He slammed his hand on the table, making the bowls and chopsticks clatter. "Are the guards we keep here just sitting around doing nothing?! Listen up, whoever dares to cause trouble, no matter what, throw them out!"

The shopkeeper, intimidated by his imposing manner, quickly wiped the cold sweat from his brow and stammered, "Yes, yes, yes! I'll arrange it right away!" He paused, then cautiously asked, "Then... what price should we set for this soup pot?"

Manager Fang lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then tapped his fingertips lightly on the cutting board, a shrewd glint in his eyes: "Six taels of silver per pot, please!"

He held up his fingers and counted for the shopkeeper: "Each pot, in addition to half a pound of the best mushrooms, is paired with half a pound of cured pork with alternating layers of fat and lean meat, and another half a pound of pig's feet or ribs, which the customer can choose. The two ingredients can also be mixed and matched."

"Oh, right," he added, "we'll also serve a few refreshing vegetarian dishes and delicate desserts to each table. As for what to serve, let Chef Zhao decide."

Upon hearing this, Chef Zhao, who was waiting nearby, quickly stepped forward, frowned, and reminded him, "Manager Fang, you see, although there are many mushrooms, if we put half a pound in every pot, I'm afraid they won't last more than two days before they're all sold out."

"You don't understand." Manager Fang stroked his beard and smiled confidently. "It's precisely because the quantity is limited that we have to set a high price! Scarcity drives up the price. Have someone spread the word that these mushrooms are rare finds from deep in the mountains, and the quantity is limited, so it's first come, first served."

A businessman's shrewdness gleamed in his eyes: "These days, there are plenty of rich kids eager to try new things, and plenty of loyal customers who cherish the old flavors. I'm not worried about them not coming!"

He paused, then muttered to himself, "Besides, that woman selling mushrooms might bring more in a few days, so we can sell for a few more days and make a small profit!"

The shopkeeper nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, and quickly took out paper and pen to write down Manager Fang's instructions one by one.

Before long, a brand-new wooden sign was carried by the waiters and placed at the most conspicuous entrance of Mingyue Tower.

Manager Fang glanced at the kitchen with satisfaction, then turned to leave. His servant quickly caught up, asking with a worried expression, "Manager, what if... what if no one comes to buy?"

"Pah! You jinx!" Manager Fang kicked the servant in the backside, laughing and cursing, "Even if nobody buys it, I won't lose money!"

He lowered his voice, a smug glint in his eyes: "These mushrooms, once dried, can be sent to the capital to be presented to the Second Master. I guarantee they'll please him; it's much more profitable than selling soup here in Shanqing Town!"

He changed the subject, reverting to his shrewd and capable demeanor, and waved to the two servants: "Alright, you two, quietly follow that mushroom-selling woman and find out who she is and where she lives."

The two servants exchanged a glance, immediately replied "Yes," bowed, and retreated, quickly chasing after Shen Yu in the direction she had left.

Meanwhile, Shen Yu had just stepped out of the Mingyue Tower when she bumped into a figure who was about to leave.

The man, dressed in a black brocade robe, stood tall and straight like a pine tree; he was none other than Prince Yu, who was temporarily residing at Mingyue Tower.

When Prince Yu saw the person's face clearly, his pupils contracted slightly, and he thought to himself: It's her?

How did the girl I met by chance in the suburbs end up here?

He frowned slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, then subtly gave Hei Yi a wink behind him. Hei Yi understood immediately, silently retreating and following in the direction Shen Yu had gone.

What is she doing at Mingyue Tower?

Prince Yu stood there, watching Shen Yu's retreating figure, his fingers unconsciously stroking the jade pendant at his waist.

Could it be... that she came specifically to find him?

But if that's the case, then who was she putting on that cold and aloof act in the suburbs that day?

Prince Yu's mind was filled with doubts, and his expression darkened.

Meanwhile, inside the Li family mansion, a thunderous rage was unfolding.

Master Li was furious when he learned from his servants that someone dared to openly sell mushrooms at the market in Shanqing Town. His beard bristled and his fat trembled.

"Master, you didn't see that woman's attitude!" The servant knelt on the ground, embellishing the story, "She even said that although you are incredibly wealthy, you have no right to control what other people eat! And... and it seems that Manager Fang of Mingyue Tower really did buy all her mushrooms!"

"Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!" Master Li was furious. He raised his hand and swung it, and with a loud "bang," the entire tea set on the table was swept to the ground, shards of porcelain flying everywhere.

"A few years ago, my entire Li family nearly perished because of those poisonous mushrooms. Who in the whole Shanqing Town doesn't know that?!" He gasped for breath, his chest heaving violently. "That arrogant woman is clearly slapping me in the face on purpose, insulting that my Li family has no one to rely on!"

He slammed his fist on the table and roared hoarsely, "Men! Investigate! Even if you have to turn the entire Shanqing Town upside down, find that woman selling mushrooms and everyone who dared to buy them! I want to see who has the audacity to run wild on my turf!"

The servants were terrified by his anger and scrambled out of the house, scrambling to their feet to reply "Yes."

Hearing the commotion, Li's wives, concubines, and children rushed over. After learning the reason, they were all indignant and started cursing the ungrateful woman.

Not long after, the servant who had gone to inquire returned in a hurry, his face showing a hint of panic.

"Master! Master! Something terrible has happened!" He ran breathlessly, his voice trembling, "The person who bought the mushrooms... is Manager Fang from Mingyue Tower!"

"What?!" Upon hearing the words "Mingyue Tower," Master Li felt as if he had been doused with cold water. His anger was instantly extinguished, and his face turned ugly.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and the veins on his forehead throbbed, but he couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

The background of Mingyue Tower is unfathomable, and its owner is someone he cannot afford to offend.

His restaurant used to compete with Mingyue Restaurant for business, but he ended up suffering a crushing defeat. He learned this lesson the rest of his life.

"It's that Fang guy again!" The Li family patriarch gritted his teeth, his anger seething. "When did he return to Shanqing Town? I haven't received a single word from him!!"

The servant lowered his head and replied cautiously, "Master, Steward Fang returned quietly a few days ago. I heard... he came to buy some rare items for the Second Master in the capital."

"A rare item?" Master Li sneered. "I think he's deliberately trying to antagonize me!"

"Master, Manager Fang has also used those mushrooms to launch a new dish at Mingyue Tower, called... Cured Pork and Mushroom Soup Hot Pot, priced at six taels of silver per pot!"

"Six taels of silver?!" Master Li trembled with rage, as if he'd heard the funniest joke in the world. "Why doesn't he just rob us! That unscrupulous merchant! He's absolutely infuriating!"

Seeing this, Madam Li quickly stepped forward and gently comforted him, "Master, please calm down. What if you get sick from getting angry?"

Her eyes darted around, and she leaned close to Master Li's ear, whispering, "In my opinion, the root of this problem lies with that mushroom-selling woman. If it weren't for her, even if Steward Fang had incredible skills, he couldn't have made that mushroom soup hotpot, could he?"

As Madam Li spoke, a glint of malice flashed in her eyes: "We can't afford to offend Mingyue Tower, but surely we can deal with a mere young woman? As long as we capture her and teach her a good lesson, we can vent our anger and show others that the Li family is not to be trifled with!"

Upon hearing this, Master Li's eyes lit up, and the gloom on his face vanished. He slapped his thigh heavily: "You're right! Madam, you're so clever!"

He immediately roared towards the door, "Men! Bring a few strong servants and seize that mushroom-selling woman! I want to interrogate her myself and teach her a lesson!"

The servants received their orders and immediately grabbed their sticks, rushing menacingly towards the door.

At this moment, Shen Yu was completely unaware of the impending crisis.

She led Ya'er and Li Erlang to the money exchange, where they exchanged the bag of loose silver for five hundred heavy copper coins. Holding them in her hand, she felt a sense of peace.

Instead of going home first, she took her younger siblings straight to the fabric shop next to Mingyue Tower—she had long wanted to make new clothes for her two children.

The shopkeeper was sitting behind the counter doing accounts when he looked up and saw three ragged children, especially Ya'er and Li Erlang, whose little faces were dirty and covered in mud. He immediately frowned and waved his hand impatiently, "Go away! Where did these little beggars come from! Get out of here! Don't get my fabrics dirty!"

Li Erlang's face instantly turned bright red, his fists clenched tightly, his eyes filled with anger, and he was about to step forward to argue.

Shen Yu reacted quickly, pulling him behind her and looking up at the shopkeeper with icy eyes: "Shopkeeper, your words are a bit too much."

She spoke clearly, word by word, "My younger brother and sister may have dirty faces, but they are not beggars!"

Before she finished speaking, she slammed the five hundred copper coins in her hand onto the counter with a loud "smack"!

The clinking of copper coins was particularly jarring in the quiet fabric shop.