Shocking! The entire court was drooling with envy because of me.

The walls of the Xiao residence were high, but Chen Jie was already very familiar with the place.

He sat on the wall with almost no effort.

The girl by the wall waited as always, but today, her eyes held too much hidden meaning.

"Miss Xiao!" Chen Jie smiled, his eyebrows curving upwards. "I'm not late today."

"Madam Shen has launched a new product today—a peach oolong sparkling drink! Look at it, it's so beautiful!"

Upon hearing Chen Jie's voice, a fleeting look of surprise flashed in Xiao Mo's eyes, but the next moment, that surprise sank into endless sorrow.

Perhaps today, perhaps tomorrow, she will soon no longer see the little medicine man.

She would be used as a bargaining chip for the Xiao family to turn their fortunes around, as a beautiful gift, sent into the palace, and then imprisoned.

It is dark and gloomy.

"Miss Xiao?" Perhaps seeing that Xiao Mo had not responded for a long time, Chen Jie couldn't help but speak up.

Xiao Mo forced a smile and said, "Peach Oolong Sparkling Drink, the name sounds delicious."

"Miss Xiao, please open it and try it!" Chen Jie ignored the slight oddness and said with anticipation.

Urged by Chen Jie, Xiao Mo opened the food box.

That peach oolong sparkling drink looked even better in the sunlight.

Fine water droplets condensed on the outer wall of the glass cup. Looking through it, the tea soup was a warm amber color, and pink fruit puree sank to the bottom of the cup, like the sunset falling into an abyss.

Even from a distance, she could smell the sweet fragrance of peaches wafting over.

I took a small sip through the bamboo straw.

It's icy cold, with a mouthful of peach flavor, and the bubbles are even gentler and more delicate than yesterday's passion fruit drink, with a light and refreshing taste.

For a moment, she seemed to forget her current situation.

Without the Xiao family, there was no beauty pageant, nothing at all.

Only Xiao Mo, Xiao Mo who belongs entirely to herself, Xiao Mo who is free and unrestrained.

She felt happy and free.

But the next moment, the slight bitterness of the oolong tea rose from the back of her tongue, suppressing the sweetness and Xiao Mo's completely free fantasy.

Back in reality, she still had to face what she needed to face.

"This is delicious. The bitterness of the oolong tea balances the sweetness of the peach. It leaves you feeling refreshed and clean, even gentler than yesterday's."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jie's smile widened even more.

"I'm glad Miss Xiao likes it. You know, this is the first peach oolong sparkling drink sold at Zhiwei Restaurant today."

"You wouldn't believe it, Zhiwei Restaurant is packed with customers today! I feel like there are more customers every day. Madam Shen is truly amazing; she has new dishes every single day!"

"Grandma Li's pig from East Street ran away. Guess where it went? It went to Butcher Sun's butcher shop. Butcher Sun wasn't paying attention and just slaughtered the pig. When I saw it, Grandma Li was crying, saying that the pig was one she had raised from a cub, just like her own son..."

"..."

Chen Jie chattered on and on, just like always, recounting amusing anecdotes from the neighborhood.

The sun was scorching on the wall, and beads of sweat dripped down his face.

But he didn't care at all, or rather, he didn't even notice.

Because his heart was warmer, he was determined to tell more interesting stories to make Xiao Mo happy.

The diners at Zhiwei Restaurant, the formidable Madam Shen, Aunt Li's pig, and Uncle Wang's stinky shoes and socks.

These things might be nothing more than boring gossip to others, but for Xiao Mo, who was imprisoned, they were the only solace in her dark days.

If she were to enter the palace, she feared she would lose even this small comfort.

"Little medicine man, take me away." Xiao Mo suddenly spoke up.

"Wh-what...?"

Chen Jie was stunned, staring at Xiao Mo in disbelief. He simply couldn't believe his ears.

"I said, take me away from here." Xiao Mo met Chen Jie's gaze directly, speaking each word with utmost seriousness.

"I, I, I..."

Chen Jie instinctively stepped back, panicked and unsure of what to do.

But he forgot that he was sitting on the wall at that moment.

Snapped--

His instinctive backward movement caused him to fall off the wall and crash heavily to the ground.

Inside the wall, Xiao Mo was already in tears, her eyes filled with clear disappointment.

"The little medicine man doesn't want to..." she murmured softly.

He was unwilling to take her away.

Subconscious reactions don't lie; she saw that her little medicine boy instinctively wanted to back away.

She couldn't help but laugh self-deprecatingly.

Xiao Mo, Xiao Mo, you're really just wishful thinking.

I picked up the peach oolong sparkling drink and took another sip.

She felt she could no longer taste sweetness, only the bitterness of oolong tea remained.

......

Although there were some minor hiccups, Shen Qing resolved them with force.

The peach oolong sparkling drink was a huge hit today, and all the food at Zhiwei Restaurant sold out.

It must be said that sometimes force really is a good way to solve problems.

As soon as they got home, Tuanzi lay on its back, belly exposed, waiting for Shen Qing to stroke it.

Shen Qing petted the cat again and again until both of them were satisfied, then she opened the system.

[Ding—Congratulations, host, for completing today's sales task.]

[Ding—Congratulations, host, you have successfully unlocked a new sparkling drink flavor: Honey Grapefruit Sparkling Drink]

Honey grapefruit sparkling drink, this flavor is quite common nowadays.

It's still perfect for summer.

This restaurant task seemed to be going surprisingly smoothly.

The food sales are booming, going exceptionally well, and they sell out every day.

But she didn't meet any members of the royal family.

No, except for the young prince.

Another fulfilling day.

The next day, while it was still barely light, Li Duan, in his sleep, heard a voice that was neither male nor female:

"Lord Li, shouldn't we go and queue up? I didn't get to eat grilled sausage yesterday, I must have some today."

clap clap-

The door was being pounded on loudly.

"Lord Li, hurry up, or we won't get a turn! I need ten grilled sausages!!"

"Master Li!!!"

Li Duan's head was throbbing; this damned eunuch was going to kill him.

Yesterday I had a terrible time at Zhiwei Restaurant, and I was so exhausted that my hands and feet felt all cramped. I kept groaning and complaining for ages.

He thought that the dead eunuch could finally have some peace and quiet.

But they still managed to come up with something new, ignoring the pain in their hands and feet, and went to a brothel to play for half the night.

Let him play if he wants, but the key is that he has to be there for you.

He had just touched the pillow and felt like he hadn't slept for long when the noise woke him up.

Do people in the palace not need to sleep?

"Lord Li!!! Are you planning to neglect this humble servant???" The voice at the door grew increasingly agitated.

Li Duan rubbed his temples, but finally got up.

There was nothing he could do; the man came from the palace, while he was just a county magistrate in a small town, so he had to cater to him.

I wonder when this beauty pageant thing will ever end!