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

For a few days, the village seemed peaceful, as if the chaos caused by Young Master Yan's visit had never happened. Xu Chunhua returned to her usual ways: yelling at her children, standing in her doorway with her hands on her hips to throw insults, and gossiping with a group of loud-mouthed women.

The only thing disrupting her mood was her husband's recent habit of being away from home, but otherwise, Xu Chunhua felt as light as a breeze. Life was good.

Pushing open the creaky wooden door of her house, she glanced at her neighbor's home. From within, she could faintly hear a soft, melodic voice. She scoffed, adjusting her worn skirt before setting out, eyes sharp for any opportunity to take advantage of someone.

On the road, she encountered a woman carrying a bundle of fresh wild greens. Curious, Xu Chunhua stopped her.

"Didn't your husband scold you the other day for making those greens too bitter? And now you're daring to cook them again? What if that old hag in your house whispers poison in his ear and gets you smacked again?"

The woman, part of Xu Chunhua's usual gossip circle, smiled awkwardly. "Oh, Chunhua, you won't believe it. That new woman in the village, the young one—she taught me how to cook these with some salted pork bits. They taste amazing now!"

Xu Chunhua's smile froze.

The woman continued, oblivious. "It's unbelievable how much she knows about food! We've been treating these greens like cattle feed, but paired with just a little seasoning, they're better than anything we've ever cooked!"

The village wasn't wealthy, but its proximity to the mountains and rivers meant an abundance of fresh resources. While the villagers had plenty of wild greens, they lacked creativity in cooking them, leaving most meals bland.

Xu Chunhua's hand clenched into a fist beneath her sleeve. Just yesterday, this woman had been badmouthing Jiang Huaiyu along with everyone else. And now? A few tasty greens had her singing Jiang's praises.

With a tight-lipped smile and a sharp glint in her eye, Xu Chunhua hissed under her breath, "Fickle cow!"

The woman, sensing tension, quickly made her escape. Xu Chunhua spat on the ground as soon as she was out of sight. "Traitorous fool!"

But the frustration didn't end there.

As she made her way to her next destination—a rabbit hutch she was hoping to plunder—she heard more murmurs of praise about Jiang Huaiyu.

Approaching the stream, Xu Chunhua found a group of women washing clothes, chatting animatedly.

"Did you try the dish she showed me? Tofu mixed with chopped greens and fried into little cakes—it's heavenly!"

"Who would've thought someone so stunning and talented could've been cast out by her husband? Honestly, any family that couldn't keep her must have been cursed."

Xu Chunhua's blood boiled as their laughter rang out.

These women used to gossip as viciously as she did. Now they were practically worshiping Jiang Huaiyu. Worse, Xu Chunhua felt herself becoming isolated. Her usual companions barely spared her a glance anymore, and the laughter and chatter seemed directed against her.

"Oh, Chunhua, what are you standing there for?" one woman called out, finally noticing her.

Xu Chunhua bristled, snapping, "What does it matter where I stand, you bunch of hens?"

She stormed off, leaving the group stunned into silence before they exchanged indignant whispers about her behavior.

Back at home, Jiang Huaiyu reclined in her modest courtyard, reciting a traditional poem to Tangbao in her soft, melodic voice. The toddler giggled and cooed in response, his tiny hands reaching toward her as if to mimic her gestures.

Suddenly, the sound of a pot smashing against a wall echoed from next door. Jiang Huaiyu's lips curved into a faint smile. The morning had gone as planned.

Xu Chunhua was beginning to feel the sting of social isolation. Jiang Huaiyu knew her strategy was working—isolating someone like Xu Chunhua, whose power lay in manipulating social ties, would chip away at her confidence.

By mid-afternoon, as Tangbao napped peacefully, Jiang Huaiyu heard Xu Chunhua's door slam shut with a loud bang.

Around this time, the village's beloved baked flatbreads were fresh out of the oven at the bakery near the edge of town. Everyone loved these golden, flaky treats, and even Xu Chunhua, despite her laziness, couldn't resist making her way there to snag one—usually by whining until the baker threw one her way.

Meanwhile, Jiang Huaiyu took a different path, stopping at a neighbor's house to buy a basket of eggs. She chatted warmly with the woman at the door, exchanging pleasantries.

Out of the corner of her eye, Jiang Huaiyu noticed a flash of Xu Chunhua's familiar dull-pink skirt. Smiling inwardly, Jiang Huaiyu ended the conversation and began walking home.

Xu Chunhua spotted her immediately, clutching a stolen flatbread against her chest. Anger surged in her. Why was everyone suddenly fawning over this woman? What had Jiang Huaiyu done to deserve such attention?

As Jiang Huaiyu walked, a small jade pendant slipped from her waist and fell silently into the dirt. Oblivious, she continued on her way.

Xu Chunhua's eyes locked onto the jade. Without hesitation, she darted forward, snatching it up and shoving it into her pocket.

"Ah, Auntie! What are you doing here?" Jiang Huaiyu's voice rang out, startling Xu Chunhua.

Whipping around, Xu Chunhua saw Jiang Huaiyu looking at her with genuine curiosity, seemingly unaware of the jade. Forcing a grin, Xu Chunhua replied, "Oh, just resting my legs! This heat gets to me, you know."

Jiang Huaiyu tilted her head slightly, pausing as if considering Xu Chunhua's words.

The pause unnerved Xu Chunhua, who quickly forced out, "Anyway, about before… I shouldn't have stomped on your chickens. Tell you what—I'll get you some new ones when I head to the market. Ducks, too!"

The insincerity in her words was glaring, but Jiang Huaiyu merely smiled. "No need for that, Auntie. It's all water under the bridge. If there's nothing else, I'll be heading home."

Relieved, Xu Chunhua waved her off.

Once home, Jiang Huaiyu's serene expression darkened into something colder, more calculating. She had given Xu Chunhua every opportunity to make amends, but the woman had chosen to steal.

"Enjoy your little prize," she murmured, lips curling into a faint smirk. "Tonight, the game begins."

She busied herself with chores, her thoughts calm and deliberate. Xu Chunhua's greed had sealed her fate, and Jiang Huaiyu was more than ready to watch her downfall.

For now, though, there was chicken custard to make, and a sweet, innocent boy waiting for his favorite meal.