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

Jiang Huaiyu handed over the meticulously prepared recipe, her eyes steady and serious. "This creation is destined to capture the hearts of women. I trust Your Highness will handle it well."

Standing behind Princess He Linglong, her maidservant, Ruyi, couldn't resist a subtle scoff. Handle it well? If not for the princess's kind nature, there'd be no need for this woman's involvement. She could have taken care of the matter herself. Although the Cloud Dynasty didn't look down on merchants—many wealthy families had ties to noble clans—Ruyi couldn't understand what gave Jiang Huaiyu the audacity to address the princess as an equal.

He Linglong studied the recipe carefully. Her elegant eyes lit up with intrigue as she examined the detailed notes. Some of the ideas were sheer genius—methods neither she nor any craftsman in the dynasty's two hundred years of history had thought of. The notion that alcohol could be distilled into transformative fragrances or that pig fat could extract the essence of delicate flower petals was extraordinary.

"This is remarkable." He Linglong placed the recipe aside with care, her voice calm but tinged with excitement. "Rest assured, Ruyi will see to it that the arrangements are made."

While she had come personally to secure the recipe, a princess of her stature couldn't possibly involve herself directly in the business arrangements. Public appearances were impractical, and her noble identity made her dealings delicate. Like many nobles and royals, she oversaw enterprises discreetly, without risking her reputation.

The thought dampened her initial enthusiasm. Despite being the emperor's only daughter and living a life of unparalleled luxury, He Linglong was not as free as she appeared. Few knew of the restrictions she endured behind the gilded doors of the palace.

Unaware of the princess's envy for her carefree lifestyle, Jiang Huaiyu remained indifferent. Having handed over the recipe, she was primarily concerned with ensuring her share of the profits. The rest was of little interest.

Her gaze briefly met Ruyi's, catching the maidservant's barely concealed disdain. Jiang Huaiyu couldn't be bothered to feign politeness. She had learned that dealing with a noble's closest attendants was often more challenging than engaging with the nobles themselves. Their arrogance could easily surpass that of their masters.

He Linglong's voice broke the tension. "If you need anything in the future, feel free to speak with Ruyi or come to me directly."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Jiang Huaiyu replied with a light nod, her face betraying no particular delight.

Ruyi, however, interjected brusquely, "The production process for this perfume is laborious and time-consuming. It can only be sold to those who can afford it. Jiang Huaiyu, I trust you understand that when it comes to pricing and sales strategy, it's best for you to stay out of it."

Her tone was sharp, her words laced with undisguised condescension.

Jiang Huaiyu raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a faint smile. "Oh? And what brilliant ideas do you have in mind?"

Ruyi's confidence faltered for a moment but quickly recovered. "With the current production capacity, we can produce 800 bottles of perfume a month, each lasting roughly half a month. My plan is simple. We'll gift the first hundred bottles to the most prominent ladies in the city, ensuring they experience its allure firsthand. Once word spreads, we'll open a shop under the princess's name to sell the perfume. Demand will naturally follow."

He Linglong nodded approvingly at Ruyi's well-thought-out plan, her elegant features softening.

Jiang Huaiyu, however, gently stroked a stray strand of hair back into place, her tone light and unhurried. "An excellent strategy. But tell me, Ruyi, if your ideas are so brilliant, why did Her Highness seek me out? Why am I here listening to you explain?"

Her calm gaze settled on the maidservant, as though the simple porcelain teacup before her held the answers to all mysteries. Her words cut through the air, quiet yet impossible to ignore.

Ruyi froze. A flicker of embarrassment crossed her face, though she quickly masked it with a neutral expression. She had intended to assert dominance but found herself outmaneuvered instead.

Suppressing her amusement, Jiang Huaiyu took a sip of water, savoring her small victory. Let her stew on that for a while.

He Linglong finally intervened with a soft laugh. "Ruyi speaks bluntly but means well. Take her words with a grain of salt."

"Of course," Jiang Huaiyu replied mildly, unwilling to dwell on the matter further.

She wasn't one to hold grudges, but if Ruyi insisted on playing games, Jiang Huaiyu wouldn't hesitate to show her what "strategy" truly meant.

The conversation shifted when He Linglong asked about Tangbao. When the princess saw the baby—chubby, bright-eyed, and adorably curious—her heart melted. She removed a warm jade pendant from her waist and placed it gently in Tangbao's tiny hands.

"A small token for the little one," she said with a tender smile.

Jiang Huaiyu accepted the gift graciously. "Thank you, Your Highness, for your generosity."

The princess's gaze lingered on Tangbao. Her voice softened, tinged with wistfulness. "Has he started calling you 'mother' yet?"

"He has," Jiang Huaiyu replied, her tone warm. "Sometimes, he even tries to mimic words, though he mostly babbles nonsense. It's adorable to watch him try."

He Linglong's smile deepened, though it couldn't entirely mask the longing in her eyes. Married for five years without children, she couldn't help but envy the simple joy Jiang Huaiyu found in motherhood.

The conversation between Jiang Huaiyu and He Linglong had grown unexpectedly warm and amicable.

"Is it hard, raising a child on your own?" He Linglong asked softly. She didn't press about the father's whereabouts, assuming it was a sensitive topic. After all, the child shared Jiang Huaiyu's surname—surely, it was a story best left untold.

Her assumption couldn't have been more misplaced.

Jiang Huaiyu shook her head with a light laugh. "Why would I find it difficult? He's always been such a well-behaved little thing. He doesn't cry or fuss. Even when I'm busy with the maids, Tangbao just sits quietly and watches us."

Hearing this, He Linglong's expression softened with envy. In the cold, hollow grandeur of the princess's estate, she often wished for the simple joy of a child's laughter.

"How lovely," she murmured, her tone wistful.

Jiang Huaiyu gazed at Tangbao, a gentle, warm smile on her lips. She understood now why some people couldn't resist boasting about their children. Watching He Linglong playfully shake a rattle to catch Tangbao's attention, Jiang Huaiyu couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. That's my son. He's absolutely adorable!

Just as Jiang Huaiyu was sharing a charming anecdote about Tangbao's latest antics, the peaceful atmosphere was interrupted by loud, insistent banging at the outer gate. The sound, heavy and unrelenting, echoed through the courtyard and reached even the main hall.

Little Grass hurried to the door to investigate, her raised voice cutting through the noise. "Hey! You can't just barge in like this—"

Jiang Huaiyu frowned at the commotion. She rose and walked toward the doorway to see what was happening.

Striding boldly into the courtyard were two young women, each accompanied by a small entourage of seven or eight rough-looking servants. The taller of the two carried herself with a haughty air of entitlement, while the other had an air of frailty, like a delicate flower wilting under harsh conditions. Jiang Huaiyu's brow furrowed as she recognized them.

The bolder woman spoke first, her voice sharp and imperious. "Your place is impossible to find! Tell me—those discontinued soap beans from the shop, you must have some here, right?"

It was Qin Jiuru, as arrogant and brazen as ever, her tone leaving no room for refusal. Beside her stood Li Sumeng, as timid as a breeze, her delicate frame casting a stark contrast to Qin Jiuru's commanding presence.

Jiang Huaiyu resisted the urge to sigh aloud. Dealing with these two felt like punishment. One was brash and foolish, the other manipulative and passive-aggressive. Why did they always find their way to her door?

Leaning casually against the doorframe, Jiang Huaiyu folded her arms with a wry smile. "I don't own the soap bean shop, you know. If they're sold out, how exactly do you expect me to conjure them out of thin air?"