Xiao Xue'er, confined to her palace chambers, was overjoyed upon learning of Su Fan's return.
Yet, days passed, and Su Fan made no move to visit her.
"Stupid Su Fan!"
Xiao Xue'er threw pillows in frustration, venting her boredom.
"He hasn't come to see me in so long! I'll bite you to death!"
Xiao Xue'er's eyes darted.
The princess now enjoyed considerable freedom within the palace, and the Emperor was no longer as cold towards her.
Xiao Xue'er could now move about the palace freely, except in a few specific areas.
She decided to escape and find Su Fan!
Having learned from her previous experience, Xiao Xue'er donned a eunuch's attire and made her way towards the palace exit, disguised as one.
"Hey, you little eunuch..."
As Xiao Xue'er walked out, an old eunuch spotted her and waved her over.
Xiao Xue'er's heart leaped. She quickly lowered her head, terrified of being recognized.
"Go outside the palace and buy me some good wine. I'm craving it. Remember to take my token; the guards won't stop you."
The old eunuch handed Xiao Xue'er a token from his hand.
"Yes."
Xiao Xue'er lowered her head and replied softly.
"Hmm? I don't think I've seen you before?"
The old eunuch looked at Xiao Xue'er with some confusion.
"Ahem, greetings, honored sir. I am new to the palace, having just arrived recently."
Xiao Xue'er coughed twice to disguise her voice, forcing it into a rougher tone.
"Mm, go quickly and return swiftly. Make sure to buy it from the Ten Mile Inn."
The old eunuch paid it no further mind, reminding her upon hearing she was new.
He only enjoyed the wine from the Ten Mile Inn.
"Yes."
Xiao Xue'er nodded and hurried away.
She had been worried about how to get past the guards, but now things were much easier.
Upon reaching the palace gates, Xiao Xue'er presented the token given by the old eunuch. As expected, they did not stop her.
This filled Xiao Xue'er with surprise and joy.
She quickly ran outside.
After leaving the palace, she headed directly for Su Fan's small courtyard.
However, upon arriving at Su Fan's courtyard, she was disappointed to find it empty.
At this moment, Su Fan was busy helping Cheng Yaoyin and the others with their business opening.
A shop had already been secured, a complete transfer of the existing establishment, meaning they didn't need to renovate and could open immediately.
After rearranging the items in the shop, today was their grand opening.
The shop was quite busy. Despite it being the first day, Su Fan's reputation preceded him.
His rumored status as the Emperor's son-in-law meant that anyone who learned of Su Fan opening a shop would come to support him.
The first to arrive were people from the Grand Commandant's mansion.
Xu Mu did not come himself but sent someone to deliver a congratulatory gift to Su Fan.
"Please thank my adoptive father for me. Please, come in."
Su Fan had not informed anyone about opening the shop, and it was Cheng Yaoyin's establishment, not his. He was unsure how the Grand Commandant's mansion had found out.
As Su Fan pondered this, another unexpected guest arrived.
The Third Prince, Xiao Zhihong.
"Su Fan, congratulations, congratulations. May your opening be prosperous."
Xiao Zhihong entered with a smile, offering his felicitations to Su Fan.
"Your Highness has traveled far. Please, come in!"
Su Fan quickly ushered Xiao Zhihong inside.
Su Fan's confusion only deepened.
Why had the Third Prince come? What was going on?
After these two guests, no other prominent figures arrived for a while.
Xiao Zhihong and the Grand Commandant's mansion had come because they had been investigating Su Fan. Upon learning that Su Fan's friends were opening an inn, they had come to offer their congratulations.
After dining with Xiao Zhihong and the people from the Grand Commandant's mansion at noon, the afternoon became much quieter, with few customers.
After all, it was a small shop with little renown, and the opening was not a grand affair. It was good enough if people came to eat.
"Waiter! Reserve a superior room! And bring me a pound of good wine and two ounces of beef!"
A burly man with a prominent scar placed a heavy parcel on the table and addressed Da Niu.
He wore simple cloth clothing, exuding an air of a ruffian, and carried a long, cloth-wrapped object on his back.
It was unclear what the heavy parcel contained.
Su Fan's heart stirred.
In Tianlong City, ordinary people were not allowed to carry weapons. The long object on the man's back... could it be a weapon?
Concealing weapons by wrapping them entirely was not uncommon. Sometimes, even soldiers would pretend not to see it. The Tianlong Dynasty did not prohibit cold weapons; as long as no one was harmed, it was fine.
However, one could not openly brandish weapons on the streets of Tianlong City, or the soldiers would be the first to apprehend you.
Judging by the man's attire and demeanor, he was clearly a martial artist, though it was unclear which sect he belonged to.
"Waiter, bring me good wine and dishes!"
At this moment, another guest entered. This man had a sharp mouth and monkey-like cheeks but was dressed in expensive attire, clearly wealthy, and accompanied by a servant.
"Certainly! Please wait a moment!"
Da Niu responded with his gruff voice and went to the kitchen to instruct Aunt Niu to prepare the food.
The sharp-mouthed, monkey-cheeked man sat down and began surveying the inn's environment. Upon seeing a plainly dressed, burly man nearby, he let out a mocking sound.
"Anyone can come in now, it seems. This inn isn't much either. It's ruined my appetite. Let's go! We'll find another place!"
The burly man heard the sharp-mouthed man's words, glanced at him indifferently, and paid him no mind.
"Hey, hey, you can't leave! The food is almost ready, you can't just leave!"
Da Niu, being a simpleton, certainly wouldn't let them leave like this. Aunt Niu had already started cooking; if they left, who would eat it? They hadn't even paid yet!
"What kind of ignorant fool are you? Get out of the way!"
The sharp-mouthed fellow had no intention of dealing with Da Niu and gestured to his servant.
The servant immediately stepped forward, intending to push Da Niu aside.
However, Da Niu's robust physique was not something a mere servant could move.
Da Niu stood like a wall, and the servant, unable to budge him, was pushed back a few steps.
"What do you think you're doing? Are you trying to force us to buy? Do you know who my uncle is!"
The sharp-mouthed fellow's face contorted with anger as he pointed at Da Niu's nose.
"I don't care who you are. If you eat, you pay. The food is already cooking, and it can't be returned!"
Who was Da Niu? He was from a bandit background. He didn't care who you were. To try and cheat them on their turf was simply asking for trouble.
The sharp-mouthed fellow's eyes darted. He knew they wouldn't gain an advantage by confronting Da Niu directly.
"Having a bandit like that in your shop ruins my appetite. Can't I go somewhere else?"
The sharp-mouthed fellow pointed at the burly man drinking and eating nearby.
The burly man paused with his wine jar.
He turned to the other man with a hostile gaze.
"What did you say?"
"What are you looking at? I'm talking about you, you rustic bumpkin with a face full of pimples!"
The sharp-mouthed fellow sneered at him.
He had been accustomed to acting arrogantly on this street, looking down on everyone. He had someone backing him!