The peasant girl has a private space, and her husband is handsome.

The maid, Xiao Lü, checked the valuables in the carriage and exclaimed in surprise, "Miss, everything is here, nothing is missing!"

Xu Ruoxian thought to herself, "Not only is it not missing, but it's actually gained something."

She was clutching a silver ingot in her hand, which the bandit had forced into her hand when he untied her, saying it was to calm her nerves.

These days, bandits are really something else. They don't just not rob you, they actually give you money. It's really strange.

The carriage continued towards Qinghe County, and the number of pedestrians on the road increased.

While resting at the post station, Xu Ruoxuan noticed that there were many guests from the north.

Xu Ruoxian's maternal grandfather's family was in the capital, and his family was a highly decorated general. Xu Ruoxian grew up in her maternal grandfather's family in the capital, so she could immediately tell that many of the guests spoke with a Beijing accent.

Some were dressed as scholars, while others were dressed as businessmen.

In the past, it was rare for merchants from the capital to come to the remote Qinghe County and Pengcheng. Xu Ruoxian was puzzled, so she asked her maid Xiaoqing to go and find out what was going on.

Xiaoqing put some melon seeds in a purse bag, ran over and gave each person a small handful. While eating the melon seeds and chatting, they quickly figured out the truth of the matter and ran back to report.

"Miss, many merchants come to Qinghe County to wholesale clothing and jewelry, saying that clothing and jewelry from Qinghe County are particularly popular in the capital."

"And the scholars, most of them came because of the reputation of the exquisite orchids. Moreover, I heard that the famous calligrapher Liang Daxueshi, who is renowned throughout the four kingdoms, personally wrote the plaque for Gu Ji. Through word of mouth from the merchants who left Qinghe County, Gu Ji Restaurant in Qinghe County has become famous all over the country. Everyone says that the dishes at Gu Ji Restaurant are the best in the entire Great Qi."

Xu Ruoxian immediately made a decision: "Xiaoqing, Xiaolü, let's not rest. Tell the driver to set off immediately."

Since so many people are going to Gu Ji to see the crystal orchids, we must arrive before them, otherwise we'll have to wait in line for a long time to get into Gu Ji.

When Xu Ruoxuan last went to Gu's restaurant for dinner, Gu's restaurant didn't have any top-quality orchids yet, so this time she went there to broaden her horizons.

When the carriage entered Qinghe County, Xu Ruoxuan truly realized that her father was right. Qinghe County, a remote little town, was actually more lively and prosperous than Pengcheng. It wasn't so obvious when she came here last time.

The carriage was delayed at Black Wind Village, and by the time it arrived at Gu's Restaurant, it was lunchtime, and there was already a queue about five meters long outside.

Business is booming!

Xu Ruoxuan felt a little lucky to be at the end of the line. Luckily, she was quick-witted and ran ahead of the group at the post station, otherwise the line would have been much longer than five meters.

God help her, she must meet the legendary Su Dongjia.

As long as Su Dongjia opens a branch in Pengcheng, she won't have to travel so far to eat here.

As a fellow woman, Vivian Hsu truly admires this legendary Miss Su.

I heard she's about the same age as me, I never imagined she could run such a successful business.

Although Xu Ruoxuan was the daughter of a prefect, her family was actually very poor because Prefect Xu was not only not greedy, but also always used money to help the people.

Therefore, Vivian Hsu also really wanted to earn money to help her family.

There were so many people queuing outside Gu's Restaurant; some looked anxious, while others seemed to be enjoying themselves.

A group of scholars were enjoying themselves, pointing at the Gu family's plaque and exchanging ideas loudly.

The inscription on the plaque reads "Liang Shikuan," referring to the brilliant scholar from the Great Qi Dynasty who achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations and also served as a part-time tutor at Qingsong Academy.

"Grand Secretary Liang's calligraphy is indeed a masterpiece, like a gentleman standing in the world, neither flattering nor yielding. I heard that even the late emperor praised Grand Secretary Liang's calligraphy for its integrity."

"The calligraphy of Grand Scholar Liang is priceless. The royal family of the Southern Yue Kingdom wanted to offer a large sum of money for his calligraphy, but he refused. It's only because the owner of Gu's shop, Mr. Su, has connections that he was able to obtain a plaque personally written by Grand Scholar Liang."

"We students are already very lucky to be able to see the plaque written by Lord Liang. We are fortunate to have benefited from the Su family's good fortune."

Amidst the harmony, a discordant voice suddenly arose.

"Make way, make way! I am the magistrate's niece. You unruly people, make way and let me in first."

Tang Yuerao was dressed in bright red, her hair adorned with pearls and jade. Her lavish attire was intended to highlight Su Qianqian's poverty.

She came to see Fang Cheng. According to the information her maid Hongliu had gathered, Fang Cheng ate here every day.

She felt that Fang Cheng might still be thinking about Su Qianqian, which was why he came over every day, something she absolutely could not tolerate.

What's so special about that wild girl from the countryside that makes Fang Cheng so attached to her?

Tang Yuerao came in aggressively, but before she could even step into Gu's restaurant, she was whipped back into the house.

"Who, who dares to lay a hand on me? Are they tired of living? I am Magistrate Tang's own niece!"

The person who did it was Xu Ruoxuan. She grew up in the capital with her maternal grandfather, the General of the Cavalry, and learned a lot of skills, including wielding a whip with great dexterity.

When they first encountered the bandits of Black Wind Stronghold, they surrendered mainly because the enemy outnumbered them and had an overwhelming advantage, fearing that their maids and guards might be harmed.

But she wasn't afraid of the county magistrate's niece in front of her. Moreover, Xu Ruoxuan loved to stand up for the weak and hated seeing the sons of officials bullying ordinary people.

Xu Ruoxian glanced at Tang Yuerao a few times and noticed that Tang Yuerao's jewelry was very gorgeous.

The magistrate's niece is dressed so richly, could the magistrate of Qinghe County be a corrupt official?

"Just because you're the magistrate's niece doesn't mean you can cut in line! Can't you see that even I, the prefect's daughter, am waiting in line properly?"

The surrounding people heard that one of the two young women was the niece of the county magistrate, and the other was the daughter of the prefect.

Good heavens! Gu's Restaurant is so popular that even the daughter of the prefect from Pengcheng has come here.

Zhao Niangzi, the famous matchmaker in the county town, was also present, standing at the entrance of Gu's restaurant, holding several portraits of men in her hand.

She was invited by Gu Huai and his wife to introduce a potential partner to their daughter, Gu Ying.

Zhao Niangzi was shocked to hear the magistrate's niece and the prefect's daughter arguing fiercely over queuing up for a meal at Gu Ji Restaurant.

Good heavens! I never knew Gu's Restaurant was so amazing.

Wouldn't Gu Huai's daughter then become a hot commodity?

Suddenly, Zhao Niangzi felt that the portraits in her hands were not worthy of Miss Gu Ying.

Although Miss Gu Ying is indeed a bit old, her Gu's Restaurant is truly high-class. Look, two noble ladies even fought over getting a table at Gu's, which has also raised Miss Gu Ying's status.

We must find a few men from better families for Madam Qin to choose from.

Tang Yuerao carefully examined the girl holding the riding whip opposite her. The girl was said to be the daughter of the prefect, but she was dressed less elegantly than Tang Yuerao, the niece of the county magistrate.

Her uncle, a county magistrate, could rake in ten thousand taels of silver a year. The prefect, with his even higher rank, must be even richer. This girl in front of her didn't seem very wealthy; she might actually be a fake daughter of a prefect.

Tang Yuerao whispered a few words to her maid Hongliu, and then asked Hongliu to quietly go find Master Cai.

I heard that Master Cai often reports official business to the prefect on behalf of my uncle, so he might know the prefect's daughter.

Once they realize that the girl in front of them is a fake prefect's daughter, things will be much easier; they'll have to kill her.

Her uncle was a local tyrant in Qinghe County; offending her would come at a terrible price.

Hongliu hadn't run far when she encountered Magistrate Tang and his advisor, Cai.

Magistrate Tang thought that since the Prefect had traveled two hours to come to Gu's Restaurant for a meal, it would be a real shame if he, who lived nearby, didn't come and eat there.

Magistrate Tang was thinking about having his secret-recipe roast goose again today, and his mouth was practically watering, when his maid Hongliu suddenly knelt down in front of him, blocking his way.

"Lord Tang, something terrible has happened! Miss Yue Rao has been bullied by another young lady. The other girl is very fierce and is whipping her."

Magistrate Tang was furious. Qinghe County was his territory, and no young lady could compare to Yue Rao's status.

Anyone who dares to bully his own niece will have to bear the wrath of this upright and just official.

Magistrate Tang angrily flung his sleeves and quickened his pace. If the road in front of Gu's restaurant hadn't been so congested, he would have definitely come by carriage.

This is outrageous! They dare to bully this local tyrant!

Magistrate Tang decided to seek justice for Yue Rao's niece.

After all, a lot has happened recently, and my niece has suffered a lot of grievances from that girl surnamed Su. We can't let this child continue to suffer.

I can't speak for other places, but in Qinghe County, apart from that girl surnamed Su, absolutely no one else could bully his own niece.

As a result, when Magistrate Tang arrived at Gu's shop, he immediately recognized the girl holding the horsewhip as the prefect's daughter.

He had met the prefect's daughter before when he went to Pengcheng to report on official business.

Although Prefect Xu had a large, wealthy belly, his daughter was neither fat nor thin, and had thick eyebrows and big eyes that made her look as dashing as a man, making her very recognizable.

The prefect is a higher-ranking official than him, the county magistrate, so since Yue Rao has offended the prefect's daughter, this time Yue Rao can only suffer another loss.

This Prefect Xu is really something. Doesn't he care about his own child? Such a young girl travels for more than two hours by carriage to eat at Gu's restaurant in Qinghe County. Isn't she afraid of encountering bandits on the way?

Magistrate Tang kept blaming things, but in the end, he blamed everything on Miss Su.

It's all because the food at Miss Su's restaurant was so delicious that it attracted the prefect's daughter.

Otherwise, his niece Yue Rao wouldn't have suffered such injustice.