After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 797 - 787: Sharing a Table

Early the next morning, Zhao Hanzhang first had Ting He send out the letter, then went to have breakfast with her hands behind her back. As she passed Zhao Ji’s courtyard, she was about to enter, thinking of the letter she wrote last night, but paused for a moment.

She controlled herself inwardly and finally left with some regret.

Forget it, today she wouldn’t provoke him. Better let him recover well; she was indeed a broad-minded person.

While eating, Fan Ying came over and whispered, "Governor, Zheng Mingzhu was sent out of the city at dawn today. The Tan Family and Zheng Family had already left the city yesterday; they should now be beyond Yun City’s range."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded slightly and replied in a low voice, "Pay attention these days; if there are more people coming to join us, investigate them and take them in if they’re suitable. There’s no need to be afraid of Gou Xi’s influence."

"Yes!"

After breakfast, Zhao Hanzhang went to the guest courtyard, where Ming Yu and the officials she had brought with her were already waiting. Today, she was to attend etiquette training with them, conducted by Ministry of Rites officials. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

For the Emperor’s ceremony to worship the heavens, Zhao Hanzhang decided to bring as many people as she could. However, most of the officials, including herself, had no trouble with general etiquette but were somewhat lacking in the specific ceremony rituals. As they learned about the ceremony, they had been gradually trained.

Nevertheless, to avoid embarrassment, Zhao Zhongyu specifically arranged for officials from the Ministry of Rites to finalize their training, to ensure any mistakes were corrected and to perform more elegantly if all was correct.

Ming Yu did not attend. Although he came to Yun City, it was better not to openly provoke Gou Xi.

Regarding the current first power minister of Great Jin, some respect was still necessary.

Zhao Hanzhang and the officials spent two hours learning etiquette. Once the Ministry of Rites officials confirmed there were no oversights, Zhao Hanzhang finally breathed out a sigh of relief and walked out, twisting her stiff and sore neck.

Ting He hurriedly caught up, "My lady, the clothes and accessories you need to wear tomorrow..."

"Didn’t we already try them in Chen County?" Zhao Hanzhang quickened her pace.

"But I noticed you’ve lost some weight these past few days, so I’m afraid the waist needs adjustment, and you’re only wearing one piece of jade, which is too little..."

Zhao Hanzhang sped up even more. She actually liked trying on new clothes, but after trying a set more than ten times, no matter how beautiful, it got tiresome. She said, "When the Emperor worships the heavens, everyone will be watching Your Majesty; they won’t notice me, right? It’s just a bit of weight loss, it’s unnoticeable."

Zhao Hanzhang walked faster and faster, "I’ll go out and find something to eat first. Whatever needs saying, we’ll address this afternoon."

Ting He could only stomp her foot, helplessly looking at Fan Ying, hoping she would help persuade her. Who knew Fan Ying also trotted out, "I-I’ll also go find something to eat."

As one of the officials attending the ceremony, if Zhao Hanzhang needed to try the outfit again, should she try hers again too?

Heaven help me; she didn’t want to try on the outfit again either.

With both gone, the remaining officials naturally dispersed swiftly, leaving Ting He to look at Mr. Ming.

Ming Yu smiled encouragingly at her, "Miss Ting He, you’ve thought of everything. Once the Governor returns in the afternoon, you can plead with her again; she will surely be willing to try it."

Then he got up and walked off, but after two steps, he turned back to carry away the plate of snacks on his low table.

Ting He: ...

Zhao Hanzhang left the house with two trusted aides, intending to dine at an inn. But upon seeing a newly set-up stall diagonally across, with quite a few people eating, she couldn’t help but stop to observe it.

The stall owner moved with skill, constantly stirring the noodles in the pot, then scooping them into the soup. Soon, the dough pieces floated, and the soup became rich and fragrant.

Zhao Hanzhang sniffed, finding it quite aromatic. The stall looked clean too, so she brought her aides forward and found a seat, "Owner, three bowls of dough soup, please."

"Right away!" answered the stall owner, immediately cooking three bowls for them.

As it happened, they were the last to order, so once the three bowls were ready, the stall owner was idle, occasionally adding water and tending to the soup, watching them eat from the side.

Behind the stall stood a woman washing dishes.

Zhao Hanzhang first drank a sip of soup; the delicate aroma of meat and noodle soup flowed down her throat. The dumplings were tender, slipping right into her mouth. Zhao Hanzhang chewed happily, "This is lamb bone broth."

Seeing she recognized it, the stall owner moved closer, smiling, "Indeed, we started simmering it after midnight. The flavor’s really come through. Outside, soup like this costs real money."

Zhao Hanzhang looked at the location, pointing to the wall behind, "Whose place is this? Do they allow you to set up here?"

"We rented it; as long as we don’t block their entrance, it’s fine. Look, from there to here, it’s all wall. We just rented this spot, eighty cents a month."

Although rented, the stall owner still found it expensive, hence the complaint, "We sell dough soup for only five cents a bowl. How many do we need to sell to cover costs..."

Zhao Hanzhang laughed and asked, "Then why choose to set up here?"

The stall owner brightened proudly, "You see that inn right across?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded.

"That’s the best inn in Yun City, owned by the Jiang Family. Because the Emperor is worshipping the heavens, many people have come to the capital city recently. Dignitaries will definitely dine at that inn," the stall owner explained, "But while those nobles can afford to eat inside, their attendants won’t be able to spend that kind of money, right? They can’t go hungry, so they look for food outside, hence my stall’s location."

He boasted, "Don’t be fooled by this being just half a day’s work; in just this half day, I’ve sold over sixty bowls."

Hearing this, Zhao Hanzhang laughed heartily, congratulating, "You’ve already made a month’s rent in one day."

"Indeed, but the landlord is so stingy. I wanted to rent for half a month and pay daily, but he insisted on renting for a full month. Sigh, how can generals and governors stay here for a month? I only have business these few days."

Zhao Hanzhang asked, "Can’t you do business usually? Surely Yun City’s dignitaries often bring attendants to dine at the inn."

"Oh my, normally I wouldn’t dare set up on the main street like this," the stall owner lowered his voice, "If Little General happened upon it in a bad mood, he might accuse us of ruining the city’s appearance; being beaten is the least of our worries, getting thrown in jail could ruin us."

Zhao Hanzhang’s smile faded slightly, and she lowered her voice too, "But I see quite a few stalls on the main street now..."

"Other streets are safer, Little General rarely goes there, but here on the main street, hardly anyone dared set up stalls before," the stall owner was not afraid to speak ill of Gou Chun; ordinary folks often did so quietly among themselves, with some even making dolls at home to curse with needles. Alas, it wasn’t very effective.

He whispered, "A few days ago, Little General offended the female governor from Yu State and was punished by being confined to the General Mansion, so only now has everyone grown bolder."

If not, he wouldn’t have dared set up even realizing this business opportunity. Only when certain Gou Chun couldn’t come out, and there’d be no chase away from the main street, did he dare to act.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded approvingly, "Impressive courage, and with such skill, surely you’ll make a great fortune."

Everyone likes hearing good words, and the stall owner beamed with pride.

Just as he was about to speak, a handsome young man approached with two attendants, saying to the stall owner, "Three bowls of dough soup, please."

He then looked at Zhao Hanzhang sitting there and smilingly asked, "Governor Zhao, may I have the honor of joining your table?"