Chapter 191: Did the Solemn King know the real culprit behind the plot to harm Lu

A few hulking men went "splash" a few times and hurriedly leapt into the river.

But that person was probably stunned by the cold, so he hadn't yet reacted to the idea of suicide; in the blink of an eye he was gagged again by the hulking men who had jumped into the river, and they even hauled him back.

And the few in the main hall had already each taken poison to kill themselves, leaving no breath.

Leng Dian, bending over with practiced skill, examined their mouths: "Their mouths concealed poison; it seems their master behind them does not wish to reveal his identity."

Li Qingluo hadn't expected that she had just opened for business, and already someone was impatient to bring her down.

If she just sat and waited to die, who knows how many more such incidents would follow; it would be impossible to guard against them!

She ordered someone to report to the authorities first, then had someone take the surviving one to the back.

After this incident, most people had no appetite for a meal.

Li Qingluo had to adopt a stance: "Esteemed guests, no matter what, today's incident occurred at our Zhenxiu Restaurant, causing all of you to be startled and spoiling your desire to eat."

"But fortunately, Colonel Yang and several distinguished guests from various noble families are here today as witnesses; these are merely the scheming of petty people behind the scenes, having nothing to do with our Zhenxiu Restaurant itself."

"To express our apologies, today every table will be charged only sixty percent of the cost. If a table finishes everything clean, I am willing to forgo profit further and reduce another ten percent, charging only fifty percent of today's total bill."

"And then, we will give each table a portion of pastries!"

"Servants, hurry and bring all the prepared pastries from the back kitchen and serve them to every table's guests for a taste."

Li Qingluo waved her hand grandly, and instantly every waiter and even the manager sprang into action.

As for the patrons, they had been hesitating whether to leave without eating, but once Yang Qinwu and Pei Sanlang took the lead and sat down, the others promptly returned to their seats.

Li Qingluo ordered the bodies to be swiftly carried away, and the floor was quickly cleaned.

When the pots began to simmer again, the delicate, delicious pastries were served, and everyone finally relaxed.

"Damn it, aren't people dying every day? To waste an entire table's delicacies because a few troublemakers caused bad luck, doesn't that completely expose those villains' intentions?"

"Exactly! It's hard enough for Jinling to have a hot‑pot shop, and with such a generous little owner, we must lift the place up."

"Eat, eat, eat—these are dishes we paid for ourselves; could we really waste them!"

"Exactly, if you finish everything clean, we only charge fifty percent!"

"Then what are we waiting for? Today it's so cheap, let's order more meat! Waiter, bring up some pork belly—"

The main hall erupted in bustling activity, as if the scene of death had never occurred.

Some townsfolk still queuing at the entrance, upon hearing that only fifty percent of the meal price would be charged, hurriedly asked, "If we eat later, will it still be only fifty percent?"

Mei Shuang smiled and explained, "Of course. Our proprietor announced that today, on opening, we encountered this unlucky incident; to bring good luck we'll treat it as a special tasting price for all guests."

"Even if we lose money today, we must still let all guests eat and drink well, right?"

Upon hearing this, those waiting for seats naturally stayed.

On the second floor, many who heard the commotion came to watch, and seeing Zhenxiu Restaurant handle it this way, they silently nodded in approval.

"This young owner has some flair."

"With just a few words he steadied the place; clearly he is scheming."

"Without cunning, who would dare open such a restaurant? How many establishments in all of Jinling have this unique style?"

"He handles matters generously, without fuss, and even made many arrangements in advance, clearly having prepared beforehand."

"I don't know who came looking for trouble today, but fortunately the young owner of Zhenxiu Restaurant isn't one to be trifled with; likely no one will casually cause trouble again."

"Your thinking is overly simplistic. Today's affair failed, and these hired killers who came have no return; would the mastermind behind them let this go easily?"

Princess Nanping, leading Cui Jiuniang and others, was at the stairwell watching the commotion; hearing this, everyone exchanged glances.

Back in the side room, Princess Nanping slammed her palm on the table in anger: "If I discover which treacherous scoundrel behind this has harmed my sister Lu'er, I will not forgive him!"

Cui Jiuniang replied, "She is indeed formidable; faced with such a perilous situation, she remained calm, handled everything perfectly, and even kept the guests."

"She truly has the makings of a businessperson."

Princess Nanping felt a sudden surge of pride: "That's natural. My sister Lu'er was raised wild in those mountains, so what? The day she saved us, wasn't it just like that?"

"Steady, reliable, and both clever and alert, she handled today's crisis the same way, always adapting to changes."

Cui Jiuniang's eyes deepened.

"I heard she has a strained relationship with her brother?"

Princess Nanping: "Where is it not hostile? It's downright enemy. Her legitimate elder brother, whose most cherished sister in his heart is the concubine of my fourth uncle, I have heard that after Sister Lu'er returned, she endured countless grievances at home."

"If she hadn't forged her own path, she wouldn't have reclaimed the rightful status of the Jiangjun Fu's legitimate eldest daughter today."

The others, hearing this, all showed sympathy.

"Indeed, during last Mid‑Autumn, Jiangjun Fu celebrated the matriarch's birthday, and Miss Li wasn't allowed to appear."

"Also, I heard that at Qishan Guanshui Cliff, the bandits forced the General's wife to pick only one daughter to live; this mother truly chose Liu Qiongzhu…"

"What's strange about that? When Liu Qiongzhu staged a self‑immolation and feigned death, didn't Jiangjun Fu never pursue the matter?"

"Ha, the most disgraceful thing is that Liu Qiongzhu had an affair with Prince Yun; Jinling City was abuzz, yet Jiangjun Fu merely expelled her from the house and sent her back to her family."

"Liu Qiongzhu's fate is perhaps too fortunate…"

"It's truly hard on Miss Li."

Cui Jiuniang gave a cold smile.

"In my view, the entire Jiangjun Fu, except for Pei Lao Furen and Miss Li, consists of utterly foolish idiots! What a disgraceful family."

Having settled the front, Li Qingluo hurried back to the courtyard.

The only living one, at this moment, had the poison in his mouth scooped out by Leng Dian, and was then tightly bound to a pillar in the firewood storage.

"Release me! What are you trying to do? Ah—"

"I… I don't know anything… Ah!! I, I say—"

Leng Dian had taken lethal action; when Li Qingluo arrived, he had already tortured the person until he was drenched in blood.

Seeing Li Qingluo arrive, he kindly said, "Miss Li, no need to be formal; last time you saved our prince, this is just a small token of my gratitude."

Li Qingluo: …

He is indeed someone from Prince Su's residence.

Thank you, Lord Leng Dian. What exactly is this person's background, and has he confessed?

Leng Dian: "Anyone who falls into our four or the Prince's hands, unless they confess honestly, faces a fate worse than death. He naturally confessed."

Li Qingluo clasped her hands in admiration.

Leng Dian then said: "However, this person was seized midway by those few to act as a decoy, so he doesn't know much. Although they also hid poison in his mouth, this idiot doesn't even know it's real. He dared to cause trouble while carrying the two taels of silver they gave him."

Fortunately, his foul mouth could still spit out three words: Hall of Abundant Blessings.

Hall of Abundant Blessings?

It's that grand restaurant situated on the Qinhuai River, packed with guests every day!?

Li Qingluo had also been to the Hall of Abundant Blessings several times; this number-and-queue method is indeed taken from the Hall of Abundant Blessings' strengths.

Could it be that these fearless people came today to cause trouble because they are the backers behind the Hall of Abundant Blessings?

He fears that his delicacy soup hot pot restaurant will affect his business, so he resorted to such petty and underhanded tactics?

But to lose several lives over this matter…… Li Qingluo felt things wouldn't be so simple.

The officials soon arrived; masked Leng Dian flashed the Imperial Court of Justice's badge, and the constables naturally dared not question further, immediately taking away the sole bloody survivor.

Even the several corpses at the door were also taken away.

Leng Dian was carrying a food box, plus the many pastries Li Qingluo had given him, and was about to leave when Li Qingluo suddenly called out to him: "Lord Leng Dian, could you trouble yourself to deliver a message to someone?"

Prince Su's residence

A table full of steaming soups and pastries was set out.

Eunuch Wu entered to attend to Prince Su; lately Duan Rongshi has been staying in the residence to nurse his injuries, never stepping out.

So even though he knew Li Qingluo's restaurant had opened, he only had Leng Dian go there once.

Leng Dian reported to Prince Su what had happened at the restaurant.

Prince Su, chopsticks in hand, hadn't yet taken a bite: "Hall of Abundant Blessings?"

Leng Dian: "Yes, Prince, that person said it was indeed the Hall of Abundant Blessings. It's just unknown whether it's true."

Eunuch Wu drew out his voice in astonishment: "Isn't the Hall of Abundant Blessings the private property of Princess Qin Yu? How could Princess Qin Yu do such a thing?"

"She has always been open and forthright, carefree and upright; she would never resort to such underhanded schemes to harm others over business matters, would she?"

Duan Rongshi: "Are you ultimately an attendant of my residence, or of Princess Qin Yu?"

Eunuch Wu's heart jolted; he then remembered that His Highness most despised those who betray their masters, and he hurriedly knelt: "Your Highness, I know my mistake. I've only said a few extra words because I've grown up with you and the princess since childhood; I dare not do so again……"

Duan Rongshi picked up a chopstickful of mutton slices.

He bit into it, slightly furrowed his brows: "It's gotten tough."

Leng Dian: "Miss Li indeed said that cooked mutton slices might turn tough if brought back, so I had my subordinates pack some fresh ones; if Your Highness is not satisfied with the texture, you can have my subordinates rinse and serve fresh ones for you to eat."

Duan Rongshi put down his chopsticks and truly waited for Leng Dian.

Leng Dian dared not delay, hurriedly busied himself.

Just while rinsing the meat, he couldn't help muttering: "How did I inexplicably become the Highness's cook today?"

Another chopstickful went into his mouth, and Duan Rongshi could still accept it.

After eating his fill, Duan Rongshi put down his chopsticks before letting Eunuch Wu rise.

"Go ask Princess Qin Yu whether this was her doing."

Eunuch Wu retreated nervously.

Leng Dian was also about to retreat when he suddenly remembered something.

"Your Highness, Miss Li had my subordinates deliver a message to Zhui Yu."

Duan Rongshi: "To Zhui Yu, a message?"