That day, Xie Yun had urgent military duties and rushed to the barracks before dawn. As a result, only Qin Miao was left to have breakfast alone, which became dull and tasteless.

  Qin Miao couldn't help but think of the rice noodles on the street corner in the old days, so she packed up her clothes and went out early.

  Last night's rain washed away the sultry heat of recent days. The bluestone pavement still had leaves left over from last night's storm, and the air was filled with a refreshing fragrance.

  Qin Miao was in a good mood, walking leisurely through the streets and alleys, heading to the familiar rice noodle shop.

  The shop had already opened early and a long queue had formed as usual. Qin Miao held several copper plates, quietly waiting at the back of the line.

  After a while, all I saw was a man sitting on the street eating noodles, chatting idly as he ate with gusto.

  "Hey, something big happened in the city recently." A fat-bellied man poked a thin man sitting next to him. "One of Prefect Zhang's concubines was kidnapped in public? I heard that Prefect Zhang himself was beaten so badly he can't get out of bed."

  The fat man leaned in closer and whispered with a sly smile: "I heard that Zhang Sun's family is also in trouble..."

  "Don't spout nonsense, is the Governor a person you can casually arrange at will?..." The thin man was obviously quite clever, and he just quietly ate his rice noodles while advising the fat man not to talk recklessly.

  "Alas, didn't you have a sweetheart in the government office? How come, haven't you mentioned this to me before?"

  The skinny one sucked in a mouthful of powder and didn't even bother to wipe it off, sticking close to the fatso's plump ear and whispering, "It was just a broken arm, everything else is fine. Stop making wild guesses."

  "Really?" Didn't hear about the descendants of Ming Genzi having an accident, it seems that Baozi is a little disappointed. He buried his head and took a sip of soup, then immediately regained his spirits and chased after Shouzi to ask: "Then who knows who was beaten?"

  The thin man poked the fat man's arm and buzzed: "It seems to be that new general."

  Fatso's eyes widened in surprise, looking like he didn't quite believe it. "Really? I've heard from my brothers in the patrol camp that Generalissimo doesn't ban female concubines, and many women have been sent to him, but he hasn't even looked at them. And...". Fatso knocked on the ground a few times, speaking mysteriously close to Skinny: "I've seen Generalissimo from afar, and he's more beautiful than any woman. Eight out of ten chances... it's that kind of thing. You know what I mean?"

  What kind is it? Haha.

  Qin Miao stood by, listening with relish to Da Pang and Xiao Shou teasing Xie Xun, finding it quite entertaining. But the next moment, it wasn't a good taste anymore.

  "You know what, those are just mediocre women. How can they compare to that woman? Besides, a woman who only looks good is useless, she needs to have skills and abilities to win a man's heart." The thin man said with some pride.

  "You speak as if you've seen it with your own eyes."

  Qin Miao's eyebrows suddenly furrowed, and she listened even more seriously.

  Only then did the thin man continue to speak: "My good friend said that not only is she beautiful, but also skilled in bed. Do you know Qingfengpu? Recently it's been very popular, and Haitangchun knows. My good friend just happened to see the third lady of the mansion buying several sets, and heard that the girls upstairs love wearing Haitangchun to receive guests. Why? It's said that those clothes are so seductive that even women would be jealous, they're as alluring as possible. This Haitangchun, it was designed by that woman, and the owner of Qingfengpu behind is also her. Now you know, General Ren, why he wanted to fight with the prefecture for people?"

  The fat man's eyes rolled around, as if he had seen a woman wearing a spring dress made of hawthorn. Qin Miao happened to be standing beside him, and his fiery gaze was directly scanning Qin Miao.

  These two grandsons stirred up trouble, and Qin Miao's mind was completely messed up. However, it wasn't a good time to lose her temper, so she could only silently endure it, buying the rice noodles before leaving directly.

  As soon as I entered Qingfeng shop, the little shopkeeper with eyes that were always half-closed rushed up.

  "Master, I have something to say to you."

  Qin Miao carried the freshly cooked rice noodles, fearing they would get cold, and led Xiao Zhang to the inner hall.

  "Out with it, what's got you in such a rush."

  Xiao Zhanggui rubbed his hands together, looking embarrassed and seemingly a bit ashamed.

  "Stop beating around the bush, just say it. I'm busy." Qin Miao saw that he was being evasive again, and remembering what she had heard at the rice noodle shop earlier, her temper flared up.

  "Well, I've said it... That... Master, let's not sell Haitang Chun anymore..."

  Qin Miao was sucking on a rice flour stick, and when Xiao Zhang also mentioned Haitang Spring, she felt somewhat strange. She bit off the rice flour stick and muttered to ask: "Isn't it selling well? Why not sell?"

  She launched the spring collection of Haitang, although it was a coincidence, but also in line with her overall plan for Qingfengpu. She didn't want Qingfengpu to follow the old path, making some outer garments and shoes that were similar to other shops. In her idea, a woman with taste, from inside to outside, all things, Qingfengpu can cover them all. The small clothes are just a try, seeing the good situation, she also wants to launch more series.

  Xiao Zhanggui obviously didn't think so, he said bluntly: "Yesterday, you didn't come to the store, and something happened. Several officials' wives in the city seemed to have made an appointment, they all came to the shop to look at goods, and also asked about Haitang Chun. But for some reason, those officials' wives actually openly slandered your reputation under the pretext of Haitang Chun's name in public."

  "What did you say?" Qin Miao said quietly, perhaps everything had coincided, and she felt a sense of foreboding.

  "Those ladies said that you have a bad private virtue, always thinking about men's preferences, which is why Hai Tang Chun was created. Such clothes, they, as respectable people, would absolutely look down on."

  Pfft, doesn't know good stuff. Qin Miao cursed under her breath.

  Xiao Zhanggui saw that she was calm and continued: "Also, you're wearing Haitang Spring, one moment...one moment enticing Prefect Tai, another moment hooking up with...Generalissimo. Everywhere climbing the high branches of men, compared to..."

  Qin Miao gritted her teeth and asked fiercely, "Compared to what? Speak!"

  "The girls in the brothel are even..." The young shopkeeper couldn't go on. Those few officials' wives yesterday really opened his eyes, claiming to be talented and virtuous women from good families, but when they started talking, it was truly unbearable."

  "Master..." He saw Qin Miao's face finally turn pale, and with one look, it was clear that anger had gotten the better of him. He couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

  Qin Miao hummed a few times, thinking to herself: "An empty hole doesn't invite the wind, and that matter was only known by a few people. That despicable Zhang even if he was beaten, would still care about his own reputation, and definitely wouldn't speak randomly. But how did it get spread like this?"

  "Peony spring, don't withdraw! Keep selling for me! They don't know the goods, it's their loss." Qin Miao told Xiao Zhang firmly and comforted him: "Don't be afraid, next time you encounter such people, just drive them away directly. Also, there is one more thing I need to tell you."

  The little shopkeeper was probably intimidated by her firm tone and quietly waited aside, waiting for the master to speak.

  "I indeed have a relationship with General Ito."

  Ah! The young shopkeeper was so shocked that his eyeballs almost popped out. Could it be, there really is a cat in the wall? This...

  "I am the legitimate wife of General Taibai, that is, Madame Weiyuan. So, you don't have to be afraid, do you understand?"

  Like a thunderclap on a clear day, it blew the cautious and meticulous shopkeeper into a mess.

  Things in life are unpredictable, things in life are unpredictable... What kind of master have I been serving after all...