Chapter 267 Princess Xuancheng Marries Qi
Songzhi was standing in front of the counter of the dim sum shop, following the manager to learn how to read the accounts. When she looked up, she saw Qin Xiaoning and Hong'er and Qing'er entering the shop. She quickly put down the account book in her hand and went to greet them.

"A Ning, why did you come here suddenly?"

"I went to Boss Cai's place and stopped by to take a look." Qin Xiaoning took off her veil, looked around the busy shop, and said with a smile, "Business looks good."

"It's not the busiest time yet. There will be more people in the second half of the day."

As she spoke, she called to Qin Xiaoning: "The pastry chef has been busy making new dishes these past two days. Come on, I'll take you to the kitchen to have a look."

Although she has only been out for a few days, the little maid has already undergone a great transformation.

His every move exudes confidence and a capable demeanor.

Qin Xiaoning glanced at the pine branches walking in the wind, and she couldn't help but smile.

"Master, are the new products we are going to make today out of the oven?" Songzhi started shouting at the top of his voice before entering the kitchen.

"It's Miss Songzhi." The dim sum chef, who was about fifty years old and had a smiling face, was busy kneading the dough while replying enthusiastically, "It's already in the steamer. It's almost done, almost done."

Songzhi led Qin Xiaoning into the kitchen. The busy chefs were stunned when they saw such a beautiful young lady.

Songzhi cleared his throat and said, "This is our new shareholder of Dim Sum Restaurant, Madam Lu."

Everyone greeted Qin Xiaoning and their attitudes immediately became respectful.

After watching for a while, new dim sum came out of the steamer. Songzhi and another dim sum chef skillfully took the dim sum out of the pot. Songzhi picked up a piece and put it on a small plate, then handed it to Qin Xiaoning with a smile: "Try it."

The dessert was made into the shape of butterfly wings, with tender white crispy crust and the color of the red bean paste filling in the center. It looked beautiful and appetizing.

Qin Xiaoning took a bite and commented: "It is somewhat similar to your craftsmanship."

Before Songzhi could reply, the chef at the side smiled and replied, "My lady, you have a good taste. This is the new product I made after listening to Miss Songzhi's suggestion. How is it? It tastes good, right? I tried to make two steamers yesterday, and they were all sold out before noon." He also praised, "Miss Songzhi is really talented in making dim sum. Her craftsmanship is not inferior to that of me, the master chef."

Hearing the master chef's praise, Songzhi's face turned red, with a hint of pride in her shyness.

After all, she was a head maid from the famous Ningguo Mansion. She was knowledgeable about food and it was natural for her to make snacks for ordinary people.

Qin Xiaoning ate some snacks, glanced at the pine branches, and said with a smile: "I told you, you are suitable for this."

"Aning is still the one who has a good eye for talent." Songzhi playfully praised Qin Xiaoning.

After finishing the important things, Songzhi left the shop early and personally sent Qin Xiaoning home. On the way, Qin Xiaoning mentioned to her about meeting Boss Cai and Boss Li in the morning. The little maid couldn't help but feel angry when she heard it: "I didn't expect Boss Li to be so shameless."

Then he said worriedly, "A Ning, he has tried to buy your calligraphy many times but was rejected. With his temper, will he take the opportunity to retaliate against us?"

"It's not impossible." Qin Xiaoning said, "He is a narrow-minded person. He may be holding a grudge against me."

Songzhi was so frightened when he heard this that his expression changed immediately: "What should we do then?"

"What can we do?" Qin Xiaoning smiled and said, "We just need to be more careful. After all, we have guards at home, so he can't do anything to us." Then, she told Songzhi, "When we go back, tell Sister Wang to tell Brother Li to go out and look around more often, pick out the right one, and buy a guard. We need one that has a lifelong bond and has some martial arts skills."

"Jixian Pavilion is in trouble now. We have lost our source of income, so we have to save money." Songzhi frowned: "Do you still want to sell people?"

The little maid only knows how to save money.

Qin Xiaoning comforted Songzhi: "You don't have to worry about money. Although Jixian Pavilion has closed down, Boss Cai has not. He is going to make a comeback. From the beginning of setting up the stall, I have promised him that I will sell calligraphy to him as usual. Although we don't make as much as before, as long as the calligraphy can be sold, the dividends are still considerable. In addition, I plan to expand sales in other small cities. I heard from Lord Shen a while ago that the calligraphy and painting business in Jincheng and Pucheng is also good. After buying the guardhouse, I plan to go there to take a look in person."

Before Qin Xiaoning could finish, Song Zhi interrupted and said, "You are still pregnant, how can you travel so far? I'd better go."

"Let's talk about it then."

The two were walking back while chatting when they saw a little boy holding a newspaper running by the roadside, shouting, "Look, the newspaper says that the Princess of Xuancheng is going to the State of Qi to marry. This is a big deal, a big deal."

Qin Xiaoning was curious and bought a copy to read.

Songzhi didn't know many words, so he took a look and asked in a daze, "Who is Princess Xuancheng?"

Qin Xiaoning looked at the contents of the palace report and only said, "In order to establish good relations between the two countries, the two countries of Zhou and Qi are forming an alliance, and Princess Xuancheng is marrying the third prince of Qi."

"Didn't the previous emperor only have two princesses? They are both underage, right? The new emperor hasn't gotten married yet." Qin Xiaoning frowned and looked at Song Zhi: "Where did this Xuancheng come from?"

Songzhi was even more confused: "Even you don't know, let alone me, but I have never heard of such a person as Princess Xuancheng in the capital before."

It really doesn't.

The late emperor had few children, only two princesses, and everyone in the capital knew it.

Qin Xiaoning thought about it and said, "Perhaps for the sake of the marriage between the two countries, the daughter of some prince or king can be made a princess instead of surrendering."

This kind of thing happens all the time and it's nothing new.

Qin Xiaoning's unintentional words aroused Songzhi's curiosity: "If so, do you think this person is the daughter of Prince Xian, the Princess Chonghua?"

"That person is arrogant and domineering. Didn't he get severely punished by the prince because he offended you before?"

The little maid mentioned this inadvertently, and seeing Qin Xiaoning's face slightly darkening, she belatedly shut her mouth.

The two walked in silence for a while, and Songzhi couldn't help but say, "Aning, I'm sorry. I will remember this and not mention the prince anymore in the future."

Qin Xiaoning smiled bitterly: "I don't blame you. Not to mention that you can't control your mouth, I often forget things too. We have been together for so many years, and he used to protect me so much, how can I forget it just like that?"

As she spoke, she sighed slightly: "I'm just worried that when the child grows up, I don't know if I can keep it a secret from him."

"I'm also afraid that this child will hate me."

She became more and more sad as she spoke, and her voice gradually lowered: "Songzhi, sometimes I wonder if I am too selfish. In order to avoid being wronged and to live a comfortable life, I cruelly left him, causing my child to lose his father."