Su Li would visit the shops under renovation on the street every few days. This day, as she was inspecting the shop on West Street, Mo Hua rushed in.
"Miss, sothing... sothing has happened!"
Su Li, along with her maids, hurried to Jinzhao Zui, only to find the shop already surrounded by a large crowd, with even governnt officials present.
Diners lay sprawled on the floor, groaning in pain.
Seeing her arrival, Xu Mubai ushered her into a small private room.
Su Li asked, "What’s going on?"
"Miss, Jinzhao Zui has been experiencing trouble recently. Despite all my precautions, sothing still went wrong." Xu Mubai’s voice was heavy with concern. "These diners started suffering from severe abdominal pain after eating hotpot. We’ve called doctors, but they can’t determine the cause."
Su Li frowned, about to speak, but was interrupted by a clamor from outside.
"Who is the owner of Jinzhao Zui? Co out!"
Xu Mubai glanced at Su Li, who said coldly, "This is clearly preditated. Let’s go out and see."
As the two erged, they saw an official in uniform swaggering and shouting.
"Oh! Princess Changning is here too. I heard that Jinzhao Zui’s owner is close to Princess Changning. I didn’t believe it initially, but now it seems the rumors aren’t false after all."
Xu Mubai angrily reprimanded, "How dare you! You insult the Princess!"
The official, emboldened, retorted, "I’m rely stating the truth, how is that insulting? Weren’t the two of you just now inside the room, discussing...?" He left his sentence unfinished, deliberately leaving room for speculation.
Su Li turned her cold gaze, a faint glow emanating from her eyes. She let out a chilly laugh and asked, "Under whose authority do you serve?"
The official lifted his head proudly. "Under Minister Zhang of Dali Temple. This official received this case, stating that Jinzhao Zui was poisoned, and I am here by order to seal it down!"
Su Li curled her lips. It seed Jun Hui was indeed the mastermind behind this. A while ago, Jun Hui was in charge of the Imperial Examination Cheating Scandal, and Assistant Minister of Dali Temple Zhang Hui was already a known opportunist, so it appeared Jun Hui had brought him under his wing.
Su Li spoke coldly, "This Princess is the owner of Jinzhao Zui. You are not worthy of speaking with . Have your master co out. What kind of trick is it to hide behind others?"
"You!" The official’s face stiffened, but Su Li paid him no mind. She turned and began to examine the abdominal pain sufferers.
Everyone’s eyes widened. Jinzhao Zui actually belonged to Princess Changning! The clamor from the previously complaining common folk imdiately quieted. If it was Princess Changning’s establishnt, then she certainly wouldn’t have poisoned them. There must be another reason.
The group of officials, seeing the common people’s clear favoritism towards the Princess, found themselves at a loss. "Go, invite Minister Zhang here."
Su Li diligently examined the diners, her brows slowly relaxing. The perpetrators likely feared causing fatalities, intending only to use this opportunity to shut down Jinzhao Zui. The poison administered wasn’t severe.
Su Li produced a small porcelain bottle and handed it to Xu Mubai. "Give one to each person."
Xu Mubai took the bottle. The detoxifying pills within were precious; to use so many at once was infuriating. The person behind this truly deserved to die!
After taking the detoxifying pills, the diners’ groans gradually subsided.
Su Li looked at them and said, "I apologize to everyone for letting you suffer such hardship on my premises. Please rest for a while. This Princess will definitely uncover the hidden culprit and provide everyone with a satisfactory explanation!"
"Princess, we believe you! This must be so dirty trick from soone jealous of Jinzhao Zui’s booming business!"
"Exactly! We must find the person behind this! How dare they fra the Princess!"
Su Li looked at the crowd, a flicker of emotion in her eyes. So of the things she had done initially were indeed driven by certain objectives. Yet, she had never expected these common people to be so endearing, trusting her unconditionally. As a princess, she now truly felt the heavy burden on her shoulders. She couldn’t betray the trust of the common people, nor could she allow them to beco victims of business warfare.
Just then, a man around forty years old, dressed in official robes, entered Jinzhao Zui. "Your humble subordinate, Zhang Dehui, greets Princess Changning."
Su Li smiled, looking at the person behind Zhang Dehui. "I asked you to bring out the master behind this, not you, Minister Zhang."
Zhang Dehui’s smile froze, but he quickly laughed. "Princess is jesting. We all serve His Majesty; how could there be a master behind us?"
Looking at Su Li’s clear, perceptive eyes, as if all the world’s sches and open plots would find nowhere to hide before them, Zhang Dehui wiped sweat from his brow. Did this Princess know sothing?
Su Li chuckled, "Oh? Is that so? I thought Minister Zhang had co under the command of a certain Imperial Prince!"
Zhang Dehui offered a forced smile. "How could that be? How could that be?"
Su Li’s expression turned cold, and she spoke sternly, "Such a major incident has occurred at Jinzhao Zui. The perpetrator behind it must be deeply hidden. This Princess believes this is an unhealthy trend in the business world and should be thoroughly investigated. Otherwise, if other rchants follow suit and use such improper ans to fra their competitors, won’t the common people be the ones who suffer?"
As soon as Su Li finished speaking, she received unanimous support from the crowd.
Glancing at the common people, who were like echoes, and then back at Su Li, Zhang Dehui said, "Princess, are you so certain that this was caused by another competitor’s sche, and not by unsanitary food at Jinzhao Zui?" He quickly added, "Of course, I’m not saying this has anything to do with the Princess. The Princess is a busy dignitary; it’s impossible for you to inspect Jinzhao Zui every day. It’s not impossible for your subordinates to be lazy or cut corners."
The common people fell silent. What the Assistant Minister said made sense. They knew the Princess would never poison anyone or earn ill-gotten gains, but who could guarantee that Jinzhao Zui’s waiters wouldn’t do such a thing?
Su Li smiled. "Then, according to you, Minister, how should this be investigated?"
Zhang Dehui’s face brightened. "First, Jinzhao Zui must be closed down, and all its staff brought back to Dali Temple for thorough interrogation."
Su Li scoffed, "Minister Zhang, your forehead seems wide enough for horses to run on."
If they followed his suggestion, even if the truth were eventually uncovered, the uninford common people would certainly believe Jinzhao Zui had problems. Who would dare to co again in the future?
Mo Yu, accompanying Jun Mo, had just stepped into Jinzhao Zui when he heard Su Li’s remark, "Minister Zhang, your forehead seems wide enough for horses to run on," and burst out laughing. The Princess Consort was truly formidable; she cursed without using any foul language. Wasn’t Zhang Dehui being too brazen? To want to close Jinzhao Zui before even starting the investigation? Did he really think their Princess Consort was so easily fooled?
"Your Highness, the Princess Consort hasn’t suffered any disadvantage," Mo Yu muttered. He had rushed to bring the Prince here for nothing.
Jun Mo smiled and stepped forward, a look of indulgence on his face.
Zhang Dehui’s face was awkward. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Prince Jing enter.
"Your humble subordinate greets His Royal Highness Prince Jing."
Dealing with one Princess Changning was already difficult enough, and now Prince Jing had arrived.
Jun Mo walked over without saying a word, standing beside Su Li. His actions clearly showed he was there as her backing.
Zhang Dehui wiped his sweat. It seed Jinzhao Zui wouldn’t be closed today.
"It’s truly lively today. What happened?" A gentle voice drifted in.
Everyone quickly bowed. "Greetings, Sixth Prince!"
Su Li sneered inwardly. Was he finally unable to sit still?
Jun Hui entered. Seeing Jun Mo and Su Li, a trace of gloom flashed in his eyes. "What a coincidence, Seventh Brother and Princess Changning are also here? We truly are fated."
Su Li retorted with a cold smile, "Indeed, truly fated!"
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