The Tofu Queen: A Modern Woman's Ancient Kingdom Journey

Qin Ziqin suppressed his anger and raised a brow. "Cousin, why so clumsy? If you hurt yourself, I'd be devastated to see such a beauty frown."

His peach blossom eyes sparkled as he softened his earlier chill. Those eyes, like petals floating on a pool of autumn water, could draw anyone in to wonder what mysteries lay beneath the surface.

Li Qingruo was a poised and well-mannered young woman, but under the gaze of Qin Ziqin's mischievous yet mesmerizing eyes, she couldn't help but flush. Her words tumbled out in a barely audible stammer.

"I… I'm sorry, Cousin, for bumping into you."

Though her family was influential, their ties to the Qin family weren't particularly close. As a result, Qin Ziqin felt more like a stranger than a relative. She never expected him to even know who she was.

"No harm done."

The words came through clenched teeth. Qin Ziqin regretted being in the capital, where decorum forced him to keep his irritation in check. Feigning his usual flirty demeanor, he teased her while secretly lamenting the spilled wine.

Murong Feixue, however, saw through his performance. Stepping forward with calculated grace, she approached Li Qingruo, tilting her head slightly to display her slender, elegant neck as she spoke in a gentle tone.

"Qingruo, are you alright?"

Her concern seemed sincere, but her practiced movements betrayed her intentions. A soft breeze carried the faint scent of her perfume, completing the picture of a demure yet alluring noblewoman.

Qin Ziqin noticed everything.

Taking a deep breath to quell his irritation, he offered a lazy smile that sparkled like sunlight breaking through the clouds.

"And you are…?" he asked, his tone laced with amusement.

Murong Feixue's expression brightened slightly. "I'm the eldest daughter of the Murong family."

Qin Ziqin nodded thoughtfully. Then, with a grin as sharp as a blade, he added, "Murong Miss, your makeup is… lacking. It seems to flake off as you speak—leaving your face rather blotchy."

The smile on Murong Feixue's face froze, and her hand clenched tightly within her sleeve. Still, she forced herself to maintain her composure. "Is that so…?"

Qin Ziqin wasn't done. "As a man, I know little about makeup, but I've met enough young ladies who might be able to recommend better products. Shall I introduce you to a few?"

The implication was clear. Everyone knew the kind of women Qin Ziqin spent time with—this was no kind offer but a deliberate jab.

Even the usually oblivious Li Qingruo picked up on the insult. Caught between her friend and the cousin she admired, she froze, unsure of how to mediate.

Murong Feixue's initial anger dissipated as she quickly recalibrated her approach. With a poised smile, she replied, "Women dress up to please others, and perhaps that's why the flaws in my makeup caught your eye, Young Marquis."

Her calm and graceful response earned a second look from Qin Ziqin, but his loss of the prized wine kept him too agitated to appreciate her effort. Waving her off dismissively, he strolled away, muttering, "Next time, I'll need a sturdier wine flask made of brass."

Despite his nonchalance, his heart ached for the spilled wine.

Once he was out of earshot, Li Qingruo turned to Murong Feixue with a sheepish smile. "Feixue, my cousin's always like this. Please don't be upset. If he's offended you, let me apologize on his behalf."

Murong Feixue returned her smile with one of her own, but her thoughts were far from friendly. So smug, acting like the Young Marquis's wife already. Just moments ago, you didn't even have the courage to approach him, and now you're playing the gracious mediator?

Though her face remained serene, her heart was full of disdain. "You silly girl," she said lightly. "You act like you're already the lady of his household. But I must say, he does seem to treat you differently."

Li Qingruo's eyes lit up, her cheeks flushing once more. "Don't tease me like that, Feixue. I'm just his cousin."

"Oh?" Murong Feixue tilted her head. "And yet, how is it that he treats you differently? Surely you've noticed?"

The two leaned in closer, whispering conspiratorially as they walked away.

Meanwhile, at home, Jiang Huaiyu was blissfully unaware of the drama surrounding Qin Ziqin. She was too busy working on her latest creation.

Fresh lotus and magnolia petals lay scattered across sheets of copper, coated with a layer of lard to capture their essence. After carefully layering petal-covered sheets one atop another, she set them out in the sun to infuse.

Each evening, she removed the now-wilted petals and repeated the process the next morning, replacing them with fresh blossoms. During this time, she continued distilling more high-proof alcohol, her kitchen filled with the sharp, heady scent of spirits.

After eight days of labor, the first results of her efforts were ready. The copper sheets had yielded two jars of fragrant, oil-infused lard.

Jiang Huaiyu separated the oils into smaller containers, mixing them with distilled alcohol. The resulting liquid was cloudy, but after letting it settle and straining out impurities, she was left with a rich and potent essential oil.

For the final touch, she added small pieces of precious agarwood to the mix, shaking the containers vigorously to blend the scents.

By evening, the first batch of her perfume was ready. The air in her workshop was filled with the soft, intoxicating aroma of lotus, magnolia, and agarwood.

Satisfied with her creation, Jiang Huaiyu placed the finished product in delicate white porcelain bottles. When the bath powder shop steward arrived to deliver the latest earnings and confirm accounts, she handed the steward a bottle to deliver to Qin Ziqin.

At the once-glorious Champion Marquis Mansion, the steward presented the bottle to Qin Ziqin in his study.

The mansion, now shadowed by its tragic history, bore an air of desolation. Few dared to pass its gates, let alone visit.

Qin Ziqin picked up the porcelain bottle, its simple elegance intriguing him. Removing the wooden stopper with a soft pop, he leaned closer to examine the liquid inside.

A sudden wave of fragrance unfurled—delicate yet powerful, a harmony of florals and woodsy notes.

Startled, Qin Ziqin straightened in his chair, taking a deeper breath. The scent was unlike anything he'd encountered before. Even the steward, standing a respectful distance away, couldn't help but inhale the enchanting aroma.

They exchanged a look of astonishment, then turned their attention back to the unassuming white bottle.