She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 87: As Expected, They Came

Chapter 87: Chapter 87: As Expected, They Came

Since Hongzhi did not pursue the matter further, Qi Younian certainly wouldn’t volunteer information about adding salt to ice. Adding salt to ice is the key to successfully transferring cold to the Ice Cream. Whether this secret could be kept safe if told to Prince Yu was Prince Yu’s responsibility. If the key was revealed to Hongzhi at this time, it wasn’t that Qi Younian didn’t trust him, but that Hongzhi’s assurance ultimately wasn’t as authoritative as that of Prince Yu.

"Would the young master like to know the ingredients required for making Ice Cream?" Qi Younian changed the subject, discussing the composition of ingredients for Ice Cream.

Hongzhi quickly waved his hands, "No need, Sixth Master only asked me whether Ice Cream could be made during winter." Having said this, he bowed to Qi Younian, "Old Sir, I must take my leave now, Sixth Master is waiting for my response."

"Why the hurry, young brother? Why not sit down for a tea and some snacks before you go?"

"No, no, I must report back to Sixth Master immediately, Old Sir, please excuse me." As Hongzhi was leaving, he glanced at the well-behaved Qi Jia sitting by the low table, patted his little head, and said, "Such a good child."

While speaking, he leaned over to take a look at the young lad’s low table, where the little fellow was actually writing. Was this counting?

After sending Hongzhi out the door, Hongzhi turned the corner upon exiting the snack shop and went straight to the second floor of the Great Crane House to report back to Jinrong.

Hongzhi pushed open the door of the private room, where Jinrong and Jiang Yifan were sitting. He paid his respects to the two men and then reported everything he had learned to Jinrong.

Jinrong listened with interest to Hongzhi’s report and turned to Jiang Yifan with a smile, "Yuanfan, did you hear that? It’s another novelty from your former wife. This is more interesting than a child’s tricycle. The structure of a tricycle can be discerned, but frozen food in the height of summer is quite extraordinary."

How could a simple meal be related to that woman? Jiang Yifan suppressed the impatience in his heart, pushed the double-layered milk custard away, and continued eating his meal as usual. He felt uneasy, thinking if he had known the Ice Cream was created by that woman, he wouldn’t have eaten it.

Jinrong couldn’t help but chuckle silently at Jiang Yifan’s instinctive action.

He nudged Jiang Yifan, saying, "Hey, are you still hungry? If you’re full, let’s go relax at that casual snack shop and casually inquire about how they freeze this food."

Glancing at Hongzhi, he added, "This lad knows what he’s about, didn’t prod into the shop’s methods. I don’t believe a simple bucket of ice could produce Ice Cream—there must be a key detail. Let’s go ask, I believe the Qi family would be willing to share the inner workings." After a few interactions, Jinrong was certain that Qi Younian had recognized his identity.

Jiang Yifan glanced at Jinrong, wanting to decline going, yet he was also deeply curious about the frozen food of summer. If he didn’t go with Jinrong, he definitely wouldn’t face that woman on his own.

Jinrong understood Jiang Yifan’s reluctance and did not press. Once the two had their fill, they casually left the Great Crane House and strolled into the leisurely snack shop.

Qi Younian had already prepared for Jinrong’s arrival, but he hadn’t expected Sixth Master to be in the company of Ye Zi’s ex-husband once again. Such an encounter made Qi Younian feel quite awkward.

Seeing Jinrong arrive with Jiang Yifan and their four attendants, Qi Younian, although surprised by Jiang Yifan’s presence, merely hesitated for a moment before hurriedly greeting them.

"Sixth Master, Lord Jiang, please come in. This way, we have a free table over here."

Jinrong looked around discerningly and followed Qi Younian’s lead to a table situated away from the other diners, offering a better view.

"Is this your family’s shop?" asked Jinrong.

Qi Younian nodded hurriedly, "Indeed, a small business, you must find it laughable, Sixth Master."

Jinrong waved his hand, "It’s not laughable per se, it’s just that, the food you sell is so expensive, yet you operate in such a cramped space. Business must be challenging, right?"

Qi Younian instinctively glanced at the other two tables of customers, his forehead starting to show sweat.

The guests at these two tables seemed to be stewards and nannies bringing kids over, but the stewards and nannies from large households are all shrewd people. Once Sixth Master spoke those words, it was certain they heard every word. Sixth Master had a grand vision, and what he said was not inappropriate, but when other patrons heard it, it might not come across the same way.

Jiang Yifan, sitting across from Jinrong, also realized something was amiss and quickly jumped in to smooth things over, "Elder, don’t be troubled. Sixth Master wasn’t criticizing the high prices of your food. What he meant was, your food is so rare and delicious, yet it is confined to operating in such a small shop. Isn’t it being overlooked?"

Those words put Qi Younian at ease, and he quickly responded, "Not at all, not at all. For commoners like us, being able to run a small business to sustain our livelihood is already quite enough. We are just grateful if patrons are willing to honor us with their presence, we wouldn’t dare say it’s being overlooked."

At this moment, Ye Xinyan brought over two cups of tea, as if to steer the conversation away.

Using a hand gesture, Jinrong blocked Ye Xinyan’s tray, "We didn’t come to eat, so let’s not occupy your table any longer. I heard from Hongzhi that there is more space behind your shop. Let’s move there to talk."

This posed a bit of a problem. Qi Younian glanced at Hongzhi and said, "The younger brother might not have made it clear to the Sixth Master, the space behind our shop is far too small, really not suitable for hosting such honored guests."

"Don’t worry, we’ve come to consult with the elder; the size of the place isn’t important." Saying this, Jinrong stood up and headed towards the back of the shop.

Jiang Yifan, with his eyelids lowered, didn’t look at Ye Xinyan or Qi Younian, and rose to follow Jinrong.

"Grandfather, go ahead, I’ll take care of the shop," Ye Xinyan handed the tray carrying the teacups to Qi Younian, and waved towards the back of the shop, indicating her grandfather to follow.

Qi Younian inwardly sighed, feeling the pressure of using that small partitioned room in the back to entertain the son of the Emperor. Yet, he had no choice but to take the tray from Ye Xinyan and follow closely behind.

After seeing the space in the partition, Jinrong noted that Hongzhi was right, it was unexpectedly small.

"Hongzhi, Shi Yu, you all wait outside," he instructed.

Shi Yu glanced at Jiang Yifan, and upon receiving a nod, left with Hongzhi and the others.

After instructing the attendants, Jinrong, acting quite at home, found a high stool to sit on. He then pulled Jiang Yifan down to another stool, and turned to Qi Younian, who was serving tea, "We have something to consult with the elder. The father-in-law of the Qi family, please take a seat as well, we can discuss in detail."

Qi Younian looked around awkwardly. In such a small space, already seated were two gentlemen, each with a servant standing behind them. If he sat down too, wouldn’t this tiny partitioned area seem even more cramped?

Qi Younian bowed, "Before the two of you, how dare I presume. You can simply command me. Being able to serve Sixth Master and Lord Jiang is an honor I could not ask for even if I prayed for it; the word ’consult’ is too gracious."

"Elder is quite the orator," Jinrong said directly, "Let me get straight to the point. Hongzhi inquired earlier, and elder mentioned that your Ice Cream is made by freezing it with ice blocks. I find it somewhat unbelievable; ice cellars and ice blocks are common in many households, yet none have managed to use ice to freeze something else into a solid form. Making Ice Cream can’t be that simple, can it? I’m quite curious—would it be convenient for the elder to enlighten us?"