Chapter 284 - 284 Diverting the Trouble

284 Diverting the Trouble

Yu Niaoniao first sent the stinky tofu to the dining hall, then continued to teach the students in the painting training class how to draw.

After class, she strolled to the dining hall and began to teach the chefs how to make stinky tofu.

Pan Dafu was very resistant to the smelly tofu that looked very dark. He felt that this moldy tofu could not be eaten at all.

This was especially when the stinky tofu was thrown into the oil pot, the stench became even stronger.

Everyone in the kitchen wanted to escape immediately.

Yu Niaoniao served the fried stinky tofu and invited everyone to try it.

No one dared to move their chopsticks.

In the end, Pan Dafu bravely took the first step and extended his chopsticks toward the plate of stinky tofu.

He actually did not have any hope for the taste of the stinky tofu. He was even prepared to have diarrhea after eating it. The reason why he dared to try was entirely out of respect for Yu Niaoniao.

He did not want a situation where no one cared about the food Yu Niaoniao made, so he could only test the poison for her.

When Pan Dafu took the first bite of the stinky tofu, everyone in the kitchen held their breaths and silently prayed for him to hold on and not be poisoned to death by the stinky tofu.

Pan Dafu chewed with difficulty. But his expression gradually changed from pain to surprise and enjoyment.

Yu Niaoniao asked, “How is it?”

Pan Dafu took another bite of the stinky tofu and ate it even more carefully this time.

After eating, he commented sincerely.

“This tofu smells bad, but it’s unexpectedly fragrant. Moreover, the more I eat, the more fragrant it becomes!”

Hearing his words, his disciples mustered their courage and began to try the stinky tofu.

In the end, they could not stop eating!

They quickly finished the plate of stinky tofu.

In the end, they still expressed that they wanted more.

Pan Dafu sighed.

“I didn’t expect this smelly tofu to taste so good. As the old saying went, one should not judge a book by its cover. This is the same principle as cooking. One cannot judge the quality of a dish just by its stench. Although some ingredients don’t look good, a chef can still make delicious food as long as his culinary skills are good.”

Yu Niaoniao was rather surprised. “A few pieces of stinky tofu made you contemplate the philosophy of life.”

Pan Dafu smiled in embarrassment.

“This is all because Teacher taught me well.”

Then, he taught his disciples that not only did they have to learn how to cook, but they also had to learn how to be good people through cooking.

Yu Niaoniao asked them to fry all the stinky tofu in the wooden barrel. When it was lunchtime, the stinky tofu was brought to the Eagle Guards.

As a result, the dining hall that afternoon was once again occupied by the stench.

Xiao Juan was already numb to this.

He felt that other than durians, he had to add stinky tofu to his blacklist.

Before they could finish lunch, an Eagle Guard rushed in.

“Your Highness, the Imperial Capital sent someone over just now. They said that someone is causing trouble in the middle-grade incense building in the city and wants you to help deal with it.”

Before Xiao Juan could speak, Meng Xizhou stood up first and said unhappily.

“Why are you looking for Duke Lang for such a small matter? What are those people from the Imperial Capital doing?”

The Eagle Guards explained the situation.

It turned out that the troublemaker was Princess Tao Ran.

That afternoon, she was drinking tea in the Fragrance Restaurant when she happened to hear a scholar talking about Overlord Xiao and Yu Gonggong.

She was so angry that she smashed her cup and bowl on the spot.

She even ordered people to beat up the storyteller and destroy the Fragrance Restaurant.

The shopkeeper of the Fragrance Restaurant did not dare to provoke her and could only report it to the officials.

The people from the Imperial Capital rushed over and tried to persuade Princess Tao Ran to stop fooling around.

Not only did Princess Tao Ran not listen to his advice, but she even made things worse and threatened to see Duke Lang.

If she couldn’t see him, she wouldn’t stop.

The people from the Imperial Capital had no choice but to come and ask Duke Lang for help.

Since it concerned Princess Tao Ran, Meng Xizhou could not say anything else.

Everyone in the dining hall looked at Duke Lang, waiting for his decision.

Even Yu Niaoniao was very curious. She wanted to know if Xiao Juan would meet Princess Tao Ran.

Xiao Juan’s expression remained indifferent, and he did not look troubled at all.

“Go and tell the people in the Imperial Capital that if they can’t even resolve such a small matter, they shouldn’t stay in the Imperial Capital anymore. Every year, there are many people who pass the imperial examinations. There are many people waiting to take their place.”

The Eagle Guards immediately left.

Yu Niaoniao leaned over and asked softly.

“Aren’t you afraid that Princess Tao Ran will really destroy the Fragrance Restaurant?”

Xiao Juan said lightly, “With the people from the Jingzhao Prefecture around, the Fragrance Pavilion can’t be destroyed.”

“But would they dare to provoke Princess Tao Ran?”

Xiao Juan did not answer the question. “Do you know how many nobles there are in the Jade Capital?”

Yu Niaoniao shook her head to indicate that she did not know.

Xiao Juan extended three fingers.

“Just the royal family alone has this number. There are also the families of the aristocratic families and officials.”

“As a local government official, the Imperial Capital must have its ways to manage such a noble every day.”

“It’s impossible for them not to be able to deal with a mere Princess Tao Ran.”

“Since they can handle it, why did they come to invite you?”

Xiao Juan explained patiently.

“They want to sell Princess Tao Ran a favor and throw a hot potato into my hands.”

“As for whether the matter can be handled in the end, that’s my problem. They don’t have to take any responsibility.”

Yu Niaoniao clicked her tongue.

“They’re trying to divert the trouble. How cunning!”

If it were someone who cared about their reputation, they would most likely agree to help the Imperial Capital. Fortunately, Xiao Juan had never cared about others’ opinions and would not be deceived by such a trick.

After lunch, Yu Niaoniao took a nap.

When she woke up, she heard that the matter with the Fragrance Restaurant had been resolved.

After the people from the Imperial Capital failed to persuade Princess Tao Ran, the prefectural magistrate could only enter the palace to seek an audience with the emperor.

The emperor sent the Sky Wolf Guards to send Princess Tao Ran back to the princess’s manor and grounded her for a month.

Yu Niaoniao asked curiously.

“What are the Sky Wolf Guards?”

Xiao Juan gave a general explanation of the appearance and duties of the Sky Wolf Guards.

When Yu Niaoniao heard this, she was not happy. The emperor had specially set up the Sky Wolf Guards when Xiao Juan was not in the Imperial Capital. It was obvious that he wanted to use the Sky Wolf Guards to restrain the Eagle Guards.

In other words, the emperor no longer trusted Xiao Juan.

Yu Niaoniao muttered softly, “You’re so dutiful, but the emperor is still wary of you.”

Xiao Juan was a little disappointed at first, but, he had already let it go.

“Emperors are paranoid. It’s fine as long as we get used to it.”

Yu Niaoniao said, “I don’t think this is fair to you.”

Xiao Juan stroked her little head.

“There is no such thing as absolute fairness.”

Yu Niaoniao also knew this, but she was still a little unwilling.

“Are we going to compromise like this?”

Xiao Juan said slowly.

“Don’t forget that the Justice Department exists to ensure the fairness of most people.”

Yu Niaoniao’s heart was touched.

She smiled. “That’s right!”