After everyone she brought, along with the old servants from the merchant estate, finished eating all kinds of tofu, Elara picked up a bamboo slip to record how popular each flavor was. She wanted to organize the general taste preferences of this time period.
She found that salty and sweet tofu were the most popular, followed by sour-spicy and sweet vinegar flavors.
Elara thought that this result was related to the poor production quality of the condiments during this time, especially because the dipping sauces she made were very simple.
In this world, condiments were rare. For example, vinegar was made with basic fermentation methods and wasn't filtered well, leaving small bits and giving it an impure, odd taste.
Even though the overall flavor was acceptable, Elara always felt something was off when she ate it. It was clearly different from the vinegar she remembered from her previous life.
Sweet and spicy flavors were easier to make. She made spicy flavor using spices, and sugar had been refined for a longer time and made with more care, so it tasted better and more people liked it.
Elara looked at the data on the bamboo slip and thought that when she had free time, she would study how to make condiments better. Or maybe System 92 would give her a reward like "Complete Condiment Handbook," which would help a lot.
As she marked the popular tofu flavors on the list, she also selected the ones to send to Lianyi Restaurant as samples.
After finishing, Elara put the bamboo slip away and asked a few joyful old servants to pack several portions of tofu. Then she turned to Damon and said, "Did you remember the entire process?"
Damon nodded under his thick beard, his eyes slightly shining, "I have memorized everything. Don't worry, Miss."
"Good. There are nine stone mills outside. Place all nine in the front yard of the merchant estate. Once you organize the refugees, assign people to take turns grinding."
"Next to each mill, set a big filtering pot and a stove. Once the soy milk comes out, start cooking immediately. For the next few days, just grind one-fourth of the soybeans I bought."
"Yes, Miss." Damon stood beside her, carefully remembering every word she said.
"I'll teach you other ways to dry tofu later. As for the remaining soybeans, once you finish making tofu, take half of what's left, grind it without adding water, and store it as soybean powder."
"These days, also have someone check the markets. If there's any rice or grain for sale, buy five to six dan, and grind that into flour for future use."
"Yes, Miss."
"Hmm." Elara looked toward the growing number of refugees in front of the merchant estate. "Once you've sorted the refugees, pick a few honest and loyal old servants to learn the tofu process first. Then, choose some trustworthy ones from the refugees and train them. Also, look at the fallen scholars—see if a few of them can be trained in numbers and records to become future accountants."
"Also, if there are refugees with specific skills, let them use their talents. Buy materials so they can make things. If their work is really good and can bring in money, sign a new contract with them, remove their slave status, and upgrade them to craftsmen. Make them official workers."
"When the time comes, don't be stingy with money. Buy them all the tools and materials they need. Give them helpers and let them get to work."
"Yes."
After giving instructions about the merchant estate's other affairs and seeing that everything was in order, Elara looked up at the sky, which was starting to turn afternoon. Then she asked Damon one last question:
"The estate is new, and there's so much work. You don't have many people you can use right now. Do you need Mathias to stay and help?"
Mathias stood quietly behind Elara, his eyes slightly lowered as if lost in thought. When he heard her speak, he looked up slightly.
Damon also looked at Mathias and said with a calm expression under his thick beard, "If Miss trusts me, I believe I can handle everything."
Elara saw the look on his face and smiled. "That's good. I only asked because I was afraid you'd be overwhelmed. After all, you only have two hands and feet. But if you're confident, then I believe in you."
She had many more things to do and didn't really want to keep her future top assistant here unless necessary.
Hearing this, Damon relaxed his lips and showed a small, almost unnoticeable smile.
Elara turned and told the old servants to take the tofu to the carriage. Then she and Mathias got ready to leave.
Just as they reached the door, Damon suddenly called out behind her with bright eyes, "Miss."
Elara turned around. "Is there something else?"
Damon shook his head. After two seconds of silence, his tall body...
"Elara? Elara, you're here…"
Finally spotting Elara, Benedict wobbled to his feet and staggered toward her. The young man, now taller than her, opened his arms and hugged her, rubbing his cheek against her neck affectionately.
"Elara… you came to see me again…"
He whispered softly several times. Then, remembering something, Benedict held her as he guided her to the royal seat at the highest platform.
"Elara, come try this. Lord Gregory said these are immortal pills. If you eat them, you'll live forever. I saved these just for you. They feel really nice after eating… come on, try it too…"
Elara didn't refuse Benedict because Lord Gregory had already raised his head and was watching her with a sly, cold smile.
For the Princess of Plumera Kingdom, who had always loved pleasure and cruelty, she never missed a chance to have fun with her younger brother.
Elara followed Benedict's strength and sat on the royal throne. Just as he made her sit in his spot, he lost his balance and almost fell down the steps. Luckily, Elara grabbed his arm; otherwise, he might have rolled down the platform.
As she pulled him back, Benedict's falling direction shifted toward Elara.
His thin body crashed straight into her. Once he landed in her arms, he didn't move again. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her and snuggled close, most of his body leaning on her, his face buried in her neck, rubbing affectionately.
"Elara… Elara, mm… Elara… you're really here…"
Elara held down the confused boy in her arms, stopping him from moving or rubbing around. Her eyes locked on the jade box on the table, which was nearly empty.
"Your Highness, the Emperor kindly invited you. Don't you usually love trying these immortal pills and spiritual medicines? Why not try it?"
Elara adjusted her expression, turned to Lord Gregory with a faint smile, and said with slight regret,
"I really wanted to try, but my brother already finished them. I suppose I won't get to taste any this time."
Lord Gregory gave a dark smile and suddenly pulled out an identical jade box from his sleeve, handing it to a maid beside him to bring to Elara.
"How could that be? His Majesty said one was saved for you. Of course, there's one for you. After all, His Majesty has always loved his dear sister most. How could he forget to save a portion for you?"
The maid, her face flushed and dazed, placed the jade box in front of Elara. She seemed unwilling to part with it, clearly already addicted to the drug after being given it by Lord Gregory under the name of reward.
But Lord Gregory himself, whether in his tone, expression, or movement, didn't look like someone who had taken the drug.
Elara mocked him in her heart. As her thoughts turned quickly, she was certain that Lord Gregory had known all along these weren't real magical pills. They were slow-acting poisons that would kill people. The nearly empty jade box on his table wasn't eaten by him—it was probably fed to his palace maids as a "favor."
Elara stared at the newly opened jade box on the table, not touching it.
Seeing this, Lord Gregory's gaze grew bolder, studying Elara from head to toe with a sharp and mocking look. He sneered,
"I heard some news today. They say the Princess has changed recently… becoming someone a bit unlike the old Princess. Hah, I didn't believe it at first. Who would dare pretend to be the Princess? That's a capital crime if discovered! But now, seeing how hesitant you are… you really don't seem like the old you."
Bastard! Elara cursed in her heart but remained calm on the surface.
If Lord Gregory dared say this in front of her instead of acting directly, it meant he was only suspicious—testing the waters.
His spies in the palace likely confirmed that Elara's body hadn't been replaced. Otherwise, he wouldn't still be playing games. He wouldn't have used Benedict to lure her to the palace just to probe her.
But even if the body was the real one, who would ever suspect that the soul had changed?
Even though Elara had been keeping up the same behavior as the original princess, she wasn't some wandering ghost. She couldn't truly mimic that cruel, reckless soul.
No matter how well she played the role, the truth was she had grown bold. She had stolen refugees from Gregory's hands, whipped Damon in public, and even used Regent Martin to threaten Lord Gregory.
These were facts he couldn't ignore.