Suxin Pavilion Falls

Princess Mira gave Lily Evans (Su Li) a thorough mocking, believing she’d trampled Lily underfoot. Feeling triumphant and satisfied, she swaggered away.

After she left, Lily turned around and saw Alexander Hayes walking over, looking speechless.

Lily tilted her head. "So, that’s what your old admirer is like?"

Alexander looked awkward and immediately distanced himself. "She’s just infatuated, nothing to do with me! I’ve never paid her any attention, so don’t go making things up, darling."

Lily grinned mischievously. "I know, I’m just teasing you. Go on, get busy. At noon, I’ll have Sean Shaw deliver the wine and braised meat we bought to the military camp."

"Yes, ma’am!" Alexander replied with a smile.

After sending Alexander off, Lily turned to Lola. "Let’s go, let’s hurry to the Academy, or we’ll be late."

But Lola stood still. "Princess Consort, you forgot—the first term of the beginner math class already ended. You don’t need to teach today."

Lily slapped her forehead. "Oh! I almost forgot! I’m so used to going to the Academy, I forgot there’s no class until the next term starts."

Lola said, "Exactly. The next beginner math class starts in seven days, and another group of math teachers from all over the country will be coming. You’ve been working nonstop, Princess Consort. Take these seven days to rest up!"

Lily nodded and headed back to the Prince's Manor, but she just couldn’t sit still. She decided to find something to do—so she set off to inspect her businesses.

She started with the Eight Treasures Bistro.

When Lily arrived at the Eight Treasures Bistro, the restaurant was already open and packed with diners enjoying Cantonese breakfast. The place was buzzing with activity.

Usually at this hour, Suxin Pavilion would be open too. But today, as Lily passed by, she saw that Suxin Pavilion was completely empty—not a single customer in sight. The staff looked anxious and worried.

Lola eyed Suxin Pavilion curiously. The place was usually packed with guests—what could have happened for it to be deserted all of a sudden?

But Lola was a quiet girl. Even though she was curious, she kept her thoughts to herself and didn’t ask.

Lily, on the other hand, saw Suxin Pavilion’s situation and wore a look that seemed to say, "I knew this would happen." Lola didn’t press further and simply followed Lily into the Eight Treasures Bistro.

"Master’s here!" Bella Bell spotted Lily and happily ushered her into a private room.

"Come on, it’s been ages since we’ve had Cantonese breakfast together. Let’s all eat!" Lily invited Bella Bell and Lola to join her for a meal.

The three of them enjoyed a delicious meal. While munching on a custard bun, Bella Bell winked at Lily: "Master, you saw what happened at Suxin Pavilion when you passed by, right?"

"Mm, I saw it," Lily replied cheerfully, popping a shrimp dumpling into her mouth.

Lola watched their conversation, completely confused. She finally couldn’t hold back and asked, "Princess Consort, Bella Bell, what are you talking about? What’s going on with Suxin Pavilion?"

Bella Bell licked her fingers, winked at Lola, and declared crisply, "Suxin Pavilion is done for."

"Done for?" Lola thought for a moment, then remembered that this was a phrase she’d learned from the Princess Consort—it meant Suxin Pavilion was about to go under.

Lola was puzzled. "But isn’t Suxin Pavilion’s business usually great? Just this morning, Princess Mira came to the manor all smug, bragging that she’d make us close Eight Treasures Bistro, and that her Suxin Pavilion would surely defeat us. How did things change so quickly?"

Bella Bell chuckled mysteriously. "Little Lola, you don’t get it! Suxin Pavilion was only popular because our Princess Consort let it be. She used Suxin Pavilion to hype up the exotic spices, and now that she’s done, it’s time for it to go under. When she says it’s over, it’s over—just like that!"