Crisis at the Exotic Spice Guild

Arthur Evans listened, surprised: "Ali, what's going on? Is your Eight Treasures Bistro not doing well either?"

Ali sighed and said, "Yeah, I just came out of the bistro. It's exactly the same as the Evans Hot Pot Restaurant."

Arthur Evans rubbed his forehead, looking puzzled: "Ali, this is really strange. I've watched over the Evans Hot Pot Restaurant from morning till night, and I haven't noticed anything wrong. Why has business suddenly dried up?"

Ali shook her head: "Uncle Arthur, I don't know yet either... but I've already sent someone to investigate. We should have results soon."

Arthur Evans nodded and said, "I've also had people look into it, Ali. Do you think it's possible that there's a connection between both our businesses losing customers all of a sudden?"

Ali thought for a moment and said, "Maybe there is a connection, but right now I have no clue, so I really can't say for sure."

After leaving Uncle Arthur's Evans Hot Pot Restaurant, Ali went straight back to the Prince of Qin's Manor, pondering the sudden business troubles all the way home.

Ali had always run a tight ship—both the Eight Treasures Bistro and the Evans Hot Pot Restaurant were under unified management, so there shouldn't be any major problems inside the businesses.

If there aren't any problems inside, then could the problem be outside the businesses?

But what could be the problem outside?

Ali was completely baffled. After getting out of the carriage at the manor, she kept pondering as she walked home.

"Princess Consort, you're finally back!" As soon as Ali entered the Prince of Qin's Manor, she saw Bai Lu hurrying over.

Bai Lu had just finished her postpartum confinement, her figure still a bit plump and not yet recovered, but her usual capable and sharp demeanor had already returned. Seeing Ali, she quickly came forward to greet her.

"Bai Lu, what's the rush? Is something wrong?" Ali rubbed her forehead.

"Princess Consort, Zhang Mu and Wu Caiwei are here. They say they have something urgent to report." Bai Lu stepped up to support Ali. "I haven't had a chance to ask what it is yet, but judging by their faces, it doesn't look good."

Ali's heart skipped a beat. She had just seen the strange events at the Eight Treasures Bistro and the Evans Hot Pot Restaurant, and now Zhang Mu and his wife from the spice shop had come—could something else have happened?

"Let's go, hurry and see what's going on!" Ali's eyes sharpened, and she quickly headed to the study with Bai Lu.

In the study, Zhang Mu and Wu Caiwei had been waiting for a while, both looking extremely anxious.

As soon as Ali entered, Bai Lu announced, "The Princess Consort has arrived."

"Ali!" Wu Caiwei immediately responded, pulling Ali down to sit beside her.

Ali looked at Wu Caiwei's anxious expression and said, "Caiwei, don't worry, what happened?"

"Ali, take a look yourself." Wu Caiwei placed an account book in front of Ali.

Ali quickly opened it and checked page by page, then closed the account book with a heavy expression and a snap.

This account book recorded the shipments and transactions of the spice shop. Ali could see clearly that within three days, every order, big or small, had been canceled.

The buyers would rather lose money and break their contracts than continue buying from the spice shop.

"Ali, look, all these customers were old partners, cooperating just fine. Who could have predicted they'd all turn on us overnight, preferring to lose money rather than take the goods?" Wu Caiwei said with a tearful face. "Brother Zhang Mu sensed something was wrong, so we hurried over to report to you."