Chapter 8, I want to eat chicken

With Li Shimin's words, Li Yi's initial worry about having his waist token confiscated was finally put to rest

Returning to Father Emperor was not accomplished by the son, but rather it was something the son stumbled upon while reading at the Hongwen Pavilion. It was something that existed during the Han Dynasty, though it was later lost. While pondering day and night on how to make stir-fried dishes delicious, the son also sought the help of some carpenters and after much research, created this rattan rocking chair, which is hereby presented to Father Emperor

"Returning to Father Emperor, regarding the matter of the tavern, it is merely that I, as your son, do not wish to see Brother Cheng and Brother Li punished by the adults, which is why I devised this temporary solution. Furthermore, I also wish to test my own capabilities. I have been granted a fief by Father Emperor, yet I feel anxious and fear that I may not govern it well. Therefore, I thought to practice my skills with the tavern first. Of course, during this time, I have also thought of a treasure, which I have brought today to present to Father Emperor." Li Yi said, cupping his hands below.

Hmph! I will go to seek justice from Father Emperor! Why is it that Brother Yi can leave the palace, but I cannot!

The story being referred to is "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber". Of course, the background story has been slightly modified by Li Yi, stating that it is set against the backdrop of the chaos caused by the Hu people in the Central Plains during the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

Li Yi did not intend to conceal the activities he engaged in outside. He neither stole nor robbed; the funds for opening the restaurant were entirely pooled from the private savings of Cheng Chuliang and Li Hui. Even the emperor would have no grounds to object, let alone the fact that Li Yi indeed presented a splendid feast, and even had one of his chefs taken by Li Shimin. These accomplishments could already be considered treasures.

In summary, let's sleep for two days first and then discuss it further

However, it does not matter; Princess Gaoyang believes she is very clever, and this small problem is nothing.

Princess Gaoyang held the blueprint that Li Yi had handed to her. The drawing was not unfamiliar; she had studied it during her early education, known as "Luo Shu," and is now more commonly referred to as the "Nine Palace Grid." However, the version she had solved was the three by three format, and this nine by nine version was the first time she had encountered it.

Of course, it is to return to the palace

Li Yi was momentarily taken aback by Princess Gaoyang's unwavering response. He rubbed his face and got up from the couch

I casually found a piece of paper and drew a grid of 9 by 9 on it. Then, I wrote some numbers in certain places within the grid, with the largest being 9 and the smallest being 1. I initially intended to write in Arabic numerals, but then I remembered that it seems they had not yet been introduced in this era, so I gave up on that idea.

Indeed, Yi'er’s filial piety brings great comfort to me. Since you are determined to test yourself, do not let this opportunity for training pass you by. For now, you may keep the palace token with you.

You must promise me! Do not deceive me! Once I finish solving this, take me out of the palace to eat chicken!

It seems that not coming in earnest is no longer an option

Princess Gaoyang also knew that Li Yi was speaking the truth. She bit her lip and stood there in the room, silent, gazing at Li Yi with a look of sorrow in her eyes

She certainly mentioned it to her father, Emperor Li Er, and without a doubt, the ever-fond Li Shimin reprimanded her in person, jokingly asking, how could a royal princess casually leave the palace? It is simply out of the question

Here you go, if you solve this within a month, I will take you out for chicken, and also take you out of the palace for chicken. If you can't solve it, don't bother me, and don't bring up palace matters with the Emperor. However, I must make it clear that our wager must not be disclosed to anyone, otherwise it will be void.

Outside, two eunuchs cautiously carried in a rattan rocking chair. The young prince said it was a gift for His Majesty. The eunuchs did not understand what a rattan rocking chair was, but it was always prudent to be careful with something meant for His Majesty.

Your Highness, Your Highness, why have you come again? His Highness King Zhou is resting. If you have matters to discuss, please come back tomorrow

"Playing PUBG? Jumping at the airport, huh? Rich as can be." Li Yi glanced impatiently at the Princess Gaoyang in front of him

Li Yi was taken aback; he had seen shamelessness before, but never to this extent. Without even asking for my opinion, they directly took away the chef I had trained? Although he understood that this was how emperors behaved, it was still somewhat shocking when such tyranny was directed at him.

Cheng Chuliang approached as if he had obtained a treasure, and after watching for a while, he felt uncomfortable and handed it back to the storyteller, asking him to continue narrating according to the script.

"Where else can I go if I don't return to the palace?" Li Yi rolled his eyes at Gao Bao. Over the past few days, he had been running around for the opening of the number one restaurant in the world, needing to inquire about everything. Now that everything was finally on track, with He Zhanggui overseeing things here, all that was left was to wait for the opening. After being busy until now, Li Yi decided to go back and take a long nap. Enjoying the sights of Chang'an in fine clothes on a spirited horse? That was not Li Yi's hobby. If he had the time for a spring outing, he would rather sleep a bit more and play some computer games. His laptop still had some downloaded single-player games.

In Hongwen Pavilion, Princess Gaoyang had not had many opportunities, after all, Li Yi arrived the latest and left the earliest, without exception, and he would take the waist token to leave the palace directly, only returning at night after the curfew. Princess Gaoyang, envious, had red eyes; part of the reason was certainly that she could not have any chicken, and another part was because she also desired the freedom to enter and exit the palace like Li Yi.

As a princess, Gao Yang has a myriad of reasons not to leave the palace casually. However, if she continues to make a scene like this, with her fearless and arrogant nature, she might very well end up in front of Li Er again to make a fuss about herself. If that happens and Li Er becomes annoyed, she would not only be unable to leave the palace herself, but it would also be quite counterproductive.

Like a small mountain, Cheng Chuliang rushed to the storyteller, grabbing his collar with both hands, and urgently asked: "What happens next? You suddenly stopped halfway, it's driving me crazy! That golden-haired lion and the *Tu* book king Xie Xun obtained the Dragon-slaying Sword, and took Zhang Cuihua hostage or something, what happens after that?"

Li Yi has not forgotten the reason he can freely enter and exit the palace, which is to prepare a sumptuous feast for His Majesty Li Er, and then present the stir-fried dishes as treasures to him

However, before the bed could even warm up, a multitude of footsteps could be heard outside, along with Gao Bao's deliberately lowered voice

Wait! You come back!

The renovation work of the restaurant has reached the final stages. Due to a lack of understanding of the aesthetic standards of the Tang Dynasty, Li Yi entrusted the renovation to professionals, namely the two dandy individuals, Cheng Chuliang and Li Hui.

Li Yi's entry and exit from the palace was permitted by the Emperor. Although Empress Zhao Yuan still worried a bit about her young son frequently visiting the court and whether it might attract some criticism, seeing Li Shimin happily sitting in the rattan rocking chair, she chose not to say much. As long as her son was no longer as foolish as before and could amuse His Majesty, it was all good. Hadn't His Majesty been visiting the Yuan Zhen Hall more frequently during this period?

I am a prince, and you are a princess; can it be the same? Moreover, I am not out for leisure either

Li Yi looked down disdainfully at Cheng Chuliang, who had become completely absorbed in audiobooks, truly a country bumpkin. If you were to encounter games like "League of Legends," "PUBG," or "FGO," how would you handle it? You have no self-control at all

Want!

Brother Yi, hurry, take me to eat chicken!

The little girl was very excited, afraid that Li Yi might change his mind, and she happily ran off with the magic square that Li Yi had made.

In the world of rivers and lakes, there exists a treasured sword that slays dragons

The Princess Gaoyang stood at the edge of the bed, her small hands grasping Li Yi, gazing at him with eager eyes. To be honest, he had always found it hard to refuse the requests of adorable girls. However, he was well aware of Princess Gaoyang's true intentions; she was not simply craving the beggar's chicken. Instead, she aimed to trick him into giving her the dish so that she could present it to Li Er, hoping to gain her own chance to leave the palace.

Rest? It is only just past noon, and you want to rest already? Step aside, no matter what, today I must have Brother Yi's chicken!

Straight to the Yuan Zhen Hall, I first took a glance at the laptop and backpack, both of which were in good condition, and the battery was fully charged

There were only two audience members, Cheng Chuliang and Li Yi himself. The storyteller was originally brought along to serve as a shop assistant, but was noticed by Li Yi for his strong voice and good vocal quality. Li Yi personally trained him for several days, and today was the first time he was brought out to give it a try

Li Yi never kept it a secret; Princess Gao Yang quickly discovered that the beggar's chicken was made by Li Yi. The incessant harassment towards Li Yi only began in the past few days

After speaking with His Majesty Li Er, and receiving permission, Li Yi brought the chef into the palace. The imperial kitchen is not located within the inner palace, so there was no need to castrate the chef. After undergoing multiple layers of inspection, under the supervision of the Jinwu Guard, the chef prepared some simple home-style dishes using the methods taught by Li Yi. This time, cooking wine was used, enhancing the flavor of the delicacies.

"You rascal, it seems you are a bit reluctant, aren't you?" Li Er chuckled as he looked at Li Yi's dazed expression, tossing aside the silk cloth he used to wipe his mouth. Supporting himself on his knees, he said, "You only mentioned bringing treasures from the palace to present to me, but you didn't mention the matter of opening a restaurant in the palace, did you? It seems you have already recruited about ten chefs, right? I only wanted one chef, yet you seem a bit reluctant. To be honest, are you deceiving me by presenting treasures from the palace just to get me to let you leave the palace?"

Gao Bao watched as Li Yi walked out of the house and followed him, smiling as he asked.

Your Highness, where would you like to go next

Cheng Chuliang decided to leave, insisting on seeing the script below with Li Yi. Li Yi had no intention of hiding anything from the two minor shareholders, so he presented a small portion of the story that he had revised, while explaining that he had not yet thought of the remaining parts that were not yet revised.

Li Yi, feeling a bit of a headache, called out to the mischievous Princess Gaoyang: "If you go, believe me, you won't be able to leave the palace until after your marriage!"

"Impossible! You found a skilled chef for Father Emperor, and he allowed you to go out of the palace. If I serve Father Emperor your delicious Beggar's Chicken, he will definitely let me go out to play!" Princess Gaoyang pouted her lips and said with a sense of grievance

This certainly cannot be allowed for Gaoyang to show off in front of Li Er, after all, a significant part of the reason for being able to leave the palace is that Li Er feels indebted to me, thus providing a form of compensation. Presenting treasures and managing the restaurant is merely a pretext to make everyone feel justified.

Li Yi had already sat up on the bed with a look of dissatisfaction, while a little girl dressed in exquisite palace attire quickly approached. The eunuchs and palace maids behind her did not dare to enter; although Her Highness the Princess could intrude into the bedroom of the Ninth Prince, these eunuchs and palace maids did not have the courage to do so

Li Yi looked at the door that had been closed again and smiled

A loud and unreasonable little girl's voice came from outside the door, followed by the sound of Gao Bao being pushed open, along with some footsteps

Li Er looked at the refreshing dishes before him, picked up his chopsticks, took a bite, and nodded. He then glanced at another dish beside it. He ate slowly, yet he kept eating. The several plates of home-style side dishes in front of him were soon finished by Li Er, while not a single bite of rice had been touched.

Li Yi was deep in thought, while Gao Yang felt that Li Yi was simply daydreaming, which he perceived as a completely dismissive attitude. Gao Yang was quite displeased and scoffed with a pout.

The speech was not long; Li Yi merely wanted to test the effect. Once the person finished speaking, Li Yi clapped his hands and intended to stand up to offer some guidance. However, before he could say anything, someone had already rushed up.

Li Yi did not expect storytelling to be so captivating, although he was aware that the leisure activities of the people in the Tang Dynasty were somewhat lacking. After finishing their meals, they could only squat in the corner, dazed and smiling foolishly, while the more debauched ones might venture out to tease respectable women on the streets

Cover yourself with a quilt and sleep

Do not think about it; even if you were to present one hundred beggar's chickens to the Emperor, he would still not allow you to leave the palace

Li Yi said somewhat impatiently, but the Princess Gaoyang before him had already performed the technique of the flesh giant, collapsing onto Li Yi's bed and refusing to leave no matter what.

Li Yi smiled from the side; just by looking at Li Er's expression, it was clear that he was thoroughly enjoying himself. Anyone in a rocking chair would enjoy it, but unfortunately, there was no massage chair; otherwise, he would have felt even better

The storyteller was grabbed by Cheng Chuliang by the collar, and his forehead was sweating with anxiety

Li Shimin had never seen such an object. When he saw two eunuchs placing the rocking chair beside Li Yi, Li Yi sat down and demonstrated it himself. Li Shimin then eagerly stood up, walked over to the rocking chair, and sat down. As soon as he sat down, he felt the light, swaying sensation of rocking back and forth, along with the indescribable pleasure of his body conforming to the streamlined backrest, causing him to sway gently.

A plate of stir-fried dishes was placed in front of the long-waiting Li Er, and an old eunuch stepped forward to use a silver needle to test for poison. In reality, the silver needle has no other use besides testing for sulfur, a fact that people today would not know. Naturally, Li Yi would not poison the dishes.

Do you really think about leaving the palace like this

Hmph! I don't understand what you are saying. Just make me one of those chicken wrapped in lotus leaves!

Being cooped up in the palace every day is not something someone like Li Yi, who has experienced the vibrant modern world, can endure. Although Chang'an City may not be as prosperous as an international metropolis with skyscrapers, it is certainly better than the lifeless palace. Moreover, with the imminent opening of Tian Shang Ren Jian, Li Yi, who hails from a business family, is already eager to showcase his talents and let the locals of the Tang Dynasty see what he is capable of.

The little girl who walked in was none other than the renowned Princess Gaoyang Li Ling, whose name would be recorded in history books in later generations. To be honest, if it were possible to avoid any connection, Li Yi had no intention of having any dealings with her. However, for some unknown reason, this Princess Gaoyang actually discovered the remnants of the beggar's chicken that Li Yi had made in the palace, and it should be noted that Li Yi had only made it that one time.

With a sharp clap, the courtroom drama evokes a feeling akin to listening to a storyteller with a voice reminiscent of Shan Tianfang while sitting in a taxi, though it is merely a feeling

"Indeed, the taste is quite good, a treasure presented by Yi. " Li Er wiped his mouth with a silk cloth and said, "This chef should stay in the palace to teach the imperial chefs how to prepare these new dishes. Your mother has not been feeling well lately; let her also taste the treasure you have presented."

Li Yi thought so leisurely

"The prince hasn't told me anything after https://wwwcom.com..."

Li Yi poked his head out from under the covers, unable to enjoy a peaceful sleep; I must properly discipline such an impressive princess!

"Is this thing called a rocking chair made by you, Yi'er?" Li Er asked with a smile, lying on the chair and squinting his eyes at Li Yi.

Li Yi looked around, smiling with satisfaction. Gao Bao followed closely by Li Yi's side, watching the prince smile happily, and his mood was also quite good. As long as the prince was happy, it was a sunny day.

Li Yi's face flushed slightly. Although she had long known that Li Er would not fail to investigate her affairs outside the palace, she was still surprised that he was so well-informed, even knowing that she had added a few more cooks.

Cost is not a concern; it is sufficient to follow what looks good in the eyes of the two individuals. These two have brought in a large number of people back and forth, going for extravagance in every aspect, almost wishing to cover the walls with gold leaf.

Li Yi is indeed a person who loves to enjoy life; he would absolutely sit if he could, and lie down if he could sit. Opening a hotel is merely a reason to have free access to the palace, while also training some chefs, earning a bit of money, and laying a solid foundation for future enjoyment

Li Yi has no time to care about which palace Li Er is going to, because he is currently listening to a storytelling session

The door was pushed open

The Finnish mathematician Incarla spent three months designing what is claimed to be the most difficult type of Sudoku combination. How is it that such a little girl can solve it within a month? It seems that for a while, I won't be bothered by this little girl.

A girl with decent looks is practicing a tune, while the sound of the pipa blends with the Qin opera, creating a unique flavor, though it lacks a bit of grandeur. Li Yi does not understand much about music, but he has heard that the music of Kucha is quite good. If he had the time, he could hire some Kucha people to play some tunes.

Li Yi respectfully said

Return to the palace? But... Gao Bao was taken aback for a moment. He had gotten used to running around with Li Yidong these past few days. Now, with the sun still overhead, returning so early made Gao Bao feel rather unaccustomed.

Here, after informing Manager He, Li Yi led thirty Jinwu Guards along with Gao Baohao back to the imperial palace in a grand manner

The little girl said excitedly.

Everything is proceeding in an orderly manner, with the carpenters diligently working on the tables and chairs, the waiters practicing their singing of the dishes, the young ladies have already mastered their postures quite professionally, and the chefs' skills have become increasingly exquisite

Li Shimin was pleased to see that Li Yi had not concealed anything. He did not believe that Li Yi had the audacity to deceive him. The fact that Li Yi was able to develop new cooking methods in such a short time and prepare a table full of delicious dishes demonstrated that he was genuinely putting in great effort to find treasures for himself. Li Yi was also aware of Li Shimin's thoughts, but he would not reveal this nor would he inform Li Shimin that he had invested even more effort in furniture and opening a restaurant. As for presenting treasures to Li Shimin, that was merely a side task that he accomplished effortlessly. It was evident that Li Yi was truly racking his brains to find treasures for himself, and he was aware of Li Shimin's thoughts, yet he would not expose this nor would he disclose the greater effort he had put into furniture and the restaurant business, while casually handling the matter of presenting treasures to Li Shimin.

Crash!