Chapter 6: Soaring to Great Heights

A month prior, the Minister of Justice submitted a report stating that there were roosters crowing in Sichuan. Consequently, the local governments were alarmed, and rumors began to circulate. Some individuals criticized this phenomenon, believing it to be a result of an imbalance between yin and yang, and a reversal of the natural order.

But what about the queen... how will the queen retaliate

Although the wrong person was apprehended and the investigation was flawed, since he has already been subjected to severe torture, restoring him to his official position, who can guarantee that he will not harbor resentment

Shangguan Wan'er sighed softly in her heart, yet her charming face still did not reveal any expression; she merely bent slightly and said, "This humble servant obeys the command"

The plaque was inscribed by the Prince of Dai, who later became the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince was extremely fond of the flavors of the dishes here, and thus left behind his calligraphy. Subsequently, he died under mysterious circumstances. This individual was the biological son of the Empress. Currently, there are rumors circulating that the Crown Prince was harmed by the Empress. There are two possible scenarios: one is that the Empress killed her own son, leading to various rumors as there is no wall that does not let the wind through. The other possibility is that the Crown Prince truly died of sudden illness. When the Empress ascended to the throne, some people, fearing to oppose her openly, yet feeling discontented, concocted these rumors to criticize the Empress, indirectly undermining her legitimacy. Thus, there are two possibilities: one is that the Empress harmed her own son, leading to various rumors as there is no wall that does not let the wind through. The other possibility is that the Crown Prince truly died of sudden illness. When the Empress ascended to the throne, some people, fearing to oppose her openly, yet feeling discontented, concocted these rumors to criticize the Empress, indirectly undermining her legitimacy.

Qin Shaoyou was in tears, for he was on the verge of success. After all, it was Wu Zetian. If she were to come here and taste his dishes, and if his food were to please her, then... the prospect of soaring to great heights was just within reach

At this moment, someone slammed the table and stood up, and it was Deng Jian, this freeloader.

Silence fell only after the curtain was drawn.

I see, I see!

Then the person behind the curtain said slowly: "You come to issue the edict, let Suo Yuanli handle this matter, and do not leave any future troubles."

Beyond the curtain stood a graceful figure, who was Shangguan Wan'er, the lady-in-waiting to the Empress. Dressed in a bright red official gown, she stood motionless, her charming face devoid of any expression, resembling an ice sculpture, always awaiting the Empress's command

The Harmonious Palace and the Splendid Cloud Hall

He is too lazy to pay attention to someone like Deng Jian, thinking he is so tough? Just wait until I get promoted and make a fortune, then I will show you a thing or two

Deng Jianhui glared at him: "What are you looking at? I'm hungry again, let's eat!"

The first possibility is that the rewards are akin to those given at the Chunjiu Restaurant, as the Crown Prince enjoys the delicacies offered there. Out of a mother's love and concern for her son, it is only natural for her to bestow generous rewards. When others see this, they might think, "Oh, the restaurant favored by the Crown Prince is so highly regarded by His Majesty, which clearly shows His Majesty's affection for the Crown Prince"

This is a very simple logic

"Just wait and see, just wait and see." Qin Shaoyou did not take him seriously, but his gaze fell on Deng Jianshen, as if he had discovered that this fellow seemed to have a glimmer of brilliance. Thus, his eyes narrowed, and he began to calculate in his mind

... ...

She has been sitting here for a long time, for as long as one hour, yet she still maintains this sitting posture

Qin Shou, Qin Shou... hurry, find the plaque, give it a good wipe, and hang it up, immediately put it on the facade, wealth and prosperity are right before us, haha...

Shangguan Wan'er, like a puppet, had no expression and still bowed, saying: "This humble minister obeys the command"

Qin Shaoyou's eyes have begun to sparkle with stars

The Zhou family arrived in a state of panic, and this time it was still the person in charge, Liu Yang. He was furious. The Zhou family had hoped to attract the Empress by obtaining this plaque, and then the head of the Zhou family would personally cook, showcasing his unique skills. If they could win the Empress's favor, there was a chance to be summoned directly into the imperial kitchen and become a kitchen official, which would bring immense benefits to the Zhou family. Now that Qin Shaoyou had hung up the plaque, it naturally caught Liu Yang's attention. He stormed in, filled with rage, and shouted, "Qin, since you have hung up the plaque, it is of no use to us. You owe us money, and you must return it immediately, otherwise, you will suffer the consequences. We will go to the authorities right now."

Upon seeing the curtain, Shangguan Wan'er, with her slightly weary figure, found her thoughts drifting far away, unable to resist speculating about the person behind the hidden currents, wondering who was truly pulling the strings.

A light cough came from behind the curtain

As for the Chunjiu Restaurant...

Qin Shaoyou glanced at him lightly, saying: "The plaque is mine; I can hang it if I wish. What does it have to do with you?"

Even someone as lowly as Deng Jian knows that the more one strikes another, the more one must show affection towards the victim. Therefore, for Wu Zetian, who was historically ruthless yet possessed boundless political wisdom, the only way to dispel rumors was to let the world know that she deeply loved this son, to an unparalleled extent. Since the Empress cherished the Crown Prince, how could she possibly harm him?

He is a petty person, no, he is merely a small ant at the bottom of this empire. Noble ideals and the aspiration to help the world are far beyond his reach. What he can do is to pick up the scraps from the fingers of these nobles, ensuring his own wealth and comfort, living as a shameful young dandy. However, even though it is quite disgraceful, Qin Shaoyou rather enjoys it. He can ensure his own wealth and comfort, living as a shameful young dandy. However, even though it is quite disgraceful, Qin Shaoyou rather enjoys it

During the prosperous Tang Dynasty, the status of women was not lowly; however, since the times of Yao and Shun, there has never been a woman who ascended to the throne as an emperor. Although the empress did break new ground, she also faced considerable scrutiny

Qin Shaoyou's body trembled, and he inwardly cursed: "You scoundrel"

A plaque has already been hung on the facade of the Ru Chun Restaurant. Standing beneath it, Qin Shaoyou feels a surge of emotions, as if with the brushwork of this prince, the entire Ru Chun Restaurant has been illuminated with a new brilliance.

Secondly, Your Majesty is a woman

Only that guy Deng Jian still refuses to leave, continuing to lick the plate, which is quite a damper on the mood. Qin Shaoyou shook his head, suppressing his disgust at this guy's repulsive eating habits

In recent days, business has not shown any signs of improvement, which is to be expected; it takes time to thaw a frozen river. Qin Shaoyou is not in a hurry. As for the sign outside, Qin Shaoyou is not worried that the palace is kept in the dark. Being a well-educated man, he understands that historically, when Wu Zetian ascended to the throne, she spread her network in Luoyang to consolidate her rule. It is likely that within a few days, spies will report the news back to the palace.

A few days ago, the Taifu Temple requested an investigation into the cause of death of the former Crown Prince Li Hong

Then... this plaque would be of great use. If at this moment, Qin Shaoyou were to hang out the plaque, the already gossip-ridden city of Luoyang, with the sudden death of the crown prince, would likely spark a new round of discussions. What would happen if the Empress were to learn of this news

These seemingly ordinary messages, however, appear to be like a nightmare, haunting the queen's mind

Inside the sleeping chamber, beams made of cloud-top sandalwood are present, and the lights on the crystal jade disc flicker gently. In the center of the chamber, the gauzy treasure canopy is embroidered all over with silver threads and sea peach blossoms. A light breeze outside the hall stirs the silk, causing the drapes to flutter. Behind this purple curtain, there is a faint silhouette; she is leaning over a golden desk, illuminated by the soft glow of the lamp on the desk, reading something while holding a brush. A golden phoenix crown is faintly visible atop her head, and each time she writes on the desk, her shoulders move slightly, causing the tassels on the crown to quiver gently.

In simple terms, the plaque is merely a tool to provoke thought; hanging the archway is a political spectacle aimed at dispelling rumors about treachery, with Wu Zetian as the main character, and the Chunjiu Restaurant serving as the stage. As for myself, although I am just an ordinary bystander, it does not matter. In such a grand performance, even if I am merely there to collect a meal box, Qin Shaoyou is still very content.

A man hurriedly stepped forward from behind, whispering something in Liu Yang's ear. Liu Yang's face turned a mix of blue and red, and finally, with a look of unwillingness, he glared at Qin Shaoyou and said, "Let's wait and see"

Another possibility is that, in order to completely dispel the rumors, the Empress herself might come here to commemorate the deceased Crown Prince. She only needs to sit here, just like the Crown Prince did in the past, looking at the words handwritten by the Crown Prince, enjoying the delicacies that the Crown Prince once savored, which would be sufficient to demonstrate the Empress's deep affection for her flesh and blood

That plaque is a treasure

Liu Yang, seeing that Deng Jian was imposing and vigorous, was indeed taken aback and could not help but ask: "Who are you?"

Then I will have five bowls

"You, you..." Liu Yang was exasperated. He had come with two men, and thus, filled with murderous intent, he was ready to take action

Firstly, Your Majesty's surname is Wu, not Li

It is a pity that my own father did not recognize this point, while the Zhou family saw its value

A brief sentence, as delicate as a fine thread, yet carrying a chilling essence that penetrates to the bone

As usual, Shangguan Wan'er awaited the Emperor's review of the memorials. Recently, the Emperor had been in a bad mood, and Shangguan Wan'er was well aware of His Majesty's thoughts. Now that the Empress had just ascended the throne, there were numerous matters to address. Although all the officials praised her, behind this praise lay a significant crisis.

The person sitting motionless behind the curtain remained silent for a long time. Eventually, she seemed to tap her fingers on the table, producing a faint sound, and then lazily said: "Can we inquire about Pei Zhen, the Governor of Hengzhou?"

Cough cough ... ...

Deng Jian glared sideways and shouted, "Who dares to cause trouble here? Are you tired of living? This is a place where I enjoy free meals. If you harm Young Master Qin, whose food will I eat? Get out immediately, otherwise it will be a fight to the death"

Surname: Deng, Given Name: Jian

Moreover, to win a woman's heart, one must first capture her stomach with one's culinary skills. If one were to put in some effort to serve Wu Zetian the exquisite dishes akin to those from Chunjiu Restaurant, perhaps...

Qin Shaoyou danced with joy and could not help but exclaim: "I finally understand!"

Shangguan Wan'er stated: "The authorities have already investigated and confirmed that it is a false accusation"

There is one more thing, in the city of Luoyang, there is a restaurant called Ru Chun. Hong Er has dined there before and is quite fond of the food and drinks. He even left behind a piece of calligraphy. Please inquire about this matter.

"There is no rice, only porridge." Qin Shaoyou propped his head up, bargaining.

She seemed to have mentioned something written with a vermilion brush, but after the passage of half a stick of incense, she suddenly said: "But I have already issued an edict to inquire about it."

Shangguan Wan'er regained her thoughts, slightly smiled with her vermilion lips, bent down to pay her respects, and said: "Your Majesty, what are your commands"