Chapter 329

Just as Li Chen was listening to Lin Yue'e's report, a "rumbling" sound suddenly rang out.

Lin Yue'e's face turned red instantly, and she hurriedly covered her stomach: "Your subject is unseemly, I hope Your Majesty..."

Li Chen smiled and waved his hand: "No matter, you have worked hard."

He looked at Guo Guo Po Yun, who was standing to the side, "Old Guo hasn't eaten anything either, let's go out to eat together."

Hearing that she could dine with Li Chen, a flash of joy crossed Lin Yue'e's eyes, but she quickly returned to a respectful expression: "Your Majesty, your subject heard that a new hot pot restaurant recently opened in the Imperial Capital, would you like to go try it together?"

After saying this, she remembered that Guo Guo Po Yun was also present, and added: "General Guo, can you eat spicy food?"

Guo Guo Po Yun hurriedly bowed: "Anything is fine."

He was muttering in his heart: You don't need to ask me; His Majesty is here, do you think I dare to be picky?

But thinking about it again, Minister Lin asking like this was also giving him face.

Although he had just finished eating hot pot, Li Chen still agreed readily.

The three came to another hot pot restaurant named "Nine Heavens Jiuxiao Jiuxiao Feiteng Ge" and chose a private seat.

Actually, this one was also opened by Jiang Rong; there were many chain stores in the Imperial Capital.

"This is delicious, it nourishes the blood and energy."

Li Chen picked up a piece of spirit beast meat and put it into Lin Yue'e's bowl.

"This is good for cultivation, eat more."

"This mushroom can nourish the meridians; you have been too hard-working lately."

"Come, try this, it's especially good for women."

Li Chen introduced while constantly picking up food for Lin Yue'e, thoughtful like a neighbor's older brother.

Lin Yue'e was flattered and ate in small bites, her cheeks flushing red because of the spiciness and shyness.

Guo Guo Po Yun, who was on the side, was dumbfounded, and even forgot to move his chopsticks.

He had been an official in the court for decades; when had he ever seen His Majesty be so caring toward a subject?

What does this imply? Could it be that Lin Yue'e is His Majesty's true confidant?

Guo Guo Po Yun's thoughts drifted further and further: Could it be that His Majesty specifically called me to eat today to hint that I should hand over the secret agent system to Minister Lin?

Or is there going to be a major change in the court's structure?

Did His Majesty call me to eat this time casually, or deliberately?

An ordinary meal was hard-eaten by him into the taste of a power struggle drama.

"Old Guo, what are you dazing about?"

Li Chen's voice pulled him back to reality.

"Try this 'Dragon Breath Beef,' it is said to enhance physical fitness."

"Yes, yes, thank you, Your Majesty."

Guo Guo Po Yun hurriedly picked up a piece of meat and chewed it without tasting it, but his eyes peeked at the two people opposite from time to time.

Lin Yue'e was sweating at the tip of her nose from the spiciness, and Li Chen handed over the iced spirit fruit juice at the right time.

Her sleeves were stained with sauce, and Li Chen handed over a silk handkerchief.

Every detail revealed an unusual intimacy.

Guo Guo Po Yun thought more and more, and was more and more shocked: It seems I have to re-evaluate Minister Lin's status in His Majesty's heart...

Actually, this was also very normal; Lin Yue'e was certainly different from other subjects; this was a subject "raised" by Li Chen personally.

Whether it was Lin Yue'e's cultivation or Lin Yue'e's work, Li Chen was very caring.

Actually, Guo Guo Po Yun's guess wasn't wrong either.

Li Chen could have let Guo Guo Po Yun go back first and then eat with Lin Yue'e.

Why let Guo Guo Po Yun come together? It was to let Guo Guo Po Yun understand some rules.

In the future, in the court, whoever targets Lin Yue'e, you, Guo Guo Po Yun, must certainly come out and say a few words.

It's not hard to guess the Emperor's mind, but subjects still have to judge the situation.

But there's no need to guess too much; if you over-interpret, sometimes it will have the opposite effect.

However, eating with a Great General like Guo Guo Po Yun still had one benefit.

That is, Guo Guo Po Yun would bring money.

Lest it be like last time, eating with Prime Minister Zhao Wenyuan, the embarrassment of neither of them bringing money.

There was a clever point here, which was that although Lin Yue'e's official position wasn't high, she had been a subject for a shorter time than Li Chen had been an Emperor.

However, she had eaten with the three most powerful people—Li Chen, Guo Guo Po Yun, and Zhao Wenyuan—and it was a private dinner.

This was a treatment that the vast majority of subjects in the May Tian Ce Dynasty didn't have.

Just at this moment, a commotion suddenly came from outside the private room.

An arrogant voice came through the door panel: "This young master wants this Heavenly Number One Private Room today! Regardless of who is inside, kick them out for me!"

This sentence stunned all three people in the room.

Ah? With our level, someone actually dares to come and make trouble?

Li Chen was naturally the most stable one; he picked up a piece of spirit bamboo shoot in a leisurely manner, without even raising his eyelids.

As the Emperor of the May Tian Ce Dynasty, this kind of small scene didn't even qualify to make him angry.

Guo Guo Po Yun raised his eyebrows, but quickly returned to calm.

As a dignified Great General, let alone the fathers of these second-generation disciples, even if their fathers' fathers came, they would have to respectfully call out "General Guo."

The one who was most angry was Lin Yue'e.

Her willow eyebrows stood up, and the chopsticks in her hand snapped with a "pop."

She had finally managed to have a meal with His Majesty, and someone actually dared to come and spoil the fun?

How long had it been since she left the Imperial Capital, and were the juniors now so reckless?

The noise outside was getting closer and closer.

"This young master, the Heavenly Number One Private Room already has distinguished guests..." The waiter's voice carried panic.

"Get lost! You don't even know who this young master is; I think this shop of yours shouldn't think about opening anymore." That arrogant voice was increasingly harsh.

With a muffled "bang," it seemed someone had been pushed to the ground.

Just as the three thought that the reckless second-generation ancestor was about to break in, a vigorous voice suddenly rang out: "Nine Heavens Jiuxiao Jiuxiao Feiteng Ge is not a place for you to make trouble!"

"Bold! Do you know who I am?" The second-generation ancestor was clearly desperate.

The shopkeeper's voice was neither humble nor pushy: "I don't care who you are; this is a place to eat, not a place for you to run wild!"

Then came a burst of fighting sounds, accompanied by a few screams.

Listening to the movement, the thugs brought by the second-generation ancestor didn't seem to have gained any advantage.

"Good, good, good! You just wait for me!" The second-generation ancestor left a harsh word and took his people away dejectedly.

Inside the private room, Li Chen still didn't have much expression.

Guo Guo Po Yun looked outside the door thoughtfully, thinking that this shopkeeper was a character; it seemed this shop had a significant background to dare to offend such an arrogant second-generation ancestor in the Imperial Capital.

You must know that the degree of arrogance of a second-generation ancestor is likely determined by his father's position.

This point had already become a law in the Imperial Capital.

Guo Guo Po Yun used to be afraid that his son would do this; after his son was born, he bought a separate courtyard outside the fourth ring of the Imperial Capital, pretending that he was just an ordinary government official, leaving early and returning late every day.

It wasn't until Guo Guo Po Yun's son, Guo Zhenwei, became an adult that he knew his father was actually the Great General protecting the country.

So Guo Zhenwei didn't have the temper of a second-generation ancestor, but was relatively easygoing.

Before long, a light knock on the door sounded outside.

"Come in," Li Chen said indifferently.

The shopkeeper pushed the door and entered, with a warm smile on his face, completely different from his toughness just now. He said: "Several distinguished guests, I am really sorry to disturb your meal. To express my apologies, this meal today is on the house."

Saying this, he respectfully handed over a gold-stamped coupon: "This is our shop's VIP coupon; you can enjoy a 50% discount on your next visit."

Guo Guo Po Yun nodded secretly; this shopkeeper handled things smoothly, both calming the situation and soothing the guests.

Being able to open such a large shop in the Imperial Capital, it was indeed not simple.

He didn't know that this set of service concepts came from the idea of the young Emperor before him.

After the shopkeeper left, Lin Yue'e frowned: "Your Majesty, should I..."

She meant that this second-generation ancestor actually dared to disturb His Majesty's interest; should I go and deal with it?

Before she finished speaking, Li Chen waved his hand.

"No need, just eat."

The words were all light and airy.

Only then did Lin Yue'e react; what was His Majesty's status, how could he care about such a small character?

That shopkeeper seemed to be maintaining the guests in the Heavenly Private Room, but in fact, he was saving that reckless second-generation ancestor.

If he really let him break in... Lin Yue'e couldn't help but sweat for that unlucky guy just imagining the scene.

Guo Guo Po Yun picked up a piece of meat and suddenly smiled: "Speaking of which, the service of this 'Nine Heavens Jiuxiao Jiuxiao Feiteng Ge' is quite unique. This old subject has traveled north and south and hasn't seen any restaurant that knows how to do business like this."

Li Chen smiled without saying a word.

He certainly wouldn't say that the business strategy of this chain hot pot restaurant was "deeply explored" by him and several beloved concubines in the palace.

Not only Jiang Rong, but Chu Ruoyan, Li Sining, and Xia Qing also had shares.

The spiritual fire for the hot pot was researched by Xia Qing, which was just right and helpful for cultivation.

Lin Yue'e also nodded in agreement, "It's indeed not bad. When I was in Shanghe City, there were many merchant families there, and I had some understanding of this. Delicious taste can make many customers pass it on by word of mouth, but good service attitude can make more repeat customers. I guess this shop has mastered this concept."

It could be seen that Lin Yue'e had gone out for a trip, and her horizons had broadened.

Going to live and work in different places would lead to different understandings.

The three continued to dine, and the atmosphere became relaxed and happy again.

Just at this moment, a commotion suddenly came from downstairs again.

The sound this time was noisier than before, and the sound of armor colliding could vaguely be heard.

"Imperial Guards?"

Guo Guo Po Yun frowned; as a Great General, he was no stranger to this sound.

Li Chen set down his chopsticks, a trace of playfulness flashing in his eyes: "It seems someone has brought reinforcements."

(End of chapter)