Chapter Thirty-Five: The Restaurant

Li Zhi could almost foresee that in the near future, this restaurant would become renowned throughout the capital, establishing itself as a unique presence. Meanwhile, the always-bustling Tianyi Restaurant would be forced out of the market.

“Your Highness…”

“Let’s go and take a look across the street!” Li Zhi left a few soldiers behind and proceeded toward Tianyi Restaurant.

“It’s you?” As soon as Li Zhi stepped inside, the restaurant manager was dumbfounded. These people… He knew them all too well. They had come yesterday to buy the restaurant but found the price too high. Now, under the pretense of arresting those who violated the curfew, it seemed they were here for the restaurant again. Using their positions for advantage, did they hope to seize this restaurant without a fight?

“You… I’ll report you!”

“Go ahead… By imperial command, I am here to arrest those who have violated the curfew. Tianyi Restaurant has broken the law; effective immediately, it is sealed, and all related personnel are to be detained and handed over to the Ministry of Justice for punishment!”

“Hmph!” The manager seemed to lose his mind, no longer caring about Li Zhi’s status, and cursed furiously, “Don’t think I don’t know what you want. Isn’t it just my restaurant you’re after?”

“How dare you!” Luo Tong took a few steps forward and kicked him to the ground. “You dare to slander Prince Jin? That’s another crime added to your list!”

“Don’t resort to violence; let’s win by reason…” Li Zhi intervened and said to the manager, “You should know, as Prince Jin, would I covet your restaurant? Never mind tens of thousands to buy it—even if you gave it to me, I wouldn’t want it. Today, we are here purely for official business.”

“You have violated the curfew, and that is a grave offense. According to our laws, you will likely spend the rest of your life in prison. But I can give you a chance. As long as you reveal the real owner behind this restaurant, not only will I spare you, but your cooperation will count as atonement, and you may continue to run Tianyi Restaurant. Think carefully about this offer.”

With these words, Li Zhi fixed his gaze on him.

At that moment, the manager hesitated. But after a few seconds, he spoke resolutely, “This restaurant is mine! I’ve registered it at the county office; you can check if you like!”

“If you remain stubborn, then prepare for prison!” Li Zhi turned away. “Luo Tong…”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“Seal the restaurant and detain all staff for trial at the Ministry of Justice!”

“At once!”

Inside and out, no fewer than a hundred people were arrested. The manager kept shouting and proclaiming his innocence, only to be thoroughly beaten by Luo Tong. Li Lizhi also rushed forward and kicked him twice. “You should’ve been arrested sooner! Your food is so awful, yet you have the nerve to serve it? It’s practically a crime against the people!”

Everyone turned to look at her in unison.

“Your Highness, it’s said that Tianyi Restaurant has the best food in the capital. Is that—?”

“What’s good about it? It’s barely edible!”

…

Busy until late into the night, affairs finally came to a close. The constables, the bailiffs, and the county guards all returned to their respective posts. Li Zhi also prepared to return home.

When the carriage approached a bend not far from the palace gates, Luo Tong suddenly pulled hard on the reins. “Whoa, whoa…”

“What is it?” Li Zhi and Li Lizhi both sat inside, hearts tightening.

Luo Tong frowned. “Your Highness, Princess, hold tight… Yah!” He shouted suddenly, lashing the horse hard. The horse, in pain, broke into a desperate run.

“Stop! Stop!” From the bushes beside them, dozens of burly men burst forth. At the same time, obstacles appeared about fifty meters ahead, blocking the carriage’s path.

Luo Tong pulled the reins. “Your Highness, there are assassins blocking the road. Hold tight and do not get out!”

“Be careful yourself!”

“Rest assured, Your Highness. A few assassins are nothing to me!” Luo Tong was absolutely confident. He drew his family’s bright silver spear and shielded the carriage behind him.

“Attack!”

With a single shout, the dozens of men charged together.

Luo Tong showed no mercy, each strike meant to kill. In just a few breaths, four or five had perished, and the rest were so frightened that they looked at each other, then turned and fled in panic.

Huh?

Luo Tong found it strange. “These people don’t seem like assassins.”

“Your Highness…”

“I see it,” Li Zhi said. “They must be men from Tianyi Restaurant. After suffering such a loss, they needed an outlet but dared not kill me, so they hired some street thugs to teach me a lesson.”

Li Lizhi covered her mouth and laughed. “Who would’ve thought they’d run into the martial prowess of Luo Tong? How amusing!”

“Amusing? If they had been real assassins, we’d all be in trouble!”

“Let’s hurry back to the palace!”

Luo Tong jumped onto the carriage and drove them swiftly into the palace grounds.

…

The next morning, the sun shone brightly.

Upon hearing that Li Zhi had encountered assassins again, Emperor Taizong postponed the morning audience and hurried over to inquire about the situation.

“I’ve warned you before: as a prince, you mustn’t leave the palace easily, but you never listen. If not for Luo Tong last night, you’d have died at an assassin’s blade!”

“Father, it wasn’t as serious as you say! They were just a bunch of street thugs.”

“Street thugs?”

Taizong turned to Luo Tong. “Were they really just thugs?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. They had no martial skills, and their weapons were all sorts of random things—even wooden sticks. If they’d been assassins, would they have used sticks? In just a few exchanges, I killed several, and the rest fled in terror.”

Even so, Taizong remained worried.

“From now on, you are not allowed to leave the palace!”

“And what about the imperial edict?” Taizong scooped Li Zhi into his arms, searched him roughly, and finally snatched away the decree.

“Father! Father—!”

“Didn’t you say an emperor’s word is never taken lightly? Why are you going back on it now?”

Taizong, clutching the decree, didn’t pause for a moment and hurried out of Lizheng Hall.

Li Zhi, with his short legs, couldn’t catch up. “Damn!”

“How shameless…”

“Your Highness, are we still going to the restaurant at noon?” Luo Tong recalled last night’s agreement with Hong Yuan.

“Of course we are! Not only that, we need to bring the eight thousand coins. How else can we buy the restaurant? And in the future, we’ll need to leave the palace often to teach that blockhead Cheng Chubi how to cook. Only then can we get the restaurant running. What, are you scared?”

“Cough, cough…”

Luo Tong did feel uneasy. After all, the emperor had strictly forbidden Li Zhi from leaving the palace, and he’d said so right in front of him. If Li Zhi was reckless, that was one thing; but if Luo Tong accompanied him in mischief, he’d have to bear responsibility if anything happened. The thought gave him a headache.

Wait—

Luo Tong suddenly said, “Your Highness, we could summon Cheng Chubi to the palace instead. He can learn to cook here. We can’t go out, but he can come in. This way, there’s no risk. What do you think?”

Li Zhi shook his head. “The restaurant hasn’t opened yet—I don’t feel at ease. Besides, our restaurant can’t open just like that. I need to go to Father and have him issue another decree.”

The system had said: the restaurant must open by imperial command!

Without an imperial decree, how could it be considered an official order?