Chapter 202: A Calculated Move

The grand opening of Shi Zai wasn't a secret in the capital. Word had spread like wildfire, and the city's young, aristocratic men were eager to be the first to experience its offerings.

Driven by a desire to be the first to savor its delicacies, six or seven of these young men arrived almost simultaneously after the red cloth was unveiled and firecrackers exploded. It was as if they were competing to see who could cross the threshold first.

Du Cheng, impeccably dressed, stood at the entrance, greeting them with a deep bow. He seemed oblivious to the undercurrent of competition among them. "Gentlemen," he announced, "please be aware that Shi Zai operates on a reservation-only basis. Moreover, we only accept reservations for a single ingredient. The specific dish and preparation method are entirely up to our chef."

One of them questioned, "What do you mean, only one ingredient? Am I not allowed to eat here?"

Du Cheng replied calmly, "These are the rules of Shi Zai. It's what sets us apart."

"Interesting," another one mused. "So, you're essentially inviting criticism? What if the food is terrible?"

Du Cheng led them inside. "While we're not officially open for business today, we won't let you leave empty-handed. Please enjoy a complimentary meal. If you like it, feel free to return. If not, there's no need to waste your money."

Walking among the group of people, one of them suddenly spoke, "Is this the rule set by Miss Hua?"

Du Cheng nodded with a smile, "Yes, Miss Hua said that guests are welcome, and opening the Shi Zai Feast kitchen for business means that all of you coming is a show of support. Miss Hua asks me to thank you on her behalf."

Oh, so it was a rule set by Miss Hua. In that case, there was nothing more to say but to comply!

The Shi Zai Feast kitchen was actually a club, a concept that had been overused in later times, but here it had a fresh twist. The green plants placed elsewhere would not stand out, but in this room, a simple arrangement with two branches entwined could catch anyone's eye.

Though it was just a place to eat, with this setup, it came to life. Some couldn't help but wonder that when they didn't want to drink flower wine, coming here for a gathering wouldn't be a bad idea.

Today's ingredients were pork and the most common northern cabbage, one meat dish and one vegetarian dish. Hua Zhi predicted that there wouldn't be many guests today, so she didn't pressure Fu Dong to make too many dishes. She let her make as many dishes as she pleased, even if she used all twenty-eight cooking methods, she had no objections.

Since the early morning, Fu Dong hadn't come out of the kitchen, and the room prepared for her had now become Hua Zhi and Gu Yanxi's meeting place - this was a whisper from Bao Xia, although it was immediately squashed by Ying Chun. But the senior maids were all worried about this matter. The young lady and Mr. Lu... were getting too close. Without a matchmaker or formal engagement, they feared the young lady might suffer.

The two stood shoulder to shoulder in the shadows, and Gu Yanxi chuckled, "Your maids are almost staring holes in my back."

Hua Zhi turned her head slightly, the man was too close to her, his breath hitting her neck, causing a ticklish sensation. "They are already being polite enough."

If their servitude hadn't been ingrained in them, they would have rushed up to separate them long ago.

Gu Yanxi stifled a laugh.

Hua Zhi glared at him and motioned Ying Chun to come over.

"Miss."

"Stay here and take care of things. Make a decision if anything comes up."

"Yes." Ying Chun discreetly glanced at Mr. Lu, "Miss, are you planning to return to the mansion?"

"Before I left, my sisters sent a message asking to see me. I can guess what it's about, and it's not urgent at the moment."

But these girls under her care rely heavily on her. They can only stand on their own when she's not around.

Among the five senior maids, including Liu Xiang, Ying Chun is the most capable of controlling the situation. With her here, things won't go awry.

With so few people she could rely on, she had to step up herself. The maids she had nurtured couldn't always stand behind her as before.

Ying Chun's mood visibly dampened, but she obediently replied, as it was the consensus among them that under no circumstances should they hold back the young lady.

Hua Zhi patted her arm, then glanced at the elegant gentlemen observing their surroundings, and turned to walk towards the back door. Not surprisingly, the man walked to her left side again and stood shoulder to shoulder with her.

She liked this discreet respect, so when they got on the carriage, she lifted the curtain and invited, "Care to join me?"

Gu Yanxi had no reason to refuse, so he climbed onto the carriage with confident steps.

The carriage swayed as it moved forward, and Gu Yanxi leaned against the side of the carriage, looking at Hua Zhi, "Did you guess that those people would come?"

"I have a maid who is very good at gathering information." Especially when it concerns her, so she knew about the unfortunate gambling game among those young gentlemen.

"I knew early on and had intended to suppress the matter, but it involved many people. If I took action, I feared it wouldn't stay hidden, and I didn't know how many people would then pay attention to you. So I decided to ignore it and let them do as they please. I guessed you wouldn't mind either."

"What's there to mind? I should thank them for supporting me." Hua Zhi really didn't care. As a businesswoman, it was good to have herself as a selling point. No investment deals!

Gu Yanxi was pleased that Hua Zhi understood him so well. Cross-legged, he rested his chin in his hand and leaned closer to Hua Zhi, "The Lu family sent someone early this morning to deliver an invitation for me to meet them."

"Related to the Sixth Prince?"

"It can't be otherwise. There should be some other reasons as well. The Emperor hasn't shown up in public for some time, and the court officials all want to know his exact situation. The Lu family probably wants to inquire through me."

Hua Zhi frowned and shook her head, "The Lu family should have some genuine intentions towards you."

"There's true intention, but there's also more than just genuine feelings."

Hua Zhi understood what he meant. Compared to the interests of the family, everything else had to take a back seat. This was the norm for aristocratic families, even in the Hua family, it was hard to avoid. She needed to adapt.

"I wish I could disregard everything and just go to the Hua family as a martial arts teacher." Gu Yanxi took her hand and sighed, "But the Emperor still wants me to act as regent for a period of time. Having been at death's door recently, he seems to have come to terms with it. He even summoned the Ven. Prajna yesterday."

Hua Zhi also rested her chin on her hand, looking at him. "Are you worried he will arbitrarily choose an heir?"

"If the Sixth Prince were three or four years older, I would definitely be able to help him succeed. But now..." Gu Yanxi shook his head, not mentioning that his biggest concern was that the Emperor might be scheming against him. Either passing the throne to his son and letting him act as regent, or passing the throne directly to him.

He wasn't afraid of anything, but he truly didn't value that position at all. Just thinking about being confined within those palace walls for a lifetime made him want to escape.

And moreover, Hua Zhi wouldn't like it.

Looking at the serene woman in front of him, Gu Yanxi thought that instead of that position, he would prefer to go far away with Hua Zhi and see the vast world outside.