Chapter 462 - 236: The Seven, Snake and Ye, the Trail of Zhu

Chapter 462: Chapter 236: The Seven, Snake and Ye, the Trail of Zhu

It was now July.

A sudden torrential downpour washed away the stifling heat of early summer, leaving behind a refreshing coolness.

The Fragrant Pavilion, known as the "First Pavilion Under Heaven," was now the Red King’s property. Through word of mouth, the place had become a famous landmark in the Imperial City, packed with guests daily and bustling with excitement.

Since Zheng Xiu was ennobled as the Red King, the Fragrant Pavilion had quietly become the dining hall for high-ranking officials, court ministers, princesses, princes, and other dignitaries. It wasn’t that they actually wanted to eat the Red King’s food. Some hoped they might run into the legendary and elusive Prince Zheng. Others thought that by spending a fortune, they might catch the Red King’s attention. Still others came for the luxury and prestige. In short, the nobles who dined here all had their own agendas.

Upon learning of this, Zheng Xiu wasted no time. He acquired several poorly managed restaurants in the city, mobilized the entire Auspicious Workshop for some quick renovations, and opened five branches in the Imperial City in quick succession. This finally alleviated the overwhelming pressure on the Fragrant Pavilion.

Sometimes, money could be too hot to handle.

Staring at the large sums recorded in the ledger, Zheng Xiu was not pleased. As someone who had seen it all, how could he not understand their intentions? They didn’t pick the best dishes, only the most expensive ones. They would order a full table of food and the priciest aged wine, only to leave it all untouched. Then they would suavely sign the bill, leaving their name, all for the sake of making the Red King see them in a new light.

「In the study.」

The candlelight flickered faintly.

Zheng Erniang and Zheng Xiu were alone in the room, with Zheng Xiu holding a ledger and rapidly flipping through its pages.

There was a small tuft of orange fur on the desk. Zheng Xiu’s eyebrow twitched. He picked it up and sniffed it. A sharp, gamey smell hit him. He had no idea where it could have come from.

He tossed the little tuft of fur out the window, letting the downpour wash it away.

Zheng Xiu closed the ledger. "These people have such small minds. Do I, the Red King, look like someone who needs their money?"

Zheng Erniang smiled and smoothed his furrowed brow. "But the Fragrant Pavilion’s revenue this month is equal to a normal two years." As if trying to rub away the Red King’s worries, she began to gently massage his temples, three circles up, three circles down.

"Well, isn’t that perfect," Zheng Xiu said with a smile, closing his eyes and crossing his arms to enjoy Zheng Erniang’s long-missed pampering. "From now on, you don’t have to work so hard. We’ve earned enough. We can open for business one month, then take a year off. And you can use that time off to find a matchmaker, take the initiative, and scout out some of the city’s talented young men. See if any of them catch your fancy..."

"Don’t be ridiculous. Be serious," Zheng Erniang said, annoyed. "I’ve never thought about getting married. I just want to be part of the Zheng Family for my whole life." She couldn’t resist pinching the soft flesh of his neck and giving it a hard twist. After a moment, she felt him wince in pain and her heart softened. She leaned close to his neck, blowing warm air gently on the red spot. ’This guy is a Prince now,’ she thought, ’so why does he still act like a child and spout such nonsense in front of me?’

"That tickles!"

"Good! I hope it tickles you to death!" Zheng Erniang blew even more enthusiastically.

After a moment of playful bickering, Zheng Xiu’s expression turned serious.

Zheng Xiu said with a sigh of resignation, "I heard Chef He threw a tantrum. In a few quick chops, he hacked the cutting board he’d used for the past five or six years to pieces."

Zheng Xiu understood Chef He’s temperament. The man treated his dishes like they were his wives. If a guest licked their plate clean, Chef He would be so ecstatic he could burst. But if anyone wasted his food, it was a personal insult—like they were looking down on his wife.

Most masters who have found their Path have their own principles and obsessions.

"There’s nothing we can do. We can’t just reheat the leftovers and serve them to other guests."

Zheng Erniang was even more helpless. While Zheng Xiu was busy with the important task of reorganizing the Disaster Prevention Bureau, the entire Zheng Clan enterprise had fallen on her slender shoulders. In the past, she could always consult with him. But now that he was a Prince, his perspective had broadened, and she knew she couldn’t trouble him with the petty squabbles of the business. She could only bear the burden in silence. Having a big business was a huge headache, too.

"Hmm?" Zheng Xiu pondered for a moment, and an idea struck him. ’So, you all want to throw your money around? You dare to flash your cash at me, on my own turf? Hmph, hmph.’ With a sly glint in his eye, he smiled at Zheng Erniang and said, "Who says we can’t?"

"Huh?" Zheng Erniang was stunned. She thought he meant they should re-plate the leftovers and sell them again.

That was something only a crooked merchant would do.

Absolutely not.

"Just tell Chef He to send all the untouched dishes to the Ministry of Justice," Zheng Xiu explained. "The Ministry of Justice houses many homeless, unfortunate people. Let’s consider it a way to improve their meals."

Zheng Erniang’s eyes lit up in understanding. She beamed and said, "You really are kind-hearted."

"You flatter me," Zheng Xiu said, shaking his head. "It’s easy to be generous with other people’s money. That doesn’t make me kind-hearted."

After a pause, Zheng Xiu continued, "Since they’re so eager to spend money on me, why should we stop them? Let’s fleece them for all they’re worth."

Zheng Erniang’s expression froze for a second. "What do you mean?"

"We’ll hold a few auctions. Highest bidder wins. The south is currently suffering from a drought, isn’t it? I hear the tenant farmers haven’t harvested a single grain in months, and many are now homeless. It’s a pitiful state of affairs. We can send all the funds we raise to the south for disaster relief."

Zheng Erniang’s eyes lit up, and she nodded enthusiastically. She had heard many of Zheng Xiu’s novel ideas before, so she understood the concept of an "auction." But her brow furrowed in thought again, and she muttered, "But what would we auction off? If it’s just gold and jewels, that’s so unoriginal..."

"A meal," Zheng Xiu said, having already thought it all out. He held up a single finger and grinned at Zheng Erniang.

"...A meal?"

"On the surface, it might seem like just a meal, but in reality, it’s an opportunity to have lunch with the Red King," Zheng Xiu said with a mysterious smile. "The Red King will personally impart... the secret to success."