Bixi finally entered with the washing tools, almost overflowing with gratitude.
It was wonderful that the princess had finally gotten up.
When Ye Qingcheng finished her preparations and arrived at Lord Jun’s residence, he was already preparing to eat.
Ye Qingcheng was greatly alarmed and directly interrupted Lord Jun, who was holding his food. "What are you doing!"
Lord Jun was startled by this sudden situation.
"Eating! It's already noon."
Ye Qingcheng was speechless. "Have you passed gas? Have you defecated?"
Lord Jun shook his head. "No."
Ye Qingcheng tapped his head. "You haven't, so why are you eating? Do you want to continue feeling uncomfortable?"
Lord Jun swallowed. "But I can't not eat."
Ye Qingcheng had no other choice. "You just have to hold on for two days! Because your internal organs were all damaged. After I treated you, your internal organs and some of your digestive system haven't recovered. If you drink water and eat now, you'll have stomach pain. So, we'll wait until you can pass gas!" She then turned to the maids and said, "Clear all this food away. I don't want to heal you just for you to kill yourself again and then for me to have to put in a lot of effort to save you."
Lord Jun deflated.
"I'm already this old, and I still have to suffer like this. Alas~"
Ye Qingcheng retorted sarcastically, "Serves you right. Who told you to disappear for over a month and injure yourself like this? You sustained such serious injuries; I really don't know how you did it?"
This was clearly questioning him, but Lord Jun remained silent.
Ye Qingcheng didn't want to force him to tell his story. Knowing he had something on his mind, she could only pat his shoulder to offer encouragement.
Before leaving, Ye Qingcheng repeatedly instructed, "No eating, no drinking water either, understand!"
Lord Jun nodded irritably, "I know."
Still not reassured, Ye Qingcheng left Jingxi behind to supervise him, instructing that even how long it took him to pass gas and use the toilet had to be reported.
Jingxi nodded and said, "Yes, Princess. I will complete the mission."
Lord Jun was resigned. —＿—
As soon as she returned to her chambers, a maid reported that the restaurant repairs were completed and asked the Princess to inspect the results.
This was good news, so Ye Qingcheng, without even eating, went directly to the restaurant.
She looked at the newly erected restaurant.
The interior was also completely new. She had expected this work to take half a year to complete, but it was finished in just one month.
The craftsman, a simple and honest man, said, "Princess, this is the silver you gave me. After deducting wages and material costs, this is the remainder."
Ye Qingcheng originally intended to take it, but looking at the craftsman's sun-tanned clothes and the sweat continuously dripping down him, Ye Qingcheng, who had no concept of money, fell silent.
She did not accept the money. "No need. This is all rightfully yours. However, this spirit of yours means we can entrust all our future industrial designs to you. So, consider this my industrial property."
The craftsman gave a simple, honest smile.
He didn't stand on ceremony and took the money, then left.
Ye Qingcheng looked around. The more she looked at this restaurant, the more enthusiastic and pleased she became. It was decorated exactly according to her blueprints.
Only the plaque hadn't been changed yet. She would go tomorrow to replace it. How could something completely new use the old plaque?
After the plaque was hung, it would be ready to open in a few days. On her way back, Ye Qingcheng began to think about delicious food.
She had already considered the first step: there must be a signature dish that could immediately capture people's attention.
After all, to capture a customer's loyalty, you must capture their stomachs.
With five thousand years of Chinese history, there were so many delicacies; she could think of one easily. However, since the apocalypse, she had almost forgotten the recipes.
She could make something simple.
Sichuan cuisine, Saliva Chicken.
This was the simplest signature dish she could think of at the moment.
Ye Qingcheng looked around the kitchen and found no ingredients to make this dish.
Ye Qingcheng sighed!
The first thing that came to mind for Saliva Chicken was chicken.
"Bixi."
Bixi looked back at her. "Princess, what is it?"
Ye Qingcheng lifted the curtain. "Does the manor raise chickens?"
Bixi nodded. "Yes! We do raise chickens, but they are all kept at the outlying farms."
Ye Qingcheng nodded. "Turn around and head to the outlying farms in the suburbs."
Bixi, though not understanding why the Princess was asking about chickens, obeyed the command.
The manager of the farm was terrified because the master had arrived without any prior announcement.
There had been no preparation whatsoever, so as soon as Ye Qingcheng arrived, she saw the overseer beating the farmers in the fields.
Ye Qingcheng frowned and stopped Bixi, who was about to shout for someone.
Bixi was confused.
Ye Qingcheng explained, "The stewards here are so audacious. They are beating farmers in broad daylight, yet no one is reporting it to us. Either someone is covering up the crime, or they have suppressed this matter. We had informed them in advance during previous inspections. This time, we didn't inform them, so they've shown their true colors."
Bixi was somewhat silent. "Aunt Yujian is currently in charge. If she is covering it up..."
Ye Qingcheng shook her head. "I don't think so. I estimate that someone among them must have intercepted and suppressed this matter to prevent us from finding out. Bixi, you go back first and inform Yujian. Tell her to come to the farm. Make sure to make a scene, so that the matter can eventually be exposed."
Bixi asked in confusion, "Princess, since this matter is unsavory, why not resolve it secretly?"
Ye Qingcheng shook her head. "No. The Prince holds a high position now, personally appointed by the late Emperor, which is why no one opposes him. No opposition doesn't mean they are truly convinced. The Prince now governs the country with benevolence and kindness. If they find out that farmers are being abused on the Prince's own farms, we can say we didn't know. But once we know about it, we cannot resolve it secretly. We must make a big fuss, to let everyone know that we were also deceived. If we resolve it secretly, then someone will impeach the Prince in court, and the Prince's reputation will be damaged."
In ancient times, if a ruler's reputation was damaged, it meant he lost his authority. Without authority, he would lose his supporters, which would lead to suspicion from the Emperor. Over time, baseless charges would be fabricated against him. Even if he hadn't done something, it would be reported as if he had, and the matter of the farm would be repeatedly emphasized.
And Xiao Wangye, who wields the power of the nation, if his reputation were damaged, any charge, no matter how fabricated, would be difficult to refute. He would inevitably be burdened with a baseless crime.