After hearing this, Emperor Mingde fell silent. When he looked at Xiao Zhaoning again, there was clear approval in his eyes.
A moment later, the man lifted his brush and wrote a single word on the paper: Approved.
He then picked up the private seal resting beside the desk and pressed it down lightly.
A crimson imprint appeared upon the silver-white paper.
Dragon patterns coiled around the single character: Ming.
“The key can be obtained from the Ministry of Justice. Go register there.”
The imperial jade seal could only be used on important documents such as imperial edicts and decrees, so Emperor Mingde used his personal seal instead.
“Thank you, Father Emperor.” Xiao Zhaoning was delighted.
Ministry of Justice.
A man dressed in a black cloud-patterned official robe sat at a desk, flipping through a ledger.
“Minister, this Princess has business with you.” Xiao Zhaoning strode in quickly while holding the document.
Seeing who had arrived, the man was visibly surprised and hurried forward to bow.
“This minister greets Your Highness the Third Princess. May Your Highness be blessed.”
“Minister, please rise quickly.”
The man straightened himself. “May I ask what matter brings Your Highness here today?”
Xiao Zhaoning handed him the paper. “This Princess wants Ruifu Tower. Father Emperor has already approved it and instructed me to come to you for the keys.”
The moment he read the document, the minister understood.
That restaurant had originally been confiscated under his supervision.
The disgraced official who once owned it had his gold, silver, rare antiques, paintings, and calligraphy all seized into the national treasury.
Only the deeds to houses, land, teahouses, restaurants, and shops—as well as their keys—remained under the Ministry of Justice’s management.
Whenever the Emperor wished to reward someone with such property, they had to come to the ministry to register, sign, and leave a thumbprint.
The man turned and retrieved a small box from a cabinet behind him. From it, he took out the restaurant deed. Then he searched through another box and found the keys.
Handing over another sheet of paper, he said, “Your Highness, simply sign and leave your thumbprint here.”
Xiao Zhaoning followed the instructions one by one.
[Congratulations, Host! Today’s points gained: +1991]
[Total points: 5120]
[Congratulations on completing the mission! (๑＞＜๑)]
[Potato ingredient supply will now cease.]
[Random gourmet reward issued.]
“Stop, stop, stop. I don’t want any gourmet reward.”
[Due to the Host’s strong resistance toward gourmet rewards, the system, out of humanitarian concern, has decided to change the reward.]
“Change it into what?”
[Host can guess~]
Yun Zhiyue: …
“If I guess correctly, will you give me whatever I name?”
[Nope, Host. Things aren’t that good~]
Yun Zhiyue: …
Her period already had her body uncomfortable and her emotions unstable, and now this idiotic system was still messing with her. She completely lost her patience.
“Then why the hell are you asking me to guess?”
Seriously deranged.
No wonder its name was Rice Bucket. It truly didn’t deserve a better one.
[Detected that Host is physically uncomfortable and emotionally unstable. Reward issued: 10 packs of sanitary pads.]
Items instantly rained down onto the bed.
Yun Zhiyue froze briefly before curling her lips. “At least you finally acted like a decent being.”
[Host, I’m a system. I can’t become a human~]
“Get lost.”
The food stall that had been set up outside North City Academy for the past several days was now completely empty.
Since the mission had ended, Yun Zhiyue had already ordered it removed.
“This is the place you said sold potato chips? There are people everywhere, but where’s the stall? Don’t tell me only you can see it?”
Xiao Xiao suspected the servant was deliberately fooling him.
Furious, he lifted a foot and kicked the servant beside him.
The servant wiped away sweat hurriedly and forced a smile. “Little Prince, perhaps they simply didn’t set up shop today because something came up.”
“Go ask around. Find out who used to run this stall.”
He intended to personally go buy some.
Yesterday, several servants in his residence had gathered together eating something called potato chips. He didn’t even know what they were.
But the smell had been incredibly fragrant, so he snatched some over and ate a few bites himself.
Before he could even properly enjoy them, they were already gone.
The taste instantly left him craving more, so early the next morning he rushed toward North City. Curious about how such food was made, he had dragged a servant along to lead the way.
Yet of all days, the stall just happened to disappear the moment he arrived???
“Little Prince, that potato chip stall belonged to the fake daughter from Pingyang Marquis Manor. Yesterday was their final day of business,” the servant reported after gathering information.
He had spent several copper coins just to learn that much.
Xiao Xiao glared at him. “You mean they’ll never set up shop again???”
The servant nodded awkwardly. “Yes.”
The less he could get it, the more he wanted it.
Unwilling to give up, Xiao Xiao asked, “Do you know where she lives now?”
The servant shook his head. “This lowly one doesn’t know.”
Xiao Xiao widened his eyes. “Then what use are you?”
Suddenly, he remembered something.
That fake daughter also owned a teahouse.
“Come on. We’re going to Jade Delicacies Tea House.”
Inside the teahouse—
A man sat at a table holding a brush, calculating accounts. Neat rows of inked characters covered the paper before him.
“Hey, Qi Yanqing! Is that fake daughter here at the teahouse?”
Xiao Xiao strode in and slapped the table lightly.
Both his tone and attitude sounded more like an interrogation.
Qi Yanqing looked up and paused slightly upon seeing him. “What does the Little Prince need with the owner?”
“It’s important.”
Qi Yanqing shook his head lightly. “The owner isn’t at the teahouse.”
“Do you have potato chips here?”
“No.”
“Can you make potato chips?”
Qi Yanqing shook his head again. “The Little Prince overestimates me.”
“Hmph. You’re just a block of wood.”
After saying that, Xiao Xiao kicked the chair once and stormed out in a huff.
Qi Yanqing: …
This Little Prince was becoming more and more unhinged.
Inside Ruifu Tower—
The two women walked around the restaurant once.
“Well? This restaurant is huge, isn’t it?” The young woman walked ahead proudly with her chin raised.
The building was spacious and grand. Blue bricks paved the floors, tables and chairs were neatly arranged, and the carved railings were exquisitely detailed.
There were even two wells in the back courtyard.
Following behind, Yun Zhiyue carefully inspected everything and nodded repeatedly. “It’s indeed very good. Only a few modifications are needed.”
Xiao Zhaoning turned around. “What kind of modifications?”
“Paint the walls white—it’ll look much nicer. Then hire someone to make drawings and hang food illustrations on the walls for decoration. The tables and chairs don’t need replacing. As for the second floor, partition off an area for a barbecue kitchen.”
Yun Zhiyue rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
Xiao Zhaoning nodded. “Alright. I’ll have someone do it.”
Then she sighed regretfully. “Zhiyue, I still haven’t gotten to eat barbecue myself. I gave it all to Father Emperor to curry favor.”
Yun Zhiyue chuckled softly. “Then come to my house. There are still ingredients left to make some.”
Xiao Zhaoning nodded immediately.
Outside the restaurant—
“Stop! Where are you two going?”
Xiao Xiao hurried over after them.
He had searched forever before finally finding them here.
The two women turned around.
Xiao Zhaoning frowned. “Why are you following us?”
Xiao Xiao answered as though it were perfectly obvious. “I want potato chips.”
Yun Zhiyue replied calmly, “Little Prince, there are no more potato chips.”
Xiao Xiao blinked. “Oh. Then where are you two going?”
Xiao Zhaoning placed her hands on her hips. “I’m going to Zhiyue’s house to eat barbecue. Why? Are you planning to follow two unmarried women home as well?”
But Xiao Xiao’s focus landed entirely on the word barbecue.
“What’s barbecue? Is it good? I’m coming too.”
Xiao Zhaoning scoffed. “What are you coming for? Have you no shame?”
Xiao Xiao retorted, “What’s there to be ashamed of? Aren’t you going too? Then you have no shame either.”
Xiao Zhaoning snapped back, “I’m a woman. Are you?”
Xiao Xiao raised a brow. “Oh? So women are allowed to be shameless?”
Xiao Zhaoning nearly exploded. “Shut up!”
The two bickered outside the restaurant like elementary school children, while their maids and servants stared helplessly from the side.
Yun Zhiyue felt her head buzzing.
They truly were like sworn rivals.
“Enough already. Let’s all go together.”
A quarter of an hour later, they arrived at the Yun residence.
Seeing a young man following behind them, Master Yun and Madam Yun exchanged meaningful looks repeatedly.
The moment Yun Zhiyue saw their expressions, she immediately knew they had misunderstood.
“Father, Mother, these two are both my friends.”
Xiao Xiao looked around everywhere like a suspicious little thief, earning a fierce glare from Xiao Zhaoning.
He was just curious, alright?
The Yun couple nodded.
“Good daughter, we understand.”
Yun Zhiyue had the two of them sit in the reception hall first before turning to instruct Lüliu.
“Take out the grill we used this morning and clean it thoroughly. Have the kitchen maids skewer the ingredients needed for barbecue. Also get a servant to light the charcoal.”
“Hurry.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Xiao Xiao looked bored. “Hey, Xiao Zhaoning, what does this barbecue taste like?”
Xiao Zhaoning lifted her chin proudly. “Beg me. If you beg me, I’ll tell you.”
“Then don’t say it.”
A short while later—
Yun Zhiyue ordered the barbecue brought out.
The smoky aroma spread instantly, rich with spicy fragrance.
It smelled incredible.
Absolutely incredible.
In no time, Xiao Xiao had a pork skewer in one hand and a lamb skewer in the other, eating until his mouth was slick with oil.
“Delicious! Delicious! I never expected you, fake daughter, to be this amazing at making food.”
Yun Zhiyue: …
Did she not have a name?
Children truly had no manners.
“Little Prince, my surname is Yun, given name Zhiyue. You may call me Yun Zhiyue. ‘Fake daughter’ is honestly rather unpleasant to hear.”
Xiao Xiao shrugged. “Oh, whatever your name is. Just remember to invite me next time there’s good food.”
Yun Zhiyue: …
She truly hadn’t expected this Little Prince to be such a foodie.