Chapter 223 2/3

In truth, for them, it would suffice if Lu Mingshan only told the Emperor what Lu Qingxi had instructed.

Then, Li Qingzhi could wait for Lu Qingxi to approach him on his own!

However, if things went this way, Lu Mingshan, the swindler, and Li Zhu, who was somewhat involved, might face danger.

Therefore, Li Qingzhi planned for Lu Mingshan to say a bit more when the time came.

If Lu Mingshan pretended to have real abilities and delivered true prophecies, Lu Qingxi wouldn’t dare to easily harm Lu Mingshan.

If Lu Qingxi wouldn’t harm even Lu Mingshan, Li Zhu would be even safer.

Lu Qingxi planned for Lu Mingshan to go to Qingyun Restaurant tomorrow. He would bring Lu Mingshan to the backyard of Qingyun Restaurant to read the Emperor’s fortune.

Last time, they had the Emperor dine in the main hall of the restaurant for entertainment, but this time, to have Lu Mingshan read the Emperor’s fortune, the safer and more private backyard was chosen, ensuring no information would leak out.

“After you finish speaking, remember to leave immediately, then turn left to this place where someone will help you turn your other eyebrow white.” Li Zhu took out a layout of Qingyun Restaurant’s backyard and explained it to Lu Mingshan.

Tomorrow, she would have Li Qingzhi go and assist Lu Mingshan with the performance.

While the Emperor was eating, Li Qingzhi couldn’t get close, but he could wait nearby to help Lu Mingshan, making sure the Emperor believed every word Lu Mingshan said.

As long as they prepared thoroughly, even if someone later told the Emperor that Li Qingzhi wasn’t a prince, the Emperor wouldn’t believe it!

Lu Mingshan understood Lu Qingxi’s plan but was unsure of what Li Zhu intended: “You want me to say that the prince has great fortune… If I say that, will Eunuch Lu come after me?”

Li Zhu replied, “No, and if you do get into trouble, you can always expose me.”

Indeed… Lu Mingshan gritted his teeth and decided to go through with it.

He was about to deceive the Emperor—he was going to deceive an Emperor! He would become the most formidable swindler in history!

Lu Mingshan even began to have his own ambitions.

Previously, he had no choice but to listen to Lu Qingxi, but tomorrow… if he performed well, could he cling to the Emperor and become a favorite?

If that happened, Lu Qingxi wouldn’t dare to harm him!

Everyone had their own thoughts and calculations.

Li Qingzhi, on the other hand, only learned about this the night he returned to the capital.

Li Qingzhi never expected things to progress so quickly.

He thought Lu Qingxi would wait a few more days until everything was foolproof before taking action.

But on second thought, this was normal.

People who accomplish great things act decisively. Hesitation only leads to missed opportunities.

Moreover… the Emperor’s health was indeed very poor. Even with the court doctors’ meticulous care, he only had a year or two to live.

For tomorrow… Li Qingzhi planned to take Jin Xiaoye and the others to Qingyun Restaurant for a meal, helping Lu Mingshan in the process.

With Chang Duan’s help, this plan was feasible.

After considering everything, Li Qingzhi went to bed, but he had trouble sleeping.

Jin Xiaoye asked, “Why aren’t you sleeping?” Li Qingzhi kept touching her restlessly.

Li Qingzhi replied, “Xiaoye, something monumental is happening tomorrow. I can’t sleep.”

“No matter how big, it’s not more important than sleep,” Jin Xiaoye said, hugging him. “Sleep!” Sighing, Li Qingzhi’s bulk made it harder to hold him than before… Jin Xiaoye was very tired from being so busy lately. Once Li Qingzhi stopped moving, she quickly fell asleep.

Li Qingzhi kissed her and then followed her into slumber.

However, others were different. Many couldn’t sleep that night.

There was no morning court session the next day.

Qi Jun rarely attended morning court anyway.

He got up, had some porridge, accompanied by some pickled vegetables made by Qingyun Restaurant’s Shopkeeper Duan, which Lu Qingxi had brought into the palace.

The pickles had a bit of shredded chicken, and the porridge had egg whites mixed in—things that were nourishing.

Qi Jun had a small appetite and didn’t eat much. After finishing, he rested for a while before leaving the palace with Concubine Liu and Lu Qingxi.

Being the Emperor, there were many places Lu Qingxi wouldn’t dare to take him, but Qingyun Restaurant was fine.

Qingyun Restaurant was his property, and Duan Jin was his man!

“Your Majesty, Shopkeeper Duan has come up with two new dishes. You can try them…” Lu Qingxi, walking beside the sedan chair, spoke to the Emperor.

Just as he was speaking, they arrived at Qingyun Restaurant.

Qi Jun got off the sedan chair carefully, remembering the stumble from last time, and was more cautious this time.

Lu Qingxi promptly supported him, reminding him of the threshold.

They entered Qingyun Restaurant and headed straight for the backyard.

Last time, they dined in a private room on the second floor at Concubine Liu’s request. This time, she planned to go to the backyard and try Shopkeeper Duan’s Qingyun Feast.

The Qingyun Feast had many dishes. The Emperor couldn’t eat every dish, but he was happy to accompany Concubine Liu.

He would take a few bites of what he could eat and skip what he couldn’t.

After they sat down, Lu Qingxi fetched Chang Duan to serve the dishes.

One after another, the intricate and exquisite dishes were brought out… Concubine Liu was delighted with the meal.

Qi Jun, who initially had little appetite, ended up eating quite a bit, seeing how happy Concubine Liu was.

At this moment, a guest arrived at Qingyun Restaurant.

Lu Mingshan hadn’t been to Qingyun Restaurant for half a month. Last time, he had a brief chat with Wei Dongzheng, which left Wei so angry he resigned and fell ill.

This time, upon arriving at Qingyun Restaurant…

Lu Mingshan found an empty table and ordered a few spicy signature dishes.

“The last time I came, I wanted to try Qingyun Restaurant’s spicy dishes, but an incident prevented me. This time, I must enjoy them.” Lu Mingshan spoke warmly to the waiter.

At this point, his black and white eyebrows had already made him recognizable: “Taoist Lu!”

“Taoist Lu, let me treat you to a meal!”

“Taoist Lu, I’ve been looking for you.”

“Taoist Lu, would you like to go to a private room upstairs?”

…

Lu Mingshan sighed softly: “Everyone, I came today to enjoy Qingyun Restaurant’s delicacies.”

Meanwhile, Lu Qingxi’s people entered the backyard and reported to the Emperor: “Your Majesty, Taoist Lu is here at Qingyun Restaurant!”

“That miraculous Taoist Lu is here?” Concubine Liu excitedly looked at Qi Jun: “Your Majesty, I wish to see Taoist Lu.”

Qi Jun also wanted to see Lu Mingshan.

He wanted to know why he had to suffer so much in this life.

He was the Emperor, the most revered person in the world, yet his daily life was full of discomfort and misery.

Qi Jun immediately ordered someone to invite Lu Mingshan in.

Lu Qingxi said, “Your Majesty, let this old servant do it.”

The Emperor agreed without hesitation.

Lu Qingxi smiled and walked to the restaurant’s hall, seeing Lu Mingshan surrounded by people.

With two guards, Lu Qingxi approached and bowed to Lu Mingshan: “Taoist Lu, my master requests your presence.”

The eunuch’s unique voice cleared the crowd around Lu Mingshan.

Lu Mingshan glanced at Lu Qingxi and smiled: “Then let’s go.”

Lu Qingxi led Lu Mingshan to the backyard, instructing the waiter to bring Lu Mingshan’s ordered dishes to the backyard.

They soon disappeared from everyone’s sight.

The people in the restaurant breathed a sigh of relief: “Who was that?”

“That was the Grand Eunuch.”

“I heard the Emperor likes Qingyun Restaurant’s food.”