Traveling through the emperor, overthrowing the empress dowager at the beginning

Chunrui Palace was originally called Lexi Palace, but it was renamed after Huarui moved in.

And because of Ye Chen's favor, the layout and decoration inside Chunrui Palace are the best in the entire harem.

Every day, many people come and go in Chunrui Palace, some to greet them, some to get close to them, and some to inquire about news. Huarui responds carefully and does not become spoiled because of Ye Chen's favor.

However, on this day, when Hua Rui had finished entertaining several concubines and was about to rest, her personal maid suddenly came to report.

"Master, Madam Xue is here!"

Hearing this, Hua Rui was slightly stunned, and immediately perked up. Madam Xue's status in the harem was very special, so she naturally did not dare to neglect her and hurried out of the palace to greet her.

"Get up, get up."

As soon as Huarui saluted, Madam Xue hurried forward and helped Huarui up.

"You and I are both in the harem, so we should move around more often in the future."

Mrs. Xue had a kind smile on her face and a friendly attitude.

"Hua Jieyu, you can tell me anything you encounter in the palace. After all, you have only been in the palace for a short time, and I have been raised in the palace since I was a child. I can help you with many things."

Mrs. Xue was very enthusiastic. She took the initiative to hold Hua Rui's hand and asked about her well-being.

She had light and elegant makeup on her face, but her demeanor always revealed a noble and mature temperament.

Hua Rui was quite flattered. After all, Madam Xue was of noble status, while she was just a small concubine, so she spoke carefully throughout the whole process.

"By the way, Hua Jieyu, have you been worried about anything recently?"

Mrs. Xue suddenly asked Hua Rui, acting very understanding.

"what?"

Huarui was slightly stunned, and a sense of melancholy arose in her heart.

She has indeed been troubled recently. After all, Ye Chen was assassinated when he left the palace before. She heard it not long ago, and Ye Chen has left the palace again, which makes her very worried.

Faced with Mrs. Xue who was so concerned about her, she had no guard at all and told her about the troubles in her heart.

The two quickly became familiar with each other.

However, neither of them noticed that there was a strange flash in the eyes of a maid who was in charge of serving Madam Xue.

And at this time.

In the capital, on the carriage, Ye Chen and others were feeling a little bored.

It would take some time to mobilize a large number of people to besiege the Lu Shang's hideout, and he didn't want to wait in the carriage.

"Qiu'er, send someone to the lakeside cottage to ask how Boss Murong is doing with his gathering of the Jianghu people. Also, find out where the best restaurant on this street is. I need to go there to rest."

Ye Chen said to Shen Qiu.

Shen Qiu naturally did not dare to delay and immediately went to convey the order.

The carriage moved slowly and soon arrived at a restaurant.

Ye Chen lifted the car curtain and walked out, and saw the sign on the restaurant with three big words written on it: Zuixianlou.

"This name is really well chosen."

Ye Chen nodded slightly. In ancient times, there were no televisions or radios, so merchants did not have many ways to advertise. A good signboard often meant half the battle was won.

Although it was not yet time for dinner, the business in Zuixianlou was still very good, and the front of the hotel was full of carriages.

"Sir, are you stopping by for a meal or staying overnight?"

A waiter from the hotel came up and greeted them warmly.

"Bring some tea and cakes, and give me a private room!"

Ye Chen waved his hand and said.

The waiter observed Ye Chen with a smile, then said, "Sir, is this your first time at Zuixianlou?"

"what happened?"

"Young Master, I'm afraid you don't know that the private rooms in Zuixianlou are divided into three categories: Heaven, Earth, and Human. I wonder which one you would like?"

"Hmm? What's the difference?"

Ye Chen frowned slightly and asked back.

"Sir, the cheapest room in our store is a private room for 1 person. It's an ordinary private room and only costs one or two taels of silver."

"The private room at Dihao is more elegantly decorated and requires a payment of ten taels of silver."

"The Tianzihao private room is the best one we have here. It's full of good stuff. You need to pay one hundred taels of silver."

The waiter nodded and bowed, keeping a very humble attitude.

"Tsk, what do you mean by good things?"

Ye Chen narrowed his eyes, but he could already detect a different taste.

"Hey, sir, we have everything you want, whether it's a courtesan, a singing boy, a handsome male companion, or antiques and curios. This restaurant can provide them all."

The waiter said with a smile.

"Haha, no thanks, I just need a private room the size of a person!"

Ye Chen narrowed his eyes and then said.

"Okay, sir, please come in!"

The waiter was still smiling and did not seem to be indifferent just because Ye Chen asked for a private room with a human-shaped number.

When Ye Chen followed the waiter into the Zuixianlou, he heard all kinds of playful sounds coming from the lobby on the ground floor.

There were actually many high platforms in the lobby, with singers, dancers, pianists, and jugglers. Ye Chen even saw a room with the word "Bath" written on the door, which was a room specifically used to boil water for people to bathe, massage, and rest. Judging from the graceful figures that passed by the door from time to time, the people giving massages should be young women.

Ye Chen walked in it, feeling a strange feeling in his heart. This restaurant contained almost all the entertainment activities in ancient times. No wonder so many people gathered here even before dinner time.

"Sir, please follow me up to the second floor."

The waiter took Ye Chen up to the second floor and pointed to a room.

"This is the private room with a Chinese character for 'person'. Please wait a moment, tea and cakes will be served shortly."

The waiter spoke to Ye Chen politely.

Hearing this, Ye Chen just nodded slightly. There were only tables and chairs in this herringbone-shaped private room. There was a vase on the table with some wild flowers in it. The decoration was very ordinary, but also very clean.

Ye Chen sat down at the table and asked Shen Qiu curiously, "How many restaurants of this size are there on this street?"

"Your Majesty, this restaurant is already the largest and most popular on this street, but there are six other restaurants of similar size or slightly smaller, and they're all doing brisk business."

Shen Qiu said to Ye Chen.

"Ah."

Ye Chen gradually narrowed his eyes. There were seven restaurants of such a scale, which showed how prosperous the business was here. It was likely that a huge amount of money could be made every day. And how much tax could Dayu's treasury collect from these restaurants every year?

"Qiu'er, go check out who the owners of these restaurants are."

Ye Chen said to Shen Qiu.

He wanted to confirm whether the restaurants on this street were really controlled by those powerful officials, and if so, which officials were they?

Such a fortune has been embezzled by those treacherous officials for many years. If Ye Chen gets the chance, he will definitely make them spit it all out.

"As ordered!"