At the tender age of eight, he was hastily dragged out and made emperor!

"It's time to serve!"

"May the phoenix spread its wings, and may the young master..."

In the private room.

Chu Ling sat in the main seat, watching the dishes being served one after another, while the waiter introduced them quickly but clearly without breaking a sweat.

This is also a distinctive feature of Juxiantang.

Diners who come here to dine and gather with friends always have a unique selection of dishes served, and the descriptions are always pleasant to hear.

This is rare.

"Watch and enjoy!"

As the dishes were served, Chu Ling smiled and said.

"Take it."

Li Zhong took out a silver coin, handed it to the waiter, and said calmly.

"Thank you for the reward, young master!"

The waiter could not hide his excitement. After receiving the silver coins with both hands, he repeatedly bowed and saluted Chu Ling.

silver?

On the other hand, Chu Ling frowned slightly when he saw the silver coin.

In Chu Ling's memory, he didn't know much about the currency system of Da Yu. He was not well received since birth. Whether in the Yu Palace or the Ten Princes' Mansion, Chu Ling had never been exposed to it. Even if there were some rewards, they were collected by his subordinates.

Why not eat minced meat?

Regardless of the time or background, this statement is not an exaggeration at all for certain specific groups.

They don't need to think about these things.

The joys and sorrows, the partings and reunions of people are not shared.

'It seems the central government of Great Yu has already implemented a seigniorage tax.' At this moment, Chu Ling was pondering something else: 'What is the state of Great Yu's central government's revenue and expenditure?'

As the emperor of the Great Yu Dynasty, Chu Ling's perspective on certain matters is inevitably from the central government's point of view, even if he is not currently in power.

Understanding the latest developments in Dayu and getting a clear picture of Dayu's true national conditions is what Chu Ling is doing right now. If he really takes power and governs personally one day, many things will be inseparable from money!

"Go back."

Li Zhong's voice brought Chu Ling back to her senses. As the waiter, unable to hide his joy, left, Wan Qiu'er, who was standing with her sword in her arms, walked over.

"Isn't this necessary for dining here?"

Seeing Wan Qiu'er start picking up food, Chu Ling smiled.

"Your Majesty, it's better to be safe than sorry."

Li Zhong stepped forward and whispered.

"alright."

Chu Ling casually replied that since taking over the Daxing Palace, everything Chu Ling eats and drinks has undergone strict screening. Several people test the food for poison on themselves, and only if there are no mistakes will it enter Chu Ling's mouth.

Wan Qiu'er tasted it the first time.

Li Zhong tasted it a second time.

And just like that, the time it takes for an incense stick to burn passed.

"Your Majesty, please have your meal."

Li Zhong lowered his head and said.

Looking at the cold food, Chu Ling lost his appetite. Some dishes are best eaten hot, but for Chu Ling, that was a luxury.

In this world, you have to give up something to gain something.

You can't have everything.

"Everyone sit down and eat."

Chu Ling picked up his bowl and chopsticks and said to Li Zhong and Wan Qiu'er, "This isn't the palace, so don't be so formal."

"Your Majesty~"

Li Zhong hesitated. In his mind, how could servants share the emperor's meal? This would be a violation of etiquette!

In contrast, Wan Qiu'er did not act like Li Zhong.

Under Chu Ling's watchful gaze, Wan Qiu'er placed the sword on the table, picked up her bowl and chopsticks, and began to eat heartily. Seeing Wan Qiu'er like this, Chu Ling smiled.

This is what eating should be like.

While dining at the Yu Palace, Chu Ling felt very uncomfortable being stared at by many people.

Seeing the emperor's reaction, Li Zhong hesitated for a moment before sitting down, but only his bottom touched the stool. Even when eating, he was very cautious.

Chu Ling didn't care about any of this.

As Chu Ling was growing, he ate quite a lot after developing an appetite. However, Chu Ling was too thin and small. To be a good emperor of the Great Yu, a healthy body was a prerequisite.

Without health, everything else is meaningless.

Since entering the Yu Palace, no matter what the environment was like or what happened, Chu Ling would try his best to eat more and eat more nutritious food.

……

Time passes minute by minute.

The Prince of Yiyang's Mansion.

The one-eyed scarred man frowned, glancing up from time to time at the setting sun. He couldn't help but feel anxious, as the appointed time was fast approaching.

But the new emperor did not return.

Regardless of what happens at the Imperial Garden, he doesn't even need to think about what would happen to the Great Yu if something went wrong while the new emperor was away from the palace.

"Ancestor."

The one-eyed scarred man hesitated for a long time, looked at Xia Wang who was resting with his eyes closed, leaned forward slightly, and whispered.

"The time hasn't come yet, what's the rush?"

Xia Wang said calmly.

"But……"

The one-eyed scarred man, however, was somewhat worried.

"Do you know that Li Zhong was able to go to the Daxing Palace, while you stayed in the Yeting Palace? What is it that makes you inferior to him?" Xia Wang slowly opened his eyes and looked at the one-eyed scarred man.

The one-eyed, scarred man fell silent.

His hands, hanging down, were clenched tightly.

He wasn't like this before.

"Mindset".

Xia Wang said calmly, "You are not as steady as him. You are too hasty in dealing with things. That's why you were tricked by bad people when you were handling that matter, and ended up like this."

A strange mix of emotions welled up inside the one-eyed, scarred man.

"Qian Mu, actually, our family has higher hopes for you."

Seeing the one-eyed scarred man like this, Xia Wang sighed softly, "It's all fate. If we had a choice, our family wouldn't have sent you to do that thing in the first place."

"Ancestor, this is all my fate."

Qian Mu lowered his head and said, "In the end, people have to pay the price for what they do. If you are not good enough and suffer losses, you can't blame others."

"That's exactly what we appreciate about you the most."

Xia Wang stood up and gently patted Qian Mu's shoulder. "You're too kind-hearted, but you're also incredibly capable. Sigh, in this cannibalistic inner court, it's better to suffer some losses early than late. At least you'll have a chance to survive."

"Are you saying this to Qian Mu, or to me?"

At this moment, Chu Ling, who had returned to the Prince of Yiyang's mansion, looked at Xia Wang's back and smiled slightly. In contrast, Li Zhong's expression was somewhat complicated.

"His Majesty!"

Lost in thought, Qian Mu inadvertently caught sight of Chu Ling's figure. His heart tightened, and he immediately raised his hand in a salute, a gesture to remind Xia Wang.

"This old servant greets Your Majesty."

Only then did Xia Wang belatedly turn around and raise his hand to bow to Chu Ling.

"Return to the palace."

Chu Ling walked towards Xia Wang, his expression calm and composed.

"Here!"

Xia Wang bowed again.

After wandering around for a while, Chu Ling became even more curious about Xia Wang after thinking about some things. In particular, when he returned, Xia Wang said something to Qian Mu. Chu Ling knew that Xia Wang had noticed his return, but Xia Wang still said it. What did that mean?

Everything is unspoken.

But precisely because of this, Chu Ling became even more eager to know what Xia Wang was trying to achieve by treating her this way.

He may seem high and mighty now, but he actually has no real power. Chu Ling doesn't believe that Xia Wang's contact with him is purely out of loyalty; anyone contacting him at this time must have an ulterior motive!