Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

A restaurant of such a large scale, with such complex flavors in its dishes, was actually created without a chef.

It truly exceeded Emperor Jing's imagination.

Seeing Emperor Jing's surprised expression, Fang Zheng had no choice but to explain, "Your Majesty, the matter is far more complicated than you imagine."

"In fact, your best option is to ask the Crown Prince directly. From its inception to its current popularity in the market, he has personally managed the restaurant. I am not very familiar with many of the details. I suggest you take a look near the restaurant."

"Your Majesty, there are too many people near the restaurant. Although there are many guards accompanying you, there are too many eyes... This servant is worried that there will be chaos."

Before Emperor Jing could speak, Guo Tianyang grew anxious.

He knew what the outside of 'Kentucky Fried Chicken' was like. The spies from the Eastern Depot said that buying something there meant being squeezed and unable to move.

It wasn't that he was afraid someone would assassinate His Majesty; the security in the capital was undoubtedly secure.

But he was afraid that some ignorant fool would rush forward and cause a collision, which would be a death sentence.

Fang Zheng said, "Your Majesty, Eunuch Guo is right. It is a bit unsafe there. Moreover, your imperial visage is printed on the silver notes. Although not many people have hundred-tael notes, there is still a chance of being recognized. If it causes a disturbance, it would be bad."

"Why not find a restaurant a little further away, and I will bring the Crown Prince over? I wonder what Your Majesty thinks?"

Emperor Jing nodded, "Very well, let's do that."

......

With a safe plan in place, Fang Zheng immediately arranged for the Embroidered Uniform Guards to secretly escort Emperor Jing and the others to the Crown Prince's location.

They sat down in a restaurant on the same street as 'Kentucky Fried Chicken,' about two or three hundred meters away.

Looking out the window, they could still see many commoners lining up to buy fast food.

The area below was completely blocked.

Even more embarrassing were the loud shouts that could be heard from time to time.

"Meet at Peach Garden, Enjoy Deliciousness!"

Fang Zheng went to fetch someone, leaving Emperor Jing sitting in his seat with a numb expression.

The world is going bad!

Yesterday, hearing this slogan in the palace already felt shameful enough, but now he had a completely new experience.

How could the common people be so shameless!

While waiting, the restaurant owner enthusiastically brought a few plates of appetizers to Emperor Jing's table.

Emperor Jing glanced at him, "I... I haven't ordered yet."

The restaurant owner's smile grew even brighter, "Esteemed guest, these are complimentary appetizers, no charge. All customers who dine at our establishment receive these free appetizers."

"Moreover, I find your face very familiar... You look like the God of Wealth!"

He really wasn't lying.

From the first time he saw Emperor Jing, the owner felt exceptionally familiar. After thinking carefully, he remembered that he looked like the emperor printed on the Jingxing Bank's silver notes.

But saying he looked like the emperor directly was too frightening... so he changed it to the God of Wealth.

God of Wealth?

Emperor Jing chuckled silently.

It was the first time someone had described him that way.

Emperor Jing looked down again and said faintly, "Shopkeeper, business must be bad these days."

The shopkeeper's face fell, "Sir, one look at you and I know you're perceptive. I won't lie to you, that restaurant across the street has stolen a lot of my business... Alas."

"Actually, let me tell you, that 'Kentucky Fried Chicken' across the street has problems!" The shopkeeper said mysteriously, "Their restaurant isn't a proper restaurant. Look at the way they've decorated the place, it doesn't look like a proper place to eat. And the name of the restaurant... 'Kentucky Fried Chicken,' how vulgar!"

"It's nothing like our restaurant, with its grand decorations and a name that I paid a lot of money to scholars to come up with."

"Oh? What's it called? I didn't notice when I came," Emperor Jing asked with a smile.

"Junshuang Restaurant!" The shopkeeper proudly puffed out his chest, then his face fell again, and he began to complain about 'Kentucky Fried Chicken.'

He whispered mysteriously, "You see how popular they are, right? But let me tell you, their food isn't clean! Recently, many people have gotten sick from eating there, running around in the streets!... And they don't have many dishes, unlike us, who have famous chefs and dozens of dishes to choose from!"

"They're just popular now, they'll run into trouble sooner or later... Humph!"

The shopkeeper's emotions rose, and he began to chatter incessantly. Emperor Jing didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

He was pleased that the Crown Prince's business was unexpectedly successful, and it had begun to arouse jealousy among his peers. It was said that mediocrity is immune to envy.

He was worried that his first personal venture would be competing with the people for profit, driving other restaurants out of business, which would sound terrible if it spread.

Just as the shopkeeper was complaining, Fang Zheng led Li Yuanzhao up to the second floor.

Li Yuanzhao was holding several hamburgers in his hand.

Sitting down in front of Emperor Jing, he glanced at the shopkeeper who was staring at him warily, and then said cheerfully, "Dad, freshly made hamburgers, still warm, try them!"

The shopkeeper's expression instantly turned to ice.

Hamburgers!?

So you also....

He glared fiercely at Emperor Jing and took away the complimentary appetizers...

Emperor Jing didn't mind, picked up a hamburger, and took two bites.

Immediately, his eyes lit up!

These hot ones are much better than the cold ones from yesterday.

With each bite, the juice spread in his mouth, especially the sauce, which was incredibly rich and fragrant.

Looking at Li Yuanzhao's face, as if asking for credit, Emperor Jing's expression returned to calm.

He said in a deep voice, "Li Yuanzhao, opening a restaurant privately without my permission and competing with the people for profit! Is this the good deed you've done?"

"The restaurants around here are almost driven out of business by you, right? Don't forget your identity!"

As expected, his father never had anything good to say!

Li Yuanzhao curled his lips, "Driven out of business? I'm engaging in fair market competition! If they're driven out of business, it's because they're incompetent and don't deserve to run a restaurant!"

"Moreover, Father, you don't know how vicious the merchants on this street are. Seeing that my business is good, they hired people to throw feces into my restaurant's kitchen at night, throw feces! Is that something a human would do?"

Emperor Jing's throat tightened!

His terrified gaze shifted to the hamburger.

What the hell? Was this thing made in a kitchen with feces in it?

Fang Zheng also swallowed.

He didn't know about this either.

Indeed, commercial competition is treacherous. The highest-end business wars only use the most simple methods....

"But don't be afraid, our kitchen is spotless! I've studied military strategy since I was a child, how could I let them succeed?" Li Yuanzhao said proudly, "An enlightened ruler and wise general move and conquer, and success comes from foresight."

"After the grand opening for three days, I expected that my peers would attack my restaurant, so I sent people to inquire at various restaurants in advance and deployed defenses in the kitchen at night! That's why they didn't succeed."

Emperor Jing immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Good fellow... for the sake of selling food, he even used military tactics...

"Moreover, I'm not competing with the people for profit, am I? Since my restaurant opened, the prices of restaurants on the entire street have dropped. How many commoners have benefited because of me? This is a good thing."

Li Yuanzhao said indignantly, "On the way here, I heard Lao Fang say that Father thinks it's inappropriate for me to do this, right?"

"But I dare to say now that my restaurant business today is beneficial to the present and beneficial to the future!"