Transmigration: The Little Chef Calls The Shots
Chapter 976 - 144 Invitation

Chapter 976: 144 Invitation

When Li Chang rushed into Fuman Building, anxiously adjusting his official hat, what he saw was Sixth Prince Zhao Hongyan and Xiao Linshuang each holding a huge chicken leg and gnawing away with relish.

Li Chang’s hands, fixing his clothes, paused; his eyes widened in disbelief. Was this really the aloof prince? Although his rank was low and he’d never met a prince, he had heard of their dignity and elegance. This was the first time he’d ever seen a prince gnawing on a chicken leg!

"Is this not Master Magistrate Li Chang of Zhuma Town?" Eunuch Chang, whose thoughts were entirely on the delicious food the table offered but who nonetheless had keen eyes, spotted the hurrying Li Chang and approached with a smile to greet him.

Although eunuchs were but servants, they were nonetheless people associated with the palace, a fact Li Chang understood well. He quickly returned Eunuch Chang’s greeting with a bow, then knelt by the feet of Sixth Prince, his voice quivering with excitement, "Your subordinate, Li Chang, County Magistrate of Zhuma Town, pays respect to His Highness the Sixth Prince. May Your Highness live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand of ten thousand years!"

Li Chang waited with his forehead to the ground, expecting the prince to exempt him from the formalities. Instead, all he heard was the same smacking sound of meat being eaten.

"Your Highness?" Eunuch Chang quickly stepped in, smilingly reminding Zhao Hongyan.

Only then did Zhao Hongyan come to his senses and muttered, "Dismiss, dismiss the formalities."

"Thank you, Your Highness," said Li Chang as he rose with a smile. In his eyes, Zhao Hongyan was about the same age as his own son—a child who forgot everything at the sight of food.

However...

Li Chang glanced at Xiao Linshuang, who was sitting level with the prince and gnawing at a chicken leg happily, and suddenly felt uneasy. Just what kind of luck had befallen the three Lin sisters? Lin Yuan had caught the favor of the Second Young Master of the General’s Mansion, and the youngest was even more impressive, catching the eye of a prince.

Indeed, their prospects seemed limitless!

Li Chang secretly wiped the cold sweat from his brow, thankful he had not caused trouble for the three sisters in the past.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the Hall of Fuman Restaurant was quite amusing. The two youngsters sat at the table, eating and drinking merrily, while a group of adults stood by, drooling with envy—even Li Chang, who was used to Fuman Building’s fare, could not help but salivate.

Not until the two little ones were full and satisfied did Eunuch Chang step forward with a smile to suggest, "Your Highness, since it’s getting late, why not stay at Sir Li’s residence for the night and depart for the capital early tomorrow morning? How does that sound?"

Zhao Hongyan, licking his fingertips, glanced at Li Chang, who was grinning at him, and felt an inexplicable dislike. Frowning slightly, he turned to Xiao Linshuang, "Isn’t your grandfather the shopkeeper of Fuman Building? Do you also live here? Is there a room for me to stay in for the night?"

Xiao Linshuang wiped her mouth, looked up at him with big eyes, and then tilted her head, glancing up at Lao Fan’s room.

Naturally, Lao Fan was not pleased.

Xiao Linshuang giggled and replied loudly, "Of course you can! Fuman Building has plenty of rooms to stay in! Choose any room you like!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hongyan was delighted and turned to Eunuch Chang, "Did you hear that? I’m not going anywhere today; I’ll stay here. Perhaps I’ll even get to wait for Brother Xia to return tonight!"

Eunuch Chang inwardly muttered that it was definitely impossible, and said with difficulty, "Your Highness, Fuman Building is indeed nice, but no matter how nice, it’s still a restaurant, bustling with people. With Your Highness’s noble status, in case there are individuals with ulterior motives..."

"It’s fine, isn’t Sir Li here?" Zhao Hongyan, having lived in the palace for so long, was bored of it. Naturally, he preferred to stay in the restaurant, and he cared little for Li Chang.

Hearing Zhao Hongyan mention his name, Li Chang was flattered and hurriedly stepped forward, folding his hands and saying, "Reporting to Your Highness, my residence has already prepared rooms, and will certainly provide Your Highness with comfortable accommodation. Moreover, it is truly unsafe for Your Highness to stay here; I hope Your Highness will reconsider."

It would be a tremendous honor to have a prince stay in his residence, and Li Chang spared no effort in extending the invitation.

But Zhao Hongyan was not listening. Squinting at Li Chang, he said pensively, "Sir Li, are you implying that under your management, Zhuma Town is not safe at all?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chang broke out in cold sweat and knelt down immediately, "Your Highness is astute; although Zhuma Town is not directly under the Emperor’s feet, it’s still close by. How could it not be safe? Absolutely safe, absolutely safe!"