The Prodigal Son

Empress Dowager Guo narrowed her eyes slightly.

A thousand miles of brocade!

Wanjia Restaurant!

So that's what it meant!

It turns out they had planned this all along!

She refused to believe that Zhao Luan was unaware of this matter beforehand.

Zhao Luan deliberately questioned Qin Yu in public, clearly intending to use Qin Yu's words to shut herself up!

Now that the die is cast, Qin Yu has prepared a way out for her!

If she does not agree with what Qin Yu said, not only will she not be able to change the outcome or save face, but she will also make the envoys of various countries laugh at Da Ning and gain a reputation in the court for being inconsiderate.

The only way for her to save face and gain a good reputation is to go down the stairs!

Zhao Luan and Qin Yu have already figured out how to choose for her!

She has only one choice!

"right!"

Empress Dowager Guo put on a smiling face, looking at Qin Yu with great satisfaction: "I never imagined that the person who understands me best in this world would be you, my child!"

Qin Yu chuckled: "It's not that I understand the Empress Dowager, but I know she is kind and frugal, and would never use the blood and sweat of the people for extravagant and wasteful things!"

"yes!"

Empress Dowager Guo nodded slightly: "Our dynasty has suffered from internal and external troubles in recent years, resulting in a significant depletion of national strength!"

"I just want to see if, under those circumstances, any treacherous officials will still try to persuade Luan'er to empty the national treasury to hold some kind of birthday banquet for me!"

"Fortunately, my Great Ning has no such treacherous villains; I am greatly relieved!"

Empress Dowager Guo also took the opportunity to cooperate with Qin Yu in continuing the charade, but she secretly harbored doubts.

Was this Qin Yu's idea or Zhao Luan's idea?

Or was it an idea that someone else came up with for them?

Amazing!

What everyone thought was impossible was accomplished so easily, and they even coerced my will, forcing me to speak on their behalf!

Zhao Luan suddenly realized, and bowed, saying, "So Mother's intentions were so profound; I was truly foolish!"

"Your Majesty is wise and insightful; we admire you greatly!"

The ministers of Ningguo and the envoys from several countries also bowed and cheered.

"The Empress Dowager's foresight is truly admirable!"

Yu Jing echoed this sentiment.

Yan Li chuckled, "The Empress Dowager's birthday banquet today will surely become a celebrated tale for future generations!"

Hearing their words, Xiao Hu cursed inwardly.

He wanted to say something more, but Xiao Baoju's cold gaze had already swept over him.

Xiao Hu was unwilling and could only shut up in frustration, glaring at Qin Yu through gritted teeth.

Qin Yu was already dead, and after listening to his father's advice, he felt it wasn't worth arguing with Qin Yu over what happened a few days ago.

But now, Qin Yu is definitely not going to die.

This made him feel resentful.

Several envoys from smaller countries originally wanted to join in the commotion, but seeing that Bei Qi remained silent, they naturally dared not stir up trouble.

"Alright!"

Empress Dowager Guo slightly raised her hand and looked at everyone with a smile: "Please, my esteemed ministers and envoys from various countries, follow me to this Wanjia Restaurant and take your seats!"

"yes!"

Everyone accepted the order.

"Empress Dowager, please!"

Qin Fumeng snapped out of his daze, smiled and gestured with his hand, then glanced at the assembled officials with a smug look on his face.

It's as if it's saying: Aren't you all dumbfounded? Isn't my grandson smart?

Seeing Qin Fumeng's smug look, many ministers cursed inwardly and made up their minds to go to the Qin family to collect their debts after the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet!

Yes, the Empress must also give them justice!

When the time comes, let the Empress punish Qin for abusing the imperial gold medal!

Furthermore, Qin Yu ruined the Empress Dowager's plan to undermine the Empress's prestige. Don't be fooled by the Empress Dowager's smiling face now; she will definitely not let him off the hook later!

At that time, with the Empress Dowager and the Empress working together, Qin Yu will definitely not have a good time!

Thinking about it this way, the ministers who had been forced to borrow money from Qin Yu finally felt a little better.

Empress Dowager Guo nodded slightly and, supported by Zhao Luan, slowly walked across the brocade-paved road.

Lu Si followed Lu Chunqiu, glancing at Qin Yu with resentment, but also feeling extremely frustrated.

This still didn't kill this bastard?

That bastard must have planned this all along!

He wasn't giving up; he was confident!

They were all fooled by that bastard!

Thinking of the scene where he knelt down and begged Qin Yu for forgiveness in the restaurant, Lü Si felt extremely frustrated.

He believed Qin Yu was doomed, that Qin Yu was impervious to criticism, and that he didn't want to fight to the death with someone who was destined to die. That's why he disregarded his pride and knelt down to apologize to Qin Yu.

But now, this bastard isn't going to die!

Whenever he saw that grandson's face, he felt uneasy all over, as if he were seeing himself kneeling down to apologize to Qin Yu again.

And what about the Luo family?

He can't die now; the Luo family owes him money...

As he was thinking, Lü Si suddenly felt a jolt.

He got it!

Qin Yu clearly wanted to use him to seize the Luo family's wealth!

No, we absolutely cannot let Qin Yu succeed!

We can't let Qin Yu get away with this!

However, if I were to expose the debt agreement between Qin Yu and the Luo family, that bastard would definitely reveal that I had knelt down to him!

This was something he absolutely could not tolerate, given his extreme pride.

While Lü Si was racking his brains, everyone had already spotted the restaurant.

However, the restaurant did not hang up the "Wanjia Restaurant" sign as they had expected.

Just as everyone was wondering, Qin Yu ordered someone to bring out a blank plaque.

"What does this mean?"

Empress Dowager Guo cast an inquiring glance at Qin Yu.

Qin Yu bowed, his face beaming, and said, "Please, Your Majesty, inscribe a name for this restaurant! Let it be a celebrated story for posterity!"

Zhao Luan glanced sideways at Qin Yu, cursing inwardly.

What a wonderful story!

He just wanted the Empress Dowager to write a plaque for his restaurant!

That bastard really takes advantage of every passing goose!

They won't let any opportunity slip by!

With a plaque personally inscribed by the Empress Dowager, it would be difficult for Wanjia Restaurant not to do well in the future!

"You're quite thoughtful."

Empress Dowager Guo tried her best to maintain a smile, slowly picked up a large brush, dipped it in gold ink, and wrote four large characters in a vigorous and elegant style on the plaque.

Wanjia Restaurant!

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Qin Yu was overjoyed and immediately ordered the plaque to be hung up. He then led Empress Dowager Guo and the others into the restaurant.

The restaurant was not decorated in a fancy way, with only paper cranes scattered throughout as decorations.

Although everyone knows that cranes are a symbol of longevity, and these paper cranes symbolize long life, it is still a bit shabby for a restaurant to host the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet.

Qin Yu glanced at the paper cranes, then chuckled and said to the Empress Dowager, "I know Your Majesty is always frugal and dare not lavishly decorate. I could only order people to fold these paper cranes day and night, wishing Your Majesty longevity and boundless happiness!"

"That's excellent!"

Empress Dowager Guo nodded "with satisfaction," then looked approvingly at Qin Yu: "You child, you are truly thoughtful!"

What else can I do if I'm not satisfied?

Qin Yu had praised her so highly before!

If I say I'm not satisfied now, wouldn't that be like slapping myself in the face in public?

"I am deeply honored to receive this last compliment!"

Qin Yu's smile remained unchanged. "This humble servant has also prepared an unparalleled gift for the Empress Dowager tonight. Please, Your Majesty, stay and admire it!"

"Oh?"

Empress Dowager Guo finally showed a hint of curiosity. "What gift?"

"Please allow me to keep you in suspense for now, Your Majesty. You will find out tonight!"

Qin Yu chuckled, his cunning merchant instincts instantly awakening: "This gift is the result of my painstaking efforts, my tireless dedication, working day and night, drawing upon the essence of the sun and moon, and seizing the wonders of heaven and earth, going through eighty-one processes..."

Qin Yu began to boast wildly, spittle flying everywhere.

Until he caught a glimpse of Zhao Luan out of the corner of his eye.

Zhao Luan's eyes were black with a hint of green, like those of a hungry wolf that hadn't seen meat in a long time, and the fierce light in his eyes kept flashing.

Qin Yu remained silent.

What, you won't let me brag?

How can you highlight the value of a gift without bragging?

How do I process the accounting for a gift without highlighting its value?

Emperor Zhao Luan tried his best to restrain the urge to take off his shoes and slap Qin Yu's face.

That bastard!

I'll give him 100,000 taels of silver myself!

Is this all he produced?

She already had a premonition that Qin Yu was just spouting nonsense to try and steal the money she had allocated to him!

How dare you!

They've even started embezzling from me!

All that money came from her private treasury!

If I don't make this bastard cough up the silver, I'm not a Zhao!