IHOEAYSTTTIW Chapter 45

Chapter 45: Change in Identity, But Nothing Really Different.

The young official was invited into the private room and seated in the place of honor.

Cheng Que handed him the menu respectfully, “Sir, what would you like to order?”

The young official tremblingly took the menu, his eyes constantly darting towards Yun Qi, who was standing with his head lowered. Seeing that Yun Qi was still immersed in his performance as an ordinary waiter, he became increasingly uneasy and coughed meaningfully a couple of times.

Yun Qi picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea, and sent it over. Then, he ushered the suspicious Cheng Que and Gu Zhan towards the door, “Manager Cheng, go get busy. I’ll take care of things here.”

“Yes, yes, yes.” The official took a big gulp of tea, nodding in agreement, “This, cough, this official doesn’t like crowds.”

This development was rather strange.

Cheng Que looked at the somewhat unfamiliar Yun Qi, still feeling uneasy.

Over these past few days, he had come to regard Yun Qi as family. Since he was family, he couldn’t just let him be taken away. Cheng Que mustered his courage, walked up to the official, and bowed respectfully, “I am the manager of this Xiang Cuisine restaurant. If there’s anything you need, anything you require, you can tell me. He’s just a worker I hired. If you need anything, sir…”

“Just catching up with an old friend.” The official waved his hand at the guards behind him. The guards immediately understood, throwing some silver into Cheng Que’s arms, and forcefully ushered him out.

Cheng Que held the silver, looking at Yun Qi with confusion.

“It’s nothing, just casually cook up a couple of dishes and send them up,” Yun Qi gave Cheng Que a reassuring look, naturally pulling up a chair and sitting next to the official.

Cheng Que shuffled towards the door, turning his head back every step of the way. The guards behind the official flanked Cheng Que, appearing more like they were escorting him to his execution than simply seeing him out. The moment Cheng Que stepped out of the door, it slammed shut with a “bang,” and the two guards stood ramrod straight at the entrance, like door gods.

This cut off even the possibility of eavesdropping.

Cheng Que glanced at the door again, hesitated, and ultimately chose to hurry downstairs to discuss countermeasures with Gu Zhan and Lin Yan.

With the people at the door gone, the official stood up and bowed respectfully to Yun Qi, “Greetings, Your Royal Highness, Prince.”

Yun Qi had disappeared before the new Emperor ascended the throne, so he naturally had no title. But he shared the same father and mother as the new Emperor, so if he was found, he would inevitably be granted a title. Even if it was a mere honorary title without any real power, it would at least be the title of a Prince.

“Quick, get up.” Yun Qi helped him up, pressing him back into the chair. “I told you, I’m no longer…”

“How can you not be?” The official looked around, making sure the soundproofing in the private room was good, before lowering his voice, “I’ve been by Your Highness’s side since you were studying. Your Highness’s benevolence is the natural talent of an emperor, far better than the current one…”

“Lord Li, you were my study companion, you should understand me.” Yun Qi placed the pastries on the table in front of Lord Li, the intention to shut him up was obvious, “I’m not interested in that position, nor am I interested in the position of a Prince.”

Lord Li picked up a pastry, but didn’t bite into it, “But…”

“What exactly is it you came here for?” Yun Qi chose to give him a hand, directly shoving the pastry into Lord Li’s mouth.

The sweet taste spread in his mouth, slightly alleviating his hard-controlled agitation. Lord Li suddenly didn’t want to put the pastry down. He looked at the half-eaten pastry, pondering slightly, and finally remembered that he had important business to attend to, not just to freeload.

Lord Li cupped his fist in the other hand toward Yun Qi, adopting the righteous appearance of a loyal minister, showing no trace of having just been trying to persuade Yun Qi to rebel, “Your Highness is wise. His Majesty sent me to deliver a message, saying that he will be traveling incognito tomorrow, taking the opportunity to come to Xiang Cuisine to meet Your Highness.”

“Okay, I understand.” Yun Qi nodded, getting up to leave.

Lord Li watched Yun Qi walk to the door, finally unable to resist. He hurried forward, grabbing Yun Qi’s sleeve, and whispered, “Your Highness, I know you don’t care about power, but I implore you to think of the people of Great Zhou. The current one…”

Yun Qi shook off Lord Li’s hand, took two steps back, and said loudly, “I’ll go urge them to prepare your dishes, please sit for a while.”

The restaurant was getting busier with customers, the waiters were bustling about as usual, but the accountant had been replaced by a newcomer. Cheng Que and Gu Zhan were nowhere to be seen.

Yun Qi hesitated slightly, then turned and walked towards the kitchen.

A diner popping up in the back kitchen, which was usually off-limits to outsiders, Yun Qi casually glanced over and determined that this person was from the government.

If they weren’t spies from an enemy country, then it was nothing to worry about. The appearance of government yamen runners could only mean one thing: clearing the way for his incognito brother’s visit.

Yun Qi entered the kitchen, not surprised to see Gu Zhan and Cheng Que discussing tomorrow’s menu. Seeing him come in, Gu Zhan enthusiastically greeted him, casually asking as if it was just a passing thought, “Brother Mo, do you know if that important person coming tomorrow has any food restrictions?”

An obvious probing, but Yun Qi was too lazy to continue hiding behind this easily-pierced disguise. He pushed the menu back, casually responding, “Just make it normal, he can eat anything.”

“Oh.” Gu Zhan nodded, sizing Yun Qi up, “So you know who’s coming tomorrow?”

Yun Qi simply hummed in acknowledgement, uninterested in the topic. He estimated the time and figured that Lin Yan would be waking up soon, it was time to start making afternoon tea.

Gu Zhan wouldn’t let it go. He hesitated for less than a second, and then decisively lifted Yun Qi’s disguise, “Brother, Mo Qi isn’t your real name, you’re actually surnamed Yun, right?”

In the Great Zhou, only the Imperial family had the surname Yun.

Cheng Que’s heart skipped a beat. He tugged on Gu Zhan’s sleeve, telling him not to speak recklessly.

“Yes, Brother Gu is right about everything.” Yun Qi didn’t panic at all about his identity being exposed, he even started studying the afternoon tea recipes.

Cheng Que was so scared his legs went weak. Before he could even kneel down to Yun Qi to pay his respects, Gu Zhan was already dancing on the tightrope again, “Since I guessed right, then that thing I asked you about before…”

Yun Qi agreed decisively, “I sent someone to investigate it.”

“Great!” Gu Zhan snapped his fingers, taking over all of Yun Qi’s work, “I’ll go pack things up now.”

Yun Qi was focused on preparing afternoon tea for Lin Yan, not caring much about anything else.

Cheng Que finally found an opportunity to speak. He stopped Gu Zhan, who was about to leave, and carefully asked, “Then… do we need to clear the restaurant tomorrow?”

“No, the more low-key, the better.”

Cheng Que acknowledged with a “yes.” Just as he was about to leave, a waiter led two people carrying something in through the back door.

“Young Master Mo, I had the plaque you ordered rushed. Take a look,” the waiter approached Yun Qi, his voice laced with flattery.

“What plaque?” Cheng Que lifted a corner of the cloth covering the plaque, reading softly, “Golden Cuisine Personally Endorsed by the Emperor…”

Cheng Que hurriedly dropped the cloth, a little confused about what Yun Qi was planning.

Weren’t they supposed to be low-key? Weren’t they not even clearing the restaurant? Then how could…

Yun Qi lifted the cloth, examining it closely, very pleased, “My Brother ordered it, isn’t it nice?”

Cheng Que twitched his lips, casually saying, “Nice, nice.”

He suddenly felt that being surnamed Yun and being surnamed Mo weren’t that different, both were Yun Qi following behind Lin Yan, “Brother, Brother,” everything centered around Lin Yan.

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