The Star-Picking Pavilion is about to open. Princess Rui has been secretly working on it for a long time. Everyone who is influential in the capital has received an invitation to the Star-Picking Pavilion. Similarly, the managers of other restaurants also want to see what this grand opening of the Star-Picking Pavilion will be like.

However, entry was by invitation only. The grand opening banquet was open to those who had been invited and were holding invitation cards. For a time, quite a few people wanted to find a way to get into the Star-Picking Tower to take a look.

Tao Wanniang looked at the printed color menu from the bookstore and was very satisfied. She hadn't expected that such realistic drawing skills could be found at this time, able to depict her dishes so perfectly. Of course, the printed color menu had cost a lot of money, but Tao Wanniang felt it was worth it.

"Everyone, pull yourselves together! Tomorrow is the official opening day of the restaurant. If anyone makes a mistake at this crucial moment, don't blame Luneng for being ruthless," Luneng said sternly.

Among the group of people reprimanded by Shandong Luneng were the Ling brothers and Liu Song and a few others.

Besides waiters, accountants, kitchen staff, and general helpers, the restaurant also had other staff. Liu Song and his colleagues couldn't directly serve customers; they filled in wherever needed.

Tao Wanniang was taking stock of the kitchen supplies; tomorrow's banquet was crucial, and she had to make a stunning impression.

"Big sister, I'm so nervous! Even when we make pastries at home, we don't have such a big setup!"

As Liu Yueniang watched Luneng reprimanding a large group of people in the lobby, she clenched her little fists and held them to her chest, her round face full of love for Luneng.

"Just do your job well. Tomorrow, the guests won't be ordering food, but rather we'll be serving the set meals we've prepared. Besides, most of the guests tomorrow will be high-ranking officials and dignitaries, so I think it should be quite simple," Tao Wanniang comforted Liu Yueniang.

"Elder sister, I also want to be as confident as you." Liu Yueniang also had great admiration for Tao Wanniang.

Tao Wanniang smiled; she was quite confident in her cooking. During this time, she had used the trading system to develop numerous dishes, blending ancient and modern techniques to create her own unique style.

With everyone busy preparing, the opening banquet of Zhaixinglou was undoubtedly a grand event in the capital.

Performers from the Jiaosifang troupe presented a magnificent song and dance performance for the more than one hundred distinguished guests.

Tao Wan's mother didn't have the chance to appreciate it; she was too busy in the kitchen.

"Serving the dishes: Mandarin ducks on one stem, phoenix facing the sun, symbolizing wealth, love, longevity, and family happiness..."

Tao Wanniang gave each dish an auspicious name, so just looking at the menu made people feel comfortable. In addition, the signature dishes were illustrated in color and paired with auspicious names, giving people the most direct feeling.

As for the dishes, they naturally had to match their names. The so-called "Phoenix Facing the Sun" was shaped like a roasted chicken. Tao Wan Niang put a lot of thought into these things.

In the main hall of the restaurant, accompanied by singing and dancing, Zhao Zhe stood in a private room, looking with great interest at the table full of fine wine and food. After watching the performance by the actors from the Jiaosifang, he couldn't help but sigh, "Ling Yunzhou, these are all delicacies made by your ex-wife. I feel that letting her work in a restaurant is a waste of her talent. Even the imperial chefs in the palace might not have this kind of skill!"

Ling Yunzhou attended the restaurant's opening banquet with Emperor Zhao Zhe. Upon hearing Zhao Zhe's words, Ling Yunzhou's face darkened.

"Your Majesty, I have been separated from her for seventeen years and know very little about her now!"

"That's because we know very little about it." Zhao Zhe tasted the dishes and nodded approvingly. "Not bad, truly not bad. Even I feel that taking this bite ruins the beauty of the dish. The pastries are also quite good. Speaking of this restaurant, whose work is it, really?"

“The Tao family is skilled in cooking, but they may not be good at running a business,” Ling Yunzhou said tactfully.

“But I know that Princess Rui didn’t make it big before she started Zhaixing Tower,” Zhao Zhe said. “My cousin isn’t exactly a businessman either. Look at this menu, it’s the only one of its kind in the capital.”

Ling Yunzhou was speechless for a moment. What was he supposed to say?

"I also know that your son is among this group of waiters. A son of a military family, reduced to a waiter. As a general, don't you really care?"

“Everyone has their own ambitions. I have not fulfilled my duty of raising them, so naturally I cannot interfere with their decisions.” Ling Yunzhou was quite open-minded about this. “My official position is not inherited from my parents. My children and grandchildren will naturally have to make their own way in the world.”

"You're really taking it easy," Zhao Zhe replied. Watching the song and dance, eating delicious food—it's almost the same as his grand banquets in the imperial palace. And there aren't so many annoying courtiers crowding around him here. It's quite nice!

"Knock knock!" There was a knock on the door of the private room.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince Rui requests an audience." A guard immediately entered to report.

"Please let him in," Zhao Zhe said calmly, his eyes lighting up.

After Xiao Yi entered, he was not surprised to see Lingyunzhou, but he still greeted Zhao Zhe respectfully.

"No need for formalities between us. This restaurant belongs to your family. Judging by this entourage, you've invited all the families of my officials," Zhao Zhe joked.

“Mother invited ladies from the inner quarters; in fact, all the ladies brought their husbands and children along.” Xiao Yi and Zhao Zhe had grown up together since childhood, and his words carried a lighthearted tone.

"So, I can only stay in this private room, for fear of disturbing my ministers if I go down!" Zhao Zhe said helplessly. "I do want to go down and take a look; your restaurant is quite unique."

Xiao Yi said with pride, "This time, we really owe a lot to Sister Tao."

"Oh, Yunzhou said that Tao is skilled in cooking. So, does she also have some credit for running the business?" Zhao Zhe asked curiously.

Xiao Yi glanced at Ling Yunzhou and replied with a smile, "Sister Tao naturally has her own unique insights into business. What she lacks is connections, which Mother Consort happens to have!"

"And what about you? You're not going to be the imperial inspector for me anymore, and you're running a restaurant instead?"

“Your Majesty, I almost lost my life last time.” Xiao Yi said helplessly, “I am the only son of the Rui Prince’s family! And now that I have no children, my father and mother dare not let me take any more risks.”

Zhao Zhe's expression was slightly subtle. He paused for a moment, then said, "I don't have many people I can trust. Yunzhou is one, and you are another. If your Prince Rui's Mansion is worried about having no heir, which of my princes does the Prince Rui's Mansion fancy? How about we just adopt one?"

Zhao Zhe's words startled both Ling Yunzhou and Xiao Yi, but they were immediately taken aback when Zhao Zhe broke into a smile.

"Scared? I'm afraid if Uncle Rui heard this, he'd tear down my study!" Zhao Zhe said with a chuckle. "Just kidding. Anyway, Xiao Yi, I really want to rely on you!"

Xiao Yi could only laugh it off. Ling Yunzhou glanced at Zhao Zhe with some surprise. Based on his understanding of the Emperor, this didn't seem like a joke.

However, trying to decipher the emperor's intentions will likely only cause more trouble.

"Bang...bang..." Several loud noises came from the sky, followed by colorful fireworks that illuminated the night.

"A perilous tower rises a hundred feet high, one could pluck the stars from the sky; one dares not speak loudly, lest one startle the celestial beings!" Fireworks in the sky pieced together a poem!