On the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Xu Mama's condition finally stabilized. Since it was confirmed that His Highness Prince Wen would be spending the Mid-Autumn Festival with local officials from Changzhou, Xu Mama completely took over the kitchen and showed off her skills by preparing a table full of delicious food for Gu Yuzhi.
Looking at the table full of delicious-looking food, Gu Yuzhi's mouth was practically watering. He secretly wiped his mouth when no one was looking, thankfully he didn't lose his composure, otherwise he would have been embarrassed.
"Your Highness." After finishing all her work, Xu Mama tidied herself up and came over from the backyard to pay her respects. As soon as she saw Gu Yuzhi, she choked up and said, "Your Highness, you have worked so hard."
His Highness's chubby face is gone. If His Majesty saw this, I wonder how heartbroken she would be.
When Xu Mama thought of Consort Taixian, who was still separated from His Highness Prince Wen in the palace, she couldn't help but feel a deep sadness. She wondered if the mother and son would ever see each other again in this life.
"Granny, get up quickly."
Gu Yuzhi jumped off the chair and helped Xu Mama up. Seeing that Xu Mama's face was still pale and her little face was looking around, he finally found her in the crowd: "Physician Qin, I think Xu Mama looks very bad. Has she recovered from her illness?"
He was a little unhappy, wondering why he wasn't growing taller. He had to crane his neck to look at people, which was tiring.
The Imperial Physician Qin came over and reported, "Your Highness, Granny Xu has fully recovered. People recovering from serious illnesses often have a slightly pale complexion, but it will return to normal in a few days."
Upon hearing this, Gu Yuzhi breathed a sigh of relief. After all the accompanying officials had arrived, Chief Secretary Xie announced loudly, "Everyone, please sit down. Today is our first reunion dinner since arriving in the Northern Desert. To celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival tomorrow, and to wish His Highness's fiefdom a prosperous future, let us toast His Highness."
As soon as Xie Changshi finished speaking, everyone else stood up, holding wine cups in their hands, and looked at Gu Yuzhi: "May Your Highness's fiefdom prosper."
Gu Yuzhi smiled and picked up the soup in front of him, mimicking his father's manner, saying, "Everyone has worked hard these past few days, please sit down. I cannot drink alcohol, so I will offer this soup in return. Please enjoy your meal."
Gu Yuzhi could speak these polite phrases fluently without being taught, since his father and ministers would say many such things every year during the New Year and other festivals when the palace held banquets.
He scratched his head inwardly, really unable to understand what these adults were thinking. Didn't his mother say that one should not speak while eating or sleeping? When it's time to eat, just eat. Why say so much?
Gu Yuzhi ate at a small table by himself, while the other officials shared a large table. Xu Mama served him food. Gu Yuzhi ate and gently shook his head. Only after he had digested more than half of the food did he pat his round belly, jump off the chair with satisfaction, and take a walk in the courtyard with Xu Mama to aid digestion.
The hustle and bustle behind them faded into the distance, and the surroundings gradually quieted down. Gu Yuzhi looked up at the moon, a hint of sadness on his face: "Granny Xu, what do you think Mother Consort is doing now? Has she seen the letter I sent her?"
"When I came to the northern desert this time, my mother pawned everything she could. I wonder how she is doing in the palace now. I hope my brother won't let the palace servants bully her."
In previous years, after the palace banquet on the Mid-Autumn Festival, his mother and Xu Mama would admire the moon under the osmanthus tree, while he would playfully jump into his mother's arms, filling the hall with laughter.
Gu Yuzhi sighed like a little adult; he really missed his mother.
Xu Mama bent over and whispered, "Her Highness must be missing His Highness right now. Her Highness is now the Consort Tai Xian, and ordinary palace servants dare not offend her."
The chrysanthemums in the courtyard were blooming exceptionally brightly, radiating a hazy light under the moonlight. Gu Yuzhi poked the flowers with her small hand: "Grandma, there's something I want to ask you. Of course, if you don't agree, I won't force you."
During this time, Xie Changshi's men had gathered most of the general information about the restaurant. Manager Wen considered it in his mind and thought it was feasible. The manager, accountant, and waiters could all be found locally, but if they wanted to cook Beijing-style dishes, the head chef was still the most crucial.
Once it's confirmed that Granny Xu is willing to be the head chef, the matter of opening a restaurant can basically be settled.
Gu Yuzhi wanted to bring this up with Granny Xu, but Granny Xu was quite old, and her illness had been recurring since arriving in Changzhou and had not fully recovered. She only met her today.
Xu Mama paused for a moment, then said respectfully, "Your Highness, please speak freely. As long as this old servant can do it, I will certainly not refuse."
Gu Yuzhi scratched his face sheepishly: "Master Xie said that after renting the courtyard, apart from daily expenses, my treasury silver can probably only cover the monthly salary and wages of the manor for two months."
Granny Xu looked surprised, not expecting that the young prince would be on the verge of death so soon after arriving in the northern desert.
But she, she's just an old servant, she doesn't have much money.
Xu Mama thought that Gu Yuzhi wanted to reduce the monthly allowance, so she immediately said, "Your Highness, rest assured, this old servant is willing to take the lead in reducing the monthly allowance."
Gu Yuzhi looked puzzled: "Hmm?"
What did he say that made Granny Xu agree to reduce her monthly allowance?
However, the focus right now isn't on cutting Moon Silver.
He waved his hands repeatedly and said, "Granny, it's not about the monthly allowance, it's about my desire to open a restaurant."
Gu Yuzhi leaned forward and whispered, "The food at this restaurant doesn't quite suit my taste. Chief Secretary Xie has already sent someone to inquire and thinks it's feasible. However, we haven't found a suitable head chef yet."
In Manager Wen's words, the restaurant project is still far from being finalized. If Granny Xu really minds, they will change their approach.
Thinking of this, Gu Yuzhi glanced at Granny Xu, then glanced at Granny Xu again…
Xu Mama felt a little uneasy under his gaze and couldn't help but bend over: "This old servant is fully recovered. Your Highness, please just tell me what you would like to eat in the future. With my old bones, I can easily cook for Your Highness for another ten years."
Gu Yuzhi shook his head and, imitating Shu Xiaohan, wiggled his index finger from side to side.
Xu Mama couldn't think of anything else she could do besides taking the lead in reducing her monthly allowance and preparing meals for His Highness. She hesitated and asked, "What does Your Highness want this old servant to do?"
Gu Yuzhi was just waiting for Xu Mama to ask, so he immediately shook his head: "Mama, would you like to be the head chef of the restaurant?"
Granny Xu almost couldn't resist scratching her ear, blinking her eyes as she asked, "Your Highness, did this old servant mishear?"
How could a palace maid who never left her quarters become a head chef?
Seeing Xu Mama's attitude, Gu Yuzhi assumed she was unwilling, and her little face showed some disappointment: "It's okay if Mama is unwilling, I'll think of another way."
He was good at comforting himself. Just like the old nanny said, she could cook for him at home, and he could eat different meals when he went out.
They can't run a restaurant for the time being, so they have to think about what to do next...
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