Mrs. Xu insisted that Xiatian stay for lunch before leaving.
Xia Tian had other things to do, so he declined Mrs. Xu's invitation and said that he would definitely visit her when he had time in the future!
Mrs. Xu personally sent the person out.
After leaving Xu's house in the summer, he went to the place where the plaque was made to order it.
We agreed to pick it up three days later.
I asked someone to look at the date again, and the auspicious day was set as July 20th, which should be in time.
Then he took Ningxiang directly to the restaurant.
Master Liu is directing people to do the final finishing work.
I checked the house inside and out in the summer and found that the decoration was basically completed. All I had to do was clean and tidy up and put in the tables, chairs and benches.
"Master Liu, are all the places ready?"
"Yes, I just need to give it a final check and then it will be finished."
"Thank you for your hard work, Master Liu. I'll arrange for someone to come over and clean up right now. Is that okay?"
"No problem, you can clean it up now."
Xia Tian directly instructed Mu Feng to go to Linglong Lane and ask Aunt Gu to bring people to clean up.
For three consecutive days, Xia Tian came to the restaurant every day to keep an eye on it, clean it up, and asked Uncle Gu to have the ordered tables, chairs, benches, etc. delivered and set up.
Most of the decorative paintings hanging on the wall were taken from Yayizhai owned by Xiao, and some were cartoons or simple drawings drawn by himself, making the restaurant's style look lively yet elegant.
The plaque has also been made. Uncle Gu arranged for someone to hang it up, covering it with red silk first and then unveiling it when the store opens.
The kitchen is divided into two parts, one for cooking and the other for making snacks, porridge and soup for Cuiling, Xiaoyou and others.
In the past few days, he left the house early every morning. When he was paying his respects in the morning, the old lady finally couldn't help but say, "Why don't you stay at home peacefully? Why do you run out every day?"
"Please forgive me, grandma. My restaurant is about to open, and I've been busy lately, so I've been leaving the house more frequently." Xia Tian explained to the old lady with a smile.
The old lady frowned, "Restaurant? Where did you get the restaurant? Did Nian'er get it for you?"
"No, I made some money from painting. I thought I couldn't just sit there and eat all my money, so I opened a restaurant."
Xia Tian was afraid that the old lady would dislike her for spending Chen Nian's money, so she specifically explained that it was the money she earned herself.
Although the old lady was not very happy with her going out every day, she never thought of taking her money.
After all, they were raised in a big family, and each of them had a generous dowry. Besides, the Marquis of Wu'an's Mansion was not short of money.
After saying a few words to her and asking her to be careful when going out next time, I let Xia Tian go.
After going out, Xia Tian breathed a sigh of relief. She thought the old lady would not let her go out!
It seems that portrait is quite useful!
A few days later, the restaurant was completely cleaned up. Xia Tian asked Uncle Gu to post a notice at the door of the restaurant, recruiting a few waiters and an accountant.
Uncle Gu is the owner of a restaurant, and such a big restaurant still needs an accountant to manage the accounts.
Let Uncle Chen take charge of the shopping.
Anyway, there is no master in the second courtyard, so Aunt Chen can just look after it.
Everything is arranged at the restaurant, so it will be quiet in the summer. If there is nothing special, we can just wait for it to open.
She had been very busy these days and was thinking of taking a good rest for a day or two, but then she received an imperial edict from the emperor summoning her to the palace.
Fortunately, she was not too nervous because Shen Nian was with her.
After meeting the emperor and paying respects, the eunuch beside the emperor took out an imperial edict and began to read it.
After the imperial edict was read, Xia Tian took it and truly became the temporary royal painter.
It was only mentioned briefly before, and the emperor did not issue an edict or summon her to paint. She thought it was just a casual remark.
Unexpectedly, an imperial decree was officially issued today, and her identity information was registered. In order to facilitate her entry and exit, the emperor also gave her a badge, so that when she was summoned, she did not need anyone to lead the way, and could enter the palace by showing the badge.
"Mrs. Shen is now the imperial painter. Please draw a portrait for me today." The emperor said with a smile.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Xia Tian agreed respectfully.
Seeing that the emperor didn't move, he asked, "What kind of painting would the emperor like? Something more formal or something casual?"
The emperor was stunned for a moment before he understood what Xia Tian meant. He coughed lightly and said, "I will go change my clothes first."
Before long, the emperor changed into formal attire and struck a pose. Xia Tian watched carefully for a moment, noting down all the details. "Okay, I've taken note of everything. Your Majesty, do you mind if I finish the painting at home and bring it back to you?"
"It's okay." The emperor was surprised. It seemed that Madam Chu Xuan really had the ability to remember everything she saw.
Nothing more happened, so they were about to leave when they heard the eunuch outside announce, "Your Majesty, the prince is here."
The emperor smiled and said, "Come in."
Then Xia Tian saw a little boy of five or six years old come in and salute the emperor in a very formal manner.
He was the eldest son born to the Empress, and was named Prince Jinghui by the Emperor when he was two years old.
After Xia Tian and Shen Nian also bowed to the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince asked curiously, "Are you the Mr. Xuanying who painted the portraits of my grandmother and mother?"
"Your Highness, it's you who is my concubine." Xia Tian felt like laughing when she heard the cute voice and looked at the prince who was trying hard to act like an adult.
However, although the prince is young, his status is there, so she dare not act rashly and can only criticize him in her heart.
The prince glanced at Xia Tian, then turned and walked up to the emperor. He pulled the emperor's sleeve, looked up and said, "Father, I also want a portrait like Sister Ning's."
The sister Ning that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was talking about was none other than the one-year-old daughter of the Imperial Concubine, Princess Xuan Ning.
Ever since Xia Tian painted a portrait of Princess Xuan Ning in public on the Empress Dowager's birthday, he has been remembered by the little princes and princesses in the palace.
The main reason was that the imperial concubine hung the two paintings directly on the wall of the hall in her palace, which seduced the little princes and princesses to want to see them every day.
When His Royal Highness the Crown Prince heard today that the Emperor had summoned Xia Tian to the palace, he hurried over.
The emperor took the prince's hand, but before he could say anything, three little kids came running in from the door.
The Queen followed behind.
These three little ones are also the emperor’s princes and princesses.
They all came here behind His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, but the Crown Prince is older and walks faster, while these three are only about two or three years old and walk slowly, so they arrived later.
The three little princes and princesses came in, and after paying their respects to the emperor casually, they all ran up to him, tugging at his clothes and chattering.
"Father, I also want a portrait, a good-looking one."
"I want it too."
"And I, your son, want it too."
"Okay, okay, all of them." The emperor was annoyed by the noise and quickly agreed.
After the Empress saluted the Emperor, she quickly pulled the children away from the Emperor and said, "Stop disturbing your father. Come out with your mother. She will have your portraits painted."
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