In the Ming Dynasty 1498, my restaurant connects two worlds.

Chapter 95 Zhu Youcheng's Old Ideas

"Why can't you go back? I can return to the modern world through the kitchen of the Taoye Ferry Restaurant in Nanjing. Or I can try to open a door in this palace and take you back to see it!"

"You can open doors in the palace?! Like those time portals back to the modern world?"

"Yes, it's the door back to the modern era, a time portal. The corresponding location over there should still be the imperial palace, now called the Forbidden City. The current director of the Palace Museum seems to be surnamed Shan."

"Shan? Shan Jixiang?!"

"Yes, his name is Shan Jixiang."

"Then hurry up and do it, see if you can bring me back. I miss them so much—"

Zhu Youcheng's voice grew hoarse, and he finally turned his back abruptly, the wide sleeves of his dragon robe tightly covering his eyes, his shoulders trembling slightly uncontrollably.

After he finished crying, Song Xiaoyi comforted him, "It's not easy yet. We need to determine the room where the door will be opened first. Next, I need to go back to Taoye Ferry in Yingtian Prefecture, return to the modern world from there, and then go to the Palace Museum to discuss with Director Shan about arranging a time to clear the area. I will open the door in the corresponding room."

"The problem is that this matter is too bizarre, and it won't be easy to convince him."

"It's alright. I can wait. I've waited all these years already, and I still have six more years to live. That's plenty of time. My teacher will definitely be shocked when he sees me!"

"Are you Dean Shan's student?"

"A disappointing student —"

"Back then, we worked together to restore the Yongle Encyclopedia copy. The work was incomplete and fragmented, which angered our teachers and classmates. I was determined then and there, secretly vowing that if I could return to the Ming Dynasty, I would find a way to preserve the Yongle Encyclopedia!"

Song Xiaoyi gasped. "You just transmigrated like that? Is this the origin of your mission? Is it really that terrifying and bizarre?"

"The next day, I inexplicably attended a wedding banquet, drank too much, and on my way back, I fell into a pond while riding my bicycle. After struggling for a few moments, when I opened my eyes again, the person in front of me was Old Huai'en."

"————" Upon hearing this, Song Xiaoyi staggered back half a step, leaned against the city wall, and shook his head with a wry smile. "Brother Zhu, your story... is not funny at all."

"That's not a story."

"I'll figure something out; I'll definitely make sure you can go back and see!"

"However, Brother Zhu, since you are a modern soul, why didn't you properly educate the current Crown Prince, Zhu Houzhao?"

"Is education useful? History cannot be changed."

"No, history has a fine-tuning function! Like Tang Bohu's fate, I adjusted it."

"He is not a pivotal figure in history."

"Is that even a claim?"

"Of course there are. Those who change the course of history are key figures in history. My system has hints about this."

"For example?"

"The emperor, the important crown prince, Zhang Juzheng."

Since Emperor Zhu Youcheng was also a time traveler, and his father was in the Ministry of Works, then the strange things that happened before, such as the steel Zhuge Repeating Crossbow and the rubber wheels of the carriage, can all be explained.

There's also the "blue line for horses, yellow line for carriages" and the single green line. These were actually set up by Zhu Youcheng as a checkpoint to test modern people!

But what can I do in this capital city of the Ming Dynasty?

My grandfather was the head chef of the imperial kitchen. This was his only hobby: cooking. The palace had plenty of ingredients, and my mother was in charge of purchasing ingredients for the entire palace. So how could Zhu You dare to do that?

"Brother Zhu, why do you dare to entrust the imperial palace's procurement authority to my mother? Also, my grandfather is in charge of the entire imperial kitchen; aren't you worried?"

"What are you worried about? They're all on our side. Old Song is more useful than any palace eunuch. Don't even think about getting rid of him! I've been eating Old Song's cooking for so many years that I can't stand any food outside anymore. With him around, Zhao'er won't even bother going out to find something to eat."

"And you, kid, how can you talk about your parents and grandfather like that? Your mother is so frugal. In the years she's been around, the palace's expenses have been reduced by at least half compared to previous years! Even the Empress listens to her and has recognized her as her sworn sister."

"Fine, I don't want them to go back. They'll only cause trouble. I currently have two small restaurants in Taoye Ferry, Yingtian Prefecture. Do you know who manages them?"

"Isn't that Wu Yunqiu? Qiu Ying's mother, right? And there's Zhang Mengjin's sister. The others who are his henchmen are members of the Song clan from Moling that you tricked into coming here."

"you..

'

"Do you think that, without my secret intervention, Liu Kexi, with his abilities, wouldn't have been able to uncover your flaws?"

"Do you think that Prince Ning's steward would have let this go if I hadn't intervened to deter him?"

You think...

"

Song Xiaoyi quickly begged for mercy, "Brother, Brother Zhu, I understand. It's all thanks to your secret help."

"That's more like it."

The two reached the inner city gate, climbed the steps, and stood on the city wall. Looking down at the bustling city of Beijing, Song Xiaoyi sighed, "I've considered countless possibilities, but I never imagined the emperor would actually be one of our own. Could life get any more dramatic?"

"Having lived in this palace for 22 years, this is the first time I've felt that the Ming Dynasty outside is so wonderful."

"Brother Zhu, if I hadn't come, what was your original plan? I think this Ming Dynasty has almost no trace of the future world."

"What other changes do you want? I am trapped inside these palace walls, while the civil service group outside controls the Ming Dynasty. All decrees that do not suit their interests cannot leave the cabinet."

"Have you thought about this carefully? What was the most crucial reason for the collapse of the Ming Dynasty?"

"Isn't it the exploitation by the government that ultimately leads to the people's uprising? This is an eternal truth. Therefore, I have done my best to control the Embroidered Uniform Guard and prevent them from committing evil; I have also controlled taxes, and any decrees to increase taxes have not been passed."

"Speaking of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, why hasn't Mu Bin returned yet? He set off before you."

The current Zhu Youtang is ultimately a cultural heritage worker who traveled from 1996. He has historical knowledge, but the limitations of his time are still evident.

"Brother, let's not worry about Mu Bin for now. He's with Tang Bohu and the others, he'll be fine."

"What I want to say is, have you ever thought about changing the current state of the Ming Dynasty? Improving people's livelihoods, strengthening the nation, and prolonging the Ming Dynasty's lifespan?"

"How can we improve this? How can we strengthen it? Just by relying on these paper-mâché Grand Secretaries and clay-sculpted Ministers of the Six Ministries?"

"Hehe, so you know about the legendary 'Three Grand Secretaries in Paper, Six Ministers in Clay'? I thought you didn't."

"You're overthinking it. These nine people are not confused at all. They know when to play dumb and when to play dumb. But if I touch their interests, they will immediately unite against me, crying, making a scene, trying to persuade or resisting, using every means possible."

"Why not kill them? Replace them!"

"Killing is not what I desire."

"Indeed, the later evaluation of Emperor Xiaozong of Ming, Zhu Youcheng, as benevolent is entirely accurate."

"History cannot be changed, so why should I bother with that?"

"I still want to give it a try. Since I'm already here, what's the difference between me and a salted fish if I don't do something?"

"What do you want to do? Murder is absolutely forbidden, especially of important figures. You're not allowed to have any dirty tricks up your sleeve against those nine guys."