Shocking! The entire court was drooling with envy because of me.

A life-long commitment?

Throughout the journey, Xiao Mo felt uneasy, and countless speculations arose in her mind.

She knew this day would come, but she didn't expect it to come so soon.

It felt like a piece of my heart had been ripped out.

Only after entering the hall and seeing Mr. and Mrs. Xiao did she muster her strength and call out, "Father, Mother."

"Xiao Mo, this is a great opportunity! You've come across a fantastic chance. According to reliable sources, His Majesty is going to hold a beauty pageant. Prepare well this time, and you'll definitely be able to serve by His Majesty's side."

"Once you gain His Majesty's favor, a simple word to him will allow our Xiao family to once again make a name for itself in the court, and your brother will have the opportunity to put his talents to good use."

Xiao's father's eyes gleamed with excitement, his words were excited, and his face and neck were flushed red with emotion.

The Xiao family was a family of scholars, with generations of students serving the imperial court.

However, by the time of Xiao's father, the Xiao family was implicated in factional struggles and was not only forbidden from entering the capital, but all members of the Xiao family were also barred from participating in the imperial examinations.

If you can't participate in scientific expeditions, no matter how many books you read or how much knowledge you have, it's all useless.

Therefore, all members of the Xiao family hoped that one day they could change their family's fate and regain the opportunity to enter the imperial court.

This beauty pageant was the best opportunity that Xiao's father could think of.

With a hint of heartache in her eyes, Xiao's mother still earnestly advised, "Xiao Mo, the empresses in the palace are extremely noble, truly people above all others. As long as you can find a way to win His Majesty's favor, you can have whatever you want."

"Your mother will help you. As long as you give birth to another prince, you will have glory for the rest of your life. In fact, one day you can become the most noble woman in the world."

Xiao Mo gripped the hem of her clothes tightly with both hands, her small face drained of color.

Can she have whatever she wants? The most noble woman in the world?

It was clearly a move to take her from the prison of the Xiao family mansion into an even bigger prison, the imperial palace.

From as far back as she can remember, she was never allowed to go out. Her parents said it was for her own good, so that she could marry into a good family in the future.

So, the palace was the good home her parents found for her?

"Why is your face so pale? Are you overjoyed?" Madam Xiao pulled Xiao Mo's hand and sat her down. "Don't worry, your father and I will pave the way for you. Just go to the palace."

Paving roads? They're paving roads for my brother and the Xiao family, aren't they? Xiao Mo thought to herself with a self-deprecating smile.

Mr. Xiao, standing to the side, said excitedly, "My daughter is so beautiful. If she enters the palace, she will surely win His Majesty's favor, and then our whole family will rise to prominence!"

Xiao Mo remained silent; she couldn't express herself.

She only realized today how heartless her parents were, and she felt as if all the blood in her body had turned cold.

"Xiao Mo, why aren't you saying anything? What do you think about entering the palace?" Madam Xiao realized something was wrong at this moment.

After a long pause, Xiao Mo spoke:

"Father, Mother, can I not go to the palace?" she asked in a low voice, with a hint of pleading.

She still held onto a sliver of hope for her parents.

"Nonsense!!" Xiao's father shouted, flicking his sleeves, his face showing obvious anger.

"What a wonderful opportunity! Once you enter the palace and have a prince, you will be showered with glory and wealth. Our Xiao family will also have the chance to return to the court. This is a win-win situation with no investment. Why not take advantage of it?"

Anger permeated the entire main hall, making it hard to breathe.

In the Xiao family, Father Xiao was always so authoritative and uncompromising.

Xiao Mo lowered her head and looked down, her long eyelashes concealing all her emotions: "Father, I'm afraid that if I fail to be selected, I will embarrass you. There are so many women, and I don't have a peerless beauty. I'm afraid I won't be able to win His Majesty's favor."

Upon hearing this, Xiao's father's anger instantly subsided.

"Don't be afraid. People from the palace will come to Ping'an County tomorrow. I have prepared all the valuables. You just need to go to the palace, and you will naturally be able to appear in front of His Majesty."

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Only two hundred people will be selected, and they will all be chosen from the area around the capital. You have been well-versed in poetry and literature since childhood, making you a hundred times better than those ordinary women. Don't worry."

Xiao Mo listened.

It turned out that everything had already been arranged. All she had to do was be manipulated like a puppet, silently being moved from one cage to another, even more exquisite one.

She may never be able to drink that sweet and sour passion fruit lemon sparkling drink again.

And there's also the young medicine man...

......

As expected, all the grilled sausages and sparkling drinks at Zhiwei Restaurant were sold out.

Guo Tiancheng and Situ Liang were all smiles, the master and apprentice were filled with a sense of accomplishment.

"Madam Shen, are there any new products tomorrow? I'm so looking forward to it!!" Situ Liang asked eagerly, as he couldn't help but ask after the products were sold out today.

Now that he's an employee of Zhiwei Restaurant, Shen Niangzi might tell him in a moment of joy.

New products! I look forward to new products every day.

Shen Qing smiled and said, "Who knows now? Let's talk about tomorrow's problems tomorrow."

"?? Madam Shen, are we internal staff not allowed to know?"

"Mainly, I don't know either," Shen Qing said helplessly.

She not only didn't know the types of new products, but she didn't even know if there would be any new products tomorrow.

She and her apprentice Guo Tiancheng each had a cup of this passion fruit lemon sparkling drink today; she wondered if it would affect their mission completion.

I'll have to go back and watch it later.

After packing her things, Shen Qing went home, petted the cat a couple of times, and then lay down on the bed as usual.

Open the system.

[Ding—Congratulations, host, for completing today's restaurant mission]

[Ding—Congratulations, host, you have successfully unlocked a new product: Peach Oolong Sparkling Drink. Purchase limit: 100 servings]

Drinking three cups won't affect the completion of the task.

Does that mean she can drink a few more glasses?

[Ding—Restaurant staff can enjoy one new dish per day; exceeding this limit will result in mission failure.]

Ok.

This system is surprisingly user-friendly.

Another day spent cuddling with my kitten and sleeping soundly~

One night passed.

Shen Qing slept until the sun was high in the sky.

After tidying up a bit, she decided to have a simple meal by herself.

Just then, Old Chen, the gatekeeper, came over:

"Master, the kid next door is here. He said he brought all his brothers from the capital, and that you promised to treat them to a meal."

Little Persimmon Nangong Yao?

Shen Qing suddenly remembered.

She did make a promise to the little brat in order to conquer the royal family.

However, this child is too quick; she only mentioned it yesterday, and today she has already brought the person to her.

That's incredibly fast.