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

"Your Majesty, why not invite Lady Shen to the palace to serve as the head chef of the imperial kitchen?" Zhao Gou's eyes sparkled with excitement.

After going through such a long and winding road, his sisters' careers finally have another chance.

Although Lady Shen may not have considered him a sister.

The emperor's eyes lit up: "Yes, yes, go quickly! As long as Lady Shen becomes the head of the imperial kitchen, I can eat Lady Shen's food every day!"

Upon hearing that the emperor had agreed, Zhao Gou was overjoyed.

He rushed to the pizza stall in a few strides, ignoring the customers queuing up to buy pizza, and shouted to Shen Qing, "Madam Shen, there's great news! Huge news!"

"His Majesty has agreed to appoint you as the head chef of the Imperial Kitchen!"

"The head chef of the imperial kitchen!!"

Zhao Gou's mouth was wide open, his face flushed with excitement, and he looked at Shen Qing expectantly.

The head of the imperial kitchen? Shen Qing was taken aback.

When did she ever say she wanted to be the head chef of the imperial kitchen?

However, becoming the head chef of the imperial kitchen would likely be beneficial for completing the mission...

"It's over, Madam Shen is going to be the head chef of the imperial kitchen, it's all over."

"My grilled sausage, pizza, and Sichuan-style boiled chicken! Why are you doing this to me?"

"If Madam Shen becomes the head chef of the imperial kitchen, I won't be able to enjoy any delicious food anymore. Is becoming a eunuch in the palace my only option?"

"..."

The wails of the diners rang in my ears.

Shen Qing looked up and met the wet eyes of the diner at the front.

She couldn't help but sigh.

That's it.

If I really go to the palace, I'm afraid I won't be free, and I might not be able to get out again.

Moreover, she couldn't bear to part with these regular customers.

As for the task of conquering the royal family, let's just take it easy and do it casually, since there's still plenty of time.

"I'm sorry, I have a restaurant to run, so I can't be the head chef of the imperial kitchen," Shen Qing said.

Zhao Gou: "???"

He...he got rejected??

Lady Shen declined the position of head of the imperial kitchen.

"The head chef of the imperial kitchen! That's a position that all the world's top chefs would fight over. Sister, if you became the head chef of the imperial kitchen, you'd be the number one chef in the world!"

Shen Qing smiled and said, "I am naturally free-spirited, and the palace is not suitable for me."

Zhao Gou: "..."

Isn't that a bit too willful?

Well then, Madam Shen has the right to be willful.

Alas, it seems His Majesty will truly not be able to enjoy it.

The other diners all breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

The customer at the front of the line went from despair to joy: "I'll have a pizza!"

"Shen Qing is the most beautiful woman in the world!"

???

Shen Qing frowned. Could this joke ever be forgotten?

"Shen Qing is the most beautiful woman in the world!!" shouted the diners behind her.

The sound grew louder and louder, even louder than when they had just shouted "Long live the Emperor!"

For no other reason than that this time, all the diners were filled with gratitude and joy.

After all, even with the allure of the position of head of the imperial kitchen, Madam Shen did not give up on them.

In their eyes, Madam Shen was the most beautiful woman in the world.

Shen Qing sighed, "Okay, it seems this joke is going to stick."

The main reason is that the plaque sent by Yan Wenli is still hanging there.

......

Gu Qionghua came to Ping'an County specifically from the capital.

It wasn't for any other reason than that she had heard that Ping'an County had produced the most beautiful woman in the world.

No, she is the most beautiful woman in the world.

The most beautiful? How could that be?

What kind of beauties could a tiny Ping'an County, such a small place, possibly produce?

Gu Qionghua was a royal princess, born into a noble family, and her mother was the current eldest princess, holding a very high status.

From childhood to adulthood, she has always been the object of praise and envy. Among the noble ladies of the capital, if she dares to claim the first place, absolutely no one dares to claim the second!

She is the most beautiful woman in the capital, and probably the most beautiful woman in the world!

She would never allow anyone to overstep her bounds!

"Princess, the road ahead is blocked; the carriage can't get through," the coachman's voice came.

Gu Qionghua lifted the curtain and saw that, sure enough, there were many people queuing up, as well as quite a few stalls.

The population density here even surpasses that of Beijing.

"Princess, there are too many people here. We don't want anyone to offend you. Perhaps we should come another day," the maid Xiaoxing advised from the side.

Gu Qionghua was somewhat conflicted.

There were too many people, it was too crowded, and there were also many people on the roadside dressed in tattered clothes, looking dusty and grimy.

She wore a crimson cross-collar dress with gold peony embroidery, the hem of which was embroidered with blooming peonies in silver thread, with layers of flowers and leaves. A wide leather belt with red gold lace was tied around her waist, with coral pendants and silver bells hanging from it.

She wore a red gold hairpin inlaid with kingfisher feathers in her hair, and large pearl earrings.

She had a feeling that those people would get her clothes dirty if she got off the bus.

She doesn't like her clothes getting dirty.

"That......"

Just as I was about to say we'd do it another day, several shouts came from outside:

"Shen Qing is the most beautiful woman in the world!"

"Madam Shen is the most beautiful woman in the world, and no arguments will be accepted!"

To Gu Qionghua, the sound was extremely grating.

"Let's go, let's go now, let's walk there!"

"This princess must see what the most beautiful woman in the world looks like!"

Gu Qionghua couldn't stand it any longer and jumped off the carriage, the silver bells at her waist jingling.

The maid, Xiaoxing, quickly followed, saying, "Princess, Xiaoxing will fend off these people for you!"

She rushed ahead of Gu Qionghua and opened her arms to clear a path for her.

Gu Qionghua held her head high, exuding arrogance and utter swagger; with each step she took, a silver bell jingled.

Her beauty is undeniable; the moment she stepped into the crowd, she attracted everyone's attention.

"My God, it's so beautiful! Even I, a woman, am captivated!"

"Judging from her attire, she must be someone of high status. She's most likely here for Lady Shen."

"I can only say that Madam Shen is amazing, absolutely amazing. Have you heard? His Majesty came to Zhiwei Restaurant to invite Madam Shen to the palace but failed and had to leave with regret."

"Madam Shen is the most beautiful woman in the whole world!"

"..."

Countless whispers and comments reached Gu Qionghua's ears.

She had seen this kind of scene many times in the capital, so it was nothing surprising to her.

Wherever she appears, she always sparks a lot of discussion, and all eyes are on her.

But today she felt extremely unwell.

After praising her beauty, these voices would all add, "Lady Shen is absolutely stunning."

Madam Shen is truly amazing, Madam Shen is so strong, Madam Shen is the most beautiful...

It was as if her beauty was just a prelude.

Gu Qionghua was filled with resentment.

She was determined to see just how beautiful this Lady Shen really was!

She quickened her pace slightly.

Snapped--

Suddenly, a small figure ran from a distance and bumped directly into Gu Qionghua.

He was a little beggar, his clothes were dirty and tattered.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry!" the little beggar shouted as he ran away, as if he had something urgent to attend to.

When Gu Qionghua realized what was happening, her expensive and gorgeous clothes were already stained with several dark marks.

It's dirty, her clothes are dirty!