Chapter 64: What Do You Mean

Although what Li Yi said sounded, for the most part, perfectly reasonable, the servant couldn’t shake a peculiar sense of unease in his heart. Especially when he caught that sly grin on Li Yi’s face—his suspicions only deepened further.

He mulled over it carefully in his mind, and suddenly, a thought struck him. The next moment, he couldn’t help but widen his eyes, muttering softly under his breath, “Could it be that Young Master wasn’t talking about ‘see’ but about ‘cheap’?”

Realizing the difference between the two words, and the vastly different meanings they conveyed, especially as he saw Yue’er at the side stifling her laughter behind her hand, the servant’s face twitched uncontrollably several times.

“The Young Master truly lives up to his reputation!” the servant shook his head with a wry smile and sighed softly, “Even when it comes to scolding someone, he seizes every opportunity!”

He silently mourned for Manager Xu for several seconds.

Yet, while the servant stood there in a daze, Li Yi had already stepped out in large strides, calling lightly, “Yue’er, let’s go and ‘cheapen’ Manager Xu a bit.”

“Yes, Young Master,” Yue’er replied with a giggle, nodding and smiling again and again. She set down the wine jar in her hand, patted her hands clean, and quickly followed after Li Yi.

The servant’s face twitched once more before he hurriedly withdrew.

In the main hall of the Li Residence.

Manager Xu, accompanied by the imperial guard, was currently seated as a guest on either side of the hall, led there by one of the Li family’s servants.

By their hands, each had a cup of steaming hot tea.

Manager Xu sat calmly, waiting, but the imperial guard beside him was filled with astonishment. Even after sitting in the Li Residence for quite some time, his gaze wandering about as he took in the surroundings, he still found it hard to believe that the 'Great Proprietor' Manager Xu spoke of was actually a member of the Li family!

In his mind, Li Jing was not someone who would secretly send people out to engage in business!

But now, with the facts laid bare before him, he had no choice but to believe.

“Who would have thought that the dignified Lord Li would stoop to acting like other noble families, sending people out in secret to engage in trade!” The guard sneered inwardly, a look of disdain flickering across his features.

At that moment, he already held Li Jing and his household in contempt.

However, he quickly reconsidered; since the ‘Great Proprietor’ mentioned by Manager Xu was from the Li family, perhaps this wasn’t such a bad thing after all. If so, what he was about to do would become much easier.

“If you dare send people to do business, surely you won’t refuse when His Majesty desires to taste your family’s breakfast?”

With this thought, the guard felt much more at ease, the previous worry about not being able to obtain the food swept away. He sipped his tea in leisurely contentment.

After about half a cup of tea’s time, the two finally welcomed the main figure—the Great Proprietor himself.

As soon as Li Yi appeared, Manager Xu hurriedly rose and bowed with utmost respect. “This humble one pays his respects, Young Master.”

Yet, at this very moment, his heart was filled with anxiety, unsure if bringing the imperial guard to the Li Residence today was the right decision.

Thus, as he saluted Li Yi, he kept his head bowed low, sneaking glances to gauge Li Yi’s expression, fearing the Young Master might take offense and sever their business ties.

The imperial guard, upon seeing that the person arriving was none other than Li Yi, was momentarily taken aback but quickly composed himself. Nodding with a perfunctory smile, he offered the most cursory of courtesies.

At the same time, he made no effort to hide the disdain on his face for the Li family.

“No need for formalities. Whatever it is, sit down and speak,” Li Yi said, taking in the guard’s expression at a glance. He waved his hand, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips, and seated himself in the place of honor.

Yue’er, too, noticed the guard’s expression and furrowed her brows slightly. Yet, since Li Yi said nothing, she stood quietly behind him, her face expressionless and cold as ice, exuding an air that kept everyone at a distance.

“Thank you, Young Master.” Manager Xu nodded and took his seat.

But when he saw Li Yi’s calm expression, the faint smile tinged with a trace of coldness, his heart sank—he knew immediately that Li Yi was surely displeased.

Thinking this, Manager Xu let out a helpless sigh, filled with regret. He should never have brought the guard here.

But now, there was nothing to be done but to steel himself and explain the purpose of their visit.

“Young Master…” Manager Xu had just begun to speak, when the imperial guard abruptly cut him off.

The guard clasped his hands behind his back and rose slowly from his seat, fixing his gaze on Li Yi. With a calm face, he declared, “Young Master Li, I am an imperial guard with sword at His Majesty’s side. I have come from the palace today to purchase breakfast on behalf of a noble within. Since Manager Xu said all breakfast portions at the restaurant have been sold, and he cannot make the decision himself, I ask that you instruct him to prepare a serving for me.”

“Time is of the essence—the noble in the palace awaits this delicacy. I ask that you see to it swiftly, so I may return to report my success!”

The guard’s tone was exceedingly arrogant, not at all as if he were negotiating, but rather issuing a command to Li Yi—a command that brooked no refusal.

Since he already knew someone in the Li residence was engaged in business, the guard had no wish to converse further, for he held nothing but contempt for them.

The reason was simple: in the eyes of Tang officials, engaging in trade was a shameful act. He disdained associating with merchants, believing it would sully his reputation.

Moreover, he knew well that no great family in the Tang dynasty would ever allow their young master to dabble in commerce, and from Manager Xu’s words, it was easy to deduce that the real owner of the Drunken Immortal Restaurant was none other than Li Yi himself!

Thus, his attitude toward Li Yi was anything but friendly, and even his words carried a chill.

He had only one thought: so long as he could secure an Orleans Breakfast Set and deliver it back to the palace, his task would be complete. As for anything else, he neither cared nor saw the need to bother.

Yet Li Yi paid the guard no heed whatsoever, treating him as little more than a tiresome nuisance. Smiling, he turned instead to Manager Xu, asking, “Manager Xu, what brings you here to see me?”

“Uh…” Manager Xu was at a loss for words.

Sensing the awkward tension in the room, he didn’t know whether to answer or not. If he said nothing, it would mean distancing himself from Li Yi; if he spoke, he would be siding with Li Yi against the guard.

In either case, it put him in an impossible position.

After a brief hesitation, Manager Xu finally made up his mind and chose to stand with Li Yi.

He said slowly, “This imperial official wishes to purchase an Orleans breakfast, but our restaurant’s portions for today are all sold out. I did not dare make the decision myself, so I brought him to you, Young Master, hoping you would advise me.”

As soon as Manager Xu finished, he felt beads of sweat as large as beans rolling down his forehead, his body trembling with anxiety.

The guard, on the other hand, turned red with rage upon seeing that Li Yi not only ignored him but treated him as if he were invisible. His face was as red as a monkey’s backside, utterly unsightly.

Unable to contain his fury at being so openly disregarded, the guard ground his teeth and barked coldly, “Li Bo’an, what do you mean by this!”

He glared at Li Yi with a murderous gleam in his eyes, as if Li Yi were his mortal enemy.

(End of chapter)