Chapter 097: The Future Emperor of Great Xia

The attendant, seeing the gold coin in his hands, immediately adopted a humble demeanor. "Gentlemen, I must apologize for my earlier oversight. Please, esteemed guests, allow me to show you upstairs at once!"

Qian Baidu was thoroughly unimpressed by the attendant's shifting attitude. He snorted, "Didn't you say there were no private rooms left upstairs?"

The attendant, recognizing the implication in Qian Baidu's words, simply smiled. "We always reserve a certain number of private rooms at Flavor Supreme for distinguished guests like yourselves."

Hearing this, Xin Lang smiled inwardly. "The owner of Flavor Supreme not only knows business but also how to manage people."

Thanks to the gold coin from the portly fellow, the attendant selected a private room by the window for Xin Lang and his companions, from which they could gaze upon the bustling nightscape of Summer Capital.

"So, gentlemen, are you satisfied with this room?" the attendant asked the portly man.

The portly man glanced at Xin Lang, who nodded ever so slightly. "It's passable," he replied.

The attendant chuckled again. "May I ask what dishes you would like to order?"

Just as the portly man was about to speak, Qian Baidu interjected, "What signature dishes does your restaurant offer? Never mind, just bring us eight or ten of your most expensive ones!"

The attendant was surprised; these four, dressed so plainly, were exceedingly generous. Yet, Qian Baidu hardly seemed the type to be wealthy, so he looked to the portly man for confirmation, since only he appeared to fit the part.

The portly man declared, "Don't stagger the courses; bring out all your signature dishes so we can sample them. That way, next time we'll know what to order!"

The attendant thought, "This one is even more lavish than the last!" He headed downstairs, and soon returned, bearing a succession of dishes, each more fragrant and visually appealing than the last.

Of the four, only Xin Lang maintained a semblance of decorum; the other three devoured the food like ravenous wolves. The attendant could only stare, thinking, "Are these four planning to dine and dash?"

He quickly took out the gold coin the portly man had given him, biting it to check its authenticity. "Thankfully, it's real! But their table manners are certainly lacking."

"Old pal, does this restaurant offer any wine?" Hong King Kong asked after eating for a while.

Qian Baidu chimed in, "Fatty, are you worried about paying for drinks?"

"Come on, do I look like that kind of person?" the portly man replied. "I just thought we should eat our fill first, then head to Orchid Lane for some pleasure wine! What do you say, are you two brave enough to go?"

"I'll pass! That doesn't interest me," Qian Baidu shook his head.

But Hong King Kong said, "Why wouldn't I? As long as you're paying, I'd walk through fire and water!"

"What about you, boss? Are you coming?" the portly man looked at Xin Lang.

Xin Lang replied, "I'll sit this one out. You go ahead."

The portly man laughed lasciviously. "I know your tastes are refined, boss. The common fare at Orchid Lane would never catch your eye!"

Xin Lang couldn't be bothered to explain, and instead gazed out the window. The full moon in the sky carried his thoughts across time, recalling the sweet, intimate moments he shared with Hongxiu, the two embracing passionately as they admired the moon together...

Suddenly, the vision shattered, and Xin Lang was pulled back to reality.

"Tell those people inside their meal is on me, and they should clear out at once!" An abrasive voice shouted from outside the private room.

"Sir, your request is rather..." the attendant hesitated.

"What's the problem? Let them eat for free—they should thank me for it! Enough talk, we're in a hurry to enjoy the moon!" the voice insisted.

"Fine, I'll speak with them," the attendant replied, reluctantly pushing open the door to the private room. He addressed Xin Lang and his companions, "Forgive me for the interruption, gentlemen. There's a young master outside who has taken a liking to this room and asks if you would kindly vacate."

The group had already overheard the commotion outside. The portly man, unable to contain himself, retorted, "Why should we give up our room to him?"

The attendant explained carefully, "The young master says... if you agree to vacate, he will cover your bill."

Xin Lang, deep in reminiscence about Hongxiu, felt his mood sour at the interruption. He pulled out a pouch of gold coins and tossed it onto the table. "We have no shortage of money. We're not interested in playing the fool!"

The attendant, seeing their refusal, was even more at a loss.

At that moment, a swaggering, arrogant young noble strode into the room, sneering, "Letting you play the fool is a mark of my regard! I'm in a good mood today, so I won't haggle with you. Name your price and speak up!"

Xin Lang studied the newcomer, finding him strangely familiar, and after a closer look, was shocked. "It's him! Isn't this the future emperor of the Great Summer Kingdom?"

Xin Lang and his three companions had come to Flavor Supreme for a meal, never expecting to encounter the future ruler of the Great Summer Dynasty.

Before Xin Lang was reborn, in the era more than a decade hence, this unruly noble, Huangfu Shaoqi, would become the emperor of Great Summer. It was this very man who, in a short time, would ascend to the throne.

In Xin Lang's memories prior to his rebirth, Huangfu Shaoqi, though young, was a wise and dignified ruler, a steady sage-king—quite unlike the reckless youth now before him.

Xin Lang recalled that Huangfu Shaoqi was not the crown prince, merely the third son of the current emperor, and under normal circumstances the throne would never have been his. In his youth, he achieved little, but later, with the help of Hong King Kong—the "War God King Kong"—he eventually inherited the crown.

"Huangfu Shaoqi is here! And Hong King Kong as well! How interesting..." The corners of Xin Lang's lips curled into a wicked smile, as he began to devise a grand plan.

He looked toward the door, expecting Huangfu Shaoqi to be accompanied by bodyguards, but instead saw another familiar figure—Murong Yueyin, dazzling and radiant.

Seeing Murong Yueyin, Xin Lang searched his memory. "The empress of Great Summer doesn't bear the surname Murong, nor do any of the imperial concubines."

Murong Yueyin thoroughly disliked Huangfu Shaoqi and his ilk, but her status was unusual, and for various reasons, she had to accept his invitation.

Watching Huangfu Shaoqi's blustering, Murong Yueyin scoffed and was about to leave, when she noticed Xin Lang seated inside the private room. This made her reconsider.

C!