Chapter 1

In the ninth year of Wude, in the golden month of October, the majestic city of Chang'an was not as bustling as in previous years.

On the streets, pedestrians hurried by, greeting each other in hushed tones, reluctant to engage in conversation.

Just three months ago, Li Shimin, the Tang King, killed his brothers and imprisoned his father at the Xuanwu Gate, and a month ago, he ascended the throne as emperor.

For the common people living in Chang'an, the sight of the black-armored soldiers running through the streets was like the descent of demons, and news of powerful families being imprisoned was heard every now and then.

Being under the emperor's nose, who didn't have a few relatives working for the government?

Thus, for a time, half of Chang'an seemed like a ghost town, from the nobles to the beggars, all lived in fear, dreading the day when the black-armored soldiers would break into their homes.

Zhang Nuo, bored, leaned on the counter, sighing at the deserted street outside.

Three months ago, he was a 21st-century small restaurant owner and a homebody, accustomed to mooching off Wi-Fi, playing on his phone, and gaming.

But after just one night's sleep, he woke up in the ninth year of Wude, and became Zhang Nuo, the young owner of a small tavern in the eastern market of Chang'an.

Running a restaurant wasn't much of a problem for Zhang Nuo. After his parents passed away in his previous life, he managed their small restaurant well, at least ensuring he had enough to eat and drink.

But what era was this? The Tang Dynasty!

According to the social hierarchy, merchants were considered a lowly profession, easily bullied by any minor official.

Even if you were the richest man in the country, in the eyes of high officials and nobles, you were just a fat sheep, ready to be slaughtered at any moment.

So, Zhang Nuo had two things on his mind: making money and getting a government position!

Unfortunately, perhaps due to the wrong posture during his穿越 (time travel), he arrived just in time for the Xuanwu Gate Incident, followed by the Turkic invasion of 200,000 troops, which nearly besieged Chang'an. If it weren't for Li Shimin's wisdom and bravery, and the Weishui Alliance with Jiali, Chang'an might have been surrounded.

With internal and external troubles causing panic, business in Chang'an naturally wasn't thriving. The golden finger he relied on for a quick rise to power had only buffered by less than ten percent, and it was unclear when it would be fully effective.

With no choice, Zhang Nuo had to focus on running the small tavern, at least to avoid starving to death.

It was already midday, and according to Tang Dynasty customs, it was lunchtime, but not a single customer had shown up. Zhang Nuo suspected that today would be another wasted day.

Just as he was about to go to the kitchen to get something to eat, a middle-aged man dressed in black silk and wearing a jade pendant walked in.

Zhang Nuo's eyes lit up, and he quickly stood up to greet him.

"Sir, how many people are dining? Any dietary restrictions?"

The middle-aged man seemed troubled, nodding slightly as if he had heard, and looked around before choosing a seat in the back.

Zhang Nuo hurriedly wiped the already clean table with a linen cloth and said,

"Sir, you seem troubled. Since it's your first time here, why not try our new dishes and a small pot of wine? Perhaps after eating and drinking, your worries will be relieved!"

The middle-aged man, finding Zhang Nuo's words quite clever, finally smiled and said,

"Then let's try your skills. If the food is good, I won't skimp on the tip!"

Zhang Nuo nodded with a smile and rushed to the kitchen to prepare the dishes.

From his attire and demeanor, this man didn't seem to be poor. If he was treated well, he might become a regular customer.

Not only would he make money, but if the customer brought friends, business would surely improve.

If one of those friends was an official, and they became familiar, he might get a recommendation letter, and thus enter the government.

With these thoughts in mind, Zhang Nuo put in his best effort in the kitchen. In less than twenty minutes, he served four dishes and a soup.

In this era, with scarce resources and limited cooking techniques, Zhang Nuo's carefully prepared dishes, using a rich broth as a base, stood out in both appearance and aroma.

The middle-aged man, seeing the dishes in ordinary porcelain bowls but emitting a fragrant aroma, found his appetite returning.

He picked up his chopsticks and tried each dish, his eyes widening with each bite. After a sip of the wine Zhang Nuo poured for him, he was thoroughly pleased.

"Owner, your skills are unmatched. I've eaten at most of the taverns and restaurants in Chang'an, but this is the first time I've tasted such delicious food. I'll definitely give you a generous tip today!"

Zhang Nuo smiled, knowing that anyone who could run a restaurant for years in his previous life must have some real skills.

However, seeing the customer focused on eating, he didn't want to disturb him.

Feeling hungry himself, he turned to go to the kitchen to get something to eat.

But before he could reach the kitchen, the customer called out,

"Owner, you haven't eaten lunch either. Why don't you join me? Eating alone is rather dull, and we can chat while we eat to pass the time!"

Zhang Nuo, not feeling the least bit embarrassed, took a clean pair of chopsticks and sat opposite the customer, eating a few bites before asking,

"What should I call you, sir?"

The customer, about to pour wine, paused but then naturally picked up the wine pot and poured for himself, smoothly answering,

"Call me Old Li. I'm also a merchant, and business has been tough lately, so I came out to clear my mind. I didn't expect to find such delicious food, and I'll definitely come back to try more!"

Zhang Nuo nodded with a smile, pouring himself a cup of wine and raising it to Old Li before drinking it down, smacking his lips and replying,

"Ah, these past few months have been chaotic, and business has been tough. But with the old emperor abdicating and the new emperor ascending, Old Li, you can rest easy. Good times are just around the corner!"

Old Li's eyes flashed, and he smiled,

"Seems you have faith in the new emperor. We all hope so. The country has been in turmoil for so long; it's time for peace and prosperity!"

Zhang Nuo nodded, knowing about the Zhenguan era, even if his history wasn't perfect. The flourishing Tang Dynasty, praised for a thousand years, was no joke.

Seeing Zhang Nuo not saying more, Old Li realized that discussing the royal family on their first meeting was a bit too deep. He changed the topic to the local customs of Chang'an and his own travel stories.

Despite being in his early twenties, Zhang Nuo had heard all kinds of stories and trivia in his previous life, and he and Old Li chatted enthusiastically.

They drank and ate, and the meal lasted for nearly half a day.

Old Li, still enjoying himself, took out two strings of coins and placed them on the table, bowed, and said he would definitely come back to try Zhang Nuo's cooking again.

Zhang Nuo nodded, marveling at the wealth of the man, who casually spent what would be a few months' income for an average family.

As Old Li left, he got into an unmarked carriage.

Sitting in the carriage, Old Li, who had been smiling in the tavern, now had a stern expression and said in a deep voice,

"Back to the palace!"

The driver, even through the curtain, bowed deeply and replied,

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Old Li, or Emperor Taizong of Tang, sat in the swaying carriage, thinking about Zhang Nuo's evaluation of him and the taste of the food. He suddenly felt that he should visit this unassuming tavern more often!