"Everyone's surname is passed down from their ancestors; who has the right to change it?

I'm not joking with you, when I say you should restore your surname to Chen, then from now on you will be called Xiao Chenzi, understand?"

Lin Yi's tone was very serious, and there was no hint of joking as he spoke.

The little eunuch on the opposite side was taken aback, staring at Lin Yi with some bewilderment, unsure of what to say, his mind a blank.

This sense of happiness came so suddenly that it left him breathless, feeling as if he were dreaming.

This happiness was hard for him to believe it was real, at the moment, he felt he must not be fully awake, how could someone restore his surname?

If anyone were to restore a surname, it certainly shouldn't be the current Emperor, considering the Emperor's surname was Chen.

But hearing the Emperor's tone, there was no sense of deceit, enough to prove his words were true, without any trickery.

This left him dumbfounded, not knowing whether to believe the Emperor's words.

If he really changed his surname back to Chen, he could face his ancestors even in death.

Seeing the guy still in disbelief, Lin Yi shook his head with helplessness, then strode forward, speaking at the same time:

"Alright, this matter is settled, don't make me repeat it; once the Emperor has spoken, there's no turning back.

Remember, my words are as valuable as gold; they're never revoked.

Since I've said you should restore your surname to Chen, you'll do so from now on.

Remember that if you're still called Xiao Linzi upon hearing, I'll expel you from the palace immediately."

Finishing his words, he no longer paid attention to the guy and walked straight toward the Yishan Room.

Only, he overlooked one thing; he didn't actually know where the Yishan Room was.

Fortunately, at this moment, the little eunuch hurriedly caught up, finally recovering from his shock.

Seeing the guy's current expression, Lin Yi couldn't help but find it funny yet helpless.

At this moment, the little eunuch's face showed a mixture of wanting to smile but not daring to, afraid yet anxious.

Overall, his face was a showcase of all emotions, a look harder than laughing or crying.

Regardless, in later generations, solely based on one expression, he could undoubtedly earn the title of a super actor.

Of course, this was just a little interlude, under the little eunuch's guidance, Lin Yi reached the Yishan Room.

Looking at the table filled with dishes, Lin Yi couldn't help but shake his head.

In today's society, being able to fill one's stomach is already good, yet the Emperor lives such an extravagant lifestyle.

Of course, he didn't feel too repulsed, since being a monarch means enjoying the riches others can't.

It's what an Emperor should indulge in.

However, for him, he really didn't have much of a feeling.

Especially upon seeing the similar cooking methods of all these dishes, his appetite diminished even more.

Good ingredients were turned into large pot-style dishes; many were merely steamed or boiled.

Take the massive black bear paw in front of him, it was simply steamed.

Moreover, beside the steamed bear paw, was a very delicate small plate with some yellowish crystal grains.

Clearly, even without thinking, these grains were salt.

In Lin Yi's opinion, this was plainly a steamed bear paw dipped in salt.

The methods for the rest of the table were mostly similar, although the ingredients were very fresh and rare.

Some even considered protected animals in later generations were served.

But these methods couldn't be praised, in Lin Yi's eyes, it was a clear waste.

If these ingredients were taken to the future, they could almost constitute an imperial feast.

The little eunuch beside him saw Lin Yi stop suddenly, frowning, and his heart skipped a beat; he cautiously stepped forward and said:

"Emperor, may I ask if you're dissatisfied with these dishes? If so, I'll have them remade."

Hearing the eunuch's voice, Lin Yi resumed walking inside.

He reached the dining table, looked at the dish in front of him, and prepared to use his chopsticks to taste.

However, at this moment, the little eunuch rushed forward and blocked Lin Yi.

This left Lin Yi momentarily stunned; why was he stopping him from eating?

Where did he get such nerve; why was he so fearless?

Could it be Lin Yi's previously gentle demeanor made him think he was easy to bully?

Lin Yi furrowed his brows tightly.

He turned to coldly gaze at the eunuch, while lenient and not harsh usually, it didn't mean he didn't have a temper.

If someone overstepped the line, he wouldn't hesitate to execute them.

Since ascending the throne, he was mentally prepared to be ruthless.

A weak or indecisive ruler couldn't govern effectively.

He believed strongly in the saying: "You can't stand firmly without being ruthless."

But at this moment, the eunuch seemingly sensed a faint killing intent from Lin Yi.

This made him tremble immediately, realizing he might have been misunderstood, and hurriedly began to explain:

"Emperor, this food shouldn't be tasted first by you, it must be tested for poison by us before you eat.

Please take care of your imperial health, always prioritizing it."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi was taken aback, and the cold expression vanished from his face instantly.

[To be continued...]