Great Ming: From the Start, One Bowl of Rice Makes Emperor Hongwu Drool

Transplanted to the Hongwu era as a junior kitchen helper, Tao Shouman has only one principle in life: keep his head down, save enough silver, and retire with honor!

Unfortunately, serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. The imperial family is prone to dying young and suffering from frail health, the imperial physicians cling to rigid and cumbersome rules, and the lowly are always at risk of being implicated.

Tao Shouman, who values his life above all else, only wants to keep his head down. But beneath a wall, he finds four-year-old imperial grandson Zhu Yun-jian, who has developed an aversion to food after being force-fed.

With one bowl of fragrant, tender fried rice with minced meat and egg, he turns the imperial grandson into a clingy little shadow who won't leave his side!

When the Jinyiwei cavalry swarm in, murderous and surrounding the kitchen, the entire court thinks the unlucky cook is about to have his whole clan wiped out.

The four-year-old clings tightly to Tao Shouman's leg, his eyes brimming with tears as he cries in a childish voice toward the dragon throne:

"Grandpa Emperor, you mustn't kill Uncle Tao!"

"If you lay a hand on him, Er won't share his crispy meat with you ever again!"

The iron-blooded emperor Zhu Yuanzhang smells the crispy aroma drifting out of the kitchen. His mouth twitches uncontrollably as he scowls and snorts:

"You little brat... Hurry up and give me a piece!"

"Shopkeeper Tao, what are you standing around for?"

"Bring another bowl of rice, and if you leave out a single grain, I'll have your skin!"