Chapter 286 Meal
Seeing that the situation was not good, Huo Qingcang quickly stepped forward and stood in front of Huo Yuan.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Yuan'er is young and impetuous, and speaks without restraint. He has offended Your Majesty. It is my fault for failing to discipline him properly. I beg Your Majesty to consider his sincerity and concern for the country and forgive him this time!"
Huo Lin snorted coldly: "I think he is clearly being misled and spouting nonsense without distinguishing right from wrong!"
Huo Yuan was shielded behind his grandfather, his fists clenched tightly.
This is outrageous! It is clear that the Emperor has been bewitched by the evil concubine and has turned black into white. What crime has he committed?
Honest advice is hard to hear, and he clearly saw it all and was anxious about it.
Just as he was about to speak in his defense, a notification sound suddenly rang out from outside the hall.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Kitchen has delivered lunch."
Wang Degui, being astute, realized that further arguing would only lead to an uncontrollable situation, so he quickly bowed and asked, "Your Majesty, what do you think..."
Huo Lin took a deep breath, gave Huo Yuan a cold glance, and suppressed his anger.
[Fine, I won't argue with a stubborn mule!]
"pass."
Wang Degui understood immediately and quickly went out to make the arrangements.
A short while later, several eunuchs filed in and set out lunch on the dining table in the side hall.
Huo Lin stood up, his gaze sweeping over Huo Qingcang and Huo Yuan. His tone remained cold, but he offered them a way out.
"You must be tired from your journey. This meal is to welcome you and wash away the dust of your travels. If there's anything else, we can discuss it after the meal."
Huo Qingcang naturally accepted the offer: "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."
Although Huo Yuan was filled with resentment, he could only keep a straight face and follow his grandfather to the side hall.
On the dining table were several exquisite imperial dishes.
The feast was indeed abundant, but at a glance, most of the dishes were light and elegant.
Huo Qingcang was getting old and his tastes were naturally lighter, so he could accept these dishes quite well. He was eating his meal slowly and leisurely.
Huo Yuan sat upright, his eyes fixed straight ahead, strictly adhering to the ancient precept of not speaking while eating or sleeping, and ate his food with a blank expression.
He ate the bland vegetarian stew with three kinds of seafood one bite after another, without any discomfort on his face, as if the clear broth was some kind of heavenly delicacy.
In contrast, Huo Lin only took a few bites of food symbolically before putting it down with little interest, his eyes full of disdain.
[My liver was already aching from that brat Huo Yuan, and now I have to eat this tasteless stuff.]
My life is so miserable.
Huo Yuan caught a glimpse of Huo Lin's appearance out of the corner of his eye and frowned.
What's wrong with Your Majesty? Even a three-year-old understands the saying, "Every grain of rice on the plate is the result of hard work," but he seems to have completely forgotten it!
Unable to bear it any longer, he slammed down his chopsticks, the sound particularly abrupt in the quiet side room.
"Your Majesty!" he said solemnly, with the pained indignation of an old scholar, "Every grain of rice and every bowl of porridge should remind us of the hard work involved in their production. The Imperial Kitchen has prepared these meals with great care, yet Your Majesty has treated them so perfunctorily. Is this the behavior of a wise ruler?"
Huo Lin was taken aback by the sudden accusation, then laughed in anger.
"I only ate a couple less bite, so I'm not a wise ruler?"
This kid is meddling even more than Wang Degui!
[He enjoys that pig-swill-like stuff, so does that mean I have to eat it too?]
He lifted his eyelids and glanced at Huo Yuan: "One should not speak while eating or sleeping. How can a sage act so disrespectfully, Your Highness?"
Huo Yuan was taken aback by this counter-argument, his face flushed slightly, but he still stubbornly said, "If I am to turn a blind eye to Your Majesty's wrong words and deeds, then I would rather not be a sage!"
"You flatter me." Huo Lin raised an eyebrow slightly. "This lunch was originally prepared for the two of you. My meals are taken care of by Consort Zhuang. She is an excellent cook and knows how to properly combine grains. I never waste a single grain of food prepared by her."
Jiang Huan, standing to the side, naturally took in the scene of their bickering.
Since things have come to this point, I have to show off my skills.
Firstly, it was to bolster Huo Lin's arrogance, and secondly, it was to whitewash her image as a wicked concubine who brought ruin to the country.
Thinking of this, Jiang Huan gracefully rose and said in a clear voice, "Your Majesty, today's matter was due to my lack of consideration. You two have come from afar, yet I failed to entertain you, which has led to misunderstanding."
"If Your Majesty does not mind, I will go to the small kitchen and prepare a few appetizers to express my apologies."
As she spoke, she winked, her meaning quite clear.
She's going to get something delicious to shut that jerk up!
Huo Lin immediately understood Jiang Huan's meaning, and his anger dissipated by more than half, even replaced by a hint of anticipation.
He nodded, his tone indulgent: "Alright, go ahead."
Jiang Huan smiled slightly, turned around and quickly walked out of the imperial study, her skirt rustling in the breeze.
Huo Yuan watched Jiang Huan's departing figure, his brows furrowing even more, his disdain growing stronger.
Hmph, just as expected of a wicked concubine, always knowing how to flatter and fawn over her superiors.
Huo Qingcang, however, saw things more clearly than his grandson: this Consort Zhuang and the Emperor were indeed of one mind.
His speech and observations are sharp, but I'm afraid Huo Ting might be exaggerating in this matter.
Half an hour later, an enticing fragrance wafted from outside the hall.
Jiang Huan walked in with a smile, followed by several palace maids, each carrying a food box.
"Time is short, so the dishes are all simple. If you and the Crown Prince enjoy them, I will prepare a more elaborate banquet for you in the future."
As she spoke, she gestured for the palace maid to open the food box.
A variety of dishes were placed on the table, including a bowl of milky white fish soup, several plates of delicate and exquisite desserts, emerald green seasonal vegetables, and a plate of glistening, steaming braised pork belly!
The aroma of that braised pork was so overpowering that it completely overpowered the fragrance of the food sent from the imperial kitchen.
Huo Yuan's nose twitched involuntarily, and his gaze was instinctively drawn to it.
His Adam's apple bobbed as he struggled to look away, trying to maintain a calm expression, but his tightly pursed lips betrayed him.
Huo Qingcang's mind was much clearer now. His eyes lit up, and he smiled and nodded at Jiang Huan.
"Your Highness is so kind. This old minister thanks Your Highness."
Jiang Huan curtsied and said with a smile, "Uncle, you're too kind. This braised pork is stewed until it's tender and melts in your mouth, making it perfect for the elderly. The fish soup is also light and delicious, and the desserts are all made with easy-to-digest ingredients. Please try them and see if they suit your taste."
Huo Qingcang did as instructed, picking up a piece of braised pork and putting it in his mouth.
The meat melts in your mouth; the fat has been stewed until it blends into the sauce, leaving only a soft, tender, and succulent texture—fatty but not greasy, lean but not dry.
"Mmm! The saltiness and sweetness are just right, and the flavor lingers in your mouth. Excellent cooking!"
Huo Qingcang narrowed his eyes and nodded repeatedly in praise.
He took another sip of the milky white fish soup, so delicious that his eyebrows almost fell off, and he praised it highly: "It seems that His Majesty was right. With Consort Zhuang around, the food in the Imperial Kitchen is truly lackluster."
The old man's appetite was stimulated, and he tried several more pastries and seasonal vegetables, all of which were refreshing and delicious, making him smile from ear to ear.
The tense atmosphere in the hall just now seemed to have been somewhat diluted by the satisfaction brought by the delicious food.
Seeing Huo Qingcang's blissful expression, Huo Lin couldn't help but smile, even happier than if he himself had been praised.
[See? I told you her cooking skills were unparalleled.]
Even the Imperial Uncle, a well-traveled and knowledgeable gourmand, praised it highly. I'd like to see how that brat Huo Yuan will continue to eat his pig feed!
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