Chapter 287 Punishment
Huo Qingcang was enjoying his meal, but out of the corner of his eye he noticed that Huo Yuan was still eating the bland vegetarian dish with a straight face and no eyes to the side, and he couldn't help but feel a little anxious.
This child is so stubborn.
They only look at the surface and don't look deeper.
Besides, it would be such a waste not to eat something so good.
After going over the matter in his mind several times, he picked up the serving chopsticks and personally placed a piece of braised pork on the plate in front of Huo Yuan.
"Yuan'er, you should try some too. It's a token of Her Highness Consort Zhuang's good intentions, so we mustn't be impolite."
Huo Yuan looked at the braised pork on the plate, which was emitting a rich aroma of meat, and his brows instantly furrowed into a knot.
It was as if it weren't a piece of meat, but some kind of deadly poison.
The desire for food and drink can corrupt one's mind and will!
He refuses to bow down to evil forces!
He felt an inner resistance, his body stiffened, and he instinctively wanted to push the plate away.
But since his grandfather was personally serving him food, and it was in front of the Emperor, it would be extremely disrespectful for him to refuse directly.
Huo Yuan's face was extremely ugly, his lips were pressed tightly together, and his hand holding the chopsticks trembled slightly, as if he was engaged in a battle between heaven and man.
Huo Lin was secretly delighted to see his expression of being on high alert.
[Tsk, look at him, he acts like eating a piece of meat is going to kill him.]
[Giving him food is already quite generous; I don't even have enough to eat myself.]
Jiang Huan also smiled, watching Huo Yuan's fascinating expression.
You stubborn tsundere, you stubborn tsundere, I don't believe you can stand it!
Under the gaze of the three people, Huo Yuan struggled for a moment, and finally reluctantly picked up the piece of meat and put it in his mouth.
He kept his eyes tightly shut, looking as if Huo Lin had given him a cup of poison.
However, the moment the meat touched his tongue, a rich and mellow flavor exploded, directly conquering his taste buds.
The meat was incredibly tender, melting in your mouth with almost no chewing required. The rich, savory sauce combined with the sweetness of rock sugar made it absolutely delicious.
Huo Yuan's tightly furrowed brows relaxed for a moment, a hint of confusion he tried hard to conceal hidden in his eyes.
What... what is this smell?
Braised pork belly, can it really be this delicious?
He froze on the spot, his hand holding the chopsticks paused, his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, and he subconsciously pursed his lips.
Absurd! Mere verbal urges cannot disturb his mind.
It must be because the meat was stewed... stewed too cleverly.
Seeing this, Jiang Huan knew that the conversation had been opened. With a smile on her lips and impeccable manners, she scooped up a small bowl of milky white fish soup and pushed it in front of Huo Yuan.
"Your Highness, please try this fish soup again. It's very fresh and not fishy at all."
Huo Yuan struggled for a shorter time this time. He hesitated, picked up the spoon, scooped up a tiny spoonful, blew on it, and put it in his mouth.
The warm broth coats the tongue, its exquisite freshness complementing the sweetness of the fish, smooth and comforting.
So fresh! So fresh it's like the fish is jumping around in his mouth.
No, these are all illusions, deceptions. How do you recite that Heart-Cleansing Mantra again...?
Before he could figure it out, he was startled to find that his gaze had involuntarily drifted toward the plate of jujube and yam cake.
This time, Huo Lin, with a mocking smile, picked up a piece of pastry and placed it on his plate.
"Eat if you want. Only when you're full will you have the energy to speak ill of me."
Huo Yuan could tell that the emperor was being sarcastic, but after hesitating for a moment, he still picked it up and took a small bite.
The texture is smooth and delicate, the jujube paste is sweet and rich, and the sweetness is just right. This is not food; it is a work of art.
etc……
Don't think he's backing down; it's just that he knows himself and his enemy!
To understand Consort Zhuang's methods, one must first get involved.
Now it seems, humph, she really is a vixen; ordinary people couldn't cook this kind of food!
Thinking this, his chopsticks seemed to come to life, and with a sense of relief as he convinced himself, they reached for the braised pork again.
I only tasted it, I didn't savor it properly.
Now, he needs to have it re-examined.
Huo Lin looked at Huo Yuan, who was already utterly defeated but still deliberately holding his head high, and laughed inwardly.
[Hahaha, keep pretending, don't you feel the sting of your face?]
Is the pig feed from the imperial kitchen still delicious?
Jiang Huan was also watching with great interest; it was a classic case of "I was wrong, but I love it" moment.
This awkwardness is truly something else.
Huo Yuan was completely immersed in the fierce struggle between his own moral values and instinctive desires, and ate in unusual silence.
He didn't even realize that he had eaten quite a lot without noticing.
However, just as he subconsciously reached for another piece of braised pork, he suddenly seemed to wake up with a start, realizing his earlier lapse in judgment.
Huo Yuan, what are you doing!
How could they indulge in such gluttonous desires? Have all the classic texts they read gone to waste?
He even rambled on and made up a bunch of excuses for himself.
It's simply...it's a disgrace to our ancestors and the teachings of our sages.
A wave of shame mixed with self-loathing washed over me.
Huo Yuan abruptly put down his chopsticks and spoke curtly.
"Hmph! But... it's just a way to stimulate the senses with strong flavors. Such food is fine to have a taste now and then, but one should never become addicted to it. Your Majesty is responsible for the fate of the nation, and should set an example for others."
He spoke these words quickly and urgently, as if trying to convince himself.
Jiang Huan: ……
Hey! They're turning the tables on us.
They ate and cleaned themselves up and then started cursing the cook. Is this mouth of theirs borrowed that they're in such a hurry to return?
Huo Lin's face also darkened instantly.
[So you're the one who starts eating and then starts cursing, huh? Looks like you're asking for a beating.]
Hearing Huo Lin's thoughts, Jiang Huan looked up at him, blinked, and asked with her eyes.
How can we tolerate this?
Huo Lin received her hint and nodded almost imperceptibly.
Do as you please, I'll back you up.
With Huo Lin's tacit approval, Jiang Huan felt much more confident.
She smiled gently, her smile bright and innocent: "Your Highness is absolutely right. I was too careless. I was only focused on the taste and forgot the importance of food, which lies in purifying the mind and reducing desires, and cultivating one's character."
As she spoke, she reached out and quickly moved all the remaining food toward herself, Huo Lin, and Huo Qingcang.
Then, she very "thoughtfully" pushed the pile of bland soup sent by the imperial kitchen towards Huo Yuan.
"Your Highness is of noble character and lofty aspirations, far surpassing those of us mere mortals. These simple porridges and side dishes are the best for nourishing the body and mind and tempering the will. Please enjoy your meal, Your Highness, and make sure you eat your fill so that you may properly cultivate your character."
...
Huo Yuan's chopsticks were still raised in mid-air when the target disappeared, and his movements froze.
He glanced at the simple, bland meal before him, the lingering, enticing aroma of meat still wafting from his nose.
Huo Yuan opened his mouth, his face turning red, his throat feeling like it was stuffed with cotton, unable to utter a single word.
He wanted to refute and rebuke, but the other person agreed with him in every word, throwing back his words exactly as they had said.
Are you asking him to admit that he actually still wants to eat those so-called "luxury foods"? Wouldn't that be contradicting himself?
Huo Yuan stood frozen in place, his face turning red and white in turns, his hand holding the chopsticks trembling slightly. For the first time, he experienced what it meant to lift a stone only to drop it on one's own foot.
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