On this day, Zhao Huan took the Empress and Consort Han to Yanfu Palace to escape the summer heat.
On a whim, Zhao Huan and the three of them sat around the table and started eating hot pot.
In fact, compared to other dynasties in ancient China, the Song Dynasty was a paradise for foodies.
The most famous gourmand of the Song Dynasty was Su Dongpo. Wherever he was demoted, he ate his way through those places.
What's even more bizarre is that Su Dongpo was a national internet celebrity in the Song Dynasty, with fans all over the country.
Since our idol loves to eat, everyone follows suit and eats too.
The variety of dishes and spices in the Song Dynasty was already quite extensive. Thanks to the continuous efforts of the Han and Tang Dynasties and the millennia-long exchanges along the Silk Road, many spices and foods from Central Asia entered the Song Dynasty.
However, Song Dynasty emperors did not eat delicacies at every meal.
However, the Song emperors ate the simplest and most elegant food, which was different from the grand and extravagant style of the Tang Dynasty and the opulent style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The Song Dynasty emphasized elegance.
In pursuit of visual appeal and uniqueness, the imperial chefs prepared very small portions of each dish for the emperor.
Of course, the emperor had thirty dishes at every meal, so he never had to worry about not being full.
It is said that the emperor would change the dish every two sips of wine, but fortunately, the alcohol content of wine in the Song Dynasty was very low.
Since Zhao Huan changed his diet, he rarely drank alcohol. Although he had meat with every meal, he didn't eat much.
But recently, Zhao Huan has been in a great mood.
Today, I brought Empress Zhu Lian and Han Chenchen to Yanfu Palace to have a hot pot made with lacquer.
Zhao Huan loved to eat beef, but beef was forbidden on the ancient dinner table. Nevertheless, he still had people secretly send him beef to eat.
Today, there is no beef on the table, but there is lamb.
Zhao Huan specially ordered the imperial chef to slice the mutton as thin as silk.
The imperial chef who prepared this meal came from Sichuan, where the Sichuan cuisine had already developed by this time.
Chili peppers were not available in the Song Dynasty, but black pepper and mustard greens were. Ginger was also used to adjust the spiciness.
The group ate until they were sweating profusely, leaving the palace maids watching in disbelief.
If we were to name the most peculiar emperor since the founding of the Song Dynasty, it would undoubtedly be the current emperor.
He not only broke with traditional court rules regarding food, but also began to experiment with different styles of clothing.
In the summer, unlike his predecessors, the current emperor wore a white silk robe and wooden clogs, with his thick, black hair casually tied up, which made him appear somewhat unrefined and even a little unruly.
But this brought a lot of upgrades to the lifeless court.
Take Yanfu Palace for example. It was the palace that the retired emperor loved to visit the most. It was separate from the inner palace and belonged to the outer palace.
The place was filled with the calligraphy and paintings of the retired emperor, all of which were moved away by the current emperor's men.
He had it renovated, turning the open space where he used to paint into a place for him to exercise and work out, replacing the previous subtle and refreshing elements with something simple, rustic, and grand.
Zhao Huan took a sip of wine and said with a smile, "The Empress likes spicy food!"
"I do indeed have a special fondness for mustard greens."
Zhao Huan asked, "Do you know that I sent Shen Lang to the end of the East Sea?"
"I have heard about it."
"Does the Empress know why I sent Shen Lang to the end of the East Sea?"
"Your Majesty's wisdom is as vast as the sea, and I cannot comprehend it."
Han Chenchen looked at Zhao Huan with curiosity: "Your Majesty, is there really a fairy mountain at the end of the East Sea?"
"There are no fairy mountains, but there is a beautiful land with many treasures."
Upon hearing Zhao Huan's words, both women looked at him expectantly, clearly hoping he would continue.
The ancient book "Classic of Mountains and Seas" says: "Below is Tang Valley, and above Tang Valley is Fusang, where the ten suns bathe. It is north of Heichi, in the water, and there is a large tree. Nine suns live on the lower branches, and one sun lives on the upper branch."
"The Fusang here is at the end of the East Sea, which is the place I sent Shen Lang to find. It is located at the easternmost point of the world, the place where the sun rises."
According to Zhao Huan, the Americas of later generations are Fusang.
In fact, many people in later generations believed that Japan was Fusang, but this claim is debatable.
During the Tang and Song dynasties, the Japanese were so enamored with Chinese culture that they naturally sought to find a place for themselves in ancient Chinese texts to assert their presence.
They shamelessly attach themselves to Japan.
The Book of Liang, Biographies of Foreign Peoples, Fusang Kingdom records: "Fusang is more than 20,000 li east of the Han Dynasty. It is located in the east of China. Its land is rich in Fusang trees, hence the name."
It has already been stated here that it is more than 20,000 li. In ancient times, people did not have a great concept of distance, but it was not as far as Japan.
Therefore, Zhao Huan believed that the Americas of later generations were Fusang.
So that's how it is, holy crap!
Japan is an inseparable part of China!
The Empress and Han Chenchen listened intently, thinking that the Emperor had a truly imaginative mind.
"In the land of Fusang, there is a spice called chili pepper. It is entirely red, and eating it feels like swallowing flames, yet it tastes exceptionally delicious!"
Zhao Huan looked at Zhu Lian tenderly: "I will send Shen Lang to retrieve the chili peppers for the Empress."
Zhu Lian was deeply moved and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Han Chenchen pouted, looking at the two of them showing affection in front of her with a very envious gaze.
I am, after all, one of your concubines. Shouldn't you be a little fairer?
I don't eat spicy food, but I love other kinds of food.
For example, one day I secretly went to your gym and saw you eating beef there. I ate a few bites and fell in love with it too.
Husband, do you have to do this?!
"In Japan, there is a food called potatoes. If you cut them into chunks and put them in this pot, they are very delicious. I will have Shen Lang bring one back!"
Zhu Lian couldn't help but smile, revealing her pearly white teeth, and said gently, "Your Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state, yet you still trouble yourself with my affairs. I don't know how to thank Your Majesty."
Zhu Lian was a very gentle and virtuous wife, upright and kind-hearted. She managed the harem very well, unlike the characters portrayed in later Qing Dynasty dramas.
Furthermore, she gave birth to a prince and a princess, which was the greatest thing Zhu Lian did for Zhao Huan.
Having been hurt by a woman in his past life, what more could Zhao Huan ask for in this life than a wife like this?
Moreover, there's a lively and cheerful Han Fei who would often go to his gym and find various excuses to steal his beef.
"Further south of Srivijaya, there is a place called the Kingdom of Buting, where there are vast grasslands. Once my navy is established, I will send people there to raise cattle. Although it is a bit far, the Song Dynasty has tens of millions of ships. At that time, Consort Han, you can eat as much beef as you want!"
In fact, cattle could be raised in the Northwest, but going to Australia in later generations was also part of Zhao Huan's strategy.
What can be used to strengthen economic ties between that region and the Central Plains? The sale of beef and mutton!
Han Chenchen, who had just been wearing a sour face, immediately broke into a bright smile: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
At this moment, Wang Kui'an rushed in, interrupting the three people's pleasant chat.
Wang Kui'an also realized that he had come at the wrong time, and he was about to leave.
"return."
Wang Kui'an turned back.
"Your Majesty, Hu Yu and Sun Liangquan are waiting outside. Minister Xu, Minister Tang, and Minister Zhou have all arrived, as has Imperial Censor Liu."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
