Chapter 7
Liu Ju was unhappy for a moment, but still adhering to the principle of "Although you are not a qualified and most beloved father, I am a qualified and most beloved son", he expressed forgiveness and understanding very generously, and carried out Liu Che's instructions and no longer mentioned the Kongming lantern.
It doesn't matter. If he's not allowed to do this, he can do something else. He has a lot of things on his mind now, and he has many choices.
So, after having Feng He and others collect a bunch of materials for Kongming lanterns, Liu Ju issued another order to collect milk and other things with all his strength. As for the cook①, he already had some ready-made.
Children are full of energy, especially Liu Ju, who is lively and active. He exercises a lot, digests quickly, and is often hungry.
As the only male heir of Emperor Liu Che in more than ten years since he ascended the throne, Liu Ju had a very special status in the palace. He not only had his own palace, but also an independent small kitchen to prepare snacks for him.
This time he not only brought along the maid, but also his three biological sisters.
Next to the kitchen, Bo Ren built a new stove. It looked a bit strange and different from ordinary stoves. There was a stove opening in the middle that looked like a drawer.
The chief guard and Zhu Yi stood aside, while Liu Ju and Shi Yi squatted in front of the stove, staring intently at the mouth. The aroma of food wafted from there, and Liu Ju swallowed and licked his lips.
Under the scrutiny of several masters, the cook felt a little nervous. He carefully opened the stove, pulled out the food, and was ecstatic to see the perfectly cooked food. "It's done, it's done, Your Highness, this time it's done!"
Liu Ju also cheered and hurriedly ordered the cook to move the food to the side hall's dining table. Besides this, several other dishes were already on the table. Liu Ju was very satisfied: "Finally, they've done everything I asked them to do. Good job."
After receiving the young master's approval, the chef felt relieved and took his leave with a smile.
When everyone sat down, Shi Yi couldn't help but ask, "Now can you tell us what these are?"
Everything in front of her was sweet and fragrant, but she looked at it from the first step, making sure that she had never seen or tasted it before.
Liu Ju happily introduced: "From left to right, the first plate is cake, the second plate is cheese, also known as milk tofu, the third plate is egg custard pudding, and the fourth is freshly baked pizza."
Shi Yi: ...What's going on here? Why is the name so weird?
Liu Ju waved and called out, "Sister, try it!"
He couldn't wait to show his creation to others. The Wei chiefs and Zhuyi exchanged a glance, unable to contain their laughter. They politely picked up the cake and put it in their mouths: "It has a smooth texture, rich milky aroma, and a hint of sweetness. It's mild and not greasy."
Liu Ju boasted, "Yeah, yeah, it's super delicious, right? There are other options too. The egg custard pudding has a crispy outer layer and a smooth and tender inner layer. The milk tofu is soft and slightly sweet. As for the pizza..."
Liu Ju paused and gave a fair assessment: "The homemade cheese is not very good. The stringiness is not ideal. It needs to be improved."
It wasn't quite what was shown in the video, but it was still good. At least the taste was acceptable. He couldn't expect too much. After all, they didn't even have an oven, so they had to make their own stove.
The temperature of the stove is difficult to control, and it took many attempts to get it right. Also, authentic shredded mozzarella is hard to come by, and homemade cheese, while not as good, is passable.
Due to limited conditions, we have to make do with what we have. It’s enough to have something to eat. There is no need to pursue perfection in everything.
Thinking of this, the dissatisfaction on Liu Ju's face instantly receded. He opened his mouth and took a big bite of pizza, his eyes narrowed: "Ahhh, satisfied!"
Guard Chief Zhu Yi chuckled. Shi Yi asked curiously, "How come you suddenly have so many new things?"
Liu Ju hesitated and said vaguely, "How difficult is this? The King of Huainan can make tofu, so what if I can make milk tofu? I'm smart, don't you believe I can make more in the future?"
Shi Yi curled his lips, obviously not quite believing it.
The chief of guards, Zhu Yi, indulged him dotingly: "My brother is the most powerful, even more powerful than the King of Huainan."
Liu Ju shook his head slightly, feeling a little shy and embarrassed, but still accepted the compliment.
Liu Ju happily finished the small dish on the table, rubbed his stomach, and called the cook over: "Now that you know how to cook, make some more and have someone send one to father."
After some thought, he added Liu Hong, the son of his second half-sister Princess Eyi and Lady Wang. Of course, Liu Ju didn't even consider whether Liu Hong could eat. He simply treated everyone equally and did what was necessary.
"Mother, please bring it to me and I will deliver it myself."
The cook took his orders and left. The four siblings waited until the food was out of the oven, then had the maids carry it to the Pepper Room. As they reached the door, they heard laughter coming from inside.
Liu Ju turned around and asked the eunuch next to him, "Who is in there that makes my mother so happy?"
"Your Highness, it's Princess Pingyang and Princess Huainan."
Liu Ju paused. No way. No way. He had just compared himself to the King of Huainan, showing off. And now, his daughter showed up? How could it be that fast?
Liu Ju was a little confused. Just then, the barrage of comments that hadn't been seen in many days appeared again, with a torrent of words, quickly filling the screen.
——Liu Ling, Princess of Huainan? She was a famous sleeper.
The term "sleeping guest" is well used. It is said that she slept with many people in Chang'an and had affairs with many people. Prime Minister Tian Fen, Antou Marquis Zhang Cigong, the knight-errant Guo Jie, and the eunuch Yan Zhu were all her servants.
—The above person mentioned too little. Besides this, the Huainan swordsman Lei Bei and the Imperial Court Justice Zhang Tang were also said to be among them. There are even rumors that Liu Ling had an affair with Wei Qing and Liu Che, and that the two were deeply in love. Liu Che even promised to marry Liu Ling. Therefore, Liu Ling remained in Chang'an and refused to leave.
Liu Ju:!!!
Pupils tremble! Don't be too outrageous!
I just can't bear to watch this anymore. Can you please stop thinking about all the romantic stories? Liu Ling stayed in Chang'an to gather information, not for Liu Che. Do you want to listen to what you're saying?
Liu Ling is only mentioned in history books in one sentence, so how could there be so many romantic stories? Most of what you're talking about is either "rumors" or rehashed stories from TV dramas and movies. It's too unreliable. Just enjoy the fun, don't take it seriously.
——This is not our fault. It's because most TV dramas and movies have this kind of setting, and each one is more outrageous than the last. I guess this drama is no different.
Liu Ju gritted his teeth. After reading so many comments in the barrage and combining them with the fragmentary information in his mind, he now basically understood what "film and television drama" and "screenwriter" meant.
In short, it was just a bunch of fabrications made up by a group of people. They didn't even wish his father any good, but instead cast his father, or rather, his entire Liu family, in a bad light.
They're all bastards, so annoying! As for saying he lives in a movie or TV series?
Liu Ju chuckled. What a ridiculous TV drama! Everything around him was alive, even his father, mother, and sisters. How could it be a TV drama? Only a fool would believe such a thing.
This barrage of comments is indeed a bunch of unknown monsters and demons, huh!
Liu Ju exhaled angrily and walked in with his sisters. He greeted Wei Zifu first, asked how his aunt was, and then just said hello to Liu Ling.
Although she is considered an aunt in terms of seniority, she is only the daughter of a prince and cannot be compared with Princess Pingyang.
For example, Pingyang could speak to them in a friendly manner, but Liu Ling stood up with a smile and said, "I heard that the eldest prince suffered a great punishment a while ago. I heard the news outside the palace and was worried. Now he looks good, so he should be fine, but he seems to have lost some weight."
Turning back to Wei Zifu, he said, "I've sent something to His Highness to calm him down. It contains some mild nourishing ingredients. Your Majesty, please have the attendant physician take a good look at it and give it to His Highness if it's suitable."
Wei Zifu was indifferent. After all, it was someone else's feeling. Even if she didn't need it, she would still politely nod in agreement.
They sat down and talked for a while. Liu Ling was indeed quite talented, always able to bring up topics that interested others.
Her tone was gentle, like a spring breeze. In less than an incense stick's time, she had praised everyone in the room, especially Liu Juxin's food. What was remarkable was that the listeners didn't feel the compliments were deliberate at all; instead of feeling offended, they felt quite comfortable.
She did not stay long. After making enough of the scene, she stood up and said goodbye. Wei Zifu asked the Grand Chamberlain to send her out.
The guard couldn't help but sigh, "Princess Huainan is truly a wonderful person. Every time I see her, I feel as if she's the only one with a mouth, and I don't."
Wei Zifu patted her hands and said, "She is indeed good at speaking, which is her strength. But our Wei Chang has many strengths too, there is no need to compare him with others in everything."
The guard leaned against her side and said with a smile, "My daughter knows, but she only said it."
Perhaps it was the words mentioned in the comments that suddenly reminded Liu Ju of something, and he asked in confusion, "Why hasn't the princess gotten married yet?"
Princess Pingyang understood this and said, "It is said that she had a husband in Huainan. Later, when he got into trouble, she killed him with her own hands."
Liu Ju:!!!
Is it so exciting to kill your husband with your own hands?
"I heard that the husband, seeing the truth about his affair, tried to plead with her to spare his life. She refused, and during their argument, the husband resorted to violence. In a rage, she drew her sword and killed him."
Seeing that Liu Ju was still confused, Pingyang chuckled: "For a family like ours, even after getting married, you are still a daughter of the royal family, so the royal family comes first.
"If the Prince Consort is of the same mind as me, then we can treat him as an equal. But if the Prince Consort has violated the law and dared to attack us, what if I kill him to uphold the law?"
Liu Ju was even more puzzled. "What crime did her husband commit that couldn't be redeemed with gold? Can't some capital crimes be redeemed? Given the princess's status, she shouldn't be short of this little ransom. And the man who could marry the princess must be of high status, and his family must have assets."
Pingyang paused. He didn't expect that Liu Ju, at such a young age, could hit the nail on the head.
Before she could come to her senses, Shi Yi couldn't help but speak, "I heard that the husband was a bad man, with many beautiful concubines. The princess had long been dissatisfied with him, so she found many faults of the husband and deliberately attacked him, refusing to give in. The husband was desperate and attacked her, and then she killed him in return."
Liu Ju:!!!
This is even more exciting.
He looked at Shi Yi and said, "You are only two years older than me. How do you know such things?"
Shi Yi snorted twice. "Of course I have my own channels. Princess Huainan is quite popular in Chang'an and acts flamboyantly. There are many rumors about her. The servants in the palace know a little bit about her, and I found out a little bit after asking around."
Liu Ju was speechless, suddenly remembering that it was Fourth Sister Shi Yi who caught Concubine An throwing dirty water on him. He held his chin in his hand. Why did it feel like Fourth Sister had some strange "physique" about her? A know-it-all, a gossip expert? Where are the rumors, where am I?
Wei Zifu frowned and poked her: "How old are you? Why are you asking about this?"
"I didn't know this was what I would find out before I asked around." Shi Yi said confidently, "I've heard everything, so I have to hear it all."
Everyone: ...
Pingyang chuckled: "Then what else do you know?"
Shi Yi blinked. "Some say it's because the princess has someone else in her heart and doesn't want to consummate her marriage with her husband, so he hired so many beautiful maids. Others say it's because the princess has two favorites hidden by her side, and her husband is so angry that he's challenging her to a duel."
Pingyang scoffed at this: "There are always some people in this world who like to blame men's mistakes on women, fabricating all kinds of crimes for women out of thin air. As if that makes them innocent."
Shi Yi nodded in agreement and continued, "Some people also say that her husband's move on her that day was deliberately guided by her.
"This way, Princess Huainan could not only break away from her husband's family from a moral high ground, but also bring them down to the ground, killing her husband with her own hands to avenge his excessive collection of beauties. And she could also make sure no one could find any fault with her. This was all her plan.
"Some even said that she always stayed in Chang'an. On the one hand, it was because this incident caused too much trouble in Huainan. Although she was indeed innocent on the surface, this behavior was still criticized by many people.
"Everyone thought that if she was unhappy with her husband, she could have divorced him. There was no need to be so harsh and cruel. Therefore, there was a lot of criticism towards her.
"On the other hand, she was worried that it would be difficult to find a husband in Huainan, and she also felt that she couldn't find the man she wanted in Huainan, so she intended to look for one in Chang'an, but she kept picking and choosing and couldn't find the right one.
"After all, although the incident happened in Huainan, I could find out about it, and so could others. Those of noble status and good character either already have wives or have grudges against it. Those of lower status and character are too picky and look down on her.
"After all, you are a royal lady, a princess of a noble family, why should you condescend to be so lowly? It would be better for you to be free and unrestrained on your own.
"Of course. I think she's right when she says she prefers the bustling and bustling Chang'an. Chang'an is the capital, how can it be compared to the mere fiefdom of Huainan?"
Liu Ju: ...Damn, you really heard it all. This story is just as exciting as the fabricated content in the comments.
Liu Ju didn't know which one was more exciting for a moment.
Liu Ling was truly a man of great character.
He turned to look at Shi Yi, and once again confirmed that the other party must have some strange "physique".
Otherwise, how could he be so clueless, knowing nothing about the other person, even including several speculations from the outside, when they were both about the same age and living in seclusion in the palace? This wasn't something that could be discovered with just a few inquiries.
It is confirmed that he is a know-it-all in the world and a gossip expert.
Liu Ju's eyes swirled. With such a talented person around, did that mean he could just send her out if he wanted to know something in the future? One person could do the work of two people? Oh, no, maybe even ten!
Shiyi: ???
Liu Ling's past was indeed explosive. Pingyang and Wei Zifu had already been married, and he was used to the ups and downs of life, so it was understandable. However, Zhu Yi, who was younger and more quiet and shy, blushed a little when he heard it.
She glanced at Shi Yi and said, "You are so young, how dare you say anything? What about consummating the marriage and finding a husband? Aren't you ashamed?"
Shi Yi protested his innocence: "I didn't say that. I was just repeating a rumor I heard. You asked me, didn't you? I was just answering your question, so why do you think I'm shameless?"
Pointing at Liu Ju, he said, "If anyone is to blame, it's him. He was the one who started the conversation. He listened most attentively, his eyes sparkling."
Liu Ju: ...Whose eyes are shining? Can you please stop talking nonsense!
Shi Yi: As long as you are not blind, who has no eyesight? Am I wrong?
Liu Ju: ...Why do you have such a strong desire for revenge!
Shi Yi: Haha, what was that look you gave me just now? Didn't you think I couldn't see it? You definitely didn't mean me any good. Don't you know who started it? If you're capable of picking fights, don't blame others for fighting back.
Liu Ju: eyes biubiu
Shiyi: eyes biubiu
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
