Chapter 2645 You Don’t Have the Final Say
The emperor, Wei Zhi, and the others watched the fish flopping down from above, thrashing in the water in front of them. Some of them simply swung their tails and followed the current down. Then they heard the young people exclaiming...
Some of them swam around in panic, touching their fishing lines but ignoring the bait on the hooks.
Hearing the exclamations from below, Wei Zhi quickly put away the hook and said to the emperor, "Your Majesty, how can you eat when you are so nervous? It seems that there will be no fish to catch today."
The emperor remained silent, staring angrily at the water hole in front of him, and stubbornly refused to take the hook.
Seeing this, the others also put away their fishing hooks and sat beside him, watching the emperor fishing.
Gu Zhong was so anxious that sweat broke out on his forehead, but he had no idea what to do.
The water was neither deep nor muddy, otherwise he could have sent someone into the water to string a fish for the emperor. But in front of everyone, he couldn't just turn a blind eye.
The emperor saw that there were no more fish coming from upstream, but there were still seven or eight fish swimming away in panic in the water hole. They might be visiting this water area for the first time, so they swam around with their eyes wide open and refused to bite the hook.
The emperor snorted, put away his hook, pointed to a guard and said, "Go, get all these fish out of the water and have the people below catch them."
The guard exhaled and lowered his head in agreement.
Without taking off his shoes and socks, he simply lifted his robe and tucked it into his waistband, then stood up and jumped, landing steadily on a rock beside the water hole.
The water falling from above almost submerged the stone, but it did not. There was still a place to stand. Under the scorching sun, this point above was dry and it was easy to stand firmly.
He drew his knife, took aim, and swung it up, splashing water everywhere. A huge splash of water carried the two fish and flew down...
Then he continued.
Bai Erlang had caught three fish and was very proud of himself. Seeing that no more fish were coming from upstream, he stood in the water, holding his waist and laughing, saying, "Mingda, take the fish back later and ask the imperial kitchen to make fish balls for us."
As soon as he finished speaking, several people on the shore cried out in surprise. He was about to ask what happened when his head was splashed with water. Something also brushed past his shoulder and fell into the water with a splash.
Bai Erlang was a little confused.
The fish that was knocked down was even more confused, and floated down the water weakly. After being caught by Bai Shan and Wei Yu, it did not struggle at all until it was thrown onto the shore and out of contact with the water, and then it jumped up again.
Bai Erlang was holding his head and carefully moving downwards. After escaping the attack of the water flow, he looked up and saw a stream of water rushing down from above from time to time, with one or two fish caught in it...
Everyone burst into laughter, and even the palace maids and eunuchs waiting on the side could not help but lower their heads and cover their mouths to laugh.
Bai Erlang carefully stepped down on the rocks in the stream, grabbed Bai Shan to steady himself, and looked puzzled. "What are you doing up there?"
Bai Shan easily caught a fish that slipped down and said with a smile, "I guess His Majesty doesn't want to fish anymore and wants to change places."
The emperor really didn't want to fish anymore. He sat there for a long time without catching a single fish. It would have been bad enough if he had been laughed at, but he had also made things difficult for others. It was strange that he was happy.
However, after seeing Mingda and Changyu bring up two fish, he became happy again and asked, "Did you catch these?"
Mingda laughed and said, "It wasn't us who caught him, it was the prince consort who caught him."
The emperor was also happy. After taking a look around, he asked, "Where's Bai Er?"
Mingda smiled and said, "His hair was wet and his appearance was disheveled. I was afraid of offending the emperor, so I asked him to go back and change it."
The emperor smiled and nodded, "Okay."
He looked at Wei Yu and the others, and saw that their trouser legs and clothes were a little wet. He waved his hand and said, "You all should go back and change your clothes. I am inviting Wei Qing and the others to dinner in Shouju Garden today. You should come with me."
He said with a smile: "These fish you caught will be confiscated by the government."
Everyone naturally had no objection, but I'm afraid these fish were also taken from the kitchen?
They were indeed taken from the kitchen. Yin Li went to get them personally, but after going around in circles, he lost two pieces and had to return them to the kitchen.
When the imperial kitchen heard that the emperor was fishing, although they could not understand why fishing required fish from the kitchen, they did not dare to object, let alone ask where the two missing fish had gone. They accepted as many as were sent back.
It’s just a bit of a headache. There are two fish missing. Which two should I provide them to?
The eunuch who brought the fish back said, "His Majesty will entertain all the gentlemen at Shouju Garden. Several ladies and the sons of His Majesty's family will also be there. The dishes are all everyday, but you must prepare them well. Nothing can be missing from the table."
When they heard this, they were overjoyed. This was an easy thing to do. Everyone could eat together, so one or two fish per table would be enough. It was much better than giving a single fish to a noble person.
The eunuch continued, "Princess Mingda wants fish balls. Make two separate plates."
This is also simple. Just use one or two fish and every table can be guaranteed to have a bowl.
The royal chefs agreed with a smile, scanned the list, counted the number of people, and then they had an idea.
Manbao and his companions have been in the palace for such a long time, but this is the first time they have seen the families and nobles who accompanied them.
For example, the son of Han Shangshu.
Well, Manbao didn't sit with them. As a fourth-rank official, she was supposed to sit below Xiao Yuanzheng and sit at the same table with Lord Wei and the others, but Gu Zhong directly arranged her to sit at the princess's table.
Bai Shan followed him.
Yin Huo also sat next to them.
Everyone in the group changed their clothes, and people from the Jiaofangsi were walking back and forth on the platform on the side.
Manbao couldn't help but look over, and Changyu said, "That's the Music Bureau setting up the instruments. Your Majesty's banquet started so suddenly, and the Music Bureau lives down the mountain. They just came up, so they arrived later than us."
Because they were late, the official in charge of the Music Bureau was scolding them in a low voice, but he didn't dare to scold them for too long. After a while, the sound of whips was heard, and the emperor came with the empress.
Everyone stood up and saluted the Emperor and Empress, and only sat down after receiving their permission. The Emperor smiled and said, "I have long intended to hold a banquet. I am sorry that you all came with your families to escape the summer heat. However, my health has not been good enough. I fell ill upon arrival. Today, I am much better, so I want everyone to sit together and have a meal. Come, this is my toast to you all. State affairs are heavy, and I am grateful for your help."
Everyone raised their glasses, and Minister Li replied on behalf of everyone: "Your Majesty's kindness is so great that even a thousand deaths would be enough to repay it."
When it comes to seriousness, no one can compare to Minister Li; when it comes to courtesy, no one can compare to Minister Li; when it comes to flattery, they are all about the same.
The emperor drank the wine happily, and everyone drank it up.
Manbao frowned, and after sitting down, Bai Shan stuffed a piece of dessert into her mouth. Only then did she feel better. The palace wine seemed to have a stronger flavor and was spicier, and it was not tasty.
See you at 6pm
(End of this chapter)
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