Emperor Chongde sat at the top. He had heard from the empress a long time ago that the second daughter of the Si family had opened a shop and it was very lively!
Today I heard the prince talk about the people's livelihood in the capital.
It is said that since the beginning of winter, people have loved to go to a place to eat meat and drink wine, and that is Yaxu Lao on Longxing Street.
So, he waved his hand and left the palace in disguise!
He just wanted to taste it himself. What does the hot pot, which is praised by officials and common people in Beijing, taste like?
However, as soon as he entered the yard, he smelled a strong and strange fragrance, which made him, a man who usually had no appetite, feel hungry for the first time in a long time.
Emperor Chongde didn't know how to order, so the Crown Prince pointed to the menu and ordered a double-flavor hot pot with two portions of lamb, tripe, pig brain, shrimp paste, fish balls, vermicelli, small greens, and kelp knots...
Of course, there is also the signature hand-kneaded fruit ice jelly!
Emperor Chongde looked at the table full of raw food and found it interesting. He asked:
"You're going to cook it yourself? That's ridiculous! How can something cooked like this taste?"
After he said this, he felt a little embarrassed. If there was no smell, where did the fragrance wafting everywhere outside come from?
Prince, Qi Nanyuan smiled and handed the chopsticks to Emperor Chongde, saying:
“This is the specialty of this restaurant, freshly cooked and eaten!
Father, please try it. This one is the health-promoting mushroom soup, and this one is slightly spicy.
Why don’t you try them all and see which flavor you like?”
After he finished speaking, he was afraid that Emperor Chongde wouldn't be able to eat it, so he was about to show it to him, but he saw that Emperor Chongde had already picked up a piece of mutton with chopsticks and put it into the boiling spicy pot!
In just two or three breaths, Emperor Chongde picked it up, dipped it in the prepared sauce on the plate in front of him, and put it into his mouth!
For a moment, his mouth was filled with fragrance, something he had never tasted before!
But the spicy taste stimulated him and made him want to continue eating!
Emperor Chongde picked up a piece of tripe with chopsticks, blew on it, and said:
"Good boy, this thing is so delicious, why didn't you bring me here to try it before!
What's the matter? Are you afraid that I will eat you out of money? "
The prince picked up a few fish balls and placed them on Emperor Chongde's plate, saying with a smile:
"Your Majesty the Father is usually busy with government affairs, how dare your son disturb him casually.
Seeing that your Majesty likes it today, I will bring you here often in the future!
But, it’s not me, your son, who is going broke because of your father’s poverty, but your ninth brother!”
Upon hearing this, Emperor Chongde couldn't help but burst into laughter. It seemed that he had never taken advantage of his ninth brother!
Now, he finally found a good excuse!
He laughed and said:
"Humph, he's a good picker of wives!
Previously, that old man from the Ye family and some other families all forced me to act as matchmakers and issue imperial decrees to grant marriages for their girls!
Your uncle Jiu, on the other hand, refused everything without even an excuse. He just said two words: I won’t marry you!
I was always worried that he would never marry, but who would have thought that he really didn't like those girls!
Look, what do you think of the daughter-in-law you have chosen now?
That second girl is both talented in literature and medicine!
Yuan'er, do you still remember the two poems she recited at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet? I still remember them clearly!
I took a special look that day, and even Master Ye, who always boasted of his literary talent and looked down on others, was stunned!
It's really hilarious!
Besides, her medical skills are so good, I don’t know how she learned them, how can she cure human-to-human diseases?
Speaking of which, I wonder how that old man Si Junshan managed to raise a daughter."
As he spoke, he picked up some food with chopsticks.
Eunuch Zhang, who was standing beside Emperor Chongde, reached out several times to serve him food, but was verbally rejected every time:
"Don't bother me. Haven't you heard? This is the rule of this shop!"
Eunuch Zhang had no choice but to stand aside and watch, but in his heart he was looking forward to the emperor's next words.
Emperor Chongde has been with Eunuch Zhang for so many years, how could he not know what Eunuch Zhang is thinking?
He glanced over and said, "Okay, you old man, sit down and eat together!
So that you don't go hungry and fail to serve me well!"
Eunuch Zhang did not make a fuss. After hearing what Emperor Chongde said, he sat down quickly, smiled and said:
"I am not so hungry that my legs are weak. Thank you for your gift, Your Majesty!"
All three of them loved the spicy hot pot, especially Emperor Chongde!
He never knew that spicy food could be so delicious. After taking one bite, he wanted a second and third bite!
His lips were very red and swollen, and Eunuch Zhang saw it and kept making fun of him!
The three of them ate enthusiastically, sweating on their foreheads.
Emperor Chongde wiped his forehead with a handkerchief and said:
"It turns out that people love to eat this in winter. I can sweat so much that I don't even need to light a fire to keep warm!"
Seeing this, the prince took the fruit jelly on the table and said:
"Your Majesty, why not try this? This is the ice jelly that's popular throughout Jianzhou City. It's cool and refreshing, and perfect for having a bowl with hot pot!
For this reason, Aunt Jiuhuang even opened a tea shop specializing in selling these little sweets, which are quite popular among the ladies and ladies in the capital!"
Emperor Chongde looked at the crystal-clear ice jelly and felt that the fruits on top did not seem to be arranged neatly!
Just hearing what the prince said, I scooped a spoonful and put it in my mouth out of courtesy!
However, as soon as the ice jelly took a bite, his eyes suddenly brightened!
This thing is really refreshing and cool, and melts in your mouth, leaving your mouth full of fruity fragrance!
He couldn't help but admire:
"No wonder your mother kept talking about this shop after she tried it once. It's really unique!
The second girl from the Si family is quite thoughtful and actually came up with such a unique food!
When you return, go to her other shop and bring some refreshments back to your mother, so she won't nag me again."
The prince couldn't help but smile. How could he forget the snacks from his mother?
But he couldn't say this.
It's always good that the emperor is paying more attention to the queen mother!
He nodded and said, "Yes, if the Queen Mother could enjoy the snacks that the Emperor bought, she would be very happy!"
Emperor Chongde finished eating the ice jelly and was about to say something when he heard someone knocking on the door.
Seeing this, Eunuch Zhang immediately stood up and walked out.
When he came back, his face looked obviously solemn.
He moved closer to Emperor Chongde and reported in a low voice:
"Your Majesty, the Hanlan people have arrived at the city gates. The Jingzhao prefect has come to ask for your permission. Should we allow them to pass?"
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