Chapter 74 Farewell Party
When the smoke of the auction cleared, a strange aftertaste filled the Purple Palace - the smell of gold mixed with the lingering fragrance, the frustration of failure, the ecstasy of victory, and a collective dizziness of inexplicable excitement despite having emptied their wallets.
Princesses and noble ladies from various countries either held the crystal bottle of "Star Tears" with great care as if they were holding a newborn dragon, or carefully hid the jade box of Fairy Skin Dew close to their bodies (for fear of being stolen), or stroked the black iron box of "Resurrection Pill" they had won at auction with a look of pained yet satisfied look (it was worth it to save an extra life).
Those who failed to get what they wanted stared at the winner with resentful eyes, as if they were staring at a walking gold brick, thinking about how to launch a coup after returning home, or how to squeeze more money from the people so that they can spend it lavishly next time.
Princess Fuxing, Dongfang Yuning, the instigator of this incident, was currently being half-held in the arms of Prince Yong, Nangong Ye. With a delicate demeanor that said, "This princess is exhausted and needs your support, Your Highness," she was actually dancing on a mountain of gold with her hands on her hips.
[All! All! See! See! Gold notes! Gem deeds! They're piled high! Hahahaha! This princess's 'Tiangong Pavilion' hasn't even opened yet, and the foundation is already made of pure gold! I declare this global leek harvesting operation a complete success! Throw flowers! Set off firecrackers!]
She scattered virtual flower petals wildly in her mind, and virtual firecrackers exploded with crackling sounds.
System 118's electronic sound carries a sense of "proud of this" excitement:
[Ding! Congratulations to the host! The title of 'Golden Scythe of World Destruction' is well-deserved! Preliminary statistics indicate that the total proceeds from this auction are equivalent to approximately... (a dazzling string of zeros) in gold!]
Host, you have successfully achieved 'a small goal' to the Nth power! The flow of the spatial spiritual spring has increased by 10%, and it has been credited! Please continue your efforts and strive to fill the Pacific Ocean with gold as soon as possible!
[Filling up the Pacific? The pattern is too small! Unity! ]
Dongfang Yuning is a villain with a heroic spirit.
This county will use gold to build a 'Fengming Jiuxiao Space Station' in space! Let the entire universe know that Earth has a place called Dongfang, Midas Touch, and Yuning!
Just when the atmosphere in the hall was at a delicate balance of "money spent but spirits high", a voice with a thick Beidi accent, as loud as a bell, suddenly exploded like thunder from the plain:
"Your Majesty, the Emperor of Yan! Your Highness, Princess Fuxing!"
Tuoba Lie, the eldest prince of Beidi, the sturdy man who was previously ridiculed by Dongfang Yuning as a potato with gold edges, stood up suddenly, and slapped his chest with his big hands like a palm-leaf fan, making the gold ornaments on his body clatter. There was still a reverence for stinky tofu and regret for not being able to take a picture of "Tears of the Stars" on his face, but more of it was a kind of almost pious desire for food!
"Your country's delicacies! Milk tea! Hot pot! Snail noodles! Stinky tofu! And that...those soul-shaking fried skewers!"
Tuoba Lie's voice is full of sincerity (and saliva),
"It's truly a gift from the gods! Even more unforgettable than the most delicious roasted whole lamb on our grasslands! Even more addictive than the strongest kumis! If I never get to taste this delicacy again after returning home, I'm afraid I'll... I'll become ill with longing! I won't be able to sleep at night!"
Before he finished speaking, it was as if the fuse had been lit!
"That's right! Your Majesty! Your Highness the Princess!"
The little princess of Fuying Country, Sakurai Sagiri, also stood up. Her face was flushed with excitement and the remaining spiciness of the hot pot. Her voice was filled with soft tears.
"Sagiri...Sagiri also wants to eat hot pot every day! Please, let Sagiri open the hot pot restaurant back to Fuying! I can exchange it for my dowry!"
"And our Tianyuan! While the incense that clears the mind and concentrates the spirit is nice, milk tea is the nectar that soothes the dry souls of practitioners like me!"
Yun Ming, the High Priest of Tianyuan, could no longer maintain his aloof personality. He spun the soul beads in his hand rapidly, staring at Dongfang Yuning eagerly.
"I beg the princess to open up milk tea... franchise!"
He spoke the new word with difficulty.
"We in Loulan need snail noodles! That unique taste is unforgettable!"
"We Persians want fried skewers! With our secret sauce!"
"And stinky tofu! It's delicious at first... but it's really delicious later on! We, the Arab merchants, are willing to pay a large sum for the secret recipe and the operating rights!"
For a moment, the hall seemed to have transformed into a large-scale "really delicious" confession and food franchise plea meeting! The envoys, princes and princesses of various countries, forgetting the pain of the auction and the reserved status, spoke in a flurry of voices and emotions about their longing and desire for Yan Kingdom snacks, their eyes so eager that they almost melted Dongfang Yuning!
The core members of the Yan Kingdom’s royal family, who were just so excited about the auction revenue that their hearts were about to beat out, were all stunned!
Emperor Nangong Yu's hand, holding the wine glass, shook violently, and a few drops of wine spilled out of the glass and landed on the bright yellow dragon robe.
The majestic expression on his face froze in an instant, and then shattered into pieces like ice. A huge, absurd smile that almost broke through the top of his head surged wildly in his chest like volcanic magma!
"Puff—cough cough cough!"
He suddenly lowered his head and erupted in a deafening cough! The wide sleeves of his dragon robe perfectly concealed his instantly distorted and red cheeks and the corners of his mouth that were wildly raised, almost grinning to his ears!
[Hahahaha! And more?! Even leek roots were spared?! Sister-in-law! Are you a demon?! Milk tea, hot pot, snail noodles, and stinky tofu?! They call this a 'gift from the gods'?! And you're sick with longing for me?! Can't sleep at night?! Hahahaha! I can't take it anymore! My imperial majesty is about to collapse! Nine clans! Hold steady! For the nine clans! I have to hold back my coughing even if it means I die!]
He coughed heart-wrenchingly, and with his other hand, he pinched the tenderest piece of flesh on his thigh under his dragon robe with such force that it was likely to leave a bloody mark!
Empress Dongfang Qiwu's dignified sitting posture instantly froze! She quickly covered her mouth with a silk handkerchief embroidered with a golden phoenix, her shoulders shaking violently! Under the handkerchief, her teeth bit her lower lip tightly, preventing the earth-shaking laughter from bursting out!
[Ning'er! My dear little ancestor! Is your sickle... equipped with automatic cruise control?! I just finished cutting the leaves, and now you realize the roots can also be sold?! A gift from the gods? Puff! The soles of my shoes... are almost scratched through! Mammy! Quick! Hold me up! I'm about to faint from laughing!]
Her toes, hidden under her phoenix robe, were moving at such a high frequency that they could have dug a hole in the gold brick floor! The confidante beside her turned green with pain, but she still had to force herself to support the queen's "weak" (laughing) body.
Crown Prince Nangong Chengqian had just picked up a cup of tea to calm his nerves (the auction amount was too exciting), but when he heard the accusations of "missing her so much that she's sick" and "can't sleep at night", he choked on a mouthful of hot tea!
"Puff—cough cough! Ugh!"
He suddenly doubled over, coughing so hard that tears and snot were about to burst out! The wide sleeves of the prince's formal uniform perfectly concealed his instantly collapsed expression and his neck, which was red from holding back laughter.
[Auntie…you…you're trying to wipe me out! Milk tea? Hot pot? Snail noodles?! And you're even joining?! Hahahaha! My kidneys…old injuries haven't healed yet, and now I'm in new pain!]
While coughing, he used his left hand under his sleeve to pinch the soft flesh on his waist where he had pinched it during the last auction. The double pain combined with the other, made it difficult for him to suppress the overwhelming smile!
Princess Nangong Yue's reaction was the most direct! She was happily fantasizing about her pure golden phoenix mount when she was stunned by this sudden request to join the food franchise! The next second -
“Puff! Hahahaha… Ugh!”
A resounding laugh, like the crowing of a hen, suddenly burst out of her throat! She reacted extremely quickly, and just before the laughter fully erupted, she suddenly buried her face in the towering breasts of her trusted maid!
"Wow, wow, wow... I'm so touched! So touched! Wow, wow, wow... I'm so overwhelmed with joy... for all the countries showing their love for my Dayan cuisine! Wow, wow, wow (shoulder shaking wildly)..."
She whimpered strangely while clinging to the maid tightly, her nails digging deep into the soft flesh of the maid's back! The maid was in so much pain that tears welled up in her eyes, but she had to cooperate and pat the princess's back, sobbing and comforting her:
"Your Highness! Don't get too excited! Pay attention to your body!"
The scene was once very chaotic and tragic (for the maid).
Prince Yong's arm around Dongfang Yuning suddenly tightened! The icy mask on his handsome face instantly shattered! The corners of his mouth twitched and rose at a speed visible to the naked eye!
He suddenly lowered his head and rested his forehead on Dongfang Yuning's soft hair. His broad shoulders trembled violently because of the smile he tried hard to suppress!
A low, suppressed laugh like thunder escaped from between his tightly pursed lips, shaking Dongfang Yuning's hair slightly.
[Little fox... no, the reincarnation of a little glutton... what kind of poison did you put on them?! A gift from the gods? An illness caused by longing? Hahahaha... This king... This king can't hold it in any longer!]
His other hand, hidden in his sleeve, tightly grasped the angular white jade pendant. The sharp corners of the jade pendant dug deep into his palm, causing a sharp pain. He barely managed to maintain the last bit of sanity and not fall down laughing in public.
He felt like his abdominal muscles were about to cramp from laughing!
Dongfang Yuning, who was "weakly" leaning on Nangong Ye, felt the violent vibrations and suppressed laughter coming from her fiancé's chest. The villain in her heart had already laughed himself to death:
[Wahahaha! Tong! Did you see that?! They! They actually asked to be mowed down a second time! And uprooted!]
Milk tea, hot pot, snail noodles, and stinky tofu?! A gift from the gods?! Hahahaha! This is so much bullshit, I almost believe it! Not charging this franchise fee is simply unjust!]
On the surface, she tried hard to maintain an expression of "deeply moved" and "feeling a great sense of responsibility", and her little face was flushed red, half with excitement and half with suppressed laughter.
The electronic sound of System 118 also carries a crackling current:
[Beep! Beep! Beep! Warning! Detected that the host and related characters (Yan Kingdom Royal Family) have collectively entered 'Suppressed Laughter Hell' mode!
Physiological indicators are abnormal! But! Business opportunity! Epic business opportunity! Global food chain franchise! Host, hurry! Show your golden abacus! Let the sickle fly a little longer! The closed loop of the 'Zhenxiang' industry chain is right before our eyes!
"cough!"
Dongfang Yuning suppressed the laughter bubble in his throat and tried to make his voice sound steady and responsible.
She gently pushed away Nangong Ye, who was leaning against her "weakly" (Nangong Ye stood up straight, his face instantly regained its sternness, only his slightly red ears and tightly pursed lips betrayed the fierce struggle just now), took a step forward, and showed a sweet and reluctant smile to the crowd of food believers who were surging with emotion:
"The kindness shown to our country's snacks by the princes, princesses, and envoys has truly moved this princess, His Majesty, and His Majesty...inexpressibly! However..."
She deliberately drew out the tone.
The hall suddenly became quiet, and everyone looked at her eagerly, afraid of hearing a rejection.
“Yes!”
Dongfang Yuning's tone suddenly shifted, with a tragic air of "giving it all for international friendship." "The essence of culinary art lies in its inheritance and sharing! Sharing joy is worse than enjoying it alone! Since our distinguished guests are so sincerely eager, I would like to bring this delightful 'delicious flavor' back to our country, so that it can benefit all our people..."
She waved her hand and pointed at the imperial merchant Dongfang Linyuan, who was already so excited that his soul was about to leave his body:
"On behalf of the Fengming Jiuxiao Chamber of Commerce, this princess announces! We are opening up franchises for the 'Lucky Star' food series! Milk tea, hot pot, fried skewers, snail noodles, stinky tofu... all are open for franchise!"
“Wow!”
Cheers even louder than during the auction erupted instantly! The princes, princesses, and envoys danced with joy, as if they had received the golden key to a gourmet paradise!
"Specific franchise details, regional agency rights, secret recipe transmission, personnel training, material supply, etc..."
Dongfang Yuning's voice carries a hint of fatigue (pretended) and a huge sense of "responsibility".
"The Fengming Jiuxiao Chamber of Commerce's General Director, the Imperial Merchant Dongfang Linyuan, will be fully responsible! Distinguished guests, please move to the side hall after the banquet to discuss in detail!"
"Director Dongfang! Please take care of me!"
"We want milk tea and hot pot!"
"We want the whole set of snail noodles and fried skewers!"
"Secret recipe! Training! The sooner the better!"
The crowd instantly surged like a tide towards Dongfang Linyuan, who was already grinning from ear to ear, with a volcano in his heart continuously erupting and a golden abacus in front of him ready to go!
A new round of more trivial but more lasting "cutting leeks" operations has begun in full swing!
The main hall of the Purple Palace finally quieted down a bit. Only the core members of the Yan Kingdom's royal family and a few palace servants were left to clean up the mess.
Emperor Nangong Yu finally stopped his heart-wrenching cough (he was holding it in). He picked up the wine glass, wanting to drink some water to moisten his throat that was almost hoarse from laughing, but his hand shook and he lost his grip on the glass.
“Snap!”
The exquisite white jade wine glass fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.
The entire hall fell into deathly silence.
The next second——
“Puha ...!!!”
It was like a volcano that had been suppressed for ten thousand years finally found an outlet! A thunderous, unrespectable laugh suddenly erupted from Emperor Nangong Yu! He laughed so hard that he collapsed, slapped his thigh, and tears streamed down his face!
"A gift from the gods! I miss you so much I'm sick! I can't sleep at night! Hahahaha! Sister-in-law! Listen to this! Listen to this! This word! It's amazing! Hahahaha! My abs! My abs are going to burst from laughing! Hahahaha!"
It's like pressing the switch of a chain reaction!
Empress Dongfang Qiwu could no longer hold back. She lost all her dignity and slumped over the armrest of the phoenix chair, her shoulders shaking wildly as she let out a "cluck, cluck" laugh like a hen laying eggs, her hairpins and rings scattered in disarray.
"Oh... I can't take it anymore... Ning'er... you... are you going to make me die of laughter and inherit my phoenix crown... a gift from the gods... hahahaha..."
Crown Prince Nangong Chengqian held his stomach, squatted on the ground, and laughed so hard that he couldn't stop:
"Ahem...hahaha...my...my waist...kidneys...auntie...you are...attacking indiscriminately...hahahaha...join...join the snail noodle business...hahahaha..."
Princess Nangong Yue finally raised her head from the maid's arms, tears still on her face (from laughing), and she slammed the table and laughed wildly without any image:
"Hahahaha! A pure golden phoenix is nothing! I'm going to open a chain of hot pot restaurants! All over the continent! Make everyone miss you like crazy! Hahahaha! Little aunt! I love you to death! Hahahaha..."
Prince Yong, Nangong Ye, turned his back to the huge golden dragon pillar, his shoulders shaking violently, and a deep laugh rolled in his chest like thunder:
“Hehe… hehe… a gift from God… little fox… you win… I… admit defeat… hahahaha…” His knuckles turned white from laughing as he held the jade pendant in his hand.
And those important officials of the Yan State who had been holding on were now completely defeated!
The Minister of Revenue burst into tears (laughing), hugging the pillar:
"Gold...it's all gold...hahahaha...this old minister...this old minister's life is worth it...hahahaha..."
An old general beat his chest and stamped his feet:
"Milk tea... hot pot... hahahaha... it makes more money than fighting a war... hahahaha... I'm going to retire and open a fried skewers shop! Hahaha..."
The civil officials laughed so hard that they fell over and lost all their composure.
"What a fragrance... The law of true fragrance... It saves all living beings... Hahaha... Princess... You are truly a deity... Haha..."
The entire Purple Palace was transformed into a sea of joy (and long-held excitement finally released)! The laughter was so deafening that it threatened to tear the gilded and painted dome apart!
Dongfang Yuning, the instigator of this incident, looked at the scene in front of him where everyone was laughing to the point of collapse and their image was completely ruined. His mouth opened into an O shape, and the villain in his heart was confused:
What's wrong with them? Are they all possessed? Or are they so shocked by my business acumen that they've gone insane? It's just a little profiteering... uh, a franchise opportunity? Why are they laughing so hard?
System 118's electronic voice carried a hint of mystery:
[Damn! Host, this is a late-stage outbreak of 'Suppressed Laughter Syndrome'! Commonly known as - laughing like crazy! Cause: Host's actions are too coquettish, the leeks are too cooperative, and the rainbow farts are too outlandish! It is recommended that the host maintain a safe distance to avoid being affected by the wave of laughter.]
A few days later, outside the city of Yandu, there was a ten-mile pavilion.
Flags were waving and music was playing.
Emperor Nangong Yu led all civil and military officials to see off the envoys from various countries as they left the capital with the most solemn etiquette.
Nangong Yu wore a sincere, slightly stiff, and impeccable imperial smile as he held the hand of Tuoba Lie, the eldest prince of Beidi, with genuine affection:
"Your Highness, we are separated by mountains and rivers, but we shall never part! I hope the friendship between our two countries will remain strong forever, like the eternal stars on the grasslands! You are welcome... to visit Yan Country often!"
【Welcome to give us money often! Remember to bring more gold next time!】
Empress Dongfang Qiwu said goodbye to the little Fuying Princess Sakurai Sagiri with dignity and grace, and gently combed her temples for her:
"Your Highness, take care on your journey. When your country's Fuxing Hotpot Restaurant opens, I will send someone to deliver a congratulatory gift!"
[Hurry back to the shop! I'm waiting for my dividends to buy new shoes! I scratched through the soles of those shoes just now!]
Princess Nangong Yue patted the shoulder of Tianyuan High Priest Yun Ming generously, almost making the thin high priest stumble:
"High Priest! Go back and drink more milk tea! Use the Qingxin incense sparingly! At the next auction, my Tiangong Pavilion will be waiting for you to compete! Hahaha!"
[I'm addicted to milk tea! I'll sell even more at the next auction! The Golden Phoenix is waiting for me!]
Crown Prince Nangong Chengqian toasted with princes from various countries, speaking earnestly:
"My dear princes, let's meet again in the East Palace someday! May our friendship last forever!"
[Next time you come, remember to bring some local specialties (gold)! My palace renovation depends on you!]
Prince Yong Nangong Ye still stood beside Dongfang Yuning like a guardian angel, nodding slightly to the delegation with an expressionless face.
Only Dongfang Yuning could feel that his hand around her waist tightened almost imperceptibly, and he was saying: Little fox, well done, keep going next time.
The envoys from various countries slowly departed, laden with rare treasures they had auctioned, signed franchise agreements for the Fortune Star Cuisine, and a complex mix of awe, gratitude, and grief for the Yan Kingdom, especially the Fortune Star Princess.
The people of Yan Nation stood on a high place, wearing standard farewell smiles and waving in unison:
"Bon Voyage--!"
"See you later—!"
"Welcome to visit us next time—!"
Everyone in their hearts shouted: [Welcome to send money next time——!!!]
Until the last delegation carriage disappeared at the end of the official road.
The smiles on the faces of the people in Yan Kingdom collapsed in an instant, as if their bones and muscles were pulled out. They rubbed their stiff cheeks, covered their stomachs that hurt from laughing, and supported their waists that were weak from laughing.
Emperor Nangong Yu rubbed his abdominal muscles, which were sore from holding back laughter. He looked at the smoke and dust that was receding, then looked at his sister-in-law who was also rubbing her face. Finally, he couldn't help but burst into a full and hearty laugh again:
"Hahahaha! So good! So good! Sister-in-law! A national treasure! Well-deserved! I declare! A banquet will be held in the palace tonight! Don't leave until you're drunk! Celebrating my Dayan... The national treasury is full! The leek harvest is abundant! The Fengming Jiuxiao Chamber of Commerce will live forever!"
"Our Emperor is wise! Long live the Princess!"
The cheers of the ministers, accompanied by equally joyful smiles, reached the sky!
Dongfang Yuning leaned in Nangong Ye's arms, watching the convoy disappear in the distance, then looking at the jubilant family around him, and finally a sincere and sweet smile with a little pride appeared on his little face.
[Commander, mission accomplished! Call it a day! Go count your money!]
System 118:
[Ding! The farewell ceremony for the Global Chive Breeding Base (Yan Nation) has concluded successfully! Host, the 'Golden Scythe of World Destruction' has achieved brilliant results! Reward: Increase the flow of the Spatial Spiritual Spring by another 5%! And... I recommend that the host learn facial muscle relaxation exercises as soon as possible. You've been faking a smile for too long.]
Dongfang Yuning:
[…Shut up! Go count your money!]
She quietly squeezed Nangong Ye's palm, in return receiving a helpless yet doting look of indulgence from him.
The setting sun cast its afterglow across the Ten-Li Pavilion, stretching the crowd's figures far out. The air seemed to still linger with the scent of money, the afterglow of delicious food, and... the unbridled joy left after that hellish experience of stifling laughter.
The Midas Touch lives up to its reputation. Chive fields around the world are celebrating a bountiful harvest.
The Yan Kingdom has a group of talented people with great achievements and fame.
The phoenix sings in the sky, who can compete with it? The next crop of leeks is already on the way!
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