Chapter 168 Palace Scene: That Year, Even the Chickens in the Palace Suffered
In the autumn of the fifteenth year of the Xuanhe reign of the Great Khan Dynasty.
At this time, Shen Jin had been regent for many years and wielded immense power; Jiang Mianmian had also been granted the title of First-Rank Protector of the Nation Lady, and was a force to be reckoned with among the noblewomen of the capital.
The two were deeply in love at the peak of their relationship.
This day is the Mid-Autumn Festival.
When a banquet was held in the palace, Shen Jin specially instructed the imperial kitchen to prepare a dish called "Beggar's Chicken" that Jiang Mianmian had been talking about for a long time. Moreover, it had to be made with the finest free-range chicken from Jiangnan, which was raised on small fish and shrimp.
Jiang Mianmian hadn't eaten enough for lunch, so she changed into her gorgeous clothes early and sat in the main hall waiting for the feast to begin.
Hehe, beggar's chicken! I'm here!
I heard the chicken is so tender it's almost juicy, and it even has the delicate fragrance of lotus leaves... Slurp!
[Although Shen Jin is usually very controlling, he's actually quite reliable when it comes to food!]
However.
The banquet was about to begin when the head eunuch of the imperial kitchen rushed to Shen Jin in a panic, knelt down with a thud, and kowtowed repeatedly.
"Your Highness, spare me! Your Highness, spare me!"
"What's wrong?" Shen Jin was holding a wine glass, in a good mood.
"Those...those free-range chickens from Jiangnan..." the eunuch cried, "Last night...last night they were all snatched away by weasels!"
"Not a single one is left!"
"Crack!"
The wine glass in Shen Jin's hand was instantly crushed.
The atmosphere in the hall instantly plummeted to freezing. Everyone held their breath, unable to bear looking at the Regent's face, which was as black as the bottom of a pot.
Jiang Mianmian, sitting next to her, was completely petrified.
She remained in the position of holding chopsticks, her smile gradually fading, replaced by a despair akin to the collapse of faith.
That's all?
My beggar's chicken... is gone?
[Eaten by a weasel?!]
【Aaaaaah! That damned weasel! Why didn't it eat the Imperial Censor's guard dog?! Why did it have to eat my chicken?!】
My happiness is gone! I'm not celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival! I'm going back to my parents' house! I'm running away from home!
Shen Jin heard everything clearly about Jiang Mianmian's inner world collapsing.
Those piercing cries of agony were even more heart-wrenching to him than the urgent battle reports from the border.
It's just a few chickens.
How could he have made his princess so upset?
This is absolutely outrageous!
"Issue my decree!"
Chen Jin suddenly stood up, his murderous aura intimidating the entire audience.
"Shadow One! Take some men and bring that weasel back to me! Dead or alive, get the chicken out of its belly!"
"Imperial Guards, listen to my command! Immediately seal off the nine gates of the capital!"
"Where is the Minister of War?!"
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty is here!" The Minister of War was so frightened that his hat tilted to one side.
"Mobilize three thousand elite cavalry from the capital region camp and set out from the city immediately!"
"Go and capture all the free-range chickens within a hundred miles!"
"If even one is missing, I will hold you accountable!"
The entire audience erupted in uproar.
He's gone mad! The Regent has gone mad!
They're mobilizing the army for a few chickens? Is this a prelude to war?
"Your Highness..." the young emperor Shen Xingchen tried to dissuade him, "Isn't this... a bit too much of a fuss?"
"Making a big fuss?"
Shen Jin gave him a cold look. "If the princess doesn't eat well, she'll be in a bad mood. If she's in a bad mood, she'll scold me. If she scolds me, I won't be able to concentrate on state affairs. If I'm not able to concentrate on state affairs, the Great Khanate will perish!"
"Do you think this is a big deal?"
Little Emperor: ……
That makes perfect sense; I am speechless.
then.
That Mid-Autumn Festival night, the people outside the capital witnessed a scene they would never forget.
Three thousand iron cavalry, carrying torches, frantically caught chickens in the fields, forests, and bushes.
Chickens flew and dogs barked, dust flew everywhere.
"Cluck-cluck—!"
"Grab it! Don't let it get away! That's the princess's dinner!"
The weasel that was the culprit was dug out by the shadow guards and became the most tragic "sacrifice" of the night.
One hour later.
Thousands of chickens of all kinds were sent to the imperial kitchen. The imperial chefs worked overtime, crying as they did so, and finally managed to prepare enough beggar's chicken for the entire palace to eat for three days.
Looking at the mountain of beggar's chicken in front of her, Jiang Mianmian finally burst into laughter through her tears.
Hahaha! So many chickens!
【Shen Jin, you're so handsome! I love you to death!】
Even though you're a bit crazy, I like you!
She tore off a large chicken leg and stuffed it into Chen Jin's mouth.
"Here's your reward! Eat up!"
Shen Jin chewed on a chicken leg, looked at her carefree smiling face, and shook his head helplessly.
That's all.
Go ahead and be crazy.
As long as she's happy, he'd do anything for her, even if it meant catching chickens or shooting down the moon to feed her.
This is the Regent's Palace—
A simple, unpretentious, and mundane daily life of pampering one's wife.
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