Chapter 20 That's Shen Zhejiang's handwriting
Prefect Yang led Xiao Zhinian into the Zhao residence, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please come this way! Please come this way!"
Xiao Zhinian nodded, followed by Huaiwu, and when they arrived at the dining table, he sat down in the main seat.
Mr. Zhao hurriedly called out to the servants to serve the dishes, and said loudly, "Your Majesty, please take a seat! The dishes will be served soon! Someone, dig out the strong liquor hidden under the tree in the backyard for twenty years! Quick!"
Even in a border area like Luocheng where supplies were scarce, the Zhao family had no shortage of food and clothing, and the food they used to entertain guests was no different from that in the capital.
There is no need to elaborate on the delicacies from land and sea, including mutton and beef, which are rare delicacies in Beijing. It seems that they must have cost a lot of money.
Unfortunately, Xiao Zhinian had tasted all kinds of delicacies in the world, so he seemed to lack interest. He glanced at Huaiwu, who was staring at the table full of delicious dishes with shining eyes, and waved his hand and said, "Come and sit here too, and add a pair of chopsticks."
Along the way, Huaiwu had only now put on a happy expression. He sat down on the stool next to Xiao Zhinian without any scruples, and said in a cheerful tone: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Seeing this, Magistrate Yang and Mr. Zhao exchanged glances. Although they usually competed with each other openly or secretly, they were still tied to the same boat at the critical moment. They read shock in each other's eyes.
A dignified emperor actually allowed his guards to eat at the same table?
Moreover, hearing what the emperor said and seeing that the guard behaved so skillfully and unrestrainedly, it didn't seem like this was the first time it had happened. It was heard that the ministers in the court had repeatedly advised the emperor to take a concubine and establish a queen as soon as possible to expand the royal family, but all of them were rejected one by one, and they were also rewarded with fifty lashes of the cane. After this incident, no one dared to say a word.
Thinking of this, the two people who were in cahoots smiled tacitly and meaningfully. The guard didn't look very old. It turned out that the emperor liked to keep concubines as concubines, and even wanted to keep them by his side all the time and have a lot of fun with them.
"Master, the wine is here." The servants came in respectfully holding three or four wine jugs and placed them on the table.
Zhao Yuanwai picked up the wine pot and poured wine for Xiao Zhinian, saying with a flattering smile, "Your Majesty, please try this wine. This is Luocheng Turbid Wine, which I have kept for many years. I specially brought it to entertain a distinguished person like Your Majesty. You must have never tasted it in the capital."
Xiao Zhinian did not refuse, he held the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp, saying: "I have heard about Luocheng Turbid Wine for a long time, it really has a unique frontier flavor, it is indeed a good wine."
"If Your Majesty likes it, I have two jars in my backyard. I will order someone to move them here and bring them back to the capital the next day. It will be my gift to Your Majesty!" Zhao Yuanwai was overjoyed. He didn't expect that he could please the emperor with two jars of wine. His wish came true. He excitedly poured another glass for Xiao Zhinian and poured a glass for Huaiwu. "Come on, come on, little brother, don't just focus on eating, drink some wine!"
"ah?"
Huaiwu was busy dealing with the golden crispy chicken on the plate. His mouth was full of oil and he wiped a handful of it casually.
Just as he was about to take it, Xiao Zhinian glared at him. He withdrew his hand angrily and continued to work hard to finish his chicken.
It's a rule that you are not allowed to drink while on duty.
Xiao Zhinian said calmly, "Don't worry about him, just eat your food."
Zhao Yuanwai thought that the young emperor was quite protective of his shortcomings, so he thought he could start from that aspect, and quickly responded, "Yes, yes!"
Seeing Mr. Zhao fawning on him, Prefect Yang couldn't help but mock him in his heart. He thought he might be looking for a new master. At the same time, he felt that the time had come. He raised his cup and stood up and said, "Your Majesty rarely comes. I failed to set the table in advance. It is my fault. I hope Your Majesty will not blame me."
After saying that, he was fined three cups in a row.
Xiao Zhinian hummed, his eyes as calm as a lake: "Please sit down, Yang Qing. No need to be polite. I came to the north this time to appreciate the scenery of the northern border and understand the people's sentiments and opinions. Formal rules are unnecessary."
A cunning gleam flashed in Prefect Yang's eyes, as if he had not expected Xiao Zhinian to state the purpose of the trip so bluntly. He bowed his hands and said solemnly, "Your Majesty's love for the people is evident to all. I, on behalf of the people of Luocheng, would like to thank Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty, long, long live Your Majesty!"
Zhao Yuanwai naturally couldn't be left behind, and he immediately stood up and knelt before Xiao Zhinian, moving himself to tears and snot: "Your Majesty loves the people like his own children. It is a blessing for me to have such a wise ruler! Long live Your Majesty, long live His Majesty, long, long live His Majesty!!"
"......"
Xiao Zhinian was somewhat speechless.
He didn't know how many times he had heard such compliments during the meal. They were more annoying than those nagging ministers in the court, and his ears were almost callused from hearing them.
It never ends, doesn't it?
I don't know where this person came from. He is so tactless.
Just when Xiao Zhinian was about to lose his patience, the sound of children shouting came from outside the yard.
"I want to go find Daddy! Why are you trying to stop me? Let me go! Let me go! I want to tell Daddy that the teacher praised my progress in calligraphy today. I have to show him!"
"Young Master, please stop shouting. Be careful not to offend the distinguished guests. The master is entertaining the distinguished guests in the house!"
"Daddy! Come out quickly! These people are going to make... um..."
Xiao Zhinian looked at the open wooden door, his brows still showing impatience from before, and his face looked gloomy: "What's going on?"
Mr. Zhao really didn't know why the little ancestor who usually disappeared without a trace came back to the mansion at this time. He was afraid that Xiao Zhinian would be upset. He was so panicked that he was sweating. He kept saying, "It's my son, a disobedient thing. I will send him back to his room and take good care of him. He runs around the city all day and has no morals. Please don't bother with him, Your Majesty."
Prefect Yang watched coldly, saying neither a good word nor a bad word.
"Go ahead."
Xiao Zhinian gave the order and agreed.
Mr. Zhao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Xiao Zhinian did not blame him. Without hesitation, he rolled over and crawled to his feet, looking very embarrassed.
He originally wanted to teach the kid a lesson, but he had only taken two steps when he was knocked down by Zhao Xiaosi who rushed in from outside.
When Zhao Xiaosi saw the scene inside, especially Xiao Zhinian sitting in the main seat, the words he was about to complain to his father got stuck in his throat. He stared at Xiao Zhinian with wide eyes and said in surprise, "You, you, you! It's actually you!"
Huaiwu reacted extremely quickly and stood in front of Xiao Zhinian, ready for battle.
Xiao Zhi was so old that no one had ever dared to point a finger at him. He stared at the kid who barged in rashly with a bit of displeasure and said, "What do you mean by yours or mine?"
"I've seen you before," Zhao Xiaosi said firmly. After a moment, he frowned and thought hard, "I can't remember where, but I must have seen you before!"
"......"
Xiao Zhinian was somewhat curious. This was his first time back in Luocheng. Logically, this guy shouldn't look familiar to him, but he had been traveling out of the palace frequently in recent years, so it was not impossible that they passed by each other on the road.
"You little bastard!" Zhao Yuanwai, who was finally helped up by his servants, took a breath and slapped Zhao Xiaosi on the forehead. "What nonsense are you talking about? You haven't even stepped out of Luocheng! I think you've gone crazy. Why don't you get back to your room and reflect on yourself!"
Zhao Xiaosi refused to accept the news. He held the edge of the paper with both hands and unfolded the folded rice paper like a treasure, as if he was afraid that no one could see it. He stood on tiptoe and moved closer to Zhao Yuanwai's face. With a red face, he argued: "I am not joking! Look! This is the calligraphy I learned in school today. The teacher said it was good. You can't wrongly accuse me!"
Mr. Zhao got angry and said, "You still talk back? It seems that I am too busy with business to discipline you! Good! Someone, bring me the cane!"
If it were the old Xiao Zhinian, at this time he would definitely grab a handful of peanuts, pair it with a pot of fine wine, and watch the show of stewing pork with rattan sticks with a smile on his face.
But now Xiao Zhinian has no interest in these mundane matters and finds them extremely noisy.
"Give them all to me..."
Xiao Zhinian was startled.
The words on the rice paper flew into his eyes like dancing butterflies along with the movements of Zhao Xiaosi's hands. They were obviously light and weightless, but they were like a heavy rock smashing into the lake of his heart, rumbling and stirring up waves thousands of feet high, completely annihilating him.
As soon as his fingers loosened, the porcelain cup fell to the floor.
“Bang!”
The sounds around seemed to disappear in an instant, leaving only a deafening buzzing sound echoing in my head.
That is...
Chen Zhejiang's name.
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