Simmer over low heat.
Glug glug...
Steam and aroma wafted from the edge of the pot lid.
Princess Jianning sniffed and said, "It smells so good, Lord Li, what spices did you add to the pot?"
Li Huan laughed and said, "I didn't add any spices, I just used pork rib soup."
"Pork rib soup?" Princess Jianning asked. "Pork ribs?"
Li Huan nodded.
Duolong said, "I just saw that Lord Li put a whole block of tofu in the pot. I'm very curious, how did the loach get into the tofu?"
Princess Jianning said, "Yes, even a loach would be scalded to death, how could it possibly crawl into tofu?"
Wei Xiaobao's eyes suddenly lit up, clearly he had thought of something...
Listening to the sounds from the pot and smelling the aroma, Li Huan suddenly reached out and lifted the lid.
"It's done cooking!"
The aroma wafting from the pot was even more intense amidst the rising steam.
Princess Jianning sniffed again: "Hmm, this is a fresh smell, I can smell it."
Duolong laughed and said, "Princess, you used to think that loach would have a muddy smell, but now Lord Li has cooked this dish of loach burrowing into tofu, so it definitely won't have a muddy smell. Princess, you should eat a few more."
Princess Jianning said, "If it weren't for the earthy smell, I would definitely eat more."
Li Huan picked up the large pot, poured the tofu and broth together into a large soup bowl, and placed it on the octagonal table.
The tofu in the soup bowl was square and neat, with many loach tails sticking out of its surface.
"Wow! Wow..." Princess Jianning exclaimed in surprise, "The loach really did burrow into the tofu!"
Wu Sangui asked curiously, "Three catties of loach, that's dozens of them, how come they all burrowed into the tofu?"
Li Huan said, "Your Highness is exceptionally wise; can't you guess it?"
Wu Sangui laughed and said, "As for cooking, I don't have any expertise or experience to share."
Li Huan asked Wu Yingqi, "Young Prince, you are also very intelligent, you must be able to guess the reason, right?"
Wu Yingqi carefully examined the tofu and loach tail in the soup bowl, his brows furrowing slightly.
He thought for a moment, then shook his head: "I don't know much about cooking..."
Feng Xifan hurriedly said, "Lord Li, stop keeping us in suspense and just reveal the answer."
Li Huan said, "It's actually very simple. Just pour the live loaches into the pot, start boiling the soup, and the loaches will have to burrow into the tofu to escape!"
Wu Yingqi was stunned: "This...is it that simple?"
Li Huan said, "Yes, it's that simple!"
Wu Yingqi said, "I just thought of the real reason, but I'm not sure."
Princess Jianning laughed and said, "The tofu is cold, so the loach has no choice but to burrow into the tofu to survive. That's such a clever trick!"
Wu Sangui frowned: "I find this move rather cruel."
cruel?
Holy crap, Wu Sangui actually said "loach burrowing into tofu" is cruel.
This is tantamount to a ferocious jackal eating a lamb and then condescendingly accusing a fox of stealing a hen!
Li Huan did not refute, but said with a smile, "Your Highness must usually be a vegetarian and a Buddhist, never kill any living beings, be kind-hearted, generous, and detached from worldly affairs, and wholeheartedly devoted to doing good!"
Wu Sangui looked embarrassed after hearing this.
Princess Jianning laughed and said, "If Your Highness is that kind of person, why don't you become a monk?"
Duolong said, "Your Highness can go to Mount Wutai, shave your head and become a monk, and devote yourself to spiritual practice."
Li Huan said, "The Emperor Emeritus is practicing Buddhism as a monk at Mount Wutai."
"Ah?" Princess Jianning exclaimed in shock, "Father was cultivating at Mount Wutai. Didn't he pass away?"
Li Huan said, "The Emperor Emeritus did not die, but his beloved concubine, Consort Dong'e, passed away due to illness. The Emperor Emeritus was heartbroken and thus gave up the throne to become a monk!"
Wu Sangui laughed and said, "I already knew about this. The retired emperor claimed to have died of illness, but in fact he was hiding in Wutai Mountain practicing Buddhism!"
"I also know that His Majesty and the Empress Dowager have toured Mount Wutai many times, the reason being to visit the Emperor Emeritus!"
Li Huan asked, "How does Your Highness know so much?"
Wu Sangui chuckled.
Li Huan actually asked Wu Sangui on purpose.
This old fox had planted many spies within the imperial court.
How could Wu Sangui not know the secret that Emperor Shunzhi had become a monk?
Princess Jianning said in astonishment, "How come I didn't know? I've never heard the Emperor or the Empress mention it."
Li Huan said, "You are too outspoken. The Emperor is afraid that if you find out, you might accidentally let the news slip out."
Princess Jianning's surprise turned to joy: "I must go to Mount Wutai to visit my father."
Duolong said, "Perfect timing. Prince Pingxi also wants to become a monk. He can go to Mount Wutai to accompany the Emperor Emeritus."
Li Huan smiled and said, "Master Duo is right, Your Highness, when are you going to Mount Wutai?"
Wu Sangui forced a smile: "Lord Li, don't be funny. I never practice vegetarianism or chant Buddhist scriptures, and I have no desire to become a monk."
Taking the opportunity, Li Huan asked, "I heard that there is a copy of the 'Forty-Two Chapters Sutra' in the prince's possession. If the prince doesn't practice vegetarianism and chant Buddhist scriptures, why does he still treasure a sutra?"
Wu Sangui laughed and said, "That scripture was treasured by Jia Kun, the banner chief of the Plain Blue Banner. Jia Kun died in battle while attacking Yunnan, and I was responsible for handling all his funeral arrangements, so..."
Before he could finish speaking, Wu Sangui suddenly fell silent.
His expression showed regret, and he must have blamed himself for speaking too quickly and admitting that he had obtained the "Forty-Two Chapters Sutra" from the Plain Blue Banner.
Li Huan said, "I understand. When the prince was arranging Jia Kun's funeral, he discovered the 'Forty-Two Chapters Sutra' and took it for himself!"
Wu Sangui quickly said, "You can't say that. It's just a scripture. I'm just keeping it safe for you."
The Forty-Two Chapters Sutra actually contains a treasure map.
To prevent his descendants from becoming complacent, Huang Taiji, the founding emperor of the Qing Dynasty, concealed the secret of the treasure and told his descendants that the Forty-Two Chapters Sutra was related to the dragon vein of the Qing Dynasty and that the Forty-Two Chapters Sutra must be protected with all efforts for generations to come.
Therefore, the eight copies of the Forty-Two Chapters Sutra were handed over to the eight banner lords of the Manchu Eight Banners for safekeeping.
Wu Sangui was unaware that there was a treasure map in the Forty-Two Chapters Sutra; he only believed that the sutra was related to the Qing Dynasty's imperial lineage.
Therefore, Wu Sangui deliberately took away the Forty-Two Chapters Sutra treasured by Jia Kun, the banner chief of the Plain Blue Banner. His mentality was extremely dark, as he wanted to sever the Qing Dynasty's imperial lineage.
In this way, Wu Sangui could rebel, successfully ascend the throne as emperor, and establish his own dynasty.
Li Huan said, "Since Your Highness is temporarily keeping the 'Forty-Two Chapters Sutra' of the Plain Blue Banner, please hand it over to me as soon as possible so that I can return it to the Emperor when I return to the capital."
Wu Sangui's facial muscles twitched.
He had no intention of handing over the "Forty-Two Chapters Sutra," but he carelessly let it slip, and it was too late to refuse.
Li Huan deliberately asked, "What, does Your Highness intend to seize the scriptures and refuse to return them to their rightful owner?"
Wu Sangui was a Han Chinese, so it was clearly inappropriate for him to keep a copy of the "Forty-Two Chapters Sutra" that concerned the Qing Dynasty's imperial lineage.
Therefore, Wu Sangui had no choice but to feign agreement: "Please rest assured, Lord Li, after the Martial Arts Culinary Competition ends, I will hand over the scriptures to you!"
As he spoke, a murderous glint flashed in Wu Sangui's eyes...
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