Chapter 197 Stewing Soup
If you don't understand, you'll just have to keep watching.
After Liu the eunuch finished speaking, he turned around and lifted the black cloth covering the cage.
Inside the iron cage were a male and a female, one brightly colored and the other grey, one long and the other short...
Ah, so the so-called "Fire Li" is actually the peacock.
Liu, the eunuch, only let everyone glance at it before covering it with the black curtain again: "Huo Li is precious, and there is also a saying that divine birds descend to earth. It is said that they are either always together or they are always out of sight. Now that they have appeared, and in a pair, it is an auspicious sign. His Majesty specially gave it to Lady Qi Feng. Lady Hai should understand His Majesty's intention."
Lady Hai immediately became respectful: "Yes, Your Majesty is so kind, I will certainly convey Your Majesty's sentiments to Lady Qifeng."
After finishing his business, Eunuch Liu's expression softened considerably: "Today, His Majesty, the generals, and the young masters have all achieved great success. The banquet tonight will surely be very lavish. I cordially invite all ladies, young women, and young masters to attend."
Lady Hai's expression relaxed considerably: "How were the results at the hunting grounds?"
Liu, the eunuch, seemed to be quite familiar with Madam Hai: "If Madam Hai were to ask about Young Master Hai, I have not heard of him."
Mrs. Hai joked, "Who asked him? My good-for-nothing son of mine was just there to join in the fun. I asked about other people. Didn't you see many people here listening to the news from the hunting grounds? If someone hunts a lot, they might as well go and share in the luck."
Liu, the eunuch, began to recount: "Besides obtaining two fire geese, His Majesty also shot two wild geese and hunted a deer. Prince Jun has also performed well this year, having just hunted a leopard, which greatly pleased His Majesty. Prince Le also hunted a wild boar, and Prince Ji... Ah... If we're talking about the most hunted, it has to be that Eagle-Winged Imperial Guard from the Northern Region... I won't say more, I have official duties to attend to and cannot speak further. The hunting grounds are ever-changing, so ladies, gentlemen, and young ladies, please wait for the final announcement at the banquet tonight, then we can be sure it's not true."
After Liu the eunuch finished speaking, he left with his men.
Turning her head, Lady Hai also beckoned someone over and ordered, "Go and tell the Grand Minister of Agriculture that I cannot accompany him to the banquet tonight; I need to go to Lady Qifeng's place. Also, bring at least eight strong female servants; I'm afraid it will be difficult to lift this iron cage."
"Yes," the servant replied.
Just as he was about to leave to run his errand, Madam Hai called out to him again: "Wait, I still need to tell the Grand Minister of Agriculture that it might not be easy to raise this fire-breeding animal. I need to ask him to find someone who can raise it properly."
"Yes," the servant replied before leaving.
Mu Xi then realized that this Lady Hai was the wife of Hai En, the Grand Minister of Agriculture, but she didn't know why she was so close to Princess Yan Ya.
Having received her mission, Mrs. Hai had no time for idle chatter, and after a few more words, she took her leave.
Having enjoyed the spectacle, Mu Xi had no intention of lingering there and took the opportunity to bid farewell.
It wasn't appropriate to ask Lady Hai directly, so they had to return to their camp first.
The first day of hunting ended before sunset.
According to everyone's statistics, General Liu Yang from the Northern Region had indeed hunted the most bountiful harvest.
Following them were Prince Jun, Gao Quan, and Prince Yu Muji, who surprisingly did not rank in the top three.
At the evening banquet, ordinary game was distributed among the people of each household, while large and precious game had to be stored until the "Six Harmonies Grand Sacrifice," where it was first offered to the heavens before it could be shared.
Mu Xi was not interested in either option and, as usual, made an excuse not to attend the banquet.
They left the tents of Jin Fangjun's residence untouched, and then found a quiet, secluded spot on higher ground to the west of the camp to set up camp again.
This move required not only informing Prince Yu Muji, but also coordinating and maneuvering with all parties involved.
At this moment, Mu Xun was summoned by Shen Lun in private, and it was unclear what they were discussing.
Mu Xi stood alone, looking down at the campfire in the direction of the King of Yu's camp for a while, before turning back to the camp.
Bao Fan stood motionless beside an exquisite food box.
"Who sent this?" Mu Xi had already informed the Royal Kitchen that there was no need to send any game over.
Bao Fan shook his head: "I don't know."
Tao'er shook her head as well: "We servants really don't know. She was just an old nanny, dressed like someone from the inner palace, and her expression looked a bit strange."
"Who is this person, and why would they accept this?" Mu Xi had no desire to even open it.
Bao Fan, however, drooled, "Delicious!"
"You smell something delicious inside?" Mu Xi was still worried. "It's best not to eat things that come from unknown sources."
Bao Fan couldn't help but open the food box: "It's not poisonous."
"Even if it's not poisonous, it's best not to eat it." Mu Xi was about to stop her, but as soon as she opened the food box, she smelled an unfamiliar, fresh fragrance.
I've been feeling unwell these past few days, and after traveling for several days, I haven't recovered and have lost my appetite.
But as soon as I smelled that aroma, I suddenly felt a bit hungry.
So Mu Xi instructed Tao'er, "Where is Physician Luo? He should be back from gathering herbs by now. Go and invite Physician Luo."
"Yes." Tao'er immediately went to invite her.
Mu Xi turned around to examine the white jade porcelain bowl containing the food. If the bowl were filled to the brim, it could easily hold a whole chicken.
Could it be that someone shot down a bird, cooked it, and gave it to her to eat?
Bao Fan was so angry she wanted to stomp her feet, but after being by Mu Xi's side for so long, she knew the basic rules.
Without Mu Xi's order, even if he couldn't resist, he wouldn't dare to actually use his hands and mouth.
"Ze Lan, take the contents out of there. When Doctor Luo arrives, let him take a look first. It smells like some kind of medicinal cuisine," Mu Xi instructed.
Bao Fan watched Zhe Lan's movements intently as she ladled out a bowl of golden-yellow soup and meat from the white jade porcelain cup.
Mu Xi also leaned in to smell it; it smelled like chicken soup but wasn't quite: "Can you tell what kind of meat this is?"
Bao Fan sniffed hard from a distance: "Never eaten it before."
It's rare to find someone who hasn't eaten Bao Fan these days.
Given how rare this was, Mu Xi dared not attempt it lightly.
Before long, Physician Luo arrived. As soon as she entered the tent, she smelled the aroma of the soup bowl: "What is this smell? Is it made with a thousand-year-old jade spirit mushroom?"
"Dr. Luo, come quickly and take a look. I don't know who sent this soup bowl." Mu Xi called out.
Doctor Luo picked up a small piece of meat with his chopsticks, chewed it, and then exclaimed in surprise, "Oh my, it really is peacock meat!"
Peacock meat?
Mu Xi immediately understood who had given it to her.
The divine physician Luo continued to praise, "Oh my, this peacock meat is rare and precious, a top-quality tonic. Peacocks absorb the essence of mountains and marshes year-round. After being stewed, the soup is clear and golden, with a delicate aroma that is easily absorbed. It is believed to gently nourish the body's innate essence and moisturize the internal organs, making it especially suitable for those who are mentally and physically exhausted and whose qi and blood are gradually depleting. It also contains a thousand-year-old jade lingzhi mushroom, making it perfect for the young master. Who sent this? There are many peacocks on Yan Mountain, but they should all be on the southern slope. The hunting grounds are in the west, so it's difficult to find them."
Mu Xi hesitated whether she should reveal Princess Yan Ya's name, so she waved to dismiss Bao Fan, Tao'er, and the others.
Then he said, "This peacock should have been a gift from the King of Yu to Princess Yanya. It was alive when it was given, but now it's been put into a pot. It seems that the princess of the previous dynasty doesn't appreciate the current king's kindness."
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