Chapter 37 Eating Out
Murong Yu felt a little annoyed when he walked out of Fengyi Palace.
He seldom thought of Pei Shu and her son in recent years, but whenever he did, they would linger in his mind.
When he was fifteen years old, the previous emperor passed away and he ascended the throne at a young age. The person he relied on most was Shangshu Ling Pei Dingli.
Pei Dingli had the talent to govern the country and maintain its security, and he was upright and incorruptible.
But Murong Yu also hated Pei Dingli the most.
The Pei family's reputation was too great, and Pei Dingli relied on his status as a veteran to dare to accuse him.
When he was twenty years old, the emperor came of age and held a grand selection of concubines.
Once the imperial decree for the selection of concubines was issued, the girls of appropriate age would be sent to the palace after going through layers of screening to be selected by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.
Murong Yu had no intention of marrying Pei Dingli's daughter into the palace. Even though the Pei family's children were famous, he was not interested in them.
But when he saw Pei Shu, whose skin was as white as snow and whose eyes were as clear as autumn water, he became hoarse.
She was wearing the most inconspicuous green skirt, standing under a locust tree with a cold expression, yet she was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting.
She looked over indifferently.
Just one glance and he was irresistibly captivated by it.
Murong Yu couldn't utter the word "no" in his throat no matter what.
There is no man in the world who can remain unmoved by such a stunningly talented woman, and he is no exception.
He is the emperor, and this woman can only belong to him.
He chose Pei Shu to enter the palace, and the Queen Mother said that Pei Shu could be made queen based on her family background.
But Murong Yu would not allow Pei Dingli's daughter to be his queen. He deliberately made Du Ru the queen and only made Pei Shu the Zhaoyi.
He told himself again and again that he let Pei Shu into the palace just to take revenge on Pei Dingli.
They were prevented from meeting each other as father and daughter, and Pei Shu was left alone in the deep palace.
The more he said this, the more he couldn't control himself from favoring Pei Shu. He promoted her rank again and again and made her a noble concubine.
She was gentle, intelligent, and considerate; she was skilled in poetry, song, calligraphy, and painting. Whether inside or outside the tent, just seeing her made one feel comfortable and relaxed.
He was bewitched by her.
But, she happened to be Pei Dingli's daughter.
When the entire Pei family was exiled, Murong Yu thought that if Pei Shu dared to plead for the Pei family, he would immediately send her to the cold palace or even sentence her to death.
Let this woman never confuse his mind again.
He was afraid that once he saw her, he would become soft-hearted and change his mind for her.
But Pei Shu, who had just given birth, not only did not beg for mercy, but instead took off her hairpins and rings, dragged her frail body and knelt outside the palace to apologize, saying that she was the daughter of a guilty minister and asked to be demoted.
She moved to the remote and secluded Minghui Palace. Over the years, she lived a peaceful and law-abiding life without fighting or competing, and never served the emperor in bed again.
Murong Yu never summoned her again.
Pei Shu's concession made Murong Yu feel more reluctant when he thought of her, and he showed mercy to the mother and son.
Once, when he learned that Pei Shu was seriously ill in winter and there was not enough charcoal in the palace, Murong Yu became angry and ordered the death of the palace maid who withheld the charcoal.
Therefore, although the Myeonghye Palace was deserted, no one stole the clothes and charcoal fires at any time of the year.
"Your Majesty, would you like me to go in and inform them?" Eunuch Wang looked at Murong Yu's expression.
Murong Yu came back to his senses and found himself at the gate of Minghui Palace.
At first glance, the palace seemed cold and desolate, with no one cleaning up the weeds in the corners.
There was no one on duty in the courtyard, it was empty, like a cold palace.
"No need." Murong Yu continued to move forward without stopping.
Wang, the eunuch, said, "Your Majesty, we will soon reach the residences of Qi Cairen and Yu Cairen."
There were so many beautiful women in the harem who were as delicate as flowers that Murong Yu couldn't remember the faces of these talented women for a moment.
He paused for a moment, the anger between his brows finally unable to be suppressed:
"Wang Miao."
Eunuch Wang: "Your Majesty?"
"The servants of Myeonghye Palace are failing to provide adequate service. They will be severely punished and replaced."
…………
Late spring and early summer.
The temperature has risen sharply in recent days, and many people in Lingnan have changed into summer clothes.
The courtyard that Hao Ren rented had not been lived in for a long time. Weeds grew wildly in the cracks between the bricks in the corners of the walls, mixed with scattered small flowers.
It just so happened that the whole family was at home today, and they worked together to clean up the yard.
"What a nice smell!" Su Zhizhi and Xue Che found a wild jasmine in the corner.
The flowers are white and small with a fresh fragrance.
"If we build a shed on top of this, we won't feel too hot in the yard."
Su Zhizhi gestured above her head, already imagining herself enjoying the cool under the shed.
Xue Che also thought of the same scene: "We can plant some bamboo outside the shed to provide shade and cool down."
Wu Yingniang pulled out a handful of weeds and wiped the sweat from her brow:
"Okay, then everyone can hold half a watermelon and enjoy the cool breeze."
When Old Man Qin and Kong Wu heard the word "watermelon", they felt a sweet taste in their mouths and became more motivated to weed.
Hao Ren took a broom and swept up the weeds that everyone had cleared.
"This yard is a bit empty. I'll draw a blueprint and plan it later."
Su Zhizhi shouted, "I need a big tank to raise the fish, and a small house for Abao, and a lamb..."
She spoke a lot of ideas in one breath.
Everyone laughed.
If that happens, the yard will probably be so crowded that there will be no room to move.
You all have worked hard today, let’s go out to a restaurant together. We went to the most famous Hewang Restaurant in Baiyun County.
This restaurant has plenty of wine, delicacies and dishes. It is the only restaurant of this style in the county, and it is so busy that there are often no empty seats.
Su Zhizhi and her friends arrived at the right time and luckily got the last table.
Four adults and two children ordered five dishes and a soup, as well as some side dishes and drinks.
I even ordered a big bucket of rice.
When Hao Ren was young, he ate very little. At a banquet, when faced with several delicious dishes, he would put down his chopsticks after taking one or two bites of each dish, until he experienced famine and plague.
When he was first rescued and brought up the mountain, he ate from a small bowl.
Xue Che's appetite is now bigger than before, and he can eat half of Su Zhizhi's portion.
Kong Wu has the greatest strength and also eats the biggest.
He kept showing off his food, eating several times the amount of an average person.
Mr. Qian, the shopkeeper of Hewang Restaurant, passed by. A chubby little boy beside him laughed at the silhouette of Kong Wu eating.
"Look at that guy eating, Old Qian. Even a pig eats more elegantly than him."
The little fat man's voice was neither loud nor soft, but Su Zhizhi happened to hear it.
Kong Wu and Xue Che sat next to each other.
Su Zhizhi looked at Kong Wu who was wolfing down his food and Xue Che who was eating elegantly, and for a moment she didn't know who she was scolding.
Shopkeeper Qian quickly apologized with a smile:
"My apologies, gentlemen. Our young master is young and quick-witted. Please don't take it personally."
Su Zhizhi turned her head to look at the little fat boy and felt that he looked a little familiar.
The little fat boy also saw Su Zhizhi turning around and came over to ask:
"Are you Su Zhi?"
Su Zhizhi nodded.
"I'm He Yuan. I've seen you at Mingde Academy."
He Yuan is one year older than Su Zhizhi, but he is still in the most basic level of Qinxuetang. Because he failed the assessment last year, he has to repeat it.
"Hewanglou is my family's restaurant." He Yuan spoke with full confidence, like a rich young man.
Su Zhizhi: "If my family opened a restaurant, I definitely wouldn't laugh at customers for not looking good at their meals. I would just say our food is delicious."
He Yuan knew he was wrong, but he couldn't bring himself to admit his mistake:
"Your family can't afford to open a restaurant. We all know you're from the mountains."
Su Zhizhi: "I'm from the mountains, but the food in your restaurant isn't as delicious as the food in our village."
He Yuan: “You’re talking nonsense…”
Seeing the two children fighting, Manager Qian hurriedly pulled He Yuan away.
Su Zhizhi picked up her chopsticks and started eating again.
Wu Yingniang was full and served Zhizhi another bowl of soup:
"I plan to buy a shop in the county and open a restaurant."
Everyone at the table put down their chopsticks and looked at Wu Yingniang.
Wu Yingniang did not make this decision suddenly, she had had this idea before.
I came to Hewanglou today just to try the dishes and have an idea of what they are like.
They now have enough money as capital, and they can open a tavern here for people from the Black Bandit Mountain to come and meet them.
Moreover, with many guests passing by, you can also find out some news from the outside world.
Su Zhizhi: "What's the name of our store?"
"Zhizhi, what's your name?"
"Black Bandit Restaurant!"
Everyone at the table:...What?
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