Chief Steward Chi washed the watermelons and cut them. The watermelons selected by Uncle Hong were good to begin with, and even the unripe ones were ripened after the trip. Chief Steward Chi was also lucky, and everything was red. When the knife went down, only a crisp sound was heard, and then the fragrance of the watermelon could be smelled.
Chief Steward Chi watched the red juice flow out of it and licked his dry lips. Then, he cut it piece by piece. Chief Steward Chi had seen many good things while following the emperor, but this was the first time he had seen this kind of fruit. This red color was so beautiful.
Naturally, someone had to taste the things that were served to the emperor. On ordinary days, he might have asked others to taste them, but today Chief Steward Chi cut them himself and tasted them himself. It was not that he was not afraid of death, but how could the things sent by General Qin be poisonous? If it is really poisonous, doesn't that mean General Qin doesn't want his head anymore? So Chief Steward Chi dared to try it himself.
The sweet taste was so wonderful after one bite.
Chief Steward Chi resisted the urge to take a second bite and said to the eunuch, "Freeze the remaining half." It has not been frozen. Because the weather is hot, the fruit is a little hot after being exposed to the sun. If it is frozen, the taste will be even worse.
Chief Steward Chi thinks Qin Fang is really amazing. He can find everything, even this kind of fruit. No wonder the emperor said that Qin Fang is lucky. Thinking of this, Chief Steward Chi had an idea in his mind. It is estimated that the day when Qin Fang will be transferred back to the capital will not be far away. The emperor will definitely want to bring a lucky person to the capital. So, after Qin Fang comes, he will also make friends with him.
However, the Imperial Concubine has been asking him about things recently, but he has always evaded them. He is not a fool. The Emperor is in his prime, and with his status, there is no need for him to get involved in things that should not be involved. He is older than the Emperor, and perhaps after he dies, the Emperor will still be stable on the throne. Therefore, he should just be his chief steward. He has already done the work of following the Emperor, so why would he want to support another prince to ascend the throne?
Chief Steward Chi entered the study room with a plate and said, "Your Majesty, the watermelon is here." The
emperor put down his pen and saw the red fruit on the plate: "This watermelon is green on the outside, but it's actually red inside."
Chief Steward Chi said, "Doesn't this prove the saying? Red flowers go well with green leaves."
The emperor couldn't help but smile when he heard it, "You are quite talented in writing. How does this watermelon taste?"
Chief Steward Chi said, "I just can't hide it from your Majesty. I took a bite out of greed and it tastes really good. It's much better than the apples and pears I've eaten before." The emperor
heard it and took a piece and gave it to him, "Eat it. Look, you're drooling."
Chief Steward Chi chuckled, took the watermelon, and took a bite. The emperor moved his nose and also picked up a piece to eat. After taking a bite, he opened his eyes wide and said, "It's delicious."
Chief Steward Chi took the opportunity to say, "I've seen that this watermelon can be eaten in many ways. Half of it can be frozen. It tastes better when it's frozen on a hot day."
The emperor nodded and said nothing, because his mouth was used for eating. After eating two pieces in one breath, his mouth was still not satisfied, but his stomach was a little full. He said, "This watermelon is easy to fill up." However, the emperor was not a greedy person.
Chief Steward Chi said, "That's right. But it's written in the notebook sent by General Qin that this watermelon can only be eaten on the same day. It will go bad overnight. If it's not cut, it can be kept for several days. It's quite durable."
The emperor thought for a while and said, "Send some to the ladies in the harem who have given birth to princes and princesses. Send two watermelons to each palace."
Chief Steward Chi asked, "What if they are raw?"
The emperor was puzzled and said, "Is there any raw watermelon?"
Chief Steward Chi said, "It's reminded in the notebook. This melon was not fully ripe when it was picked to avoid spoiling on the way. Moreover, the melon has a skin on the outside, so you can't see whether it is raw or ripe inside, so it may be raw. However, whether it is raw or ripe, it is edible, the difference is that the raw one is not very sweet inside. "
The emperor smiled and said, "It depends on their luck. Believe it or not, even if I send it to them raw, they can understand other meanings." When
Chief Steward Chi heard this, it was true. This raw melon...isn't it just raw? "Your Majesty is wise."
The Emperor laughed and said, "Keep your mouth shut about the melon delivery, and pretend you don't know about Qin Fang."
Steward Chi: "Yes."
Outside the palace gate, Captain Du was still waiting. Finally, when Tao Shan came out, he waved and said, "Tao Shan... Tao Shan..."
Tao Shan didn't expect that the dignified Second Young Master Du would wait for him all the time. He hurried up to him and said, "Second Young Master, I've kept you waiting for a long time."
Captain Du said indifferently, "It's okay. Let's go. Follow me back to the mansion. By the way, are you okay in there?"
Tao Shan said, "It's okay. I met the Emperor. The Emperor is really a good man."
Captain Du smiled and said nothing. Matters concerning the Emperor cannot be told outside.
As soon as Tao Shan arrived at the Du Mansion, he was invited by the housekeeper to Mrs. Du's yard. It was the first time that Tao Shan met the hostess of the Du Mansion. Before, the housekeeper always received him.
When Tao Shan went in, Mrs. Du was eating watermelon.
The housekeeper said, "Madam, Tao Shan is here."
Tao Shan just raised his head slightly to avoid mistaking her for someone else, and then saluted Mrs. Du: "Tao Shan has met Mrs. Du."
Generally, when addressing women in important occasions, the imperial edict is included. For example, Du Ke is a third-rank official, so Mrs. Du is a third-rank official, a lady. However, in her own house, servants address the master, or guests address the hostess, all of which are addressed as Madam. Mrs. Du is
about the same age as Qin's mother, but she looks much younger than Qin's mother. She is a clan woman, so naturally she is not comparable to country women like Qin's mother.
Mrs. Du said, "No need to be polite, Tao Shan, right? Please take a seat."
Tao Shan hurriedly said, "No, no, I will just stand." If it were in the past, he would definitely be nervous, but he had just met the emperor, and now he would not be nervous no matter who he met, because the impact of meeting the emperor had not faded .
Mrs. Du smiled and said, "Please sit down, I have something to ask you."
Tao Shan bowed and said, "Then I will obey your order."
Mrs. Du heard that he was well-spoken and had more experience than the servants in the general mansion. She nodded and said, "Tao Shan, when you left Yunxiang County, was Lord Du still in the general's mansion?" Because she had received a letter from Du Ke, she knew that Du Ke lived in the general's mansion in Yunxiang County.
Tao Shan said, "When I left the General's Mansion, Lord Du was still there."
Mrs. Du said, "How is Lord Du? Has he been sick recently? Your Lord Du is always tight-lipped. He didn't tell me when he was sick. Neither did he, nor did the people around him. I know he didn't want me to worry, but I was worried when he was away. Tao Shan, don't hide it from me."
Tao Shan's heart tightened. Why did he feel that Mrs. Du was threatening him? However, he said truthfully: "My lord is in good health. On the day we arrived in Yunxiang County, the county magistrate asked the doctor in the mansion to see him. Before I left, my lord had not been sick."
Mrs. Du observed Tao Shan's expression and did not seem to be lying. She was very satisfied: "The county magistrate you are talking about is my adopted daughter Yanyan, right? I received a letter from my lord before. During the time he was in the general's mansion, it was thanks to Yanyan and her husband that they took care of him."
Tao Shan did not know how to answer. After thinking for a while, he said: "My lord is the elder. "He is a senior and the general's teacher. It is the duty of the county lady and the general to take care of him. But Lord Du is very busy. He goes to visit the common people with the general every day to investigate the people's sentiments. By the way, Lord Shen is also with them."
Mrs. Du nodded: "So that's the case. In such a hot day, he has to visit the common people every day. Only he can think of it."
Tao Shan said: "The common people like Lord Du very much."
Mrs. Du was stunned, and then she became interested: "With his calm face every day, how can the common people like him?" Even the children at home are afraid of him.
This... Tao Shan smiled embarrassedly, but still clarified for Lord Du: "Lord Du is very good to the common people, very kind, and the common people like him very much. Moreover, when he listens to the common people's nagging, he is also very patient, and the common people welcome him to come again next time."
Puchi... Mrs. Du couldn't help laughing out loud, but it was true, that was really the style of the old man.
Tao Shan didn't know what he said to make Mrs. Du laugh, and he felt a little embarrassed.
Mrs. Du said again: "By the way, Tao Shan, the vegetables and fruits you sent are really good. These are things I have never seen in the capital. And your countryman is also very thoughtful. He even prepared a notebook to record the cooking and eating of these things. Especially this watermelon, it is really delicious."
Tao Shan: "Lord Du also likes to eat it. After the watermelon is ripe, Lord Du can eat half a watermelon every day." Mrs.
Du snorted: "He is really lucky. We estimate that these will be gone in a few days." Such delicious watermelons, she also wants to send a few to her parents' home, so when she thinks that the old man can eat it every day, she is really jealous.
Tao Shan said, "You can't eat it for long, because the fruit season of watermelon is only more than a month, and the next time you eat it will be next year. If you like it, I will send it to you at this time next year."
Mrs. Du said, "The fruit season is only more than a month? That's really short. Then I will wait for you to send it again next year. If you don't give it to me by then, I will come to you."
Tao Shan was holding his face and couldn't speak.
Mrs. Du didn't tease him anymore: "Go down and have a rest. Rest here for a few days and then go back. I have something for you to take back to your husband."
Tao Shan: "Yes."
Tao Shan stayed at the Du family for two days. After two days, he returned with several boxes full of things. These things were not only given by Mrs. Du, but also by Mrs. Du's family and the emperor, so he came with big boxes and small boxes, and left with big bags and small bags.
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