Chapter 162 161. Two tigers run fast, one has no brain, the other has no...
Orchids and jade trees.
A banished immortal from heaven.
There is no need to dress up in gold and jade. A pair of phoenix eyes can show all kinds of charm. A slight glance is like a startled wild geese.
Even Zhou Yi, who is used to seeing top celebrities in modern times, was stunned when he caught a glimpse of the third prince's appearance and demeanor, let alone the people in Qingmi County who lived in a corner.
No wonder it is known as the most beautiful place in Kyoto.
The third prince was just as the rumors said, stunningly handsome, but also a modest gentleman with an easygoing smile. When he saw the people staring at his face in shock, he did not blame them, but instead kindly asked them to stand up.
The Fourth Prince, on the other hand, had the arrogance and dominance of a nobleman. He wore a red robe with a golden python pattern, a golden crown on his head, a sachet and jade pendants around his waist, and even his shoes had silk uppers embellished with gold threads and beads. A single pair of these shoes was worth the total spending of an ordinary wealthy family for several years.
He disliked the dirt road in Qingmi County and his boots were dirty, so he got into the sedan chair after getting off the treasure ship.
It was too late to build a sedan chair temporarily. When the county magistrate Xu Xingzhe received the news, the princes were still a few days away from arriving, so he could only temporarily requisition one from a wealthy merchant in the county.
But it was specially renovated, and even the walls of the sedan were re-covered with fine silk. The interior was even more luxurious and comfortable, with cushions embroidered with gold thread, the incense was elegant but not bland, and the jade decorations on the outside of the sedan were all top-notch.
A small jade bell is worth a thousand taels.
Even so, the Fourth Prince still complained that it was not gorgeous enough or big enough, and his expression showed dissatisfaction.
County Magistrate Xu Xingzhe was also a little panicked when he saw this, and even blamed His Highness for the poor and remote area. When the people behind him saw that the county magistrate was like this, they also knelt down tremblingly.
Even Lei Li had cold sweat on his forehead, which he couldn't wipe off, and he didn't dare to move at all.
The last time he felt so nervous was when he was seventeen and accidentally killed that scoundrel while walking home at night. But back then, he was the only one who was going to die. Now—
The lives of the whole family depend on this prince, and life or death is just a matter of a single word.
"It's okay. Fourth brother is used to the living quarters in Kyoto, and he's just not used to the climate here. It's a bit hot..."
The Third Prince calmed down the situation with good temper, and comforted the County Magistrate Xu Xingzhe and the common people with a few words before getting on the prepared sedan chair, followed closely by the maids, guards and eunuchs.
County magistrate Xu Xingzhe also got into the sedan chair and followed behind.
However, his sedan chair was just the one used by ordinary seventh-rank officials. It was at most neat and new, and looked simple and elegant. Of course, compared with the one the prince sat in, it was extremely shabby.
——Otherwise, if he, a low-level official, used the same rules and regulations as the prince, it would not only be an act of usurpation and disregard for etiquette, but also a sign of contempt for the prince and an attempt to rebel.
The prince and the county magistrate rode in sedan chairs.
Commoners like Lei Li and Zhou Yi, who had no official positions, could no longer sit and could only follow behind.
She couldn't go with the Queen Mother either, as it would easily attract the attention of the prince's attendants and lead to charges of intentionally murdering the prince, which would be like jumping into the Qingmi County River and not being able to explain herself.
Moreover, merchants at that time did not have a high status. They were divided into the four classes of scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans. Although Lei Li Zhou Yi had a good relationship with the magistrate Xu Xingzhe, he could not stand anywhere he wanted. There were rules for where to stand.
After the seventh-rank county magistrate came other officials, including minor officials of the eighth and ninth ranks such as the county magistrate, county lieutenant, chief clerk, and registrar, as well as juren, scholars, prestigious gentry, landlords, wealthy businessmen, etc., and finally the ordinary people.
Quite a few people.
Lei Li and Zhou Yi were among the gentry and landlords. They were neither in front nor behind, but they were naturally far away from the princes. They could only see the top of the princes' sedan chair from a distance.
But for the two of them, it is better to stay away. If they get close, they will get into trouble if something happens.
Lei Li and Zhou Yi glanced at each other secretly, and both saw the tension and caution in each other's eyes.
Just hang in there.
It would be nice if we could just wait until this prince leaves.
—
The banquet to entertain the prince must be of the highest standard.
And it must be stable.
So even though spicy dishes are the most fashionable nowadays, County Magistrate Xu Xingzhe does not dare to be complacent. There are only one or two spicy dishes on the long table, and the rest are specialties from other restaurants.
There are more than 60 dishes including Eight Treasures Sashimi, Emerald Lotus Leaf Chicken, Fairy Rice Wine Fish, Splendid Vinegar Blood Duck, Eight Immortals Stuffed with Leaves, Classical Steamed Chicken, etc., as well as various cold dishes, pastries and seasonal fruit plates, totaling 88 plates.
Among them, lychee is the most famous fruit in Qingmi County. The lychees that can be served on the table are also the best. Each one has a bright skin, plump flesh inside, and is sour, sweet, refreshing, and has a small core. If it is sent to Kyoto City, it is worth a fortune.
The head of the banquet was naturally the Fourth Prince, as he had the most noble family background. The second was the Third Prince, then the Magistrate Xu Xingzhe, and then there was no one else.
——Others are not worthy of sitting at the same table with the prince.
As soon as the prince arrived at the restaurant, everyone except the county magistrate left.
The restaurant was also surrounded by the guards brought by the princes. They were all solemn and dignified. The common people only dared to look at it from a distance and did not dare to get close.
Even those passing by did not dare to cross. Those who were not in a hurry would cross tomorrow or at some other time. Those who were in a hurry would take a longer detour. In any case, they could not disturb or offend the princes.
But Lei Li and Zhou Yi cannot go home yet.
Because the restaurant they went to was his family's "A Sichuan Restaurant", in order to prevent the prince from questioning them, they had to stay in the back and could not come out without being summoned for fear of disturbing the prince's meal.
"Those old restaurant owners, especially the Li family who built the official road outside the county, are still saying that our family is very lucky. Do you want to give them this blessing?"
Lei Li muttered angrily.
The couple did not feel honored at all, but instead felt that it was a lot of trouble.
"Other restaurants are also spacious and private. Lord Xu insisted that our restaurant is large, new, and beautifully decorated. Uncle Chen spent five thousand taels of silver to buy and renovate this restaurant. Isn't that great?"
Lei Li wished he could travel back in time and tell Chen Xiangrang to not decorate the place so nicely. Just give it as a token of his appreciation. Wouldn't it be the same whether he sat on a new or old stool? He wasn't paying for the tea.
"And you."
Lei Li talked about Zhou Yi again, "What kind of crappy poems and idioms are hanging in the restaurant? It's a big hit and he made a lot of money pretending to be cultured. What if some prince, especially the fourth one—"
"He's taken a fancy to you and asked you to question him. You're not good at speaking, what if you offend him?"
"I don't want to be a widower, nor do I want to be a desperate goose."
"Shouldn't it be?"
Zhou Yi was a little worried when he heard this, and lowered his voice, "That—it doesn't seem like he's interested in poetry. We've also informed Lord Xu and asked him to be cautious and not bring up anything else. He probably won't bring it up on his own initiative."
"Third—seems interested, though fourth—there's no guarantee he won't suddenly become interested."
Lei Li lowered his voice, almost whispering in Zhou Yi's ear, "If the Fourth Prince hadn't suddenly gotten the urge to return via Xiling by water instead of returning to Kyoto quickly and safely, would this have happened?"
"How can we understand the affairs of the superiors? Didn't you say that serving the emperor is like serving a tiger? Even if a tiger cub is useless, it is still a tiger."
"really……"
Zhou Yi also nodded slightly.
Walls have ears.
But Lei Li wanted to talk whenever he got nervous. If he didn't say something, he would feel suffocated and worried that something bad would happen. Talking could relieve some of the pressure.
However, they were afraid that the legendary secret guards would hear them plotting to accuse the prince of disrespect, so they whispered to each other. If they could hear it, they would be very worried.
Fortunately, the magistrate Xu Xingzhe was steady enough.
There was no intention of flattery at all. He served the princes meals in a businesslike manner and carefully. After the princes had finished their meals, he respectfully escorted them to their residences.
The residence was also a requisitioned house from a wealthy family. Apart from not violating any regulations, everything about it was new and interesting; even the rockery and flower pond were interesting.
Anyway, the princes, especially the fourth prince, although a little picky and complained about the size, at least they didn't say anything to blame, so the magistrate Xu Xingzhe could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Hearing the words sent by Xu Xingzhe, Lei Li and Zhou Yi breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, Xu Xingzhe wasn't the type to rush into things and rush things forward. The spicy dish really wasn't to the Fourth Prince's liking, as it was too pungent and irritating.
Although the chef at the Sichuan restaurant has used the minimum spiciness, if it were in modern times, netizens would definitely laugh at him and say that the two peppers were just for garnish.
The Third Prince praised the dish for being novel and interesting, but he also praised many other dishes, especially the lychees, which he particularly loved.
"Third brother, I'm afraid you haven't eaten anything good in Kyoto. Although lychees are precious and few are sent to Kyoto, they are not considered a rare commodity—"
The Fourth Prince chuckled at that time, his tone filled with contempt and boasting, "Even the most rare Eastern Pearls, Father also rewarded my younger brother with a box of them. If Third Brother wants them, I will give him a few to play with when we return to Kyoto."
When the county magistrate Xu Xingzhe heard this, he broke out in a cold sweat, and the entire back of his official uniform was wet.
The Third Prince simply smiled amiably and said in a gentle voice, "Thank you very much, Fourth Brother. Third Brother is not as favored by Father as Fourth Brother. There is indeed no one in the Dongzhu Palace who is as favored as you... Today, I am also blessed by Fourth Brother."
The Fourth Prince was even happier after hearing this and drank two more cups. He was tired after walking on the boat for a long time and wanted to go back to rest, so he ended this thrilling banquet early.
However, Xu Xingzhe didn't dare to say a word to anyone. Even Lei Li and Zhou Yi, who were in the same group with him, didn't know about it.
The more you talk, the more mistakes you make.
I'm not afraid that Lei Li and Zhou Yi might accidentally talk too much, but I'm also afraid that there are ears on the other side of the wall.
"Fortunately, nothing went wrong."
Lei Li didn't know anything. On the way back to the house, he was still talking about how he thought he should be able to send away these two plague gods - oh no, these two gods - smoothly.
When gods fight, mortals suffer. It’s better not to fight, especially not here.
The fourth prince is a pure playboy.
During the two days in Qingmi County, we spent every night partying, eating, drinking and having fun, and did not do any serious work.
Xu Xingzhe was also afraid that he would suddenly ask some questions to test him, so he read and memorized all the official documents during his tenure overnight in the past few days, for fear that he would be unable to answer some questions.
Good job.
I reviewed but there was no test.
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